RECOVERY CUSHION FOR ANIMALS

Abstract

The present invention relates to a recovery cushion assembly (1) for animals, comprising an inflatable main cushion body (3) taking the general shape of an E and an inflatable closing body (5) designed to be assembled with the main cushion body (3) thereby closing the E-shape of the main cushion body (3).

Claims

1. A recovery cushion assembly for animals, the recovery cushion assembly comprising an inflatable main cushion body taking the general shape of an E and an inflatable closing body designed to be assembled with the main cushion body thereby closing the E-shape of the main cushion body.

2. The recovery cushion assembly of claim 1, wherein the main cushion body and the closing body are configured to be assembled by one or more of belts and buckles, straps and rings, and/or hook-and-loop fasteners.

3. The recovery cushion assembly of claim 1, wherein the main cushion body is surmounted with an upper tube cushion assembled with the main cushion body and covering an upper part of an exterior web and flanges of the main cushion body.

4. The recovery cushion assembly of claim 1, wherein the main cushion body comprises at least two superimposed E-shaped inflatable tube cushions assembled with each other by means of one or more of belts and buckles, straps and rings, and/or hook-and-loop fasteners.

5. The recovery cushion assembly of claim 4, wherein the superimposed tube cushions are at least partially covered by an internal and/or external cover sheet.

6. A process for facilitating recovery of an animal after anesthesia, the process comprising: adjusting a height of a recovery cushion assembly to a height of the animal; positioning the anesthetized animal onto an inflated E-shaped main cushion body of the recovery cushion assembly, with a body of the animal resting on a web part of the main cushion body and legs of the animal positioned in corresponding spaces between flanges of the main cushion body; and fastening an inflated closing body to the main cushion body.

7. The cushion assembly of claim 3, wherein the tube cushion is inflatable.

8. The recovery cushion assembly of claim 5, wherein the internal and/or external cover sheet is made of a plastic protective sheet of material fastened to the cushions.

Description

DRAWINGS

[0024] The drawings described herein are for illustrative purposes only of selected embodiments and not all possible implementations and are not intended to limit the scope of the present disclosure. In connection therewith, the invention will be described in more details herein below with reference to the attached drawings, wherein:

[0025] FIG. 1 shows an exploded perspective view of a recovery cushion assembly for heavy animals;

[0026] FIG. 2 shows an exploded view of the main cushion body; and

[0027] FIG. 3 shows a perspective view of the recovery cushion assembly, the closing cushion body being shown separate from the main cushion body.

[0028] In the figures, same or similar elements bear the same reference sign. Further, it is to be noted that the figures show an exemplary embodiment of the invention which is not to be interpreted as restricting the scope of the invention in any way.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0029] Example embodiments will now be described more fully with reference to the accompanying drawings. The description and specific examples included herein are intended for purposes of illustration only and are not intended to limit the scope of the present disclosure.

[0030] As can be seen from FIGS. 1 and 3, the invention recovery cushion assembly 1 is composed of an inflatable main cushion body 3 and an inflatable closing body 5 (e.g., inflatable by way of air or other gas or fluid, etc.). In FIGS. 1 and 3, the closing body 5 is shown separate from the main cushion body 3, but it is intended to be displaced up against and secured to the main cushion body 3, in order to safely maintain the animal resting on the recovery cushion 1 to be sustained in safe and comfortable position.

[0031] The inflatable main cushion body 3 takes the general shape of an E (e.g., a capital, English alphabetic letter E; etc.), with a web 21 and flanges 23,24,25, and the inflatable closing body 5 generally takes the shape of an elongated ellipsoid or parallelepiped and is designed to be assembled with and secured to the main body thereby closing the E-shape of the main body 3. It is understood that “closing the main body” means that the closing body 5 closes the main body 3 by linking at least the external flanges 23,25 of the main body 3 (e.g., by way of the closing body 5, etc.).

[0032] According to a preferred embodiment, the main cushion body 3 comprises at least two superimposed E-shaped inflatable tube cushions 6 and 6′ assembled with each other by means of belts 7 and buckles 9, straps and rings and/or hook-and-loop fasteners 11 or equivalent means. This advantageous arrangement allows to adapt the recovery cushion 1 to several animal leg heights.

[0033] According to another preferred embodiment, the main cushion body 3 showing globally the shape of an E is surmounted with an upper, preferably inflatable, tube cushion 13 assembled with the E-shaped main body 3,6,6′ and covering the upper part of the exterior web and flanges of the E-shaped main cushion body.

[0034] The superimposed tube cushions 6,6′ may be at least partially covered by an internal and/or external cover sheet 31,33 (FIG. 3). The cover sheets 31,33, may be made of a plastic protective sheet material fastened to the relevant cushions by means of hook-and-loop fastener straps 11 known per se. It will be easily understood that the cover sheets 31,33 have a protective function, that is that they protect the cushions from being damaged by animal bites or hooves for instance. In addition, they stabilize and mechanically reinforce the structure of the recovery cushion 1.

[0035] Similarly, the closing body 5 may be at least partially covered by a plastic sheet or embedded in a plastic sheet shell 35, the plastic sheet or sheet shell 35 being fastened to the closing body by means of belts and buckles, straps and rings and/or hook-and-loop fastener straps known per se. The plastic sheet or shell 35 is designed to protect the closing body 5 from being damaged by animal bites, by hooves or by displacements by sliding over the ground, to close the main body 3.

[0036] As will be easily understood, after surgery or other treatment requiring anesthesia, the animal may be carefully deposited with its body resting essentially onto the web part 21 of the E-shaped main body 3 and the legs going slowly down until they hang in the corresponding spaces between the flanges 23 and 24, and 24 and 25, of the E-shaped main body 3. Once the animal is seen to be resting comfortably and safely on the main body 3, possibly with its stomach or rumen on the central flange 24 of the E-shaped main body 3, the closing body 5 of the recovery cushion 1 may be fastened to the main cushion body 3. When the animal starts recovering and it is considered that its legs may, optionally progressively, take up its weight again, the main cushion body may be slowly, optionally progressively, be deflated thereby allowing the animal to rest more and more on its legs again.

[0037] The invention cushion assembly is of particular interest in the recovery process of anesthetized horses. Horses are known for their sensitive legs and joints. The invention recovery cushion now allows for safe and comfortable recovery of a horse, with reduced risk of the horse hurting itself. The animal is in a safe position and requires just some regular surveillance. Continuous presence of a veterinarian or assistant is no longer required.

[0038] At times where more and more importance is allocated to animal well-being, the use of a recovery cushion in accordance with the invention makes good sense. The animal may remain a required period of time in a safe and comfortable position. Manipulations are reduced and risks are particularly reduced also.

[0039] Example embodiments are provided so that this disclosure will be thorough, and will fully convey the scope to those who are skilled in the art. Numerous specific details are set forth such as examples of specific components, devices, and methods, to provide a thorough understanding of embodiments of the present disclosure. It will be apparent to those skilled in the art that specific details need not be employed, that example embodiments may be embodied in many different forms and that neither should be construed to limit the scope of the disclosure. In some example embodiments, well-known processes, well-known device structures, and well-known technologies are not described in detail.

[0040] The terminology used herein is for the purpose of describing particular example embodiments only and is not intended to be limiting. As used herein, the singular forms “a,” “an,” and “the” may be intended to include the plural forms as well, unless the context clearly indicates otherwise. The terms “comprises,” “comprising,” “including,” and “having,” are inclusive and therefore specify the presence of stated features, integers, steps, operations, elements, and/or components, but do not preclude the presence or addition of one or more other features, integers, steps, operations, elements, components, and/or groups thereof. The method steps, processes, and operations described herein are not to be construed as necessarily requiring their performance in the particular order discussed or illustrated, unless specifically identified as an order of performance. It is also to be understood that additional or alternative steps may be employed.

[0041] Although the terms first, second, third, etc. may be used herein to describe various elements, components, regions, layers and/or sections, these elements, components, regions, layers and/or sections should not be limited by these terms. These terms may be only used to distinguish one element, component, region, layer or section from another region, layer or section. Terms such as “first,” “second,” and other numerical terms when used herein do not imply a sequence or order unless clearly indicated by the context. Thus, a first element, component, region, layer or section discussed below could be termed a second element, component, region, layer or section without departing from the teachings of the example embodiments.

[0042] Spatially relative terms, such as “inner,” “outer,” “beneath,” “below,” “lower,” “above,” “upper,” and the like, may be used herein for ease of description to describe one element or feature's relationship to another element(s) or feature(s) as illustrated in the figures. Spatially relative terms may be intended to encompass different orientations of the device in use or operation in addition to the orientation depicted in the figures. For example, if the device in the figures is turned over, elements described as “below” or “beneath” other elements or features would then be oriented “above” the other elements or features. Thus, the example term “below” can encompass both an orientation of above and below. The device may be otherwise oriented (rotated 90 degrees or at other orientations) and the spatially relative descriptors used herein interpreted accordingly.

[0043] Specific dimensions, specific materials, and/or specific shapes disclosed herein are example in nature and do not limit the scope of the present disclosure.

[0044] The foregoing description of the embodiments has been provided for purposes of illustration and description. It is not intended to be exhaustive or to limit the disclosure. Individual elements or features of a particular embodiment are generally not limited to that particular embodiment, but, where applicable, are interchangeable and can be used in a selected embodiment, even if not specifically shown or described. The same may also be varied in many ways. Such variations are not to be regarded as a departure from the disclosure, and all such modifications are intended to be included within the scope of the disclosure.