Animal Visor

Abstract

A protective enclosure, such as a visor, for use on a dog (or other animal) comprising a body foldable into the general shape of the animal's head, wherein the body includes an upper portion adapted to fold around the animal's snout so as to form a front opening for the animal's mouth and nostrils, and a rear portion adapted to be foldable over the rear of the animal's head so as to form one or more ear openings, and wherein said body includes a compliant internal spacer adapted to hold the enclosure snugly in engagement with the animal's head when applied to the animal.

1 . A protective visor for use on a dog or other animal comprising a body formable to the general shape of said animal's head wherein said body includes an upper portion adapted to fold around said animals snout so as to form a front opening for said animal's mouth and nostrils and a rear portion adapted to fold over the rear of said animal's head so as to form two ear openings, wherein said body includes a compliant internal pressure strap adapted to hold said visor snugly in engagement with a animal's head when fitted thereto. 
     
     
         2 . A protective visor according to  claim 1 , wherein said internal pressure strap extends from the upper portion of said body so as to gently bear down on the animal's head when fitted to said animal and gently lift the visor away from the animal's snout. 
     
     
         3 . A protective visor according to  claim 2 , wherein said internal pressure strap is formed as an extension of the rear portion of said visor body and adapted to be folded under the rear portion of said visor and connected to the upper portion of said visor body. 
     
     
         4 . A visor according to  claims 1 , wherein said pressure strap includes a plurality of longitudinal slots to enhance the compliance of said pressure strap to said animal's head. 
     
     
         5 . A visor according to  claim 4 , wherein said longitudinal slots are positioned to generally correspond with the occipital bones of prominence of the animal's head. 
     
     
         6 . A visor according to  claim 1 , further including a plurality of straps extending from the upper and rear portions thereof and adapted for connection to corresponding parts of said body so as to define a three dimensional shape of said visor. 
     
     
         7 . A visor according to  claim 6 , wherein said straps include a chin strap, ear straps and a plurality of collar straps. 
     
     
         8 . A visor according to  claim 1 , wherein said body is made of a compliant and visually transparent material. 
     
     
         9 . A visor according to  claim 8 , wherein said material is polyvinyl chloride. 
     
     
         10 . A visor according to  claim 1 , wherein the body and straps are cut from a sheet and vents are formed in the body. 
     
     
         11 . A visor according to  claim 1 , wherein the body includes indicia to facilitate varying the length of said body to accommodate animals of different sizes. 
     
     
         12 . A protective enclosure for use on the head of an animal, said enclosure comprising a body formable to the general shape of said animals head, said body including an upper portion foldable around said head so as to form a front opening for said animal's mouth and nostrils and a rear portion engageable with a rear of said animal's head so as to form two openings through which said animal's ears may extend, said body including a spacer creating a gap between the body and the wearer at the upper portion of said body. 
     
     
         13 . A protective enclosure according to  claim 12 , wherein said spacer is an internal pressure strap extending from the upper portion of said body foldable to a position adjacent to the animal's head when fitted to said animal and adapted to lift the visor away from a animal's snout. 
     
     
         14 . A protective enclosure according to  claim 13 , wherein said internal pressure strap is formed as an extension of the rear portion of said visor body and adapted to be folded under the rear portion of said visor and connected to the upper portion of said visor body. 
     
     
         15 . An enclosure according to  claim 13 , wherein said pressure strap includes at least one slot to enhance the compliance of said pressure strap to said animal's head. 
     
     
         16 . An enclosure according to  claim 15 , wherein said slot is longitudinal and positioned to generally correspond with an occipital bones of prominence of the animal's head. 
     
     
         17 . An enclosure according to  claim 12 , further including a plurality of straps extending from the upper and rear portions thereof and adapted for connection to corresponding parts of said body so as to retain said body in a three dimensional shape. 
     
     
         18 . An enclosure according to  claim 17 , wherein said straps include a chin strap, ear straps and a plurality of collar straps. 
     
     
         19 . An enclosure according to  claim 12 , wherein said body is made of a compliant and generally transparent material. 
     
     
         20 . A protective enclosure for use on the head of an animal, said enclosure comprising a body formable to the general shape of said animal's head, said body including an upper portion foldable around said head so as to form a front opening for said animal's mouth and nostrils and a rear portion engageable with a rear of said animal's head so as to form at least one opening through which said animal's ears may extend, said body including a spacer integrally formed with said body and foldable to a position whereby said spacer lifts the visor away from a wearer and creates a gap between the body and the wearer at a an upper side of said enclosure, said enclosure including at least one strap extending from the body and adapted for connection to parts of said body so as to useable to retain said body to said animal, said body being made of a compliant and generally transparent material.