Abstract:
A pet bed comprises a pad having seams along its edges, which permit the edges to be folded up and tied at the corners. In this manner, the pet bed may be converted back and forth between flat and closed-sided configurations.

Description:
RELATED PATENT APPLICATION 
       [0001]    This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Application No. 60/948,859, filed Jul. 10, 2007 and entitled “CONVERTIBLE PET BED.” 
     
    
     TECHNICAL FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
       [0002]    This invention relates to pads used as bedding for pets, such as cats and dogs. 
       BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0003]    Dog and cat beds come in a vast variety of shapes, sizes, and designs. Some designs are simply pads that lie flat on the floor, whereas others have sides as well as a bottom. The choice between these two designs (flat or closed-sided) depends in large part on the animal&#39;s comfort as well as how the pad is to be used. The choice between a flat or closed-sided design may depend on whether the pet bed is to be used in a carrier or crate, in a vehicle, inside a hard pet bed, or on the floor or furniture. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0004]    A more complete understanding of the present embodiments and advantages thereof may be acquired by referring to the following description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which like reference numbers indicate like features, and wherein: 
           [0005]      FIG. 1  is a perspective view of the pet bed in the flat configuration. 
           [0006]      FIG. 2  is a perspective view of the pet bed in the closed-sided configuration. 
           [0007]      FIG. 3  is a perspective view of an alternative embodiment of the pet bed. 
           [0008]      FIGS. 4A-4F  illustrate the use of the corner ties to tie the pet bed from the flat to the closed-sided configuration. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
       [0009]      FIG. 1  is a perspective view of the pet bed  10  in the flat configuration.  FIG. 2  is a perspective view of the pet bed  10  in the closed-sided configuration. As explained below, pet bed  10  comprises a rectangular pad  11  having a tie  12  at each corner. 
         [0010]    Pad  11  has a fabric covering  11   a  enclosing a compressible filling  11   b  (not shown). The filling may be of various soft materials, including but not limited to foam in a solid piece or in small pieces used as stuffing. An example of a suitable filling is soft polyfill. The thickness of the filling may vary, but is typically about an inch, and as explained below, is sufficiently thin to permit the sides of pad  11  to be folded up and tied at the corners. 
         [0011]    Pad  11  is quilted in a pattern of rows and columns of square sections  11   c . The size of the sections can vary, with a typical size of each square being 3-8 inches. When bed  10  is in the closed-sided configuration, the outer rows and columns are folded up. 
         [0012]      FIG. 3  illustrates an alternative embodiment, in which pad  11  has seams  31  spaced inward from its outer perimeter. A typical spacing from the perimeter is 3-8 inches. The seams facilitate folding of the pad  11 . In the closed-sided configuration, the edges of pad  11  are folded upward along the seams. The area inside the seams could be quilted in any pattern or not quilted at all. 
         [0013]    As illustrated in  FIGS. 4A-4F , pad  11  may be tied at each corner to convert bed  10  from a flat to a closed-sided configuration. A pair of ties  12  is fastened to each corner of pad  11 . Each tie  12  is fastened at the perimeter of pad  11  at the outermost seam. 
         [0014]    Ties  12  are made from any durable cordlike material. If desired, a pair of ties may be pieces of a single length of cord laid across a corner and secured at two edges of pad  11  as shown in  FIG. 4A . The material from which ties are made must be sufficiently durable to withstand repeated tying and untying. 
         [0015]    In the embodiment of  FIG. 4A , each corner of pad  11  has a pair of grommets  42 . These grommets  42  permit the ties  12  to be made from a single piece of cord  43 , which is laid atop pad  11 . Each end of cord  43  is then drawn through one of the grommets  42 . The ends of cord  43  may then be easily tied together. The use of grommets  42  rather than a fixed attachment for ties  12  permits ties  12  to be easily replaced. For example, the ties  12  at each corner of pad  11  may be made from a shoestring. 
         [0016]    As shown in  FIGS. 4B and 4C , the user may close the ties, corner by corner, for one, two, three, or all four corners of bed  10 . Each corner is closed by pulling the two ties at that corner toward each other such that the pulling action on the sides of pad  11  connected to the ties raises those sides to a vertical position. The ties are pulled until the two sides join at a point. A new inner corner  41  is formed within pad  11 . The outermost corner of pad  11  is now folded outside the newly closed sides. 
         [0017]    Next, as shown in  FIGS. 4D-4F , the ties are secured together with a knot. An example of a suitable knot is a “shoelace” type knot, which can be easily untied. 
         [0018]    Referring again to  FIGS. 1 and 2 , the material used for covering  11   a  is selected for durability and easy cleaning. An example of a suitable material is a woven acrylic fiber. The material used for both covering  11   a  and filling  11   b  may be of a type that will permit the entire pet bed  10  to be washed in a washing machine. 
         [0019]    The overall dimensions of pet bed may vary, but for dogs and cats, a typical range of dimensions is 24-42 inches. The shape may be rectangular or square, depending on the size and shape of the animal with which the bed is to be used. 
         [0020]    It should be noted that any one or more of the corners can be tied to form two or more raised sides. In other words, it is not necessary that all four corners be tied together. For example, only one corner could be tied.