The present invention relates to small animal harnesses that comprise prosternum and sternum bands, the interconnected ends of which form apexes that are interconnected with webbing loops and a fastener over the dog's withers.
Broadly, the type of dog harness that is the subject of the present invention is known but it is the object of the present invention to improve on the fastener assembly that interconnects the side portions of the harness over the dog's withers in order to accommodate dogs of varying shoulder breadth and to provide a greater range of tightness of fit depending on the pulling force exerted by the dog on the leash.
The dog harness 2 of the present invention includes a body portion 4 and the fastener assembly 6, as seen in
The body portion includes a strap or band 10 that is adapted to be positioned over the dog's prosternum 12 with ends 14 and 15 that terminate over the dog's shoulders. The body portion also includes a strap or band 16 that is adapted to be positioned around the dog's sternum 18 with ends 20 and 21 that terminate over the dog's shoulders. The ends 14 and 20 of the straps 10 and 16 that terminate over the left shoulder are interconnected at an angle forming a first harness apex 25. The ends 15 and 21 of the straps 10 and 16 that terminate over the right shoulder are interconnected at an angle forming a second harness apex 30.
The fastener assembly 6 includes first and second web members 41 and 43 each having proximal ends 45 and 47 and distal ends 49 and 51, the proximal ends of which are sewn or otherwise attached to the respective harness apexes 25 and 30. Each of the web member[s ]traverses the open spaces of sliplock buckles 27 and 29, the middle bars 31 and 33 of which, anchor the distal ends 49 and 51 of the web members. Between the distal ends of each of the web members and the point where the web members traverse the sliplock buckles loops 53 and 55 are formed each having inner 57 and 59 and outer 61 and 63 runs. Adjusting the positions of the sliplock buckles on the web members regulates the size of the loops.
The web members 41 and 43 are interconnected with a side release buckle 70 where the inner runs 57 and 59 pass through the respective connecting slots 71 and 73 in the ends of the buckle. The spacing and fit between the web members and the side buckle's connecting slots is such that the buckle can freely slide on the inner runs of the web members. That portion of each of the web members that form the loops 53 and 55 traverses through respective D-rings 77 and 79 in such a manner that the rings can freely slide on the loop portions of the web members, easily accommodating changes in the size of the loops. The D-rings are intended as the anchor points for connecting a leash 80, as shown in
It can be seen that positioning the sliplock buckles 27 and 29 in the position shown in
In operation on a dog, the disclosed fastener assembly allows for simple and fixed adjustment of the spacing between the harness apexes but that spacing will not vary as a function of tension on the leash.
Number | Name | Date | Kind |
---|---|---|---|
2187021 | Everson | Jan 1940 | A |
2233397 | Bloom | Mar 1941 | A |
2605744 | Urbanski | Aug 1952 | A |
3768445 | Sorrels | Oct 1973 | A |
5150667 | Salidrigas | Sep 1992 | A |
5247905 | Arakawa | Sep 1993 | A |
5427061 | McCullough | Jun 1995 | A |
5915335 | Holt, Jr. | Jun 1999 | A |
6101979 | Wilson | Aug 2000 | A |
6213057 | Franco | Apr 2001 | B1 |
6637377 | Lobanoff | Oct 2003 | B2 |
6662755 | Kato | Dec 2003 | B2 |
20080047501 | Madere | Feb 2008 | A1 |
20080223311 | Ito | Sep 2008 | A1 |
Number | Date | Country | |
---|---|---|---|
20160066544 A1 | Mar 2016 | US |