Abstract:
An animal restraint is comprised of a fabric panel with two elongated rigid members attached to two edges. A fastener system such as a hook and loop fastener system is attached to said panel and may be quickly secured by manipulating the two elongated rigid members. The fabric panel may be manufactured with an elastic material to hold the animal securely. A neck restraint may also be provided to secure the neck in addition to the body of the animal. An aperture may further be provided to allow access to portions of the body of the animal while the animal is restrained.

Description:
CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS  
   This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Patent Application 60/466,021 entitled “Small Animal Restraint” by Ronald J. Blommel filed Apr. 24, 2003, the entire content of which is hereby incorporated by reference herein for all it discloses and teaches. 

   BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
   a. Field of the Invention 
   The present invention pertains to animal restraint devices and specifically to animal restraint devices adapted for animals such as cats and dogs. 
   b. Description of the Background 
   Restraining animals, such as cats, is a necessary part of administering normal veterinarian care. Often, certain procedures such as administering intravenous or subcutaneous injections, trimming claws, observing and treating wounds, or other procedures requires that the animal be restrained so that the animal or the person performing the procedure is not injured. 
   It is sometimes standard practice in veterinary offices for an assistant to hold an animal while a procedure is performed. Often, a towel is used to encircle the animal while the assistant holds the animal for the procedure. In some cases, a scared and partially restrained animal may become highly agitated and injure itself or those humans attempting to care for the animal. In such cases, it may become necessary to partially or completely sedate the animal for the procedure. Anesthetics may have undesirable side effects or may add additional cost to the treatment of the animal. When anesthetics are not used, it is desirable to have the animal restrained quickly so that the animal does not struggle and fight its way free. 
   It is therefore advantageous to provide a system and method for restraining an animal quickly, safely and reliably. It would be further advantageous to provide access to various portions of the animal in the restraint so that different procedures may be performed. 
   DISCLOSURE OF THE INVENTION  
   The present invention overcomes the disadvantages and limitations of the prior art by providing an apparatus and method for restraining a small animal comprising a rigid bar attached to either side of a flexible material wherein at least a portion of the material is stretchable. A section of hook and loop material is attached to the flexible material parallel to and near the rigid bars. An animal such as a cat may be placed on the apparatus and secured by quickly closing the hook and loop material. The rigid bars attached to the material allow most of the hook and loop material to quickly engage and thus secure the animal. Additional straps may be used to completely secure the animal in the restraint. 
   The restraint may have one or more access points in the material section. The access points may comprise an opening or aperture whereby a portion of the animal&#39;s external surface may be directly contacted. In other embodiments, a zipper or secondary hook and loop closure may be used to provide an access point. The access point may be used for injections or other treatments for the animal. 
   An embodiment of the present invention may include an animal restraint comprising: a flexible panel having a first edge and a second edge, the first edge and second edge being substantially parallel; a first elongated rigid member supporting the flexible panel along at least a portion of the first edge; a second elongated rigid member supporting the flexible panel along at least a portion of a second edge; and a fastener system having a first portion attached to the flexible panel substantially adjacent to the first elongated rigid member and a second portion of the fastener system attached to the flexible panel substantially adjacent to the second elongated rigid member. 
   Another embodiment of the present invention may include a restraint for a small animal comprising: means for encircling a substantial portion of the body of the small animal; means for rigidly supporting a first edge of the means for encircling; means for rigidly supporting a second edge of the means for encircling; and means for removably securing the first edge of the means for encircling and the second edge of the means for encircling. 
   Yet another embodiment of the present invention may include a method for restraining a animal comprising: placing the animal onto a restraint comprising a flexible panel having a first edge and a second edge, the first edge and second edge being substantially parallel, a first elongated rigid member supporting the flexible panel along at least a portion of the first edge, a second elongated rigid member supporting the flexible panel along at least a portion of a second edge, and a fastener system having a first portion attached to the flexible panel substantially adjacent to the first elongated rigid member and a second portion of the fastener system attached to the flexible panel substantially adjacent to the second elongated rigid member; and fastening the first portion of the fastener system to the second portion of the fastener system to restrain the animal. 
   The advantages of the present invention are that an animal such as a dog or cat may be quickly and efficiently restrained. A single individual may place an animal in the restraint and secure the animal so that an assistant is not needed to perform some procedures. Access to portions of the animal&#39;s body may be gained through one or more apertures or access points provided in the restraint. 

   
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
     In the drawings, 
       FIG. 1  is a top view illustration of a first embodiment of the present invention of an animal restraint. 
       FIG. 2  is a bottom view illustration of the embodiment shown in  FIG. 1 . 
       FIG. 3  is an illustration of a second embodiment of the present invention of an animal restraint. 
       FIG. 4  is an illustration of a reverse view of the embodiment shown in  FIG. 3 . 
       FIG. 5  is an illustration of an embodiment of an animal restraint being used prior to securely restraining a cat. 
       FIG. 6  is an illustration of an embodiment of an animal restraint being used to securely restrain a cat. 
   

   DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION  
     FIG. 1  illustrates an embodiment  100  of the present animal restraint. A panel  102  is attached to stretchable panels  104  and  106 . One portion  108  of a hook and loop fastener system and the complementary portion  110  are attached to panels next to the stretchable panels  104  and  106 , respectively. Rigid bars  112  and  114  provide support to the otherwise conformable fabric material. An optional neck collar  116  is attached to the center panel  102  at attachment point  122 . The neck collar  116  may be closed using hook and loop fasteners  118  and  120 . Straps  124  and  126  may engage loops  132  in order to secure the animal after initially closing the embodiment  100 . Several zippered openings  128  may be placed at various locations to allow for access to an animal while the animal is in the restraint  100 . Zippered opening  130  may also be used to gain access to the animal. 
   The embodiment  100  may be used to restrain various animals. The embodiment  100  is particularly suited to restrain cats and small dogs, but may also be used to restrain birds, rodents, other mammals, reptiles, and other animals as needed. Those skilled in the art will appreciate that various sizes and shapes of restraints may be manufactured to restrain the appropriate animal while keeping within the spirit and intent of the present invention. 
   The restraint  100  may be manufactured from sewn woven materials. For example, center panel  102  may be a heavy weight nylon or denim material that is sewn to stretchable panels  104  and  106 . The hook and loop fasteners  108  and  110  may likewise be sewn in place. Other types of materials and assembly techniques may be useful for particular embodiments that are directed at specific applications. For example, the center panel  102  may be manufactured from a flexible plastic sheet material and attached to other elements by adhesives, heat bonding, or mechanical mechanisms. The examples discussed herein are for exemplary purposes only and are meant to illustrate the principles of the invention while not limiting the invention to the precise forms described. Those skilled in the arts may select different materials and construction techniques suited for specific applications while keeping within the spirit and intent of the present invention. 
   The restraint  100  can be manufactured with at least one stretchable panel  104 . The restraint  100  may encircle an animal and further may be stretched around the animal so that the animal is securely held. The stretchable panel  104  is preferably elastic and able to withstand a large amount of deformation. The more that the stretchable panels  104  and  106  may be stretched to restrain an animal, the more securely the animal may be held. 
   Rigid bars  112  and  114  may be sewn into or otherwise attached to the restraint  100 . The rigid bars  112  and  114  allow a person to quickly engage the hook and loop fasteners  108  and  110  while holding the animal. The rigid bars  112  and  114  may be wooden dowels, hollow or solid plastic rods, hollow or solid metal bars, or any other generally rigid elongated rigid bodies that may serve to stiffen the edges of the restraint  100 . In some embodiments, the restraint  100  may be a washable material. In such cases, the rigid bars  112  and  114  may be selected so that they may either be removable or may be able to survive a washing and disinfectant procedure without damage. 
   The optional neck collar  116  may be useful for securing the neck of the animal. In some embodiments, the neck collar  116  may be manufactured from a woven material and may have a plastic sheet attached to or inserted therein to stiffen the collar  116 . If an insert is used, various sizes of inserts may be useful for adapting the restraint  100  to different sized animals or different species of animals. 
   The zippered openings  128  and  130  may be used to access various portions of an animal that is being restrained. The openings  128  and  130  may be used to access a portion of the animal&#39;s skin or fur for subcutaneous or intravenous injections, apply dressings, perform surgery, or any other procedure. Some of the openings  128  and  130  may be used to access a leg or appendage of an animal to clip nails or other procedures. 
   The zippered openings  128  and  130  may be of any shape or size. In some embodiments, the openings may be fastened using a hook and loop fastener, snaps, clips, or any other mechanical fastener. In some embodiments, one or more of the openings  128  and  130  may not have any fasteners. 
     FIG. 2  illustrates a reverse view of the embodiment  100  shown in  FIG. 1 . The animal restraint  200  is comprised of a center panel  202 , stretchable panels  204  and  206 , rigid bars  208  and  210 , an optional neck collar  212 , straps  218  and  220 , and loops  228 . The neck collar  212  may have hook and loop fasteners  214  and  216 . Strap  218  may likewise have hook and loop fasteners  222  and  224 . 
   The straps  218  and  220  may be looped around the restrained animal and through the loops  226  and  228 , respectively. The straps  218  and  220  may be doubled over so that the hook and loop fasteners may secure the respective straps. Other adjustable and removable fasteners may be used to encircle and secure an animal within the restraint. 
   The zippered openings  230  and  232  may be manufactured with a flap that may cover the zipper on the side of the restraint  200  that is against the animal. Such a flap may prevent fur or skin of the animal to become entangled with the zipper or other fastener. 
     FIG. 3  illustrates a second embodiment  300  of the present invention of an animal restraint. A center panel  302  is attached to stretchable panels  304  and  306 . Hook and loop fasteners  308  and  310  are attached near rigid bars  312  and  314 . A semi-circular neck collar  316  is attached at attachment point  322  and may be fastened around an animal&#39;s neck using hook and loop fasteners  318  and  320 . A zippered opening  324  and openings  328  may be used to access portions of a restrained animal. 
   Openings  328  may be holes cut into one or more of the various panels that make up the restraint. The holes may be of any shape as necessary to perform various procedures on an animal. Those skilled in the art will appreciate that various shapes, sizes, fastening techniques, and locations of access points or openings may be used while keeping within the spirit and intent of the present invention. 
     FIG. 4  illustrates a bottom view of the embodiment shown in  FIG. 3 . Embodiment  400  comprises a center panel  402 , stretchable panels  404  and  406 , rigid bars  408  and  410 , straps  412 ,  414 ,  416 , and  418 , and optional semi-circular collar  424 . 
   The strap  416  may be outfitted with hook and loop fastener  420  with a complementary hook and loop fastener attached to strap  412 . The strap  412  may be wrapped around a restrained animal and secured with the strap  416 . 
   The opening  428  may be used for gaining access to the back of a restrained animal for various procedures. 
     FIG. 5  illustrates an embodiment  500  of an animal restraint being used prior to securely restraining a cat  502 . The cat  502  is placed on top of the restraint  504 . The restraint  504  comprises hook and loop fasteners  506  and  508 . The rigid bars  510  and  512  may be used to quickly engage the hook and loop fasteners  506  and  508 . After the animal is initially restrained, the neck collar  514  may be fitted around the neck of the cat  502 . 
   The embodiment  504  may be used to quickly restrain the cat  502 . The rigid bars  510  and  512  may allow the hook and loop fasteners  506  and  508  to almost immediately engage. The quickness of engagement may allow a person to restrain an animal with a minimum of danger to the animal or the person. 
     FIG. 6  illustrates an embodiment  600  of an animal restraint being used to securely restrain a cat  602 . The restraint  604  fully encircles and snugly restrains the cat  602  using the stretchable material. The straps  606  and  608  offer a second mechanism of restraint, ensuring that the cat  602  does not struggle free. The collar  612  is fitted to the neck of the cat  602 . 
   The animal  602  is fully restrained in  FIG. 6 . The legs of the animal  602  may be securely held so that the animal  602  cannot struggle. The opening  610  may be used to perform a procedure on the animal  602 . For example, a wound may be accessible through the opening  610  and may be cleaned and dressed without danger to the animal or the person performing the procedure. In other examples, a subcutaneous or intravenous injection may be administered to the animal  602 . In still another example, the animal  602  may be anesthetized and surgery may be performed through the opening  610 . 
   The neck collar  612  may prevent the animal  602  from struggling free. On some embodiments, the particular animal may not be suited to a neck collar  612  or the neck collar  612  may interfere with a planned procedure. In such cases, the neck collar  612  may be removed or not provided in the particular embodiment. 
   The present invention provides a restraint wherein an animal may be restrained quickly, safely and effectively. The rigid bars provided on the edges of the otherwise flexible and stretchable restraint allow the restraint to very quickly encapsulate and restrain an animal with a minimum of stress placed on the animal. Further, the animal may be quickly prohibited from struggling and inflicting injury to itself or to people who may be attempting to help the animal. Once the animal is encapsulated with the stretchable material, the animal may be handled by a person without risk of injury. Various apertures may be used to gain access to various portions of the animal while keeping the animal restrained and free from injury. 
   The foregoing description of the invention has been presented for purposes of illustration and description. It is not intended to be exhaustive or to limit the invention to the precise form disclosed, and other modifications and variations may be possible in light of the above teachings. The embodiment was chosen and described in order to best explain the principles of the invention and its practical application to thereby enable others skilled in the art to best utilize the invention in various embodiments and various modifications as are suited to the particular use contemplated. It is intended that the appended claims be construed to include other alternative embodiments of the invention except insofar as limited by the prior art.