METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR DONNING A FLEXIBLE COVERING ON AN ANIMAL LIMB

Abstract

An apparatus and method for donning a flexible covering on an animal limb, the flexible covering including a top open mouth defined by a lip. The apparatus comprises a rigid ring having an outer face around which the mouth of the flexible covering can be positioned. The ring comprises one or more protrusions disposed along the outer face of the ring that are adapted to secure the mouth of the flexible covering in an open position and a linear indentation situated on the outer face of the ring that is adapted to accommodate the lip of the flexible covering. The method includes the steps of stretching the mouth of the flexible covering around the outer face of the ring; aligning the lip of the flexible covering with the linear indentation on the ring; guiding the animal limb through the ring and into the flexible covering; releasing the flexible covering from the ring; and removing the ring from the animal limb.

Claims

1. An apparatus for donning a flexible covering on an animal limb, the flexible covering including a top open mouth defined by a lip, comprising: a rigid ring having an outer face around which the mouth of the flexible covering can be positioned, wherein the ring has an inner circumference sized to allow the animal limb to fit through the ring, and wherein the ring comprises one or more protrusions disposed along the outer face of the ring that are adapted to secure the mouth of the flexible covering in an open position, and wherein the ring comprises a linear indentation situated on the outer face of the ring that is adapted to accommodate the lip of the flexible covering.

2. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the flexible covering is composed of elastomeric material.

3. The apparatus of claim 2, wherein the elastomeric material is latex.

4. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the animal is a domesticated animal.

5. The apparatus of claim 4, wherein the domesticated animal is a dog.

6. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the ring is composed of plastic.

7. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the ring is composed of metal.

8. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein one or more of the protrusions is substantially spherical in shape.

9. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein one or more of the protrusions is substantially flat, having at least two substantially planar faces that are substantially parallel to each other.

10. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the ring comprises one or more notches adapted to secure at least one flexible covering to the ring when not in use.

11. A method for donning a flexible covering on an animal limb, the flexible covering including a top open mouth defined by a lip, comprising: stretching the mouth of the flexible covering around an outer face of a ring; aligning the lip of the flexible covering with a linear indentation on the ring; guiding the animal limb through the ring and into the flexible covering; releasing the flexible covering from the ring by removing the lip of the flexible covering from the outer face of the ring; removing the ring from the animal limb by guiding it over the flexible covering and away from the animal limb.

12. The method of claim 11, wherein the ring comprises one or more protrusions disposed along the outer face of the ring that are adapted to secure the mouth of the flexible covering in an open position.

13. The method of claim 12, wherein one or more of the protrusions is substantially spherical in shape.

14. The method of claim 12, wherein one or more of the protrusions is substantially flat, having at least two substantially planar faces that are substantially parallel to each other.

15. The method of claim 11, wherein the step of securing the mouth of the flexible covering to the ring in an open position comprises securing the mouth of the flexible covering to one or more protrusions on the outer face of the ring.

16. The method of claim 11, wherein the flexible covering is composed of polymeric material.

17. The method of claim 12, wherein the polymeric material is latex.

18. The method of claim 11, wherein the ring is composed of plastic.

19. The method of claim 11, wherein the ring is composed of metal.

20. The method of claim 11, wherein the ring comprises one or more notches adapted to secure at least one flexible covering to the ring when not in use.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0012] Reference will now be made to the accompanying drawings which show, by way of example only, embodiments of the invention, and how they may be carried into effect, and in which:

[0013] FIG. 1 is a top, front perspective view of an apparatus for donning a flexible covering on an animal limb according to a first embodiment of the present invention.

[0014] FIG. 2 is a top perspective view of the apparatus of FIG. 1.

[0015] FIG. 3 is a top, rear perspective view of the apparatus of FIG. 1.

[0016] FIG. 4 is a rear perspective view of the apparatus of FIG. 1.

[0017] FIG. 5 is a side orthogonal view of the apparatus of FIG. 1.

[0018] FIG. 6 is a perspective view of an apparatus for donning a flexible covering on an animal limb according to a second embodiment of the present invention.

[0019] Appendix A contains a series of snapshots that depict a method for donning a flexible covering on an animal limb using the apparatus of FIG. 1.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE EMBODIMENTS

[0020] Referring to FIGS. 1-5, an apparatus for donning a flexible covering on an animal limb according to a first embodiment of the invention is shown generally at 100. The apparatus 100 may be composed of hard plastic, metal, or any other suitable material of sufficient strength to prevent deformation of the apparatus during use.

[0021] As illustrated in FIGS. 1-4, the apparatus 100 comprises a ring, indicated at 130. Ring 130 comprises an inner face 110, which is suitably sized to allow for the passage of an animal limb. The apparatus 100 may further comprise protrusions 115 and 120, which are disposed along an outer face 105. The outer face 105 is suitably sized to fit within the mouth of a flexible covering. As will be more fully described below, protrusions 115 and 120 are adapted to secure the mouth of a flexible covering in an open position. Protrusions 115 may be substantially spherical in shape. Protrusion 120 may be substantially flat, having at least two substantially planar faces that are substantially parallel to each other. It will be appreciated that protrusions of diverse shapes may be useful, such as elliptical or triangular.

[0022] Referring to FIGS. 3-5, the apparatus 100 may further comprise a linear indentation 125, which is adapted to accommodate the lip of a flexible covering. As will be more fully described below, linear indentation 125 assists in securing the mouth of the flexible covering to the apparatus 100 in an open position. It will be appreciated that linear indentations of varying lengths may be useful.

[0023] According to a further embodiment as shown in FIG. 6, a donning apparatus 200 may comprise notches 230, which are adapted to secure at least one flexible covering to the ring when not in use.

[0024] According to a further embodiment, when apparatus 100 is in use, the mouth of a flexible covering may be stretched around the outer face 105 of the ring 130. Next, the lip of the flexible covering may be aligned with linear indentation 125, effectively securing the mouth of the flexible covering to the ring 130 in an open position. While grasping the apparatus 100 and open flexible covering in one hand, a user may guide an animal's limb through the inner circumference of ring 130 and into the flexible covering with the other hand. The flexible covering may then be released from the ring 130 by removing the lip of the flexible covering from the outer face 105 of the ring. Lastly, the ring 130 may be removed from the animal limb by guiding it over the flexible covering and away from the animal limb.

[0025] The present invention may be embodied in other specific forms without departing from the spirit or essential characteristics thereof. Certain adaptations and modifications of the invention will be obvious to those skilled in the art. Therefore, the presently discussed embodiments are considered to be illustrative and not restrictive, the scope of the invention being indicated by the appended claims rather than the foregoing description and all changes which come within the meaning and range of equivalency of the claims are therefore intended to be embraced therein.