Reflective safety sleeve

Abstract

A sleeve which has two reflective sides is adapted for safety purposes and may function as an identifier. The surfaces may be formed in strips which have a luminous tint. The sleeve is adapted for usage with numerous objects such as pet collars, hats and canes.

Description

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION

This application claims the priority of U.S. Provisional Application No. 60/964,346 filed Aug. 10, 2007.

FIELD OF THE TECHNOLOGY

This application relates generally to reflective devices and materials which are adapted to attach individuals, pets or objects to reflect light for safety purposes under low light conditions.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a side elevational view of an identifier sleeve;

FIG. 2 is a frontal perspective view of a pet collar employing the identifier sleeve of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a frontal view of an embodiment of an identifier sleeve;

FIG. 4 is the opposite side view of the identifier of FIG. 3; and

FIG. 5 is a fragmentary perspective view of a suitcase, which employs the article identifier of FIG. 1.

FIG. 6 is a side view of an ultra-reflective sleeve suitable for numerous applications;

FIG. 7 is a side view of an ultra-reflective sleeve which has a different dimension;

FIG. 8 is an exaggerated, enlarged, sectional view illustrating the cross-section of the sleeves in FIGS. 6 and 7;

FIG. 9 illustrates one application of a sleeve of FIG. 7 in connection with mounting to the straps of a hat;

FIG. 10 illustrates a hat with the mounted sleeve as worn by an individual from the rear of the head of the individual;

FIG. 11 illustrates another application of ultra-reflective belt-like sleeve as worn by a jogger;

FIG. 12 illustrates use of a pair of reflective sleeves for a dog collar and a connected leash as attached to a dog;

FIG. 13 is a side elevational view, partly broken away partly in phantom and partly in diagram form, illustrating an application wherein an ultra-reflective sleeve may be installed on a cane;

FIG. 14 is a side elevational view of a representative kick stand for a bicycle or the like to which an ultra-reflective sleeve has been mounted.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

With reference to the drawings, wherein like numerals represent like parts throughout the Figures, a new and improved pet collar is generally designated by the numeral 10. The collar 10 may be of conventional form and function having a strap 12, which is either formed of an elastomeric material and/or includes a buckle 14, a hook and loop fabric fastener, such as Velcro, or other similar fastening device.

An identifier sleeve 20 is slid over the collar strap 12. The identifier sleeve 20 is formed of a reflective material. The sleeve 20 may be affixed with identifying information, such as a name.

The principal function of the reflective pet collar is to aid in the identification or determination of the location of a pet. As an auxiliary function, the collar functions as a warning device which will allow the pet to be easily located along the side of a roadway or other place where a pet could be in danger. Accordingly, the collar will also function as a safety device.

There are also additional applications. For example, the sleeve could also be slid over a belt, a shoulder strap, a band of a hat, a strap of a cap, or a luggage handle as in FIG. 5, or other various items to provide the same identification or warnings functions. In one application of the invention, the protective sleeve, which is placed on a pet such as a cat or dog, also has a corresponding complementary sleeve, which is worn by the owner.

The sleeve 20 has a full continuous circumferential type structure. Alternatively, a sleeve 30 may have a slit 32 or merely contain one or more retaining flanges 34 at one side thereof as illustrated in FIGS. 3 and 4. The slit may be sealed using such things as snap buttons, zippers, fiber hook and loop fasteners, or the like.

A safety sleeve 100 which has a pair of highly reflective or ultra reflective surfaces is illustrated in FIG. 6. The sleeve 100 is initially formed from fabric. The fabric is preferably 100% polyester knit. The fabric is typically cut into two different widths: 4⅜ inches or 3⅜ inches. In one embodiment, the cut goods are folded in half and stitched on an end so that they are finished in approximately 2 inches and 1½ inch wide opposed strips 110 and 120 to form the sleeves. Each of the strips has a luminous striking tint, such as a bright yellow or orange.

In an alternate manufacturing process, the strips 110 and 120 are ultrasonically joined instead of with a sewing thread.

A strip 130, 140 of ⅝ inch 3M product No. 8710 reflective material is laminated to each side 110, 120 of the product. The sleeves are cut to the requested length. For example sleeve 100A has a shorter length. A specification sheet for the reflective material is set forth in the attached Table A.

The sleeves may be employed for a wide variety of applications. For example sleeve 100A is attached to straps 202, 204 of a hat 200, as illustrated in FIGS. 9-10.

As illustrated in FIG. 11 an ultra-reflective sleeve 100 B in belt-like form may be formed from stretch material and worn around the waist or other parts of the body to provide a reflective surface or a reflective strip for joggers, walkers and bicyclers, for instance.

The sleeves 100 may be slid over and or used with a leash collar 302 and leash 304 for a dog or pet as illustrated in FIG. 12.

In another safety use of the ultra-reflective sleeve 100, a rubber end cap 402 is removed from a cane 400 and the sleeve 100 is slidably pulled over the end of the cane and the end cap is replaced such as illustrated in FIG. 13.

A sleeve 100 may also be slidably mounted to the kick stand 500, a bicycle or the like as illustrated in FIG. 14.

Claims

1. A sleeve having two reflective sides and adapted for mounting to a strip-like base.

2. A hat having a pair of straps which connect and receive a sleeve having a reflective surface.

3. A cane with a sleeve extending along the length of the cane, said sleeve having a reflective surface on at least two opposing portions of said cane.