Abstract:
An animal movement restraint operable to inhibit the animal engaged with the restraint from moving their head in a lateral and rearward direction. The animal movement restraint further includes a neckband surroundably mounted to the neck of the animal. A lower torso strap is further included and is circumferentially secured to the lower torso of the animal and is generally immovable. A first side strap and a second side strap are operably coupled intermediate the neckband and the lower torso strap. The first side strap and second side strap are adjustable in length and operable to be tightened so as to reduce the movement of the head of the animal. A mounting strap is secured intermediate the first side strap and second side strap extending over the back of the animal.

Description:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention relates to animal health, more specifically but not by way of limitation, an apparatus operable to inhibit the movement of an animal so as to prevent the animal from contacting an area of their body that requires healing due to circumstances such as but not limited to surgery or trauma. 
     BACKGROUND 
     It is well know in the art of veterinary care that wounds whether that are post-surgical or trauma-related should be protected during the healing process. Items such as but not limited to ointments and bandages are utilized to prevent infection and provide support of the area adjacent to the wound. Additionally, it is common to employ a device that will substantially inhibit the animal from licking or aggravating the wound site during the healing process. One known conventional item that is utilized is the protective cone. As is known in the art the protective cone is fastened around the neck of the animal so as to substantially reduce the ability for the animal to lick or reach the wound site as the cone is typically flared outwards proximate the head of the animal. These devices are typically made from a rigid material such as plastic. Many problems exist with this style of device. One problem is that the cone substantially inhibits the peripheral vision of the animal wearing the device. This limited vision combined with the discomfort of the rigid material can create significant discomfort and/or panic for the animal on which the cone has been placed. Another issue with these styles of existing devices is that these devices inhibit or substantially interfere with other tasks involved in the animal&#39;s daily routine. The rigid cones often make it difficult for an animal to eat or drink. Additionally, these rigid cones interfere with the animal&#39;s ability to lie down in a normal position. 
     Another existing device in the art is a doughnut style collar that is manufactured from an inflatable material or is manufactured from a thick foam or rubber material. These devices have inherent deficiencies as well as it pertains to the daily activities of the animal wearing the device. The doughnut style collars maintain the animal&#39;s neck in an unnatural position and further interfere with activities such as but not limited to sleeping or eating. 
     Accordingly, there is a need for a device that will substantially inhibit an animal from disrupting a wound site that is undergoing the healing process that does not interfere with the animals daily activities such as but not limited to sleeping or eating. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     It is the object of the present invention to provide an animal movement restraint device that substantially inhibits the lateral rotation movement of the animal engaged therewith. 
     A further object of the present invention is to provide an animal movement restraint device that includes a neckband. 
     Another object of the present invention is to provide an animal movement restraint device that is operable to substantially inhibit the lateral rotation movement of the animal engaged therewith that further includes a lower torso band that is circumferentially mounted around the lower torso of the animal. 
     Still a further object of the present invention is to provide an animal movement restraint device that includes a first lateral member and a second lateral member that are secured intermediate the neck band and the lower torso band. 
     An additional object of the present invention is to provide an animal movement restraint device that substantially inhibits lateral rotational movement of an animal that further includes an upper mounting band that is operably connected to the first and second lateral members. 
     Yet another object of the present invention is to provide an animal movement restraint device that substantially inhibits lateral rotational movement of an animal that is adjustable. 
     A further object of the present invention is to provide an animal movement restraint device that substantially inhibits lateral rotational movement of an animal that is lightweight and comfortable. 
     To the accomplishment of the above and related objects the present invention may be embodied in the form illustrated in the accompanying drawings. Attention is called to the fact that the drawings are illustrative only. Variations are contemplated as being a part of the present invention, limited only by the scope of the claims. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       A more complete understanding of the present invention may be had by reference to the following Detailed Description and appended claims when taken in conjunction with the accompanying Drawings wherein: 
         FIG. 1  is a right side view of an embodiment of the present invention engaged with an exemplary animal; and 
         FIG. 2  is a left side view of an embodiment of the present invention engaged with an exemplary animal; and 
         FIG. 3  is a perspective view of an embodiment of the present invention engaged with an exemplary animal. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
     Referring now to the drawings submitted herewith, wherein various elements depicted therein are not necessarily drawn to scale and wherein through the views and figures like elements are referenced with identical reference numerals, there is illustrated a animal movement restraint device  100  constructed according to the principles of the present invention. 
     The animal movement restraint device  100  further includes a neckband  5 . The neckband  5  is generally annular in shape and is operable to be surroundably mounted to an animal&#39;s neck. The neckband  5  is manufactured from a suitable durable material such as but not limited to nylon. The neckband  5  further includes an adjustment mechanism  7 . The adjustment mechanism  7  functions to alter the diameter of the neckband  5  so as to securely fit the neckband  5  to the neck area of an exemplary animal  99 . It is contemplated within the scope of the present invention that the neckband cold be used separately from the animal movement restraint device  100  as a conventional collar. Those skilled in the art will recognize that the neckband  5  could be manufactured in numerous different widths and/or encompass a variety of ornamental designs. 
     As shown in  FIG. 1 , a first side strap  10  is operably intermediate the neckband  7  and the lower torso strap  40 . The first side strap  10  includes a first end  12  and a second end  14 . The first end  12  is operably engaged with the neckband  5 . The first end  12  of the first side strap  10  is formed in a loop and is operable to be surroundably mounted to the neckband  5 . The first end  12  is movable along the neckband  5  so as to allow proper positioning thereof. The movable mounting of the first end  12  allows a user to properly fit the animal movement restraint device  100  to different size animals. It is contemplated within the scope of the present invention that the first end  12  could have fastened thereon a plastic ring or similar fastener so as to operably and movably engage with neckband  5 . 
     The first side strap  10  is generally rectangular in shape and planar in manner being manufactured from a suitable durable material such as but not limited to nylon. The first side strap  10  further includes and adjustment buckle  15 . The adjustment buckle  15  functions to alter the length of the first side strap  10 . While no particular length range is required for the first side strap  10 , good results have been achieved utilizing a first side strap  10  that is adjustable in length within the range of 6 to 25 inches. The second end  14  of the first side strap  10  is secured to the lower torso strap  40 . The second end  14  is secured to the lower torso strap  40  utilizing suitable durable techniques such as but not limited to stitching. The second end  14  is positioned on the lower torso strap  40  such that it is proximate the midpoint between the exemplary animal&#39;s upper back  97  and the belly area  96 . This placement position is preferred for maximizing the limitation of the rotational movement of the exemplary animal  99  as further discussed herein. 
     As shown in particular in  FIG. 2 , the animal movement restraint device  100  further includes a second side strap  30 . The second side strap  30  is constructed identically to the first side strap  10  as previously discussed herein. The second side strap  30  includes a first end  32  movably mounted to the neckband, a second end  34  secured to the lower torso strap  40  and an adjustment buckle  36  operable to adjust the length of the second side strap  30 . The second side strap  30  is operable to limit rotational movement of the exemplary animal&#39;s head  93  in the direction towards the opposite side of the animal  99  to which the second side strap  30  is mounted. By way of example but not by way of limitation, if the second side strap  30  is mounted adjacent to the left side of the exemplary animal  99 , subsequent the second side strap  30  being adjusted to the appropriate length, the exemplary animal  99  would have reduced ability to rotate its head  93  towards the right side of its body and in a generally rearward direction towards its posterior end  3 . Alternatively, if the first side strap  10  is adjacent the right side of the exemplary animals body  2  subsequent the animal movement restraint device  100  being fastened to the exemplary animal  99 , the exemplary animal  99  will have substantially reduced rotational movement of its head  93  towards the left side of the body towards the posterior end  3 . While in the preferred embodiment of the animal movement restraint device  100  a first side strap  10  and a second side strap  30  are utilized, it is contemplated within the scope of the present invention that the animal movement restraint device  100  could include only the first side strap  10  or second side strap  30  in order to substantially inhibit the rotational movement of the exemplary animal&#39;s head  93  in the direction towards the side (and posterior end  3 ) of the body  2  opposite to which either side strap  77  is mounted. 
     An upper support strap member  90  is mounted intermediate the first side strap  10  and the second side strap  30  and is generally perpendicular thereto. The upper support strap member  90  is generally rectangular in shape and planar in manner. The upper support strap member  90  is manufactured from a suitable durable material such as but not limited to nylon. The upper support strap member  90  includes a first end  91  and a second end  92 . The first end  91  is formed in a loop and is movably secure to the first side strap  10 . The second end  92  of the upper support strap member  90  is movably secured to the second side strap  30 . Those skilled in the art will recognize that numerous techniques and/or fasteners could be utilized to movably secured the first end  91  and second end  92 . The upper support strap member  90  is movably secured intermediate the first side strap  10  and second side strap  30  so as to allow a user to arrange the upper support side strap member  90  in a position that provides support to the first side strap  10  and second side strap  30  and assists in maintaining an ideal position thereof. The upper support strap member  90  is designed to be moveably secured to the first side strap  10  and second side strap  30  so as to be moved along the upper back  97  in order to be positionable for exemplary animals  99  of different sizes. While only one upper support strap member  90  is illustrated herein, it is contemplated within the scope of the present invention that the animal movement restriction device  100  could utilize more than one upper support strap member  90 . The upper support strap member  90  further includes an adjustment mechanism  67  that is operable to adjust the length of the upper support strap member  90  so as to improve the fit of the animal movement restraint device  100 . Those skilled in the art will recognize that numerous types of fasteners could be utilized in order to provide adjustment of the length of the upper support strap member  90 . 
     The lower torso strap  40  is surroundably mounted to the torso of the exemplary animal proximate it posterior end  3 . The lower torso strap  40  is manufactured from a suitable durable material such as but not limited to nylon. The lower torso strap  40  is securely attached to the exemplary animal  99  utilizing hook and loop fasteners or other suitable durable techniques. The lower torso strap  40  functions as the anchoring mechanism for the first side strap  10  and the second side strap  30 . Ensuing the surroundably mounting of the lower torso strap  40 , which is secured, as previously described herein, the animal&#39;s rotational movement is substantially restricted. As the second end  14  of the first side strap  10  is secured to the lower torso strap  40 , once the first side strap is adjusted in length such that there is substantially no slack in the first side strap  10  when the animal is in a neutral position as illustrated herein, an attempt by the exemplary animal  99  to rotate its head  97  in a direction toward the opposing side of the body  2  to which the first side strap  10  is mounted, the movement is substantially restricted as the tension on the first side strap  10  will inhibit the attempted movement. It should be understood that the same functionality is provided by the second side strap  30  to restrict the movement of the exemplary animals head  97  in the opposing direction as the first side strap  10 . The width of the lower torso strap  40  functions to potentially serve as a pressure applicator for a bandage that may be present on a wound site in the lower torso area of the exemplary animal  99 . Additionally, the width of the lower torso strap  40  functions to improve its ability to anchor the second ends  14 ,  34 . 
     In the preceding detailed description, reference has been made to the accompanying drawings that form a part hereof, and in which are shown by way of illustration specific embodiments in which the invention may be practiced. These embodiments, and certain variants thereof, have been described in sufficient detail to enable those skilled in the art to practice the invention. It is to be understood that other suitable embodiments may be utilized and that logical changes may be made without departing from the spirit or scope of the invention. The description may omit certain information known to those skilled in the art. The preceding detailed description is, therefore, not intended to be limited to the specific forms set forth herein, but on the contrary, it is intended to cover such alternatives, modifications, and equivalents, as can be reasonably included within the spirit and scope of the appended claims.