GB2484344A

GB2484344A - Protective blanket for an animal

Info

Publication number: GB2484344A
Application number: GB1016988.6A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Kathryn Elizabeth Dingwall
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2010-10-08
Filing date: 2010-10-08
Publication date: 2012-04-11
Also published as: GB201016988D0

Abstract

A protective blanket 10 for a horse, comprising an outer cover 12 and a liner 14. The liner 14 is detachably connected to an underside 16 of the outer cover by a pair of zip-fastening means 20, 21. Each zip-fastening means comprises a first part (22, fig 2) attached to the underside of the cuter cover and a second part (24, fig 2) attached to the liner. The first part is spaced a minimum distance (L1, fig 2) from a peripheral edge (26, fig 2) of the outer cover, and the second part is spaced a minimum distance (L2, fig 2) from a peripheral edge (28, fig 2) of the liner. The distances L1 and L2 are at least 10mm, preferably 20mm and help to shield the zip-fastening means from dirt during use of the protective blanket.

Description

TITLE: PROTECTIVE BLANKET FOR AN ANIMAL ClllTION

TECHNIC AL FIELD

The present invention relates to a protective blanket for an animal, particularly but not exclusively a protective blanket for a horse.

Animals, particularly horses and dogs, can be fitted with protective blankets (rugs, jackets) to protect them from environmental factors.such as hot or cold weather, flying insects, dust and allergens, as well as for ornamental reasons or at the behest of their owners.

Horse rugs or blankets variously serve to keep a horse warm, dry andlor clean, as well as to provide protection against damage due to blows or bites from other horses.

Blankets for exterior use are also known as "turnout rugs" while blankets for interior use are sometimes called "stable rugs". Such horse rugs are typically tailored to the shape of individual horses and provided with straps, also known as surcingles, to hold them in placeS Tn the case of ridden animals such as horses, protective blankets in the form of numnahs and saddle pads are also fitted to reduce friction, distribute weight bearing pressure and to reduce the impact of the saddle on the animals back when associated with a rider's and the animal's movement relative to each other. Such blankets may also absorb the sweat, preserve the underside of the saddle and aid in the fitting of the saddle. Saddle pads can be full or half size and are sometimes known as wither pads.

The use of such items requires that the internal layer of the garment is in contact with the animal's skin. Over time grease, hair, dust, sweat, grime and dander build up on the inner layer which has many detrimental implications in terms of both animal welfare and garment management. Where the lining absorbs andlor wicks moisture away from the horse, condensation and moisture may build up. This in turn may result in mildew, bacterial and/or fungal developments. Additionally, damage to the lining of garments, either through general wear and tear, over-exuberance of the animal or through rodent and moth damage can render the garment unusable and repairs, when possible, can be costly and render the garment's fixture performance as sub-optimal.

GB 2066636 discloses a horse rug or blanket having an outer cover provided on its underside with a liner detachably connected to the outer cover by releasable connecting means, such as press-stud fasteners or other quick-release fasteners such as zip fasteners.

SUMMARY OF INVENTION

A protective blanket for an animal, comprising: an outer cover; and a liner detachably connected to an underside of the outer cover by a zip-fastening means, the zip-fastening means comprising a first part attached to the underside of the outer cover and a second part attached to the liner, wherein the first part is spaced from a peripheral edge of the outer cover and the second part is spaced from a peripheral edge of the liner.

By positioning the first and second parts away from the peripheral edges of the outer cover and liner respectively, the present invention conceals the zip-fastening means from view when the liner is connected to the outer cover. In this way, the zip-fastening means is protected to some degree from ambient conditions which might impair the actuation of the zip-fastening means. For example, in the case of a horse blanket, the zip-fastening means will be protected from direct exposure to dirt when the horse rolls on the ground.

S The second part of the zip-fastening means may be spaced from the peripheral edge *of the liner by at least 10mm, and possibly about 20mm. The first part of the zip-fastening means may be spaced from the peripheral edge of the outer cover by at least as much as the second part of the zip-fastening means is spaced from the peripheral edge of the liner. In this way, the outer cover is registered with or extends beyond the liner, at least adjacent the i 0 zip-fastening means.

At least one of the first and second parts of the zip-fastening means may comprise zip elements or teeth mounted on a zip tape which is mounted on a fabric flap extending from either the outer cover or the liner. The zip tape is mounted in such a way that the fabric flap at least partially overlaps with the zip elements and is positioned to shield the zip elements from ingress of dirt between the outer cover and the liner. In such an arrangement, the fabric flap is positioned between the zip elements and the peripheral edges of the outer cover and the liner. The zip-fastening means may fin-ther comprise a slider for opening and closing the zip-fastening means, the slider having a pull-tab on a side of the slider adjacent the fabric flap. This gives rise to what is known as a "reverse-pull zip" arrangement. In other words, the slider is on one side of the fabric flap, and the pull-tab is configured to be accessed on an opposite side of the fabric flap.

The zip fastening means may extend from an anterior region of the protective blanket to a posterior region of the protective blanket, and may be wholly disposed to one lateral side of the protective blanket. In this way, the zip-fastening means is spaced from and hence does not extend across a central region of the protective blanket which is intended to rest on the animal's spine. With such an arrangement, a pair of zip-fastening means may be provided, one on each lateral side of the protective blanket. A zip-fastener-free channel may extend between the pair of zip-fastening means, substantially midway between opposed lateral sides of the protective blanket.

The protective blanket may further comprise additional means for detachably connecting the outer cover to the liner. The additional means may comprise a two part hook-and-loop-type fastening means, the two parts of which interengage when registered and pressed together. One part may be attached to the underside of the outer cover and the other part may be attached to the liner. The hook-and-loop-type fastening means may be of the kind sold under the Registered Trade Mark VELCROTM. The two part hook-and-loop-type fastening means may be located within a central region extending axially along the protective blanket (i.e. from front to back), substantially midway between opposed lateral side edges of the protective blanket The additional means may help to prevent localised nicking of the liner under the outer cover during use, The additional means for detachably connecting the liner to the outer cover may be provided in one or more discrete locations. In one location, the additional means may in part be mounted on a flap which is folded over itself when connecting the liner to the outer cover. The flap may extend over at least one peripheral edge of the liner and the outer cover. The flap may be located in a central anterior region of the protective blanket, substantially midway between opposed lateral side edges of the protective blanket. The flap may be padded to provide a cushioning effect. In the ease of a protective blanket for a horse, the padded flap may be configured as a withers pad.

An embodiment of the invention will now be described by way of example and with reference to the accompanying Figures, in which: Figure 1 shows schematically a protective blanket embodying the present invention; Figure 2 shows schematically detail of part of the blanket of Figure 1; and Figure 3 shows schematically further detail of part of the blanket of Figure 1.

Figure 1 shows a protective blanket 10 for a horse, comprising an outer cover 12 and a liner 14. The liner 14 is detachably connected to an underside 16 of the outer cover 12 by a pair of zipfastening means 20,21. Each zip-fastening means 20,21 comprises a first part 22 attached to the underside 16 of the outer cover 12 and a second part 24 attached to the liner 14. The first part 22 is spaced a minimum distance "LI" from a peripheral edge 26 of the outer cover 12, and the second part 24 is spaced a minimum distance "L2" from a peripheral edge 28 of the liner 14. The distances LI and L2 are at least 20mm and help to shield the zip-fastening means 20,21 from dirt during use of the protective blanket 10.

The first arid second parts 22,24 of the zip-fastening means 20,21 each comprise zip elements 30 mounted on a zip tape 32. The zip tape 32 is mounted on fabric flaps 38,39 (which are attached respectively to the outer cover 12 and the liner 14) such that the fabric flaps 3 8,39 are positioned between the zip elements 30 and the respective peripheral edges 26,28 of the outer cover 12 and the liner 14. The zip elements 30 are substantially aligned with lateral edges 34,35 of the fabric flaps 3 8,39 so that they do not project proud of the lateral edges 34,3 5. When the zip elements 30 of opposing first and second parts 22,24 are brought into engagement by slider 36, the corresponding fabric flaps 38,39 butt together, shielding the zip elements 30 from ingress of ambient dirt which may be introduced between the outer cover 12 and the liner 14. The slider 36 has a pull-tab (not shown) which is accessed from an opposite side of the fabric flaps 3 8,39 to the zip elements 30.

Each zip-fastening means 20,2 1 extends from an anterior region 40 of the protective blanket to a posterior region 42. Each zip-fastening means 20,21 is wholly disposed to one lateral side 44,45 of the protective blanket 10, and thus does not cross a central region 46 which in use will rest along the animal's spine. Additional fastening means 50 are provided in the central region 46 to prevent nicking of the liner 14. The additional fastening means 50 comprises a two-pat-I hook-and-loop-type fastening system, the two parts 50A,50B of which interengage when registered and pressed together. One additional fastening means is deployed towards the posterior region 42 of the protective blanket 10, with one of the two parts SOA,50B attached to the underside 16 of the outer cover 12. Another additional fastening means 50 is deployed towards the anterior region 40 of the protective blanket 10, with one of the two parts 50A,50B attached to a padded flap 60 projecting from outer cover 12. The padded flap 60 is configured to be folded back on itself so that the two parts 50A,50B may be registered.

Claims

CLAIMS1. A protective blanket for an animal, comprising: an outer cover; and a liner detachably connected to an underside of the outer cover by a zip-fastening means, the zip-fastening means comprising a first part attached to the underside of the outer cover and a second part attached to the liner, wherein the first part is spaced from a peripheral edge of the outer cover and the second part is spaced from a peripheral edge of the liner.
2. A protective blanket according to claim 1, wherein the second part of the zip-fastening means is spaced from the peripheral edge of the liner by at least 10mm,, and possibly about 20mm.
3. .A protective blanket according to claim 1 or claim 2, wherein the first part of the zip-fastening means is spaced from the peripheral edge of the outer cover by at least as much as the second part of the zip-fastening means is spaced from the peripheral edge of the liner.
4. A protective blanket according to any preceding claim, wherein at least one of the first and second parts of the zip-fastening means comprises zip elements or teeth mounted on a zip tape, the zip tape being mounted on a fabric flap extending from either the outer cover or the liner such that the fabric flap at least partially overlaps with the zip elements and is positioned to shield the zip elements from ingress of dirt between the outer cover and the liner.
5. A protective blanket according to claim 4, wherein the zip-fastening means further comprises a slider for opening and closing the zip-fastening means, the slider having a put!-tab on a side of the slider adjacent the fabric flap.
6. A protective blanket according to any preceding claim, wherein the zip-fastening means extends from an anterior region of the protective blanket to a posterior region of the protective blanket.
7. A protective blanket according to claim 6, wherein the zip-fastening means is wholly disposed to one lateral side of the protective blanket,
8. A protective blanket according to any preceding claims, further comprising additional means for detachably connecting the liner to the outer cover.
9. A protective blanket according to claim 8, wherein the additional means is in part mounted on a flap which is folded over itself when connecting the liner to the outer cover, 10, A protective blanket according to claim 9, wherein the flap is located in an anterior region of the protective blanket, substantially midway between opposed lateral side edges of the protective blanket.ii. A protective blanket according to claim 9 or claim 10, wherein the flap is padded to provide a cushioning effect.12. A protective blanket according to any one of claims 8 to 11, wherein the additional means comprises a two part hook-and-loop-type fastening means, the two parts of which interengage when registered and pressed together,