GB2411811A

GB2411811A - A hinged animal protection boot

Info

Publication number: GB2411811A
Application number: GB0405713A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Andrew Evans
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2004-03-13
Filing date: 2004-03-13
Publication date: 2005-09-14
Also published as: GB0405713D0

Abstract

An animal protection boot 1, comprising a generally L-shaped sock to cover the paw and lower leg. The boot is fitted with a hinge 4 which restricts movement of the paw in relation to the leg, only allowing the joint to flex in one direction. In dogs suffering from a deterioration of the nervous system, the boot supports the paw, preventing any backward movement, and thus preventing it from dragging along the ground as the animal moves forward. The boot has an outer skin of latex or other rubber-like material making it protective, waterproof and flexible; and it is lined with a fabric and cushioning material. It also has an elongate slot 2 to facilitate easy fitting. The slot is closed by straps 3 using hook and loop tape.

Description

Title: Animal Protection Boot The present invention relates to an animal

protection boot, especially for dogs A number of dogs suffer fiom chronic degenerative radiculomylopathy (C.13.R M-), a symptom caused by the deterioration to die nervous system. In the early stages of C..R.M, the rear right leg is affected. The joint connecting the paw to Me leg malfunctions and allows the paw pivot backwards. When the leg is moved forward, the front end of Be paw is dragged across the ground and this causes damages to the front end of the pay and claws.

The invention seeks to provide a boot to protect the paw of a dog, whilst preferably allowing the paw to flex.

According to the present invention there is provided an animal protection boot comprising a generally L-shaped sock to cover the paw and lower part of me led tuld a hinge in use adjacent the Joint between a paw and the leg, said hinge allowing forward movement of He paw relative to the leg but preventing rearward movement of the paw relative to the leg.

Preferably the sock is formed with an outer skin of latex or other rubberlike material. Preferably the inside of the sock is lined with a fahac andlor cushioning material. )

Preferably the upper part of the soclc has an elongate slot therein allowing the upper part of the sock to open to facilitate the entry of the animal's paw and leg into the boot. The slot may be Red closable by means of ties, e.g. Velcro straps.

Preferably the boot is desired for a dog.

Preferably the hinge is formed Dom two components pivoted together and which have to edges which abut to prevent rearward movement of the paw. Preferably a first component lies in the sock wall above the paw and leg joint and preferably a second component extends around the heel of the sock.

An embodiment of the invention will now be described with reference to the accompanying drawings in which: Figure 1 shows a rear view of Me sock showing the hinge preventing rearward movement of We paw and Figure 2 shows a side view of the sock showing the hinge allowing forward movement of the paw.

Referring to the drawing there is shown a dog protection boot 1. Boot I has a generally L- shaped sock to cover the paw and lower part of the leg of a dog Sock I has an outer skin 1A of later or other rubber-like material to make it protective, waterproof and flexible. The inside of the sock is lined with a fabric 1B such as muslin andlor cushioning material such as neoprene or foam.

The upper part of the sock has an elongate slot 2 therein allowing the upper part of the sock to open to facilitate the entry of the dogmas paw and leg into the boot. The slot may be closed means of ties, such as Velcro straps SA,3B, to secure the sock onto the leg of a dog.

A hinge 4 is provided which, in use, is adjacent the joint between a paw and the leg. Hinge 4 allows forward movement of the paw relative to the leg but prevents rearward movement of the paw relative to He leg.

Hinge 4 is formed from first and second components 56. First component 5 composes a curved nylon plate which lies in the sock wall above the paw and leg joint. Component S includes Ho projections 7A,7B either side of a first hinge edge 8. Projections 7A,7B support a pivot pin if Second component 6 comprises an 1:-shaped nylon plate which ides in the sock wall below the paw and leg joint and extends around He heel. Component 6 includes two projections IUA,I UB either side of a second hinge edge 11. As shown in Figure I rearward movement of a paw relative to the leg of the dog in boot I is limited by edges 8 and 11 abutting one another, whereas i forward movement of the paw relative to the leg of the dog is allowed by the pivoting movement ofthe two components 5,6 as shown in Figure 2.

It will be appreciated that in use, the boot of the invention will protect the paw of a dog with chronic degenerative radiculomylopathy preventing the paw fiend moving back too far and yet allow the paw to move relative to the leg as is normal when a dog walks The invention may take a forth different to that specifically described above. For example the hinge could of a different design, and method of securing the boot to a dog could be other than straps 3A,38. Also the boot of the invention could be used for animals other than dogs.

Further modifications will be apparent to those skilled in the art without departing from the scope of the present invention. s

Claims

1. An animal protection boot comprising a generally L-shaped sock to cover the paw and lower part of the leg, and a hinge in use adjacent the joint between a paw and the leg, said hinge allowing forward movement of the paw relative to the leg but preventing rearward movement of the paw relative to the leg.

2. An animal protection boot according to claim 1, wherein the sock is formed with an outer skin of latex or other rubber-like material.

3. An animal protection boot according to claim I or 2, wherein the inside of the sock is lined with a fabric and/or cushioning material.

4. An animal protection boot according to any preceding claim, wherein the upper part of the sock has an elongate slot therein allowing the upper part of the sock to open to facilitate the entry of the animal's paw and leg into the boot.

5. An animal protection boot according to claim 4, wherein the slot may be closable by means of ties, such as Velcro straps.

6. An animal protection boot according to any preceding claim, wherein the boot is designed for a dog.

7. An animal protection boot according to any preceding claim, wherein the hinge is formed from two components pivoted together and which have two edges which abut to prevent rearward movement of the paw.

8. An animal protection boot according to claim 7, wherein a first component lies in the sock wall above the paw and leg joint and a second component extends around the heel of the sock.

9. An animal protection boot substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to and as shown in the accompanying drawings.