Abstract:
A canine harness for search and rescue dogs comprising a body configured for fitting on a canine, one or more receptacles for receiving items, and one or more magnetic fasteners configured for securing the harness to the canine and the magnetic fasteners being configured for disengaging if an external force is applied to the harness. The receptacles may be used to carry items into the rescue environment such as one or more cameras for transmitting images to another location, a power supply to power the cameras, a light sensor for sensing light in the dog&#39;s environment and a light for providing illumination in low light rescue situations. The body may include a separating zipper that can be closed with any one of a plurality of rows of alternating receiving teeth such that the harness can be fitted to canines of various sizes.

Description:
FIELD OF THE APPLICATION 
       [0001]    The present application relates to canine garments, and more particularly, a canine rescue harness suitable for search and rescue dogs. 
       BACKGROUND OF THE APPLICATION 
       [0002]    Search and rescue dogs often work in rugged and dangerous conditions and are confronted with unsafe situations on a regular basis. They are trained to find live people who are trapped in the aftermath of a disaster, such as the structural collapse of an occupied building. Search and rescue dogs are commonly used as the fastest and most reliable means of finding people in the rubble. 
         [0003]    To expedite search and rescues, it would be desirable to fit a search and rescue dog with video and sensing equipment. This would help first responders see and hear what the dog sees and hears, and know where the dog is during a search so that first responders could provide immediate assistance to trapped people who have been found by the dog. 
         [0004]    However, as rubble is typically a disorganized mass of debris, there is a great risk of dogs becoming trapped in the rubble by worn items, such as a collar or harness. As a result, searches are being conducted without any functional apparel being worn by the dog. 
         [0005]    Accordingly, there remains a need for improvements in the art. 
       BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0006]    According to one aspect, the present invention provides a canine harness which allows the dog to carry items to assist the search and rescue operation and also allows the dog to escape the harness should the harness become caught on an object in the rescue environment. 
         [0007]    According to one embodiment, the present invention provides a canine harness comprising a body configured for fitting on a canine; one or more receptacles for receiving items; and one or more magnetic fasteners configured for securing the harness to the canine and the magnetic fasteners being configured for disengaging if an external force is applied to the harness. 
         [0008]    According to another embodiment, a canine harness comprising a body configured for fitting on a canine; one or more receptacles for receiving items; and three or more magnetic fasteners configured for securing the harness to the canine and the magnetic fasteners being configured for disengaging if an external force is applied to the harness. 
         [0009]    Other aspects and features according to the present application will become apparent to those ordinarily skilled in the art upon review of the following description of embodiments of the invention in conjunction with the accompanying figure. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0010]    Reference will now be made to the accompanying drawings which show, by way of example, embodiments of the invention, and how they may be carried into effect, and in which: 
           [0011]      FIG. 1  shows a side view of an embodiment of the invention in use; 
           [0012]      FIG. 2  is an unfolded view of the interior of the embodiment of the harness shown in  FIG. 1 ; 
           [0013]      FIG. 3  is a side view of the embodiment of the invention shown in  FIG. 1 ; 
           [0014]      FIG. 4  is a front view of the embodiment of the invention shown in  FIG. 1 ; 
           [0015]      FIG. 5  is a top view of the embodiment of the invention shown in  FIG. 1 ; and 
           [0016]      FIG. 6  is a bottom view of the embodiment of the invention shown in  FIG. 1 . 
       
    
    
       [0017]    Like reference numerals indicate like or corresponding elements in the drawings. 
       DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE EMBODIMENTS 
       [0018]    Embodiments of the present invention are generally directed to a canine harness which allows the dog to carry items to assist the search and rescue operation and also allows the dog to escape the harness should the harness become caught on an object in the rescue environment. 
         [0019]    According to an embodiment shown in  FIG. 1 , a canine or dog  5  wears canine rescue harness  10 .  FIGS. 3 and 6  show respective side and bottom views of the harness  10 , and like reference numerals indicate like elements. According to an embodiment, the body  20  of the rescue harness  10  is made of a lightweight, durable fabric such as a canvas-type nylon material, which may include a slightly rubberized backing. Alternatively, the body  20  is made of any lightweight fabric which will reduce any overheating of the dog caused by wearing the harness  10 , including elastomeric materials, such as lycra™ or spandex, or elastomeric-blended materials that may better adapt to fitting different-sized dogs  5 . The body  20  is fitted to the dog&#39;s chest and torso and provides openings for the dog&#39;s two front legs. According to an embodiment, the body  20  is fitted to cover the least amount of area on the dog as needed to secure whatever items are required for the search and rescue operation, so as to minimize overheating of the dog  5  caused by wearing the harness  10 . A close fit of the body  20  to the dog  5  may better prevent the harness  10  from getting caught on protruding debris. 
         [0020]    As shown in the embodiments in  FIG. 1  and  FIG. 2 , the harness  10  includes one or more receptacles for securing or receiving items such as pouches  30 ,  32 ,  34  and  36 . Each of pouches  30 ,  32 ,  34  and  36  allows the items secured therein to be kept close to the dog&#39;s body, which may reduce their chance of being damaged during a search and rescue operation. Pouch  30 , as shown, secures a camera  35  which is positioned on the dog&#39;s shoulder and includes a snap closure. Not shown in  FIG. 1 , but shown in  FIG. 2  is that a camera  35  is also secured in a pouch  30  on the dog&#39;s opposite shoulder. Pouch  32  includes a light sensor  50  which is used to sense the amount of light in the dog&#39;s environment. Pouch  34  includes a light  60  which is used to illuminate the dog&#39;s environment. According to an embodiment, a control signal is provided from the light sensor  50  to the light  60  such that the amount of light output by light  60  is responsive to the amount of light sensed by the light sensor  50 . In other words, no light is output in well-light rescue environments and much light is output in dark rescue environments. As shown in  FIG. 4 , pouches  32  and  34 , light sensor  50  and light  60  may be included on both sides of the harness  10  so as to be positioned on the front part of each of the dog&#39;s shoulders when the harness  10  is in use. Other items may be secured to the body  20  through the use of receptacles, such as pouches, as would be known to a person skilled in the art. A close-fitting body  20  to the dog  5  may provide stability for any sensing components worn by the dog  5 . 
         [0021]    According to an embodiment, the cameras  35 , light sensor  50  and light  60  have internal power sources, as needed. According to a further embodiment, one or more of the items, such as cameras  35 , require an external power source. According to this embodiment, pouch  36  is provided to secure power supply  40 . This pouch may include a snap closure and/or a hook and loop closure, or any other suitable closure, to substantially enclose the power supply  40 . When the harness  10  is equipped to the dog  5  according to this embodiment, the power supply  40  is against the chest of the dog  5 . Since the power supply  40  generates heat, a heat shield  42 , such as made from rip-stop nylon or any other heat-resistant fabric such as nomex or combinations of such fabrics, is provided to reduce the heat transferred from the power supply  40  to the dog  5 . Pouches  30 ,  32 ,  34  and  36  may also be made from rip-stop nylon, or other light and strong fabrics, according to an embodiment. The power supply  40  is connected to any items requiring power, such as cameras  35 , through the use of wires  44  and  46  which are routed through and secured by loops  45  and  47 . 
         [0022]    Turning to the embodiment shown in  FIG. 2 , there are magnetic fasteners  70 ,  75 . As known in the art, magnetic fasteners  70 ,  75  comprise pairs of magnets of opposite polarity.  FIG. 2  shows magnets in dashed lines which are on the reverse side of the body  20  and fasten to the magnets on the visible side of the body  20  according to this view to form magnetic fasteners  70 ,  75 . The magnetic fasteners  70 ,  75  are configured or selected to provide a suitable magnetic force for securing the harness  10  to the canine. The magnetic fasteners  70 ,  75  are also configured to detach or disengage when a force is applied to the harness  10 , for example, a tugging force if the harness  10  becomes entangled or caught on something. This arrangement allows the dog  5  to escape the harness  10  when it is caught upon an object, or otherwise restricted from moving by the harness  10 , without any human, or other, assistance. According to an embodiment, the magnetic fasteners are positioned on the harness  10  as shown in  FIG. 2  to allow the dog  5  to independently free itself when caught upon protruding debris without struggling. 
         [0023]    According to an embodiment, there are sets of two or more proximate magnetic fasteners. The use of two or more proximate magnetic fasteners as a set functions to reduce the chance that the magnetic fasteners will spin or pivot. According to another embodiment, the set of two or more proximate magnetic fasteners comprise alternating polarities on the same side of the harness  10  being secured. The use of alternating polarities on the same side of the harness  10  can increase the hold of the proximate magnetic fasteners. 
         [0024]    According to a further embodiment, the magnetic fasteners  70  and  75  include a first portion including a stud  72  and having a polarity and a second portion including a hole  77  for receiving the stud  72  and having the opposite polarity. The use of a complementary stud and hole pairing for a magnetic fastener prevents the magnetic fastener from being slid apart as opposed to pulled apart, and may increase the amount of force necessary to separate the magnetic fastener once fastened. 
         [0025]    According to the embodiment shown in  FIG. 2 , there are three sets of pairs of complementary stud-hole magenetic fasteners. The use of three sets of pairs of magnetic fasteners allows for the possibility that only one set of magnetic fasteners need be detached in order for the dog  5  to be free from whatever was hindering the dog&#39;s movement. The remaining sets of magnetic fasteners would keep the harness  10  on the dog  5 . 
         [0026]    According to this embodiment, the use of three sets of magnetic fasteners also allows the dog to disengage from the harness  10  while still keeping the harness as one piece since one of the four branches of the body  20  which run down the dog&#39;s torso around the legs does not detach. 
         [0027]    According to an embodiment, the harness  10  includes a zipper  100 , as shown in  FIG. 5 , which secures the harness  10  to the dog  5 . According to an embodiment, the zipper  100  comprises a zipper slider  104  that is at the end closest to the tail of the dog  5  when the zipper  100  is closed. This reduces the possibility that the dog  5  can partially open the zipper  100  through moving its head. According to an embodiment, the zipper  100  is a separating zipper. According to a further embodiment, the separating zipper comprises a row of teeth  102  and a zipper slider  104  that may be joined to one of a plurality of rows of alternating teeth. According to a further embodiment, there are three rows of alternating teeth—one row  106  to allow the harness  10  to fit smaller dogs, a second row  107  to allow the harness  10  to fit medium-sized dogs, and a third row  108  to allow the harness  10  to fit larger dogs. Due to the use of magnetic fasteners described above, the inclusion of the zipper  100  is not strictly necessary for the purpose of securing the harness  10  to the dog  5 . However, the inclusion of the zipper  100  makes it easier to secure the harness  10  to the dog  5  and, as described above, allows the harness  10  to be adjustable to fit varying sizes of rescue dogs. 
         [0028]    The present invention may be embodied in other specific forms without departing from the spirit or essential characteristics thereof. Certain adaptations and modifications of the invention will be obvious to those skilled in the art. Therefore, the presently discussed embodiments are considered to be illustrative and not restrictive, the scope of the invention being indicated by the appended claims rather than the foregoing description, and all changes which come within the meaning and range of equivalency of the claims are therefore intended to be embraced therein.