Abstract:
A collar useful in animal care, which includes a closure connector and a flexible belt having a free end and distal therefrom a thickened knob. Anchored within the connector&#39;s frame, the knob is disposed contiguous with a narrow slot formed therein through which all of the belt, except the knob, is initially threaded. Once looped back around the connector&#39;s frame, the free end is pushed through the frame until it re-emerges therefrom. With the collar adjusted to provide a snug fit, one can then activate a closure mechanism, in which the foot of an arm pivotally connected to the frame clamps a short portion of the belt, across its entire transverse width, against the frame. When the belt is so clamped, pulling on it increases forces pressing the foot against the belt. Cast from a silicon rubber/phosphorescent additive mixture, the belt exhibits luminescent properties, making it visible in the dark.

Description:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
       [0001]    The invention relates generally to safety collars fittable to the necks of dogs as well as to a wide variety of inanimate, cylindrically-shaped objects. 
       BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0002]    Snug-fitting collars which dogs can wear day and night in all weather conditions without the collar causing abrasion to the animal&#39;s skin are unknown in the prior art. Even leather collars—the belts of which have about the same surface characteristics as does a dog&#39;s skin—can cause abrasion, especially when the collar is wet or cold. 
         [0003]    Moreover, because the fasteners used to secure these prior art collars feature a locking mechanism in which a single pin engages one of a series of spaced apart holes formed in the collar&#39;s belt, the fasteners limit the degree to which the collars can be adjustably fitted to individual dogs. Not only is the degree of adjustability of such a collar limited by its fastener, but also the latter&#39;s strength is at best marginal, depending as it does upon a structure in which a single pin engages a stretchable hole. Compounding these problems is the tendency, as the collar ages, for the belt to-become brittle and the holes to enlarge, potentially allowing the animal to slip out of its collar and escape. 
         [0004]    A need also exists for a safety collar which can be seen in the dark. Such a collar could be used in a wide variety of applications, including helping a pet owner to avoid accidentally stepping on his animal in a darkened hallway or room, as well as to facilitate a person&#39;s locating collar-bandable objects, such as scuba diving tanks, when they are obscured from view because of poor lighting conditions. 
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0005]    The primary object of the present invention is to provide an improved collar for animals, as well as for inanimate, cylindrically-shaped objects, the collar being readily fittable thereon with a high degree of adjustability and having a closure mechanism which, when it is activated, holds the collar&#39;s belt in such a way that pulling on the belt increases the forces locking it in place. 
         [0006]    A further object of this invention is to provide such a collar with a belt which is stable in both wet and cold environments and which has a finished surface which is a non-irritant to the hair and skin of animals. 
         [0007]    A still further object of this invention is to provide an improved collar which exhibits luminescent properties, allowing the animal wearing it or, alternately, an inanimate object about which the collar has been banded, to be seen in the dark. 
         [0008]    The improved collar comprises a belt and a connector, the connector having a frame with at least one narrow, elongated slot through which the belt&#39;s free end can be threaded, a movable arm pivotally connected to the frame, and means, including a foot on the movable arm, for pressing a short portion of the belt, once its free end has been so threaded, against the frame in such a way that, during use, the entire transverse width of said short portion is pressed between the foot and the frame. Distal from the belt&#39;s free end, the belt terminates in a thickened knob which protrudes perpendicularly from both the belt&#39;s inner and outer sides. Prior to use, the thickened knob is positioned within the connector so that the knob abuts the frame along both of the slot&#39;s elongated edges, these edges being preferably spaced apart by a distance which is just wide enough to allow every part of the belt except for the knob to be passed between them. 
         [0009]    In addition, the thickened knob preferably defines a hole, which extends perpendicularly to the belt&#39;s longitudinal centerline and which is alignable with a pair of holes formed in the frame, for receiving a metal “D”-shaped ring. Not only can one attach the clip of a leash or the like to this “D”-shaped ring, but also it increases the thickness of the knob, holding the belt even more securely in the elongated slot than it would otherwise be held. 
         [0010]    In the preferred embodiment, the belt for the improved collar is fabricated from a rubbery material such as silicon rubber which can be molded in a die to form a smooth finish which does not irritate the hair and skin of animals. Also, during the molding process, a phosphorescent material can be added to the silicon rubber, giving the belt luminescent properties. 
         [0011]    In order to fit the improved collar onto an animal&#39;s neck or the like, the user first forms a loop in the belt. With the thickened knob secured, within the frame, contiguous with the elongated edges of the slot and with most of the belt disposed, outside of the frame, on the opposite side of the slot from the knob, the belt&#39;s free end is then looped back into the frame and pushed through it until the free end re-emerges from the frame. Afterwards, the free end, virtually hidden from view, is positioned between the belt&#39;s outer layer, which is part of the loop, and the animal&#39;s neck. 
         [0012]    Clamping the belt so as to maintain a snug fit follows and is accomplished by rotating the movable arm through an angle of up to approximately 180 degrees. As a result of the arm&#39;s rotation, the foot, which may face away from the belt initially, is brought into direct contact with a short portion of the belt and in the process presses this short portion against the frame. 
         [0013]    The arm and its foot move in such a way that once the foot engages the belt, pulling on the belt increases those forces pressing it against the frame. In addition, the surfaces of the foot and of the frame which contact said short portion of the belt are preferably knurled in order to give the connector even greater strength. 
         [0014]    As a further safety measure, the arm holds its position so tightly, once it has been rotated and the foot pressed against the belt, that it is virtually impossible for a child to unlock the connector, thereby childproofing the improved collar. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0015]      FIG. 1  is a perspective view of the improved collar according to the present invention, the collar being shown fitted on the neck of a typical dog; 
           [0016]      FIG. 2  is a perspective view, on an enlarged scale, of the collar according to  FIG. 1 ; 
           [0017]      FIG. 3  is a perspective view, on a further enlarged scale, of fragmentary portions of the collar according to  FIG. 1 , a connector, including a frame and a movable arm pivotally connected thereto, being shown with the arm&#39;s foot fully disengaged from the collar&#39;s belt; 
           [0018]      FIG. 4  is a perspective view of the fragmentary portions of the collar according to  FIG. 3 , the connector being shown with the arm&#39;s foot fully engaging the collar&#39;s belt; 
           [0019]      FIG. 5  is a side elevation view of the fragmentary portions of the collar according to  FIG. 4 ; 
           [0020]      FIGS. 6 and 7  are top and bottom plan views, respectively, of the fragmentary portions of the collar according to  FIG. 4 ; 
           [0021]      FIGS. 8 and 9  are elevation views of the distal ends of the collar&#39;s connector according to  FIG. 4 , elongated slots formed in one of these distal ends being shown with each slot occupied by a fragmentary portion of the collar&#39;s belt; 
           [0022]      FIG. 10  is a cross-section, on a still further enlarged scale, taken along the longitudinal centerline of the fragmentary portions of the collar according to  FIG. 6 ; and 
           [0023]      FIG. 11  is an exploded view, on a further enlarged scale, of fragmentary portions of the collar according to  FIG. 2 , showing the connector and a single short fragment of the collar&#39;s belt which terminates in a thickened knob. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT 
       [0024]    In the drawings and indicated generally by the reference numeral  10  is a collar according to the present invention. The collar  10  comprises a closure connector  20  and an elongated, flexible belt  12  having both a free end  16  and distal therefrom a thickened knob  13 . 
         [0025]    The connector  20  includes an open-ended, elongated frame and an arm  28  pivotally connected thereto by a shaft  30  rotatably mounted within holes  31 ,  32  which are disposed proximate with the frame&#39;s open end and formed in opposing sides  22 ,  23  ( FIGS. 3 ,  4  and  11 ). Spaced apart from each other by a distance which is preferably slightly greater than the transverse width of the belt  12 , the sides  22 ,  23 , together with the frame&#39;s base define a “U”-shaped channel. Distal from said open end, the channel is spanned by a narrow bar  24  atop the sides  22 ,  23  and terminates in a wall  25  in which a pair of elongated slots  26 ,  27 , disposed with their longitudinal axes oriented perpendicularly to said sides, are formed ( FIGS. 8 through 11 ). The distance between the elongated edges of the slot  26 , which is located in close proximity to the bar  24 , is preferably just wide enough to allow every part of the belt  12  except for the knob  13  to be passed through the slot  26  ( FIGS. 8 and 10 ). 
         [0026]    Positioned within the frame prior to use, the knob  13  not only abuts both elongated edges of the slot  26  but also fits just beneath the lower surface of the top bar  24  ( FIG. 10 ). Holding the knob  13  securely against the slot  26  is a metal “D”-shaped ring  15  which is received by holes  34 ,  35  formed in the frame and a hole  14 , alignable therewith, formed in the knob ( FIGS. 10 and 11 ). 
         [0027]    Also held in place with the use of holes formed near the upper edges of the sides  22 ,  23  are the ends of the shaft  30  which protrude from the arm  28 . A semi “S”-shaped structure in longitudinal cross-section, the arm  28  defines both a foot  29  and a handle  44  ( FIGS. 3 ,  10  and  11 ). Curving away from the arm&#39;s elongated mid-section, the foot  29  and the handle  44  extend perpendicularly thereto, but in opposite directions and spaced apart from each other. 
         [0028]    With the shaft&#39;s ends engaging the holes  31 ,  32 , which are formed in the frame proximate with its open end, the arm itself is held in such a way that it can rotated into a position in which both the arm&#39;s mid-section and the foot  29  are nested between the sides  22 ,  23  ( FIGS. 4 through 6 ). Moreover, the spacing between the frame&#39;s base and the shaft  30 , when its ends are so engaged, is such that the foot  29  can clear the base by a distance which is slightly less than the thickness of the belt  12  ( FIG. 10 ). In the preferred embodiment, the foot&#39;s contact surface  40  clears a section of the base which defines a shallow recess  41  by said distance ( FIGS. 10 and 11 ). 
         [0029]    Unlike the handle  44  which is tapered and narrower towards its tip, both the foot  29  and the arm&#39;s elongated mid-section preferably have the same transverse span throughout their respective lengths, said transverse span measuring slightly less than that of the spacing between the sides  22 ,  23  ( FIGS. 3 ,  4  and  9 ). Cutouts  42 ,  43  formed in the sides  22 ,  23  are situated proximate with the tip of the handle  44 , the only portion of the arm  28  which protrudes outwardly from the upper edges of the frame when the arm is otherwise fully nested within its “U”-shaped channel ( FIGS. 4 ,  5  and  10 ). 
         [0030]    Preferably molded from a hard, tough plastic material, the connector  20 , including its frame and arm  28 , can also be fabricated from a metal; but the material of choice is an ABS plastic, such as ABS-PA757, a product manufactured by the Chimei Corporation of Taiwan. 
         [0031]    While the belt  12  can be fabricated from conventional fabric, leather, or a plastic material, it is preferably molded, using silicon rubber or a like rubbery, generally transparent substance. Not only does molding with such a substance allow one to form the belt  12  as a single piece in which the thickened knob  13  with its hole  14  is an integral part of the belt, but also a phosphorescent additive can be incorporated into the mold, giving the finished belt luminescent properties. In addition, ornamental designs can be readily imprinted on the belt  12  during the molding process ( FIG. 2 ). 
         [0032]    A suitable silicon rubber is available commercially from Hongda New Material Co., Ltd., China and is known as this company&#39;s Product No. 7861WJL. When molded, this silicon rubber, with a Durometer reading of 65±5 A in the preferred embodiment, has been formed into belts having both smooth and design finishes. Very flexible and slightly elastic in character, a belt  12  fabricated of this material gives a slick, rubbery feeling when touched and is generally non-irritating to the skin and hair of animals wearing such a belt. 
         [0033]    Moreover, cast as a mixture with a suitable phosphorescent additive, the preferred silicon rubber yields a belt  12  which can be seen in the dark. Its luminescent properties are especially pronounced when coarse particles of a substance known as LumiNova® G-300 M or, alternately, LumiNova® G-300 L, are incorporated into the mold. Manufactured by Nemoto &amp; Co., Ltd., of Tokyo, Japan, this material, as tests of its luminance have revealed, is not only up to ten times brighter than are conventional zinc sulfide-based phosphorescent pigments, but also the length of its afterglow is longer than theirs by an order of magnitude. Based on strontium oxide aluminate chemistry, LumiNova® G-300 M, similar to alumina in hardness, has sharp-edged, needle-like particles which typically range in size from 10 to 40 micrometers. The percentage by weight of these particles in said silicon rubber mixture is preferably about 18 percent but can range between 5 and 30 percent and still give the belt  12  both pronounced luminescent properties and adequate tensile strength to restrain a typical dog. 
         [0034]    Tested for tensile strength, a collar  20  having a belt  12  molded out of the preferred silicon rubber/phosphorescent additive mixture, with the belt measuring 1 inch wide, ⅛th inch thick, and about 18 inches long, was found to have a tension breaking strength of approximately 130 pounds of force. Of six specimens tested, only four of them actually broke when their respective belts  12  were stretched to the full limit of the test frame; and none of these breakages occurred because of a failure of the connector  20 . 
         [0035]    At the outset of the collar&#39;s assembly, the arm  28  is rotatably mounted on the connector&#39;s frame by spreading its sides  22 ,  23  apart slightly to accommodate the ends of the shaft  30 , so that they can be rotatably received within holes  31 ,  32 . The belt&#39;s free end  16  is then inserted beneath the connector&#39;s top bar  24  and threaded through its upper slot  26  until the thickened knob  13  is brought into contact with the upper slot&#39;s elongated edges. After that, the “D”-shaped ring  15  is installed by first positioning the thickened knob  13  in such a way that it not only abuts the slot  26  but also the knob&#39;s hole  14  is aligned with paired holes  34 ,  35  formed in the frame&#39;s sides  22 ,  23 . The “D”-shaped ring  15  itself is then simultaneously inserted into the paired holes  34 ,  35  and pressed into the thickened knob&#39;s hole  14 , thereby completing the collar&#39;s assembly. 
         [0036]    Fitting the collar  10  onto a dog entails encircling his neck with the belt  12  and then positioning an end portion thereof disposed distal from the thickened knob  13  within the connector  20 . Properly positioned, the end portion passes under the foot  29  and extends from the frame&#39;s open end to the lower slot  27 , with the belt&#39;s free end  16  protruding outwardly therefrom ( FIG. 1 ). Thus situated, the free end  16  remains virtually hidden from view between the belt&#39;s outer layer  18  and the animal&#39;s neck ( FIGS. 5 ,  6  and  10 ). 
         [0037]    Once the belt has been adjusted so as to provide a comfortable fit about the dog&#39;s neck, one can then activate the collar&#39;s closure mechanism by simply rotating the arm  28  downwardly into the connector&#39;s frame until the foot  29  pinches the belt  12  against the frame&#39;s base. 
         [0038]    In the preferred embodiment, the portion of the belt so pinched is sandwiched between the foot&#39;s contact surface  40  and the shallow recess  41  ( FIGS. 10 and 11 ). Roughened by knurling or the like on their respective mating surfaces, the foot  29  and the shallow recess  41  engage the belt  12  in such a way that a dog, by pulling on a collar  10  fitted about his neck, tends to draw the end of the arm  28  distal from the foot further into the “U”-shaped channel. In the process, the contact surface  40  is tipped upwardly towards the frame&#39;s open end, thereby creating a small gap. Simultaneously, as the dog subsequently releases his pull, the rubbery belt  12  springs back, filling this gap, and forms a wedge between the foot  29  and the recess  41 . This wedge then prevents the arm  28  from automatically returning to the position it assumed earlier, prior to the dog&#39;s pulling action, and in effect provides the collar  10  with a self-clamping closure mechanism. 
         [0039]    To remove the collar  10 , one deactivates its closure mechanism by grasping the handle  44  and rotating the arm  28  upwardly until the belt  12  is freed and can be slid out of the connector&#39;s open end. A tool such as a screwdriver&#39;s blade (not shown) can be inserted through the cutouts  42 ,  43  and beneath the arm  28  and has been found to be useful, even necessary, for unlocking the connector  20  once the self-clamping closure mechanism is engaged.