Abstract:
A pad for protecting animals transported in vehicles includes a cushioned base portion arranged to be laid flat onto a support surface of the vehicle such that the first portion has a top surface. The pad can also have a cushioned rear portion arranged to be positioned adjacent to the base portion at an angle to the base portion such that the second portion has a front surface. The top and front surfaces are preferably covered by a vinyl covered fabric composite material. The base and rear portions can be contiguously connected along a fold line.

Description:
[0001]     This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Application Ser. No. 60/723,575 filed Oct. 4, 2006. 
     
    
     TECHNICAL FIELD OF THE INVENTION  
       [0002]     The invention relates to cushioned padding for transporting canines in vehicles, boarding kennels, veterinary clinics, and home.  
       BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
       [0003]     Current public safety vehicles used for transporting canines, such as police cars, are equipped with a kennel system comprised of metal walls, a ceiling and a floor. The floor is generally covered with a one-half inch to one inch thick rubber pad.  
         [0004]     During transportation, canines can be subjected to forces and accelerations that cause the canine to impact against the walls or floor of the kennel system. Also, the constant application of forces from variable directions can cause a standing canine to be constantly attempting to compensate so as to not fall within the vehicle. Such forces can cause stress on the canine, and particularly stress on the canine&#39;s hips and spine.  
         [0005]     The present inventor has recognized that it would be desirable to provide an enhanced stability of the canine in the vehicle, and to provide an enhanced protection from impact of the canine against the rear wall. The present inventor has recognized that it would be desirable to reduce the stress and degeneration of a canine&#39;s hips and spine caused by the rigors of continuous transportation in an emergency vehicle. The present inventor has recognized that it would be desirable to provide an impact protection pad for a canine that resists damage from biting and clawing, and is also hypo-allergenic.  
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
       [0006]     The present invention provides a protection pad for a vehicle kennel that installs over the heretofore known rubber floor pad and against the rear metal wall. The protection pad increases the stability of the canine in the vehicle by increasing the paw and claw grip of the canine on the protection pad and creates an impact cushion against the rear wall. It is anticipated that the invention will dramatically reduce the stress and degeneration of a canine&#39;s hips and spine caused by the rigors of continuous transportation in an emergency vehicle.  
         [0007]     The protection pad comprises an outer cover composed of a thick vinyl covered fabric composite such as a Naugahyde® brand material available from Uniroyal Engineered Products, LLC, Naugahyde National Sales Office, of Stoughton, Wis., USA, or a PATRIOT PLUS II brand material available from Spradling International, Inc. of Pelham, Ala., USA. The pad resists damage from biting and clawing, and is hypo-allergenic.  
         [0008]     The protection pad is a one piece system that covers the kennel floor and extends up the rear wall of the kennel. Beneath the outer cover is a base cushion and a wall cushion. The base cushion comprises a two inch thick foam pad that extends substantially over the width and length of the floor of the kennel. The wall cushion comprises a one inch thick foam pad that extends substantially along the width and height of the kennel. An impact cushion comprising a one inch thick foam pad is affixed to the wall cushion and extends the width of the wall cushion. The impact cushion covers about one-third of the height of the wall cushion, and is substantially vertically centered on the wall cushion. The impact cushion faces into the kennel and supports the canine during impact against the rear wall. The outer cover and the wall cushion are secured by three to five hooks affixed to a grommet strip of the outer cover and attached to the rear wall of the kennel system.  
         [0009]     Preferably these cushions are contained within pockets formed between the outer cover and backing pieces of fabric material beneath the base cushion and wall cushion. The backing pieces can also be composed of vinyl covered fabric. The outer cover of the pad is preferably one continuous, seamless piece of vinyl covered fabric, extending along the base cushion and wall cushion. The outer cover of vinyl covered fabric wraps over the top and sides of the foam and is attached beneath the cushions, particularly to the two separate backing pieces sewn together and to the outer cover.  
         [0010]     As a further aspect of the invention, the protection pads can also be used with or without the wall cushion as bedding in boarding kennels, veterinarian clinics, and pet owner&#39;s homes. The boarding kennel, veterinary and home use pad can be constructed of the same vinyl covered fabric and foam pad and varied in width and length based on the desired need.  
         [0011]     One benefit of the two inch thick base cushion is to allow the canine to depress its paws into the cushion, eliminating sliding. The two inch pad also absorbs shock from vehicle movement. One benefit of the rear wall cushion is to absorb the shock of the canine&#39;s collision against the wall. This is found to be the most common point of impact while a canine is traveling in a vehicle. The additional strip of one inch padding creates an added, contoured buffer against rear wall impact.  
         [0012]     By use of this specific composite vinyl covered fabric as the outer cover, the protection pad does not retain hair, dander, or soils, making it hypo-allergenic. This material is easily cleaned by application of water and wiping and drying with a cloth.  
         [0013]     Numerous other advantages and features of the present invention will be become readily apparent from the following detailed description of the invention and the embodiments thereof, and from the accompanying drawings. 
     
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       [0014]      FIG. 1  is a fragmentary perspective view showing the protection pad of the present invention installed into a vehicle to protect a canine;  
         [0015]      FIG. 2  is a perspective view of the protection pad of the present invention;  
         [0016]      FIG. 3  is a side view of the protection pad;  
         [0017]      FIG. 4  is a plan view of the protection pad, shown flattened;  
         [0018]      FIG. 5  is a sectional view taken generally along line  5 - 5  of  FIG. 4 ;  
         [0019]      FIG. 6  is a plan view of an alternate embodiment protection pad of the present invention, shown flattened;  
         [0020]      FIG. 7  is a side view of the protection pad of  FIG. 6 ; and  
         [0021]      FIG. 8  is a front view of a further alternate embodiment protection pad of the present invention. 
     
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS  
       [0022]     While this invention is susceptible of embodiment in many different forms, there are shown in the drawings, and will be described herein in detail, specific embodiments thereof with the understanding that the present disclosure is to be considered as an exemplification of the principles of the invention and is not intended to limit the invention to the specific embodiments illustrated.  
         [0023]      FIG. 1  illustrates a protection pad in accordance with the present invention. The protection pad  10  includes a base portion  12  and a rear portion  14 . The base portion  12  is supported on a horizontal surface within a caged area of the automobile, and the rear wall surface  14  is supported in a substantially vertical orientation by being attached to a rear cage wall  24  within the vehicle.  
         [0024]      FIG. 2  illustrates the protection pad  10  of the invention in more detail. The base portion  12  is integrated with the rear portion  14  continuously along a fold line  28 . The rear portion  14  includes a protruding bumper pad  32  that extends in a vertical direction about one third the total height of the rear portion  14 , substantially vertically centered thereon and extends laterally substantial equivalent to the lateral dimension of the rear portion  14 . A strip  36  extends above the rear portion  14  and holds a plurality of grommets or reinforcements  40 . The grommets  40  are fastened or otherwise attached to the strip  36 , and allow for openable chain link connectors or hooks or clasps  41  (one shown) to engage a respective grommet  40  and part of the kennel rear cage wall.  
         [0025]      FIG. 4  shows the plan view of the pad  10 . The pad  10  comprises a top cover  48  extending throughout a length L of the pad  10  plus an additional length to account for the strip  36 , and over a width W. According to the preferred embodiment, the length L is about 54 inches, and the width W is about 48 inches. Beneath the cover  48 , a 2 inch thick foam cushion  52  is arranged within the base portion  12 . The foam cushion has a preferred lateral dimension of about 46 inches compared to a preferred overall lateral dimension of the pad  10  of about 48 inches, to allow for some clearance to construct the pad. The longitudinal length of the foam cushion  52  can also be smaller than the pad to allow for some clearance to construct the pad.  
         [0026]     A foam cushion  54 , about 1 inch thick, is also arranged beneath the cover  48 , within the rear wall portion  14 . The bumper cushion  32  is formed by a further 1 inch foam cushion  58  that is glued to the 1 inch foam cushion  54 . The foam cushions  54 ,  58  also have a lateral dimension of approximately 46 inches. The longitudinal length of the foam cushion  54  can also be smaller than the pad to allow for some clearance to construct the pad.  
         [0027]      FIG. 5  illustrates the pad  10  is constructed by the cover  48  extending around a backside of the cushion  52  and being secured to a first backing fabric piece  62  at a seam  64 , by stitching or the like. A similar arrangement is undertaken on opposite sides of the foam cushion  52  so that the foam pad is entirely enclosed between the cover  48  and the first fabric backing piece  62 . Around the fold line  28  the first backing piece  62  is stitched or otherwise connected to the cover  48  and to a second fabric backing piece  66  at a seam  68 . The second fabric backing piece  66  and the cover  48  completely enclose the foam cushions  54 ,  58 . The second backing piece  66  is stitched or otherwise connected to the front cover  48  on each opposite side and also at a front seam  72  by stitching or the like.  
         [0028]     The cushions  52 ,  54  have width, thickness and length dimensions to substantially fill the pockets formed between the cover  48  and the backing pieces  62 ,  66 .  
         [0029]     The front cover  48  and the second backing piece  66  extend past the seam  72  to form the strip  36  which mounts the grommets  40 . The cover  48  and the second backing piece  66  are also stitched or otherwise secured around a perimeter of the strip  36 , such as at a front end seam  78 .  
         [0030]     According to one aspect of the invention, the cover  48  is composed of a material that is advantageous for use with canines, such as composite vinyl covered fabric. The first and second backing pieces  62 ,  66  can also be composed of the same material as the cover  48 . Advantageously, the finished surface or smooth side of the material faces toward the outside of the pad  10 .  
         [0031]      FIGS. 6 and 7  illustrate an alternate embodiment protection pad in accordance with the present invention. The embodiment can have identical features as the first described embodiment except as differentiated herein. The protection pad  100  includes a base portion  102  and a rear portion  104 .  
         [0032]     In use, the base portion  102  is supported on a horizontal surface within a caged area of the automobile, and the rear wall surface  104  is supported in a substantially vertical orientation by being attached to the rear cage wall  24  within the vehicle.  
         [0033]     The base portion  102  is integrated with the rear portion  104  continuously along a fold line  128 . The rear portion  104  includes a protruding bumper pad  132  substantially vertically centered thereon and extends laterally substantial equivalent to the lateral dimension of the rear portion  104 . A strip  136  extends above the rear portion  104  and holds a plurality of grommets or reinforcements  140 . The grommets  140  allow for the openable chain link connectors or hooks or clasps  41  to engage a respective grommet  140  and part of the kennel rear cage wall.  
         [0034]     The pad  100  comprises a top cover  148  extending throughout a length LL of the pad  100  and over a width WW. According to the preferred embodiment, the lengths LL 1  is about 17 inches, the lengths LL 2  is about 27 inches, the lengths LL 3  is about 20 inches, the width WW 1  is about 56 inches, and the width WW 2  is about 43 inches. Beneath the cover  148 , a 2 inch thick foam cushion  152  is arranged within the base portion  102 . The foam cushion has a preferred lateral dimension of slightly less than overall lateral dimension WW 1  of the pad  100 , and a longitudinal dimension slightly less than LL 2  to allow for some clearance to construct the pad.  
         [0035]     A foam cushion  154 , about 1 inch thick, is also arranged beneath the cover  148 , within the rear wall portion  104 . The bumper cushion  132  is formed by a further 1 inch foam cushion  158  that is glued to a back of the 1 inch foam cushion  154 . The foam cushions  154 ,  158  also have a lateral dimension slightly less than the dimension WW 2  and the cushion  154  has a longitudinal length slightly less than LL 3  to allow for some clearance to construct the pad.  
         [0036]     A reinforcing strip  160  of ABS plastic can be integrated with the strip  136 , by being covered by, and/or sewn to, the strip  136 . The strip  160  preferably extends about 6-8 inches downward in the direction P into the rear portion  104  beneath the cover  148  and over the cushion  154 . The grommets  140  can be formed with or otherwise attached to the strip  260 . The reinforcing strip  260  increases the durability of the pad.  
         [0037]      FIG. 8  illustrates a further alternate embodiment protection pad in accordance with the present invention. The embodiment can have identical features as the first described embodiment except as differentiated herein.  
         [0038]     In use, the protection pad  200  is either supported on a horizontal surface within a caged area of the automobile, or is supported in a substantially vertical orientation by being attached to the rear cage wall  24  within the vehicle.  
         [0039]     The protection pad  200  can include a protruding bumper pad  232  substantially vertically centered thereon and extends laterally substantial equivalent to the lateral dimension of the protection pad  200 . A strip  236  extends above the protection pad  200  and holds a plurality of grommets or reinforcements  240 . The grommets  240  are formed with or otherwise attached to the strip  236 , and allow for the openable chain link connectors or hooks or clasps  41  to engage a respective grommet  240  and part of the kennel rear cage wall.  
         [0040]     The pad  200  comprises a top cover  248  extending throughout a length LLL of the pad  100  and over a width WWW. According to the preferred embodiment, the length LLL is about 20 to 30 inches or as desired, and the width WWW is about 48 inches. Beneath the cover  248 , a 1 or 2 inch thick foam cushion  252  is arranged within the protection pad  200 . The bumper cushion  232  is formed by a further 1 inch foam cushion  258  that is glued to the foam cushion  252 . The foam cushions  252 ,  258  have dimensions of slightly less than the dimensions LLL and WWW to allow for some clearance to construct the pad.  
         [0041]     A reinforcing strip  260  of ABS plastic can be integrated with the strip  236 , by being covered by, and/or sewn to, the strip  236 . The strip  260  preferably extends about 6-8 inches in the direction P into the pad  200  beneath the cover  248  and over the cushion  252 . The grommets  240  can be formed with or otherwise attached to the strip  260 . The reinforcing strip  260  increases the durability of the pad.  
         [0042]     As with the first embodiment, the covers  148 ,  248  are composed of a material that is advantageous for use with canines, such as composite vinyl covered fabric. The strips and grommets are advantageously composed of ABS plastic. Advantageously, the finished surface or smooth side of the material faces toward the outside of the pads  100 ,  200 .  
         [0043]     Another aspect of the invention is that the pads  10 ,  100  and  200  can be used in selected combinations or alone to cover an entire inside surface of a kennel system or just certain surfaces such as the floor or back surface.  
         [0044]     From the foregoing, it will be observed that numerous variations and modifications may be effected without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention. It is to be understood that no limitation with respect to the specific apparatus illustrated herein is intended or should be inferred.