| CPC A01K 13/006 (2013.01) [A61D 9/00 (2013.01)] | 19 Claims |
|
1. A method of calming an animal with an animal calming vest, the method comprising:
selecting a collar weight, the collar weight including:
a collar weight body that is planar and generally crescent shaped with a convex edge and a concave edge and a central plane of symmetry,
a collar weight zipper disposed along the concave edge of the collar weight body, and
a plurality of weight units defined by the collar weight body that define separate cavities within the collar, defined at least in part by seams, in which one or more weights or weight material are disposed, the plurality of weight units extending radially from the concave edge of the collar weight,
wherein the collar weight has a weight of between 0.24 lbs and 1.65 lbs with the weight being between 2.0% and 5.0% of the body weight of the animal, and the collar weight having a maximum width at the central plane of symmetry of greater than or equal to 9 cm;
coupling the selected collar weight within an internal collar cavity of a collar of an animal calming vest via the collar weight zipper disposed along the concave edge of the collar weight body, the animal calming vest consisting essentially of:
a jacket,
a first pair of coupling arms extending from the jacket, the first pair of coupling arms comprising first-arm couplers including hook tape and loop tape that allow the first pair of coupling arms to be releasably coupled about the neck and chest of the animal to accommodate the body size of the animal and desired snugness about the neck and chest of the animal, the first pair of coupling arms having a minimum width of greater than or equal to 8 cm,
a second pair of coupling arms extending from the jacket, the second pair of coupling arms comprising second-arm couplers including hook tape and loop tape that allow the second pair of coupling arms to be releasably coupled about the torso of the animal between the legs of the animal to accommodate the body size of the animal and desired snugness about the torso of the animal, the second pair of coupling arms having a minimum width of greater than or equal to 11 cm, and
the collar extending from the jacket;
enclosing the collar weight within the collar cavity of the collar by zipping a collar zipper closed to close the collar cavity;
disposing the animal calming vest on the back of the animal with the collar disposed about the neck of the animal with a concave portion of the collar surrounding the posterior neck area of the animal and extending toward the front chest area of the animal, with a plane of symmetry of the collar disposed coincident with the spine of the animal and laying over opposing sides of the spine about the posterior neck and back of the animal, the jacket of the animal calming vest disposed draped over the back of the animal;
releasably coupling the first pair of coupling arms of the animal calming vest about the neck and chest of the animal via the first-arm couplers; and
releasably coupling the second pair of coupling arms of the animal calming vest about the torso of the animal and between the legs of the animal via the second-arm couplers,
wherein coupling the animal calming vest about the animal generates a calming effect in the animal based at least in part on the weight of the collar generated by the collar weight within the collar cavity of the collar.
|