Abstract:
A veterinary Elizabethan Collar is provided that when unconstructed resembles a semi-circular shape. When the collar is constructed, it is in the shape of a truncated cone. The collar includes receivers on one side and tab mechanisms on the other side such that when the receivers are placed over receiving mechanisms to form a collar of a desired size, the receiver members can be selectively engaged with the tab mechanisms. The collar may also include collar stays that can be selectively attached to an animal&#39;s existing collar to help keep the Elizabethan collar in place.

Description:
FIELD OF INVENTION 
       [0001]    The present invention relates generally to veterinary care, and more particularly an Elizabethan Collar (“E-Collar”) for wear around the neck of an animal such as a dog or cat such that the animal does not scratch and/or bite at skin wounds, hot spots, or post-operative stitches. 
       BACKGROUND OF INVENTION 
       [0002]    E-Collars are protective medical devices worn by animals such as cats or dogs. E-Collars are traditionally shaped like a truncated cone and aim to prevent an animal from biting or licking at its body, or scratching at its head or neck while wounds or injuries are healing. 
         [0003]      FIG. 1  illustrates an E-Collar that is known in the prior art. Prior Art E-Collar  1  includes an assembly strap  3 , a first window  5 , a second window  7 , and a closing slot  9 . E-Collar  1  also includes a first set of assembly receiver slots  11  and a second set of assembly receiver slots  13 . Each set of assembly receiver slots  11 ,  13  includes a first pair of tightening slots  15  toward an interior of E-Collar  1  and a second pair of tightening slots  17  located near an exterior portion of E-Collar  1 . E-Collar  1  generally includes a first left side  19  and a second right side  21 . 
         [0004]    In order to form E-Collar  1  in a manner that may be worn around the neck of an animal, left side  19  is first placed over right side  21  such that first window  5  aligns with either of the first pairs of tightening slots  15 , and second window  7  aligns with either of the second pairs of tightening slots  17  in line with the desired receiver slots  11 ,  13  depending on the animal&#39;s neck size. Assembly strap  3  may then be inserted through first window  5  and a first tightening slot  23  of tightening slots  15 . It is then looped back through a second tightening slot  25  of first pair of tightening slots  15  and out through first window  5 . 
         [0005]    Assembly strap  3  may then be inserted into second window  7  where it is pushed through a first tightening slot  27  of second set of tightening slots  17  and back through a second slot  29  of tightening slots  17 . Assembly strap  3  is returned through second window  7  and out through closing slot  9  where it is secured, thus forming the collar shape known in the art. 
         [0006]    Each E-Collar  1  also includes three collar straps  31 . E-Collar  1  also includes a pair of collar slots  33  associated with each of collar straps  31 . Each of collar slots  33  includes an inner slot  35  and an outer slot  37 . Each collar strap  31  is pushed through inner slot  35  and pushed out outer slot  37  to form a loop that can be engaged with a dog collar as known and understood in the art to keep E-Collar  1  in its position when in use. 
         [0007]    E-Collar  1  includes numerous operations involving assembly strap  3  and the plurality of collar straps  31  in order to secure the collar to a dog or other animal E-Collar  1  is overly complicated. The several steps involved in constructing E-Collar  1  can easily lead to E-Collar  1  being placed incorrectly on an animal&#39;s neck. If E-Collar  1  is incorrectly placed around an animal&#39;s neck, it may fall off such that it no longer performs its function of keeping an animal from licking, scratching or biting a wound. It also may rub an animal&#39;s skin in a manner that causes a wound to be worsened. E-Collar  1  is overly complicated and improper attachment stemming from its complicated design can lead to further health issues for an animal. 
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0008]    The present invention relates to a veterinary E-Collar for wear around an animal&#39;s neck to prevent the animal from scratching and/or biting at skin wounds, hot spots, or post-operative stitches. The collar preferably includes a first side that has a first receiver and a second receiver. The collar also may include a second side that includes multiple tab mechanisms including a first tab mechanism and a second tab mechanism. The first tab mechanism is preferably selectively engageable with the first receiver, and the second tab mechanism is preferably selectively engageable with the second receiver. When the first receiver is engaged with the first tab mechanism, and the second receiver is engaged with the second tab mechanism, a collar may be formed that is in the shape of a truncated cone. 
         [0009]    Each collar may include a plurality of tab mechanisms, wherein the first tab mechanism and second tab mechanism associated with each tab mechanism are in substantial alignment with one another such that they may be engaged with the receivers when the collar is formed as a truncated cone. 
         [0010]    The collar may also include a plurality of collar stays that can be selectively attachable to an existing collar worn by an animal, such as a dog or cat. 
         [0011]    In at least one embodiment, each tab mechanism, both of the first tab mechanism and the second tab mechanism include an inner finger and an outer finger which act as the mechanism for selectively engaging with the receiver and forming the truncated cone collar shape. 
         [0012]    In yet another alternative embodiment the collar includes padding at both of its interior and exterior portions to increase the comfort level of an animal wearing the collar. 
     
    
     
       DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0013]    For a better understanding of the various embodiments of the present invention, reference may be made to the accompanying drawings in which: 
           [0014]      FIG. 1  is a top plan view of a prior art Elizabethan Collar; 
           [0015]      FIG. 2  is a top plan view of an Elizabethan Collar constructed according to the teachings of the present invention; 
           [0016]      FIG. 3  is a top plan view of an alternative embodiment of an Elizabethan Collar constructed according to the teachings of the present invention. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
       [0017]    The E-Collars taught and disclosed in  FIGS. 2 and 3  aim to improve upon prior art E-Collars such as those shown and described in  FIG. 1 .  FIG. 2  illustrates a first E-Collar  101  that forms a half circle shape. Collar  101  includes an interior portion  103  that forms a hole through which an animal&#39;s head may be placed when collar  101  is constructed in the manner discussed herein below in greater detail. Collar  101  is preferably generally comprised of a first left portion  105  and a second right portion  107 . 
         [0018]    Left portion  105  preferably includes a first receiver member  109  and a second receiver member  111 , wherein second receiver member  111  is outwardly positioned relative to first receiver member  109 . 
         [0019]    Collar  101  also preferably includes a plurality of tab mechanisms  113 .  FIG. 2  illustrates three tab mechanisms  113 , however in alternative embodiments, collar  101  may include more or fewer tab mechanisms  113 . Each tab mechanism  113  preferably includes a first tab  115  and a second tab  117 . Preferably first tab  115  and first receiver member  109  are positioned and located such that they are in substantial alignment with one another when left portion  105  of collar  101  overlaps right portion  107  of collar  101 . Similarly, second tab  117  and second receiver member  111  are preferably in substantial alignment with one another when left portion  105  of collar  101  overlaps right portion  107  of collar  101 . 
         [0020]    Each of tab mechanisms  113  may include an inner finger  119  and an outer finger  121 . In the illustrated embodiment, fingers  119 ,  121  are semi-circular in shape, though in alternative embodiments, fingers  119 ,  121  may be different shapes. 
         [0021]    To construct E-Collar  101 , left portion  105  is preferably placed such that it overlaps right portion  107 . Depending on the size of the animal&#39;s neck for which E-Collar  101  will be used, first receiver member  109  is preferably positioned in substantial alignment with any one of first tabs  115 , and second receiver member  111  is preferably positioned in substantial alignment with a second tab  117  associated with the chosen first tab  115 . 
         [0022]    First tab  115  may be selectively engaged with first receiver member  109  by lifting first finger member  119  and placing it over an edge of first receiver member  109  and subsequently lifting second finger member  121  of first tab  115  and placing it over an opposite edge of first receiver member  109 . Second tab  117  may be selectively engaged to second receiver member  111  in a substantially similar manner. In at least one embodiment, second tab  117  and second receiver member  111  may be selectively engaged prior to the selective engagement of first tab  115  and first receiver member  109 . By engaging an appropriate tab  115  with first receiver member  109  and an appropriate corresponding second tab  117  with second receiver member  111 , a conical shape familiar to known E-Collars is constructed. Using the aforementioned construction components and method eliminates the need for a cumbersome attachment strap such as attachment strap  3  shown and described for E-Collar  1  of the prior art. 
         [0023]    E-Collar  101  may further include a plurality of collar stays  123  that may be selectively engageable with a dog or cat collar, either directly or in an interweaving fashion. Using collar stays  123  eliminates the need for collar straps such as collar straps  31  shown and illustrated in prior art E-Collar  1  of  FIG. 1 . 
         [0024]      FIG. 3  illustrates an alternative E-Collar  201 . E-Collar  301  is similar to E-Collar  101  illustrated in  FIG. 2 . E-Collar  201  preferably includes receivers  203  and  205  that are substantially similar to receivers  109 ,  111  of E-Collar  101 . E-Collar  201  also may include tab mechanisms  207  that operate substantially similarly to tab mechanisms  113  of E-Collar  101 . The means in which the various tab mechanisms  207  selectively are engaged with receivers  203 ,  205  are also preferably substantially similar to the selective engagement described for E-Collar  101 . E-Collar  201  of  FIG. 3  does not include collar stays similar to collar stays  123  of E-Collar  101 , though in some embodiments it may. E-Collar  201  also preferably includes a padded layer  209  placed around its interior  211  such that when E-Collar  201  is constructed and worn by an animal, it is more comfortable. Similarly, padding  213  may be placed around an exterior  215  of E-Collar  201  to further add to the comfort of an animal wearing the device. E-Collar  101  of  FIG. 2  may also include padding around its interior edge  125  and/or exterior edge  127 , similar to padding  213  around exterior  215  and padding  209  around interior  211  of E-Collar  201  of  FIG. 3 . As shown in  FIG. 3  compared to  FIG. 2 , an E-Collar such as E-Collar  101  or E-Collar  201  may include any number of tab mechanisms such as tab mechanisms  113  or  207  to allow for customized fit of an E-Collar. 
         [0025]    From the foregoing, it will be seen that the various embodiments of the present invention are well adapted to attain all the objectives and advantages hereinabove set forth together with still other advantages which are obvious and which are inherent to the present structures. It will be understood that certain features and sub-combinations of the present embodiments are of utility and may be employed without reference to other features and sub-combinations. Since many possible embodiments of the present invention may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the present invention, it is also to be understood that all disclosures herein set forth or illustrated in the accompanying drawings are to be interpreted as illustrative only and not limiting. The various constructions described above and illustrated in the drawings are presented by way of example only and are not intended to limit the concepts, principles and scope of the present invention. 
         [0026]    Thus, there has been shown and described several embodiments of a novel shoe fastener strap. As is evident from the foregoing description, certain aspects of the present invention are not limited by the particular details of the examples illustrated herein, and it is therefore contemplated that other modifications and applications, or equivalents thereof, will occur to those skilled in the art. The terms “having” and “including” and similar terms as used in the foregoing specification are used in the sense of “optional” or “may include” and not as “required”. In addition, use of the terms “coupled to” or “coupled with” in the foregoing specification and subsequent claims is intended to mean that other members, components and/or mechanisms may lie between the two members that are “coupled together”, and direct attachments, connection or mating of the two members is not required. The same definition is likewise true when using the term “in fluid connection with” in the foregoing specification and subsequent claims. Two members, components or mechanisms “in fluid communication with” each other does require direct connection, attachment or mating between such members but does mean that other members, components and/or mechanisms may lie between such members. 
         [0027]    Many changes, modifications, variations and other uses and applications of the present constructions will, however, become apparent to those skilled in the art after considering the specification and the accompanying drawings. All such changes, modifications, variations and other uses and applications which do not depart from the spirit and scope of the invention are deemed to be covered by the invention which is limited only by the claims which follow.