Patent ID: 12225884

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Referring toFIG.1, a hunter20, a hunting dog30, and a dog locating device40in accordance with an exemplary embodiment is coupled to the hunting dog30. The hunting dog30has a head42an abdomen46.

Referring toFIGS.1-12, the dog locating device40is worn by the hunting dog30is provided to allow the hunter20to easily locate the hunting dog30when hunting. Referring toFIGS.2-5, the dog locating device40includes a back pad60, an abdomen pad64, a first adjustable strap71, a second adjustable strap72, a third adjustable strap73, a fourth adjustable strap74, a plate90, a spring member94, a flag mounting bracket98, first, second, third and fourth rivets101,102,103,104(shown inFIG.9), first and second bolts111,112(shown inFIG.17), a flag120, a hand strap122(shown inFIGS.9and10), coupling rings131,132, a lower strap140, a coupling ring144, and first and second guide loops151,152(shown inFIGS.3and7).

An advantage of the dog locating device40is that the device40utilizes the spring member94that allows the flag mounting bracket98and the flag120to bend when the flag120contacts objects such as brush or branches. As a result, when the hunting dog30is running through brush or branches, the spring member94absorbs some of the force such that the dog is not jerked backwardly by the brush or branches which could injure the dog30if the dog30is running a high speed. Further, the spring member94allows the flag120to bend backwardly such that the flag120does not easily break when the flag120contacts brush or branches.

The term “spring member” means a member having at least a portion of which is a spring that that can be bent, pressed, or pulled but returns to a former shape thereof when released.

Referring toFIGS.8and12, the back pad60includes a front end portion170, a rear end portion174, a top surface178, and a bottom surface182. The back pad60is sized and shaped to be received on the back44(shown inFIG.1) of the hunting dog30. In particular, the bottom surface182contacts the back44of the hunting dog30. The top surface178receives the plate90thereon. In an exemplary embodiment, the back pad60is constructed of a flexible cloth material that conforms to the shape of the back44of the hunting dog30for comfort.

Referring toFIGS.4and11, the abdomen pad64includes a front end portion185, a rear end portion186, a top surface187, and a bottom surface188. The abdomen pad64is sized and shaped to be received on the abdomen46(shown inFIG.1) of the hunting dog30. In particular, the top surface187contacts the abdomen46of the hunting dog30. In an exemplary embodiment, the abdomen pad64is constructed of a flexible cloth material that conforms to the shape of the abdomen46of the hunting dog30for comfort.

Referring toFIGS.3and8, the first adjustable strap71is coupled to and between the front end portion170of the back pad60and the front end portion185of the abdomen pad64. The first adjustable strap71includes a first strap portion191, a second strap portion192, and an adjustment buckle196. The first strap portion191is coupled to the front end portion170of the back pad60. The first strap portion191further extends through a first guide loop151on the abdomen pad64and is coupled to the adjustment buckle196. The second strap portion192is further coupled to and between the adjustment buckle196and the front end portion185of the abdomen pad64. The adjustment buckle196allows a user to adjust an effective length of the first adjustable strap71.

Referring toFIGS.3,7and8, the second adjustable strap72is coupled to and between the front end portion170of the back pad60and the front end portion185of the abdomen pad64. The second adjustable strap72includes a first strap portion201, a second strap portion202, a releasable buckle206, and an adjustment buckle210. The first strap portion201is coupled to and between the front end portion170of the back pad60and the releasable buckle206. The second strap portion202is coupled to and between the releasable buckle206and the adjustable buckle210, and further extends from the adjustable buckle210and through a second guide loop152on the abdomen pad64. The second strap portion202is further coupled to the abdomen pad64. The adjustment buckle210allows a user to adjust an effective length of the second adjustable strap72. The releasable buckle206allows a user to temporarily decouple the first strap portion201from the second strap portion202when placing the dog locating device40on the hunting dog30.

Referring toFIGS.1and5, the first adjustable strap71, the second adjustable strap72, the back pad60, and the abdomen pad64form an opening212that is sized and shaped to receive a head42of the hunting dog30therethrough.

Referring toFIGS.3,7and8, the third adjustable strap73is coupled to and between the rear end portion174of the back pad60and the rear end portion186of the abdomen pad64. The third adjustable strap73includes a first strap portion221, a second strap portion222, a releasable buckle226, and an adjustment buckle230. The first strap portion221is coupled to and between the rear end portion174of the back pad60and the releasable buckle226. The second strap portion222is further coupled to and between the releasable buckle226and the adjustable buckle230, and further extends from the adjustable buckle230to the abdomen pad64. The second strap portion222is further coupled to the abdomen pad64. The adjustment buckle230allows a user to adjust an effective length of the third adjustable strap73. The releasable buckle226allows a user to temporarily decouple the first strap portion221from the second strap portion222when placing the dog locating device40on the hunting dog30.

Referring toFIGS.3and6, the fourth adjustable strap74is coupled to and between the rear end portion174of the back pad60and the rear end portion186of the abdomen pad64. The fourth adjustable strap74includes a first strap portion241, a second strap portion242, a releasable buckle246, and an adjustment buckle250. The first strap portion241is coupled to and between the rear end portion174of the back pad60and the releasable buckle246. The second strap portion242is coupled to and between the releasable buckle246and the adjustable buckle250, and further extends from the adjustable buckle250to the abdomen pad64. The second strap portion242is further coupled to the abdomen pad64. The adjustment buckle250allows a user to adjust an effective length of the fourth adjustable strap74. The releasable buckle246allows a user to temporarily decouple the first strap portion241from the second strap portion242when placing the dog locating device40on the hunting dog30.

Referring toFIG.5, the third adjustable strap73, the fourth adjustable strap74, the back pad60, and the abdomen pad64form an opening214that is sized and shaped to receive the back44and the abdomen46of the hunting dog30therethrough.

Referring toFIGS.9,12,13, and17, the plate90is coupled to the back pad60and is provided to hold the flag mounting bracket98thereon. The plate90includes a rectangular-shaped body270having a central aperture274and first, second, third, and fourth rivet apertures281,202,283,204extending therethrough. The plate90further includes first and second slots291,292extending therein on opposite ends of the plate90. In an exemplary embodiment, the plate90is constructed of plastic. The plate90is coupled to the back pad60utilizing first, second, third, and fourth rivets101,102,103,104that extend through the first, second, third, and fourth rivet apertures281,202,283,204, respectively, and the back pad60. The plate90is coupled to the spring member94utilizing a bolt111that extends through the central aperture274and into the first nut member321(shown inFIG.15) of the spring member94.

Referring toFIGS.9and14-16, the spring member94is provided to be coupled to the plate90and to support the flag mounting bracket98thereon. The spring member94includes a spring310, a first nut member321, and a second nut member322. The first and second nut members321,322are coupled to opposite ends of the spring310. The first nut member321is aligned with the central aperture274(shown inFIG.13) of the plate90, and the first bolt111(shown inFIG.17) extends through the central aperture274and into the first nut member321to couple the spring member94to the plate90.

Referring toFIGS.9,10and18, the flag mounting bracket98is provided to removably hold the flag120therein. The flag mounting bracket98includes a base plate340and a flag mounting plate344. The flag mounting plate344is coupled to the base plate340and extends substantially perpendicular to the base plate340. The base plate340has a base plate aperture350extending therethrough. The base plate aperture350is aligned with the second nut member322(shown inFIG.16) of the spring member94. The second bolt112extends through the base plate aperture350and into the second nut member322to couple the flag mounting bracket98to the spring member94. The flag mounting plate344includes a shaft receiving portion354that receives the shaft370of the flag120therein. In an exemplary embodiment, the flag mounting bracket98is constructed of metal.

Referring toFIGS.2,3and18, the flag120is provided to allow a user to easily see the location of the hunting dog30. The flag120is removably coupled in the flag mounting bracket98. The flag120includes a shaft370and the flag portion374coupled to the shaft370. The shaft370is removably received within the shaft receiving portion354of the flag mounting plate340.

Referring toFIGS.9and10, the hand strap122is provided to allow the hunter20to hold the hunting dog30at a desired location. The hand strap122is coupled to and between the front end portion170of the back pad60and the rear end portion174of the back pad60.

The coupling ring131is provided to allow the hunter20to couple a leash to the coupling ring131. The coupling ring131is coupled to the hand strap122at the front end portion170of the back pad60.

The coupling ring132is provided to allow the hunter20to couple a leash to the coupling ring132. The coupling ring132coupled to the hand strap122at the rear end portion174of the back pad60.

Referring toFIG.11, the lower strap140is coupled to the abdomen pad64. The coupling ring144is coupled to the lower strap140and is provided to allow the hunter20to couple a leash to the coupling ring144.

The dog locating device40can be used in non-hunting applications such as on walking dogs and parade dogs. Further, the size and shape of the flag120may be varied based on the type of non-hunting application or hunting application.

While the claimed invention has been described in detail in connection with only a limited number of embodiments, it should be readily understood that the invention is not limited to such disclosed embodiments. Rather, the claimed invention can be modified to incorporate any number of variations, alterations, substitutions or equivalent arrangements not heretofore described, but which are commensurate with the spirit and scope of the invention. Additionally, while various embodiments of the claimed invention have been described, it is to be understood that aspects of the invention may include only some of the described embodiments. Accordingly, the claimed invention is not to be seen as limited by the foregoing description.