GB2246278A

GB2246278A - A muzzle for an animal

Info

Publication number: GB2246278A
Application number: GB9016261A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Louisa Ruth Smith
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1990-07-25
Filing date: 1990-07-25
Publication date: 1992-01-29
Anticipated expiration: 2010-07-25
Also published as: GB9016261D0; GB2246278B

Abstract

A muzzle is disclosed comprising a closed loop 4 for fitting over an animal's jaws, a strap 6 for attaching the muzzle to the animal's head, and a strap 9 and guide means 10 for varying the extent to which the loop 4 allows the animal to open its jaws. Additionally, a leash may be attached to a ring 12. <IMAGE>

Description

A MUZZLE FOR AN ANZAC The invention relates to a muzzle for an animal and particularly, but not exclusively to a muzzle which may also be used to lead an animal by its jaws, and particularly, but not exclusively, for dogs.

Muzzles for animals are known which are in the form of a rigid basket-like member which fits over the animals' jaws and thus limit the extent to which the animal can open its jaws. Such known muzzles usually also have means for attaching the muzzle to the animal's head. Such known muzzles have the disadvantage however that there is no facility to vary the extent to which the basket-like member limits the extent to which the animal can open its jaws.

A further known type of muzzle comprises a closed loop whose width corresponds substantially to the length of an animals jaws. The loop limits the extent to which an animal such as a dog can open its jaws such that the animal can open its jaws sufficiently to breathe and drink properly but not to bite, and the loop is provided with a head strap for attaching it to the animal's head. This known muzzle however also suffers from the disadvantage that there is neither any facility to vary the extent to which the loop limits the ability of the animal to open its jaws.

It is therefore an object of the present invention to overcome the above disadvantage.

The invention provides a muzzle for an animal comprising restricting means for restricting the extent to which the animal can open its jaws, attachment means for attaching the restricting means to the animal's head, and varying means for varying the extent to which said restricting means allows the animal to open its jaws.

The muzzle may further comprise means for attaching a leash thereto.

The means for attaching a leash thereto may be attachable to said varying means such that a leash may be used to operate the varying means.

In such an arrangement, the muzzle may be used to control the animal in the manner similar to that of choker collars presently used for dogs but without inflicting discomfort.

The restricting means may comprise a closed loop fittable around the animal's jaws.

The closed loop may comprise a first band and the varying means may comprise a second band of narrower width than that of said first band and attached at one end to the outer surface of said first band, said second band being extendable through guide means attached to said outer surface of said first band at a location spaced from said one end such that said one end and said guide means are moveable closer together by pulling said second band through said guide means.

The guide means may comprise a first rigid loop and the varying means may comprise a second rigid loop attached to the end of said second band opposite said one end thereof, the sizes of said loops being such that said second rigid loop cannot be passed through said first rigid loop.

In order that the invention may be well understood, a preferred embodiment thereof is now described in detail below, by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying drawing, in which: Fig. 1 is a perspective view of a muzzle for an animal.

Referring to Figure 1, a muzzle for an animal comprises restricting means 1 for restricting the extent to which the animal can open its jaws, attachment means 2 for attaching the restricting means to the animal's head, and varying means 3 for varying the extent to which the restricting means 1 allows the animal to open its jaws. In the preferred embodiment, the restricting means 1 comprises a generally frustoconical closed loop 4 of a suitably strong material such as webbing and is of such a width that it generally corresponds to the length of the animal's jaws. The closed loop is generally formed from a single band of webbing whose ends are stitched together by stitching 5.

The attachment means 2 is formed of a strap 6 of webbing attached to the restricting means 1 by stitching 7, and having a quick-release clip 8, generally of moulded plastics material, for attaching the muzzle to an animal's head and adjusting the length of strap 6.

The closed loop 4 comprises a first band and the varying means 3 comprises a second band consisting of a strap 9 of webbing of smaller width than that of the first band and attached to the outer surface of the first band. The second band 9 extends through guide means 10 attached to the outer surface of the first band 4 and spaced from the end of the second band 9 which is attached to the first band 4. The fixed end of the second band 9 and the guide means 10 are moveable closer together by pulling the second band 9 through the guide means. In the present embodiment, the guide means 10 is in the form of a rigid circular loop of metal, or any other suitable material, through which the strap 9 passes, and one end of the strap 9 is attached to the first band 4 by means of stitching 11.The metal loop 10 is attached to the first band 4 by means of a piece of webbing 14 which is interposed between the first band 4 and the strap 6 and is secured in place by means of stitching 13. The distance over the surface of the first band 4 between the metal loop 10 and the end of the strap 9 secured by stitching 11 is therefore constant.

Attached to the end of the strap 9 opposite the end attached to the restricting means 1 is means 12 for attaching a leash to the muzzle. The means 12 for attaching a leash is in the present case a rigid circular ring of metal or any other suitable material, and of such diameter that it cannot pass through the guide means 10.

In use, the muzzle operates by the restricting means 1 being placed over the jaws of an animal such as a dog in the direction of arrow A in Figure 1, and the restricting means 1 is held in place by fastening the strap 6 around the back of the animal's neck by means of the quick-release clip 8. The length of the strap 6 may then be adjusted so that the muzzle fits the animal comfortably. In this state, the animal may open its jaws far enough to drink and to vomit, in order to prevent choking, but cannot open its jaws far enough to bite. The extent to which the animal can open its jaws is then further determined by the varying means 3. Since the distance over the surface of the closed loop 4 between the end of the strap 9 at stitching 11 and the guide means 10 is fixed, by pulling the strap 9 through the guide means 10, the stitching 11 and guide means 10 are brought closer together.This then reduces the effective diameter of the closed loop 4 which in turn reduces the extent to which the animal can open its jaws.

In the present case, a leash is attached to metal ring 12, and the muzzle is used to control the animal in a manner similar to that of choker collars presently used for dogs but without inflicting discomfort. When tension is applied to a leash attached to the ring 12, the effective diameter of the closed loop 4 is reduced. Since the strap 9 is located in use on the outside of the closed loop 4, the restricting pressure is applied to the animal's jaws over the entire width of the closed loop 4, and thus discomfort is not inflicted on the animal. The animal may then also be easily led by the leash since force is applied to the animal's jaws (as opposed to its neck when a conventional leash or choke-chain is used) and thus the animal's head is easily moved, and any struggling by the animal against being led causes the leash to reduce the effective diameter of the closed loop 4.

It will be appreciated from the above that the muzzle is primarily intended for use with dogs, though it may be used with any animals which have a tendency to bite, such as goats or ferrets, if a muzzle of a suitable size is used. Furthermore, the muzzle straps need not be made of webbing, for example they may alternatively be made of leather, and the metal rings 10, 12 may be made of rigid plastics material.

Claims

CLAIMS:

1. A muzzle for an animal comprising restricting means for restricting the extent to which the animal can open its jaws, attachment means for attaching the restricting means to the animal's head, and varying means for varying the extent to which said restricting means allows the animal to open its jaws.

2. A muzzle according to claim 1, further comprising means for attaching a leash thereto.

3. A muzzle according to claim 2, wherein said means for attaching a leash thereto is attachable to said varying means such that a leash may be used to operate said varying means.

4. A muzzle according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein said restricting means comprises a closed loop fittable around the animal's jaws.

5. A muzzle substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying drawings.

5. A muzzle according to claim 4, wherein said closed loop comprises a first band and said varying means comprises a second band of narrower width than that of said first band and attached at one end to the outer surface of said first band, said second band being extendable through guide means attached to said outer surface of said first band at a location spaced from said one end such that said one end and said guide means are moveable closer together by pulling said second band through said guide means.

6. A muzzle according to claim 5, wherein said guide means comprises a first rigid loop, said second band extends through said rigid loop, and said varying means further comprises a second rigid loop attached to the end of said second band opposite said one end thereof, the sizes of said loops being such that said second rigid loop cannot be passed through said first rigid loop.

7. A muzzle substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying drawings.

AMENDMENTS TO THE CLAIMS HAVE BEEN FILED AS FOLLOWS.

1. A muzzle for an animal, comprising restricting means for restricting the extent to which the animal can open its jaws, attachment means for attaching the restricting means to the animal's head, and varying means, operable by applying tension to a leash when connected thereto, for varying the extent to which said restricting means allows the animal to open its jaws, the arrangement being such that, in use, the restricting means allows the animal to open its jaws to a limited extent in the absence of tension applied to a leash connected to said varying means and to a less extent when tension is applied to such a leash.

2. A muzzle according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein said restricting means comprises a closed loop fittable around the animal's jaws.

3. A muzzle according to claim 2, wherein said closed loop comprises a first band and said varying means comprises a second band of narrower width than that of said first band and attached at one end to the outer surface of- said first band, said second band being extendable through guide means attached to said outer surface of said first band at a location spaced from said one end such that said one end and said guide means are moveable closer together by pulling said second band through said guide means.

4. A muzzle according to claim 3, wherein said guide means comprises a first rigid loop, said second band extends through said rigid loop, and said varying means further comprises a second rigid loop attached to the end of said second band opposite said one end thereof, the sizes of said loops being such that said second rigid loop cannot be passed through said first rigid loop.