Abstract:
An animal medical collar having the shape of a circular, assembled around the neck of the animal by joining face-to-face to make a truncated cone shell whose edge, which is defined by the small circle of the truncated cone, engages the neck of the animal, further comprising a drawstring passage, and an internal frame comprising a curvilinear C-shaped hub and a plurality of substantially rigid straight ribs monolithically radially extending from the curvilinear hub.

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
       [0001]    Not applicable. 
       STATEMENTS REGARDING FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT 
       [0002]    Not applicable. 
       BACKGROUND 
       [0003]    The embodiments of the present invention satisfy the needs of having an animal medical collar. 
         [0004]    Information relevant to attempts to address these problems can be found in U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,133,295; 5,197,414; 5,797,534; and D506,296; which are not admitted to be prior art with respect to the present invention by its mention in this Background Section. However, it is desirable to have a better device than is disclosed in the references. 
         [0005]    U.S. Pat. No. 5,133,295 uses a non-resilient material, lacks an internal frame or stays, and is made from rings rather than disks cut to form a truncated cone. 
         [0006]    U.S. Pat. No. 5,197,414 discloses a disk to form a truncated cone, but it uses a reticulated material and as such is not disposed for an internal frame or stays. Neither does it have a drawstring passage. 
         [0007]    U.S. Pat. No. 5,797,534 discloses a disk to form a truncated cone, but it uses a “web of flexible material” rather than joining two disks face-to-face to contain an internal frame or stays. Neither does it have a drawstring passage. 
         [0008]    U.S. Pat. No. D506,296 discloses a disk to form a truncated cone, but it uses a single layer of material rather than joining two disks face-to-face to contain an internal frame or stays. Neither does it have a drawstring passage. 
         [0009]    The All Four Paws® Comfy Cone® comprises nylon fabric laminated onto ½ inch foam. It lacks an internal frame or stays. 
         [0010]    The present invention is of the species described in U.S. Pat. No. 5,797,5354, namely a collar having the shape of a circular ring or circular ring sector, assembled around the neck of the animal by joining face-to-face to make a truncated cone shell whose edge, which is defined by the small circle of the truncated cone, engages the neck of the animal. 
       SUMMARY 
       [0011]    The embodiments of the present invention are directed to an apparatus that satisfies the needs set out in the Background section. 
         [0012]    The embodiments of the present invention comprise: a collar for mounting around the neck of an animal, the collar comprising: two concentric disks of resilient material cut to form a truncated cone, the disks each having two faces, one face of one disk joined to one face of the other disk by a plurality of radially sewn seams, each disk having a curvilinear central aperture, the two apertures lined up with each other when the faces are joined such that the two apertures form a neck hole for receiving the neck of an animal; a drawstring-retaining passage around the neck hole and an opening out of the passage on one side of the neck hole, the passage formed by a rectangular sheet of soft, flexible and non-resilient material, the sheet having a central longitudinal axis and two marginal edges parallel to the longitudinal axis, the sheet folded over along the central longitudinal axis and joined at the marginal edges, the marginal edges joined to the disks along the neck hole; an elongated drawstring composed of resiliently stretchable, elastic fabric disposed in the passage and having opposite end portions extending out of the passage through the opening; an internal frame comprising a curvilinear C-shaped hub and a plurality of substantially rigid straight ribs monolithically radially extending from the curvilinear hub, the plurality of straight ribs and the hub defining a plane, the internal frame disposed between the two disks, the plurality of substantially rigid straight ribs held stationary by the plurality of radially sewn seams; and the disks having approximately the same radial width sufficient to extend outwardly from the neck of the animal immediately behind its head and lie between the head and mouth and parts of the animal&#39;s body when the animal attempts to reach those parts with its mouth. 
         [0013]    In an alternate embodiment, the resilient material is selected from the group consisting of textile, fabric, cloth and nylon. 
         [0014]    In an alternate embodiment, the resilient material is selected from the group consisting of polyethylene, polypropylene, copolymers of polyethylene and polypropylene, polytetrafluoroethylene, acrylonitrile butadiene styrene, polyvinylchloride, ethylene vinyl acetate and polystyrene. 
         [0015]    In an alternate embodiment, the internal frame is made of a polymer selected from the group consisting of polyethylene, polypropylene, copolymers of polyethylene and polypropylene, polytetrafluoroethylene, acrylonitrile butadiene styrene, polyvinylchloride, ethylene vinyl acetate and polystyrene. 
         [0016]    In an alternate embodiment, the marginal edges of the drawstring-retaining passage are joined to the disks along the neck hole by a sewn seam. 
       SOME ADVANTAGES OF THE EMBODIMENTS OF THE INVENTION 
       [0017]    In the embodiments of the present invention, the internal frame prevents the collar from collapsing. By adjusting the size at which it is made, the collar can be adapted for use with many types of animals. 
         [0018]    These and other advantages will become apparent as the embodiments of the invention are used. 
     
    
     
       DRAWINGS 
         [0019]    These and other features, aspects and advantages of the embodiments of the device and/or methods will become better understood with reference to the following description, appended claim and accompanying drawings where: 
           [0020]      FIG. 1  shows a plan view of one disk of the animal medical collar; 
           [0021]      FIG. 2  shows a plan view of the internal frame; 
           [0022]      FIG. 3  shows a plan view of the drawstring-retaining passage prior to sewing; 
           [0023]      FIG. 4  shows a plan view of the opposite side of one disk of the animal medical collar; 
           [0024]      FIG. 5  shows a perspective view of the device fitted to a cat. 
       
    
    
     REFERENCE NUMERALS FOR DRAWINGS 
       [0000]    
       
           10  collar 
           15  disk(s) 
           16  face 
           20  radially sewn seams 
           25  curvilinear central aperture, neck hole 
           26  opening 
           30  drawstring-retaining passage 
           35  sheet 
           40  marginal edge 
           45  drawstring 
           50  internal frame 
           55  hub 
           60  rib 
           65  sewn seam 
       
     
       DESCRIPTION 
     Definitions 
       [0039]    “Fabric” as used herein refers to textile, fabric and cloth, in the broadest and most inclusive sense possible. As stated in Wikipedia (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Textile): “A textile is a flexible material consisting of a network of natural or artificial fibres often referred to as thread or yarn. Yarn is produced by spinning raw wool fibres, linen, cotton, or other material on a spinning wheel to produce long strands known as yarn. Textiles are formed by weaving, knitting, crocheting, knotting, or pressing fibres together (felt). 
         [0000]    “The words fabric and cloth are used in textile assembly trades (such as tailoring and dressmaking) as synonyms for textile. However, there are subtle differences in these terms in specialized usage. Textile refers to any material made of interlacing fibres. Fabric refers to any material made through weaving, knitting, crocheting, or bonding. Cloth refers to a finished piece of fabric that can be used for a purpose such as covering a bed.” Thus ceramic fabric made from ceramic thread is a textile; and a fabric made from inorganic metallic thread is a textile; but both are “fabric” for the purposes herein. Polyester and cotton both may be made into fabric, and there are many fabrics that are blends of polyester and cotton. Many types of fabric are blends of silk, cotton, linen, wool and worsted. Fabric can be organic or inorganic or combinations thereof, natural or synthetic or combinations thereof. Nylon fibers can be used to make a fabric. Fabric refers to uncoated fabric, unless explicitly modified by the precursor “coated,” as in “coated fabric.” 
         [0040]    Disks are sheets of material, comparable to sheets of paper or sheets of paperboard or sheets of cardboard or sheets of thin lumber. Just as a sheet of paper has two sides or two faces, a disk has two sides or two faces. 
       DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT AND BEST MODE 
       [0041]    As shown in the figures, the preferred embodiment and best mode of the present invention comprises: a collar  10  for mounting around the neck of an animal, the collar  10  comprising: two concentric disks  15  of resilient material cut to form a truncated cone, the disks  15  each having two faces  16 , one face  16  of one disk  15  joined to one face  16  of the other disk  15  by a plurality of radially sewn seams  20 , each disk  15  having a curvilinear central aperture  25 , the two apertures  25  lined up with each other when the faces  16  are joined such that the two apertures  25  form a neck hole  25  for receiving the neck of an animal; a drawstring-retaining passage  30  around the neck hole  25  and an opening  26  out of the passage on one side of the neck hole  25 , the passage  30  formed by a rectangular sheet  35  of soft, flexible and non-resilient material, the sheet  35  having a central longitudinal axis and two marginal edges  40  parallel to the longitudinal axis, the sheet  35  folded over along the central longitudinal axis and joined at the marginal edges  40 , the marginal edges  40  joined to the disks  15  along the neck hole  25 ; an elongated drawstring  45  composed of resiliently stretchable, elastic fabric disposed in the passage  30  and having opposite end portions extending out of the passage  30  through the opening  26 ; an internal frame  50  comprising a curvilinear C-shaped hub  55  and a plurality of substantially rigid straight ribs  60  monolithically radially extending from the curvilinear hub  55 , the plurality of straight ribs  60  and the hub  55  defining a plane, the internal frame  50  disposed between the two disks  15 , the plurality of substantially rigid straight ribs  60  held stationary by the plurality of radially sewn seams  20 ; and the disks  15  having approximately the same radial width sufficient to extend outwardly from the neck of the animal immediately behind its head and lie between the head and mouth and parts of the animal&#39;s body when the animal attempts to reach those parts with its mouth. 
         [0042]    In an alternate embodiment, the resilient material is selected from the group consisting of textile, fabric, cloth and nylon. 
         [0043]    In an alternate embodiment, the resilient material is selected from the group consisting of polyethylene, polypropylene, copolymers of polyethylene and polypropylene, polytetrafluoroethylene, acrylonitrile butadiene styrene, polyvinylchloride, ethylene vinyl acetate and polystyrene. 
         [0044]    In an alternate embodiment, the internal frame  50  is made of a polymer selected from the group consisting of polyethylene, polypropylene, copolymers of polyethylene and polypropylene, polytetrafluoroethylene, acrylonitrile butadiene styrene, polyvinylchloride, ethylene vinyl acetate and polystyrene. 
         [0045]    In an alternate embodiment, the marginal edges  40  of the drawstring-retaining passage  30  are joined to the disks  15  along the neck hole  25  by a sewn seam  65 . 
         [0046]    Some advantages of the embodiments of the apparatus were previously enumerated in the Summary section. Every advantageous feature does not need to be incorporated into every embodiment of the apparatus and/or methods. 
         [0047]    Although these versions of the invention have been described in considerable detail, other versions are possible. For example, embodiments can comprise combinations of the features described herein, such as combinations of the dependent claims. Therefore, the spirit and scope of the appended claims should not be limited to the description of the versions contained therein.