Pressure-applying garment for animals

Abstract

An animal garment comprising a central portion including a front end configured to be proximate to the head, a rear end, a first side extending laterally in a first direction, and a second side extending laterally in a second direction. A first flap extends from the central portion, the first side, the second side, or a combination thereof, and a second flap extends from the central portion, the first side, the second side, or a combination thereof. The first side, the first flap, the second side and the second flap are configured to extend around the mid-body of the animal and form a shape conforming to the outside of the mid-body of the animal when the garment is worn. The garment is configured to apply pressure to the animal to reduce anxiety, fearfulness, overexcitement, or a combination thereof.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A garment for an animal having a first pair of appendages, a second pair of appendages, and a head, the animal having a mid-body between the first pair of appendages and the second pair of appendages, the garment comprising:
 a central portion having a longitudinal axis, the central portion comprising
 a front end configured to be proximate to the head of the animal when the garment is worn, 
 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; 
   a first flap extending from the central portion, the first side, the second side, or a combination thereof, the first flap including a free distal end, an inside surface, and an outside surface; and   a second flap extending from the central portion, the first side, the second side, or a combination thereof, the second flap including a free distal end, an inside surface, and an outside surface,   
       wherein the first side, the first flap, the second side and the second flap are configured to extend around the mid-body of the animal and form a shape conforming to the outside of the mid-body of the animal when the garment is worn, and 
       wherein the garment is configured to apply pressure to the animal to reduce anxiety, fearfulness, overexcitement, or a combination thereof. 
     
     
         2 . The garment of  claim 1 , wherein the central portion comprises a fabric that when stretched provides resiliency. 
     
     
         3 . The garment of  claim 2 , wherein the fabric comprises from approximately 5% to 25% spandex. 
     
     
         4 . The garment of  claim 1 , wherein the garment is configured such that when the garment is worn by the animal, the first and second sides are fastened to each other, and the first side overlaps the second side. 
     
     
         5 . A garment as recited in  claim 1 , wherein each of the first side and the second side has an inside surface and an outside surface, wherein the outside surface of one of the first side or the second side includes hook fasteners or loop fasteners, and the inside surface of the other of the first side or the second side includes the other of hook fasteners or loop fasteners, and 
       wherein the garment is configured such that when the garment is worn by the animal, the hook fasteners and the loop fasteners are substantially adjacent to each other such that the first side is fastened to the second side. 
     
     
         6 . The garment of  claim 1 , wherein the first flap is attached at a proximal end to the central portion, the first side, the second side, or a combination thereof. 
     
     
         7 . The garment of  claim 6 , wherein the first flap is made of the same material as the central portion. 
     
     
         8 . The garment of  claim 6 , wherein the inside surface of the first flap is proximate to the animal when the garment is worn by the animal. 
     
     
         9 . The garment of  claim 1 , wherein the second flap is attached at a proximal end to the central portion, the first side, the second side, or a combination thereof. 
     
     
         10 . The garment of  claim 9 , wherein the second flap is made of the same material as the central portion. 
     
     
         11 . The garment of  claim 9 , wherein the inside surface of the second flap is proximate to the animal when the garment is worn by the animal. 
     
     
         12 . The garment of  claim 1 , wherein the garment is configured such that when the garment is worn by the animal, the first flap is fastened to the first side, the second side, the central portion, or a combination thereof. 
     
     
         13 . The garment of  claim 1 , wherein the garment is configured such that when the garment is worn by the animal, the second flap is fastened to the first side, the second side, the first flap, the central portion, or a combination thereof. 
     
     
         14 . The garment of  claim 13 , wherein the outside surface of one of the first flap or the second flap includes hook fasteners or loop fasteners, and the inside surface of the other of the first flap or the second flap includes the other of hook fasteners or loop fasteners, wherein the garment is configured such that when the garment is worn by the animal, the hook fasteners and the loop fasteners are substantially adjacent to each other such that the first flap is fastened to the second flap. 
     
     
         15 . The garment of  claim 1 , further comprising a third flap having an inside surface, an outside surface, and a free distal end, the third flap extending from the central portion, the first side, the second side, or a combination thereof. 
     
     
         16 . The garment of  claim 15 , wherein the third flap is attached at a proximal end to the central portion. 
     
     
         17 . The garment of  claim 15 , wherein the third flap is made of the same material as the central portion. 
     
     
         18 . The garment of  claim 15 , wherein the third flap extends in the first direction from the longitudinal axis. 
     
     
         19 . The garment of  claim 15 , wherein the third flap extends in the second direction from the longitudinal axis. 
     
     
         20 . The garment of  claim 15 , wherein the inside surface of the third flap is proximate to the animal when the garment is worn by the animal. 
     
     
         21 . The garment of  claim 15 , wherein the garment is configured such that when the garment is worn by the animal, the third flap is fastened to the central portion, the first side, the second side, the first flap, the second flap, or a combination thereof. 
     
     
         22 . The garment of  claim 15 , wherein at least one of the first flap, the second flap, or the third flap has a width that extends along the longitudinal axis more than one half of the distance between the front end and the rear end of the central portion. 
     
     
         23 . The garment of  claim 15 , wherein one of the first flap, the second flap, or the third flap includes hook fasteners or loop fasteners on the inside surface and the outside surface. 
     
     
         24 . A garment for an animal having a first pair of appendages, a second pair of appendages, and a head, the animal having a mid-body between the first pair of appendages and the second pair of appendages, the garment comprising:
 a central portion having a longitudinal axis, the central portion comprising
 a front end configured to be proximate to the head of the animal when the garment is worn, 
 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; 
   a first flap extending from the central portion, the first side, the second side, or a combination thereof; and   a second flap extending from the central portion, the first side, the second side, or a combination thereof,   
       wherein the first side, the second side, the first flap and the second flap are configured to extend around the mid-body of the animal and form a shape conforming to the outside of the mid-body of the animal when the garment is worn, 
       wherein the garment is configured to apply pressure to the animal to reduce anxiety, fearfulness, overexcitement, or a combination thereof, and 
       wherein the garment is configured such that when the garment is worn by the animal, the first flap is attached to the first side and at least a portion of the first flap overlaps the second side, the second flap, or a combination thereof. 
     
     
         25 . The garment of  claim 24 , wherein the first flap is attached at its proximal end to the first side of the central portion along one edge of the first flap. 
     
     
         26 . The garment of  claim 24 , wherein the second flap is attached at its proximal end to the second side of the central portion along one edge of the second flap. 
     
     
         27 . The garment of  claim 24 , wherein the central portion, the first side, the second side, and the first flap comprise a fabric that when stretched provides resiliency. 
     
     
         28 . The garment of  claim 27 , wherein the fabric comprises from approximately 5% to 25% spandex. 
     
     
         29 . The garment of  claim 24 , further comprising a third flap extending in the first direction from the first side of the central portion, the third flap including a free distal end, an inside surface and an outside surface. 
     
     
         30 . A garment as recited in  claim 30 , wherein each of the first flap, the second flap, and the third flap has an inside surface and an outside surface, wherein the outside surface of one of the second flap or the third flap includes hook fasteners or loop fasteners and the inside surface of the other of the second flap or the third flap includes the other of hook fasteners or loop fasteners, 
       wherein the outside surface of the other of the second flap or the third flap includes hook fasteners or loop fasteners and the inside surface of the first flap includes the other of hook fasteners or loop fasteners, and 
       wherein when the garment is worn by the animal and the first flap, the second flap, and the third flap are fastened together the hook fasteners and the loop fasteners are substantially adjacent to each other such that the second flap is fastened to the third flap and the first flap is fastened to the other of the fastened second flap or the third flap.