Patent Publication Number: US-2021176966-A1

Title: Fitting implement and fitting method

Description:
TECHNICAL FIELD 
     The present disclosure relates to a fitting implement worn by a living organism, especially by an animal with body hair, and relates also to a method of attaching such a fitting implement to an animal. 
     BACKGROUND ART 
     Patent Literature 1 discloses a device for detecting biosignals of an animal, the device including a harness-like fitting member including: a chest strap; and a collar member. In the fitting member, the chest strap includes an upper strap piece to be passed from side to side over the back to cover the chest and a lower strap piece to be passed from side to side under the lower chest to cover the lower chest. The chest strap forms a circle when the upper and lower strap pieces are connected together at their ends. The upper strap piece has a columnar elastic member and an electrode on the inner surface of each end thereof. The electrode straddles the elastic member and extends toward the lengthwise middle of the upper strap piece. The electrode is passed through a slit formed in the upper strap piece to extend from the inner face to the outer face of the upper strap piece. The electrode is then disposed, at the far end thereof, on an insulating coating sheet on the outer face of the upper strap piece. An output means is removably attached to the electrode via a fixing member. 
     CITATION LIST 
     Patent Literature 
     Patent Literature 1: Japanese Patent Publication No. 3978453 (issued on Sep. 19, 2007) 
     SUMMARY 
     Technical Problem 
     In the fitting member disclosed in Patent Literature 1, however, the chest strap may be displaced as a result of a motion of the animal. The collar member can be pulled toward the back of the animal, possibly constricting its neck. 
     The present disclosure, in an aspect thereof, has an object to provide, for example, a fitting implement that reduces stress on the animal. 
     Solution to Problem 
     To address this issue, the present disclosure, in an aspect thereof, is directed to a fitting implement to be worn by an animal, the fitting implement including: a collar section to be fitted around a neck of the animal; and a first belt section and a second belt section each having an end connected to the collar section, wherein the first and second belt sections each include, at another end thereof, a connecting section configured to connect the other ends together. 
     The present disclosure, in another aspect thereof, is directed to a fitting implement to be worn by an animal, the fitting implement including: a collar section to be fitted around a neck of the animal; and a belt section having an end connected to the collar section, wherein the belt section includes, at another end thereof, a connecting section configured to connect the other end to the collar section, and the belt section has a suitable length to come into contact with respective left and right axillae of the animal for fitting. 
     Advantageous Effects of Disclosure 
     The present disclosure, in an aspect thereof, provides a fitting implement that reduces stress on the animal. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS 
       Portion (a) of  FIG. 1  is a perspective view of an exemplary structure of a fitting implement in accordance with Embodiment 1, and (b) of  FIG. 1  is a perspective view of another exemplary structure of the fitting implement in accordance with Embodiment 1. 
       Portion (a) of  FIG. 2  is a front view of a holder section before the holder section holds a coupler section, (b) of  FIG. 2  is a side view of the holder in the same condition as in (a) of  FIG. 2 , and (c) of  FIG. 2  is a side view of the holder section holding the coupler section. 
         FIG. 3  is a set of illustrations of a method of fitting the fitting implement in accordance with Embodiment 1 to a dog, (a) of  FIG. 3  showing the fitting implement being fitted to a dog and (b) of  FIG. 3  showing the fitting implement having been fitted completely. 
         FIG. 4  is a perspective view of a structure of a fitting implement in accordance with a variation example of Embodiment 1. 
         FIG. 5  is a perspective view of a structure of a fitting implement in accordance with a variation example of Embodiment 1 other than the variation example shown in  FIG. 4 . 
         FIG. 6  is a perspective view of a structure of a fitting implement in accordance with Embodiment 2. 
       Portion (a) of  FIG. 7  is a front view of a cover section  62  of a casing with the cover section  62  being open, (b) of  FIG. 7  is a side view of the cover section  62  in the same condition as in (a) of  FIG. 7 , and (c) of  FIG. 7  is a side view of the cover section  62  which is now closed. 
       Portion (a) of  FIG. 8  is an illustration of an exemplary shape of a bag section, and (b) of  FIG. 8  is an illustration of an exemplary shape of the bag section other than the example shown in (a) of  FIG. 8 . 
       Portion (a) of  FIG. 9  is an illustration of an exemplary method of disposing a conductive wire in a collar section, (b) of  FIG. 9  is an illustration of an exemplary method of disposing a conductive wire in a collar section other than the example shown in (a) of  FIG. 9 , and (c) of  FIG. 9  is an illustration of an exemplary method of disposing a conductive wire in a collar section other than the examples shown in (a) and (b) of  FIG. 9 . 
       Portion (a) of  FIG. 10  is a backside view of an exemplary method of connecting electrodes to a measuring instrument, (b) of  FIG. 10  is a backside view of an exemplary method of connecting electrodes to a measuring instrument other than the example shown in (a) of  FIG. 10 , (c) of  FIG. 10  is an illustration of another exemplary strap member, (d) of  FIG. 10  is an illustration of a variation example of the exemplary method of connecting electrodes to a measuring instrument shown in (b) of  FIG. 10 , and (e) of  FIG. 10  is an illustration of another exemplary method of connecting electrodes to a measuring instrument. 
       Portion (a) of  FIG. 11  is a perspective view of a casing with a cover section including a fixing member, and (b) of  FIG. 11  is a cross-sectional view of the casing shown in (a) of  FIG. 11  with the cover section being closed, as viewed from a side of the casing. 
       Portion (a) of  FIG. 12  is a perspective view of a casing with a bag section including a fixing member, (b) of  FIG. 12  is a perspective view of the casing shown in (a) of  FIG. 12  with the cover section being closed, and (c) of  FIG. 12  is a cross-sectional view of the casing in the same condition as in (b) of  FIG. 12 , as viewed from a side of the casing. 
         FIG. 13  is a set of illustrations of a structure of a portion of a fitting implement in accordance with Embodiment 3, (a) of  FIG. 13  being a front view and (b) of  FIG. 13  being a backside view. 
       Portion (a) of  FIG. 14  is a bottom view of a temperature sensor showing its shape, (b) of  FIG. 14  is a side view of the temperature sensor showing its shape, (c) of  FIG. 14  is an illustration of an exemplary method of fixing the temperature sensor in the location of a hole, and (d) of  FIG. 14  is an illustration of an exemplary method of fixing the temperature sensor in the location of a hole other than the example shown in (c) of  FIG. 14 . 
     
    
    
     DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENTS 
     The following will describe examples where the animal by which the fitting implement is worn is a dog. The animal by which the fitting implement is worn is not necessarily a dog and may be, for example, (i) a companion animal such as a cat, a rabbit, a ferret, a monkey, or a hamster, (ii) a farm animal such as a horse, a cow, a pig, a sheep, or a goat, or (iii) a large-sized animal such as a tiger or a lion. 
     Embodiment 1 
     A description is now given of an embodiment of the present disclosure with reference to  FIGS. 1 to 5 . 
     Portion (a) of  FIG. 1  is a perspective view of an exemplary structure of a harness  100  in accordance with the present embodiment. The harness  100  includes a leash  90  and a fitting implement  1 . The fitting implement  1  includes a collar section  10 , a first belt section  21 , and a second belt section  22  as shown in (a) of  FIG. 1 . The leash  90  is attached to the collar section  10 . 
     Portion (b) of  FIG. 1  is a perspective view of another exemplary structure of the harness  100  in accordance with the present embodiment. In the harness  100 , the leash  90  may be removable from the collar section  10 . For instance, the harness  100  may include a leash-end belt  91  to which the leash  90  is attached as shown in (b) of  FIG. 1 , in which case there may be provided connecting members  91   a  to  91   d  on the collar section  10  and the leash-end belt  91  to connect the leash-end belt  91  to the collar section  10 . 
     The collar section  10  is collar fitted around the neck of a dog. Referring to (a) of FIG.  1 , the collar section  10  includes a strap-shaped main segment  11  having a coupler section  12  on each end thereof. The collar section  10  takes on an annular shape when coupling these ends via the coupler sections  12 . The collar section  10  however does not necessarily have the coupler sections  12  and may alternatively be provided in the form of a continuous, annular member. 
     The collar section  10  is not necessarily made of a particular material and may be made of any material including natural leather, synthetic leather, resin, natural fiber, and chemical fiber. The collar section  10  may further include an adjuster section (not shown) to allow for adjustment of the length thereof. 
     The first belt section  21  and the second belt section  22  are belts each having a first end connected to the collar section  10 . The first belt section  21  and the second belt section  22  each have a second end where there is provided a connecting section  23  to connect the first belt section  21  and the second belt section  22  together at these second ends. When the dog is in the fitting implement  1 , the first belt section  21  and the second belt section  22  are passed under the dog&#39;s left and right armpits respectively. 
     The connecting sections  23  include a first connecting member  231  and a second connecting member  232  disposed at the respective second ends of the first belt section  21  and the second belt section  22 . Examples of the first connecting member  231  and the second connecting member  232  include buckles, hooks, press studs, and buttons. The first belt section  21  and the second belt section  22 , together with a portion of the collar section  10 , form an annular belt when the first connecting member  231  and the second connecting member  232  are connected. The first connecting member  231  and the second connecting member  232 , in the present embodiment, are connected to each other on the dog&#39;s back. Alternatively, the first belt section  21  and the second belt section  22  may have different lengths so that the first connecting member  231  and the second connecting member  232  can be connected, for example, on the dog&#39;s abdomen or side abdomen, other than on the dog&#39;s back. 
     The first connecting member  231  and the second connecting member  232  also function to adjust the lengths of the first belt section  21  and the second belt section  22  respectively. The lengths of the first belt section  21  and the second belt section  22  can be adjusted by folding back the first belt section  21  and the second belt section  22  at the first connecting member  231  and the second connecting member  232  respectively. 
     The first belt section  21  and the second belt section  22  are partly or entirely made of, for example, rubber or another elastic material. For instance, the first belt section  21  and the second belt section  22  may be provided by connecting a rubber belt with a poorly or hardly stretchable belt. 
     The first belt section  21  and the second belt section  22  include respective contact sections  24  and  25 . When the dog is in the fitting implement  1 , the contact sections  24  and  25  are in contact with the dog&#39;s left and right axillae respectively. The contact sections  24  and  25  may be, for instance, cylindrical cushioning members (e.g., polychloroprene) positioned respectively where the first belt section  21  and the second belt section  22  come in contact with the dog&#39;s axillae. The contact sections  24  and  25  are not necessarily provided separately from the main segments of the first belt section  21  and the second belt section  22 . 
     The first belt section  21  and the second belt section  22  are at least partly elastic as described above. This elasticity of the first belt section  21  and the second belt section  22  maintains the contact sections  24  and  25  in contact with the dog&#39;s axillae even when the dog wearing the fitting implement  1  changes its posture. 
     The collar section  10  includes a holder section  30 . The holder section  30  restricts displacement of the interconnected first and second belt sections  21  and  22  relative to the collar section  10 . The holder section  30  of the present embodiment includes an upper piece  31  (first opposing section, first piece of cloth) and a lower piece  32  (second opposing section, second piece of cloth). 
     The collar section  10  includes two circumferential segments delimited by the locations of the connections of the first and second belt sections  21  and  22  to the collar section  10 . The upper piece  31  constitutes a part of a longer one of the circumferential segments, which is described here taking (a) of  FIG. 1  as an example. The collar section  10  includes two circumferential segments  10   a  and  10   b  divided at the locations of the connections of the first and second belt sections  21  and  22  to the collar section  10 . The longer one of the circumferential segments is the circumferential segment  10   a , not the circumferential segment  10   b  where the coupler sections  12  are disposed. If the collar section  10  is formed by rendering the strap-shaped main segment  11  annular, the upper piece  31  may be disposed on the annular main segment  11  which is the collar section. In such a case, the upper piece  31  is disposed on the circumferential segment  10   a , which is the longer one of the two circumferential segments  10   a  and  10   b  divided at the two locations of the connections of the first and second belt sections  21  and  22  to the annular main segment  11 . Meanwhile, the lower piece  32  is disposed on the upper piece  31  or on the circumferential segment  10   a  of the collar section  10  where the upper piece  31  is disposed. 
     In the present embodiment, the upper piece  31  and the lower piece  32  can sandwich the connecting sections  23 . In so doing, the upper piece  31  and the lower piece  32  also sandwich the first belt section  21  and the second belt section  22  extending from the connecting sections  23 . The upper piece  31  and the lower piece  32  may sandwich, for example, at least one of the first belt section  21  and the second belt section  22 . By sandwiching at least one of the first belt section  21  and the second belt section  22 , the upper piece  31  and the lower piece  32  can restrict displacement of the first belt section  21  and the second belt section  22  relative to the collar section  10 . 
     Portion (a) of  FIG. 2  is a front view of the upper piece  31  and the lower piece  32  before the upper piece  31  and the lower piece  32  sandwich the connecting sections  23 . Portion (b) of  FIG. 2  is a side view of the upper piece  31  and the lower piece  32  in the same condition as in (a) of  FIG. 2 . Portion (c) of  FIG. 2  is a side view of the upper piece  31  and the lower piece  32  sandwiching the connecting sections  23 . 
     The upper piece  31  and the lower piece  32  include hook and loop fasteners  33  and  34  respectively on their opposing faces. To hold the connecting sections  23  in the holder section  30 , the connecting sections  23  are placed on the lower piece  32  with the upper piece  31  and the lower piece  32  being open, as shown in (a) and (b) of  FIG. 2 . Sandwiching the connecting sections  23  between the upper piece  31  and the lower piece  32  in this condition as shown in (c) of  FIG. 2  results in the hook and loop fasteners  33  and  34  engaging with each other sandwiching the connecting sections  23  therebetween. 
     The holder section  30  is thus capable of holding the first belt section  21  and the second belt section  22  in suitable locations. The holder section  30  hence reduces the stress on the dog caused by the displacement of the first belt section  21  and the second belt section  22  from their suitable locations. The covering of the connecting sections  23  by the holder section  30  can also reduce the possibility of, for example, the connecting sections  23  coming into contact with, and abrading, the dog&#39;s skin. The covering of the connecting sections  23  by the holder section  30  also improves appearance. 
     The connecting sections  23  may be held anywhere in the holder section  30  as long as the connecting sections  23  remain within the engaging surfaces of the hook and loop fasteners  33  and  34 . Therefore, the stress on the dog of wearing the fitting implement  1  can be reduced by determining the locations of the connecting sections  23  according to the dog&#39;s body size. The hook and loop fasteners  33  and  34  preferably have large areas to provide extra freedom in positioning the connecting sections  23  in the holder section  30 . 
     Referring to (a) of  FIG. 2 , the holder section  30  can additionally hold segments  211  and  221  that are those ends of the folded first and second belt sections  21  and  22  which are dangling from the first and second connecting members  231  and  232 . This structure can reduce the possibility of the dog in the fitting implement  1  biting the segments  211  and  221  and hence damaging the fitting implement  1 . 
       FIG. 3  is a set of illustrations of a method of fitting the fitting implement  1  to a dog, (a) of  FIG. 3  showing the fitting implement  1  being fitted to a dog and (b) of  FIG. 3  showing the fitting implement  1  having been fitted completely. To fit the fitting implement  1  to a dog, a user (e.g., the dog&#39;s owner or veterinarian) first of all fits the collar section  10  around the neck of the dog as shown in (a) of  FIG. 2  (fitting step). Next, the user passes the first belt section  21  and the second belt section  22  under the dog&#39;s respective armpits, in such a manner that the first belt section  21  and the second belt section  22  come into contact with the dog&#39;s left and right axillae respectively (axilla contact step). The user then connects the second ends of the first belt section  21  and the second belt section  22  (those ends where the first belt section  21  and the second belt section  22  are not connected to the collar section  10 ) via the connecting sections  23  (connecting step). The user can fit the fitting implement  1  to the dog by these steps. 
     The fitting implement  1  includes: the collar section  10  fitted around the neck of an animal; and the first belt section  21  and the second belt section  22  each having a first end connected to the collar section  10  as described above. The first belt section  21  and the second belt section  22  each have a second end where there is provided a connecting section  23  to connect the first belt section  21  and the second belt section  22  together at these second ends. 
     Therefore, when the user wants to fit the fitting implement  1 , he/she needs only to fit the collar section  10  to the dog, pass the first and second belt sections  21  and  22  under the dog&#39;s armpits, and connect the first and second belt sections  21  and  22  on the dog&#39;s back. When the first belt section  21  and the second belt section  22  are pulled toward the back of the dog due to a change in action or posture of the dog, the collar section  10  is pulled toward the front of the dog, thereby reducing the possibility of the fitting implement  1  constricting the dog&#39;s neck. The fitting implement  1  hence reduces stress on the dog both while the fitting implement  1  is being fitted to the dog and after the fitting implement  1  is completely fitted to the dog. 
     Variation Example 1 
       FIG. 4  is a perspective view of a structure of a fitting implement  1 A in accordance with a variation example of the present embodiment. The fitting implement  1  includes the first belt section  21  and the second belt section  22  in the embodiment described above. The fitting implement  1 A of the present variation example may include only one belt section  26 , not two belt sections. The belt section  26  has a first end connected to the collar section  10 . The belt section  26  has a second end where there is provided a connecting member  271  to connect that second end to the collar section  10 . The collar section  10  further includes a connecting member  272  for connection to the connecting member  271 . 
     The belt section  26  has a sufficient length to be passed from either the left or right armpit of the dog over the back to the opposite armpit for fitting. To fit the fitting implement  1 A to a dog, the user first of all fits the collar section  10  around the dog&#39;s neck in the same manner as he/she fits the fitting implement  1  (fitting step). Next, the user passes the belt section  26  under the dog&#39;s armpits, in such a manner that the belt section  26  passes over the dog&#39;s back and comes into contact with the left and right axillae (axilla contact step). The user then connects the second end of the belt section  26  to the collar section  10  (connecting step). 
     Since the belt section  26  is passed under the dog&#39;s armpits and over its back, this fitting implement  1 A reduces stress on the dog similarly to the fitting implement  1  described above. The holder section  30  can additionally hold a segment  261  that is the end of the folded belt section  26  that is dangling from the connecting member  271  if the segment  261  is too long. 
     Variation Example 2 
       FIG. 5  is a perspective view of a structure of a fitting implement  1 B in accordance with a variation example of the present embodiment other than the variation example shown in  FIG. 4 . The fitting implement  1 B includes a pressure sensor  28  on a face that is in the vicinity of the contact section  24  of the first belt section  21  or the contact section  25  of the second belt section  22  and that comes into contact with the dog&#39;s body. The pressure sensor  28  may measure the pressure applied by the first belt section  21  to the dog&#39;s body, so that the pressure can be displayed on a display device (e.g., a display device for a personal computer or a smartphone) owned by the user. The pressure sensor  28  may alternatively be so arranged that the display device can display a message that the pressure is too strong or too weak. As a further alternative, the pressure sensor  28  may be so arranged that the user can intuitively understand the magnitude or appropriateness (e.g., too weak, appropriate, or too strong) of the fastening force by means of an indicator or color display representing the fastening force. 
     Any of these arrangements enables the user to adjust the length of the first belt section  21  on the basis of the pressure measured by the pressure sensor  28 , so that the first belt section  21  is in contact with the dog with suitable pressure. The pressure sensor  28  is provided only on the first belt section  21  in the example shown in  FIG. 5 . Alternatively, there may be provided two pressure sensors  28 , one on the first belt section  21  and the other on the second belt section  22 . A single pressure sensor may be provided only on the second belt section  22 . 
     Embodiment 2 
     A description is now given of another embodiment of the present disclosure with reference to  FIGS. 6 to 10 . For convenience of description, members of the present embodiment that have the same function as members of the previous embodiment are indicated by the same reference numerals, and description thereof is omitted. 
       FIG. 6  is a perspective view of a structure of a fitting implement  2  in accordance with the present embodiment. The fitting implement  2  is, for example, an instrument for measuring the dog&#39;s cardiac electrical activity. The fitting implement  2  differs from the fitting implement  1  in that the fitting implement  2  does not include the holder section  30  and instead includes a measuring instrument  40 , conductive wires  13 , electrodes  51  and  52 , and a casing  60 . 
     The casing  60  is arranged to sit on the back of a dog when the collar section  10  is fitted to the dog, similarly to the holder section  30 . Specifically, the casing  60  is disposed on a longer one of the circumferential segments of the collar section  10  delimited by the locations of the connections of the first and second belt sections  21  and  22  to the collar section  10 . The casing  60  may be made of, for example, cloth such as woven fabric of chemical or natural fibers. Besides cloth, the casing  60  may also be formed of a plastic material in the shape of a rigid box or of a silicon material in the shape of a soft box or bag. The casing  60  includes a bag section  61  (first opposing section) and a cover section  62  (second opposing section). The bag section  61  is a bag-shaped member for holding the measuring instrument  40  therein. The cover section  62  is a member for covering the opening of the bag section  61 . In the present embodiment, there are provided hook and loop fasteners  63  and  64 , as fixing members for fixing the cover section  62  to the outside of the bag section  61 , respectively on a surface of the bag section  61  facing the cover section  62  and a surface of the cover section  62  facing the bag section  61 . The casing  60  houses the connecting sections  23  therein in the present embodiment. 
     Portion (a) of  FIG. 7  is a front view of the cover section  62  of the casing  60  with the cover section  62  being open, (b) of  FIG. 7  is a side view of the cover section  62  in the same condition as in (a) of  FIG. 7 , and (c) of  FIG. 7  is a side view of the cover section  62  which is now closed. 
     To hold the connecting sections  23  in the casing  60 , the connecting sections  23  are connected on the bag section  61  with the cover section  62  being open as shown in (a) and (b) of  FIG. 7 . When the cover section  62  is closed in this condition as shown in (c) of  FIG. 7 , the hook and loop fasteners  63  and  64  engage with each other, sandwiching the connecting sections  23  therebetween. The casing  60  can hence hold the connecting sections  23 . The casing  60  may additionally hold the dangling ends of the first belt section  21  and the second belt section  22 . 
     Portion (a) of  FIG. 8  is an illustration of an exemplary shape of the bag section  61 , and (b) of  FIG. 8  is an illustration of an exemplary shape of the bag section  61  other than the example shown in (a) of  FIG. 8 . The bag section  61  may be shaped with no gore, for example, as shown in (a) of  FIG. 8 . The bag section  61  may alternatively be shaped including a gore  611 , for example, as shown in (b) of  FIG. 8 . 
     The measuring instrument  40  is a device for measuring the dog&#39;s cardiac electrical activity. The measuring instrument  40  is connected electrically to the electrodes  51  and  52  via the conductive wires  13 . The electrodes  51  and  52  are disposed in such location as to flank the dog&#39;s heart. The measuring instrument  40  detects and analyzes the electrical potential difference between the electrodes  51  and  52  to measure the dog&#39;s cardiac electrical activity. 
     The electrodes  51  and  52  are electrodes for measuring the dog&#39;s cardiac electrical activity. The electrodes  51  and  52  may alternatively be devices for measuring biological information other than the dog&#39;s cardiac electrical activity. Specifically, the electrodes  51  and  52  may be, for example, pieces of conductive cloth disposed on the outer circumference of the cushioning material. The electrodes  51  and  52  are provided in the contact sections  24  and  25 . The contact sections  24  and  25  are brought into contact with the dog&#39;s axillae as described earlier. Therefore, the electrodes  51  and  52  are similarly brought into contact with the dog&#39;s axillae. 
     Conductive gel sheets may additionally be attached around the electrodes  51  and  52 . The gel sheets are auxiliary members intended to increase the skin-electrode contact area for improved electrical conductivity. The attaching of the gel sheets also better maintains the contact between the electrodes  51  and  52  and the axillae even if the dog in the fitting implement  2  changes its posture. 
     In an axilla, the dog&#39;s body has a surface area with relatively sparse fur. Therefore, by bringing the electrodes  51  and  52  into contact with the axillae, the dog&#39;s cardiac electrical activity can be measured without having to shave the fur, apply electrically conductive gel, or perform another similarly troublesome process. The axillae are unlikely to come into contact with, for example, the floor or wall. For this reason, the electrodes  51  and  52  will remain in place, which contributes to successful normal measurement. 
     Portion (a) of  FIG. 9  is an illustration of an exemplary method of disposing the conductive wires  13  in the collar section  10 , the first belt section  21 , or the second belt section  22 . Each conductive wire  13  is a signal line connecting the electrode  51  or  52  to the measuring instrument  40 . The conductive wires  13  run in the first belt section  21 , the second belt section, and the collar section  10 . In other words, the electrodes  51  and  52  are connected to the measuring instrument  40  via the conductive wires  13  running in the first or second belt section  21  or  22  and the collar section  10 . The conductive wires  13  may be made of, for example, a metal, an electrically conductive thread, or an electrically conductive tape. 
     According to the method shown in (a) of  FIG. 9 , one of the conductive wires  13  is disposed near a side of the main segment  11  of the collar section  10  with respect to the width direction thereof. The conductive wire  13  is then covered with an edging member  14  that is typically a bias tape, so that the collar section  10  encloses, and does not expose, the conductive wire  13 . The other conductive wires  13 , running from the electrodes  51  and  52  to the collar section  10  through the first belt section  21  and the second belt section  22  respectively, are provided in a similar manner. 
     The edging member  14  is preferably made of a non-conductive material such as cotton, synthetic fiber, or rubber. Cloth or other material with an electromagnetic shielding property may additionally be attached or sewn to the external or internal surface of the edging member  14 . The covering of the conductive wires  13  with the edging member  14  reduces both noise induced by the contact of the conductive wires  13  with an object that resides further outside such as body hair, the ground, or the floor and noise from electromagnetic waves travelling in the surroundings. 
     Portion (b) of  FIG. 9  is an illustration of an exemplary method of disposing the conductive wire  13  in the collar section  10 , the first belt section  21 , or the second belt section  22  other than the example shown in (a) of  FIG. 9 . In the collar section  10 , the cloth constituting the main segment  11  itself may be so structured as to be wrapped around the conductive wire  13  as shown in (b) of  FIG. 9 . 
     Portion (c) of  FIG. 9  is an illustration of an exemplary method of disposing the conductive wire  13  in the collar section  10 , the first belt section  21 , or the second belt section  22  other than the examples shown in (a) and (b) of  FIG. 9 . The collar section  10  shown in (c) of  FIG. 9  includes interfacing  15  covered with cloth, in order to maintain the collar shape. The interfacing  15  is made of, for example, rubber. In such an example, the first belt section  21  or the second belt section  22  may include the conductive wires  13  embedded in the interfacing  15 . 
     Portion (a) of  FIG. 10  is a backside view of an exemplary method of connecting the electrodes  51  and  52  to the measuring instrument  40 . The bag section  61  in the example shown in (a) of  FIG. 10  includes two spring hooks  65 . The spring hooks  65  engage with respective spring hooks (not shown) provided on the measuring instrument  40 . The spring hooks  65  are connected electrically to the electrodes  51  and  52  via the conductive wires  13  respectively. The spring hooks provided on the measuring instrument  40  function as input terminals (contacts) for electric signals to the measuring instrument  40 . This engagement of the spring hooks  65  with the respective spring hooks provided on the measuring instrument  40  connects the measuring instrument  40  to the electrodes  51  and  52  and also fixes the measuring instrument  40  to the casing  60 . There may be provided three or more spring hooks  65  on each of the bag section  61  and the measuring instrument  40 . The spring hooks  65  are provided outside the bag section  61  in the example shown in (a) of  FIG. 10 , but are not necessarily provided outside the bag section  61 . 
     In the example shown in (a) of  FIG. 10 , the spring hooks  65  are provided off the center of the bag section  61 , and the bag section  61  is sufficiently larger in size than the measuring instrument  40 . The bag section  61  is therefore capable of housing a battery  41 , as well as the measuring instrument  40 , to power the measuring instrument  40 . Needless to say, the measuring instrument  40  is connected electrically to the battery  41  (connection not shown). 
     Portion (b) of  FIG. 10  is a backside view of an exemplary method of connecting the electrodes  51  and  52  to the measuring instrument  40  other than the example shown in (a) of  FIG. 10 . The measuring instrument  40  and the battery  41  are omitted in (b) of  FIG. 10 . The spring hooks  65  are provided on the bag section  61  in the example shown in (a) of  FIG. 10 . In contrast, in the example shown in (b) of  FIG. 10 , the casing  60  includes a strap member  66  where the spring hooks  65  are provided. 
     The strap member  66  is a strap-shaped member fixed to the casing  60  only at an end thereof. The other end of the strap member  66  is not fixed. Therefore, the whole strap member  66 , including the spring hooks  65 , can be taken out of the bag section  61  in the example shown in (b) of  FIG. 10 . The measuring instrument  40  can hence be connected to the spring hooks  65  before being stowed into the bag section  61 . The measuring instrument  40  can be housed in the casing  60  more easily in the example shown in (b) of  FIG. 10  than in the example shown in (a) of  FIG. 10 . 
     Portion (c) of  FIG. 10  is an illustration of another example of the strap member  66 . The strap member  66  has an end fixed to the casing  60  in the example shown in (b) of  FIG. 10 . Alternatively, the strap member  66  may have none of the ends thereof fixed to the casing  60 . In such cases, the strap member  66  needs only to provide an area where the two spring hooks  65  are disposed and may therefore have a reduced area as shown in (c) of  FIG. 10 . 
     The relative positions of the casing  60  and the measuring instrument  40  are variable in the examples shown in (b) and (c) of  FIG. 10 . Acceleration may therefore be not detected in a suitable manner, for example, if the measuring instrument  40  further includes an acceleration sensor to measure changes in position of the dog. In such cases, the example shown in (a) of  FIG. 10  may be used as a preferred example. 
     Portion (d) of  FIG. 10  is an illustration of a variation example of the exemplary method of connecting the electrodes  51  and  52  to the measuring instrument  40  shown in (b) of  FIG. 10 . The example shown in (d) of  FIG. 10  differs from the example shown in (b) of  FIG. 10  in that the bag section  61  in the former includes a partition  61   a.    
     The partition  61   a  is formed by, for example, sewing, to the inner surface of the bag section  61 , a piece of cloth other than the piece of cloth constituting the bag section  61 . The partition  61   a  divides the interior of the bag section  61  into two areas. The measuring instrument  40  and the battery  41  are housed in different areas. 
     This structure does not allow the measuring instrument  40  to move inside the bag section  61  as much as does the example shown in (b) of  FIG. 10 , thereby reducing displacement of the measuring instrument  40 . The structure can hence improve precision in the detection of acceleration when the measuring instrument  40  includes an acceleration sensor. The partition  61   a  may alternatively be formed by sewing or attaching the cloth on the front of the bag section  61  to the cloth on the back of the bag section  61 . 
     Portion (e) of  FIG. 10  is an illustration of another exemplary method of connecting the electrodes  51  and  52  to the measuring instrument  40 . A connector  16  is provided at each end of the collar section  10  to connect the measuring instrument  40  electrically to the electrodes  51  and  52  in the example shown in (e) of  FIG. 10 . The connector  16  is a connection terminal provided on an exposed part of the conductive wire  13  on an end of the collar section  10 . The connector  16  is connected to a connection terminal (not shown) provided on a substrate for the conductive wires  13  and the measuring instrument  40 . This is another method of connecting the electrodes  51  and  52  to the measuring instrument  40 . 
     The fitting implement  2  includes the electrodes  51  and  52  in locations where the fitting implement  2  comes into contact with the dog&#39;s axillae, as described above. The fitting implement  2  further includes: the measuring instrument  40  for detecting and analyzing the electrical potential difference between the electrodes  51  and  52  to measure the cardiac electrical activity of a dog (a subject to be examined); the conductive wires  13  serving as signal lines connecting the electrode  51  and  52  to the measuring instrument  40 ; and the casing  60  for housing the measuring instrument  40  and the battery  41 . Therefore, the fitting implement  2 , when fitted to a dog, enables measurement of the dog&#39;s cardiac electrical activity. The fitting implement  2  may include a communications unit for externally transmitting information representing the electrical potential difference between the electrodes  51  and  52 , instead of including the measuring instrument  40 , in which case an external device receiving the information can measure the dog&#39;s cardiac electrical activity. 
     Variation Example 
     A description is now given of a variation example of the casing  60 . The casing  60  in the following variation example differs from the fitting implement  2  of the embodiments described above in that the former includes no hook and loop fasteners  63  and  64  for fixing the closed cover section  62 . 
     Portion (a) of  FIG. 11  is a perspective view of the casing  60  with the cover section  62  including a fixing member  68 , and (b) of  FIG. 11  is a cross-sectional view of the casing  60  shown in (a) of  FIG. 11  with the cover section  62  being closed, as viewed from a side of the casing  60 . The measuring instrument  40  and the battery  41  are omitted in (a) and (b) of  FIG. 11 . 
     In the casing  60  shown in (a) and (b) of  FIG. 11 , the fixing member  68  is a strap-shaped member fixed to the cover section  62  at an end thereof. A hook and loop fastener  69  is provided at the other end of the fixing member  68  and on a surface of the bag section  61  opposite the cover section  62  (on the back of the bag section  61 ). The closed cover section  62  can be fixed by passing a fixing member  68  over the back of the bag section  61  and fixing the fixing member  35  with the hook and loop fastener  69  as shown in (b) of  FIG. 11 . A button, a hook, or a press stud, to name a few examples, may be provided on the fixing member  68  and on the back of the bag section  61 , replacing the hook and loop fastener  69 . 
     Portion (a) of  FIG. 12  is a perspective view of the casing  60  with the bag section  61  including the fixing member  68 , (b) of  FIG. 12  is a perspective view of the casing  60  shown in (a) of  FIG. 12  with the cover section  62  being closed, and (c) of  FIG. 12  is a cross-sectional view of the casing  60  in the same condition as in (b) of  FIG. 12 , as viewed from a side of the casing  60 . The fixing member  68  is a strap-shaped member fixed to the bag section  61  at an end thereof as shown in (a) of  FIG. 12 . A hook and loop fastener is provided at the other end of the fixing member  68  and on a surface of the cover section  62  opposite the bag section  61  (on the front of the cover section  62 ). The cover section  62  can be closed by passing the fixing member  68  over the front of the cover section  62  and fixing the fixing member  68  with the hook and loop fastener as shown in (b) of  FIG. 12 . A button, a hook, or a press stud, to name a few examples, may be provided on the fixing member  68  and on the front of the cover section  62 , replacing the hook and loop fastener  69 . 
     Embodiment 1 was described as the fitting implement  1  not necessarily including the second belt section  22 . On the other hand, the fitting implement  2  of the present embodiment needs to connect the measuring instrument  40  and the electrodes  51  and  52 . If the fitting implement  2  includes no second belt section  22 , one of the electrodes  51  and  52  requires a conductive wire with an additional length to be connected to the measuring instrument, or electrical connections need to be established by the connecting sections  23 . For these reasons, the fitting implement  2  has a simpler structure if the fitting implement  2  includes the first belt section  21  and the second belt section  22 . 
     Embodiment 3 
     A description is now given of another embodiment of the present disclosure with reference to  FIGS. 13 and 14 . 
       FIG. 13  is a set of illustrations of a structure of a portion of a fitting implement  3  in accordance with the present embodiment, (a) of  FIG. 13  being a front view and (b) of  FIG. 13  being a backside view. The fitting implement  3  has substantially the same structure as the fitting implement  2 . The first belt section  21  and the second belt section  22  are omitted in  FIG. 13  for this reason. 
     Referring to  FIG. 13 , the fitting implement  3  has a hole  67  on the back of the casing  60 , that is, on the surface that faces the dog. The fitting implement  3  includes a temperature sensor  42 . The measuring instrument  40  has a function of measuring the body surface temperature of a dog. The temperature sensor  42  is a body surface temperature sensor that is brought into contact with the dog&#39;s body via the hole  67  to measure the dog&#39;s body surface temperature. 
     Portion (a) of  FIG. 14  is a bottom view of the temperature sensor  42  showing its shape, and (b) of  FIG. 14  is a side view of the temperature sensor  42  showing its shape. The temperature sensor  42  includes a sensor unit  421  for detecting the dog&#39;s body surface temperature and a stopper  422  for preventing the temperature sensor  42  from falling through the hole  67  as shown in (a) and (b) of  FIG. 14 . The stopper  422  is a platelike member and has a larger diameter than does the hole  67 . The stopper  422  is caught by the rim of the hole  67 , thereby preventing the temperature sensor  42  from falling through the hole  67 . 
     Portion (c) of  FIG. 14  is an illustration of an exemplary method of fixing the temperature sensor  42  in the location of the hole  67 . There is provided a press member  43  inside the bag section  61  in the example shown in (c) of  FIG. 14 . The press member  43  exerts a force on the temperature sensor  42  in the direction of pushing the temperature sensor  42  out of the hole  67 . The press member  43  is a strap-shaped member formed so as to cover the hole  67  inside the bag section  61 . The press member  43  is made of an elastic material such as rubber. To install the temperature sensor  42  in the bag section  61 , the press member  43  is displaced to expose the sensor unit  421  in the hole  67  and thereafter returned to the original location. The temperature sensor  42  can be removed from the bag section  61  by the same procedures as when the temperature sensor  42  is installed, but performed in reverse order. 
     Portion (d) of  FIG. 14  is an illustration of an exemplary method of fixing the temperature sensor  42  in the location of the hole  67  other than the example shown in (c) of  FIG. 14 . The measuring instrument  40  is disposed on a side of the temperature sensor  42  opposite the side thereof that comes into contact with the dog&#39;s body in the example shown in (d) of  FIG. 14 . Instead of the measuring instrument  40 , the battery  41  may be disposed on that opposite side. Another member may be used as described here to exert a force in the direction of pushing the temperature sensor  42  out of the hole  67 . 
     The methods shown in (c) and (d) of  FIG. 14  can fix the temperature sensor  42  in the location of the hole  67  without having to sewing the temperature sensor  42  to the bag section  61 . Therefore, the temperature sensor  42  can be readily removed from the casing  60  when necessary. The casing  60 , which directly touches the dog&#39;s body, can be washed. 
     CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
     The present application claims priority to Japanese Patent Application, Tokugan, No. 2017-153661 filed on Aug. 8, 2017, which is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety. 
     The present disclosure is not limited to the description of the embodiments above and may be altered within the scope of the claims. Embodiments based on a proper combination of technical means disclosed in different embodiments are encompassed in the technical scope of the present disclosure. Furthermore, a new technological feature can be created by combining different technological means disclosed in the embodiments.