The present invention relates to a restraining device, and more particularly, a restraining device for an animal, such as a dog.

Animal care and grooming, and particularly dog grooming, is an exacting activity whereby animal caregivers are often required to perform various treatments or procedures on animals, such as brushing, blow drying, administering medicine, coat cutting, nail clipping, bathing with shampoos, ear cleaning and plucking and the like.

However, in order for the effective performance of the treatments by a caregiver the animal must be kept suitably still, which it will be understood can be difficult with animals who may have a natural aversion to receiving a treatment, being groomed or being restrained. Accordingly, it is very common for an animal to attempt to run away or strike out at a caregiver, especially during grooming. Keeping the animal still and placidly restrained becomes very important when equipment, such as scissors, clipper or other application or grooming tools are being used, since the potential for real injury to the caregiver and/or the animal exists. Presently, caregivers manage an animal by manually restraining during treatment or grooming, and this involves using one hand to hold the animal in suitable close proximity to the caregiver and the other hand then performs the required treatment. Clearly, this is very unsatisfactory and reduces the effectiveness of the caregiver and as a result the quality of their work, since it will be appreciated that skill and competence is required to apply a treatment to or groom an animal.

Known devices, including garments having frontally mounted carrying hammocks and cradles, are also completely unsuitable as they prevent the performance of grooming procedures being performed on the animal.

It is a therefore an object of the present invention to provide a restraining device which goes at least some way toward overcoming the above problems and/or which will provide the public and/or industry with a useful alternative. It is acknowledged that the term 'comprise' may, under varying jurisdictions be provided with either an exclusive or inclusive meaning. For the purpose of this specification, and unless otherwise noted explicitly, the term comprise shall have an inclusive meaning - i.e. that it may be taken to mean an inclusion of not only the listed components it directly references, but also other non-specified components. Accordingly, the term 'comprise' is to be attributed with as broader interpretation as possible within any given jurisdiction and this rationale should also be used when the terms 'comprised' and/or 'comprising' are used. Further aspects of the present invention will become apparent form the ensuing description which is given by way of example only.

According to the invention, there is provided a restraining device for an animal comprising: a garment wearable by a person, the garment having a front region mounting restraining means, characterised in that the restraining means comprises at least one strap whereby at least a portion of the strap is formed into a loop through which the animal is held and secured to the garment.

The present invention thus provides a garment which is wearable by a person and which has thereon restraining means for securing the animal to the garment. In use, the animal is held and secured to the garment by the restraining means so that various grooming or other treatments may be performed by the wearer or some other person on the animal.

The formation of a loop by the strap provides an opening through which the animal being groomed is directly held and secured to the garment and thus eliminates a need for the use of additional carrying hammocks, cradles and the like to hold the animal. The sole use of a strap also enables an animal caregiver to perform grooming tasks on the animal without interference from such carrying hammocks and cradles, which are unsuitable for use in grooming as they get in the way and prevent the performance of the grooming procedures. The use of the present invention will prevent the animal from running away from the wearer of the garment. The present invention is also portable and foldable, so it can be easily transported with the animal as required. Use of such a restraining device provides a gentle means of restraining which allows a caregiver to use both hands to brush, blow dry, clip nails or even administer medicine, without the opportunity for the animal to run away.

In another embodiment of the invention, the restraining means comprises at least two straps and whereby at least a portion of each strap is formed into a loop to provide a pair of loops through which the animal is restrained to the garment.

In another embodiment of the invention, the straps are arranged on the garment so that the loop formed by a first of the at least two straps is positioned relative to the garment so that it extends around a front region of the animal and the loop formed by the second of the two straps is positioned relative to the garment so that it extends around a hind region of the animal. In this way the pair of straps may be used to keep the animal in place by, for example, placing one loop around the animal's fore legs or neck region and the other loop around the animal's under belly near its hind legs.

In another embodiment of the invention, the perimeter of the loop formed by each strap is adjustable by at least one fastener. The perimeter or size of each loop may also be adjusted by appropriate use of the fastener as required or desired to accommodate a variety of different sized animals.

In another embodiment of the invention, the perimeter of the loop formed by each strap is adjustable by a first fastener and a second fastener, whereby the first fastener is fixed relative to the garment and the second fastener is movable relative to the garment.

In another embodiment of the invention, a first end of each strap is secured to the garment through the first fastener and a second end of the strap mounts a receiver of the second fastener, the receiver having means for engaging with a connector of the second fastener which is movable along the strap between the first fastener and the receiver of the second fastener to adjust the perimeter of each loop formed by the strap. By adjusting the position of the movable connector along the strap the perimeter of the restraining loop may be adjusted. In another embodiment of the invention, each of the first fastener and the second fastener is one of: a cam buckle and a clasp buckle.

In another embodiment of the invention, the second fastener is a clasp buckle, whereby the connector forms a female portion and the receiver a male portion of the clasp buckle.

In another embodiment of the invention, the drop length of each loop from the garment is adjustable by moving the strap forming the loop through the first fastener. This facilitates adjustment of the drop or distance or slack of the loop from the apron.

In another embodiment of the invention, the garment is an apron, a jacket or a pullover. Alternatively, the fasteners are hook and loop fasteners. Preferably, a pocket is provided on the front sheet of the apron. Detailed Description of the Invention

The invention will be more clearly understood from the following description of some embodiments thereof, given by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:

Fig. 1 is a perspective front view of a restraining device according to the invention; Fig. 2 is a photograph of the restraining device shown in Fig. 1 in use; and

Fig. 3 is a detail perspective view showing a restraining means of the restraining device shown in Fig. 1. Referring to the drawings and initially to Figs. 1 and 2, there is shown a restraining device, indicated generally by the reference numeral 1 for an animal, which in the instance shown, is a dog 2. Although reference in the following description will be made to use of the present invention for restraining dogs, this should in no way be seen as limiting since the invention may be also used to restrain any of a variety of different animals as required or as desired, such as cats, sheep, goats and the like, and for a variety of different purposes including brushing, blow drying, clipping nails or even administering medicine, without the opportunity for the animal to run away.

The device 1 comprises a mounting, which is the instance shown is provided by a garment 3 wearable by a person 4. Such as person may be an animal caregiver or animal groomer. In the context of the present invention an animal caregiver will thus be understood to be a person providing care to an animal, such as an animal groomer or veterinarian surgeon, or other person who may wish to restrain an animal in proximal connection with themselves so as to prevent the animal from running away from them when providing care to the animal or wanting to restrain the animal for some reason. In the instance shown the garment 3 is an apron, but it will be understood that the garment may also be a jacket, a pullover or other device.

Also shown is restraining means, indicated generally by the reference numeral 5, on the garment 3 for securing the animal 2 to the garment 3. In the instance shown, the restraining means 5 is located on the front sheet region 6 of the apron 3. Standard apron connections for the wearer, including waist encircling means 7 and neck encircling means 8 for attachment to the body of the wearer 4 are also shown. However, it will be understood that the present invention is not limited to a wearable garment in the form of an apron 3, and may be configured as a mat, a sheet or other means suitable for providing a surface capable of supporting thereon the restraining means 5.

The restraining means 5 comprises at least one strap 10 having at least a portion which is formed into an adjustable loop, indicated generally by the reference numeral 1 1. The loop is thus an opening through which the animal being groomed is restrained. A strap 10 will be understood to be an elongate strip of material, such as a strip of leather, plastic, rope or nylon. The restraining means 5 also comprises fasteners 12, 13 operable with the strap 10 to form the loop 1 1. In the instance shown, the restraining means 5 comprises a pair of straps 10 on the front sheet 6 of the apron 5 and fasteners 12, 13 are provided for each strap 10. Thus a pair of spaced apart straps 10 which extend substantially vertically are provided at the front of the apron 3. The straps 10 may be dimensioned and made to be of a material as required or as desired depending on the size or type of animal being secured, and the desired cosmetic appearance of the apron. However, a general requirement is that the straps 10 have an width 'A' which provides strength needed to secure the animal but still enables a groomer direct unhindered access to the animals body, namely its hair, feet, mouth and the like so that grooming may be performed. Referring now to Fig. 3, a first end 10a of each strap 10 extends through a first fastener 12, which in the instance shown is a cam buckle. The first fastener 12 is fixed in position relative to the garment and is secured to the garment via a connector flap 20, which is stitched or glued or otherwise adhered to the garment. A second end 10b of the strap 10 is connected to a receiver 14 of the second fastener 13, the receiver 14 adapted to mate with a connector 15 of the second fastener 13. The second fastener 13 may be provided as a clasp buckle, whereby the receiver 14 is a female portion and the connector 15 is a male portion of the buckle. The connector 15 is movable along the strap 10 between the cam buckle 12 and the receiver 14 so that by adjusting the position of the receiver 15 along the strap 10 the perimeter or size of the restraining loop 11 may be adjusted as required or as desired. Similarly, the drop or distance of the loop 1 1 from the fastener 12 and therefore the apron 3 is also adjustable by moving the strap end 10a up and down through the cam buckle 12. Thus pulling the strap 10 up through the fastener 12 in the direction of arrow 'B' will draw the loop 1 1 closer to the garment 3, and pushing the strap 10 down in the direction of arrow 'C will provide more slack to the loop 1 1 and so allow it to move away from the garment 3.

A pocket 16 is provided on the front sheet 6 of the apron 3.

The present invention has different modes of use. The apron 3 may be worn as normal with the animal resting on a caregivers lap. Alternatively, the apron 3 may be used in a kneeling or sitting arrangement whereby a caregiver lays the apron 3 on the floor or sofa and kneels or sits on a chest part of the apron 3, thereby using the apron in as a mat.

Aspects of the present invention have been described by way of example only and it should be appreciate that additions and/or modifications may be made thereto without departing from the scope thereof as defined in the appended claims.