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US 7,044,083 B2Granted
Pet enclosure
AssigneeUnited Pet Group, Inc.
InventorsMichael Farmer, Steven J. Behrens
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A collapsible pet enclosure is provided. The enclosure includes a pliable cover supported by a rigid, but foldable, frame. The cover includes an opening in a top panel such that the enclosure is top loading. The cover is completely removable from the frame so that it can be machine washed. The frame is of one-piece jointed construction so that it is collapsible for easy transportation or storage. Because all frame components are jointedly attached to one another, the frame does not include any loose components that are easily lost. The enclosure is quick and easy to set up and collapse.
Claims35
A pet enclosure, comprising:
- a support frame;
- and
- a cover;
- wherein
- the frame includes a floor member, first and second end trusses, and at least two jointed support members extending between the end trusses, each jointed support member including first and second components and wherein a first end of the first component is hingedly connected to one of the first and second end trusses, and a first end of the second component is hingedly connected to the other of the first and second end trusses, and second ends of the first and second components are operatively connected to one another.
2 more elements
A support frame for a pet enclosure, the frame comprising:
- a floor truss;
- a first end truss constructed of at least one rigid member, the first end truss being hingedly connected to the floor truss;
- a second end truss constructed of at least one rigid member, the second end truss being hingedly connected to the floor truss;
- and
- at least one support member having a first end and a second end, the first end being hingedly connected to the first end truss and the second end being hingedly connected to the second end truss;
- wherein the floor truss includes a plurality of sides, and each side is constructed of a substantially straight, non-jointed member.
3 more elements
A pet enclosure, comprising:
- a support frame including
- a rigid, four-sided floor truss, each side of the floor truss comprising a tubular member;
- a first end truss hingedly secured at a first end of the floor truss;
- a second end truss hingedly secured at a second end of the floor truss;
- and
- first and second support members extending between the first and second end trusses, each of the first and second support members including a first portion and a second portion that are movable with respect to one another;
- and
- a removable cover disposed about the support frame, the cover including a floor panel, a top panel, first and second side panels, and first and second end panels, the floor panel being constructed of a durable, substantially non-breathable material, the top panel, first and second side panels, and first and second end panels including breathable mesh material portions, the top panel further including a top recloseable opening, a portion of the top recloseable opening being permanently secured to the top panel, and a remaining portion of the top recloseable opening being releasably secured to the top panel, the front panel further including a front recloseable opening, a portion of the front recloseable opening being permanently secured to the front panel, and a remaining portion of the front recloseable opening being releasably secured to the front panel.
5 more elements
A pet enclosure, comprising:
- a support frame;
- and
- a removable fabric cover;
- wherein
- the frame includes
- a rigid four-sided floor member including at least one bent tubular component and at least two lugs;
- first and second substantially U-shaped end trusses, each of the first and second end trusses being constructed of a tubular component that is bent in at least two places, lower ends of the U-shaped end trusses being hingedly connected to the lugs;
- at least a first jointed support member and a second jointed support member extending between the end trusses, each jointed support member including first and second components, a first end of the first component being hingedly connected to one of the first and second end trusses, a first end of the second component being hingedly connected to the other of the first and second end trusses, second ends of the first and second components being operatively connected to one another;
- and
- first and second locking sleeves, each sleeve being slidable on one of the jointed support members between a first position in which the sleeve is adjacent the second end of the first component, and a second position in which the sleeve covers both the second end of the first component and the second end of the second component.
7 more elements
A pet enclosure, comprising:
- a support frame including a floor member, first and second end trusses, and at least one jointed support member extending between the end trusses;
- and
- a removable external cover;
- wherein
- the floor member includes at least a first pair of lugs secured adjacent a first end thereof and a second pair of lugs secured adjacent a second end thereof, and the first end truss is hingedly secured to the first pair of lugs and the second end truss is hingedly secured to the second pair of lugs;
- and
- the cover includes a floor panel, a top panel, first and second side panels, and first and second end panels, the floor panel being constructed of a durable, substantially non-breathable material, the top panel, first and second side panels, and first and second end panels including breathable mesh material portions, the top panel further including a top recloseable opening, a portion of the top recloseable opening being permanently secured to the cover, and a remaining portion of the top recloseable opening being releasably secured to the cover, the front panel further including a front recloseable opening, a portion of the front recloseable opening being permanently secured to the cover, and a remaining portion of the front recloseable opening being releasably secured to the cover.
4 more elements
A pet enclosure, comprising:
- a support frame including
- a rigid, four-sided floor truss, each side of the floor truss comprising a tubular member;
- at least first and second tubular members hingedly secured at a first end of each to a first end of the floor truss, second ends of the at least first and second tubular members operatively connected to first ends of first and second support members that extend substantially parallel to a plane defined by the floor truss;
- and
- at least third and fourth tubular members hingedly secured at a first end of each to a second end of the floor truss, second ends of the at least third and fourth tubular members operatively connected to second ends of the first and second support members;
- and
- a removable cover disposed about the support frame, the cover including a floor panel, a top panel, first and second side panels, and first and second end panels, the floor panel being constructed of a durable, substantially non-breathable material, the top panel, first and second side panels, and first and second end panels including breathable mesh material portions, the top panel further including a top recloseable opening, a portion of the top recloseable opening being permanently secured to the top panel, and a remaining portion of the top recloseable opening being releasably secured to the top panel, the front panel further including a front recloseable opening, a portion of the front recloseable opening being permanently secured to the front panel, and a remaining portion of the front recloseable opening being releasably secured to the front panel.
4 more elements
A pet enclosure, comprising:
- a support frame including
- a rigid, four-sided floor truss, each side of the floor truss comprising a tubular member, the floor truss including lugs extending from the tubular members;
- at least first and second tubular members hingedly secured at a first end of each to the lugs at a first end of the floor truss, second ends of the at least first and second tubular members operatively connected to first ends of first and second support members that extend substantially parallel to a plane defined by the floor truss;
- and
- at least third and fourth tubular members hingedly secured at a first end of each to the lugs at a second end of the floor truss, second ends of the at least third and fourth tubular members operatively connected to second ends of the first and second support members;
- and
- a removable cover disposed about the support frame, the cover including a floor panel, a top panel, first and second side panels, and first and second end panels, the floor panel being constructed of a durable, substantially non-breathable material, the top panel, first and second side panels, and first and second end panels including breathable mesh material portions, the top panel further including a top recloseable opening, a portion of the top recloseable opening being permanently secured to the cover, and a remaining portion of the top recloseable opening being releasably secured to the cover, the front panel further including a front recloseable opening, a portion of the front recloseable opening being permanently secured to the cover, and a remaining portion of the front recloseable opening being releasably secured to the cover.
4 more elements
A pet enclosure, comprising:
- a rigid, rectangular floor panel;
- a first rigid end truss positioned adjacent a first end of the floor panel;
- a second rigid end truss positioned adjacent a second end of the floor panel;
- first and second rigid support members extending between upper ends of the first and second rigid end trusses;
- and
- a fabric cover disposed about the floor panel, trusses and support members;
- wherein, the cover includes a floor panel, a top panel, first and second side panels, and first and second end panels, the floor panel being constructed of a durable, substantially non-breathable material, the first and second side panels, and first and second end panels including breathable mesh material portions, the front panel further including a front recloseable opening, a portion of the front recloseable opening being permanently secured to the cover, and a remaining portion of the front recloseable opening being releasably secured to the cover.
4 more elements
A method of folding a pet enclosure, wherein the pet enclosure comprises a jointed frame and a cover, the method comprising the steps of:
- bending a jointed frame support member;
- folding a first frame end truss toward a frame floor member;
- folding a second frame end truss toward the floor member;
- and
- securing a first portion of the cover to a second portion of the cover, thereby resisting unfolding of the enclosure.
2 more elements
A support frame for a pet enclosure, the frame comprising:
- a floor member;
- a first end truss constructed of at least one rigid member, the first end truss hingedly connected to the floor member;
- a second end truss constructed of at least one rigid member, the second end truss hingedly connected to the floor member;
- and
- at least one support member having a first end and a second end, the first end being hingedly connected to the first end truss and the second end being hingedly connected to the second end truss;
- wherein the at least one support member comprises a first section and a second section, the first and second sections being separate pieces that are connectable to one another at a free end of each;
- and further wherein the at least one support member comprises an elastic cord connecting the free ends of the first and second sections.
4 more elements
A support frame for a pet enclosure, the frame comprising:
- a floor member;
- a first end truss constructed of at least one rigid member, the first end truss hingedly connected to the floor member;
- a second end truss constructed of at least one rigid member, the second end truss hingedly connected to the floor member;
- and
- at least one support member having a first end and a second end, the first end being hingedly connected to the first end truss and the second end being hingedly connected to the second end truss;
- wherein the at least one support member comprises a first section and a second section, the first and second sections being separate pieces that are connectable to one another at a free end of each;
- and further wherein the free end of the first section includes a male connector, and the free end of the second section includes a female connector.
4 more elements
A support frame for a pet enclosure, the frame comprising:
- a floor member;
- a first end truss constructed of at least one rigid member, the first end truss hingedly connected to the floor member;
- a second end truss constructed of at least one rigid member, the second end truss hingedly connected to the floor member;
- and
- at least one support member having a first end and a second end, the first end being hingedly connected to the first end truss and the second end being hingedly connected to the second end truss;
- wherein the at least one support member comprises a first section and a second section, the first and second sections being separate pieces that are connectable to one another at a free end of each;
- and further wherein the at least one support member comprises a locking sleeve slidable on the at least one support member between a first position in which the sleeve is adjacent a junction of the first and second sections, and a second position in which the sleeve covers the junction.
4 more elements
A support frame for a pet enclosure, the frame comprising:
- a floor member;
- a first end truss constructed of at least one rigid member, the first end truss hingedly connected to the floor member;
- a second end truss constructed of at least one rigid member, the second end truss hingedly connected to the floor member;
- and
- at least one support member having a first end and a second end, the first end being hingedly connected to the first end truss and the second end being hingedly connected to the second end truss;
- wherein the floor member comprises a truss constructed of at least one grid member;
- and
- the floor truss comprises a single tube that is bent in four places to form, substantially, a rectangle.
5 more elements
A support frame for a pet enclosure, the frame comprising:
- a floor member;
- a first end truss constructed of at least one rigid member, the first end truss hingedly connected to the floor member;
- a second end truss constructed of at least one rigid member, the second end truss hingedly connected to the floor member;
- and
- at least one support member having a first end and a second end, the first end being hingedly connected to the first end truss and the second end being hingedly connected to the second end truss;
- wherein each of the end trusses comprises a single tube that is bent in two places to form, substantially, a U.
3 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.