Rain jacket for dogs

Abstract

A rain jacket for dogs is disclosed comprising a forward body portion, a hood portion, two front leg portions and a back flap portion, all mutually attached and comprised of a flexible waterproof material. The jacket is closed with fastening means positioned along the chest line and secured with a pair of draw strings attached under the chest and cross tied through one or more tabs across the back.

Description

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

This invention relates to protective garments designed for animals and more particularly to a rain jacket for dogs.

2. Description of the Prior Art

The prior art discloses a number of garments designed for the purpose of covering animals, each with varying design features. Specifically U.S. Pat. No. 3,248,852, Schwartz, discloses a warming garment with adjustable expansion components allowing for continuing use as the animal grows. U.S. Pat. No. 3,141,443, Huey, describes a protective cover for holding a diaper and for protecting a female during mating season. U.S. Pat. No. 3,150,641, Kesh, shows a dust cover useful for retaining anti-pesticide dust on a dog and preventing contamination of surrounding furniture, rugs and the like.

All of these devices show a combination of protective and fastening arrangements which yield results appropriate to their intended use. The invention disclosed herein provides a unique garment, different from the above, arranged to keep the major portion of a dog dry during a rain or snow storm without interfering with his normal body functions. The jacket therefore is particularly useful when walking a dog during a storm when it is intended to return to the household immediately. The normal shaking and spattering that a wet dog performs will be prevented, allowing the dog to return indoors without wetting the surroundings. Further the garment is easy to put on and take off, is inexpensive to manufacture and fits securely without a multiplicity of fastening devices.

These and other features of the invention will be more fully described in the summary which follows.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The invention may be summarized as a rain jacket for dogs comprising a plurality of body portions or sections each composed of flexible waterproof material, all mutually joined to form a protective covering for the major portion of the dog's body. The sections consist of a forward body portion covering the dog's chest and upper back, a hood portion covering the head, particularly the ears, but exposing the snout and eyes, two front leg portions, and a back flap portion extending rearward of the forward body portion. The jacket is closed along the longitudinal center line of the chest with snap, zipper or hook type fasteners and tied with crossed draw strings through tabs at the back. The hood is also secured about the snout opening with a draw string.

A primary object of the invention is to keep water from seeping inside the garment. Therefore the closing and securing devices and their positions are important to the uniqueness of the design. The jacket is closed underneath the dog in contrast to other garments known to the inventor which close along the dog's back. Snap fasteners in particular are likely to allow water to seep into the jacket when located on the back since the seam or closing joint is not tight and subject to leakage in a strong downpour.

The draw strings, contained in a seam, which cross underneath and extend up the dog's side also act to prevent water from entering under the jacket along the rear vertical edge. Tabs are positioned on the rear part of the front body portion to hold the strings vertically in place and prevent their untying. The hood is similarly seamed around the snout opening with a tie string contained in a seam at the periphery of the opening.

The details of this novel rain jacket are more clearly shown in the accompanying drawings and the description of the preferred embodiment below.

DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a side view of a dog wearing the rain jacket of the invention described herein;

FIG. 2 is a back view of the jacket of FIG. 1; and

FIG. 3 is a front view of the jacket of FIG. 1.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

Referring first to FIG. 1, there is shown a side view of the novel rain jacket of the present invention as worn by a dog. Forward body portion 10 covers a substantial part of the dog's body. Attached thereto are additional covering portions which may be comprised of the same continuous piece of material shaped from a pattern or may be separate pieces attached by waterproof seams. Two front leg portions 12 and 14 protect the dog's front legs, hood portion 16 protects the dog's head and back flap portion 18 extends over the back to protect the rear of the dog without interfering with his bodily functions.

The hood portion is designed to cover the dog's ears but to expose his snout and eyes. Wet ears are a principle irritant to a dog which induces shaking, resulting in water spattering. The hood is secured with a draw string 20 held in a seam about the periphery of the hood opening.

The forward body portion has an opening 22 as shown in FIG. 3 which allows the garment to be taken off and on. Fastening means, snap fasteners 24 for example, are used to secure the jacket about the dog's girth. As mentioned above, the positioning of the opening underneath the dog along a longitudinal chest line aids in preventing water from seeping into the garment as might occur if the opening were located on top of the dog along his back. The jacket is further secured by a draw string 26 which is contained within a seamed enclosure 28 positioned laterally across the rear of the body portion and proximate to the rear opening. The strings are crossed underneath the dog and passed through tab 30 which holds then in vertical disposition and aids to prevent their untying. The pressure of the strings against the dog's side assists to further seal the jacket against leakage which would cause discomfort to the dog.

Having disclosed the preferred embodiment of this novel rain jacket for dogs above, variations in design will become obvious to those skilled in the art. The invention is therefore defined specifically by the following claims.

Claims

What is claimed Is:

1. An improved protective garment for dogs, specifically a rain jacket for dogs, composed of flexible waterproof material, of the type having a body portion, a hood portion and fore leg portions, wherein the improvements of said portions comprise:

a hood portion substantially covering and enclosing a dog's head and underside of neck having an opening exposing the dog's snout and eyes;

a hood string member securing said hood portion about the periphery of said opening;

a body portion integrated with and extending from said hood near to the stifle of the dog, said body portion having an opening along a longitudinal line coincident with the dog's chest;

fastening means positioned along said longitudinal opening for securing said jacket about the dog's girth;

a back flap portion integrated with and attached to the rear of said body portion to substantially cover the back and the rump of the dog;

a rear tie string member contained within a seamed enclosure, positioned laterally with respect to the dog's body, at the juncture of said body portion and back flap portion and proximate to the rear opening of said forward body portion; and

a tab means positioned at the juncture of said body portion and rear flap portion being coincident with the spine of the dog through which said tie string member is crossed and tied.

2. The rain jacket of claim 1 wherein said hood string member is a draw sting.

3. The rain jacket of claim 1 wherein said rear tie string member is a draw string.

4. The rain jacket of claim 1 wherein said fastening means comprises snaps.