# US 2018/0020636 A1 · Pet carrier including energy absorbing elements

> Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt

- Number: US 2018/0020636 A1
- Document ID: US20180020636A1
- Status: Published application
- Kind: A1
- Application number: 15/215,830
- Filed: 2016-07-21
- Published: 2018-01-25
- Earliest claimed: 2016-07-21
- Assignees: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
- Applicants: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
- Inventors: Para Valentine Weerappuli
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US20180020636A1

## CPC

- A01K 1/0272: {Boxes, bags, cages, baskets, harnesses especially adapted for transport in or on automobiles}
- A01K 1/0245: {Boxes or cages}
- A01K: ANIMAL HUSBANDRY; AVICULTURE; APICULTURE; PISCICULTURE; FISHING; REARING OR BREEDING ANIMALS, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR; NEW BREEDS OF ANIMALS

## Abstract

A pet carrier includes an outer frame and an inner frame slidably coupled to the outer frame along an axis. The inner frame defines a pet compartment. An energy absorbing element is disposed between the inner frame and the outer frame along the axis. During a vehicle impact, momentum of a pet may move the pet toward the inner frame and may force the inner frame to slide relative to the outer frame. During this movement, the energy absorbing elements may absorb energy from the pet, softening the impact of the pet with the pet carrier.

## Claims

### Claim 1

A pet carrier comprising:
an outer frame;
an inner frame slideably coupled to the outer frame along an axis, the inner frame defining a pet compartment; and
an energy absorbing element disposed between the inner frame and the outer frame along the axis.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

The pet carrier according to claim 1, wherein the energy absorbing element abuts the inner frame and the outer frame.

### Claim 3 (depends on 1)

The pet carrier according to claim 1, wherein one of the inner frame and the outer frame includes a slot, and the other of the inner frame and the outer frame includes a tongue disposed in a slot.

### Claim 4 (depends on 3)

The pet carrier according to claim 3, wherein the energy absorbing element abuts the tongue in the slot.

### Claim 5 (depends on 3)

The pet carrier according to claim 3, wherein the slot includes a stop surface and the energy absorbing element is disposed between the stop surface and the tongue.

### Claim 6 (depends on 5)

The pet carrier according to claim 5, wherein the energy absorbing element abuts the tongue and the stop surface in the slot.

### Claim 7 (depends on 1)

The pet carrier according to claim 1, further comprising sides fixed to the inner frame and extending about the pet compartment.

### Claim 8 (depends on 1)

The pet carrier according to claim 1, further comprising webbing fixed to the inner frame and extending about the pet compartment.

### Claim 9 (depends on 8)

The pet carrier according to claim 8, wherein the inner frame has a bottom and a top spaced from each other, and the webbing includes a plurality of segments spaced from each other in a direction from the bottom to the top.

### Claim 10 (depends on 9)

The pet carrier according to claim 9, wherein the spacing between each segment increases in the direction from the bottom to the top.

### Claim 11 (depends on 9)

The pet carrier according to claim 9, wherein the webbing includes a plurality of second segments each extending transverse to the segments.

### Claim 12 (depends on 11)

The pet carrier according to claim 11, wherein the segments and the second segments extend in a common plane.

### Claim 13 (depends on 8)

The pet carrier according to claim 8, wherein the webbing is formed of fabric.

### Claim 14 (depends on 1)

The pet carrier according to claim 1, wherein the pet compartment includes at least one door rotatably coupled to the inner frame and extending along the pet compartment.

### Claim 15 (depends on 12)

The pet carrier according to claim 12, wherein the door includes an opening and webbing extending across the opening along the pet compartment.

### Claim 16 (depends on 1)

The pet carrier according to claim 1, wherein the inner frame includes a first stop surface and the outer frame includes second stop surface aligned with the first stop surface along the axis.

### Claim 17 (depends on 1)

The pet carrier according to claim 1, wherein the outer frame includes an attachment configured to attach to a vehicle.

### Claim 18 (depends on 1)

The pet carrier according to claim 1, further comprising a second energy absorbing element disposed between the inner frame and the outer frame along the axis.

### Claim 19 (depends on 1)

The pet carrier according to claim 1, wherein the energy absorbing element is removable from the inner frame and the outer frame.