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 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.

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 antimicrobial fiber is between 0.3 and 4 percent of a containment volume defined by as an interior of the outer textile casing.  
     
     
         17 . 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.    
     
     
         18 . A flaccid, liner-type separator according to  claim 17  wherein the thin material includes a tacky coating.  
     
     
         19 . A flaccid, liner-type separator according to  claim 17  wherein the thin material includes a granular coating.  
     
     
         20 . 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.    
     
     
         21 . A feeding and entertaining article according to  claim 20  wherein the outer cover is packed bird seed.