Protective hen apron

Abstract

A protective bird apron includes a main body area with a length and a width and a pair of opposing lateral sections attached to the main body area at corresponding opposing edges thereof, each lateral section having a length less than the length of the main body area and a width dimensioned to extend beneath respective wings of the bird. At least one securing strap is coupled to an upper portion of the main body area and to an upper portion of at least one of the lateral sections, the main body area, the at least one of the lateral sections, and the at least one securing strap defining at least one shoulder securing area. A shoulder protector is coupled to the main body area of the back covering, disposed to protect shoulders of the bird while leaving the wings of the bird substantially unrestricted in wing-flapping movement, and has a width substantially the same or greater than an overall width of the back covering. Visible warning indicia are provided on the back covering and/or the shoulder protector.

What is claimed is: 
     
       1. A protective bird apron, comprising:
 a back covering shaped to cover a back of a bird, the back covering having:
 an outer surface; 
 a main body area having a length and a width; 
 a first lateral section attached to at a first side of the main body area and having a length less than the length of the main body area and a width dimensioned to extend away from the main body area and beneath a first wing of the bird; and 
 a second lateral section attached to at a second side of the main body area opposite the first side and having a length less than the length of the main body area and a width dimensioned to extend away from the main body area and beneath a second wing of the bird; 
 
 a first securing strap coupled to an outer portion of the first lateral section and to the second side of the main body area; 
 a second securing strap coupled to an outer portion of the second lateral section and to the first side of the main body area, the first and second securing straps defining a first wing capturing portion, and a second wing capturing portion, and a neck capturing portion; and 
 a shoulder protector having:
 a first-wing-covering portion; 
 a second-wing-covering portion; and  
 an attachment area coupling the first-wing-covering portion and the second-wing-covering portion to the main body area, thereby leaving the first-wing-covering portion unrestricted in wing-flapping movement at a location above the first wing of the bird and the second-wing-covering portion unrestricted in wing-flapping movement at a location above the second wing of the bird; and 
 an outer surface; and 
 
 visible warning indicia provided on at least one of the outer surface of the shoulder protector and the outer surface of the back covering. 
 
     
     
       2. The protective bird apron according to  claim 1 ,
 wherein the visible warning indicia are shaped to resemble a pair of eyeswherein: 
 the first and second securing straps together with the back covering define a neck capturing portion; and 
 the shoulder protector has an outer surface and the back covering has an outer surface, and which further comprises visible warning indicia provided on at least one of the outer surface of the shoulder protector and the outer surface of the back covering. 
 
     
     
       3. The protective bird apron according to  claim 1 , wherein the shoulder protector has a width substantially the same or greater than an overall width of the back covering. 
     
     
       4. The protective bird apron according to  claim 3 , wherein the shoulder protector is removably coupled to the back covering. 
     
     
       5. The protective bird apron according to  claim 3 , wherein the shoulder protector further comprises a neck-securing loop shaped to secure the shoulder protector to a neck of the bird. 
     
     
       6. The protective bird apron according to  claim 3 , wherein the shoulder protector further comprises a substantially V-shaped lower edge. 
     
     
       7. The protective bird apron according to  claim 1 , further comprising an interior layer insulating the back covering from the bird, the back covering being of a first material and the interior layer being of a second material different from the first material. 
     
     
       8. The protective bird apron according to  claim 7 , further comprising an inner layer disposed between the interior layer and the bird. 
     
     
       9. The protective bird apron according to  claim 1 , wherein the back covering further comprises:
 a substantially V-shaped lower edge shaped to accept a tail of the bird. 
 
     
     
       10. A protective bird apron comprising:
 a back covering shaped to cover a back of a bird, the back covering having:
 an outer surface; 
 a main body area having a length and a width; and 
 a pair of opposing lateral sections attached to at the main body area at corresponding opposing edges sides thereof, each lateral section having a length less than the length of the main body area and a width dimensioned to extend beneath respective wings of the bird; 
 
 at least one securing strap coupled to an upper portion of the main body area and to an upper portion of at least one of the lateral sections,;  
 the main body area, the at least one of the lateral sections, and the at least one securing strap defining at least one shoulder securing area; and 
 a shoulder protector having:
 a first-wing-covering portion; 
 a second-wing-covering portion; and  
 an attachment area coupling the first-wing-covering portion and the second-wing-covering portion to the main body area, thereby leaving the first-wing-covering portion unrestricted in wing-flapping movement at a location above the first wing of the bird and the second-wing-covering portion unrestricted in wing-flapping movement at a location above the second wing of the bird; and 
 an outer surface; and 
 
 visible warning indicia provided on at least one of the outer surface of the shoulder protector and the outer surface of the back covering. 
 
     
     
       11. The protective bird apron according to  claim 10 , wherein the visible warning indicia are shaped to resemble a pair of eyes wherein the shoulder protector has an outer surface and the back covering has an outer surface, and which further comprises visible warning indicia provided on at least one of the outer surface of the shoulder protector and the outer surface of the back covering. 
     
     
       12. The protective bird apron according to  claim 10 , wherein the shoulder protector has a width substantially the same or greater than an overall width of the back covering. 
     
     
       13. The protective bird apron according to  claim 12 , wherein the shoulder protector is removably coupled to the back covering. 
     
     
       14. The protective bird apron according to  claim 12 , wherein the shoulder protector further comprises a neck-securing loop shaped to secure the shoulder protector to a neck of the bird. 
     
     
       15. The protective bird apron according to  claim 12 , wherein the shoulder protector further comprises a substantially V-shaped lower edge. 
     
     
       16. The protective bird apron according to  claim 10 , further comprising an interior layer insulating the back covering from the bird, the back covering being of a first material and the interior layer being of a second material different from the first material. 
     
     
       17. The protective bird apron according to  claim 16 , further comprising an inner layer disposed between the interior layer and the bird. 
     
     
       18. The protective bird apron according to  claim 10 , wherein the back covering further comprises a substantially V-shaped lower edge shaped to accept a tail of the bird. 
     
     
       19. A protective bird apron, comprising:
 a back covering shaped to cover a back of a bird, the back covering having:
 an outer surface; 
 a main body area defining a longitudinal axis and having:
 an upper portion; 
 a body length along the longitudinal axis; and 
 a body width in a direction orthogonal to the longitudinal axis and defining opposing first and second sides away from the longitudinal axis; 
 
 a first lateral section at the first side and having:
 a first exterior; 
 a first length less than the body length; and 
 a first width extending away from the first side at a distance from the longitudinal axis to rest beneath a first wing of the bird when used; and 
 
 a second lateral section at the second side and having:
 a second exterior; 
 a second length less than the body length; and 
 a second width extending away from the second side at a distance from the longitudinal axis to rest beneath a second wing of the bird when used; 
 
 
 a first securing strap coupled to the first exterior and to the upper portion at the second side; 
 a second securing strap coupled to the second exterior and to the upper portion at the first side, the first and second securing straps together with the back covering defining a first wing capturing portion, and a second wing capturing portion, and a neck capturing portion; and 
 a shoulder protector having:
 a first-wing-covering portion; 
 a second-wing-covering portion; and  
 an attachment area coupling the first-wing-covering portion and the second-wing-covering portion to the main body area, thereby leaving the first-wing-covering portion unrestricted in wing-flapping movement at a location above the first wing of the bird and the second-wing-covering portion unrestricted in wing-flapping movement at a location above the second wing of the bird; and 
 an outer surface; and 
 
 visible warning indicia on at least one of the outer surface of the shoulder protector and the outer surface of the back covering. 
 
     
     
       20. The protective bird apron according to claim 2, wherein the visible warning indicia are shaped to resemble a pair of eyes.  
     
     
       21. The protective bird apron according to claim 11, wherein the visible warning indicia are shaped to resemble a pair of eyes.  
     
     
       22. The protective bird apron according to claim 19, wherein:
 the first and second securing straps together with the back covering define a neck capturing portion; and   the shoulder protector has an outer surface and the back covering has an outer surface, and which further comprises visible warning indicia on at least one of the outer surface of the shoulder protector and the outer surface of the back covering.