Protector

Abstract

The invention relates to a protector by means of which parts of the body of the person wearing it are covered and protected against attackers, the protector comprising numerous pointed spikes which are fastened to a base lying against the body, wherein a) the spikes (1) each comprise a base part (1A), which is connected to the base (2), and also a conically tapering pointed-tip part (1B) and a protective element (1C), which covers the pointed tip and is displaceable and / or compressible in the direction of the base part (1A); b) the base (2) comprises a multiplicity of cords (2A) and the base part (1A) of each spike (1) is connected to in each case at least two cords (2A) and thus the base parts (1A) of all the spikes (1) together with the cords (2A) form the base (2); and c) the protective element (1C) at the pointed tip of each spike (1), when subjected to a defined minimum force, is displaceable and / or compressible in the direction of the base part (1A) to such an extent that the pointed tip of the spike (1) is exposed and can injure any attacker.

Description

[0001] PROTECTIVE DEVICE

[0002] The present invention relates to a protective device for human or animal bodies.

[0003] STATE OF THE ART

[0004] Protective clothing for animals against attacks from other, especially vicious, animals includes, for example, spiked harnesses or vests for dogs and cats, marketed under the name "Pet Body Armor" by CoyoteVest. An example is shown in Fig. 1 (source: https: / / www.coyotevest.com / ), which is a Kevlar-reinforced textile vest for dogs or cats that can be attached to the animal's body with adjustable straps. Several strips, covered with numerous chrome or very hard plastic spikes, are attached to the outer surface of the vest via Velcro fasteners – in the example shown here, in the neck and back area. However, such protective vests are available in numerous variations for different parts of the animal's body requiring protection, e.g., two separate pieces for the neck and back, and with varying numbers and lengths of spikes.

[0005] A disadvantage, however, is that the spikes also pose a certain risk of injury to the owner when putting on the vest, as well as to other, non-hostile animals, such as other dogs from the same household that are being taken outside together and are to be protected from attacks, for example, by other dogs. Due to this very risk of injury, it would also be impossible to use such vests or harnesses for farm animals to protect them outdoors, for example in a pasture, from attacks by predators such as wolves, foxes, birds of prey, etc.

[0006] To solve this problem, the inventor of the present invention has, in the Austrian patent application No. 1, which was still unpublished at the filing date of the present application,A 1 17 / 2023 provides a piece of protective clothing for human or animal bodies, designed to at least partially cover at least one part of the wearer's body and to protect against blows or bites from an attacker, comprising a multitude of sharp spikes or thorns attached to a layer of fabric that is substantially close-fitting to the wearer's body and extends away from the body, characterized in that the sharp spikes or thorns are embedded in a layer of compressible plastic, the thickness of which exceeds the length of the spikes or thorns, so that only when an external force is applied to the garment sufficient to compress the plastic layer can the spikes or thorns protrude from it and injure a potential attacker.

[0007] Such a protective garment solves the problem of the risk of injury to the animal owner when putting on such a vest, as well as to other, non-hostile animals. However, a disadvantage lies in the comparatively expensive manufacturing process, especially since, on the one hand, the spikes or thorns must be individually, precisely, and, above all, almost permanently attached to defined positions on the base textile layer before the plastic is applied and bonded to the textile. On the other hand, in preferred embodiments of this invention, a foamed elastomer or other foam material is used as the plastic. Furthermore, if the protective garment is to be adapted in size and shape to the wearer's body part to be protected, in order to ensure a snug fit and thus good protection, this foam must be shaped before it hardens.This means that the plastic must be applied in a mold to the textile layer containing the spikes or thorns, foamed within the mold, and cured to a defined degree of elasticity or hardness. Afterwards, a protective layer, such as another textile layer, is preferably applied to the plastic / foam to protect it from external influences like moisture or sunlight. Such a manufacturing process is quite complex and can be very expensive.

[0008] Against this background, the aim of the invention was to develop a protection for animals or even for humans against attacks by predators or vicious dogs, which not only practically eliminates the risk of unintentional injuries, but is also relatively inexpensive to manufacture.

[0009] SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0010] The present invention achieves this objective by providing a protective device for human or animal bodies, designed to at least partially cover at least one part of the wearer's body and to protect against blows or bites from an attacker, and comprising a plurality of pointed spikes or thorns attached to a base that is substantially close to the wearer's body and extends away from the body, characterized in that a) the thorns each comprise a base part connected to the base, a tip part firmly connected thereto and tapering conically to a point, and a tip-covering section that is displaceable in the direction of the base part.a) the base comprises a compressible protective element; b) the base comprises a plurality of ropes consisting of natural or synthetic fibers or of wires, and the base part of each of the spikes is connected to at least two of the plurality of ropes, so that the base parts of all the spikes together with the plurality of ropes form the base; and c) the protective element at the tip of each spike is displaceable or compressible in the direction of the base part when a defined minimum force is applied to it, such that the tip of the spike is exposed and can injure a potential attacker.

[0011] As the inventor was able to ascertain in practice during the production of the first prototypes of the present invention, the present invention not only offers the desired protection against attacks by predators or vicious dogs by exposing the respective thorns when the defined minimum force is applied to one or more protective elements, e.g. in the case of a biting predator, but also protects against unintentional injuries due to the presence of the protective elements, e.g. when putting on the protective device or when several farm animals protected in this way are driven together from the stable to the pasture or back, or when peaceful dogs bump into each other while playing.

[0012] The material of the spikes and ropes is not specifically restricted, apart from the fact that ropes generally consist of either natural or synthetic fibers or wires. For example, the spikes can be made of metal, wood, or even hard plastic, and the ropes can be made of any fibers or wires of any metals or alloys, as long as the ropes have sufficient tensile strength and the spikes have sufficient breaking strength under tension or compression.

[0013] In some very simple-to-manufacture preferred embodiments of the protective device, the cables consist of metal wires, and at least the base parts of the prongs, which are connected to at least two metal wires, and optionally also the tip parts, are also made of metal and are preferably connected to the metal wires by welding. This enables a very strong connection between the prongs and the metal cables, which is significantly more stable than, for example, in the case of gluing, although this is also encompassed in principle by the present invention. In such cases, the at least two cables preferably lie in one plane, and the base parts of the prongs are welded onto the metal wires of the cables, thus forming a strong connection both with the cables and between the cables, which are firmly connected to each other via the base parts.Additionally, the ropes within the plane can also be welded together to form even more stable connections.

[0014] Even more preferred alternative embodiments of the protective device according to the invention offer a much more stable connection between the spikes and the ropes, characterized in that the at least two ropes each run through a channel provided in the base part of the spikes, wherein i) the diameter of the channels only slightly exceeds that of the ropes, such that a friction-fit connection can be established between them;and / or ii) the base parts are made in two parts, wherein an upper part firmly connected to the tip part of the respective mandrel and a lower part of each base part, which is substantially in close proximity to the body of the support, are detachably connected to each other, wherein the channels are provided at the same height and the dividing plane is at half the height of the channels in order to be able to insert the ropes into the channels when separated, wherein the diameter of at least one of the two openings of each channel is slightly less than that of the ropes, so that a positive connection with the at least two ropes can be made when connecting the upper part and the lower part of each base part.

[0015] Additionally, the ropes could of course also be glued to the inner surfaces of the channels during the manufacture of the protective device, but this is not preferable, since the above-described embodiments without adhesive offer the advantage that the connection between the ropes is not only very easy to establish, namely by threading the ropes through the channels in variant i), where the base parts can also be one piece, or by inserting them into the lower part of each base part of the spikes before it is connected to the upper part, in variant ii), which also makes the connections between spikes and ropes relatively easy to detach.

[0016] However, even in variant i) of the above embodiments, the base parts can be made in two parts. The upper and lower parts do not need to be separated to thread the ropes through the channels, although this is still recommended given the frictional connection. The frictional connection can sometimes be further enhanced by structuring the inner surfaces of the channels, e.g., by roughening or ribbing, which, however, makes threading the ropes into the channels more difficult.

[0017] Furthermore, in variant ii), a frictional connection between the mandrels and the ropes is not required, since the positive fit resulting from the slightly smaller diameter of at least one of the two openings in each channel compared to the ropes practically eliminates any slippage of the mandrels along the ropes. Depending on the material and compressive strength of the ropes, a diameter difference of several tenths of a millimeter, half a millimeter, or a whole millimeter can sometimes be entirely sufficient. However, when using relatively thick ropes with diameters of several millimeters or a centimeter or more, the diameter of at least one opening in the channels should preferably be chosen to be at least a whole millimeter smaller. Generally, however, the diameters of the ropes and the channels, as well as the dimensions of the mandrels, are not specifically restricted, a point which will be discussed in more detail later.

[0018] In any case, the above embodiments of the present invention, in which the connections between the prongs and the ropes are easily detachable, offer the advantage that the entire device can be disassembled into its individual components, i.e., the ropes and the prongs. This allows the devices to be adapted to different sizes and shapes of the bodies to be protected and can also facilitate the transport and storage of a certain number of devices before their reuse, since they cannot become entangled or intertwined.

[0019] According to the present invention, the releasable connection between the upper part and the lower part of each base part is preferably a screw connection or a snap connection via a snap hook, in particular a snap connection with a snap hook that can be released by pulling or pushing, in order to be able to quickly and easily release the connection, e.g. by means of a push button which, when actuated, releases the snap hook from the snap connection.

[0020] If, in the device according to the invention, only two ropes are connected to each of the base parts of the prongs, these can either run parallel, thus forming, so to speak, "chains" of two parallel ropes each, which are held together at preferably regular intervals by a base part. In such embodiments, the base of the device is formed by "interlacing" a plurality of such chains with one another, i.e., by passing one chain between the two ropes of other chains – preferably at right angles, in order to form a kind of "net" that constitutes the base of the device. However, such embodiments are not preferred according to the present invention, since without additional connections between the ropes, e.g., by wire ties or clamps, there is only insufficient protection against slippage, even if the device is attached very closely to the body of the wearer.However, the latter can be uncomfortable for the wearer, as pressure is exerted on the skin, especially at the points where the ropes cross. Furthermore, the production of such "nets" is relatively complex.

[0021] Even more preferred are embodiments in which a base part of the spikes is connected to only two ropes, but these two ropes then extend to different base parts. In this way, all ropes can run in one plane – particularly at angles of approximately 120° to each other – thus forming a significantly more stable and easier-to-manufacture base, which prevents pressure points on the wearer's skin.

[0022] In particularly preferred embodiments of the invention, three channels are provided in the base parts of the mandrels, and each base part is connected to three ropes running through it, the channels preferably running at an angle of 120° to each other through the base part. This increases the stability of the device and further simplifies its manufacture. If the device according to the invention is attached relatively close to the body, e.g., by lashing and hooking it, the tensile forces exerted on the three ropes ensure high positional stability of the individual mandrels, especially in such preferred embodiments.

[0023] Regardless of whether the base parts are designed in one or two parts, and in the latter case are detachable from each other, in preferred embodiments both the base parts, at least the upper parts in a two-part design, but preferably the upper and lower parts, as well as the tip parts are each made of metal or hard plastic and are joined together in one piece, i.e. welded or formed in one piece, e.g. cast, which significantly increases their stability compared to alternative embodiments, e.g. made of wood, which is more likely to break or splinter when subjected to external pressure.

[0024] An essential component of the device according to the invention is, of course, the protective elements that cover the tip and must be slidable towards the base when the defined minimum force is applied to expose the tips of the prongs. In principle, a wide variety of components made from numerous materials and with a wide variety of shapes are suitable for covering the tip. For example, spheres, cubes, or the like can be placed on the tips in such a way that their thickness above the tip is only a few millimeters, e.g., between 1 mm and 3 mm, so that when pressure is applied, they are pierced by the tip, which is then exposed. Such protective elements can, in turn, be made of various materials, as long as they are able to withstand the application of a force below the defined minimum force; for example, they can be made of metal, plastic, or even soft wood.The specific selection depends primarily on the material of the spike tips. However, such protective elements are destroyed when the minimum force is applied and must therefore be replaced after a corresponding attack on the support.

[0025] In this context, "movable protective elements" refers, on the one hand, to embodiments that are entirely movable, i.e., essentially without any reduction in height along the axis of the tip, such as those mentioned above, which break or tear upon application of the minimum force and are consequently destroyed. On the other hand, it also refers to embodiments that possess such elasticity that they are compressible upon application of the minimum force, so that at least their upper edge (i.e., the outer edge relative to the device's support) is displaced far enough towards the base to expose the tip, which can then injure the attacker. Sometimes, however, their lower edge can also be displaced downwards, particularly if the protective elements have a central bore or channel, as explained below.In preferred embodiments, each protective element is a rounded plastic part attached to the tip of the respective tip section, as these are quite simple and inexpensive to manufacture. Preferably, these plastic parts are essentially in the shape of a sphere or a section of tubing.

[0026] The plastic can preferably have such strength that, when the defined minimum force is applied, the protective element is pierced by the tip.

[0027] In even more preferred embodiments of the device, however, the plastic protective element comprises a central cylindrical bore or channel with a diameter such that the tapered tip part can be inserted into the bore or channel without force only to such an extent that the tip does not protrude from the bore or channel of the plastic part, wherein the plastic either: i) has such elasticity that, when the minimum force is applied, the protective element can be displaced or compressed further towards the base part by such an amount that the tip is exposed; or ii) has such strength that, when the minimum force is applied, the protective element breaks and the tip is thereby exposed.In the case of variant i), the protective elements are reusable after a corresponding attack on the carrier, since they either spring back elastically directly after the force has ceased, which will be discussed in more detail later, or simply need to be pulled back towards the tip, as long as, due to their elasticity, the bore or channel narrows again to such an extent when pulled that the protective element sits firmly on the tip of the mandrel and covers it from the outside.

[0028] The plastics used for the protective elements in these embodiments are limited only by their mechanical properties, namely elasticity, strength, and brittleness. However, a wide range of different plastics or plastic blends are suitable for this purpose. Furthermore, the surface finish, i.e., smoothness or roughness, also plays a role, since a frictional connection between the protective element and the tip requires a greater force for movement. Generally, any elastomers that stretch or compress sufficiently when the defined minimum force is applied to provide the necessary elasticity to allow the protective element to be moved accordingly are suitable.Relevant experts will easily be able to select suitable plastics based on their general expertise through routine experiments, which will exhibit the desired mechanical properties and consequently show corresponding behavior.

[0029] The value of the defined minimum force that must be exerted to expose the tips of the thorns depends significantly on the potential attackers, i.e., primarily on the predator against which a carrier of the protective device according to the invention is to be protected.

[0030] In general, protective elements should preferably only be displaceable or compressible when an external force of more than 20 or 30 N is applied, and even more preferably only when a force of at least 50 N or at least 100 N is applied. These values ​​are based on the fact that the finger pressure force that can be generated by humans between the thumb and forefinger is a maximum of 80 N for healthy adult men and a maximum of 55 N for women (source: Naturpharmazie.de). For approximately 1 cm 2 The area between the tips of the thumb and index finger corresponds to these force values ​​of approximately 80 and 55 N / cm², respectively. 2, i.e., approximately 800 or 550 kPa. In preferred embodiments of the invention, this completely prevents people from mistakenly exerting sufficient pressure on the protective clothing and injuring themselves when putting it on or taking it off. Furthermore, mutual injuries between animals equipped with such protective clothing during physical contact are completely eliminated.

[0031] The static bite force of predatory jaws, meaning the bite force between the jaws independent of tooth geometry (i.e., not measured at the tip of the canine tooth), is 56 N for cats (domestic or wild), 98 N for lynxes, and approximately 600 N for wolves (source: CHWOLF Association; chwolf.org). By appropriately selecting the adjustability of the protective elements based on the probability of an attack by a specific predator, the effectiveness of the invention—i.e., injuring the attacking predator—can be guaranteed, while simultaneously preventing injuries to domestic or farm animals protected by the garment, or to the people putting the protective clothing on the animals.

[0032] As already mentioned, the dimensions of the components of the protective device according to the invention are not specifically limited and depend significantly on the carrier of the device, i.e., primarily on the animal to be protected, as well as on the potential attacker, i.e., in particular the respective predator, although a protection area that is as wide as possible is preferable.

[0033] In preferred embodiments, the prongs of the device according to the invention have a total length, from the base of the base parts to the tip of the tip parts, of 2 to 8 cm, preferably 3 to 5 cm. These values ​​are primarily based on the length of the canine teeth of the respective predator. The length of the prongs should preferably be at least approximately the same so that a biting predator suffers injuries before its canine teeth can injure the skin of the wearer, after it has sufficiently displaced or compressed the protective element during the bite and exposed the tip. For example, the canine tooth length of wolves can be up to about 6 cm, while that of wildcats it is only about 1 cm. The length of the canine teeth of other predators, at least those in Europe, generally lies in between.

[0034] In preferred embodiments, the base parts of the mandrels can essentially have the shape of a rounded flat cylinder with a height of 0.5 to 1.5 cm, preferably about 1 cm, and a diameter of 1 to 5 cm, preferably 2 to 3 cm, wherein the tip parts at the base, i.e., the connection to the respective base part, can accordingly have a diameter of about 0.5 cm. In such preferred embodiments, the protective elements are either spherical plastic parts with a diameter of 0.5 to 1 cm, optionally having a bore with a diameter of 2 to 3 mm, or plastic tube sections with an outer diameter of 0.5 to 1 cm, an inner diameter, i.e., a diameter of the channel in the tube, of 2 to 3 mm, and a length such that, after being placed on the tip parts, they project beyond their tips by at least 2 mm, at least 3 mm, or at least 5 mm.

[0035] The spacing between the spikes is also not specifically limited and depends significantly on the potential attacker, the size and shape of the body part being protected, and the dimensions of the ropes and the spikes themselves. For example, the spikes of the protective device according to the invention can be spaced between approximately 5 mm and 5 cm apart; however, in preferred embodiments, the spacing is between approximately 1 cm and 3 cm, and in even more preferred embodiments, between 1 cm and 2 cm.

[0036] In most preferred embodiments, the ropes are made of synthetic or natural fibers, which is advantageous with regard to the weight of the device and also to body contact with the wearer, since metal ropes are more likely to irritate the skin. According to the preferred embodiments and dimensions of the prongs described above, the ropes preferably have a diameter of about 2 to 5 mm, and more preferably about 3 mm. These values ​​offer a good compromise between the tensile and breaking strength, the weight, and the cost of the ropes.

[0037] The choice of rope material is not specifically restricted according to the invention and depends on the factors mentioned above as well as on skin compatibility; that is, materials that do not irritate the skin of the wearer and that do not cause excessive friction on the skin or fur should be used. Therefore, relatively smooth plastic ropes are preferred in some preferred embodiments, particularly in those cases described above where the base parts of the prongs are made in two parts and a positive-locking connection to the ropes is established. The manner in which the protective device according to the invention is attached to the wearer's body is also not specifically restricted. For example, the ropes can be provided at the ends with straps or belts with hook-and-loop fasteners, which, after wrapping around the wearer's body part, e.g., the torso of a farm animal, are engaged with each other to form a hook-and-loop connection.Alternatively or additionally, the spikes, especially the base parts of the spikes, can also be fitted with hooks, e.g. carabiners, which are connected to one or more of the ropes to fix the device to the carrier.

[0038] BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES

[0039] The present invention is described in more detail below with reference to particularly preferred embodiments, which are, of course, only included for illustrative purposes and are not intended to limit the invention in any way. Details of these embodiments can also be seen in several figures, which depict the following:

[0040] Fig. 1 shows a photograph of the Coyote-Vest pet protection vest mentioned at the beginning;

[0041] Fig. 2 shows a photograph of a prototype of the protective device according to the invention, but still without protective elements at the tips of the spikes;

[0042] Fig. 3 shows several enlarged views of a complete, exemplary mandrel preferred according to the invention with a spherical protective element;

[0043] Fig. 4 shows a schematic top view of a preferred arrangement of the mandrels after the device has been attached, but without ropes; and

[0044] Fig. 5 shows a photograph of another prototype of the invention with hose sections as protective elements.

[0045] EXAMPLES

[0046] As previously mentioned, the inventor has already produced initial prototypes of a particularly preferred embodiment of the protective device of the present invention, a section of which is shown in the photograph in Fig. 2. It can be seen that this embodiment of the device according to the invention is constructed from a plurality of cables 2A and prongs 1, the latter each comprising a base part 1A and a tip part 1B, the base 2 being formed by three cables 2A passing through each of the base parts 1A. While this latter detail is not entirely clear from this illustration, it is best indicated by the prongs located relatively far down in the image. Furthermore, the photograph was taken before the protective elements 1C were attached to the tip parts 1B and therefore shows the device in an incomplete state.

[0047] It is clearly evident that the prongs 1 located at the edge of the base (left in the image) each include a hook 1 Ah, by means of which they can be connected to a rope 2A by hooking after the device has been applied, which can be done, for example, by wrapping the body of a domestic or farm animal and then lashing it down, in order to fix the device around the body of the wearer.

[0048] Furthermore, the photograph suggests that both the spikes 1 and the ropes 2A are made of plastic. In the case of the ropes, this could be, for example, synthetic fibers such as polypropylene, polyester, nylon, or aramid, or even rubber. In this particular case, elastic rubber ropes ("expander rope," 3 mm diameter, 20 m spool, available from Abma Cord) were used. These consist of a core of braided rubber threads and a braided sheath of polyester yarn, similar to those used for weight training. Due to their elasticity, these ropes offer the advantage of high tensile strength and simplify the application of the device, especially when protecting livestock. Moreover, like most synthetic fiber ropes, they are sufficiently smooth to minimize friction against the wearer's skin or fur.

[0049] In this embodiment of the invention, shown in Fig. 2, the spikes are also made of plastic, but of a stable, hard plastic to prevent breakage under compressive or tensile forces. Specifically, the base and tip parts of the spikes were manufactured using selective laser sintering (SLS) with a "Fuse 1" SLS 3D printer from "Grey Nylon 12" powder (both commercially available from Formlabs GmbH), a material characterized by high strength and hardness, low water absorption and density, and consequently, low weight. The protective elements (not shown in Fig. 2) were 3D printed from thermoplastic polyurethane (TPU) filaments (trade name: PolyFlex™ TPU95, from Polymaker), a material characterized by high flexibility and elasticity.Of course, as already mentioned, the invention is not limited to these materials, but its selection depends to a large extent on the carrier to be protected and the potential attacker.

[0050] Figures 3A-C show one of the mandrels 1 used in the prototype in detail, enlarged to a scale of 2:1, using schematic drawings – each showing the protective element 1C. The view in the center of Figure 3B is a side view of the mandrel, below it is a top view, and above it a bottom view. Figure 2A is a sectional view through plane AA of Figure 3B, rotated 90° to the left, and Figure 3C is a side view of the mandrel from Figure 3B, rotated 90° to the right, with a sectional view through plane BB shown below. The dimensions used in the prototype are also indicated.

[0051] As can be clearly seen in the drawings in Fig. 3, spherical attachments with a central cylindrical bore were produced as protective elements 1 C from the aforementioned TPU filaments using 3D printing. The diameter of these attachments was precisely matched to that of the tip parts 1 B. This matching was achieved in such a way that each protective element 1 C—due to its flexibility and elasticity and the resulting compressibility—is displaceable towards the base part 1 A. When the previously defined minimum force is applied, the section surrounding and covering the tip (the "upper" section in the drawing) is pressed downwards, thus compressing the spherical shape and exposing the tip, allowing it to injure an attacker who strikes or bites the protective device.

[0052] Due to a constriction 1Be in the tip section just above the lower end of the cylindrical bore 1Cb, the protective element 1C is pressed into this constriction 1Be when force is applied, thus preventing the entire spherical plastic part (shown "downwards" in the drawing) from shifting towards the base section 1A. As soon as the force is applied, or at least falls below the defined minimum force, the protective element 1C springs back elastically to its original position. This is a significant advantage over embodiments that break under force and must be replaced. As mentioned earlier, for this purpose, the dimensions of the tip section 1B and the protective element 1C, including the bore 1Cb, and especially the material of the spherical attachment, must be selected according to the required mechanical properties.A relevant expert in the field of polymer chemistry is of course readily able to determine suitable conditions without excessive experimentation by means of routine tests, which, given the rapidly feasible 3D printing process for manufacturing the mandrel components, can be carried out with relatively little effort.

[0053] From Figures 3A-C, and especially from the illustration in Figure 3A, it can further be seen that, according to the invention, the base part 1A of the mandrels is preferably designed in two parts: The upper part 1Ao of the base part 1A, which is integrally connected to the tip part 1B, and its lower part 1Au are firmly connected to each other via a snap hook 1As. This connection can, however, be released by actuating the push button 1Ad, whereby the upper part 1Ao can be separated from the lower part 1Au. This is done essentially along the plane BB indicated in Figure 3C, which—as can be seen particularly in Figure 3B—runs transversely at mid-height through the cylindrical channels 1Ak provided in the base part 1A. In the top view of Figure 3C, it is particularly easy to see that each mandrel comprises three channels 1Ak, each offset from the others by 120°. In the side views of the mandrel in Figures 3A-C, the following can be seen:3B and 3C indicate, by means of the double representation of the channel openings, that both the inlet and outlet openings of each channel are slightly narrowed 1 Ak compared to the diameter of the channel within the base part.

[0054] As mentioned above, ropes 2a with a diameter of 3 mm were used to manufacture the device, and as can be seen from the information in the sectional view in Fig. 3C, this also corresponds to the diameter of the channels 1Ak (whereby all dimensions in Fig. 3 are generally given in millimeters). The slight narrowing of the channel openings, which is only 0.5 mm in diameter, nevertheless creates a positive connection with the three ropes, thus securing the mandrels against slipping along the ropes. As can also be seen in Fig. 3, the mandrels have the following dimensions: overall height: 31.5 mm; maximum diameter of the base parts 1A: 17 mm; diameter of the spherical protective elements 1C: 9 mm; diameter of the bore 1Cb (not explicitly shown in Fig. 3): 3 mm; diameter of the three cylindrical channels: 3 mm.

[0055] Figure 4 shows a top view and (above) a side view of the arrangement of the spikes 1 as used in the prototype shown in the photograph in Figure 2. The spikes 1 are arranged at regular intervals of 20 mm such that the centers of three spikes form an equilateral triangle. The side view corresponds to that of Figure 3C, so that one of the three channels, namely the left channel shown as a circle in the side views of Figures 3C and 4 (while the other two channels are shown as ovals in perspective in these side views), lies on an imaginary straight line formed by all the spikes positioned one below the other in Figure 4.

[0056] It should be noted, however, that the prototype in the photograph of Fig. 2 was photographed rotated 75-80° clockwise compared to the arrangement of the prongs shown in Fig. 4. This means that the lines on which the prongs lie are not vertical as shown in Fig. 4, but approximately horizontal in the photograph. During the manufacture of the prototype, a rope was first passed through all of these channels lying on one straight line and only then through the other two channels. For this purpose, the upper parts 1Ao and lower parts 1Au of the base parts 1A were separated from each other by actuating the push button 1Ad. The upper parts 1Ao, together with the integrally connected end parts 1B, were inserted into a corresponding holder (not shown), and then the ropes 2A were inserted into the thus exposed half of the respective channels 1Ak (reference numerals see Fig. 3). Then, ropes 2A were inserted into the channels shown in Fig.Four cables were inserted linearly from top to bottom (essentially horizontally in Fig. 2), after which ropes were inserted into the two other channels of the spikes, each rotated at an angle of 120°. As can be clearly seen in the photograph in Fig. 2, in this arrangement the two other ropes 2A inevitably overlap on their way to the next spikes.

[0057] Of course, according to the present invention, it is also possible to guide the ropes through the prongs in such a way that they all lie in one plane, e.g. when using only two ropes per prong or, even in the case of three ropes per prong, in such an arrangement of the prongs in which they are arranged twisted by a certain angle from left to right and from top to bottom, which in each case can prevent the formation of pressure points on the skin or fur of the wearer due to the overlapping of the ropes.

[0058] Fig. 5 shows a photograph of a section of another prototype of the protective device according to the invention, in this case, however, together with the protective elements already attached.

[0059] The same ropes 2A were used as in the first embodiment, i.e., elastic rubber ropes ("expander rope") with a diameter of 3 mm, and the material of the prongs was also the same "Grey Nylon 12" powder as above. This was again processed into the base parts 1A and the tip parts 1B using the "Fuse 1" SLS 3D printer via selective laser sintering (SLS). The base parts were again initially divided into a lower part 1Au and an upper part 1Ao, the latter being manufactured in one piece with the tip part 1B. The photograph in Fig. 5 also shows that both base parts 1Au and 1Ao again have recesses for three channels 1Ak, each offset from the others by 120°, and that the upper parts 1Ao, located at one edge of the device, are integrally formed with a hook 1Ah for fixing them to the wearer's body.

[0060] In contrast to the embodiment shown in Figures 2 to 4, the channels 1Ak in this case are not arranged in the same plane, but in three different superimposed planes, which is why the height of the base parts 1A exceeds that of the first embodiment by approximately 5 mm. However, the overall height is 31.5 mm and the maximum diameter of the base parts 1A is 17 mm, so that the tip parts 1B are 5 mm shorter here.

[0061] The lower base part 1 Au and the upper base part 1 Ao, which supports the tip part 1 B, are initially not connected to each other, as in the prototype above, but they also lack a snap hook. The prototype was manufactured by inserting three ropes 2A into each of the pre-made channels 1 Ak of ​​each lower base part 1 Au, after which the upper parts 1 Ao, including the tip parts 1 B, were fitted precisely onto the ropes and the two base parts were spot-welded together at several points along their sides. This embodiment of the invention cannot therefore be easily disassembled into its components, but it offers somewhat greater stability.

[0062] The tip parts 1 B also do not have a constriction 1 Be, since the main difference to the prototype above is that instead of spheres, hose sections 1 C are used as protective elements, which have approximately the same length as the tip parts 1 B and are attached to them in such a way that they extend about 4-5 mm beyond the tip so that it is not exposed.

[0063] For this purpose, a standard elastic silicone tube, commercially available by the meter, was chosen. It has an inner diameter of 3 mm and an outer diameter of 2 cm and was cut into pieces approximately 2 cm long. When these pieces were fitted onto the spike parts 1B, pressure was applied, causing the lower end of the tubes to stretch and resulting in a relatively tight fit for the protective element 1C. Instead of a central bore, these tube sections 1C naturally have a central channel 1Cbk, the diameter of which at the upper end corresponds to the aforementioned inner diameter of 3 mm, but at the lower end, due to the stretching, is approximately 4 mm. The spike parts 1B have a diameter of approximately 5 mm at the transition to the upper base parts 1Ao, so the tube sections do not completely cover the spike parts.

[0064] If a stronger external pressure than that exerted during the manufacture of the protective device is applied to such a protective element 1 C, such as that caused by a blow from an attacker or a bite from a predator, exceeding the defined minimum force, at least the upper end (and possibly also the lower end) of the hose section shifts towards the base part 1 A due to the compressibility of the silicone, so that the tip of the spike is exposed and can injure the attacker.

[0065] In any case, the present invention, even in simple embodiments, provides a protective device for animals or humans that can be worn on the body against attacks, in particular by predators or vicious dogs, with which unintentional injuries are practically excluded and which can be manufactured in a very cost-effective manner.

Claims

PATENT CLAIMS 1. Protective device for human or animal bodies, designed to at least partially cover at least one part of the wearer's body and to protect against blows or bites from an attacker, comprising a plurality of sharp spikes or thorns (1) attached to a base (2) that is substantially close to the wearer's body and extends away from the body, characterized in that a) the thorns (1) each comprise a base part (1A) connected to the base (2), a tip part (1B) firmly connected thereto and tapering conically to a point, and a tip covering the point that is displaceable in the direction of the base part (1A).a) the base (2) comprises a compressible protective element (1 C); b) the base (2) comprises a plurality of ropes (2A) consisting of natural or synthetic fibers or of wires, and the base part (1 A) of each of the spikes (1 ) is connected to at least two of the plurality of ropes (2A), such that the base parts (1 A) of all spikes (1 ) together with the plurality of ropes (2A) form the base (2); and c) the protective element (1 C) at the tip of each spike (1 ) is displaceable or compressible in the direction of the base part (1 A) when a defined minimum force is applied to it, such that the tip of the spike (1 ) is exposed and can injure a potential attacker.

2. Protective device according to claim 1, characterized in that the ropes (2A) consist of metal wires and the base parts (1A) of the mandrels (1) also consist of metal and are connected to the ropes (2A) by welding.

3. Protective device according to claim 1, characterized in that the at least two ropes (2A) each run through a channel (1Ak) provided in the base part (1A) of the mandrels (1), wherein i) the diameter of the channels (1Ak) only slightly exceeds that of the ropes (2A) such that a frictional connection can be established between them; and / or ii) the base parts (1A) are designed in two parts, each comprising an upper part (1Ao) firmly connected to the tip part (1B) of the respective mandrel (1) and a lower part attached to the body. The lower part (1 Au) of each base part (1 A) is detachably connected to the carrier in a substantially close-fitting manner, wherein the channels (1 Ak) are provided at the same height and the separating plane is located at half the height of the channels (1 Ak) in order to be able to insert the ropes (2A) into the channels (1 Ak) in the separated state, wherein the diameter of at least one of the two openings of each channel (1 Ak) is slightly less than that of the ropes (2A), so that when connecting the upper part (1 Ao) and the lower part (1 Au) of each base part (1 A) a positive-locking connection with the at least two ropes (2A) can be made.

4. Protective device according to claim 3, characterized in that the releasable connection between the upper part (1 Ao) and the lower part (1 Au) of each base part (1 A) is a screw connection or a snap connection via a snap hook (1 As).

5. Protective device according to claim 3 or 4, characterized in that three channels (1Ak) are provided in each of the base parts (1 A) and each base part (1 A) is connected to three cables (2A) running through it, wherein the channels preferably run through the base part (1 A) at an angle of 120° to each other.

6. Protective device according to one of claims 1 to 5, characterized in that the base parts (1 A) and the tip parts (1 B) are each made of metal or hard plastic and are joined together in one piece, i.e. welded or formed in one piece, e.g. cast.

7. Protective device according to one of claims 1 to 6, characterized in that each protective element (1 C) is a rounded plastic part attached to the tip of the respective tip part (1 B).

8. Protective device according to claim 7, characterized in that the protective elements (1 C) essentially have the shape of a sphere or a hose section.

9. Protective device according to claim 7 or 8, characterized in that the plastic has such strength that when the defined minimum force is applied, the protective element (1 C) is pierced by the tip.

10. Protective device according to claim 7 or 8, characterized in that the protective element (1 C) comprises a central cylindrical bore or channel (1 Cbk) with a diameter such that the tapered tip part (1 B) can be inserted into the bore or channel (1 Cbk) without force only to such an extent that the tip does not protrude from the bore or channel (1 Cbk) of the plastic part, wherein the plastic: i) has such elasticity that, when the minimum force is applied, the protective element (1 C) can be displaced or compressed further in the direction of the base part (1A) by such an amount that the tip is exposed; or ii) has such strength that, when the minimum force is applied, the protective element (1 C) breaks and the tip is thereby exposed.

11. Protective device according to any one of claims 1 to 10, characterized in that a) the defined minimum force is a force of at least 20 N, at least 30 N, at least 50 N or at least 100 N; and / or b) the prongs (1) have a total length, from the bottom of the base parts (1A) to the tip of the point parts (1B), of 2 to 8 cm, preferably 3 to 5 cm; and / or c) the base parts (1A) have essentially the shape of a rounded flat cylinder with a height of 0.5 to 1.5 cm, preferably about 1 cm, and a diameter of 1 to 5 cm, preferably 2 to 3 cm; and / or d) the point parts (1B) have a diameter of about 0.5 cm at the connection to the respective base part (1A); and / or e) the ropes (2A) are made of natural or synthetic fibers and have a diameter of 2 to 5 mm, preferably about 3 mm.

12. Protective device according to one of claims 1 to 11, characterized in that the protective elements (1 C) each i) spherical plastic parts with a diameter of 0.5 to 1 cm, which may optionally have a bore (1 Cbk) with a diameter of 2 to 3 mm; or ii) plastic tubing sections with an outer diameter of 0.5 to 1 cm, an inner diameter of the channel (1 Cbk) of 2 to 3 mm and such a length that, when placed on the tip parts 1 B, they extend beyond the tip by at least 2 mm, at least 3 mm or at least 5 mm.

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