GB2272825A - Animal or bird supporting device - Google Patents

Abstract

A device for constraining a bird such as a pigeon, or an animal, comprising a holding element arranged to be fitted around the body of the bird or animal and means for fastening it in the fitted position. The device is preferably arranged to support the bird or animal with at least one leg 56 free. <IMAGE>

Description

Title: ANIMAL OR BIRD SUPPORTING DEVICE This invention relates to a device for enabling an animal or bird to be supported with one or more of its legs free of the animal or bird's weight.

The invention has been devised primarily for use in relation to birds, and a particular example of a bird for which the invention is intended is a pigeon.

Racing pigeons can be extremely valuable, and if a valuable pigeon should suffer an injury it is worth the owner taking all possible steps to assist its recovery. A particular injury which a pigeon may suffer is a broken leg, and whilst a leg can be set in the required position for healing, healing may in practice be inhibited because the pigeon will naturally tend to stand or walk using both legs. Healing can be assisted if the pigeon can be supported with its weight off its legs.

Birds such as pigeons may also be vulnerable to wing injuries, and if some wing joints are damaged the wing may not fold as normal on the bird's back but instead may drop and drag on the ground. Healing of such an injury may be facilitated if the wing can be held in its normal folded position. Yet another situation in which a bird may require to be supported or constrained is if it suffers a cut or other injury to its skin, in which case healing can be assisted if the bird is restrained from pecking at the injured place. Also in the case of certain diseases restraint of a bird may be of assistance: for example pigeons can suffer from a disease called polyuritis which can lead to collapse of the bird. If however the bird could be supported adjacent a supply of food it can recover.

The present invention has been devised with the aim in view of constraining and/or supporting a bird such as a pigeon in circumstances such as the above. However, it will be appreciated that the principle of the invention is applicable to the support of birds other than pigeons, and to animals other than birds.

According to one aspect of the present invention, we provide a device for enabling an animal or bird to be constrained and/or supported, comprising holding means adapted to be fitted around a body portion of the animal or bird, and means for fastening said holding means in said fitted position.

Preferably the device enables the animal or bird to be supported with at least one of its legs free of its weight, and to this end the holding means leaves at least one leg free and there is further provided means by which said holding means can be held, e.g. suspended, to support the animal or bird with said at least one leg thereof free of the animal or bird's weight.

Preferably the holding means is generally in the form of a net or grid comprising relatively narrow elongate portions joining one another at nodal points and defining openings therebetween.

Preferably the holding means is a one-piece element, for example an injection moulding, of a flexible plastics material.

Preferably the fastening means comprises fastening formations integral with the holding means. The fastening formations may comprise complementary formations snap-engagable with one another. Conveniently such complementary formations comprise headed projections and undercut recesses, or apertures.

Preferably the holding means is adapted to engage the body of a bird such as a pigeon, and a configuration of holding means adapted for this purpose is described hereafter.

The means by which the holding means can be supported may comprise at least one loop or other formation for engagement by a supporting cord or the like.

According to another aspect of the invention, we provide a method of treatment of an animal or bird wherein it is constrained by a device according to the first aspect of the invention. Preferably it is supported with at least one limb free of the animal's weight.

The invention will now be described by way of example with reference to the accompanying drawings, of which: Figure 1 is a plan view of a device according to the invention, as manufactured; Figure 2 is a diagrammatic sectional view showing part of the device; Figure 3 is a diagrammatic sectional view showing a further part of the device; Figure 4 is a perspective view showing the device in use.

Referring to the drawings, there is shown a device according to the invention intended to be used to support a bird such as, for example, a pigeon.

The device is in one piece and is made, e.g. by injection moulding, of a suitable flexible plastics material. As manufactured, the device may be in a generally flat configuration as illustrated in Figure 1, with the exception of a formation intended for supporting the device in use, as described hereafter.

The device comprises a holding means whose general construction is that of a net or grid, comprising a number of relatively narrow elongate portions joining one another at nodal points. More specifically, it has an elongate portion 10 which, when in use as seen in Figure 4, extends transversely around the body of a bird from a central portion 10a which lies beneath the abdomen of the bird just in front of its legs, the ends of the portion 10 lying adjacent one another above the folded wings of the bird. Respective elongate portions 11, 12 spaced from the portion 10 extend transversely around opposite sides of the body of the bird nearer the head thereof, i.e. forwardly of the portion 10, and portions 13, 14 extend transversely of the body of the bird on opposite sides behind the portion 10, i.e. nearer the tail thereof.The portions 10 to 14 are joined by portions extending generally lengthwise of the bird, namely portions 15 which lie nearest one another and in use lie beneath the abdomen of the bird, portions 16 which lie alongside the body of the bird, and portions 17 which lie above the back of the bird.

The device further comprises two portions 18, 19 which are inclined to one another and extend from the central portion lOa of portion 10, forwardly to the portions 11, 12. Between these there is a central forwardly extending portion 20. Forwardly from the points at which the portions 18, 19 join the portions 11, 12, respectively, there extend respective generally Y-shaped portions 21, 22 which have a short free limbs 23, 24 respectively and long free limbs 25, 26 respectively. Forwardly from where the portions 16 meet the portions 11, 12, respectively there extend portions 27, 28 which have free ends. As seen in Figure 4, when in use the short limbs 23, 24 extend beneath the breast of the bird whilst the long limbs 25, 26 extend to meet behind the head of the bird.

Fastening means in the form of snap connector devices are formed integrally with the device in the following positions. The ends of the portions 13, 14 which lie nearest one another prior to use are provided with respective fastening formations 30, 31 engageable with one another. The opposite ends of the portions 13, 14 are provided with respective fastening formations 32, 33 engageable with one another The adjacent ends of portions 11 and 12 have fastening formations 34, 35 engageable with one another and with a further fastening formation 36 at the free end of portion 20. The free ends of limbs 23, 24 have fastening formations 37, 38 engageable with one another.The limbs 25, 26 have respective fastening formations 39, 40 part way along their length, engageable with formations 40, 41 at the free ends of portions 27, 28 respectively, and fastening formations 43, 44 at their ends engageable with one another. The portions 11, 12 have fastening formations 45, 46 part way along their length, engageable with fastening formations 47, 48 at the forward ends of portions 17, and formations 49, 50 engageable with one another. Beyond its fastening formation 50, the portion 12 has a formation 51 shown in section in Figure 3 and which affords a loop by which the device can be supported in use. Such a formation may also be provided adjacent the fastening formations 32 or 33.

The configuration of the fastening formations above referred to may be as shown in Figure 2 of the drawings. This comprises a headed protuberance as indicated at 53 on one portion, and an undercut socket 54 in the complementary formation. The configuration of the protuberance and socket is such that they can engage with one another with a snap action as permitted by the flexibility of the plastics material from which the device is made. Alternatively a headed protuberance could be arranged to enter through an aperture in the complementary part of the device.

In use, the device may be shaped around a bird as shown in Figure 4 and the various fastening formations thereof engaged with one another in the manner above described. Thus the bird is constrained against movement, whilst its legs 56 extend freely through the opening indicated at 55. The device may be supported by, e.g. two hanging cords of which the first engages tne support formation 51 shown in Figure 3 and the other engages the region of the connected fastening formations 32, 33, so that the bird's legs are clear of a surface 57 beneath the bird, and thus relieved of its weight enabling healing to take place.

It will be appreciated that the device may be made in different sizes and/or shapes to allow birds other than pigeons to be supported, or animals other than birds.

The features disclosed in the foregoing description, or the following claims, or the accompanying drawings expressed in their specific forms or in terms of a means for performing the disclosed function, or a method or process for attaining the disclosed result, as appropriate, may, separately or in any combination of such features, be utilised for realising the invention in diverse forms thereof.

Claims (14)

1. A device for enabling an animal or bird to be constrained and/or supported, comprising holding means adapted to be fitted around a body portion of the animal or bird, and means for fastening said holding means in said fitted position.

2. A device according to Claim 1 wherein the holding means is arranged to leave at least one leg of the animal or bird free and there is further provided means by which said holding means can be supported to support the animal or bird with said at least said one leg thereof free of the animal or bird's weight.

3. A device according to Claim 1 or Claim 2 wherein the holding means is generally in the form of a net or grid comprising relatively narrow elongate portions joining one another at nodal points and defining openings therebetween.

4. A device according to any one of the preceding claims wherein the holding means is a one-piece element of a flexible plastics material.

5. A device according to Claim 4 wherein the holding means is an injection moulding.

6. A device according to any one of the preceding claims wherein the fastening means comprises fastening formations integral with the holding means.

7. A device according to Claim 6 wherein the fastening formations comprise complementary formations snap-engagable with one another.

8. A device according to Claim 7 wherein said complementary formations comprise headed projections and undercut recesses or apertures.

9. A device according to any one of the preceding claims wherein the holding means is adapted to engage the body of a bird such as a pigeon.

10. A device according to Claim 2 or any claim appendant thereto wherein the means by which the holding means can be supported comprises at least one loop or other formation for engagement by a supporting cord or the like.

11. A device substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying drawings.

12. A method of constraining an animal or bird, comprising fitting the holding means of a device according to any one of the preceding claims around a body portion of the animal or bird, and fastening the holding means in said fitted position.

13. A method according to Claim 12 wherein the holding means is supported such that at least one limb of the animal or bird is free of the animal or bird's weight.

14. Any novel feature or novel combination of features described herein and/or in the accompanying drawings.