US-12616172-B2 - Second skin paw protectors

US12616172B2US 12616172 B2US12616172 B2US 12616172B2US-12616172-B2

Abstract

Footwear configured to be worn by an animal is provided herein. The footwear can be a second skin paw protector including a body formed from a first material having a top, a bottom, a limb engaging portion, and a paw engaging portion. The paw engaging portion may define a protrusion dimensioned and shaped to receive one or more dog nails. The second skin paw protector may comprise ridges disposed along a limb engaging portion and along a first pad region to allow for flexibility and paw protection.

Inventors

Kui Mi Oh

Assignees

Second Skin Paw Protector LLC

Dates

Publication Date: 20260505
Application Date: 20241125

Claims (14)

1 . A second skin paw protector, comprising: a body monolithically formed from a first material and comprising: a proximal end, a distal end, a limb engaging portion disposed at the proximal end and defining an interior volume configured to engage a dog limb, a paw engaging portion disposed at the distal end and having a protrusion configured to receive at least one dog nail, wherein the limb engaging portion and the paw engaging portion join at a non-parallel angle, and a plurality of ridges extending from the paw engaging portion to the limb engaging portion, the plurality of ridges including a plurality of first ridges having a first pattern, each first ridge extending laterally around the limb engaging portion, and including a second plurality of ridges having a second pattern different from the first pattern and extending laterally across a sole of the paw engaging portion.
2 . The second skin paw protector of claim 1 , wherein the first pattern of the plurality of first ridges is defined by a first trough disposed on a front of the limb engaging portion, a second trough disposed on a back of the limb engaging portion, a first peak on a first lateral side of the limb engaging portion, and a second peak on a second lateral side of the limb engaging portion.
3 . The second skin paw protector of claim 2 , wherein the second pattern of the plurality of second ridges is defined by a third peak disposed on the back of the limb engaging portion, a fourth peak disposed on the back of the limb engaging portion, and a third trough disposed therebetween.
4 . The second skin paw protector of claim 3 , wherein each of the plurality of first ridges and the plurality of second ridges are defined by a non-linear pattern.
5 . The second skin paw protector of claim 1 , wherein the sole further comprises a second material having at least one of a grit material, a glow in the dark material, or a thermo-responsive material.
6 . The second skin paw protector of claim 1 , wherein a circumference of the protrusion is smaller than a circumference of the paw engaging portion, and wherein a thickness of the protrusion is greater than a thickness of the paw engaging portion.
7 . The second skin paw protector of claim 6 , wherein a thickness of the paw engaging portion gradually increases from the sole to the protrusion.
8 . The second skin paw protector of claim 1 , further comprising a collar disposed at the proximal end and a lip extending from the collar along the limb engaging portion.
9 . The second skin paw protector of claim 8 , wherein a pair of slots is disposed on the lip, wherein each slot is configured to receive a wrapping member.
10 . The second skin paw protector of claim 9 , further comprising a wrapping member coupled to the body at the limb engaging portion, wherein the wrapping member is configured to be disposed through the pair of slots and to wrap around the body.
11 . The second skin paw protector of claim 1 , wherein the first material is Styrene-Ethylene-Butylene-Styrene (SEBS).
12 . The second skin paw protector of claim 1 , further comprising a ribbed region having at least one internal rib, wherein the at least one internal rib has a slanted face and a perpendicular face, the slanted face being disposed closer to the proximal end than the perpendicular face.
13 . The second skin paw protector of claim 12 , wherein the at least one internal rib is a plurality of internal ribs and wherein each slanted face is longer than each corresponding perpendicular face.
14 . The second skin paw protector of claim 1 , wherein an inner surface of the first pad region omits the plurality of ridges.

Description

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS This application claims priority to, and the benefit of, U.S. Provisional Application No. 63/604,119, filed Nov. 29, 2023, and titled “SECOND SKIN PAW PROTECTORS,” which is incorporated by reference herein in its entirety for all purposes. FIELD The present disclosure relates generally to coverings for animal feet (e.g., paws), and more particularly to footwear worn by dogs to protect their paws from hot, cold, wet, icy, rugged, rough, and slippery surfaces. BACKGROUND Placing footwear on pets may be highly desirable for protective, health, and aesthetic reasons. Pet footwear has become increasingly popular over the past few decades. Pet footwear has been predominantly used for dogs but is also contemplated for cats and other domesticated animals. Pet footwear may be useful to mitigate discomfort that pets experience when standing, walking, or running on certain surfaces, such as rough surfaces or excessively hot or cold surfaces. Specifically, hot or cold asphalt and concrete, rough terrain, and areas with broken glass, nails, or other debris may cause discomfort or injury to the feet of animals. Rough terrain, for example, can cut or wear out the feet or digital/metatarsal/metacarpal pads of dogs. In other cases, it may not be safe for pets to traverse the ground when temperatures are particularly severe, such as in hot climates where the ground surface may be excessively hot (e.g., over 25° C.) or in colder climates where the ground may be frozen or icy. Pet footwear may also be useful to improve traction between a pet's foot and the ground, for example, on slippery or unstable surfaces such as ice, snow, loose gravel, sand, or wet surfaces. Pet footwear may be desirable for other reasons. Pet footwear may be used when a pet has injured one or more paws. In such case, suitable footwear may help to protect the affected paw until sufficient healing has occurred. Pet footwear may be desired for fashion purposes and/or to prevent soiling of indoor floors when the pet returns from a walk. For example, in inclement weather, a person may not wish to clean a dog's paws after the dog has been outside. To keep interior floors clean, placing footwear on a pet may be easier and/or less costly than thoroughly cleaning the pet's feet and/or indoor surfaces. Conventional pet footwear designs may not provide adequate durability to sufficiently protect a dog's paws from sharp objects on the ground, such as broken glass. Further, in instances where a pet is walking on hot pavement, many conventional pet footwear designs may not be configured to keep the pet's paws cool. Instead, many designs may trap heat within the footwear, thereby preventing the pet's paw from perspiring and/or keeping cool. Finally, many conventional pet footwear designs may not properly fit animal paws and legs. As a result, footwear may be difficult to put on the pet's foot and not well tolerated by the pet. Once on, the footwear may not stay on well. For example, conventional pet footwear may spin about the pet's ankle, diminishing the footwear's efficacy and potentially causing discomfort or injury to the pet. Other designs may disengage from the pet's paw as the pet walks or runs. There is a need, therefore, to provide a durable, breathable, and ergonomic pet footwear. SUMMARY In general, one aspect of the subject matter described in this disclosure may be embodied in an animal footwear, such as a second skin paw protector. The second skin paw protector includes a body formed from a first material having a top, a bottom, a limb engaging portion, and a paw engaging portion. The limb engaging portion defines an open end shaped to securely engage a dog limb. The paw engaging portion is dimensioned to securely engage a dog paw. The paw engaging portion defines a plurality of openings dimensioned and shaped to receive one or more dog nails. These and other embodiments may optionally include one or more of the following features. The bottom can have a metacarpal/metatarsal pad region and a digital pad region. The second skin paw protector can further include a polymer material layer bonded to the bottom of the body and located at the metacarpal/metatarsal pad region and the digital pad region so as to create a slip resistant pad positioned on the bottom of the body. The polymer material layer can wrap around a toe end of the paw engaging portion. The plurality of openings can extend through the polymer material layer. The polymer material layer can be made of silicone. The first material can be a resiliently stretchable fabric material. The body can be an elongated tubular body. The second skin paw protector can further include a wrapping member coupled to the body at the limb engaging portion. The wrapping member can be configured to wrap around the dog limb. The second skin paw protector can further include a loop sewn to the body. The loop can be configured to receive the wrapping member therethrough. The seco