US4513741A — Apparatus adaptable for treating animals

Claim 1

Independent Claim 249 words

Apparatus adaptable for treating animals comprising: muzzle means adapted to fit around the snout of an animal and formed of a flexible bag open at one end and having an aperture in the other end, plug means fitted in said aperture and having first, second and third bores therein; an inflatable cuff having a first pressure chamber therein connected to and extending around said open end of said flexible bag; a first passageway formed in said flexible bag interconnecting said first pressure chamber and said first bore in said plug means; a mouthpiece attached to said plug means and extending into said flexible bag; a muzzle pump and conduit means connecting said muzzle pump to said plug means and having a first passage communicating with said first bore in said plug means for pressuring said first closed chamber to inflate said inflatable cuff, said cuff and said mouthpiece cooperating to secure said muzzle means to said snout when said mouthpiece is inserted into said animal's mouth and said cuff is inflated; said conduit means further including inlet and outlet passages communicating with said second and third bores in said plug means said second and third bores communicating with the interior of said flexible bag; and a respiratory valve positioned in each of said inlet and outlet passages, said respiratory valve in said inlet passage acting as an inhalation valve and said respiratory valve in said outlet passage acting as an exhalation valve through which said animal may breathe normally.

Claim 2

Dependent Claim 249 words

Apparatus adaptable for treating animals comprising: muzzle means adapted to fit around the snout of an animal and formed of a flexible bag open at one end and having an aperture in the other end, plug means fitted in said aperture and having first, second and third bores therein; an inflatable cuff having a first pressure chamber therein connected to and extending around said open end of said flexible bag; a first passageway formed in said flexible bag interconnecting said first pressure chamber and said first bore in said plug means; a mouthpiece attached to said plug means and extending into said flexible bag; a muzzle pump and conduit means connecting said muzzle pump to said plug means and having a first passage communicating with said first bore in said plug means for pressuring said first closed chamber to inflate said inflatable cuff, said cuff and said mouthpiece cooperating to secure said muzzle means to said snout when said mouthpiece is inserted into said animal's mouth and said cuff is inflated; said conduit means further including inlet and outlet passages communicating with said second and third bores in said plug means said second and third bores communicating with the interior of said flexible bag; and a respiratory valve positioned in each of said inlet and outlet passages, said respiratory valve in said inlet passage acting as an inhalation valve and said respiratory valve in said outlet passage acting as an exhalation valve through which said animal may breathe normally.

Claim 3

Dependent Claim 61 words

The muzzle as defined in claim 1 wherein said mouthpiece is inflatable including a second pressure chamber therein and a flow passage communicating therewith, said plug means having a fourth bore therein communicating with said flow passage; and a second passage in said conduit means communicating with said fourth bore that communicates with said second pressure chamber for inflating said mouthpiece.

Claim 4

Dependent Claim 31 words

The muzzle as defined in claim 1 wherein said pump includes means providing first and second air pressure outputs connected to said first and second passages of said conduit means, respectively.

Claim 5

Dependent Claim 24 words

The muzzle as defined in claim 3 including an overpressure relief valve connected to said conduit means between said pump and said first chamber.

Claim 6

Dependent Claim 25 words

The muzzle as defined in claim 3 wherein said first and second air pressure outputs are supplied to said first and second chambers in sequence.

Claim 7

Dependent Claim 28 words

The muzzle as defined in claim 5 including valve means for connecting said second air pressure output to atmosphere when the air pressure therein reaches a determined value.

Claim 8

Dependent Claim 17 words

The muzzle as defined in claim 1 including a passage in said mouthpiece opening into said bag.

Claim 9

Dependent Claim 17 words

The invention as defined in claim 1 wherein said respiratory valves are in a transparent valve body.

Claim 10

Dependent Claim 46 words

The invention as defined in claim 1 including respiratory pump means connected to said inlet and outlet passages for forcefully supplying air through said inhalation valve into said muzzle and exhausting air from said muzzle through said exhalation valve in a first respiratory mode of operation.

Claim 11

Dependent Claim 28 words

The invention as defined in claim 9 wherein said respiratory pump means continuously forces air through said inhalation and exhalation valves in a second evacuation mode of operation.

Claim 12

Dependent Claim 110 words

A muzzle for an animal having a snout comprising: a flexible bag having an open end and a closed end, said open end adapted to be placed around said animal's snout, said bag having an inflatable cuff formed around said open end and adapted to grippingly engage said snout to constrict the animal's jaws from opening; and a mouthpiece connected to and extending only within said bag, said mouthpiece being shaped to generally conform to the interior cavity of the animal's mouth whereby said cuff and said mouthpiece cooperate to secure said bag to said snout when the mouthpiece is inserted into the animal's mouth and said cuff is inflated.

Claim 13

Dependent Claim 110 words

A muzzle for an animal having a snout comprising: a flexible bag having an open end and a closed end, said open end adapted to be placed around said animal's snout, said bag having an inflatable cuff formed around said open end and adapted to grippingly engage said snout to constrict the animal's jaws from opening; and a mouthpiece connected to and extending only within said bag, said mouthpiece being shaped to generally conform to the interior cavity of the animal's mouth whereby said cuff and said mouthpiece cooperate to secure said bag to said snout when the mouthpiece is inserted into the animal's mouth and said cuff is inflated.

Claim 14

Dependent Claim 17 words

The muzzle as defined in claim 11 wherein said inflatable cuff is integrally formed on said bag.

Claim 15

Dependent Claim 12 words

The muzzle as defined in claim 11 wherein said mouthpiece is inflatable.

Claim 16

Dependent Claim 23 words

The muzzle as defined in claim 11 wherein said closed end includes an inlet and an outlet through which said animal may breathe.

Claim 17

Dependent Claim 21 words

The muzzle as defined in claim 11 wherein said mouthpiece includes passage means communicating the exterior and interior of said bag.

Claim 18

Dependent Claim 147 words

A muzzle adaptable for treating an animal comprising: a flexible bag adapted to be fitted around an animal's snout, said bag being formed by a continuous sidewall open at one end and closed at the other; a mouthpiece connected to said closed end and extending into said bag; an inflatable cuff formed around said open end of said bag and having a first pressure chamber therein, said closed end having a first bore therein and a first passage in said sidewall interconnecting said first pressure chamber in said cuff and said first bore in said closed end; and a muzzle pump connected to said first bore in said closed end for pressuring said first pressure chamber to inflate said cuff, said mouthpiece and said cuff cooperating to secure said bag to said snout when said mouthpiece is inserted into the animal's mouth and said cuff is inflated.

Claim 19

Dependent Claim 147 words

A muzzle adaptable for treating an animal comprising: a flexible bag adapted to be fitted around an animal's snout, said bag being formed by a continuous sidewall open at one end and closed at the other; a mouthpiece connected to said closed end and extending into said bag; an inflatable cuff formed around said open end of said bag and having a first pressure chamber therein, said closed end having a first bore therein and a first passage in said sidewall interconnecting said first pressure chamber in said cuff and said first bore in said closed end; and a muzzle pump connected to said first bore in said closed end for pressuring said first pressure chamber to inflate said cuff, said mouthpiece and said cuff cooperating to secure said bag to said snout when said mouthpiece is inserted into the animal's mouth and said cuff is inflated.

Claim 20

Dependent Claim 63 words

The muzzle as defined in claim 16 wherein said closed end includes a second bore therein and said mouthpiece is inflatable, being formed of a flexible material defining a second pressure chamber and having a passage leading from said second bore in said closed end to said second pressure chamber therein for inflating said mouthpiece when connected to a source of fluid pressure.

Claim 21

Dependent Claim 21 words

The muzzle as defined in claim 10 wherein said muzzle pump is connected to said second bore in said closed end.

Claim 22

Dependent Claim 33 words

The muzzle as defined in claim 16 further including two passages extending through said mouthpiece and closed end, one through which the animal may inhale and one through which the animal may exhale.

Claim 23

Dependent Claim 23 words

The muzzle as defined in claim 16 wherein said mouthpiece includes a through passage that opens into said bag through said closed end.

Annuity Stage	Window Opens	Payment Deadline	Surcharge Period Until	Estimated Fee	Status
3.5 Years (Year 4)	1988-04-29	1988-10-29	1989-04-30	$2000.00	Window Closed / Lapsed
7.5 Years (Year 8)	1992-04-29	1992-10-29	1993-04-30	$3760.00	Window Closed / Lapsed
11.5 Years (Year 12)	1996-04-29	1996-10-29	1997-04-30	$7700.00	Window Closed / Lapsed

Apparatus adaptable for treating animals

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