Patent ID: 6971333
Filing Date: 2005-12-06
Classification: A01K

Abstract:
1. An adjustable animal kennel comprising: A) a first unit which is a top unit when in use and which includes (1) a first end wall which is a rear end wall when said first unit is in use, the first end wall of said first unit including a first rim which is a top rim when said first unit is in use and a second rim which is a bottom rim when said first unit is in use, (2) a second end wall which is a front end wall when said first unit is in use, a first rim which is a top rim when said first unit is in use and a second rim which is a bottom rim when said first unit is in use, (3) a longitudinal axis which extends between the first end wall of said first unit and the second end wall of said first unit, (4) a first side wall having a first rim which is a top rim when said first unit is in use and a second rim which is a bottom rim when said first unit is in use and a plurality of support pin-accommodating holes defined through the first side wall near the top rim of the first side wall, the support pin-accommodating holes in the first side wall being spaced apart from each other in the direction of the longitudinal axis of said first unit, the first side wall having a first end which is unitary with the first end wall and a second end which is unitary with the second end wall, (5) a second side wall having a first rim which is a top rim when said first unit is in use and a second rim which is a bottom rim when said first unit is in use and a plurality of support pin-accommodating holes defined through the second side wall near the top rim of the second side wall, the support pin-accommodating holes in the second side wall being spaced apart from each other in the direction of the longitudinal axis of said first unit and which are aligned with corresponding support pin-accommodating holes defined in the first side wall, the second side wall having a first end which is unitary with the first end wall and a second end which is unitary with the second end wall, (6) a width dimension that extends between the first side wall of said first unit and the second side wall of the first unit, and (7) a third wall which is a top wall when said first unit is in use, the third wall being unitary with the top rims of the end walls and the side walls of said first unit; B) a second unit which is a bottom unit when in use and which includes (1) a first end wall which is a rear end wall when said second unit is in use, the first end wall of said first unit including a first rim which is a top rim when said second unit is in use and a second rim which is a bottom rim when said second unit is in use, the first rim of the first end wall of said second unit being in abutting contact with the second rim of the first end wall of said first unit and the first end walls of said first and second units being substantially co-planar with each other when said first and second units are in use, (2) a second end wall which is a front end wall when said second unit is in use, a first rim which is a top rim when said second unit is in use and a second rim which is a bottom rim when said second unit is in use, the first rim of the second end wall of said second unit being in abutting contact with the second rim of the second end wall of said first unit and the second end walls of said first and second units being substantially co-planar with each other when said first and second units are in use, (3) a longitudinal axis which extends between the first end wall of said second unit and the second end wall of said second unit, (4) a first side wall of said second unit having a first rim which is a top rim when said second unit is in use and a second rim which is a bottom rim when said second unit is in use and a plurality of support pin-accommodating holes defined through the first side wall of said second unit near the bottom rim of the first side wall of said second unit, the support pin-accommodating holes in the first side wall of said second unit being spaced apart from each other in the direction of the longitudinal axis of said second unit and are aligned with corresponding support pin-accommodating holes defined in the second side wall of said first unit when said first unit is in use in conjunction with said second unit, the first side wall of said second unit having a first end which is unitary with the first end wall of said second unit and a second end which is unitary with the second end wall of said second unit, the first rim of the first side wall of said second unit being in abutting contact with the second rim of the first side wall of said first unit and the first side walls of said first and second units being substantially co-planar with each other when said first and second units are in use, (5) a second side wall having a first rim which is a top rim when said second unit is in use and a second rim which is a bottom rim when said second unit is in use and a plurality of support pin-accommodating holes defined through the second side wall of said second unit near the bottom rim of the second side wall of said second unit, the support pin-accommodating holes in the second side wall of said second unit being spaced apart from each other in the direction of the longitudinal axis of said second unit and are aligned with corresponding support pin-accommodating holes defined in the first side wall of said second unit, and are also aligned with corresponding support pin-accommodating holes defined in the first side wall of said first unit when said first unit is in use in conjunction with said second unit, the second side wall of said second unit having a first end which is unitary with the first end wall of said second unit and a second end which is unitary with the second end wall of said second unit, (6) a width dimension that extends between the first side wall of said second unit and the second side wall of the second unit, and (7) a third wall which is a bottom wall when said second unit is in use, the third wall being unitary with the bottom rims of the end walls and the side walls of said second unit; C) a first doorway-defining hole defined through the second end wall of said first unit and a second doorway-defining hole defined through the second end wall of said second unit, a doorway being defined by the first and second doorway-defining holes co-operating with each other when said first and second units are in use, said first doorway-defining hole including a first support pin-accommodating hole defined in the bottom rim of the second end wall of said first unit and said second doorway-defining hole including a second support pin-accommodating hole defined in the top rim of the second end wall of said second unit, the first and second support pin-accommodating holes being aligned with each other when said first and second units are in use; D) a lock unit which includes (1) a tongue element mounted on at least one of the side walls of said second unit near the top rim of the at least one side wall of said second unit, and (2) a catch element mounted on at least one of the side walls of said first unit near the bottom rim of the at least one side wall of said first unit and which is adapted to releasably engage the tongue element when said first and second units are in use; E) an interior volume defined by the walls of said first and second units when said first and second units are in use; F) a divider unit that is located in said interior volume when in use and which includes (1) an open mesh body having a multiplicity of openings defined therethrough, (2) a first end which is a top end and which is located near the top wall of said first unit when said divider unit is in use, (3) a second end which is a bottom end and which is located near the bottom wall of said second unit when said divider unit and said first and second units are in use, (4) a first side which is located adjacent to the first and second side walls of said first and second units when said divider unit and said first and second units are in use, and (5) a second side which is located adjacent to the second and first side walls of said first and second units when said divider unit and said first and second units are in use; G) a first spring-biased lock pin unit mounted on the first end of said divider unit and which includes (1) a first side lock pin located adjacent to the first side of said divider unit and which is located to be accommodated in one of the plurality of lock pin-accommodating holes defined in the second side wall of said first unit when said divider unit is in use, the first side lock pin including a finger-grip element thereon, (2) a second side lock pin located adjacent to the second side of said divider unit and which is located to be accommodated in one of the plurality of lock pin-accommodating holes defined in the first side wall of said first unit when said divider unit is in use, the second side lock pin including a finger grip element thereon, and (3) a spring biasing the first and second side lock pins of said first spring biasing lock pin unit away from each other; H) a second spring-biased lock pin unit mounted on the second end of said divider unit and which includes (1) a first side lock pin located adjacent to the first side of said divider unit and which is located to be accommodated in one of the plurality of lock pin-accommodating holes defined in the first side wall of said second unit when said divider unit is in use, (2) a second side lock pin located adjacent to the second side of said divider unit and which is located to be accommodated in one of the plurality of lock pin-accommodating holes defined in the second side wall of said second unit when said divider unit is in use, and (3) a spring biasing the first and second side lock pins of said second spring-biased lock pin unit away from each other; and I) a door covering unit which includes (1) a body which covers said doorway when said door covering unit and said first and second units are in use and which includes (a) a plurality of openings defined therethrough, (b) a first rim which is a top rim and which is located adjacent to the bottom rim of the second end wall of said first unit when said door covering unit and said first and second units are in use, and (c) a second rim which is a bottom rim and which is located adjacent to the top rim of the second end wall of said second unit when said door covering unit and said first and second units are in use, (2) a spring-biased lock pin unit mounted on the body of said door covering unit and which includes (a) a first support pin located adjacent to the top rim of the body of said door covering unit and which is adapted to be accommodated in one of the first support pin-accommodating holes defined in the bottom rim of the second end wall of said first unit when said door covering unit and said first and second units are in use, the first support pin including a finger grip element thereon, (b) a second support pin located adjacent to the bottom rim of the body of said door covering unit and which is adapted to be accommodated in one of the second support pin-accommodating holes defined in the top rim of the second end wall of said second unit when said door covering unit and said first and second units are in use, the second support pin including a finger grip element thereon, and (c) springs biasing the first and second support pins away from each other.