Abstract:
The present invention is used for outdoor protection of cats from predators and inclement weather conditions. A house of general rectangular shape may have three vertical walls attached between a top floor and a bottom floor to form a chamber that may be closed by a door. At least one intermediate floor may be attached between and generally parallel to the top and bottom floors. The multiple floors may have an opening formed at an edge or adjacent with an edge member so that the openings of adjacent floors are opposed and not aligned. A roof may be attached above the top floor and spaced apart to allow entry and exit of cats and protection from weather. A foundation with an access opening may be attached to the bottom floor and may subtend therefrom.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0001]    This invention relates to structures that can house cats in an outdoor environment to protect them from predatory animals and inclement weather conditions. The new structure or house allows cats to enter and exit through openings that are formed and arranged as part of the structure to inhibit larger animals, such as, coyotes, wolves, bobcats and the like that may normally prey on small animals, from entering the structure. The internal structure of the house allows movement of cats between chambers within the house, but inhibits movement of larger, less flexible animals. 
         [0002]    Playhouses, pet furniture, climbing structures and the like may be known for use by cats when in human building environments such as houses, apartments and other buildings. The pet structures may be constructed of paperboard or cardboard that allow fold lines for collapsing and folding the structure; generally open to the environment or not structured to limit access of animals other than cats; and lack inclement weather protection structure. 
         [0003]    For small animals such as squirrels, birds and the like, outdoor house structures may be known for mounting on trees or poles to limit access by predators that may even be cats. Such houses are usually constructed with a roof and one or more small holes for the user animal to gain access, but to inhibit larger predators from entering the house. Internally such houses are usually open chamber structures and they are designed to be mounted in an elevated position such as on a tree, the side of a structure, or on a pole. Entry through holes or openings may be through side walls or floor walls in the structure. Based on the animal&#39;s very small size and the elevated position of the house, larger animals such as dogs or coyotes cannot put their heads, mouths or legs through the openings. 
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0004]    The present invention is directed to structures for outdoor protection of cats from predators and inclement weather conditions. A house of generally rectangular shape may have three vertical walls attached between a top floor and a bottom floor to form a chamber that may be closed by a door. At least one intermediate floor may be attached between and generally parallel to the top and bottom floors. The multiple floors may have an opening formed at an edge so that the openings of adjacent floors are opposed and not aligned. A roof may be attached above the top floor and spaced apart to allow entry and exit of cats and protection from weather. A foundation with an access opening may be attached to the bottom floor and may subtend therefrom. 
         [0005]    These and other features, aspects and advantages of the present invention will become better understood with reference to the following drawings, description and claims. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0006]      FIG. 1  illustrates a front perspective elevation view of an outdoor protective structure with the access door open according to an embodiment of the invention; 
           [0007]      FIG. 2  illustrates a front perspective elevation view of an outdoor protective structure with the access door dosed according to an embodiment of the invention; 
           [0008]      FIG. 3  illustrates a back elevation view of an outdoor protective structure according to an embodiment of the invention; 
           [0009]      FIG. 4  illustrates a bottom plan view of an outdoor protective structure according to an embodiment of the invention; 
           [0010]      FIG. 5  illustrates a front perspective elevation view of an outdoor protective structure with the access door open according to an embodiment of the invention; 
           [0011]      FIG. 6  illustrates a bottom perspective view of the bottom floor and the posts of an outdoor protective structure according to an embodiment of the invention; 
           [0012]      FIG. 7  illustrates a partial section view of a front door of an outdoor protective structure according to an embodiment of the invention; 
           [0013]      FIG. 8  illustrates a back perspective elevation of an outdoor protective structure according to an embodiment of the invention. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
       [0014]    The following detailed description represents the best currently contemplated modes for carrying out the invention. The description is not to be taken in a limiting sense, but is made merely for the purpose of illustrating the general principles of the invention. 
         [0015]    Referring to  FIGS. 1 through 5 , an outdoor protective structure or house  10  may have four vertical walls, a top floor  30  and a bottom floor  32  assembled in a generally rectangular box form. There may be one or more floors intermediate and approximately parallel to the top floor  30  and the bottom floor  32  to form a plurality of vertically separated and parallel panels  12  that may include a roof  40  above the top floor  30 . A peaked or inclined roof  40  may be attached to overlie and be spaced apart from the top floor  30  and a foundation  52  may be attached to and subtend below the bottom floor  32 . 
         [0016]    The vertical walls may be a right side wall  24  and a left side wall  26  positioned parallel and spaced apart to extend from the bottom floor  32  to the top floor  30 . A back side wall  22  may be attached at its edges  70  to the right and left side walls  24 ,  26  and to the top and bottom floors  30 ,  32 . The front side wall may be in the form of a door panel  20  that may be attached to the right or left side wall  24 ,  26  by hinges  80 . A latch  82 , clasp or other suitable fastener may be used to fasten the door  20  to a catch  84  opposite the hinges  80  in a closed position and to allow opening for access to the interior of the house  10 . 
         [0017]    The openings in the top and bottom floors  30 ,  32  may be generally rectangular with sides of approximately 6½ to 8 inches. 
         [0018]    The foundation  52  may be formed of rectangular pillars  50  or posts appropriately attached to the bottom floor  32 . The pillars  50  may be spaced apart to form openings  54  that are an appropriate width to allow a cat to pass through. It has been found by experiment that a foundation  52  with a height of approximately 6½ to 9 inches and spacing between pillars  50  of 6½ inches or wider is good for cat safety and comfort. 
         [0019]    The roof  40  may be formed of a right side panel  42  and a left side panel  44  attached at an edge to form a central ridge  46 . The side panels  42 ,  44  may be attached adjacent to outside edges  48  to the top floor  30 , see  FIG. 1 , or to upwardly extending side walls  24 ,  26 , see  FIG. 5 . The incline of the side panels  42 ,  44  may be sufficient to position the central ridge  46  approximately 9 to 10 inches above the top floor  30 . 
         [0020]    A first intermediate floor  34  may be appropriately attached to the right side wall  24  and the left side wall  26  positioned to be generally parallel to and spaced apart from the bottom floor  32 . A second intermediate floor  36  may also be appropriately attached to the right side wall  24  and the left side wall  26  positioned to be generally parallel to and spaced apart from the top floor  30  and from the first intermediate floor  34 . The spacing between floors  30 ,  32 ,  34 ,  36  has been found by experiment to be approximately 8 to 11 inches for good cat safety and comfort. A preferable spacing for typical cat size has been found by experiment to be approximately 9 inches between floors  32 ,  34  to encourage cats to move up one floor and not remain on the bottom floor thus avoiding crowding at the structure  10  entry point. The spacing between floors  34 ,  36  is approximately 10 inches and between floors  36 ,  30  is approximately 9% inches to allow reasonable space for movement and resting of the cats. In the instance of larger or fat cats the spacing may be modified to accommodate for extra space. 
         [0021]    Each of the floors  30 ,  32 ,  34 ,  36  may have an opening formed or cut therein. The openings are illustrated as formed at one edge or corner of each of the floors. The openings may also be formed adjacent an edge of a floor with a portion of the floor forming the edge member  72  as illustrated in the top floor  30  in  FIG. 1 . This structure may be used to increase structural support of the panels  12  at an edge  70  or to position an opening away from an edge  70  for better access. Forming openings at edges  70  or corners may allow for ease of manufacture of the floor elements of the house  10 . When the floors  30 ,  32 ,  34 ,  36  are installed in the house  10 , the openings  60 ,  62 ,  64 ,  66  are positioned to be opposed between each adjacent floor or panel  12  level. In the illustrated embodiment the bottom floor opening  60  is adjacent the back wall  22 , the first floor opening  62  is adjacent the front wall  20 , the second floor opening  64  is adjacent the back wall  22 , and top floor opening  66  is adjacent the front door panel  20 . The floors may be supported on the walls by brackets or wood beams  38 . Slots  100  may also be formed in the side walls  24 ,  26  and back wall  22  for the floors to be slidably inserted for support. The various members may be fastened or attached by fasteners such as screws, pin, nails, latching or catch devices, as well as adhesive and the like. The arrangement of the openings is important since it makes the movement into the house and between floors difficult for animals to traverse except for cats that as animals are flexible and of a certain size. The structure does not include openings in vertical walls because that would make access into chambers of the house  10  easier for larger animal&#39;s mouth, paws and the like. 
         [0022]    A size of house  10  that has been found by experiment to be very functional in an environment where cats roam outdoors and wild animals such as coyotes are present is one in which the house has approximately 2 feet by 3 feet width of sides. The foundation  52  or pillars  50  may be treated with chemical to inhibit rot or other degradation when the house may be constructed of wood and the house  10  may be painted or coated for protection from the environment. The house structure may be formed of plywood, pressboard and the like. The material used to construct the house should result in a house  10  with appropriate weight to be stable relative to environmental elements such as types of animals or weather, for example, a weight of at least 70 pounds has been found by experiment to be useful. Also, the house  10  may be attached or in some manner anchored to an outdoor structure or foundation to aid in maintaining the house  10  in position when an environmental element or animal may impact the house. 
         [0023]    The house  10  may be easily shipped or transported if the elements are formed of wood or plastic material for a buyer or user to purchase and assemble themselves. 
         [0024]    Referring to  FIGS. 1 and 5  through  8 , the house  10  may also be constructed of other suitable material such as plastic. Molded plastic members may be used in place of the illustrated members in  FIG. 1 . The elements of both houses are relatively the same to allow safety and comfort of the cats. The structure illustrated in  FIGS. 5  though  8  illustrate floor members  30 ,  34 ,  36  slidably supported in slots  100  in side walls  24 ,  26 . The bottom floor  32  is illustrated as supporting the vertical walls  22 ,  24 ,  26  that have tab members  102  extending into attachment slots  104  and fastened by screws  106  to the bottom floor  32 . The back wall  22  may also have side extending tab members  102  extending into attachment slots  104  in the vertical edges of the side walls  24 ,  26  for attachment with screws  106  for structural strength. A lower rear tab  116  may extend downward at the bottom edge of the rear wall  22  to provide additional structure to increase protection of the bottom floor opening  60 . This tab  116  may not be necessary if an edge member  72  is part of the opening  60 . 
         [0025]    The plastic members may be formed with a hollow interior as illustrated in  FIG. 5  wherein the walls, floors, roof and posts have opposed side walls  74 ,  76  and a peripheral wall edge  78 . Such construction in the size of house  10  for use with cats may produce a weight of approximately 50 pounds. Sand or the like granular material may be contained in the hollow interior of the posts  50  and the bottom floor  32 , or the back wall  22 , right side wall  24  and left side wall  26  to produce a heavier house  10  for stability. The weight may be 100 pounds or more and produce a lower center of gravity for the house  10  as compared to a wood structure of 70 pounds. The posts  50  may be generally rectangular structure or may be rectangular structure with an inward facing concave surface as best seen in  FIG. 6 . While a concave surface is illustrated in  FIG. 6 , a straight wall or other curved surface may also be used to allow more space for cats to enter the bottom floor opening  60 . The posts  50  may be elongated in width to hold more sand and vary the width of the access openings  54 . 
         [0026]    Carpet  90  may be attached by adhesive or other fastening method to interior floors  30 ,  32 ,  34 ,  36 . In the instance of the use of plastic floors and wall slots  100  there may be a recessed portion  108  formed in the floor to receive the carpet  90  material. There may be a roughened surface  92  formed in the outside upper surface  94  of the front wall  20  and back wall  22 , as illustrated in  FIGS. 7 and 8 , to aid cats in exiting and entering from the top of the house  10 . There may be anchor brackets  110  attached to wood posts  50  or formed as part of plastic posts  50  for use in anchoring a house  10  foundation  52  to a surface structure. If the outside edges  48  of the roof  40  extend over the access door  20  a corner portion  114  of the side panels  42 ;  44  may be removed to allow opening rotation of door  20 , see  FIG. 2 . The roof  40  for a plastic house  10  may have roof attachment brackets  118  molded as part of the roof  40  to strengthen the attachment to the side walls  24 ,  26 . The top edges of the side walls  24 ,  26  may also have increased material thickness for strengthening the roof  40  attachment to avoid damage or separation should someone attempt to move the house  10  by gripping the roof  40 . 
         [0027]    Referring to  FIGS. 2 and 8 , for additional stability of the house  10  the bottom floor  32  may be extended outwardly in size relative to the length and width of the house structure as illustrated in dashed line form in  FIG. 2 . The illustration represents a bottom floor extension outwardly from the right side wall  24  and left side wall  26 . The bottom floor  32  may also be extended outwardly from the front wall  20  or back wall  22 . The posts  50  may be formed with the outward facing walls  51  slanted from the bottom floor  32  away from the vertical plane of the side walls of the house as illustrated in dashed line form in  FIG. 8 . This may allow more stability to inhibit the tipping over of the house  10  due to the wider footprint of the posts  50  and may allow additional space for containing sand in the posts  50 . 
         [0028]    While the invention has been particularly shown and described with respect to the illustrated embodiments thereof, it will be understood by those skilled in the art that the foregoing and other changes in form and details may be made therein without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention.