Abstract:
A pet traveling kit which integrates a pet bed with a food and water storage system for use in traveling with a pet. Generally resembling a folding garment bag, the portable pet kit of includes a folding shell which carries a cushion for use by the pet to sleep or lounge, and a mesh pocket for use in transporting items a pet may need such as medicine or pet toys. At the fold of the shell are sealable containers adapted to hold food and water releasibly affixed to a spine, which also provides support to the fabric shell. The fabric shell further includes handles or straps and closure for convenient carrying.

Description:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention relates to portable pet beds and more particularly to an integrated pet travel bed and food storage and serving system. 
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     Typically, portable pet beds include a cushion or bedding and handles or carry straps. 
     The major disadvantage of the currently available pet beds is that travelers wishing to take pets with them must carry food, water, and other accessories separately from the pet beds. 
     Currently available pet beds do not fully meet the needs of a pet once the traveler has reached his or her destination. For example, when pets are taken to an outside destination, they frequently require shade. Because the typical portable beds include only a cushion that lays flat, a pet may become dehydrated or overheated. 
     Further, a pet will probably need food and water during a trip. Typical portable pet beds or pet carriers do not include containers for food and water. Even when these containers are present, they are not rigidly affixed to the carrying article. Therefore, the containers may be displaced from the article. Also, the contents of the containers may be easily spilled by the pet while eating or drinking if the containers are not pinned down. 
     There exists a need for an portable pet bed that is more better suited for travel and that includes all of a pet&#39;s necessities in an organized kit so as to accommodate the pet to various surroundings, and to reduce a traveler&#39;s packing inconvenience. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     According to its major aspects and broadly stated, the present invention is an integrated pet bed having a food and water storage system for use in traveling with a pet. The present invention is not a pet carrier, but instead it carries the items a pet might need during a trip. 
     Generally, the present invention resembles a piece of luggage. In particular, the present invention resembles a folding garment bag. When opened, it displays various contents and compartments. 
     The portable pet kit of the present invention includes a folding fabric shell having two halves. One half of the fabric shell includes a cushion for use by the pet to sleep or lounge. The second half of the fabric shell includes a mesh bag for use in carrying items a pet may need such as medicine or pet toys. At the fold of the fabric shell are sealable containers adapted to hold food and water rigidly affixed to a key bar, which also provides support to the fabric shell. The fabric shell further includes handles or straps and a closure for convenient carrying. 
     The sealable containers are attached to a rigid member at the base of the containers which has a slot formed therein through which the key bar is inserted. The key bar is threaded through the fabric shell and includes a spring loaded detent for attaching and releasing the rigid member to the key bar. In addition to providing means for attaching the sealable containers, the key bar also provides support and rigidity to the fabric body. 
     In an alternative preferred embodiment of the present invention, a pet hood is added. The attachment generally resembles the canopy covers seen on typical baby carriages. The hood is preferably openable to different extents to provide various amounts of shade depending on the needs of the pet. The hood includes a fabric cover attached to frame members, rotationally affixed to each other and supported by a gear mechanism. The hood is placed through apertures in the fabric shell and preferably provides shading over the cushion. 
     A major feature of the invention is the portable fabric shell. The fabric shell is capable of carrying all of a pet&#39;s necessities in one place. The shell includes a bed, sealable containers for food and water, a pocket or container means for carrying pet toys and/or pet medication. 
     Another important feature of the invention is the attaching means for the sealable containers. This attaching means prevents the containers from falling out of the fabric shell and being misplaced during travel. Further, the attachment of the containers to the fabric shell allows the pets to eat or drink without their containers moving and potentially spilling their contents. The fixture of the containers will also reduce the amount of cleaning to be done on the part of the pet owner. 
     Still another important feature of the invention is the hood of the alternative preferred embodiment. This hood provides a shade for the pet that has to be outside and exposed to the sun or rain. Not only will a pet with be more comfortable, but the hood will help to avoid dehydration of a pet. 
     Yet another important feature of the invention that the portable pet kit can be folded flat or compressed during storage or traveling. This feature provides added convenience to the traveler, particularly if a large amount of luggage is being taken on the trip. 
    
    
     Other features and advantages will become apparent to those skilled in the art from a careful reading of the Detailed Description of Preferred Embodiment accompanied by the following drawings. 
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     A more complete understanding of the invention may be had by reference to the following detailed description when taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings: 
     FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the pet traveling kit taken from one end thereof showing that the pet traveling kit in its fully closed configuration, according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention; 
     FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the pet traveling kit of FIG. 1 showing the pet kit in its fully opened configuration; 
     FIG. 3 is a detailed perspective view showing the attaching means of the sealable container through which the key bar is threaded; 
     FIG. 4A is a greatly enlarged partial sectional view of the key bar attached by a spring loaded detent; 
     FIG. 4B is a greatly enlarged partial sectional view of the key bar released from the spring loaded detent; 
     FIG. 5A is a perspective view of the alternative preferred embodiment of the traveling pet kit of FIG. 1 shown with a hood, according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention; 
     FIG. 5B is a perspective view of the alternative preferred embodiment of the traveling pet kit of FIG. 1 shown with a hood in a collapsed, flattened configuration, according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention; 
     FIG. 6A is greatly enlarged partial sectional view of the gear mechanism and the rotationally attached frame members; 
     FIG. 6B is a greatly enlarged partial sectional view of the gear mechanism of FIG. 6A attached to the frame members; 
     FIG. 6C is a greatly enlarged partial sectional view of the turning means of the gear mechanism of FIG.  6 A. 
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
     Referring specifically to the drawings, the portable pet kit will be disclosed. 
     FIG. 1 shows a portable pet kit  2  in accordance with the present invention, in a fully closed configuration. As was noted above, it is a particular feature of the present invention that portable pet kit  2  can be folded in a relatively flat configuration for convenient storing and traveling. As shown, pet kit  2  includes a shell  4  which may be made of any desired material such as any type of cloth or woven material that can be easily compressed. Portable pet kit  2  may be provided with a conventional handle  16  comprising opposed handle portions or straps  6  and  18  secured to opposing top edges  8  and  10  of pet kit  2 . During travel, one may carry pet kit  2  by hand or over the shoulder using straps  6  and  18 . Straps  6  and  18  facilitate the carrying of pet kit  2 , however, pet kit  2  may also be transported by simply grabbing on to top edges  8  and  10 . Portable pet kit  2  is closed using a releasible means  38  which may be made of any desired fastener. 
     FIG. 2 shows portable pet kit  2  in a fully opened configuration ready for use by pet and comprising an inner surface  22  having various contents. As shown, inner surface  22  of shell  4  includes a first half  24  and a second half  26 . A cushion  28  which may be made using various shapes, sizes, and materials is attached by a releasible fastening means  34  to first half  24  of inner surface  22 . Preferably, releasible fastening means  34  is located at base  32  of cushion  28  and may be made of any desired fastener including a hook and loop fastener. As releasible closing means  38  for shell  4 , inner surface  22  of shell  4  includes a loop fastener  36  located in first half  24  of shell  4  that connects with a hook fastener  50  of second half  26  of shell  4 . 
     As discussed above, a major advantage of the present invention over the prior art is that all of the items a pet may need are easily storable in pet traveling kit  2 . Therefore, one traveling with a pet need not take separate bags or containers in addition to pet kit  2 . Such storage is at least partially achieved by a pocket  46  located on inner surface  22  of second half  26 . Pocket  46 , which is normally secured in a closed configuration by a closure  54 , is attached to inner surface  22  by releasible fastening means  30 . Any number of closures may be used for pocket  46 , including zippers, rib and groove fasteners, buttons, drawstring closures, hook and loop fasteners, and overlapping panels. Although pocket  46  may be made of any desired material, the use of a meshed or netted material is preferred, as shown in FIG.  2 . The mesh material is advantageous because it allows the pet owners to see all of the pet items. Therefore, the contents of the pocket  46  need not be emptied to locate a specific item. 
     As illustrated in FIG. 2, another major advantage of the present invention is a container  64  which is releasibly attached to a spine  48  of shell  4 . This feature not only prevents the misplacement of container  64 , but it also reduces the potential for a pet to knock over container  64  and spill its contents while eating or drinking. Further, container  64  includes a press fit lid  70  which secures the contents of container  64  during travel. The preferred embodiment shows a second container  66  which enables the simultaneous carrying of food and water. 
     FIG. 3 illustrates the mechanism by which container  64  is releasibly affixed to spine  48  of shell  4 . This feature of the present invention has the dual purpose of providing a means for releasibly affixing container  64  to shell  4 , and also adding support and rigidity to shell  4 . As shown, container  64  is seated in an upright position and includes a first and second rigid base member  74  and  76  having corresponding slots  78  and  80 . Although the preferred embodiment shows two rigid base members  74  and  76 , only one is sufficient to affix container  64  to spine  48  of shell  4 . Spine  48  includes an interior bar  92  and an exterior bar  84  dimensioned to fit into slots  78  and  80  of base members  74  and  76  of container  64 . As shown, affixation of container  64  to spine  48  is achieved by inserting base members  74  and  76  through slit openings  82 . Next, exterior bar  84  is threaded through shell  4  between first half  24  and second half  26  and into slots  78  and  80  of container  64 . Finally, exterior bar  84  is releasibly attached to a detent  90  located within interior bar  92 . As further shown in FIG. 3, exterior bar  84  includes a ring  88 . The purpose of ring  88  is to facilitate exterior bar&#39;s  84  insertion into and release from shell  4 ; however, it is not necessary to the function of exterior bar  84 . 
     FIG.  4 A and FIG. 4B show an enlarged view how exterior bar  84  is attached to and released from shell  4 . As shown, exterior bar  84  telescopically fits over interior bar  92 . Once exterior bar  84  is threaded through shell  4  and into base members  74  and  76  of container  64 , it slides over interior bar  92  and is releasibly affixed to shell  4  by detent  90  contained in interior bar  92 . As shown, detent  90  comprises a spring  52 , and a top member  94  which telescopically fits within a bottom member  96 . Top member  94  and bottom member  96  serve as buttons for the release of exterior bar  84 . When detent  90  is in locked position, spring  52  is expanded and top  94  member and bottom member  96  are exposed through apertures  100  and  102  of interior and exterior key bars  92  and  84 . 
     The release of exterior key bar  84  is shown in FIG.  4 B. Once top member  94  and bottom member  96  of detent  90  are pushed into each other, spring  52  contracts allowing for exterior bar  84  to be released. This releasing capability is important because container  64  may be more effectively laundered if removed from shell  4 . 
     FIG.  5 A and FIG. 5B show portable pet kit  2  in accordance with an alternative preferred embodiment of the present invention, this being particularly suited for situations in which a pet will be exposed to sun or rain. In the alternative preferred embodiment, pet kit  2  includes a hood  104  resembling the canopy of a baby carriage. As previously discussed, it is a particular feature of the present invention to provide a way to prevent the dehydration of a pet that must be outside for an extended period of time. As shown, hood  104  is in a fully opened configuration and includes a cover  106 , which can be made of any desired fabric or material. Cover  106  of hood  104  is supported by and attached to a frame  108 , comprising plural frame members  98 , which are rotationally attached and supported by a gear means  110 . Gear means  110  includes a first and a second gear  116  and  126  which spread out frame  108  to different extents and releasibly attach hood  104  to apertures  12  and  14  of shell  4 . As shown, hood  104  is anchored to shell  4  by a post  124  that is affixed to both first and second gear  116  and  126 . Post  124  is dimensioned to fit into apertures  12  and  14 . In FIG. 5A, frame  108  includes three frame members; however, hood  104  may also be made of more or less depending on the amount of support needed by the given material and the amount of shade desired. As illustrated in FIG. 5B, hood  104  is collapsible and may be folded flat. This feature provides for the convenient storing and carrying of hood  104  by shell  4 . 
     In FIG. 6A, FIG. 6B, and FIG. 6C, gear means  110  from one side of shell  4  is shown. This feature is important because it enables hood  104  to be releasibly affixed to shell  4  and to be opened to different extents providing various amounts of shade. Gear means  110  comprises gear  116  having a rigid member  118 , plural teeth  120  extruding from rigid member  118 , and post  124 . As shown, plural teeth  120  are evenly spaced. FIG. 6A particularly shows how gear  116  is inserted into frame  108  of hood  104 . Each member of plural frame members  98  includes slots  122  dimensioned to receive a tooth of plural teeth  120  of gear  116 . As shown, a tooth of plural teeth  120  of gear  116  is inserted into slots  122  of each frame member of plural frame members  98 . 
     FIG. 6B shows the method by which gear  116  spreads out frame  108 . As shown, slots  122  of each frame member of plural frame members  98  receives a tooth of plural teeth  120 . Hood  104  may also be opened to different extents. By pushing in frame  108 , it is released from gear  116 . Once each tooth of plural teeth  120  is disengaged from slots  122  of frame  108 , frame  108  may be realigned, opened to different extents, and then reattached to gear  116 . This flexibility allows for various forms of shading for a pet. Depending on the environment conditions a pet may need more or less shade. 
     Finally, FIG. 6C illustrates post  124  of gear means  110 . This feature is significant because post  124  is the method by which gear means  110  releasibly attaches hood  104  to shell  4 . Post  124  includes a first end  130  that is rigidly affixed to gear  116  and opposing end  132  which is dimensioned to fit aperture  12  of shell  4 . As shown, aperture  12  includes a grommet  160  which maintains aperture  12  at a dimension capable of receiving post  124 . Grommet  160  further provides support for post  124 .