Microbe-inhibiting novelty articles for pets

Abstract

The present invention relates to a variety of pet novelties manufactured to limit or eradicate the proliferation of microbes upon their surfaces, in their interiors, or in their environment. A cooling garment for a pet includes a microbe-inhibiting agent or property on an outer textile casing or within an inner filling. A restraining article for a pet includes a microbe-inhibiting agent or property incorporated within the material comprising the restraining article. A climbing or claw-scratching device includes a microbe-inhibiting agent in the fibers of the material and comprising its exterior, or on a material laminated to the inner surface of the exterior cover. A flaccid, liner-type separator for a waste product collecting receiver for a domestic animal includes a microbe-inhibiting thin material impervious to moisture for collecting the waste. A feeding entertaining article for a domestic or wild bird includes an outer cover, preferably including packed bird seed, a supporting substrate, and either the cover or liner having an effective amount of microbe-inhibiting agent or property.

What is claimed is:  
     
         1 . A body-worn protective garment to partially cover a domestic animal comprising: 
 an outer textile casing formed of a material defining a shape adapted to be worn about the body of the domestic animal;    an inner filling adapted to cool the domestic animal; and    at least one of the outer textile casing and the inner filling having an effective amount of a microbe-inhibiting agent or property.    
     
     
         2 . A body-worn protective garment article according to    claim 1    wherein the inner filling is a granular gel for absorbing large amounts of water for temporary storage and then releasing smaller amounts of water for evaporation.  
     
     
         3 . A body-worn protective garment article according to    claim 2    wherein the inner filling includes polyacrylamide granules.  
     
     
         4 . A body-worn protective garment article according to    claim 1    wherein the outer textile casing has a microbe-inhibiting agent or property.  
     
     
         5 . A body-worn protective garment article according to    claim 1    wherein the outer textile casing is cotton.  
     
     
         6 . A body-worn protective garment article according to    claim 1    wherein the outer textile casing is a blend of cotton and polyester.  
     
     
         7 . A body-worn protective garment article according to    claim 1    wherein the outer textile casing is polyester.  
     
     
         8 . A body-worn protective garment article according to    claim 1    wherein the inner filling has a microbe-inhibiting agent or property.  
     
     
         9 . A body-worn protective garment article according to    claim 8    wherein the inner filling is a mixture of a microbe-inhibiting material and a water-retaining material.  
     
     
         10 . A body-worn protective garment article according to    claim 9    wherein the microbe-inhibiting material includes a microbe-cidal agent.  
     
     
         11 . A body-worn protective garment article according to    claim 2    wherein the inner filling includes polyacrylamide granules interspersed with a microbe-inhibiting sponge material.  
     
     
         12 . A body-worn protective garment article according to    claim 11    wherein the microbe-inhibiting sponge material is 20 to 80 percent by weight of the inner filling.  
     
     
         13 . A body-worn protective garment article according to    claim 1    wherein the inner filling comprises polyurethane foam including polyacrylamide granules.  
     
     
         14 . A body-worn protective garment article according to    claim 13    wherein the polyurethane foam is 20 to 80 percent by weight of the inner filling.  
     
     
         15 . A body-worn protective garment article according to    claim 1    wherein the inner filling comprises microbe-inhibiting fiber and polyacrylamide granules.  
     
     
         16 . A body-worn protective garment article according to    claim 15    wherein the anti-microbial fiber is between 0.3 and 4 percent of a containment volume defined by as an interior of the outer textile casing.  
     
     
         17 . A process for imparting microbe-inhibiting properties to a pet-worn protective garment having an outer textile casing formed of a material defining a shape adapted to be worn about a body of a domestic animal and an inner filling for cooling the domestic animal, comprising the step of applying to or incorporating within at least one of the outer textile casing and the inner filling an effective amount of a microbe-inhibiting agent or property.  
     
     
         18 . A process according to    claim 17    wherein the application step includes soaking the garment in a solution including the microbe-inhibiting agent or property.  
     
     
         19 . A process according to    claim 17    wherein the application step includes spraying the garment with a solution including the microbe-inhibiting agent or property.  
     
     
         20 . A process according to    claim 17    wherein the application step includes incorporating the microbe-inhibiting agent or property into a dope, and further comprising the step of spinning fibers for forming the garment from the dope.  
     
     
         21 . A body or appendage encircling collar or band constructed to surround and be supported by or worn by a domestic animal's neck, limb, torso, or other body part, comprising: 
 a material defining a shape in the form of a band, harness or collar for restraining or leading a domestic animal; and    the material having an effective amount of a microbe-inhibiting agent or property.    
     
     
         22 . A body or appendage encircling collar or band according to    claim 21    wherein the material is nylon.  
     
     
         23 . A body or appendage encircling collar or band constructed to surround and be supported by or worn by a domestic animal's neck, limb, torso, or other body part, comprising: 
 an outer sheeting defining a shape in the form of a band, harness or collar for restraining or leading a domestic animal;    a substrate; and    at least one of the sheeting and substrate having an effective amount of a microbe-inhibiting agent or property.    
     
     
         24 . A process for imparting microbe-inhibiting properties to a pet-worn collar or band having a material defining a shape in the form of a band, harness or collar for restraining or leading a domestic animal, comprising the step of applying to or incorporating within the material an effective amount of microbe-inhibiting agent or property.  
     
     
         25 . A process according to    claim 24    wherein the application step includes soaking the collar or band in a solution including the microbe-inhibiting agent or property.  
     
     
         26 . A process according to    claim 24    wherein the application step includes spraying the collar or band with a solution including the microbe-inhibiting agent or property.  
     
     
         27 . A process according to    claim 24    wherein the application step includes incorporating the microbe-inhibiting agent or property into a dope, and further comprising the step of spinning fibers for forming the collar or band from the dope.  
     
     
         28 . A climbing or claw-scratching device for conditioning, developing, or entertaining a domestic animal comprising: 
 an upright support;    a layer of material mounted on the support whereby the domestic animal may ascend, descend, crawl, or abrade its nails upon the layer of material; and    the material having an effective amount of a microbe-inhibiting agent or property.    
     
     
         29 . A climbing or claw-scratching device for conditioning, developing, or entertaining a domestic animal comprising: 
 an upright support;    an outer cover mounted to the support and defining a shape that the domestic animal may ascend, descend, crawl, or abrade its nails upon;    an inner liner between the outer cover and the upright support and secured to the outer cover; and    at least one of the outer cover and inner liner having an effective amount of a microbe-inhibiting agent or property.    
     
     
         30 . A climbing or claw-scratching device according to    claim 29    wherein the inner liner is vinyl plastisol including the microbe-inhibiting agent or property.  
     
     
         31 . A climbing or claw-scratching device according to    claim 30    wherein the outer cover is carpet including the microbe-inhibiting agent.  
     
     
         32 . A process for imparting microbe-inhibiting properties to a pet climbing or claw-scratching device having a textured lamina mounted to a support and defining a shape that the domestic animal may ascend, descend, crawl, or abrade its nails upon, comprising the step of applying to or incorporating within the textured lamina an effective amount of a microbe-inhibiting agent or property.  
     
     
         33 . A process according to    claim 32    wherein the application step includes soaking the textured lamina in a solution including the microbe-inhibiting agent or property.  
     
     
         34 . A process according to    claim 32    wherein the application step includes spraying the textured lamina with a solution including the microbe-inhibiting agent or property.  
     
     
         35 . A process according to    claim 32    wherein the application step includes incorporating the microbe-inhibiting agent or property into a dope, and further comprising the step of spinning fibers for forming the textured lamina from the dope.  
     
     
         36 . A process according to    claim 32    wherein the textured lamina includes carpet.  
     
     
         37 . A flaccid, liner-type separator for a waste product collecting receiver for a domestic animal comprising: 
 a thin material impervious to moisture defining a shape adapted to fit in a bottom portion of the waste product collecting receiver for holding the waste product; and    the material having an effective amount of a microbe-inhibiting agent or property.    
     
     
         38 . A flaccid, liner-type separator according to    claim 37    wherein the thin material includes a tacky coating.  
     
     
         39 . A flaccid, liner-type separator according to    claim 37    wherein the thin material includes a granular coating.  
     
     
         40 . A feeding and entertaining article for a domestic or wild bird comprising: 
 an outer cover defining a shape that the bird may ascend, descend, crawl upon, or feed from;    a substrate; and    at least one of the outer cover and the substrate having an effective amount of a microbe-inhibiting agent or property.    
     
     
         41 . A feeding and entertaining article according to    claim 40    wherein the outer cover is packed bird seed.