Flexible Pet Collar with Internal Stays for Comfort and Storage
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Solution Overview
Problem
Traditional pet protective collars, such as E-collars, are often made from rigid materials that are uncomfortable for animals, difficult to store, and can be stressful due to their rigidity, which may lead to increased healing time and infection risk as animals attempt to remove them.
Innovation Solution
A flexible protective collar with a layered assembly comprising a first and second sheet of non-resilient material and a resilient padding layer, secured with stays and closure mechanisms, allowing for easy folding and storage while maintaining a comfortable, self-supporting cone shape to prevent animals from accessing wounds.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If traditional E-collars are made from rigid materials, then they effectively prevent animals from contacting wounds, but they become uncomfortable for animals and difficult to store
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies this principle by using flexible materials such as fabric, foam, or vinyl instead of rigid materials. The collar maintains its protective function while being soft and comfortable for the animal, and can be easily folded for storage. The flexible material allows the collar to conform to the animal's neck while still preventing contact with the wound area.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent applies this principle by combining multiple materials with different properties - typically a flexible outer layer (fabric or vinyl) with an insulating or cushioning inner layer (foam). This composite structure provides both the flexibility needed for comfort and storage, and sufficient structural integrity to maintain the cone shape and prevent wound contact.
2Stability of the object's composition
If rigid materials are used for E-collars, then the collar maintains its shape, but it can break if bent too far and shatter in cold temperatures
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces rigid materials with flexible materials that can bend without breaking. The flexible fabric or vinyl covering combined with foam insulation allows the collar to be bent and folded repeatedly without structural failure, and remains durable in cold temperatures where rigid materials would shatter.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the physical parameters of the collar material from rigid to flexible. This parameter change allows the material to maintain shape through flexibility rather than rigidity, enabling the collar to withstand bending and cold temperatures without breaking or shattering.
3Reliability
If rigid E-collars are used, then they prevent wound contact, but they make it difficult for animals to eat, drink, or get through tight spaces
Solution Approach 1:
The flexible material allows the collar to bend and flex as the animal moves its head, making it easier for the animal to eat, drink, and navigate tight spaces. The collar maintains its protective cone shape through the flexibility of the material rather than rigid structure, reducing interference with the animal's daily activities.
4Reliability
If rigid E-collars are used, then they prevent wound contact, but they cause stress to the animal when bumping into objects
Solution Approach 1:
The flexible material absorbs impact energy through deformation rather than transmitting it rigidly to the animal. When the animal bumps into objects, the soft collar material cushions the impact, reducing stress and preventing injury to the animal's head and neck, while still maintaining the protective barrier against wound contact.
Data Source
AI summary
A flexible pet protective collar having stays formed of a more rigid material than flexible sheets of the collar, the stays being disposed inside channels located at seams of the collar.