ANIMAL CARRIER

CAGE POUR TRANSPORTER LES ANIMAUX

English Abstract

A pet housing (10) expansible to hold a pet and collapsible to suitcase size
for manual transport includes a pair of platforms (12 and 14) and first and
second pairs of spaced walls (16, 18, 20 and 22). The walls (16, 18, 20 and
22) in the first pair (e.g. front and rear walls) are pivotably attached at
opposite ends to the platforms (12 and 14) and are hinged at intermediate
positions for collapse and expansion. The walls (16, 18, 20 and 22) in the
second pair (e.g. side walls) are pivotable toward an individual one of the
platforms (12 and 14) with the platform as a fulcrum to collapse the housing
and toward the other platform to expand the housing. In the collapsed housing
disposition, detents on opposite sides of the hinge (26) on the first pair of
walls releasably engage to maintain the housing collapsed. A manually
grippable handle (30) on one of the platforms (12) provides for a transport of
the collapsed housing (10). With the walls in the first pair expanded, detents
(42 and 44) on the walls in the first and second pairs of housings releasably
engage to maintain the expanded housing enclosure (10). A second handle (36)
on one of the platforms (14) is manually grippable to provide for the housing
(10) transport in the expanded relationship. Third detents (60) provide for a
releasable closing and opening, preferably on a vertical axis, of a door (50)
in one of the second pair of walls. The walls in the first and second pairs
are preferably formed from gratings of spaced wires to minimize weight and to
provide a circulation of air through the housing (10) from the atmosphere in
the expanded housing (10).

French Abstract

L'invention concerne une cage (10) pour animaux domestiques dépliable destinée à transporter un animal domestique et pliable de manière à adopter la taille d'une valise permettant le transport manuel. Cette cage comprend une paire de plates-formes (12, 14) et des première et seconde paires de parois espacées (16, 18, 20, 22). Les parois (16, 18, 20, 22) de la première paire (p. ex. les parois avant et arrière sont fixées sur les plates-formes (12, 14) au niveau des extrémités opposées de manière à pivoter et sont articulées dans des positions intermédiaires de manière à être pliées et dépliées. Les parois (16, 18, 20, 22) de la seconde paire (par exemple les parois latérales) peuvent pivoter vers une des plates-formes individuelle (12, 14), la plate-forme servant de point d'appui de manière à plier la cage et elles peuvent pivoter vers l'autre plate-forme de manière à déplier la cage. Lorsque la cage est pliée, des cliquets placés sur les côtés opposés de la charnière (26) se trouvant sur la première paire de parois viennent s'engager de manière libérable pour maintenir la cage pliée. Une poignée (30) que l'on peut saisir par la main se trouvant sur une des plates-formes (12) permet le transport de la cage pliée (10). Lorsque les parois de la première paire sont dépliées, les cliquets (42, 44) sur les parois des première et seconde paires viennent s'engager de manière libérable pour maintenir l'enveloppe de la cage dépliée (10). Une seconde poignée (36) placée sur une des plates-formes (14) peut être saisie par la main de manière à permettre le transport de la cage (10) lorsqu'elle est dépliée. Des cliquets (60) permettent de fermer et d'ouvrir de manière libérable, de préférence autour d'un axe vertical, une porte (50) placée dans l'une des secondes paires de parois. Les parois des première et seconde paires sont formées de préférence de grillages en fils métalliques espacés de manière à minimiser le poids et à assurer une circulation de l'air à travers la cage (10) lorsque la cage est dépliée.

Claims

-10-
CLAIMS
1. In combination in a portable pet housing,
top and bottom platforms defining the top and bottom of the pet
housing,
front and rear collapsible walls each having opposite ends respectively
attached pivotably to the top and bottom platforms and hinged at an
intermediate
position between the opposite ends to provide for a pivotable collapse of such
walls
against the top and bottom platforms for portable transport of the pet housing
in a
collapsed relationship and to provide for an expansion of the front and rear
walls for
use in housing the pet,
left and right side walls each pivotably attached to an individual one of
the top and bottom platforms to facilitate the collapse of the front and rear
walls when
such side wall is pivoted toward the individual one of the top and bottom
platforms,
first detent means disposed on an individual one of the left and right side
walls, and
second detent means disposed on an individual one of the front and rear
collapsible walls and providing a frictional engagement with the first detent
means
when the side walls are pivoted to positions closing the pet housing.
2. In a combination as set forth in claim 1 wherein
the first detent means comprise a first pair of detent means respectively
disposed on the left and right side walls and wherein
the second detent means comprise a second pair of detent means
respectively disposed on the front and rear collapsible walls for frictional
engagement
with the first and second detent means when the side walls are pivoted to
positions
closing the pet housing.
3. In a combination as set forth in claim 1 wherein
the top and bottom platforms are provided with side surfaces and


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wherein
at least one handle is disposed on one of the side surfaces of the top
platform to provide for a manual gripping of the handle for facilitating the
portable
transport of the pet housing in the collapsed condition of the pet housing.
4. In a combination as set forth in claim 1 wherein the top platform
has a handle to provide for a manual gripping of the handle with the front and
rear
walls in their expanded positions for facilitating the portable transport of
the pet
housing in the expanded position of the pet housing.
5. In a combination as set forth in claim 2 wherein
the top platform has a top surface and side surfaces and wherein
at least a first handle is disposed on one of the side surfaces of the top
platform to provide for a manual gripping of the handle for facilitating the
portable
transport of the pet housing in the collapsed condition of the pet housing and
wherein
a second handle is provided on the top surface of the top platform to
provide for a manual gripping of the second handle with the walls in their
expanded
positions for facilitating the portable transport of the pet housing in the
expanded
position of the pet housing.
6. In a combination as set forth in claim 5 wherein
the platforms are provided with side surfaces and wherein
at least one handle is disposed on one of the side surfaces of the top
platform to provide for a manual gripping of the handle for a transport of the
pet
housing in the collapsed condition of the pet housing and with the first and
second
detent means in the engaged relationship.
7. In a combination as set forth in claim 5, including,
third detent means on at least an individual one of the front and rear
walls and fourth detent means on the side walls for locking the side walls to
the front
and rear walls in the expanded positions of the front and rear walls.


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8. In a combination as set forth in claim 7 wherein
the third detent means provide a frictional engagement with the fourth
detent means when the front and rear walls are expanded and the side walls are
disposed to close the portable pet housing.
9. In combination in a portable pet housing,
top and bottom platforms respectively defining the top and bottom of
the pet housing,
front and rear collapsible walls each having opposite ends respectively
attached pivotably to the top and bottom platforms and hinged at an
intermediate
position between the opposite ends to provide for a collapse of the front and
rear walls
against the top and bottom platforms for a portable transport of the pet
housing and
to provide for an expansion of the front and rear walls for use in housing the
pet,
left and right side walls each pivotably attached to an individual one of
the top and bottom platforms to facilitate the collapse of the front and rear
walls when
such side wall is pivoted toward such individual one of the top and bottom
platforms,
first detent means disposed on at least an individual one of the front and
rear walls at a position above the hinge in such wall, and
second detent means disposed on at least the individual one of the front
and rear walls at a position below the hinge in such wall for engaging the
first detent
means in the collapsed condition of such wall to retain the portable pet
housing in the
collapsed condition of the front and rear walls,
one of the first and second detent means being pivotable relative to the
other of the first and second detent means to provide an engagement between
the first
and second decent means in the collapsed condition of such wall.
10. In a combination as set forth in claim 9 wherein
the first detent means comprises a pair of detents disposed at spaced
positions on at least the individual one of the front and rear walls at a
position above
the hinge on such individual one of the front and rear walls and wherein
the second detent means comprises a pair of detents disposed at spaced


-13-
positions on at least the individual one of the front and rear walls at a
position below
the hinge on such individual one of the front and rear walls for engaging the
pair of
detents in the first detent means in the collapsed condition of the front and
rear walls.
11. In a combination as set forth in claim 10,
the top and bottom platforms being provided with side surfaces,
at least one handle disposed on one of the side surfaces of the top
platform to provide for a manual gripping of the handle for a transport of the
pet
housing in the collapsed condition of the pet housing and with the first and
second
detent means in the engaged relationship, and
third detent means on at least an individual one of the front and rear
walls and fourth detent means on the side walls for locking the side walls to
the front
and rear walls in a frictional relationship in the expanded positions of the
front and rear
walls.
12. In combination in a portable pet housing,
a first pair of spaced walls hinged at an intermediate position to provide
collapsed and expanded relationships of such walls,
a second pair of spaced walls disposed in a transverse relationship to
the first pair of walls to define an enclosure with the first pair of walls,
a pair of platforms disposed in transverse relationships to the first and
second pairs of spaced walls to cover the enclosure defined by the first and
second
pairs of the spaced walls, the pair of platforms being pivotably coupled to
the first pair
of walls to provide for the collapse and expansion of the first pair of walls
and being
pivotably coupled to the second pair of walls to provide for a pivotal
movement of the
second pair of walls between positions defining an opening and closure of the
enclosure, and
detent means on the first and second pairs of walls for frictionally
locking the second pair of the spaced walls to the first pair of the spaced
walls in the
expanded relationship of the first pair of the spaced walls, the detent means
on the first
and second pairs of the spaced walls being frictionally releasable to provide
for the


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collapse of the first pair of the spaced walls.
13. In a combination as set forth in claim 12,
the second pair of walls having a gated construction defined by spaced
members with openings to the atmosphere between the members.
14. In a combination as set forth in claim 13,
the detent means constituting first detent means, and
second detent means disposed on the first pair of platforms for locking
said first pair of the spaced walls against expansion with such walls in the
collapsed
state,
each of the platforms having side surfaces,
at least one handle disposed on one of the side surfaces of an individual
one of the platforms for providing a manual transport of the portable pet
housing in the
collapsed state of the walls in the first pair,
each of the platforms having flat surfaces,
a second handle disposed on the flat surface of one of the platforms for
providing a manual transport of the portable pet housing upon the pivoting of
the walls
in the second pair to the position providing the opening of the enclosure
defined by the
walls in the first and second pairs, and
the first, second and third pairs of walls being substantially
perpendicular to one another to define the housing by six (6) rectangles.
15. In a combination as set forth in claim 12,
the detent means constituting first detent means, and
second detent means disposed on the first pair of walls for locking such
walls against expansion with such walls in the collapsed relationship.
16. In a combination as set forth in claim 12,
each of the platforms having side surfaces,
at least one handle disposed on one of the side surfaces of an individual


-15-

one of the platforms for providing a manual transport of the portable pet
housing in the
collapsed relationship of the walls in the first pair.
17. In a combination as set forth in claim 12,
the first and second platforms and the walls being substantially
perpendicular to one another to define the housing by six (6) rectangles.
18. In combination in a portable pet housing,
a first pair of spaced walls hinged at an intermediate position to provide
collapsed and expanded relationships of such walls,
a second pair of spaced walls disposed in a transverse relationship to
the first pair of walls to define an enclosure with the first pair of walls,
a pair of platforms disposed in transverse relationship to the first and
second pairs of walls to cover the enclosure defined by the first and second
pairs of
walls, the pair of platforms being pivotably coupled to the first pair of
walls to provide
for a pivotable collapse and expansion of the first pair of walls and an
individual one
of the platforms being pivotably coupled to the second pair of walls to
provide for a
pivotal movement of the second pair of walls between positions adjacent to and
displaced from the individual one of the platforms, and
detent means for locking the first pair of the spaced walls in the
collapsed relationship of the pet housing, the detent means including first
and second
detent means disposed on one of the walls in the first pair, the first detent
means being
pivotable relative to the second detent means to lock the first pair of walls
to the
second pair of walls in the collapsed relationship of the pet housing.
19. In a combination as set forth in claim 17,
the first detent means being disposed on the first pair of walls on one
side of the intermediate position and the second detent means being disposed
on the
first pair of walls on the other side of the intermediate position.


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20. In a combination as set forth in claim 19,
the first and second pairs of walls having a grated construction defined
by spaced members with openings to the atmosphere between the wires,
the platforms having side surfaces,
a handle disposed on one of the side surfaces of one of the platforms
to provide for a manual gripping of the handle and a manual transport of the
pet
housing with the first pair of walls collapsed and the detent means locking
the first pair
of walls in the collapsed relationship of such walls, and
the first and second pairs of the spaced walls and the platforms being
substantially perpendicular to one another.
21. In a combination as set forth in claim 18,
the first and second pairs of walls having a grated construction defined
by spaced members with openings to the atmosphere between the members.
22. In a combination as set forth in claim 18,
the platforms having side surfaces,
a handle disposed on one of the side surfaces of one of the platforms
to provide for a manual gripping of the handle and a manual transport of the
pet
housing with the first pair of the spaced walls collapsed and the detent means
locking
the first pair of walls in the collapsed relationship of such walls.
23. In a combination as set forth in claim 18,
the first and second pairs of walls and the platforms being substantially
perpendicular to one another.
24. In combination in a portable pet housing,
a first pair of spaced walls hinged at an intermediate position to provide
collapsed and expanded relationships of such walls,
a second pair of spaced walls disposed in a transverse relationship to
the first pair of walls to define an enclosure with the first pair of walls,


-17-
a pair of platforms disposed in transverse relationships to the first and
second pairs of walls to cover the enclosure defined by the first and second
pairs of
walls, the pair of platforms being pivotably coupled to the first pair of
walls to provide
for the pivotable collapse and expansion of the first pair of walls and an
individual one
of the platforms being pivotably coupled to the second pair of walls to
provide for a
pivotal movement of the second pair of walls between positions adjacent to and
displaced from such individual one of the platforms,
the platforms having side surfaces, and
a handle disposed on an individual one of the side surfaces of one of the
platforms at an intermediate position on such platform to provide for a manual
transport of the pet housing with the first pair of walls in the collapsed
relationship.
25. In a combination as set forth in claim 24,
the handle constituting a first handle,
the platforms having flat surfaces respectively defining the top and
bottom of the pet housing, and
a second handle disposed on the flat surface of one of the platforms to
provide for a manual transport of the pet housing with the pet housing in the
expanded
relationship.
26. In a combination as in claim 25,
the platforms having flat surfaces defining the top and bottom of the
pet housing and having side surfaces, and
a third handle disposed on the flat surface of the one of the platforms
in spaced relationship to the second handle to provide for a manual transport
of the pet
housing with the pet housing in the expanded relationship.
27. In a combination as set forth in claim 26,
detent means disposed on at least one of the walls in the first pair for
fixedly positioning the walls in the first and second pairs with the walls in
a collapsed
relationship and with the walls in the second pair adjacent the individual one
of the


-18-
platforms.
28. In a combination as set forth in claim 27,
first and second detent means respectively disposed on the walls in the
first and second pairs for retaining the walls in the second pair in a
frictional
relationship with respect to the walls in the first pair with the walls in the
first pair in
the expanded relationship and the walls in the second pair displaced from the
individual
one of the platforms.
29. In a combination as set forth in claim 28,
the first and second pairs of walls and the platforms being substantially
perpendicular to one another.
30. In a combination as set forth in claim 25,
first and second detent means respectively disposed on the walls in the
first and second pairs for retaining the walls in the second pair in a
frictional
relationship with respect to the walls in the first pair with the walls in the
first pair in
the expanded relationship and the walls in the second pair pivoted to the
position
displaced from the individual one of the platforms.
31. In combination in a portable pet housing,
a pair of platforms respectively defining the top and bottom of the pet
housing, the platforms having side surfaces,
a pair of collapsible walls each having opposite ends respectively
attached pivotably to the platforms and hinged at an intermediate position
between the
opposite ends to provide for a pivotable collapse of such wall against the
platforms for
portable transport of the pet housing and to provide for an expansion of such
walls for
use in housing the pet,
a second pair of walls pivotably attached to an individual one of the
platforms to facilitate the collapse of the collapsible walls when the walls
in the second
pair are pivoted toward the individual one of the platforms,


-19-
first and second detent means operatively coupled to at least one of the
collapsible walls in the pair and respectively disposed on opposite sides of
the
intermediate position for retaining the collapsible walls in the collapsed
relationship,
the first detent means being pivotable relative to the second detent means to
become
engaged with the second detent means in the collapsed relationship of the
collapsible
walls in the pair, and
a handle attached to one of the side surfaces of one of the platforms for
providing a manual transport of the pet housing with the collapsible walls in
the pair
in the collapsed relationship.
32. In a combination as set forth in claim 31,
the handle constituting a first handle,
the platforms having flat surfaces respectively defining the vertical
dimensions of the pet housing in the expanded relationship of the collapsible
walls and
the side surfaces of the platforms defining the horizontal dimensions of the
pet housing,
and
a second handle disposed on one of the flat surfaces of an individual one
of the platforms for providing for the manual transport of the pet housing
with the
collapsible walls in the pair in the expanded relationship.
33. In a combination as set forth in claim 32,
third and fourth detent means respectively disposed on the collapsible
pair of walls and on the second pair of walls for holding the walls in the
second pair in
a frictional relationship against the collapsible walls with the collapsible
walls in the
expanded relationship.
34. In combination in a portable pet housing,
a pair of platforms defining the top and bottom of the pet housing,
a pair of collapsible walls each having opposite ends respectively
attached pivotably to the platforms and hinged at an intermediate position
between the
opposite ends to provide for a collapse of such walls against the platforms
for a


-20-
portable transport of the pet housing and to provide for an expansion of such
walls for
use in housing the pet,
a second pair of walls pivotably attached to an individual one of the
platforms to facilitate the collapse of the collapsible walls when the walls
in the second
pair are pivoted toward the individual one of the platforms and to facilitate
the
retention of the collapsible walls in the expanded relationship when the walls
in the
second pair are pivoted toward the other one of the platforms,
first and second detent means pivotably coupled respectively to the pair
of collapsible walls and to the second pair of walls for positioning the walls
in the
second pair against the pair of collapsible walls in a frictional relationship
when the
walls in the second pair are pivoted toward the other one of the platforms,
the platforms having flat surfaces defining the vertical dimensions of the
pet housing, and
a handle disposed on one of the flat surfaces of an individual one of the
platforms for manual gripping to obtain a transport of the pet housing when
the
collapsible walls are in their expanded relationship and the walls in the
second pair are
fixedly retained by the detent means against the collapsible walls.
35. In a combination as set forth in claim 34,
the platforms having additional surfaces defining the horizontal
dimensions of the pet housing,
the handle constituting a first handle, and
a second handle disposed on one of the additional surfaces of one of the
platforms for manual gripping to provide a manual transport of the pet housing
with
the collapsible walls in the collapsed relationship.
36. In a combination as set forth in claim 35,
a third handle disposed on the one of the flat surfaces on the individual
one of the platforms in spaced relationship to the first handle for manual
gripping of
the first and third handles to obtain a transport of the pet housing with the
collapsible
walls collasped and with the walls in the second pair pivoted toward the
individual one


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of the platforms.
37. In a combination as set forth in claim 36,
the collapsible walls and the walls in the second pair being formed from
a gating defined by members spaced from one another and open to the
atmosphere.
38. In a combination as set forth in claim 36,
third and fourth detent means disposed on at least one of the collapsible
walls and respectively disposed on opposite sides of the intermediate position
for
holding the collapsible walls in the collapsed relationship, the third detent
means being
pivotable into an engaging relationship with the fourth detent means with the
collapsible walls in the collapsed relationship.
39. In combination in a portable pet housing,
a pair of platforms defining the top and bottom of the portable pet
housing,
a pair of collapsible walls each having opposite ends pivotably attached
to the platforms and each hinged at an intermediate position between the
opposite ends
to provide for a pivotable collapse of such walls against the platforms for
portable
transport of the pet housing in a collapsed relationship and to provide for an
expansion
of the collapsible walls for use in housing the pet,
a pair of pivotable walls each pivotably attached to an individual one of
the top and bottom platforms to facilitate the collapse of the collapsible
walls when
such pivotable wall is pivoted toward the individual one of the top and bottom
platforms,
first and second detent means respectively disposed on the collapsible
walls and the pivotable walls for providing a frictional relationship between
the
collapsible walls and the pivotable walls when the collapsible walls are in
their
expanded relationship and the pivotable walls are pivoted to the other one of
the
platforms, the frictional relationship being removed when the pivotable walls
are
pivoted toward the individual one of the platforms,


-22-
a door disposed on an individual one of the pivotable walls for pivotal
movement relative to an individual one of the pivotable walls with the
collapsible walls
in the expanded relationship and with the pivotable walls pivoted to the other
one of
the platforms, and
third and fourth detent means for releasably detaining the door in a
closed relationship with respect to such individual one of the pivotable walls
and for
providing for a release of such detention with the collapsible walls in the
expanded
relationship and with the pivotable walls pivoted to the other one of the
platforms.
40. In a combination as set forth in claim 39,
fifth and sixth detent means respectively disposed on the collapsible
walls on the opposite sides of the intermediate position for releasably
retaining the
collapsible walls in the collapsed relationship.
41. In a combination as set forth in claim 39,
the pivotable walls being attached to the individual one of the platforms
for pivotable movement on a first axis,
the door being attached to the individual one of the pivotable walls for
pivotable movement on a second axis transverse to the first axis.
42. In a combination as set forth in claim 39,
the platforms, the collapsible walls and the pivotable walls being
disposed in a perpendicular relationship to one another to define an enclosure
with six
(6) rectangular sides, the collapsible walls and the pivotable walls defining
openings
to the atmosphere to provide for the introduction of air into the pet housing.
43. In a combination as set forth in claim 39,
the third and fourth detent means including a movable finger on the
door and a socket in the individual one of the pivotable walls to receive the
movable
finger in the closed position of the door and the third and fourth detent
means including
means for moving the finger between a first position in the socket and a
second



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position removed from the socket.

Description

CA 02303415 2000-03-08
WO 99/15005 PCT/US97/16900
-1-
This invention relates to housings for pets. More particularly, the invention
relates to collapsible pet housings which can be manually gripped and easily
transported or
stored when the housings are not in use.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
There are millions of pets in the United States. This results in part from the
belief that pets help a child to grow up. It also results in part from the
companionship which
pets offer to people of all ages. Many of these pets reside inside of their
owners' homes.
This is particularly true of cats since cats are fastidious in their habits.
However, many of
these pets, particularly dogs, reside in housings outside of the homes such as
in the
backyards of their owners. Housings are generally provided for these pets to
protect them
from the atmospheric elements such as rain or snow.
The pet housings now in use are generally permanent structures. This makes
1 S it difficult for the pet housings to be transported. For example, when a
family moves from
one location to another, the pet housings cannot be disassembled at the home
being vacated
and re-assembled at the home being newly occupied. The pet housing thus has to
be shipped
in its assembled state so that it occupies a considerable amount of space in
the van
transporting the owners' possessions from the previously occupied home to the
newly
occupied home.
There are other problems with the pet housings now in use. For example,
there are problems with transporting pets by commercial carriers. By way of
illustration,
when the pets are transported by one of the commercial airlines, the owner has
to purchase
a housing. For example, the cost of this housing can be in the tens of
dollars. For example,
the cost of this housing can often exceed fifty dollars ($50) for large dogs.
Generally, the

CA 02303415 2000-03-08
WO 99/15005 PCT/US97/16900
-2-
pet owners discard the housing at the completion of their trip because of the
bulkiness of the
housing. This means that the pet owner has to purchase another pet carrier for
the next trip.
The problems discussed above have existed for some time, even as long as
several decades. Furthermore, the problems have been known by a considerable
portion of
5 the population during all of this time. As will be appreciated, a
considerable effort has been
made, and significant amounts of money have been expended, to resolve this
problem. In
spite of such efforts and such considerable expenditures of money, the
problems discussed
above have still not been resolved satisfactorily.
Patent 3,048,147 issued to J.D. McKean on August 7, 1962, for "Portable
10 Collapsible Shipping Kennel for Animals discloses an expansible and
collapsible housing
for pets. However, the kennel lacks certain features which would cause the
kennel to be
adopted by pet owners. For example, the kennel does not provide a satisfactory
arrangement
for maintaining the kennel in an expanded relationship or for maintaining the
kennel in a
collapsed relationship. The kennel also provide an arrangement for easily the
kennel from
15 an expanded relationship to a collapsed relationship and vice versa.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
This invention provides a pet housing which can be easily expanded to hold
20 a pet or easily collapsed to the size of a suitcase. When collapsed, the
pet housing can be
easily transported, particularly since it has a relatively light weight. The
pet housing can
also be manually transported when expanded even when the pet is inside the
housing. The
invention also provides a pet housing which can be maintained in the expanded
state or in
the collapsed state. The pet housing can be manufactured at a relatively low
cost so that it
25 is competitive with the fixedly constructed dog houses now on the market.
The pet housing
of this invention is sturdy when expanded so that it gives the dog confidence
when the dog
is in the pet housing.

CA 02303415 2003-09-18
-3-
In one embodiment of the invention, a pet housing expansible to
hold a pet and collapsible to suitcase size for manual transport includes a
pair of
platforms and first and second pairs of spaced walls. The walls in the first
pair (e.g.
front and rear walls) are pivotably attached at opposite ends to the platforms
and are
hinged at intermediate positions for collapse and expansion. The walls in the
second
pair (e.g. side walls) are pivotable toward an individual one of the platforms
with such
platform as a fulcrum to collapse the housing and toward the other platform
when the
housing is expanded.
In the collapsed housing disposition, detents on opposite sides of
the hinge on the first pair of walls releasably engage to maintain the housing
collapsed. A manually grippable handle on both of the platforms provides for a
transport of the collapsed housing. With the walls in the first pair expanded,
detents
on the walls in the first and second pairs of housings releasably engage to
maintain
the expanded housing enclosure. A second handle on one of the platforms is
manually
grippable to provide for the housing transport in the expanded relationship.
The present invention provides in combination in a portable pet
housing,
top and bottom platforms defining the top and bottom of the pet
housing,
front and rear collapsible walls each having opposite ends
respectively attached pivotably to the top and bottom platforms and hinged at
an
intermediate position between the opposite ends to provide for a pivotable
collapse of
such walls against the top and bottom platforms for portable transport of the
pet
housing in a collapsed relationship and to provide for an expansion of the
front and
rear walls for use in housing the pet,
left and right side walls each pivotably attached to an individual
one of the top and bottom platforms to facilitate the collapse of the front
and rear
walls when such side wall is pivoted toward the individual one of the top and
bottom
platforms,
first detent means disposed on an individual one of the left and

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right side walls, and
second detent means disposed on an individual one of the front
and rear collapsible walls and providing a frictional engagement with the
first detent
means when the side walls are pivoted to positions closing the pet housing.
Third detents provide for a releasable closing and opening,
preferably on a vertical axis, of a door in one of the second pair of walls.
The walls in
the first and second pairs are preferably formed from gratings of spaced wires
to
minimize weight and to provide a circulation of air through the housing from
the
atmosphere in the expanded housing.
The present invention also provides in combination in a portable
pet housing,
a first pair of spaced walls hinged at an intermediate position
to provide collapsed and expanded relationships of such walls,
a second pair of spaced walls disposed in a transverse relationship
to the first pair of walls to define an enclosure with the first pair of
walls,
a pair of platforms disposed in transverse relationships to the
first and second pairs of spaced walls to cover the enclosure defined by the
first and
second pairs of the spaced walls, the pair of platforms being pivotably
coupled to the
first pair of walls to provide for the collapse and expansion of the first
pair of walls
and being pivotably coupled to the second pair of walls to provide for a
pivotal
movement of the second pair of walls between positions defining an opening and
closure of the enclosure, and
detent means on the first and second pairs of walls for
frictionally locking the second pair of the spaced walls to the first pair of
the spaced
walls in the expanded relationship of the first pair of the spaced walls, the
detent
means on the first and second pairs of the spaced walls being frictionally
releasable to
provide for the collapsed of the first pair of the spaced walls.
The present invention also provides in combination in a
portable pet housing,
a first pair of spaced walls hinged at an intermediate position

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to provide collapsed and expanded relationships of such walls,
a second pair of spaced walls disposed in a transverse
relationship to the first pair of walls to define an enclosure with the first
pair of walls,
a pair of platforms disposed in transverse relationships to the
first and second pairs of walls to cover the enclosure defined by the first
and second
pairs of walls, the pair of platforms being pivotably coupled to the first
pair of walls
to provide for the pivotable collapse and expansion of the first pair of walls
and an
individual one of the platforms being pivotably coupled to the second pair of
walls to
provide for a pivotal movement of the second pair of walls between positions
adjacent
to and displaced from such individual one of the platforms,
the platforms having side surfaces, and a handle disposed on
an individual one of the side surfaces of one of the platforms at an
intermediate
position on such platform to provide for a manual transport of the pet housing
with
the first pair of walls in the collapsed relationship.
The present invention also provides in combination in a
portable pet housing,
a pair of platforms respectively defining the top and bottom of
the pet housing, the platforms having side surfaces,
a pair of collapsible walls each having opposite ends
respectively attached pivotably to the platforms and hinged at an intermediate
position
between the opposite ends to provide for a pivotable collapse of such wall
against the
platforms for portable transport of the pet housing and to provide for an
expansion of
such walls for use in housing the pet,
a second pair of walls pivotably attached to an individual one
of the platforms to facilitate the collapse of the collapsible walls when the
walls in the
second pair are pivoted toward the individual one of the platforms,
first and second detent means operatively coupled to at least
one of the collapsible walls in the pair and respectively disposed on opposite
sides of
the intermediate position for retaining the collapsible walls in the collapsed

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relationship, the first detent means being pivotable relative to the second
detent means
to become engaged with the second detent means in the collapsed relationship
of the
collapsible walls in the pair, and
a handle attached to one of the side surfaces of one of the
platforms for providing a manual transport of the pet housing with the
collapsible
walls in the pair in the collapsed relationship.
The present invention also provides in combination in a
portable pet housing,
a pair of platforms defining the top and bottom of the portable
pet housing,
a pair of collapsible walls each having opposite ends pivotably
attached to the platforms and each hinged at an intermediate position between
the
opposite ends to provide for a pivotable collapse of such walls against the
platforms
for portable transport of the pet housing in a collapsed relationship and to
provide for
an expansion of the collapsible walls for use in housing the pet,
a pair of pivotable walls each pivotably attached to an
individual one of the top and bottom platforms to facilitate the collapse of
the
collapsible walls when such pivotable wall is pivoted toward the individual
one of the
top and bottom platforms,
first and second detent means respectively disposed on the
collapsible walls and the pivotable walls for providing a frictional
relationship
between the collapsible walls and the pivotable walls when the collapsible
walls are in
their expanded relationship and the pivotable walls are pivoted to the other
one of the
platforms, the frictional relationship being removed when the pivotable walls
are
pivoted toward the individual one of the platforms,
door disposed on an individual one of the pivotable walls for
pivotal movement relative to an individual one of the pivotable walls with the
collapsible walls in the expanded relationship and with the pivotable walls
pivoted to
the other one of the platforms, and
third and fourth detent means for releasably detaining the door

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in a closed relationship with respect to such individual one of the pivotable
walls and
for providing for a release of such detention with the collapsible walls in
the expanded
relationship and with the pivotable walls pivoted to the other one of the
platforms.
In the drawings:
Figure 1 is a schematic perspective view of a person manually
carrying a pet housing of this invention with the pet housing in an expanded
relationship;
Figure 2 is a schematic perspective view of a person manually
carrying the pet housing shown in Figure 1 with the pet housing in a collapsed
relationship;
Figure 3 is a schematic perspective view of the pet housing in
the expanded relationship with the hand of a person manually pivoting one of
the side
walls in the housing upwardly as one of the steps in collapsing the housing;

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Figure 4 is a schematic perspective view of the pet housing and shows the
housing in a partially collapsed relationship and shows the hand of a person
further
collapsing the housing;
Figure S is a front elevational view of the housing in the expanded
5 relationship and shows a hinged arrangement for providing for a collapse or
expansion of
the front wall of the housing and additionally shows schematically how the
side walls are
pivoted upwardly as a step in collapsing the housing;
Figure 6 is a side elevational view of the housing in the expanded
relationship
and schematically shows the pivotal movements of the upper and lower halves of
the front
10 and rear walls about the hinges as a fulcrum to collapse the housing;
Figure 7 is a side elevational view of the housing in a collapsed
relationship;
Figure 8 is an enlarged fragmentary top plan view of the housing and shows,
in solid lines, handles attached to the top platform of the housing for a
manual gripping to
transport the housing respectively in either a collapsed or an expanded
relationship and
15 additionally shows, in broken Lines, handles attached to the platform of
the housing when
the housing has an increased size;
Figure 9 is a sectional view taken substantially on the line 9-9 of Figure 5
and
shows a detent arrangement, in an unlocked relationship, on~the upper half of
the front wall
for locking the upper and lower halves of the front wall when the housing is
in a collapsed
20 disposition;
Figure 9A is a sectional view also taken substantially on the line 9-9 of
Figure 5 and shows the detent arrangement of Figure 9A in the locking
relationship when
the housing is in a collapsed disposition;
Figure IO is a sectional view taken substantially on the line 10-10 of Figure
25 7 and shows the disposition of the side walls relative to the front wall
and the top platform
when the housing is in a collapsed relationship;

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Figure 11 is a sectional view taken substantially on the line 11-1 I of Figure
and shows the relative disposition of detents on the front wall and a side
wall when the
detents are disposed in relative positions to releasably fix the side walls to
the front wall;
Figure 1 1A is a sectional view taken substantially on the line 11-11 of
Figure
5 5 and shows the relative disposition of the front wall and a side wall when
the detents are
displaced from the relative positions releasably fixing the side wall to the
front wall;
Figure 12 is a perspective view of the housing in the expanded relationship
and of a door in one of the side walls with the door in an open position
relative to such side
wall; and
Figure 13 is an enlarged fragmentary side elevational view of a detent
arrangement for releasably locking the door to the side wall.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
15 In one embodiment of the invention, a pet housing generally indicated at 10
is provided with an expanded relationship (Figure 1 ) to hold a pet such as a
dog and with a
collapsed relationship (Figure 2) to facilitate the manual transport of the
housing. The
housing 10 includes a top platform 12, a bottom platform 14, a front wall 16,
a rear wall 18,
a wall 20 on the left side and a wall 22 on the right side.
Preferably the platforms 12 and 14 and the walls 16, 18, 20 and 22 have
rectangular configurations to define, in the expanded disposition of the
housing 10, a space
defined by six (6) peripheries of rectangular configuration. The platforms 12
and 14 and the
walls 16, 18, 20 and 22 may be formed from a suitable material such as a
thermosetting
plastic or a thermoplastic material or from a suitable material such as
aluminum.
The platforms 12 and 14 may preferably be formed from a solid material.
Each of the front and rear walls 16 and 18 may be provided with spaced ribs 24
extending
from one of the wall extremities to a hinge 26. Each of the hinges 26 extends
along the
length of the associated wall at an intermediate position between the top and
bottom of the

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wall. The upper and lower portions of each of the front and rear walls 16 and
18 are
pivotable relative to each other on the hinge 26 as a fulcrum. The pivotal
relationship for
the front wall 16 is facilitated by a pivot pin 27 disposed on the top
platform 12 and a pivot
pin 29 disposed on the bottom platform 14. A similar pivotal arrangement is
provided for
5 the rear wall 18.
A handle 30 (Figures l, 3 and 8) may be provided on the top platform 12 at
a centrally disposed position on the flat surface at the top of the platform
12. Preferably the
handle 30 is disposed in a recess 32 in the top platform so that it will be
substantially flush
with the surface of the platform when not in use. The handle 30 is retained
within a retainer
10 34 for pivotable movement relative to the retainer and the surface of the
platform 12 when
the housing 12 is to be lifted and transported in the expanded relationship of
the housing 10
as shown in Figure l.
A handle 36 (Figures 2 and 8) is also preferably disposed on one of the side
surfaces of the top platform 12 at an intermediate position on such surface.
The handle 36
15 is adapted to be manually gripped to provide for a manual transport of the
housing 10 with
the housing collapsed as shown in Figure 2. When the housing 10 is relatively
large, a pair
of handles 38 (shown in broken lines in Figure 8) may be disposed at spaced
positions on
the side surface of the top platform 12. In this way, the handles may be
gripped by two (2)
people and manually transported by these people.
20 Each of the side walls 20 and 22 may preferably be formed from a grated
material defined by a plurality of horizontally and vertically spaced wires.
The grated
material helps to decrease the weight of the housing 10 and to provide for air
circulation
through the housing 10. Each of the side walls 20 and 22 may be pivotably
coupled to the
bottom of the top platform 12 for pivotal movement on a horizontal axis
defined by the
25 bottom of the top platform.
The side walls 20 and 22 are disposed in vertically hanging relationship from
the top platform 12 when the housing 12 is in its expanded relationship. This
is shown in
Figure 1 for the right side wall 22. The side walls 20 and 22 are pivotable
upwardly to

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positions below the top platform 12 as shown schematically in Figure 3 and as
shown in
Figure 10. The pivotable movements upwardly of the side walls 20 and 22 are
indicated by
arcuately curved arrows 40 in Figure 5. The upward pivotal movements of the
walls 20 and
22 constitute one of the steps in changing the configuration of the housing 10
from the
5 expanded relationship shown in Figure 1 to the collapsed relationship shown
in Figure 2.
When the walls 20 and 22 have the hanging relationship shown in Figure 1
for the wall 22, the walls 20 and 22 may have a releasably fixed relationship
to the front and
rear walls I6 and 18. This is shown schematically in Figures 11 and 1 IA. As
shown in
Figure 11 for the walls 16 and 22, the wall 22 has a detent 42 which is
movable from the
10 unlocked position shown in Figure 1 iA to the locked position shown in
Figure 11. At the
same time, the front wall 16 may be movable from the decoupled position shown
in Figure
11 A to the position shown in Figure 11 as the front wall is expanded from the
partially
collapsed position shown in Figure 1 IA to the expanded position shown in
Figure 11.
In the expanded position shown in Figure 11, the detent 42 fractionally
15 engages a detent 44 on the front wall I6. Since the engagement between the
detents 42 and
44 is frictional, the relationship between the detents 42 and 44 can be
changed from that
shown in Figure 11 to that shown in Figure 11 A by manually exerting a force
against the
wall 22 to pivot the wall upwardly. A similar arrangement of detents may be
provided
between the wall 22 and the rear wall I 8 and between the wall 20 and each of
the wall 16
20 and 18.
One or both of the side walls 20 and 22 may include a door 50. In the
drawings (Figures 1, 12 and 13), the door 50 is shown as being included in the
wall 22. The
door SO may be pivotable relative to the wall 22 between open {Figure 12) and
closed
(Figure 1) positions on a pivotable axis. This axis may preferably extend in a
vertical
25 direction as shown at 51 in Figure 12. The door 50 may normally be in the
closed position
as a result of the extension of fingers 52 (Figure 12) into sockets 54 in the
wall 22. The door
50 may be moved pivotally to the open position as by rotating a knob 56, the
rotation
causing the fingers 52 to retract from the sockets 54. This releases the door
50 to be opened.

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_g_
When the door 50 is opened, the pet may enter into the housing 10 or exit from
the housing.
By providing the door 50 and the locking arrangement including the fingers 52
and the
sockets 54, an entrance and an exit are provided for the pet without impairing
the structural
integrity or solidity of the housing 10 when the housing is in the expanded
relationship
5 shown in Figure 1.
Detents 60 (Figures 1, 9 and 9A) and 62 are provided on the platforms 12 and
14 and 16 respectively above and below the hinges 26. The detents 60 and 62
may be
provided at positions near the opposite longitudinal ends of each of the
platforms 12 and 14.
The detents 60 may be pivotable on pins 66 to engage the detents 62 when the
platforms 12
10 and 14 are in their collapsed relationship.
Figure 9 shows the detents 60 in an unlocked relationship relative to the
detents 62 before the upper and lower portions of each of the platforms 12 and
14 have been
collapsed against each other. Figure 9A shows the upper and lower portions of
the platform
12 collapsed against each other. Figure 9A additionally shows the detent 60 in
broken lines
15 before the detent has been moved pivotally on the pin 66 to engage the
detent 62. Figure
9A additionally shows the detent 60 in solid lines with the detent extended
over the detent
62 to lock the platform 12 in the collapsed relationship of the housing 10.
The pet housing 10 described above and shown in the drawings has certain
important advantages. It provides a sturdy and light-weight construction in
the expanded
20 relationship of the housing. In this expanded relationship, the walls 20
and 22 are disposed
in releasably fixed disposition relative to the walls 16 and 18 as a result of
the operation of
the detents 42 and 44 in maintaining the housing 10 in the expanded
relationship.
Furthermore, in this expanded relationship, the door 50 may be opened as a
result of the
operation of the fingers 52, the socket 54 and the knob 56 to provide for the
entrance of the
25 pet into the expanded housing 10 or the exit of the pet from the expanded
housing. The
housing can be transported in the expanded relationship by manually grasping
the handle
30.

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The pet housing can be changed relatively easily from the expanded
relationship shown in Figure 1 to the collapsed relationship shown in Figure
2. This is
accomplished by manually pivoting the walls 20 and 22 upwardly to the position
shown in
Figure 10 and collapsing the upper and lower halves of the walls 16 and 18 on
the hinges
5 20 as a fulcrum while holding the walls upwardly against the top platform
12. When the pet
housing 10 has been collapsed, the detents 60 and 62 can be locked to each
other as shown
in Figure 9A to maintain the housing 10 in the collapsed relationship shown in
Figure 2. In
the collapsed relationship, the housing has the configuration of a suitcase so
that it can be
easily transported by manually grasping the handle 36 for a relatively small
housing or the
10 handles 3 8 for a relatively Large housing.
Although this invention has been disclosed and illustrated with reference to
particular embodiments, the principles involved are susceptible for use in
numerous other
embodiments which will be apparent to persons skilled in the art. The
invention is,
therefore, to be limited only as indicated by the scope of the appended
claims.

Representative Drawing