Abstract:
A 360° multi-directional long distance lighted safety harness for a canine provides maximum visibility of a canine within approximately half mile radius. This is achieved by two battery operated multi-LED light units secured to a canine harness so that when the harness is positioned on the canine, one light unit is positioned on one side of the canine and the other light unit is positioned on the opposite side of the canine. When positioned, the light units protrude from the body of the canine.

Description:
RELATED APPLICATION  
       [0001]     This application claims priority in U.S. provisional application Ser. No. 60/725,094, filed Oct. 11, 2005. 
     
    
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
       [0002]     1. Field of the Invention  
         [0003]     The present invention relates to a canine harness. More particularly, the present invention relates to a maximum safety canine harness that provides a 360°, multi-directional, high visibility, trackable, light. Even more particularly, the present invention relates to a canine harness that enables a canine to be tracked by helicopter, search and rescue in open water, walked safely on rural roads and city street traffic by insuring high visibility to all traffic, as well as visibility in bad weather. It is envisioned that each light contains a silent tracking signal device enhancing search and rescue options.  
         [0004]     2. Description of the Related Art  
         [0005]     Collars and harnesses for canines, such as a dog, are well known. A harness is not the same as a collar. In particular, a collar goes around one limb or body part of a canine, whereas a harness goes entirely around the torso of the canine. The harnesses are designed for a variety of uses such as guide-services dogs, pets, sport, ski, search, and rescue, and carriage. It is well known that poor visibility is a serious traffic hazard. Unfortunately, known reflective collars and harnesses require another light source to function, and still have significant limitations. LED tube collars fail to outline the size of the dog, forcing a driver to have to guess at the distance required to avoid hitting the dog and its handler. The uni-directional collar light can only be seen in certain very limited circumstances. Thus, no lighted collars, heretofore, offer enough warning time, and are useless in extreme emergencies.  
         [0006]     Citizens world wide now recognize a red strobe flashing light as “danger” and stop for it. Such lights on the harness can be seen for just under ½ mile or approximately 2,000 feet. However, the use of such lights have heretofore not been known in association with a canine.  
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
       [0007]     The present invention provides a canine harness that clearly outlines with light the bulk and body mass of the canine.  
         [0008]     The present invention also provides a canine harness that instantly alerts traffic in all directions that there is a “caution” situation.  
         [0009]     The present invention further provides a canine harness with light that can be seen approximately 2,000 feet.  
         [0010]     The present invention still further provides a canine harness with light that can be seen approximately 2,000 feet above, under, front, behind, on the left and on the right of the canine wearing the light.  
         [0011]     The present invention even further provides a canine harness with light that all of the lights are fully adjustable in number and position to conform to the particular dog&#39;s comfort, condition, and purpose.  
         [0012]     The present invention yet further provides that the light functions in water, as well as in freezing temperatures.  
         [0013]     The present invention also provides for the lighted canine harness to have a silent location or tracking signal that provides for rescue.  
         [0014]     These and other advantages and benefits of the present invention are achieved by the 360° multi-directional, long distance lighted safety harness. The harness is comfortable for the dog or canine to wear. 
     
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       [0015]      FIG. 1  shows a dog having the harness of the present invention thereon, but with the lights in a horizontal position.  
         [0016]      FIG. 2  shows a dog having the harness of the present invention thereon, but with the lights in a vertical position.  
         [0017]      FIG. 3  is a front view of a dog having the harness of the present invention thereon.  
         [0018]      FIG. 4  is a top view of the dog of  FIG. 3 .  
         [0019]      FIG. 5  is front view of the light of the harness of the present invention.  
         [0020]      FIG. 6  is a back view of the light of  FIG. 5 .  
         [0021]      FIG. 7  is a schematic of the body of the light of  FIG. 5 .  
     
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS  
       [0022]     Referring to the drawings and, in particular,  FIG. 1 , a harness according to the present invention is generally represented by reference numeral  2 . The harness  2  is sized to correctly fit to a canine, such as a dog  1 . Thus, the harness  2  can be made in a variety of widths and sizes, and a variety of comfortable materials, such as nylon or leather, that have been tested and found comfortable to the canine.  
         [0023]     The width and size of harness  2  is fitted for the canine  1 . Fitting consists of measuring the girth or rib cage of the canine  1  at its fullest point adding two inches so that the harness  2  is secure yet loose. As the harness  2  is individually fitted to size and breed requirement, and can include modifications to X back, carting, and service harness.  
         [0024]     Each strap of the harness  2  is sewn smooth to avoid “rubbing”. The width of each strap is appropriate to the breed size and weight, (for instance ⅝th inch, 1 inch) which is manufactured to create enough strength to support the canine working within it securely and without breaking. The girth strap  3  fastens by buckle comfortably.  
         [0025]     Significantly, lights  100  are never placed on the girth strap  3  as it is a pressure strap that holds the harness in check, and thus could be uncomfortable to the canine. In the present harness  2 , a light  100  is connected to the center connecting strap by slipping it onto the center strap firmly in place in horizontal position  4 . Two lights  100  can be placed on the harness in this manner so that there is a light on the left and right side of the dog or canine.  
         [0026]     There are always at least two lights  100  per harness  2 , and can have as many as four lights on a working breed. The lights  100  can not slip as they are placed at a stop position on the harness  2 . In horizontal position as shown in  FIG. 1 , the full weight of the light  100  is supported on the horizontal strap that prevents it from slipping.  
         [0027]     The lights  100  on the harness  2  of the present invention can be seen for just under or approximately ½ mile or approximately 2,000 feet. The ½ mile or 2,000 feet visibility can be above, below, on the sides and in front of the canine once the harness is in its operative condition. For example, a driver behind or in front or to the left flank or to the right flank of the canine  1 , can see the canine just under ½ mile or approximately 2,000 feet away, and thus can instantly recognize the canine and start to adjust speed and distance in response. Likewise, a helicopter flying 500 feet to 2,000 feet in the area, or a searcher under a bridge looking up, can see the canine  1  just under a ½ mile or approximately 2,000 feet away. Thus, the present harness  2  creates a full 360° visibility.  
         [0028]     The lights  100  operate on long lasting AAA batteries  16  shown in  FIG. 7 . The batteries  16  last about 100 hours if the lights are running continuously or steady running. The batteries will last longer, perhaps 150 hours, if the lights operate in a flashing or strobe mode. The batteries will last between about 100 hours and 150 hours if the lights  100  operate in a combination of both modes. The harness  2  with lights  100  are worn during work or exercise. The bright, preferably red, lights, and more preferably flashing lights, in an emergency provides time for search and rescue should the canine or dog  1  and handler go missing or are caught in inclement weather, or stranded on a boat, or in car.  
         [0029]     Referring to  FIG. 2 , the dog  1  has a harness  2  of the present invention with the lights  100  in the vertical position  5 , which is more comfortable in some breeds of canine. In this embodiment, a pair of lights  100  are positioned with one light on the left side  7  and one light of the right side  6  of the harness  2  as shown in  FIG. 3 . The stop position in the vertical occurs at the 90° angle of the vertical and horizontal straps and holds the light securely in position.  
         [0030]     As shown in  FIG. 3 , the lights  100  protrude beyond the body of the canine  1 . The top portion  19  of each light  100  provides at least 180° of lighting in all directions. Thus, the light  100  on the left side  6  and the light on the right side  7  each provide 180° in all directions and by their positioning provides an important feature, namely the two protruding lights allows for 360° viewing. Thus, the dog  1  can be seen from in front, behind, above, and below.  
         [0031]      FIG. 4  shows an overhead view of the canine  1  with the harness  2  in position. As shown clearly, the protrusion of the lights  100 , shown as  8  on the left and  9  on the right of dog  1 , provides for overhead visibility, such as from a helicopter. Thus, search and rescue, law enforcement, military, and specialized training, whether helicopter or under a bridge, floor board, can be viewed and sighted.  
         [0032]      FIG. 5  shows an inside surface of the bottom portion  20  of the body  105  of the light  100 . This light  100  is also set forth in co-pending application titled Safety Lights for Connection to People, which has the same inventors, and is filed on even date with this application. That application claims priority in U.S. provisional application Ser. No. 60/725,095 filed on Oct. 11, 2005. This co-pending application is incorporated herein by reference with respect to the entire light  100  and the belt clip therefore. The inside surface of light  100  is primarily a metallic reflective surface or liner  11  upon which or through which or around which the LEDs are positioned. The high visibility lights are further enhanced by using the magnification metallic surface or liners  11  in each light unit.  
         [0033]     The light  100  is two or more lights  10 . Preferably, each light  10  is an LED. More preferably, there are at least three to seven LEDs, and they are positioned in a row. More preferably, the number of LEDs is three or five or seven. Most preferably, there are five LEDs. However, the number of LEDs  10  is not limited to a precise number, and the LEDs can be in an amount that run the length of the light  100 . Again, the LEDs  10  are preferably in a row, however that can possible be in a random pattern, but spaced from each other.  
         [0034]     The one or more LEDs  10  are preferably positioned in the center of the reflective surface  11 . In the embodiment shown in  FIG. 5 , the reflective surface  11  is the core or surface of the light  100  and the LEDs  10 , preferably five, are separated but surrounded by the surface so that the LEDs have a better reflective effect. In every embodiment, it is preferred that there is some reflective surface  11  between each adjacent pair of LEDs  10  and surface  11  beyond the last LED  10  in a row. Also, preferably the number of LEDs is an odd number, with five being most preferred as shown in  FIG. 5 .  
         [0035]     The LEDs  10  last 100 hours if set on the “continuous” setting and 150 hours if set on the “flashing” setting. The flash setting provides a strobe light. Clearly, each LED  10  lasts between 100 to 150 hours if the settings vary between continuous and flashing. It is found that each light  100  can be seen for about ½ mile or about 2,000 feet.  
         [0036]     Referring to  FIG. 6 , the back  24  of the light  100  preferably has an “on and off” button  26  to preserve the battery that powers the light  100 . In the body, there is a controller or chip that when the button  26  is activated, activates the power source in one of two modes, namely a continuous or an intermittent or flashing mode. The controller or chip is conventionally known.  
         [0037]     The back  24  of the light  100  may have a belt clip  13  that allows for the secure placement of the light on clothing. Preferably, the belt clip  13  is a clip on that will not damage clothing and yet provides a secure connection, and re-positioning of the lights  100  as needed.  
         [0038]     Referring to  FIG. 7 , the light  100  has a body or case  105  that is preferably at least 2″×3″×2″ wide as shown by reference numeral  14 . The body or case  105  that opens  30  to provide a compartment for one or more AAA batteries  16 . Preferably, the batteries  16  last 150 hours before recharging or change of batteries. The body  105  has a rubber gasket  17  positioned between the top portion  19  and bottom portion  20  of the light body so that the LEDs and other components in the body are sealed airtight. Thus, the light  100  is waterproof and therefore it can float, as well as can be used in wet weather.  
         [0039]     Preferably, the top and sides of the top portion  19  of the body  105  is red. However, the top and sides can be another bright color that denotes or indicates a warning, such as, for example, amber, blue, green or yellow. The bottom portion  20 , which holds the batteries and LEDs, can be any color. However, the bottom portion preferably is a transparent smoke grey color.  
         [0040]     It is envisioned that the airtight body  105  of each light  100  can have a silent location or tracking signal that provides for rescue of the wearer, namely the canine, and the canine&#39;s handler who may be traveling with the canine.  
         [0041]     It is to be understood that the above examples are for illustrative purposes only. Variations to the specific embodiments described in the examples can be made and remain within the scope of the invention.