Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 11
Claim 1
Independent Claim
209 words
A harness for transporting a small animal, and for supporting the trunk of said animal while it is being transported, said harness comprising: a flexible main body portion adapted to wrap around the underside of the trunk of said small animal; first and second back straps attached to said main body portion and adapted to wrap around the trunk and over the back of said small animal at forward and rear support positions, respectively; attachment means mounted onto said first and second back straps for securing said straps about the trunk of said small animal at the forward and rear support positions, respectively; a chest strap connected to said main body portion for passing adjacent the upper chest portion of said small animal to aid in retaining said harness in functional position about said small animal; and, a handle having first and second end portions movably coupled to the first and second back straps, respectively, for maintaining said straps in the forward and rear support positions, respectively, while simultaneously permitting said first and second back straps to move relative to said handle to allow centering of said handle about the harness and about the center of the animal's back when the animal and harness are lifted by said handle.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
209 words
A harness for transporting a small animal, and for supporting the trunk of said animal while it is being transported, said harness comprising: a flexible main body portion adapted to wrap around the underside of the trunk of said small animal; first and second back straps attached to said main body portion and adapted to wrap around the trunk and over the back of said small animal at forward and rear support positions, respectively; attachment means mounted onto said first and second back straps for securing said straps about the trunk of said small animal at the forward and rear support positions, respectively; a chest strap connected to said main body portion for passing adjacent the upper chest portion of said small animal to aid in retaining said harness in functional position about said small animal; and, a handle having first and second end portions movably coupled to the first and second back straps, respectively, for maintaining said straps in the forward and rear support positions, respectively, while simultaneously permitting said first and second back straps to move relative to said handle to allow centering of said handle about the harness and about the center of the animal's back when the animal and harness are lifted by said handle.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
53 words
A harness as defined in claim 1, said handle first end portion having a slot and said handle second end portion having a slot, said first back strap extending through the slot in the first handle end portion, and said second back strap extending through the slot in the second handle end portion.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
51 words
A harness as defined in claim 1, said handle comprising a material which is relatively stiff and rigid with respect to said flexible main body portion whereby said back straps are maintained substantially in their respective forward and rear support positions as the animal and harness are lifted by said handle.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
18 words
A harness as set forth in claim 1, wherein said attachment means comprises a strap and buckle arrangement.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
19 words
A harness as set forth in claim 1, wherein said attachment means comprises a hook end latch fastener mechanism.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
16 words
A harness as set forth in claim 1, wherein said handle is essentially linear in shape.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
40 words
A harness as set forth in claim 1, wherein said handle is stepped at the ends thereof to facilitate manual grasping of said handle by permitting placement of the fingers between the handle and the back of said small animal.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
22 words
A harness as set forth in claim 1, including a ring coupled to said handle for attaching a leash to said harness.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
26 words
A harness as set forth in claim 1, wherein said chest strap comprises a single continuous strap connected at both ends to said main body portion.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
30 words
A harness as set forth in claim 1, wherein said chest strap comprises two strap pieces adapted to be adjustably attached together across the upper chest portion of said animal.