Abstract:
An animal collar is disclosed to limit irritation and loss of hair around an animal&#39;s neck. The part of the collar in contact with the animal remains relatively stationary.

Description:
RELATED US APPLICATION DATA  
       [0001]     This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Application No. 60/511,450 filed 15 Oct. 2003. 
     
    
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
       [0002]     1. Field of the Invention  
         [0003]     The present invention generally relates to collars, specifically to animal collars that limit irritation and loss of hair around the necks of animals.  
         [0004]     2. Description of Related Art  
         [0005]     Collars are worn by many animals, including dogs and cats, and sometimes by children. Many animals will wear a collar for most of their lives. Unfortunately, collars irritate the neck. Whenever the collar moves, it creates friction with the neck, causing irritation, itchiness, and even a loss of hair, fur, or wool in the area around and on the neck. The collar moves when the leash that is attached to the collar is pulled or dragged. The collar can be pulled or dragged when the animal is walked or tied up. For example, when the animal changes direction or attempts to go beyond the range of its leash, the collar will rub against the neck.  
         [0006]     Also, a collar&#39;s movement around the neck of an animal increases the likelihood that the hair, fur, or wool of the animal will tangle with the collar, causing the animal unnecessary pain and discomfort. Animals have a difficult time untangling their hair. As a result, they often scratch their necks or chew the hair, fur, or wool around their necks in order to alleviate their discomfort.  
         [0007]     The present invention is primarily directed at overcoming these issues with the conventional collar.  
       SUMMARY OF INVENTION  
       [0008]     Briefly described in preferred form, the present invention is a collar that reduces the irritation associated with wearing the collar around the neck. This is accomplished by having a connector member, movable about at least a portion of the neck without contacting the neck. An encircling member of the collar remains relatively idle on the neck. In a preferred embodiment, an inner part of the collar is made of a soft, comfortable material and will rest relatively idly on the neck even while the animal is leashed and the leash is pulled and dragged.  
         [0009]     Therefore it is an object of the present invention to provide a collar that greatly reduces the amount of irritation encountered at the neck of an animal due to the movement of its collar.  
         [0010]     It is a further object of the present invention to reduce the tangling of the hair, fur, or wool around the neck of an animal.  
         [0011]     These and other objects, features and advantages of the present invention will become more apparent upon reading the following specification in conjunction with the accompanying drawing figures. 
     
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       [0012]      FIG. 1  illustrates a perspective view of the present invention according to a preferred embodiment.  
         [0013]      FIG. 2  illustrates an exploded view of the invention of  FIG. 1 .  
         [0014]      FIGS. 3A-3D  illustrate one embodiment of the connector member of the present invention.  
         [0015]      FIG. 4  shows one embodiment of the encircling member of the present invention.  
         [0016]      FIG. 5  illustrates another embodiment of the connector member of the present invention.  
         [0017]      FIG. 6  is a perspective view of a jewelry unit of the present.  
         [0018]      FIGS. 7-9  illustrate perspective views of the present invention according to other preferred embodiments.  
         [0019]      FIG. 10  shows another embodiment of the encircling member of the present invention. 
     
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS  
       [0020]     Referring now in detail to the drawing figures, wherein like reference numerals represent like parts throughout the several views,  FIG. 1  illustrates a preferred embodiment of the present a collar  10 . The collar  10  comprises an encircling member  20  that encircles the neck of the animal, and a connector member  30  that can rotate about the neck in communication with the encircling member  20 . The connector member  30  can move around the encircling member  20  without contact with the neck, thus making the present invention  10  a much more comfortable collar. A leash (not shown) can then be attached to the connector member  30 . When used, the present invention  10  enables the leash to move about the animal&#39;s neck without twisting the collar, and making for an uncomfortable fit with the animal.  
         [0021]      FIG. 1  illustrates the present invention  10 , wherein the encircling member  20  comprises a body  22 , a platform  24  extending outward from the body  22 , and having two tracks  26  at the junction of the body  22  and platform  24 . The platform  24  can be of unitary construction with the body  22 , or, alternatively releasably attached to the body  22  by VELCRO or the like so the collar is easily alterable by the user. That is, the body  22  and platform  24  can be sold separately, and the user mix and match various sizes, shapers, materials, colors, and the like bodies  22  and platforms  24  at their whim.  
         [0022]     The connector member  30  comprises a loop  32  for connecting to a leash, and two flanges  34  that have portions that ride within the corresponding tracks  26 . The encircling member  20  is open in  FIG. 1 , and closed in  FIG. 2 . The connector member  30  of this embodiment is illustrated in  FIGS. 3A-3D . Flanges  34  of connector member  30  can further comprising track riding portions  36 .  
         [0023]     As shown in  FIGS. 1-3D , the platform  24  can be triangular in shape extending normal from the body  22 . The tracks  26  are spaced apart in similar design as the flanges  34 , and the depth of the tracks can be similar to the length of the portions  36 . The connector member  30  too can be triangular in shape.  
         [0024]     While the encircling member  20  can comprise as outwardly flared platform  24  to facilitate ultimate connection to a leash, the encircling member  20  can comprise an inwardly formed channel  28  as shown in  FIG. 4 . In such an embodiment, the connector member is designed to ride within the channel  28 , wherein  FIG. 5  illustrates one such connector member  40 . Connector member  40  comprises a loop  42  for connecting to a leash, and a body  44  designed to cooperate with the channel  28 , such that connector member  40  can move smooth around the encircling member  20 , but not separate away from the member  20 .  
         [0025]     Jewelry  50  can be incorporated with the invention  10 . As shown in  FIGS. 6-7 , a jewelry piece  50  can be accommodated in channel  28 , wherein a connector member  40  is located as well. Jewelry  50  can incorporate a plurality of pieces  52 . For example, the jewelry  50  can comprise steel ball bearings  54  either separately movable, or linked together, that are moveable within a track or channel. The jewelry  50  can further include, among others, studs, spikes, precious stones, birthstones, gems, beads, feathers, metal decorations, and wood decorations.  
         [0026]     Additional embodiments include an encircling member  20  comprising an outwardly flared channel system  60 , extending from the body  22 , wherein the connector member  40  and perhaps jewelry  50 , and contained within the channel system  60 , as shown in  FIGS. 8-9 . The encircling member  20  can also comprise an outer ring  70  around which a connector member in the form of a shuttle  80  can move, as shown in  FIG. 10 .  
         [0027]     The encircling member  20  itself preferably has minimal movement around the neck, for the animal&#39;s comfort, where the leash is movable about the animal via the connector member  30 . The encircling member  20  can incorporate an inner surface of soft padding material, such as cotton, silk, polyester, sponge, flannel, foam, feathers so the collar feels comfortable on the neck. The inner surface  20  of the member can further include a gel layer and a magnetic layer, for either or both massaging with the gel, and magnetic therapy.  
         [0028]     The encircling member  20  can in whole or in part include cowhide, leathers, cotton, nylon, polyester, suede, silks, acrylic, linen, rayon, velour, velvet, raincoat material, and elastics, or skins and mixture of skins, such as snake, ostrich, alligator, crocodile, elephant, leopard, zebra, bear, shark, rabbit, minx, fox, pig, chinchilla, lion, or metals and rubbers. In another embodiment, the encircling member  20  can incorporate air pockets  90  therein that can be inflated for adjustable for comfort and fit.  
         [0029]     As shown in  FIG. 1 , the encircling member  20  can further comprise a hinge assembly  100  for opening and closing the collar. The hinge assembly  100  can comprise a locking mechanism to hold the collar together when locked.  
         [0030]     In other embodiments of the present invention, the connector member  30  can incorporate wheels and roll inside, outside, or within the encircling member  20 . The connector member  30  can further include a handle for the hand or for fingers. The connector member  30  and/or the loop  32  can be personalized as well, incorporating favored animal shapes, team logos, astrology signs, flags, one&#39;s initials, and the like.  
         [0031]     In preferred embodiments, the connector member  30  is movable 360 degrees about the entire neck such that the movement of the connector member  30 . In other embodiments, the connector member  30  can have restricted movement about the neck, or slowed movement when traversing a hinge or other element of the present invention.  
         [0032]     While the invention has been disclosed in its preferred forms, it will be apparent to those skilled in the art that many modifications, additions, and deletions can be made therein without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention and its equivalents, as set forth in the following claims.