Pressure-applying garment for animals

Abstract

A garment to reduce an animal's anxiety, fearfulness, overexcitement, or a combination thereof. The garment may include a central portion, flaps extending from opposite sides of the central portion, and, in some cases, a cinching member that extends from a central area of the central portion. The flaps may be fastened together around the chest and stomach of the animal, and the cinching member may be fastened to the central portion or one or more flaps to tighten the garment further, applying pressure to reduce anxiety, fearfulness, or over-excitement. Straps may be provided to secure the garment to the animal's neck. One material that may be used in making the garment is a fabric made of 55% cotton, 35% polyester, and 10% spandex. The animal may generally be any animal with four legs, for example, a dog or cat, or two arms and two legs, for example, a monkey.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A garment for an animal having a first pair of appendages, a second pair of appendages, and a neck, the animal having a mid-body between the first pair of appendages and the second pair of appendages, the garment comprising:
 a central portion comprising stretchable fabric and having a longitudinal axis and including a front end, a rear end opposite the front end, a first side extending laterally in a first direction from the longitudinal axis, and a second side extending laterally in a second direction from the longitudinal axis, the second direction opposite the first direction;   a first flap comprising stretchable fabric and extending in the first direction from the first side of the central portion, the first flap including a free distal end;   a second flap comprising stretchable fabric and extending in the second direction from the second side of the central portion, the second flap including a free distal end; and   at least one strap extending from the front end of the central portion to a free distal end, an inside surface, and an outside surface, the at least one strap configured to attach to a complementary fabric of the garment;   
       wherein when the garment is worn by the animal the first flap and the second flap extend around the mid-body of the animal and fasten to each other such that the central portion and the fastened first and second flaps form a shape conforming to the outside of the mid-body of the animal, wherein when, the garment is worn by the animal the at least one strap extends at least partially around the neck of the animal to connect to the complementary fabric. 
     
     
         2 . The garment of  claim 1 , wherein the stretchable fabric forming the central portion, the first flap, and the second flap provides resiliency when stretched such that the garment applies pressure to the animal adequate to reduce anxiety, fearfulness, overexcitement, or any combination thereof in the animal. 
     
     
         3 . The garment of  claim 1 , wherein the stretchable fabric forming the central portion and the first and second flaps comprises spandex. 
     
     
         4 . The garment of  claim 1 , further comprising a third flap comprising stretchable fabric and having a proximal end attached to the central portion, the first flap, or the second flap and extending to a free distal end. 
     
     
         5 . The garment of  claim 4 , wherein the stretchable fabric forming the third flap comprises spandex. 
     
     
         6 . The garment of  claim 4 , wherein the proximal end of the third flap is attached to the central portion proximate to the central axis. 
     
     
         7 . The garment of  claim 1 , wherein the at least one strap comprises:
 a first strap extending from the front end of the central portion, the first strap including a free distal end and two opposing edges; and   a second strap extending from the front end of the central portion laterally spaced in the second direction from the first strap, the second strap including a free distal end and two opposing edges.   
     
     
         7 . The garment of  claim 1 , wherein when the garment is worn by the animal and the third flap is fastened to the central portion, the first flap, the second flap, or any combination thereof, the third flap overlaps and fully covers the free distal end of the fastened first flap. 
     
     
         8 . The garment of  claim 1 , wherein the first flap has opposing edges and the third flap has opposing edges, wherein the first flap and the third flap each have a primary width that is along a distance parallel to the longitudinal axis of the garment between the opposing edges of the respective flap, wherein the free distal end of the first flap overlaps and fastens to the second flap, and wherein the primary width of the third flap is greater than, the primary width of the first flap. 
     
     
         9 . The garment of  claim 1 , wherein the third flap has opposing edges, wherein the third flap has a primary width that is along a distance parallel to the longitudinal axis of the garment between the opposing edges of the third flap, and wherein the primary width of the third flap extends along the longitudinal axis more than one half of the distance between the front end and the rear end of the central portion. 
     
     
         10 . The garment of  claim 1 , wherein the first flap has opposing edges, the second flap has opposing edges, and the third flap has opposing edges, wherein the first flap, the second flap, and the third flap each have a greatest width that extends a distance parallel to the longitudinal axis of the central portion between the opposing edges of the respective flap, wherein the free distal end of the first flap fastens to the second flap, and wherein the greatest width of the third flap is greater than the greatest width of the first flap. 
     
     
         11 . The garment of  claim 1 , wherein the third flap has opposing edges and has a width that extends a distance parallel to the longitudinal axis of the central portion between the opposing edges of the third flap, and wherein when the garment is worn by the animal the greatest width of the third flap is more than one half of the distance between the first pair of appendages and the second pair of appendages. 
     
     
         12 . The garment of  claim 1 , wherein the central portion has a length that extends along the longitudinal axis between the front end and the rear end, wherein the third flap has opposing edges and has a width that extends a distance parallel to the longitudinal axis of the central portion between the edges of the third flap, and wherein the greatest width of the third flap is more than one half of the length of the central portion. 
     
     
         13 . A garment for an animal having a first pair of appendages, a second pair of appendages, and a neck, the animal having a mid-body between the first pair of appendages and the second pair of appendages, the garment comprising:
 a central portion comprising stretchable fabric and having a longitudinal axis and including a front end, a rear end opposite the front end, a first side extending laterally in a first direction from the longitudinal axis, and a second side extending laterally in a second direction from the longitudinal axis, the second direction opposite the first direction;   a first flap comprising stretchable fabric and extending in the first direction from the first side of the central portion, the first flap including a free distal end and two opposing edges;   a second flap comprising stretchable fabric and extending in the second direction from the second side of the central portion, the second flap including a free distal end and two opposing edges;   a third flap comprising stretchable fabric and having a proximal end attached to the central portion, the first flap, or the second flap and extending to a free distal end; and   at least one strap extending from the front end of the central portion to a free distal end, an inside surface, and an outside surface, the at least one strap configured to attach to a complementary fabric of the garment;   
       wherein when the garment is worn by the animal two of the three flaps extend around the mid-body of the animal and fasten to each other such that the central portion, and such fastened flaps form a shape conforming to the outside of the mid-body of the animal, and the remaining flap extends at least partially around the shape formed by the central portion and the fastened flaps that conforms to the mid-body of the animal and fastens to the central portion, one or more of the fastened flaps, or any combination thereof; and 
       wherein when the garment is worn by the animal the first strap at least partially extends around the neck of the animal and fasten to the complementary fabric. 
     
     
         14 . The garment of  claim 13 , wherein the stretchable fabric forming the central portion, the first flap, the second flap, and the third flap comprises spandex. 
     
     
         15 . The garment of  claim 13 , wherein the proximal end of the third flap is attached to the central portion proximate to the central axis. 
     
     
         16 . The garment of  claim 13 , wherein the at least one strap comprises:
 a first strap extending from the front end of the central portion, the first strap including a free distal end and two opposing edges; and   a second strap extending from the front end of the central portion laterally spaced in the second direction from the first strap, the second strap including a free distal end and two opposing edges.   
     
     
         17 . A method of reducing anxiety, fearfulness, overexcitement, or a combination thereof, in an animal, the animal having a first pair of appendages, a second pair of appendages, a neck, a chest, and a stomach, the animal having a mid-body between the first pair of appendages and the second pair of appendages, the method comprising:
 placing a garment on the mid-body of the animal, the garment including:
 a central portion having a longitudinal axis and including a front end positioned proximate to the head of the animal, a rear end opposite the front end, a first side extending laterally in a first direction front the longitudinal axis, and a second side extending laterally in a second direction from the longitudinal axis, the second direction opposite the first direction; 
 a first flap comprising a stretchable fabric and extending in the first direction from the first side of the central portion, the first flap including a free distal end and two opposing edges; 
 a second flap comprising a stretchable fabric and extending in the second direction from the second side of the central portion, the second flap including a free distal end and two opposing edges; 
 a third flap comprising a stretchable fabric and having a proximate end attached to the central portion, the first flap, or the second flap and extending to a free distal end; and 
 at least one strap extending from the front end of the central portion to a free distal end, the at least one strap configured to attach to a complementary fabric of the garment; and 
   wrapping the first flap under the chest, stomach, or a combination thereof of the animal to overlap the second flap;   securing the first flap to the second flap;   securing the at least one strap around the neck of the animal to the complementary fabric;   wrapping the third flap such that the distal end of the third flap overlaps the first flap proximate to where the first flap is secured to the second flap; and   securing the third flap to the central portion, the first flap, the second flap, or any combination thereof.   
     
     
         18 . The garment of  claim 17 , wherein the stretchable fabric forming the central portion, the first flap, the second flap, and the third flap comprises spandex. 
     
     
         19 . The garment of  claim 17 , further comprising stretching the first flap prior to securing the first flap to the second flap, and stretching the third flap prior to securing the third flap to the central portion, the first flap, the second flap, or any combination thereof, such that the garment applies pressure to the animal adequate to reduce anxiety, fearfulness, overexcitement, or any combination thereof in the animal.