GB2358141A

GB2358141A - Protective exercise cover/boot for animals

Info

Publication number: GB2358141A
Application number: GB0000447A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Peta Janet Lewis-Morton
Original assignee: LEWIS MORTON PETA JANET
Current assignee: LEWIS MORTON PETA JANET
Priority date: 2000-01-10
Filing date: 2000-01-10
Publication date: 2001-07-18
Also published as: GB0000447D0

Abstract

A protective exercise boot or cover 3 for fitting to the end 1 of an animal's limb which is encased in a bandage or plaster cast 2. The cover 3 is made from a lightweight waterproof synthetic plastics material and has an open end 4 and a closed end 6. The circumference of the open end 4 is greater than that of the limb end 1 and a releasable fastening such as three VELCRO strips 8 are attached to the exterior surface of the cover 3 to enable it to be tightened round the plaster cast 2 to secure it thereto.

Description

1, 2358141 Protective Exercise Cover/Boot for Animals This invention

relates to a protective exercise glove or boot adapted to fit over an animal's paw or limb end when it is bandaged or set in plaster cast to protect it.

One of the major problems in dealing with wounds on animal limbs is keeping the bandage, plaster cast or dressing clean and dry while the wound is healing. One solution to this problem has been to fit a leather I0 over-boot around and over the dressing or plaster cast on the animal's limb. However, the animal tends to find it an irritant as it gets very heavy when it gets wet so it tends to chew at it to try to remove it which is unsatisfactory.

It is an object of the invention therefore to provide a protective exercise cover or boot for fitting over an animal's paw or limb end which is light to wear, waterproof and can be adapted to be fitted to limb ends or paws of differentsizes.

According to the present invention there is provided a protective exercise boot or cover for fitting to the limb end of an animal comprising a waterproof enclosure which is open at one end to receive the animal's limb end, the enclosure having a circumference greater than that of the animal's limb end and including releasable tightening means on its external surface for reducing the circumference of the cover to make it fit tightly around the animal's limb end until released.

Preferably, the cover is made of a synthetic plastics fabric material and the releasable tightening means comprise at least one strip of hook and loop VELCRO material. In the preferred embodiment, the releasable tightening means extends along substantially the whole length of the cover but this is not essential. Conveniently, three VELCRO strips are used as the releasable tightening means but this is also only preferred and any number from one upwards can be used. Alternatively, fastening means such as a VELCRO strip or elasticated drawstring could be provided around just the open end of the cover.

A preferred embodiment of the invention will now be described, by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:

Figure 1 is a perspective view of a protective exercise cover of the invention with an animal's limb end inserted therein but prior to the cover being tightened around the limb end and Figure 2 shows the cover of Figure 1 but tightly wrapped around animal's limb end.

Referring to the drawings, there is shown an animal's limb end 1 around which is wrapped a dressing or plaster cast 2. A waterproof protective exercise cover 3 made of a flexible synthetic plastic fabric has an open end 4. Closed opposite end 6 is fitted over the animal's limb end until it abuts the closed end 6. It will be noted that the circumference 5 of the open end 4 is substantially greater than that of the plaster cast 2 around the limb end 2 for reasons which will be explained hereafter to leave an excess of material 10.

Releasable tightening means in the form of three VELCRO strips 8 are attached to the outside of the cover 3 on one side thereof by means of stitching 9 and ends 8a have hooks 11 thereon which attach themselves in known manner to the fabric on pad 7 itself stitched to the cover 3 adjacent the top edge thereof.

Referring now to Figure 2, it can be seen that the exercise cover 3 can be tightened around the limb end 1 by folding excess material 10 around the plaster cast 2 and then securing it in position by attaching the hooks 11 on the VELCRO strip ends 8a to the fabric pad 7 in known manner thereby reducing the circumference 5 of the open end 4 of the cover 3 to be substantially the same as that of the animal's limb end and securing it thereon.

As an alternative to the illustrated embodiment, the open end of the boot can be elasticated or have a drawstring around it.

The protective exercise cover of the invention is particularly easy to use, in weight and waterproof.

Claims

1. A protective exercise cover or boot for fitting to the limb end of an animal comprising a waterproof enclosure which is open at one end to receive the animal's limb end, the enclosure having a circumference greater than that of the animal's limb end and including releasable tightening means for reducing the circumference of the cover to make it fit tightly around the animal's limb end.

2. A cover as claimed in claim 1 wherein the cover is made of a flexible synthetic plastic material.

3. A cover as claimed in claim 1 or claim 2 wherein the releasable tightening means comprise at least one VELCRO hook and fabric fastening strip.

4. A cover as claimed in any preceding claim wherein the releasable tightening means extend along substantially the whole length of the cover.

5. A cover as claimed in claim 3 or claim 4 wherein three VELCRO strips are attached to the exterior of the cover.

6. A protective exercise cover or boot for fitting to an animal's limb end substantially as herein described with reference to the accompanying drawings.