Safety collar for pets

Claim 2

A safety device for pets comprising in combination: a basic collar comprising one or more straps for securing the device around the neck of an animal; one or more flexible members depending from one long edge of said collar in a direction transverse to the principal length direction of said basic collar straps, the distance which said flexible members extend beyond said edge substantially exceeding the width of said basic collar straps, said one or more flexible members being at least partially formed of material having a reflectivity for visible light striking the exposed surface of said material which is characterized by values of candlepower per square foot approximately within a range 52 to 164 for light entering at angles within the range -4° to +40°, as observed at angles within the range 0.2° to 0.5°, wherein said one or more flexible members comprise a plurality of elongated depending strips or strands of material spaced-apart at intervals around at least a portion of said collar.

Claim 3

The combination in accordance with claim 1 wherein said flexible members comprise elongated strips which assume any of the shapes selected from the group consisting of oblong, elliptical and triangular.

Claim 4

A safety collar for pets in accordance with claim 1 wherein said one or more flexible members comprise a plurality of elongated strips or strands depending from said collar in a direction transverse to the length direction of said collar, adjacent members being in angled relation to one another and bonded together to form a web.

Claim 5

The combination in accordance with claim 1 wherein said flexible members comprise elongated depending strips which are each separately secured to said collar at spaced-apart positions along the length of said collar.

Claim 6

The combination in accordance with claim 4 wherein said elongated depending strips are secured to said collar by the application of adhesive near the upper ends thereof.

Claim 7

The combination in accordance with claim 4 wherein said elongated depending strips are secured to said collar by a series of snaps having one part near the upper end of each of said strips and the corresponding part mounted on the collar.

Claim 8

The combination in accordance with claim 4 wherein said elongated depending strips are secured in place along said collar by a series of snaps having one part near the upper end of each of said strips and the corresponding part mounted on the underside of said strips spaced-apart from said one part, to thereby form a loop through which said collar is accommodated.

Claim 9

The combination in accordance with claim 4 wherein said collar has a plurality of short slits disposed in end-to-end relation, spaced-apart along its length, and said elongated strips are each passed through a respective one of said slits before being secured to said collar.

Claim 10

The combination in accordance with claim 1 wherein said collar is formed of a plurality of twisted strands forming a series of loops along the length thereof, and said elongated strips or strands are looped over and secured in place on one or more of the loops of said collar.

Claim 11

The combination in accordance with claim 1 wherein one or more baguettes or light-reflecting studs are applied to each of said elongated depending strips or strands.

Claim 12

A safety device for pets comprising in combination: A basic collar comprising one or more straps for securing the device around the neck of an animal; one or more flexible members depending from one long edge of said collar in a direction transverse to the principal length direction of said basic collar straps, the distance which said flexible members extend beyond said edge substantially exceeding the width of said basic collar straps, said one or more flexible members being at least partially formed of material having a reflectivity for visible light striking the exposed surface of said material which is characterized by values of candlepower per square foot approximately within a range 52 to 164 for light entering at angles within the range -4° to +40°, as observed at angles within the range 0.2° to 0.5°, wherein said one or more flexible members depending from the body of said collar comprise a sleeve which fits over said collar, said sleeve having a skirt portion which depends from one of the long edges of said collar, and which comprises a series of outwardly or downwardly-projecting members spaced-apart along the outer edge of said skirt.

Claim 13

A safety device for pets comprising in combination: A basic collar comprising one or more straps for securing the device around the neck of an animal; one or more flexible members depending from one long edge of said collar in a direction transverse to the principal length direction of said basic collar straps, the distance which said flexible members extend beyond said edge substantially exceeding the width of said basic collar straps, said one or more flexible members being at least partially formed of material having a reflectivity for visible light striking the exposed surface of said material which is characterized by values of candlepower per square foot approximately within a range 52 to 164 for light entering at angles within the range -4° to +40°, as observed at angles within the range 0.2° to 0.5°, wherein said one or more flexible members depending from the body of said collar comprise a sleeve which fits over said collar, said sleeve having a skirt portion which depends from one of the long edges of said collar, and which comprises a series of outwardly or downwardly-projecting members spaced-apart along the outer edge of said skirt.

Claim 14

A safety device for pets comprising in combination: a basic collar comprising one or more straps for securing the device around the neck of an animal; one or more flexible members depending from one long edge of said collar in a direction transverse to the principal length direction of said basic collar straps, the distance which said flexible members extend beyond said edge substantially exceeding the width of said basic collar straps, said one or more flexible members being at least partially formed of material having a reflectivity for visible light striking the exposed surface of said material which is characterized by values of candlepower per square foot approximately within a range 52 to 164 for light entering at angles within the range -4° to +40°, as observed at angles within the range 0.2° to 0.5°, wherein said one or more flexible members depending from said collar comprise a plurality of elongated strands at least partially comprising light-reflecting material.

Claim 15

A safety device for pets comprising in combination: a basic collar comprising one or more straps for securing the device around the neck of an animal; one or more flexible members depending from one long edge of said collar in a direction transverse to the principal length direction of said basic collar straps, the distance which said flexible members extend beyond said edge substantially exceeding the width of said basic collar straps, said one or more flexible members being at least partially formed of material having a reflectivity for visible light striking the exposed surface of said material which is characterized by values of candlepower per square foot approximately within a range 52 to 164 for light entering at angles within the range -4° to +40°, as observed at angles within the range 0.2° to 0.5°, wherein said one or more flexible members depending from said collar comprise a plurality of elongated strands at least partially comprising light-reflecting material.

Claim 16

The combination in accordance with claim 12 wherein said strands form a plurality of loops along the length of said collar, one end of each of said loops depending outwardly from the lower or outer edge of said collar along one edge thereof, the other ends of said loops together forming a sleeve for accommodating said collar.

Claim 17

The combination in accordance with claim 12 wherein said collar comprises a plurality of slits disposed across the width thereof in parallel spaced-apart relation along its length; wherein said strands are secured on said collar by threading one or more of said strands through an adjacent pair of slits so that both ends of said strands depend from the lower or outer edge of said collar; and wherein a light-reflecting baguette or crystal is applied to one or more of the ends of said strands.

Claim 18

A subcombination of a safety device for pets comprising in combination: a sleeve member having an elongated opening of a width adapted to be threaded lengthwise onto a basic animal collar comprising one or more straps for securing the collar around the neck of an animal; one or more flexible members depending from one long edge of said sleeve in a direction transverse to the principal length direction of said elongated opening, the distance which said flexible members extend beyond said edge substantially exceeding the width of said elongated opening, said one or more flexible members being at least partially formed of material having a reflectivity for visible light striking the exposed surface of said material which is characterized by values of candlepower per square foot approximately within a range 52 to 164 for light entering at angles within the range -4° to +40°, as observed at angles within the range 0.2° to 0.5°, wherein said one or more flexible members comprise a plurality of elongated depending strips or strands or material spaced-apart at intervals along at least a portion of said sleeve.

Claim 19

A subcombination of a safety device for pets comprising in combination: a sleeve member having an elongated opening of a width adapted to be threaded lengthwise onto a basic animal collar comprising one or more straps for securing the collar around the neck of an animal; one or more flexible members depending from one long edge of said sleeve in a direction transverse to the principal length direction of said elongated opening, the distance which said flexible members extend beyond said edge substantially exceeding the width of said elongated opening, said one or more flexible members being at least partially formed of material having a reflectivity for visible light striking the exposed surface of said material which is characterized by values of candlepower per square foot approximately within a range 52 to 164 for light entering at angles within the range -4° to +40°, as observed at angles within the range 0.2° to 0.5°, wherein said one or more flexible members comprise a plurality of elongated depending strips or strands or material spaced-apart at intervals along at least a portion of said sleeve.

Claim 20

A subcombination of a safety device for pets comprising in combination: a sleeve member having an elongated opening of a width adapted to be threaded lengthwise onto a basic collar comprising one or more straps for securing the collar around the neck of an animal; one or more flexible members depending from one long edge of said sleeve in a direction transverse to the principal length direction of said elongated opening, the distance which said flexible members extend beyond said edge substantially exceeding the width of said elongated opening, said one or more flexible members being at least partially formed of material having a reflectivity for visible light striking the exposed surface of said material which is characterized by values of candlepower per square foot approximately within a range 52 to 164 for light entering at angles within the range -4° to +40°, as observed at angles within the range 0.2° to 0.5°, wherein said one or more flexible members depending from the body of said sleeve comprise a skirt portion which depends from one of the long edges of said sleeve, and which comprises a series of outwardly or downwardly-projecting members spaced apart along the outer edge of said skirt.

Claim 21

A subcombination of a safety device for pets comprising in combination: a sleeve member having an elongated opening of a width adapted to be threaded lengthwise onto a basic collar comprising one or more straps for securing the collar around the neck of an animal; one or more flexible members depending from one long edge of said sleeve in a direction transverse to the principal length direction of said elongated opening, the distance which said flexible members extend beyond said edge substantially exceeding the width of said elongated opening, said one or more flexible members being at least partially formed of material having a reflectivity for visible light striking the exposed surface of said material which is characterized by values of candlepower per square foot approximately within a range 52 to 164 for light entering at angles within the range -4° to +40°, as observed at angles within the range 0.2° to 0.5°, wherein said one or more flexible members depending from the body of said sleeve comprise a skirt portion which depends from one of the long edges of said sleeve, and which comprises a series of outwardly or downwardly-projecting members spaced apart along the outer edge of said skirt.

Claim 22

A subcombination of a safety device for pets comprising in combination: one or more flexible members comprising a plurality of elongated strands each constructed at one end in the form of a loop having an opening of a width adapted to be threaded onto a basic animal collar comprising one or more straps for securing the device around the neck of an animal, said one or more flexible members constructed to depend from one long edge of said collar in a direction transverse to the principal length direction of said basic collar straps, the distance which said flexible members are constructed to extend beyond said edge substantially exceeding the width of said loops, said one or more flexible members being at least partially formed of material having a reflectivity for visiblelight striking the exposed surface of said material which is characterized by values of candlepower per square foot approximately within a range 52 to 164 for light entering at angles within the range -4° to +40°, as observed at angles within the range 0.2° to 0.5°.

Claim 23

A subcombination of a safety device for pets comprising in combination: one or more flexible members comprising a plurality of elongated strands each constructed at one end in the form of a loop having an opening of a width adapted to be threaded onto a basic animal collar comprising one or more straps for securing the device around the neck of an animal, said one or more flexible members constructed to depend from one long edge of said collar in a direction transverse to the principal length direction of said basic collar straps, the distance which said flexible members are constructed to extend beyond said edge substantially exceeding the width of said loops, said one or more flexible members being at least partially formed of material having a reflectivity for visiblelight striking the exposed surface of said material which is characterized by values of candlepower per square foot approximately within a range 52 to 164 for light entering at angles within the range -4° to +40°, as observed at angles within the range 0.2° to 0.5°.