Patent ID: 8091294
Filing Date: 2012-01-10
Classification: A01K,E06C

Abstract:
1. An apparatus for assisting pets in moving between a substantially horizontally extending lower surface and a substantially horizontally extending elevated surface disposed at a vertical distance from one another, the apparatus comprising: a foldable staircase, having at least two stair treads operatively connected by articulating links in such a manner that the treads are pivotable in unison from a stowed position of the staircase, in which the treads are substantially stacked upon one another, to a plurality of extended positions, in which the articulating links position the treads in a spaced parallel relationship to one another with one of the at least two stair treads forming a top tread and the other of the at least two stair treads forming a bottom stair tread when the foldable staircase is deployed in one of the extended positions for assisting the pet in moving between the elevated and lower surfaces; both the top and the bottom stair tread having respective undersides thereof, with at least a portion of the underside of the bottom stair tread being adapted to rest upon the lower surface and at least a portion of the underside of the top tread being adapted to rest upon the elevated surface; the top and bottom stair treads each having a respective top surface and a respective edge thereof extending between the respective top surface and the underside of each of the top and bottom stair treads; the edges of the top and bottom stair treads defining a thickness of the top and bottom stair treads that is substantially de minimus in comparison to the vertical distance between the elevated and lower surfaces, such that, when the portions of the undersides of the top and bottom stair treads are resting on the elevated and lower surfaces respectively, the top surfaces of the top and bottom stair treads are substantially coplanar with the elevated and lower surfaces respectively and are offset therefrom by substantially only the thickness of the stair tread; the foldable staircase being completely separate from and not attached to either the lower and the elevated surfaces such that when the foldable staircase is deployed with the undersides of the top and bottom treads resting on the elevated and lower surfaces the pet may be urged to; a) step completely off of one of the elevated and lower surfaces onto a respective one of the top and bottom treads resting on that one of the elevated and lower surfaces; b) traverse the foldable staircase from the respective one of the top and bottom treads to the other of the top and bottom treads resting respectively on the other of the elevated and lower surfaces; and c) then step completely off of the other top and bottom treads and completely onto the respective other of the elevated and lower surfaces; the foldable staircase being further completely separate from and not attached to either the lower and the elevated surfaces such that the foldable staircase may be removed by moving the undersides of the top and bottom stair treads of the foldable staircase out of contact with the lower and upper surfaces, when the foldable staircase is not being utilized for moving the pet between the lower and elevated surfaces.