Abstract:
The present invention is a method and apparatus for safely and securely holding and supporting an animal while it is being groomed. The disclosed apparatus can have multiple support members that wrap around an animal, passing under the animal&#39;s belly, around the hips and shoulders, and up over the back where it can be secured to a frame or post to keep the animal stable and supported, without restraining the animal by the neck, while undergoing a grooming procedure. The cutouts and support members that make up the leg holes in the apparatus can be lined with a soft material, such as fleece, to provide comfort and prevent chafing to the animal&#39;s skin during the procedure.

Description:
FIELD OF INVENTION 
       [0001]    The present invention relates in general to a method and apparatus for animal grooming and in particular to securing animals during the grooming process for ease and efficiency of grooming. 
       BACKGROUND 
       [0002]    A common issue for animal groomers is getting the animal to be still while being groomed safely. This can be especially difficult if the animal is having its feet groomed or if the animal is required to stand for a long period of time while being groomed. 
         [0003]    Prior solutions to these issues included suspending the animal in the air in a sling, supporting the animal&#39;s belly, hips, or shoulders with bands and straps, or tying the animal to a post with a leash-like apparatus. These apparatuses often must be used with each other during the grooming process in order to groom every part of the animal. 
         [0004]    One such apparatus, available from the M.D.C. Romani, Inc. catalog, is a support sling that purports to hold an animal that won&#39;t let you trim their nails or feet. This sling purports to be a rectangular shaped piece of fabric with leg holes cut through it and grommet holes for attaching the sling to a support structure. A major advantage of the present invention is that the support member configuration allows almost total access to the animal for grooming, without compromising the support of the animal. 
         [0005]    Other known apparatuses, available from the M.D.C. Romani, Inc. catalog, include single belly bands or straps which purport to be used to prevent the animal from sitting down, from stepping off the grooming table, or to support weak or older animals during the grooming procedure. The present invention can be easily converted to provide the same functions as these other apparatuses. The adaptability of the present invention eliminates the need for multiple apparatuses and saves time and cost during the grooming process. Another advantage of the present invention is that the animal is not restrained by the neck by the apparatus. 
       SUMMARY 
       [0006]    The present invention is a method and apparatus for safely and securely holding and supporting an animal while it is being groomed. The disclosed apparatus can have multiple support members that wrap around an animal, passing under the animal&#39;s belly, around the hips and shoulders, and up over the back where it can be secured to a frame or post to keep the animal stable and supported, without restraining the animal by the neck, while undergoing a grooming procedure. The cutouts and support members that make up the leg holes in the apparatus can be lined with a soft material, such as fleece, to provide comfort and prevent chafing to the animal&#39;s skin during the procedure. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0007]      FIG. 1  is a top view of one embodiment of the invention in the open position; 
           [0008]      FIG. 2  is a side view of an apparatus embodiment shown in an operational, or closed, position as when used in grooming a subject animal; 
           [0009]      FIG. 3  is a close up view of an anchor embodiment; 
           [0010]      FIG. 4  is an alternate view of one embodiment in an alternate operational, or partially closed, position as when used in grooming a subject animal. 
       
    
    
     DESCRIPTION 
       [0011]    With reference to  FIG. 1 , an embodiment of the apparatus  100  is shown in the open position. The open position is defined by the state of the apparatus  100 , specifically, when the apparatus  100  does not contain or is not otherwise positioned on an animal. The body  102 , the first support member  104 , second support member  106 , third support member  108 , and fourth support member  110  of the apparatus  100  can be made of a lightweight, durable material such as nylon. Other suitable materials for construction of the apparatus  100  can include reinforced rip-stop nylon, canvas, or polyester. One embodiment of the apparatus  100  can be constructed from nylon, which can prevent the animal&#39;s hair from sticking to the apparatus  100 . Formed into the body  102  of the apparatus  100  can a first cutout  112 , a second cutout  114 , a third cutout  116 , a fourth cutout  118 , a fifth cutout  120  and a sixth cutout  122 . According to one embodiment, the first through sixth cutouts  112 ,  114 ,  116 ,  118 ,  120 , and  122 , can have an arched, or semi-circular shape. The first support member  104  can be connected to the base of the first cutout  112  thereby forming the first leg opening  124 . The second support member  106  can be connected to the third cutout  116  thereby forming the second leg opening  126 . The third support member  108  can be connected to the fourth cutout  118  thereby forming the third leg opening  128  and the fourth support member  110  can be connected to the sixth cutout  122  thereby forming the fourth leg opening  130 . The second cutout  114  and fifth cutout  120  can reduce the weight and coverage of the apparatus  100  without reducing the support offered to the animal. The first through fourth leg openings  124 ,  126 ,  128 , and  130 , can be lined  132  with soft material, such as fleece, to provide comfort and prevent chafing to an animal while wearing the apparatus  100 . Other materials suitable for lining  132  the first through fourth leg openings  124 ,  126 ,  128 , and  130 , could include cotton, wool, polyester, or a blend thereof. In one embodiment, the lining  132  of the first through fourth leg openings  124 ,  126 ,  128 , and  130 , can be located only on the portion of each opening comprised by the first cutout  112 , the third cutout  116 , the fourth cutout  118 , or the sixth cutout  130 . Other embodiments could have the lining  132  located on any portion, up to the entire circumference, of the first through fourth leg openings  124 ,  126 ,  128 , and  130 . Each of the four support members  104 ,  106 ,  108 , and  110 , can comprise a single strip of material that can be folded or looped over and attached to the body  102  of the apparatus  100  at the base of the first cutout  112 , third cutout  116 , fourth cutout  118 , and sixth cutout  122 . An alternative embodiment could have differing attachment points for the first through fourth support members  104 ,  106 ,  108 , and  110 , or could comprise two continuous strips of material that are threaded through the body  102 . The first through fourth support members  104 ,  106 ,  108 , and  110  could also be formed from a single sheet of material, a single sheet of material that can be folded over and attached back upon itself, or one or more layers of material stitched together at the edges. According to another embodiment, the whole apparatus  100  could be formed of a single piece of material, a single sheet that can folded into one or more layers and attached back upon itself, or one or more sheets of material. One or more layers or components can be attached to each other by stitching them together using reinforced or waterproof stitches, or a combination thereof. A first anchor  134  can be located at the fold or looping point of the first support member  104 . A second anchor  136 , a third anchor  138 , and a fourth anchor  140  can be located at the fold or looping point of the second support member  106 , third support member  108 , and fourth support member  110  respectfully. The first through fourth anchors  134 ,  136 ,  138 , and  140  can consist of nylon webbing, grommet holes, metal clips, carabineers, cable, rope, or other materials. In one embodiment, the first through fourth anchors  134 ,  136 ,  138 , and  140  can be nylon webbing which can be permanently secured to the first through fourth support members  104 ,  106 ,  108 , and  110  by stitching, reinforced stitching, waterproof stitching or a combination thereof. 
         [0012]    With reference to  FIGS. 1-2 , the central portion  200  of the body  102  can run lengthwise under the belly of the animal.  FIG. 2  shows the apparatus  100  in an operational, or closed position, as when the apparatus  100  is being used to support or hold an animal for grooming. The animal&#39;s legs can be placed through the first through fourth leg openings,  124 ,  126 ,  128 , and  130 , wherein the sides of the first through sixth cutouts  112 ,  114 ,  116 ,  118 ,  120 , and  122 , can wrap up and around the sides of the animal, without restraining the animal by the neck. The first through fourth support members  104 ,  106 ,  108 , and  110  can extend from the body  102  of the apparatus  100  up and over the animal where they can be secured to a frame  202  using the first through fourth anchors  134 ,  136 ,  138 , and  140 . According to one embodiment, the apparatus  100  and frame  202  can fully support the weight of the animal, and the animal can be suspended in the air thereby allowing the groomer access the animal&#39;s feet and nails for grooming while the apparatus can prevent the animal from moving away or resisting the groomer, without restraining the animal&#39;s neck. The frame  202  can consist of metal, plastic, or other materials suitable for supporting the weight of an animal. The first through fourth anchors  134 ,  136 ,  138 , and  140  can be attached or secured to the frame  202  through use of clips, hooks, support members, or similar means that are suitable for supporting the weight of an animal. Frame  202  and attachment means can be selected by a person of ordinary skill in the art. 
         [0013]    With continued reference to  FIGS. 1-2 , the unique configuration of the apparatus  100 , specifically the first through fourth support members  104 ,  106 ,  108 , and  110 , the first through fourth leg openings,  124 ,  126 ,  128 , and  130 , and the second cutout  114  and fifth cutout  120 , can give the groomer nearly total access to the animal&#39;s flanks which could allow the groomer to bathe, shampoo, and trim the animal&#39;s coat with minimal adjustment or repositioning of the apparatus. 
         [0014]    With reference to  FIGS. 3-4 , one embodiment can utilize clips  300 , hooks, or other easily removed attachment means to connect the first through fourth anchors  134 ,  136 ,  138 , and  140 , to the frame  202  can allow the groomer to quickly lower one side.  FIG. 4  shows an embodiment of the apparatus  100  in an alternative operational, or partially closed position wherein one or more, but not all, of the first through fourth support members  104 ,  106 ,  108 , and  110 , are released from the frame  202 , exposing remaining areas for grooming without compromising the support of the animal. According to this embodiment, the groomer can optionally remove the first anchor  134  from its clip  300  and lower only the first support member  104 , which can allow the groomer access to the upper leg and side of the animal while still supporting the animal through the second through fourth support members  106 ,  108 , and  110 . Also according to this embodiment, the groomer can optionally remove more than one of the first through fourth anchors  134 ,  136 ,  138 , and  140 . One example could have the groomer remove the first anchor  134  and the fourth anchor  140  to expose more of the animal for grooming, while leaving the second anchor  136  and the third anchor  138  secured to the frame  202 , thereby supporting and holding one end of the animal while grooming the now exposed end. 
         [0015]    With reference to  FIG. 4 , another embodiment allows the groomer to reposition the apparatus  100  with respect to the frame  202  so that the animal can stand on the grooming surface  400 . This allows the groomer to convert the apparatus  100  to a single support setup without completely removing the apparatus  100  from the animal. This can allow one or more of the first through fourth support members  104 ,  106 ,  108 , and  110 , to support the animal&#39;s hips or shoulders, which can prevent the animal from sitting, or can provide support to older animals. The grooming surface  400  can comprise a grooming table, the floor, or other surfaces suitable to support an animal during grooming. The proper surface can be selected by a person of ordinary skill in the art depending on the desired application. 
         [0016]    While the present invention has been described in connection with various illustrative embodiments, it is to be understood that other similar embodiments may be used or modifications and additions may be made to the described embodiments for performing the same function disclosed herein without deviating therefrom. Further, all embodiments disclosed are not necessarily in the alternative, as various embodiments may be combined or subtracted to provide the desired characteristics. Variations can be made by one having ordinary skill in the art without departing from the spirit and scope hereof. Therefore, the present invention should not be limited to any single embodiment, but rather construed in breadth and scope in accordance with the recitations of the appended claims.