GB2550937A

GB2550937A - Dog muzzle

Info

Publication number: GB2550937A
Application number: GB1609583.8A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Barter Oli
Original assignee: So Pet Products Ltd
Current assignee: So Pet Products Ltd
Priority date: 2016-06-01
Filing date: 2016-06-01
Publication date: 2017-12-06
Anticipated expiration: 2036-06-01
Also published as: GB2550937B; GB201609583D0

Abstract

A dog muzzle has a main part 3 including a nose band 7 with a muzzle opening 5. From a lower region of the main part, a mouthguard strap 31 provided with fastening means 34, 35 extends forwards. In one, closed position the strap passes around the nose of the dog to detachably connect 10, 11 to the nose band. In another, open position the strap is looped back to detachably connect 8, 9 to the lower region. The strap encircles the mouth of the dog whilst leaving apertures to each side. Preferably the muzzle is made from clear plastics material.

Description

.....MMjSS&Lls

The oreseht invention relates to a clog muzzle, which is configurable to provide protection, for example, against biting, barking and/or eating unwanted objects.

Existing muzzles are generally of a rigid/semί-rlgid kind or of a flexible kinii.

Nuzzles of a rigid/semi-rigid kind a-e typically made from metal or hard/semi-hard thermoplastics, wth a cage design enclosing the mouth and providing protection against biting. US-A-D6593§3 discloses one example of a muzzle of rig id/se m i - rigid ki n d.

Nuzzles of a flexible kind are typically made from woven or mesh synthetic materials, and are often of open-ended design, exposing the nose and front of the mouth, enabling eating, drinking, taking Of treats and panting, but does n|t Offlf full protection against biting and/or eating unwanted objects. USA-5136984, US-A-5299531* US-A-5762030 and US-A-578500S disclose examples of flexible kind.

It is an aim of the present invention to provide a dog muzzle, which is configurable to provide protection against biting, barking and/or eating unwanted objects, but also enabling eating, drinking, taking of treats and panting,

Accordingly, the present invention provides a dog muzzle, comprising a main body part which is fittabie to the head of the dog and includes an opening through which is extendable the mouth of the dog* and a mouthguard strap which has first and second ends and is configurable to extend between first and second regions of the main body part at the opening so as to encircle the mouth or end of tie muzzle of the dog and leave apertures to the respective sides of the mouthguard strap.

This muzzle, in providing a configurable mouthguard, has been recognized by the inventor as advantageously allowing for configurations which protect against biting, barking and/or eating unwanted objects, and enable eating, drinking, taking of treats and panting.

Furthermore, the present invention allows use of a lightweight structure, Which, especially when formed of a substantially transparent material, is less conspicuous, which gives the owner more confidence to take the dog out in public. This is particularly advantageous when training, In order to expose the dog to a general environment, as when dogs are fitted with conventional mizzlis, other dog owners tend tp avoid the owner, meaning that thf d#S gets limited opportunities to interact with other dogs for purposes of training,

Preferred embodiments of the present invention wil! now be described hereinieiow by way of example only with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:

Figure 1 illustrates a muzzle in accordance with a first embodiment of the present invention;

Figure 2 illustrates the muzzle of Figure 1 in the first, protective configuration;

Figure 3 illustrates the muzzle of Figure 1 in the protective configuration when fitted to a dog;

Figure 4 illustrates tie muzzle of Figure 1 in a second, open configuration;:

Figure 5 illustrates the nhyzzie of Figure 1 ·η the open configuration when fitted fo a dog; and

Figure 6 illustrates a muzzle in accordance with a first embodiment Of the present invention.

Figures 1 to 3 illustrate a muzzle ill accordance Witt* a first embodiment of the present invention.

The muzzle comprises a main body part 3 which is fitted to the head of a dog, and includes an opening 5 through which extends the mouth of the dog extends, with the opening 5 being configured to allow only partial opening of the mouth of the dog.

In this embodiment the main body part 3 comprises a nose band 7 which defines the opening 5 and which is slid over the mouth of the dog so as to encircle the muzzie of the dog.

In rhis embodiment the main body part 3 is formed of a flexible material, such as a plasties or fabric material.

In this embodiment the main body part 3 is formed of a clear plasties ^material.

In this embodiment the main body part 3 includes a first fastener 8, here at a lower region thereof, to whicn a mouthguard strap 31 is attachable; as will be described in more detaii hereinbeibw.

In this embodiment the first fastener 8 is iocped at an inner surface of the main body part 3 so as to prevent the mouthguard strap 31 from being easily ihadvenendy unfastened.

In this embodiment the first fastener 8 comprises at least one press-stud 9, here a pair of press-studs 9.

In an alternative embodiment the first fastener 8 could be a hook-and-eye connector, such as a Velcro (RTM) connector.

In this embodiment the main body part 3 includes a second fastener 10, here at a loser region thereof, here being at a lower region of the nose band 7, to which a mouthguard strap 31 is attachable, as will be described in more detail hereinbelow

In this embodiment the second fastener 10 is located at an inner surface of the main body part 3 so as to prevent the mouthguard strap 31 from being easily inadvertently unfastened.

In this embodiment the second fastener 10 comprises at least one press-stud 11, here a pair of press-studs 11,

In an alternative embodiment the second fastener 10 could be a hook-and-eye connector, such as a Velcro (RTM) connector.

The muzzle further comprises an attachment 14 by which the main body part 3 is held to the head of the dog.

In this embodiment the attachment 14 comprises a strap arrangement 15, here a pair of straps 17, which pass around the head of the dog, under the ears and crossed round the back of the lower head and the upper neck.

In this embodiment the straps 17 are connected by a clip connector 18, here comprising a pair of clips 19, for example, a side-release buckle.

In an alternative embodiment the straps 17 could be connected by a belt-and-buckle arrangement.

In ah|ther altfppljyf embodiment the straps 17 could be connected by a hook-and-eye conneet®rf such as a Velcro (RTM) connector.

In this embodiment one of the straps 17 is adjustable in length.

In an alternative embodiment the attachment 14 could be a belt-and-buekle arrangement.

The muzzle further comprises a mouthguard strap 31 which has first and second ends 32a, b and is configurable to extend between lower and upper regions of the main body part 3 at the opening 5 so as to encircle the mouth of the dog in a vertical or sagittal plane, and leaving apertures 33 to the respective sides of the mouth of the dog.

In this embodiment the mouthguard strap 31 includes a fastener 34 which is fastenable to one of the fasteners 8, 10 on the main body part 3 so as to configure the strap in one of a closed, protective configuration and the other of an open configuration.

In this embodiment the fastener 34 comprises at least one press-stud 35, here a pair of press-studs 35.

In an alternative embodiment the second fastener 33 could be a hook-and-eye connector, such as a Velcro (RTM) connector.

In this embodiment the mouthguard strap 31 is formed of a flexible material, such as a plastics or fabric material.

In this embodiment the mouthguard strap 31 is formed of a clear plastics material.

In this embodiment the mouthguard strap 31 has the form of a flat, linear strip.

In this embodiment the mouthguard strap 31 has a width of at most 40 mm, optionally at most 30 mm,

In this embodiment the mouthguard strap 31 has a width of at least 20 mm.

In this embodiment the one end 32a of the mouthguard strap 31 is fixed to the main body part 3 at the lower region thereof, and the other, distal end 32b of the mouthguard strap 31 is free and fastenable to one of the first and second fasteners 8* 10 on the main body part 3 in one of the first and second configurations/as illustrated in Figures 2 to 5.

In this embodiment the one end 32a of the mouthguard strap 31 is integrally formed with the main body part 3.

In a first, protective configuration, a| illustrated in Figures 2 and 3, the fastener 34 at the distal end 32b of the mouthguard strap 31 is fastened to the second listener 10 on the main body par4· 3, whereby tie mouthguard strap 31 encircles the mouth of the dog in a vertical or sagittal plane, leaving the apertures 33 to the respective sides of the mouth of the dog, which protects against biting, barking and/or eating unwanted objects, but allows for freedom to the respective sides of the mouth of the dog. As noted above, by providing for the distal end 32a of the strap 31 to be fastened under the hose band 2 Of the main body part 3, inadvertent removal of the mouthguard strap ills prevented.

In a second, open configuration, as illustrated in Figures 4 and 5, the fastener 34 at the distal end 32b of the mouthguard strap 31 is fastened to the first fastener 8 on the main body part 3, whereby the mouthguard strap 31 is held beneath the mouth of the dog, leaving the mouth of the dog open, which allows for eating, drinking, taking of treats and panting by the dog,

Vlt| the present muzzle^, the mouthguard strap 11 can be re-configured easily between the protective and open configurations.

In this embodiment the muzzle is formed as a lightweight structure, typically from thermoplastics or synthetic woven materials, which reduces the weight on the face of the dog, and also presents a reduced visual obstruction.

Figure 6 illustrates | muzzle in accordance with | Second embodiment of tHl present invention. the muzzle of this embodiment is very similar to the muzzle of the first-described embodiment, and thus, in order to avoid unnecessary duplication of description, only the differences will be described in detail, with like parts being designated by like parts.

This embodiment differs from the above-described embodiment in that the mouthguard strap 31 is a component which is separable from the main body part 1, and includes a second fastener 41 at the one end 32a, which is fastened lathe first fastener 8 on the main body part 3 when in the protective configuration and unfastened from the first fastener 8 on the main body part 3 when in the open configuration.

In this embodiment the second fastener 41 comprises at least one press-stud 43, here a pair of press-studs 43.

Finally, it will be understood that the present invention has been described in its preferred embodiments and can be modified in many different ways without departing from the scope of the invention as defined by the appended claims.

For example, the mouthguard strap 31 could be arranged to encircle the mouth of the dog in a different direction, fir example, a horizontal direction, with the fasteners 8, 10, 34, 41 being configured accordingly.

Claims

I» . A log muzzle, comprising a main body part which is fittable to the head of the dbg and Includes an opening through which is extendable the mouth of the dog, and a mouthguard strap which has first and second ends and is configurable to extend between first and second regions of the main body part at the opening so as to encircle the mouth of the dog and leave apertures to the respective sides of the mouthguard strap:. 2x The mizzle of claim 1, wherein the mein body part comprises a nose band which defines the opening and is slideabie over the mouth of the dog so as to encircle the muzzle of the dog.
3.. The mizzle of claim 1 or 2, wherein the main body part and/or the mouthguard strap are formed of a flexible material, such as a plastics Of fabric matenil,
4. Th| muzzle of claim 3, wherein the main body part and/or the mouthguard strap are formed of a clear plastics material.
5. The muzzle of any of claims 1 to 4, wherein the mouthguard strap has the form of a flat, linear strip,
6, The muzzle of any of claims 1 to 5, wherein the mouthguard strap Has a width of at most 50 mm, optionally at most 40 mm, optionally at most IP mm.
7, The muzzle of any of claims 1 to 6, wherein the mouthguard strap las a width of at least 20 mm.
8. The muzzle of any of claims 1 to 7, wherein the mouthguard strep is configurable between a first, open configuration and a second, protective eonf igu rati ο n. 9>. The muzzie of claim 8, wherein the main body part includes a first fastener to which the mouthguard strap is attachable in the open configuration and a second fastener to which the mouthguard strap is attachable in the protective configuration, 1|< The muzzle of claim 9, wherein the first fastener is disposed at a lower region of the main body part.
11. The muzzie of claim I or 10, wherein the second fastener is located at an upper region of the main body part, whereby the mouthguard strap encircles the mouth of the dog in a vertical or sagittal plane.
12. The muzzle of any of claims 9 to 11, wherein the first fastener is located at an inner surface of the main body part. 13; The muzzle of any of claims 9 to 12, wherein the second fastener is located at an inner surface of the main body part. 14* The puzzle of any of claims 9 to li, wherein the one end of the mouthguard strap is integrally formed with the main body part, and the other, distal end of the mouthguard strap is a free end and includes a third fastener which is fastenable to a respective one of the first and second fasteners on the main body part. li. The muzzle of any of claims 9 tp 1|, wherein the mouthguard strap is a component which is separable from the main body part, and includes a third fastener at the one end thereof which is fastenable to one of the first and second fasteners on the main body part and a fourth fastener which is fastenabie to the other of the first and second fasteners on the main body part.
16. The muzzle of any of claims 1 to 15, wherein the opening is configured to allow only for partial opening of the mouth of the dog.
17. The muzzle of any of claims 1 to 16, wherein the muzzle further comprises an attachment by which the main body part is held to the head of the dog.