Note: Descriptions are shown in the official language in which they were submitted.
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BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
FIELD OF THE INVENTION:
This invention relates generally to portable pet shelters a.nd pet houses, and
more particularly to portable folding pet shelter of simple and light weight
construction.
DESCRIPTION OF RELATED ART:
The following art defines the present state of this field:
Paschke, U.S. 2,793,401 describes a small building construction comprising, a
rectangular base wall having an upstanding peripheral flange secured
thereabout, a plurality of upstanding paneled side v~ralls each having a
bottom
edge supported in mating relation upon said upstanding peripheral flange and
each having a depending marginal rail lying in laterally offset relation with
respect
to the bottom edge, said rail abutting laterally the upstanding peripheral
flange,
each of said side walls further having a top edge and a pair of side edges and
being releasably connected to a side edge of another side wall, a roof panel
interlockably connected to the top edges of the respective side walls, and
cooperative fastening means formed laterally on opposed abutting portions of
said upstanding peripheral flange and each of the marginal rails, whereby in
the
disassembly of said building construction said roof may be removed from its
interlocking connection with the top edges of the side walls and each of the
walls
then rocked on its bottom edge to separate its rail from the abutting
peripheral
flange and thereby to disengage the cooperative fastening means and to release
the side edge connection.
Kuhn, U.S. 3,132,443 describes a beam and column construction for a building
toy comprising, a vertical column, a longitudinally extending lug projecting
from
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the lower end thereof and a lug receiving socket recessed in the upper end
thereof, a longitudinally extending projection disposed at each corner of said
upper end and spaced from each other, each projection forming with its
adjacent
projection a tenon receiving mortise, and a beam having on at least one end
thereof a tenon lodged in said mortise, said socket having vertically
extending
walls, the end surface of said tenon, when lodged in said mortise, forming one
waf( of an extension of said socket.
Palencia, U.S. 3,234,907 describes an animal cage comprising in combination; a
plurality of substantially vertically disposed lateral wall sections with the
opposite
ends of each of said wall sections being in juxtaposition with an end of an
adjacent wall section and forming at least two pairs of ends in juxtaposition,
a
slidable clip fastener disposed outwardly of said wall sections in removable
slidable engagement with each said pair of ends in juxtaposition and normally
holding said wall sections in assembled relationship, one of said slidable
clip
fasteners forming a hinged connection between one of said pair of ends in
juxtaposition, a pair of ends spaced from said hinged connection being movable
into laterally spaced relationship when one of said slidable clip fasteners is
slidably disengaged from said pair of ends, each of said wall sections having
at
the lower edge thereof a marginal flange extending inwardly in a plane
substantially perpendicular to the vertical plane of each said wall sections
and
providing a transverse supporting surface for engaging tree lower surface of a
floor member, and a floor member freely supported between said wall sections
by said flanges; whereby said floor member is readily removable from said wall
sections when said wall sections are moved into laterally spaced relationship
after slidably removing one of said slidable clip fasteners from engagement
with
said wall sections.
Falcone et al., U.S. 3,478,722 describes a bird house comprising an apartment
of
quadrangular form having a bottom wall, opposite side walls, and a rear wall,
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certain of said walls being joined together by an integral hinged joint, said
side
walls being formed with projections extending upwardly from the upper edges
thereof, said bottom wall being formed with apertures spaced complemental to
said projections said side wall projections on a fir.~t apartment entering the
apertures in the bottom wall of similar apartment superimposed on said first
apartment, said projections serving to interlock said apartments arranged in
vertical stack formation, and means cooperable with said side and end walls
for
detachably connecting apartments together in spaced lateral relation to form a
multiple apartment dwelling.
Sou, U.S. 4,256,056 describes a portable case, into which the pet fancier puts
his small animal and carries it about, wherein the main body of the case is
constructed by putting together a pair of side wall boards, a t:op board
connected
at its left and right sides to the respective upper end faces of the left and
right
side wall boards through the aid of hinged joints, and a bottom board
connected
at its left and right sides to the respective cower end faces of the left and
right
side wall boards likewise as above through the aid of hinged joints, which
main
body of the case is furnished at its front and rear sides with the respective
on-off
door leaves, and the case thus constructed can be simply folded up by opening
both the door leaves.
I3inkert, U.S. 4,576,116 describes a collapsible A-frame house providing a
common site for a cat to rest, exercise and play comprised of a roof of carpet-
like
material including two integral roof panels with their bottom edges connected
to
opposing edges of a floor panel also of carpet-like material. Stiffening
panels are
affixed onto the backside of the roof panels. A cord has two ends slidably
passing through the peak into the house, with cat amusement objects connected
to each end. The cord additionally provides a manual handle for lifting the
house.
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Williamson, U.S. 4,792,082 describes a litter box including an outer front
sidewall, an outer rear sidewall, an outer left sidewall, a cover member, and
an
outer right sidewall. The litter box is formed from a single integral
cardboard
sheet which, when folded in an appropriate fashion, results in an enclosed,
disposable litterbox. The box may be shipped with a supply of fitter enclosed,
and
may be shipped and stored in a rectangular package of approximately 2 inches
in
height.
Spina, U.S. 4,869,206 describes an animal cage for permitting collection of
solid
and liquid animal wastes for analysis. The cage comprises a top, bottom and
four
sides connected together to define an enclosure, a first floor positioned
above
the bottom. The first floor has a slope along its full dimension to a single
lowest
point. A second floor supports an animal and positioned above the first floor.
The
floor includes perforations for permitting liquid waste to pass therethrough
onto
the sloped first floor while retaining solid wastes thereon arid a litter
holder for
providing a location for instinctive animal elimination of solid and liquid
wastes.
The litter holder communicates with the perforations for permitting liquid to
pass
from the litter holder through the second floor onto the first flaor. A liquid
collector
cooperates with the first floor at its lowest point for permitting collection
of liquid
flowing there.
Devault, U.S. 4,903,637 describes a container, to house or carry small
household
pets that may be quickly and manually formed between an erected use mode
and a flat folded storage mode: The container is of gable roofed house
configuration in its erected mode and comprises an interconnected structure
formed by hingeably related rigid planar elements that occupy a relatively
small
volume in the folded storage mode. Handles carried by the roof provide aid in
manual carriage, releasable fasteners maintain either erected or storage mode,
and an end wall provides a selectively latchable door.
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Taft, U.S. 5,014,649 describes a pasteboard cat litter structure comprising a
shallow, rectangular, plastic-lined, box-like base adapted for holding a
quantity of
cat litter. Attached to the top of the base is a collapsible enclosure shaped
like a
house. The enclosure comprises first and second opposite end panels which fold
downwardly and inwardly along a lower crease line to lie flat atop the base
when
the enclosure is collapsed. The enclosure fL~rther com~>rises a continuous,
central
portion made up of first and second side panels and an enclosure roof. The
central portion is constructed having two (2) opposing, longitudinal, side
creases
and a roof crest crease, which permit the central portion to be folded down,
bellows-style, on top of the folded-down end panels. A flat, substantially
closed
structure, about the height of the base is then formed. A lid, similar in
shape to
the base is provided for covering he folded-down enclosure and base, the base
fitting downwardly into the lid when the enclosure is erected. A partial cut-
out in
one side panel hinges outwardly or inwardly about a vertical crease to form an
entrance into the enclosure when the enclosure is erected. The cat litter
structure
can be reused or the enclosure can be collapsed and the lid installed so the
entire structure can be disposed of with used litter inside.
Bishop et al., U.S. 5,078,096 describes a somewhat curvilinear, four-sided
pyramidal container is disclosed for housing and carriage of small household
pets. The container provides a flexible fabric cover which defines optionally
coverable mesh windows and an optionally coverable openable access door
structure. The container carries a rigid bottom insert and is supported by a
rod
frame having a square, releasably interconnected bottom element formed of four
interconnected semi-rigid rods and two arched, resiliently deformable support
rods extending upwardly between opposed corners of the structure, all said
rods
carried in loops defined on the inner surface of the cover. The support rods
are
selectively removable to allow assembly and collapse of the structure for
storage.
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Gonzalez, U.S. 5,121,710 describes a collapsible doghouse, to be used indoors
or outdoors, to provide a comfortable and easy to clean place for a dog to
rest or
seek shade. The doghouse includes elongate side walls, a pair of distal walls,
one of which includes an arched entranceway and another of which includes a
cutout drainage slot, a roof portion, and a weightable base portion, all of
which
are securely, yet easily removably connected, and are formed of a
substantially
solid, yet flexible, water repellent plastic which will facilitate easy
cleaning and
drainage, and lightweight transportation.
Zarola, U.S. 5,335,618 describes a collapsible animal enclosure has a house
unit
with spaced sidewalls and a roof of pliable material, and opposite ends
forming
an enclosed area for housing an animal. Support bows extend transversely
across the sidewalls and roof for holding the sidewalls and roof in an open,
spread apart condition. The house unit can be collapsed between a fully erect
condition in which the opposite ends are spread a maximum distance apart and a
collapsed condition in which the ends are pushed inwardly towards one another,
collapsing the pliable material between the ends in an accordion-folded
manner.
An extended run unit of similar construction to the house unit is releasably
securable to one end of the house unit to provide an extended exercise area.
Ho, U.S. 5,452,681 describes an animal house including a cap, a base, four
posts and four walls secured together. Both the cap and the base include a
groove formed in the inner peripheral portion, and the post's each includes
two
slots for engaging with the edges of the walls so as to solidly secure the
walls in
place. Four nuts are engaged in both tile base and the cap for engaging with
bolts of the posts. The nuts of tile base include a c>onvex bottom portion far
engaging with a concave upper portion of the nuts of the cap such that the
animal houses may be stably superposed with each other.. The animal house
may be folded to a compact configuration.
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Monetti et al., U.S. 5,465,686 describes a disposable, collapsible pet house
foldable from a unitary blank of material received in a flat state, the house
being
foldable from the blank between a collapsed state for shipping, storage and
disposal and an enclosed, erect state for use, the house comprising a
container
portion having a bottom, a pair of oppositely opposed sidewalk extending
upwardly from and integral with the bottom, and a pair of oppositely opposed
end
walls extending upwardly from and integral with the bottom, the pair of end
walls
being connected to the pair of sidewalls; a pair of sidewall panels, each
integral
with a different one of a pair of sidewalls; a pair of end wall panels, each
integral
with a different one of a pair of end walls, at least ane of the pair of end
wall
panels having an opening therein for ingress and egress of a pet when the
house
is in the erect state; a pair of roof panels, each integral with a different
one of the
pair of sidewall panels, one of the pair of roof panels overlapping a portion
of the
other of the pair of roof panels when the house is in the erect state; and a
releasable arrangement associated with each of the pair of roof panels and the
pair of end wall panels to interconnect the same to provide the house with
stability in the erect state; the pair of end wall panels and the other of the
pair of
roof panels and its associated one of the pair of sidewall panels being
foldable
into the container portion and the one of the pair of roof panels and its
associated
one of the pair of sidewall panels being foldable to cover the pair of end
wall
panels and the other of the pair of roof panels and its associated one of the
pair
of sidewall panels and extending over one of the pair of sidewalls and a
portion
of the bottom to be in an interlacking relation with the bottom when in the
collapsed state.
Demurjian, U.S. 5,522,344 describes a pet cage capable of ready disassembly
and erection for mounting within a window having a bottom rail and a stop, and
projecting beyond the window opening. The pet cage consists of a 5-sided
enclosure, including a hollow panel. An accordion-pleated panel assembly is
removably connected to the enclosure for adjustably extending between the
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enclosure and the window stop. Upon disassembly, the panel assembly is
removed from the enclosure and stored within the hollow panel so that the
disassembled pet cage forms a single, compact, portable structure.
Curly et al., U.S. 5,564,454 describes a collapsible structure having front
and
back ends with front and back support members including a single central
support member to pass in a direct line along the cover means and thus support
the entire structure at roughly the center of the cover means. The item may be
sewn and easily manufactured in a fashion so that upon being collapsed it
occupies the smallest possible volume and has no overlapping support
members. Finally in pet toy applications crinkly material and washable
material
may be included.
Ashkins et al., U.S. 5,626,098 describes a collapsible cage for dogs or
rabbits
having a rectangular base, fold-down end walls folding sidewalls and a roof.
The
walls and roof are made of metal grids. The end walls fold down onto the base
one over the other. The sidewalls fold in the middle concertina-wise and are
hinged at the top to opposite edges of the roof allowing the sidewalls and
roof to
collapse onto the base over the end walls. The base has a pull out tray or pan
and an access door is provided in one of the end walls. Releasable clips are
provided to hold the walls and roof together in an elevated position of the
structure.
Richmond, U.S. 5,669,331 describes a pet housing expansible to hold a pet and
collapsible to suitcase size for manual transport including 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 the platform as a fulcrum to collapse the housing and toward
the
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other platform to expand the housing. In the collapsed housing disposition,
detents on opposite sides of the hinge on the first pair of walls releasabiy
engage
to maintain the housing collapsed A manually grippable handle on one 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. Third detents provide fm 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 ford
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.
Ashkins, et al., U.S. 5,727,502 describes a collapsible pef home having a
base,
side walls, end walls and a roof can be converted into an exercise pen for the
pet
by folding the end walls down onto the base, setting the base on end and using
the base, side walls and roof to form peripheral walls of the exercise pen. An
additional pen-forming module is provided to connect with the roof one side
and
one of the sidewalls on the other side to complete the peripheral wall of the
exercise pen. The base may have a compartment for storing the additional
module when it is not in use. The entire structure folds down into a compact
package.
Koneke, U.S. 5,752,470 describes a collapsible system that can also be used
for
potable pet houses most types of small free standing buildings, as well as for
emergency housing in times of disasters. The collapsible structure is better
than
a tent because it has real walls, a roof and has the feel of a home. The
system
can also be used for permanent housing, depending on building codes and types
of materials used by making the structure portable, it is easy to move from
place
to place. It can also cut down on cost of moving large and bulky objects; and
also
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can cut down on packaging material. In the case of the housing, it cuts down
on
the cost of shipping. The record time that it takes to put up a collapsible
structure
also cuts down on manpower needed to set it up, thereby increasing quality
control, because the collapsible structure can be made in a controlled factory
environment and one can ship considerably more than what one could normally
ship.
Deckys, U.S. 5,769,028 describes a carrier including a main unit and an insert
unit. The main unit defines a carrying space having a closed bottom and four
sides, one of which has an opening therethrough large enough to permit an
animal to enter the space through the opening. The insert unit has a closed
top,
four sides, and an open bottom. After the animal has entered the main unit,
the
insert unit is lowered down into the main unit to close off the side opening.
Then
a foldable top closure for the main unit is folded to secure the carrier and
form a
handle structure for carrying the carrier. Both units are foldable and are
structured to provide an enhanced strength carrier. Strength enhancing
features
include the foldable bottom of the main unit, double and triple thickness
portions
of the top closure, and the presence of the insert unit in 'the main unit.
Axelrod et al., U.S. 5,950,568 describes a collapsiblelfoldable structure
comprising a top roof and a bottom platform defining a top and bottom of the
structure and a front and rear collapsible Mall each pivotally attached to the
bottom platform to provide for pivotable collapse of the front and rear walls.
The
structure further contains a pair of sidewalfs each pivotally attached to the
roofi to
facilitate inward collapse of said sidewails when said sidewalls are pivoted
toward
the bottom platform. The sidewalls further contain an upper, middle and lower
section, wherein the upper and middle sections are pivotally attached to one
another and the middle and lower section are also pivotally attached to one
another so that the upper and middle sidewall sections can be pivoted inwardly
towards the bottom platform. Furthermore, the top roof section further
comprises
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two roof sections pivotally attached to one another at about the mid-point of
the
roof section, so that the two roof sections can collapse downwardly along the
pivotable attachment toward the bottom platform. The collapsible) foldable
structure herein is particularly useful as a shelter for domestic pets and
other
small animals.
The prior art teaches a wide range of pet shelters but does not teach a
shelter
that disassembles into a box base member which is used as a structural element
for supporting the shelter. The present invention fulfills these needs and
provides
further related advantages as described in the following summary.
~IJMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The present invention teaches certain benefits in construction and use which
give
rise to the objectives described below.
A shelter apparatus comprises an open box base member having a bottom panel
and a peripheral, box side wall. A front and a rear shelter walls are
removeably
engaged in spaced apart vertical slots on the inside of the box side wall. A
tension beam is engaged with, and extends between the front and rear shelter
walls for rigidity. A fabric cover is extensive between opposing portions of
the
box side wall and is draped over and supported by l:he front and rear shelter
walls and the box side wall by a surface fastening means so that the box side
wall, the front and rear shelter walls and the fabric cover enclose a space
for a
pet. The same elements may be stored within the box base member and
secured by the tension beam.
A primary objective of the present invention is to provide an apparatus and
method of use of such apparatus that provides advantages not taught by the
prior art.
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Another objective is to provide such an invention capable of light weight
construction.
A further objective is to provide such an invention capable of compact storage
and quick and easy erection.
Other features and advantages of the present invention will become apparent
from the following more detailed description, taken in conjunction with the
accompanying drawings, which illustrate, by way of example, the principles of
the
invention.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRA1NINGS
The accompanying drawings illustrate the present invention. In such drawings:
Figure 1 is a perspective view of the preferred embodiment of the
invention as erected; and
Figure 2 is a perspective view thereof disassembled for storage.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
The above described drawing figures illustrate the invention in at least one
of its
preferred embodiments, which is further defined in detail in the following
description.
The present invention is a shelter apparatus comprising an open box base
member 1 having a bottom panel 1' and, extending upward therefrom, an
integral, peripheral, box side wall 1" as shown in Fig. 1. This construction
may
be made of wood or plastic or other common rigid structural materials. A front
4
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and a rear 3 rigid shelter walls are removeably engaged in spaced apart
vertical
slots 7 in the box side wall 1 ". The walls 4, 3, are configured to slide into
the
slots 7 with frictional engagement so that the walls are not easily pulled out
of the
slots 7. An extensible beam 9, may be a spring tension type or a threaded
extensive beam, both of which are well known. Beam 9 is engaged with, and
extensive between the front and rear shelter walls 4, 3 and engages recesses
11
in these walls as shown in Fig. 1. The beam 9 and recesses 11 may be threaded
so that beam 9 may be threadedly engagable with recesses 11 for improved
structural rigidity. Preferably beam 9 is made up of plural collinear segments
in a
telescoping, spring biased relationship. Vertical extension pieces 2, shown in
Fig. 1 are mounted and engaged with walls 4, 3 to provide an improved
structural
reception of beam 9 above the contiguous walls 4, 3.
A flexible fabric cover 10 is extensive between opposing portions of the box
side
wall 1" and is draped, as shown in Fig. 1, over the front and rear sidewalk 4,
3.
The fabric cover 10 may be made of any material that is typically used for
tents
and the like, such as canvas ~r woven nylon, and is joined with the front and
rear
shelter walls 4, 3, and with the box side wall 1" by a surface fastening means
8
such as Velcro, so that the box side wall 1 ", the front and rear shelter
walls 4, 3,
and the fabric cover 10 enclose a space for a pet such as a dog or cat. As
shown, the surface fastening means 8 comprises thin strips laid along edges of
the several elements described above. Preferably, the front and rear shelter
walls 4, 3, have an integral base portion 12, or sill, that rests in contact
with an
upwardly facing edge 6 of the box side wall 1". This provides a footing far
the
shelter walls so that they are rigidly upright in light of the bias pressure
exerted
by the beam 9. The upwardly facing edge 5 is peripheral about the box side
wall
1" and along each side, maintains the surface fastening means 8 for engaging
fabric cover 10, as is clearly shown in Fig. 1.
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As shown in Fig. 2, the peripheral box side wall 1" accepts the front and rear
shelter walls 4, 3, stacked on top of the bottom panel 1' of the box base
member
1 when the shelter is not in use or is being transported. The box side wall 1"
includes a pair of the opposing recesses 11 wherein the beam 9 may be
engaged for securing the front and rear shelter walls 4, 3, and the fabric
cover 10
between the beam 9 and the bottom panel 1' within the box base member 1'.
Preferably, at least one of the front and rear shelter walls 4, 3, provides a
doorway aperture 5 for access by a pet to the interior of the shelter. A
flexible
cover 5' is engaged over the doorway aperture 5 along the top portions of the
aperture 5 and the cover 5' so that the flexible cover 5' is enabled for
swinging
into and out of the enclosed space. This is shown in Fig. 1 with dashed lines
where the bottom portion of cover 5' is partially lifted. To accomplish this,
the
flexible cover 5' is only as wide as the aperture 5, and preferably slightly
less
wide. Preferably, a magnetic latch 14 is mounted on the sill 12 and on the
bottom edge of the cover 5 so as to bias the flexible cover 5 into a vertical,
closed attitude. Such bias is easily overcome by an animal moving against the
cover 5 so that it does not impede use of this entry access.
While the invention has been described with reference to at least one
preferred
embodiment, it is to be clearly understood by those skilled in the art that
the
invention is not limited thereto. Rather, the scope of the invention is to be
interpreted only in conjunction with the appended claims.
14
