Abstract:
An integrated pet outfit that combines pet clothing with pet shoes and provides protection against inclement weather and outdoor elements as well as reducing the transmission of dirt and grime from outdoors into the owners home. The integration of the body covering, leggings and shoes minimizes exposure to the elements and prevents the loss or accidental removal of individual shoes.

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
       [0001]    This is a nonprovisional of a provisional application, Ser. No. 61/633,795 filed on Feb. 17, 2012, whose entire disclosure is incorporated by reference in its entirety herein. 
     
    
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
       [0002]    1. Field of the Invention 
         [0003]    The present invention relates generally to pet clothing and protective wear or apparel. In particular, it provides articles of clothing specifically designed to protect dogs from outside elements and to prevent the transmission of dirt and grime from outside into the pet owner&#39;s home. 
         [0004]    2. Background 
         [0005]    When nature calls, taking the pet for a walk is no longer desirable unless the owner would like to clean up inside their home. Unfortunately, the weather does not always cooperate with providing the perfect conditions for walking your pet and finding the perfect spot for waste elimination. Dogs seem to have an innate ability to find ways to get dirty, ensuring that when returning home after a romp in the park, the owner must face the issues of tracking the outside elements back into the house, or bathing the dog immediately to remove the outside elements. This is especially true during the rainy and snowy days or other whether conditions when it is inappropriate for leaving the pet outside of the house after the walk. Moreover, for pets that are kept in the living quarters with the owner, pet owners always try to avoid having outside elements, not to mention bugs or insects, into the living quarters. Prior pet clothes or apparels generally provide mere covering for the torso of the animal, but do not adequately address the need for overall body covering, or integrating the body coverings and paw coverings. In addition, previous variations of pet clothing include mainly with separate pieces for the body and for the paws. Since the shoes/booties are separate, they may be easier for the pet to remove and can become lost or dislodged, making it difficult for the pet to walk and becomes an added expense for the pet owner to replace. 
         [0006]    In another example, U.S. Pat. No. 6,024,055 discloses a dog sweater with integral legs, is constructed of knit materials and has a traditional circular neck band like a sweater requiring it to be pulled over the dogs head both to put it on and take it off. In a further example, U.S. Pat. No. 6,223,696 is constructed to provide ease of movement for the pet while walking and exercising but provides scant coverage of the body and no coverage of the legs and paws. 
       SUMMARY 
       [0007]    Embodiments of the invention overcome shortcomings of the prior technology by providing integrated pet apparel with paw-to-paw coverings for a pet. 
         [0008]    A pet apparel apparatus includes a torso element for receiving a torso of an animal. The apparatus also includes an opening for receiving a head of the animal. The apparatus further includes a set of leggings, and the set of leggings includes materials for receiving legs of the animal and for receiving paws of the animal. The apparatus includes a set of attachments disposed on the torso element, and the set of attachments has a male portion and a female portion. The male portion corresponds to the female portion. The set of attachments encloses the animal therein. The apparatus has another opening for receiving a rear of the animal. 
         [0009]    Another embodiment of the pet apparel apparatus includes a hood disposed at the opening for covering the head of the animal. 
         [0010]    Another embodiment of the pet apparel apparatus includes a set of fasteners disposed on the torso element, and the set of fasteners has a male portion and a female portion. The male portion corresponds to the female portion. The set of fasteners encloses the animal therein; 
         [0011]    Another embodiment of the pet apparel apparatus includes the torso element, the set of leggings, and the set of attachments connected as an integrated piece. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0012]    The present invention will now be discussed in further detail below with reference to the accompanying figures in which: 
           [0013]      FIG. 1  is an illustration of a bottom view of a pet apparel according to one embodiment of the invention. 
           [0014]      FIG. 2  is an illustration of a perspective view of the pet apparel in  FIG. 1  according to one embodiment of the invention. 
           [0015]      FIG. 3  is an illustration of a bottom view of a pet apparel according to another embodiment of the invention. 
           [0016]      FIG. 4  is an illustration of a bottom view of a pet apparel according to a further embodiment of the invention. 
           [0017]      FIG. 5  is an illustration of a bottom view of a pet apparel according to an alterative embodiment of the invention. 
           [0018]      FIG. 6  is an illustration of a perspective view of the pet apparel in  FIG. 5  according to the alternative embodiment of the invention. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
       [0019]      FIG. 1  illustrates a bottom view of a pet apparel  100  according to an embodiment of the invention. For example, the pet apparel  100  includes a torso element or main garment  102 , a set of leggings  108 . For example, the torso element  102  includes materials or fabrics that are used to receive, cover, or protect the torso of an animal  112 . In another embodiment, the torso element  102  includes an opening for receiving the head of the animal  112 . In a further embodiment, the torso element  102  includes another opening for the rear of the animal  112 . For example, the another opening includes an opening for one or more of the following parts of the animal  112 : croup, tail, rump, hip, and flank. In one example, the animal  112  is a dog or canine It is to be understood that the animal  112  may be other animals for which the apparel  100  is suited. 
         [0020]    In one embodiment, the set of leggings  108  is four to receive limbs of the animal  112 . For example, the set of leggings  108  are made of materials with sufficient length and width to receive or accommodate the limbs and the paws or claws of each of the limbs therewith such that the majority of the limbs and paws are covered by the materials of the set of leggings  108 . In one embodiment, the set of leggings  108  receives or covers the entire limbs and paws. In another embodiment, the set of leggings  108  receives or covers the front limbs or legs of the animal  112  in its entirety while receiving or covering a majority of the hind limbs or legs of the animal  112 . 
         [0021]    Referring further to  FIG. 1 , the apparel  100  also includes a set of attachments  106  or  104 . The set of attachments  106  or  104  may be disposed on different locations on the torso element  102 . For example, the set of attachments  106  may be disposed near the opening of the apparel  100  to enclose the torso element  102  to the torso of the animal  112  near the neck area. In another example, the set of attachments  104  may be disposed near the abdomen or mid-section of the animal  112  to tighten the torso element  102 . In one example, the set of attachments  106  or  104  may be fasteners of different types, such as Velcro, buttons, latches, belts, zippers, hook and loop type fastener, a hook and loop fastener, and snaps may also be used. For example, referring to  FIG. 3 , a zipper  206  for a pet apparel  200  is used as the set of attachments or fasteners for a torso element  202 . As such, the pet apparel  200  with its set of leggings  208  may be used to accommodate a particular size of animals  112  where the zipper  206  is more suitable. Moreover, a V-shaped opening  310  enables for freedom of movement of the animal  112  and expulsion of bodily waste of the animal  112 . A drawstring and clamp  212  enables the set of leggings  208  to be tightened around the lower part of the leg and secure the paws or claws of the animal  112 . 
         [0022]    In a further example, referring to  FIG. 4 , a set of button combinations  306  ( 306 - 1 ,  306 - 2 , and  306 - 3 ) is disposed on three locations of a torso element  302  for a pet apparel  300 . In this example, the pet apparel  300  and its set of leggings  308  may be tailored toward another set of animals  112  where multiple attachments or fasteners for the torso element  302  are preferable. 
         [0023]    Referring to  FIG. 2 , a perspective illustration of the apparel  100  in  FIG. 1  according to one embodiment of the invention. In one example, the apparel  100  may be designed or tailored to suit the sex of the animal  112 . For example, as illustrated in  FIG. 1  and  FIG. 2 , the apparel  100  includes a skirt or tapered design for a female dog. Furthermore, the apparel  100  may be tailored or styled for different climate, season, or fashion. For example,  FIG. 5  illustrates a pet apparel  400  that is designed with fur-like materials with a matching set of leggings  408 , a matching set of attachments  406  and  406  for the animal  112 . As such, it is to be understood that the pet apparel  100 ,  200 ,  300 , or  400  may be modified or styled to suit various needs of an owner of the animal  112  to outfit the animal  112  as she or he wishes without departing from the scope and spirit of the aspects of the invention. 
         [0024]      FIG. 6  further illustrates a perspective view of the fur-like trimmed apparel  400  according to one embodiment of the invention. 
         [0025]    Moreover,  FIG. 3  and  FIG. 4  display embodiments of the apparel  200  and  300  where a hood is used as an embodiment of the invention. 
         [0026]    It is also to be understood that a combination of materials may be used for the apparel  100 ,  200 ,  300  or  400 . For example, the apparel  100 ,  200 ,  300  or  400  may include water resistant, water repellent, dirt repellent, or the like materials. In another embodiment, the materials for the apparel  100 ,  200 ,  300  or  400  may include a combination of materials, such as natural materials or synthetic materials. In a further example, the apparel  100 ,  200 ,  300 , or  400  may be a coat, jacket, t-shirt, vest, dress, jogging suit, sweater, shirt, pants, or other suitable article of clothing made of a polyester like material. The material used may also be constructed with cotton, a cotton blend, a polyester blend, velour, polyurethane, etc. In one embodiment, a main garment may be created with or without a polyester lining. In this embodiment, the lining may also be cotton, a cotton blend, or a polyester blend. The underside opening provides ease of access for inserting the dog&#39;s legs into the set of leggings. 
         [0027]    Also, prior art typically avoids covering the paws or claws of the animal  112  because of the dirt and also the tendencies of the animal  112  itself. As such, having any boots or mittens, etc., are purely afterthoughts. Aspects of the invention aim to overcome that by specifically having the set of leggings  108 ,  208 ,  308 , or  408  to have an all-in-one design to integrate boots or mittens to receive and fit the paws or claws of the animal  112 . In conjunction with this, embodiments of the invention further provide a cohesive styling or uniform look of the apparel  100 ,  200 ,  300  or  400 . For example, the set of leggings  108 ,  208 ,  308  or  408  may have decorated styling sewed or coupled thereto. In another embodiment, the apparel  100 ,  200 ,  300 , or  400  may include hidden seams connecting the set of leggings  108 ,  208 ,  308 , or  408  to the torso element  102 ,  202 ,  302  or  402 . 
         [0028]    The inventor has created a stylish and unique solution to the problem pet owners face in trying to prevent the transmission of outside dirt and elements into the house when returning from walking their pets. Aspects of the invention provide full protection for the body, legs and paws without restricting the pets&#39; natural movements as the main garment is attached to stretchable leggings with “feet” that are given the appearance of shoes. The parts are all connected together to create a one piece garment that looks as if there are three separate pieces. Since it is a one-piece instead of two or three separate pieces, it provides the owner with ease of dressing the pet, with no concern for separate pieces becoming lost or misplaced. The one piece garment offers protection for the pet&#39;s body, legs and paws. There is a rear opening that extends underneath the pets torso to provide potty ease for both male and female dogs. The all in one pet garment is intended for use with toy breeds and small to medium dog breeds. The garment may also be made in larger sizes for larger breeds of dogs. 
         [0029]    In one embodiment, the set of leggings may be fixedly attached to the torso element  102  or main garment with hidden seams. For example, the set of leggings are both decorative and functional and also offer protection from dirt and inclement weather. The leggings may be constructed of a cotton/spandex/polyester blend, or may be made with lycra or other similar stretchable fabrics and integrated with water resistant fibers. The leggings are fixedly attached to the booties that protect the dogs&#39; paws. 
         [0030]    The bottom of the legging fabric is stitched around a sole or padding shaped to accommodate a dog&#39;s paw to create the bootie. The sole may also be constructed of man-made materials or rubber. The bootie may be attached with hidden seams to the leggings and may also be made from various waterproof man made materials. The set of leggings may have accoutrements on the outside of the set of leggings to create a more realistic appearance of an actual shoe. Accoutrements such as fur trim, laces, snaps, buckles, and zippers may help create the illusion of separate pieces. 
         [0031]    In another example, a drawstring and clamp or other tying or restricting device may also be placed at the lower ends of the set of leggings. For example, the tying or restricting device may be disposed just above the ends to ensure that the paws remain in place within the set of leggings once the paws have been inserted. In this example, the drawstring may also be tightened and clamped to customize the fit of the ends of the set of leggings around the paw and lower leg. 
         [0032]    It is further understood that coverings for the paws of pets that are integrated into their clothing so that the paw coverings are not lost or easily removed by the animal. A further embodiment of the invention is to enable a pet owner to dress their pet quickly and easily. Moreover, aspects of the invention provide outfits that are durable and machine washable. 
         [0033]    Other additional objects and advantages of the invention will become apparent upon reading the following detailed description and upon reference to the drawing figures.