Abstract:
An apparatus for drying a pet includes a moisture absorbent fabric having a periphery sized and shaped to substantially cover a pet&#39;s body. An opening sized and shaped to surround the pet&#39;s neck is spaced inward from the periphery, and may include a reinforcement material and hem extending along a margin of the opening. An optional seam extending from the opening to the periphery of the fabric, may be selectively opened and closed with a hook and loop fastener.

Description:
RELATED APPLICATIONS 
       [0001]    This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Application Ser. No. 60/744,333, entitled DOG TOWEL, filed Apr. 5, 2006. 
     
     FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
       [0002]    The invention is related to a device that may be used for drying and protecting pets such as dogs. 
       BACKGROUND 
       [0003]    Pets get wet for a variety of reasons. For example, after a bath or a swim, a wet dog may shake vigorously to dry itself. When a dog shakes, it creates a shower of water droplets. The droplets can come into contact with various surrounding objects. Often this shaking scatters water to places where it becomes inconvenient. The water may be spread to bathroom fixtures and mirrors, which may then have to be cleaned, electronic devices which can be ruined, and on surrounding people who find it unpleasant to be splashed. 
         [0004]    Therefore, a need exists for a device for drying a pet which solves the above mentioned problems. 
       SUMMARY 
       [0005]    In one aspect of the invention, an apparatus for drying a pet includes a moisture absorbent fabric having a periphery sized and shaped to substantially cover a pet&#39;s body, including hindquarters. An opening sized and shaped to surround the pet&#39;s neck is spaced inward from the periphery, and may include a reinforcement material extending along a margin of the opening. A seam extends from the opening to the periphery of the fabric, which may be selectively opened and closed with a hook and loop fastener. 
         [0006]    In another aspect of the invention, an apparatus for drying a pet includes a moisture absorbent fabric having a periphery sized and shaped to substantially cover a pet&#39;s body, while having an opening spaced inward from the periphery for encircling a pet&#39;s neck. 
         [0007]    In a still further aspect, a method for drying a pet includes providing one of the aforementioned apparatuses for drying a pet, placing the opening around a pet&#39;s neck, draping the fabric around the pet&#39;s body, and optionally permitting the pet to shake. 
     
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0008]      FIG. 1 . is a perspective view of an embodiment of the subject invention; 
           [0009]      FIG. 2 . is a perspective view of the embodiment of  FIG. 1  shown during a representative use; 
           [0010]      FIG. 3 . is a view similar to that of  FIG. 2 , of an alternate embodiment of the subject invention; 
           [0011]      FIG. 4 . is a plan view of the embodiment of  FIGS. 1 and 2 ; and 
           [0012]      FIG. 5 . is a plan view of the embodiment of  FIG. 3 . 
       
    
    
     DESCRIPTION 
       [0013]    In the following detailed description, reference is made to the accompanying drawings that form a part hereof, and in which is shown by way of illustration, specific embodiments in which the invention may be practiced. These embodiments are described in sufficient detail to enable those skilled in the art to practice the invention, and it is to be understood that other embodiments may be utilized. It is also to be understood that structural, procedural and system changes may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the present invention. The following detailed description is, therefore, not to be taken in a limiting sense, and the scope of the present invention is defined by the appended claims and their equivalents. For clarity of exposition, like features shown in the accompanying drawings are indicated with like reference numerals and similar features as shown in alternate embodiments in the drawings are indicated with similar reference numerals. 
         [0014]    The present inventors discovered that a dog typically will not shake water off its body if its head is covered, and instead waits until a towel or the like is removed from its head before shaking. Embodiments of the subject invention address this problem by providing an absorbent garment with an appropriately sized opening for the head of a pet to pass through. The opening may optionally be provided with a fastener, (such as shown in  FIGS. 3 and 5 ) so that the garment may be simply wrapped around the pet&#39;s neck and then secured with the fastener. 
         [0015]    The positioning of the opening in particular embodiments is such that the garment is draped on all sides of the pet, with its neck extending through the opening. By keeping the dog&#39;s head free, this configuration tends to encourage the dog to shake while its body is substantially covered by the garment to thus capture the water that might otherwise be inconveniently sprayed. The user may also rub the garment against the dog&#39;s body to expedite drying. 
         [0016]    Some embodiments of the invention are provided with a rectangular shape, and can easily be folded and stacked on shelves like ordinary towels for easy storage at home and in stores. Embodiments of the claimed invention can be produced inexpensively. 
         [0017]    As shown in  FIG. 1 , an embodiment of the present invention includes a generally rectangular fabric  10  with an opening  20  sufficient for the head of a pet such as a dog to pass through. In an exemplary embodiment, the fabric  10  may be a terry cloth towel. In various embodiments, the opening  20  is optionally hemmed thereabout, to enhance durability, etc, as discussed in greater detail hereinbelow. 
         [0018]    Referring now to  FIGS. 2 and 3 , embodiments of the invention may be placed on a pet such as a dog  30 , with the dog&#39;s head protruding through the opening  20 . As shown, garments  100 ,  100 ′ may hang around the dog  30  on both sides and front and back hindquarters while the dog  30  is drying, and optionally sized so that when worn by a pet it does not touch the ground. Various embodiments may therefore be provided with dimensions tailored to pets of various sizes. As shown, garment  100 ′ of  FIG. 3  is substantially similar to garment  100  of  FIG. 2 , while including a fastener  40  as will be discussed in greater detail hereinbelow. 
         [0019]    Referring now to  FIG. 4 , proportions of alternative embodiments of the claimed invention may be determined by the length and shoulder height of various groups of pets. For example, in a representative embodiment, an axial dimension A of the fabric  10  may be approximately one and a half times the height (H) of a pet from shoulder to ground. A transverse dimension T of the fabric  10  may be approximately one and a half times a pet&#39;s shoulder height H plus a pet&#39;s length L from the bottom of the pet&#39;s neck to the end of its spine. As also shown, the center of opening  20  may be disposed at a distance of approximately ¾ H to H from the periphery of the fabric  10  in either the transverse or axial directions. Alternative embodiments may be made available in custom sizing as well as “off the shelf” sizing. 
         [0020]    As mentioned above, opening  20  may be provided with a hem  25 , such as by folding back the fabric along the periphery of opening  20  and sewing it in a conventional manner to enhance durability, and prevent the fabric from easily unraveling or shredding when a pet such as a dog shakes vigorously. Alternatively, or in addition, hem  25  may include reinforcement, such as in the form of additional fabric such as reinforced cotton or nylon, sewn about the periphery of opening  20 . 
         [0021]    While terry cloth has been described as a suitable material for fabric  10 , nominally any type of material known to those skilled in the art may be used. For example, various embodiments may include washable, highly absorbent fabrics such as cotton or cotton/polyester blends. Thermal fibers such as wool and polar-guard can be used, e.g., in northern climates to both dry a pet and to provide thermal protection for the pet. Variations for northern climates may include multiple ply construction, e.g., with absorbent fabric on the inside and thermally insulative fabric on the outside. 
         [0022]    Referring now to  FIG. 5 , as mentioned hereinabove, an alternate embodiment may include a seam  40  extending from opening  20  to a periphery of fabric  10 ′. Seam  40  may be provided with a fastener  50 , such as a zipper or a hook and loop fastener such as VELCRO® (Velcro Industries B.V., Netherlands). In other embodiments, a fastener  50  may include buttons, hooks, straps which tie together, etc. 
         [0023]    In the preceding specification, the invention has been described with reference to specific exemplary embodiments thereof. It may be evident that various modifications and changes may be made thereunto without departing from the broader spirit and scope of the invention as set forth in the claims that follow. The specification and drawings are accordingly to be regarded in an illustrative rather than restrictive sense.