Animal collar including buckle and method of using same
AssigneePetiq, LLC
InventorTheodore L. Sondgeroth
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
Described herein are animal collars and methods of using animal collars. Also described herein are buckles for animal collars.
Claims19
An animal collar comprising:
- a belt extending from a first end to a second end;
- and
- a buckle connected to the first end of the belt, wherein the buckle comprises:
- a body defining a passage extending therethrough for receiving the second end of the belt therein;
- a deflectable tab connected to the body and configured to deflect towards and away from the passage, wherein the deflectable tab comprises a tooth that extends into the passage for engagement with the belt, wherein the tab is biased towards an initial, undeflected position such that, when the second end of the belt is inserted into the passage, the tooth exhibits a frictional force on the belt sufficient to inhibit sliding of the belt up to a threshold force applied to the belt;
- and
- wherein the body further comprises a radial inner wall and a radial outer wall, each of the radial inner and outer walls including an exterior surface and an interior surface that partially defines the passage, wherein the first end of the belt is connected to the exterior surface of one of the radial inner wall and the radial outer wall.
A method of using an animal collar comprising a belt extending from a first end to a second end, and a buckle connected to the first end of the belt, wherein the buckle comprises a body and a deflectable tab connected to the body, wherein the body defines a passage extending therethrough for receiving the second end of the belt therein, and wherein the deflectable tab comprises a tooth that extends into the passage for engagement with the belt, the method comprising:
- positioning the animal collar around a neck of an animal;
- inserting the second end of the belt into the passage of the buckle such that the belt deflects the deflectable tab away from the passage and the tooth engages the belt and exhibits a frictional force on the belt sufficient to inhibit sliding of the belt up to a threshold force applied to the belt;
- and
- withdrawing the belt from the passage by applying a force to the belt that exceeds the threshold force.
A buckle for an animal collar, the buckle comprising:
- a body defining a passage extending therethrough for receiving an end of a belt therein;
- and
- a deflectable tab connected to the body and configured to deflect towards and away from the passage, wherein the deflectable tab comprises a tooth that extends into the passage for engagement with the belt, wherein the tab is biased towards an initial, undeflected position such that, when the belt is inserted into the passage, the tooth exhibits a frictional force on the belt sufficient to inhibit sliding of the belt up to a threshold force applied to the belt;
- and
- wherein the body further comprises a radial inner wall and a radial outer wall, each of the radial inner and outer walls including an exterior surface and an interior surface that partially defines the passage, wherein the first end of the belt is connected to the exterior surface of one of the radial inner wall and the radial outer wall.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.