Abstract:
A pet door connects to the door and to the door frame in both a closed and open position with an opening therein to allow the pet to leave and enter the residence at any time. The pet door also prevents the air-conditioned air from leaving the residence and insects and pests from entering while the door is in the open position.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     Field of the Invention 
     Domestic animals, particularly in the warmer climates, like to have access to both the interior of their owners&#39; residences as well as to the outside. While it might be possible to leave a door open for the animals to move freely between the interior and exterior of the house, it is impractical and inefficient to do so in those warmer climates. Leaving a door open to allow for the freedom allows the air-conditioned air to leave and insects, other pests, and hot, humid air to enter. Yet, the owners of the domestic animals may not be willing or available to open and close the door at the pet&#39;s whim. 
     Thus, there is a need to have a door that can allow the pet to leave whenever the pet so desires without the owner having to be physically present to open and close the door. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention is directed to pet door to be used with a sliding glass door that includes a first panel, the first panel being flexible, and having a first edge portion and a second edge portion, the first edge portion opposite from the second edge portion, an attachment member attached to each of the first first edge portion and the second edge portion, the attachment members connectable to one of a sliding glass door and a door frame associated with the sliding glass door, an opening in a bottom portion of the first panel, the opening sized to allow a pet to pass therethrough, and the first panel being attached to the sliding glass door and the door frame in both a first and a second position, the first position the sliding door being open and the second position the sliding door being closed. 
     In some embodiments, the first panel has a central portion, the central portion being comprised of a clear material to allow a user to see through the first panel. 
     In some embodiments, the first panel comprises at least two panels, an upper panel and a lower panel, the upper panel having a see-through portion and the lower panel having the opening for the pet. 
     In yet other embodiments, the the opening includes at least two intersecting slits, the intersecting slits forming at least two corners in the first panel, the first panel having magnetic elements disposed therein to attract the at least two corners to one another. 
     In yet other embodiments, the pet door also includes hooking members and a pet container, the hooking members attached to the first panel and extending outwardly from the pet door and into a dwelling to which the sliding glass door is connected to engage the pet container and maintain the pet container in a fixed relation to the pet door. 
     In yet another aspect, the invention is directed to a pet door to be used with a sliding glass door that includes a first panel, the first panel being flexible, and having a first edge portion and a second edge portion, the first edge portion opposite from the second edge portion, an attachment member attached to each of the first first edge portion and the second edge portion, the attachment members connectable to one of a sliding glass door and a door frame associated with the sliding glass door, an opening in a bottom portion of the first panel, the opening sized to allow a pet to pass therethrough, and an extension disposed on each of a top edge and a bottom edge of the first panel to engage a portion of a frame of the sliding glass door when in the first position, the first panel being attached to the sliding glass door and the door frame in both a first and a second position, the first position the sliding door being open and the second position the sliding door being closed. 
     In yet another aspect, the invention is directed to a pet door to be used with a sliding glass door that includes a first panel, the first panel being flexible, and having a first edge portion and a second edge portion, the first edge portion opposite from the second edge portion, an attachment member attached to each of the first first edge portion and the second edge portion, the attachment members connectable to one of a sliding glass door and a door frame associated with the sliding glass door, and the attachment member attached to the first edge portion includes a rotatable portion to wind up the first panel during the closing of sliding glass door, an opening in a bottom portion of the first panel, the opening sized to allow a pet to pass therethrough, and the first panel being attached to the sliding glass door and the door frame in both a first and a second position, the first position the sliding door being open and the second position the sliding door being closed. 
     Additional features and advantages of the invention will be set forth in the detailed description which follows, and in part will be readily apparent to those skilled in the art from that description or recognized by practicing the invention as described herein, including the detailed description which follows, the claims, as well as the appended drawings. 
     It is to be understood that both the foregoing general description and the following detailed description of the present embodiments of the invention, and are intended to provide an overview or framework for understanding the nature and character of the invention as it is claimed. The accompanying drawings are included to provide a further understanding of the invention, and are incorporated into and constitute a part of this specification. The drawings illustrate various embodiments of the invention and, together with the description, serve to explain the principles and operations of the invention. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         FIG. 1  is a front view of one embodiment of a pet door in an open position according to the present invention; 
         FIG. 2  is a top view of the pet door of  FIG. 1  with the door in a partially open position; 
         FIG. 3  is a top view of the pet door of  FIG. 1  with the door is the closed position; 
         FIG. 4  is a side view of the pet door illustrating the extension on the panel; 
         FIG. 5  is another embodiment of a pet door according to the present invention; 
         FIG. 6  is a front view of another embodiment of a pet door according to the present invention; 
         FIG. 7  is a top view of another embodiment of a pet door according to the present invention with the door in a closed position; 
         FIG. 8  is a top view of a pet door with hooking members attached thereto; 
         FIG. 9  is a top view of another embodiment of a pet door according to the present invention with the door in a closed position; and 
         FIG. 10  is a top view of the pet door in  FIG. 9  with the door in an open position. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
     Reference will now be made in detail to the present preferred embodiment(s) of the invention, examples of which are illustrated in the accompanying drawings. Whenever possible, the same reference numerals will be used throughout the drawings to refer to the same or like parts. 
     Referring to  FIGS. 1-4 , a pet door  100  is illustrated. The pet door  100  has a first panel  102 , the first panel having a first edge portion  104  and a second edge portion  106 , the first edge portion  104  being on an opposite side of the first panel  102  from the second edge portion  106 . By opposite sides, the inventor means in a left versus right edges and not in a front versus back sides. Each of the edge portions  104 , 106  have an attachment member  108 , 110 , respectively, attached thereto. Each of the attachment members  108 , 110  are preferably one portion of a hook-and-loop fastener. For example, the attachment members  108 , 110  could each be the hook portion of the hook-and-loop fastener, the loop portion of the hook-and-loop fastener, or even one could be the hook portion while the other is the loop portion. The corresponding portion of the hook-and-loop fastener is then attached to a door frame  112  and a door  114 . See, e.g.,  FIGS. 2 and 3 . The attachment members  108 , 110  are preferably attached to the same side (for clarity purposes, this means the inside facing side  116  and outside facing side  118  of the panel rather than opposite edges  108 , 110 ) of the first panel  102 , but could be attached to opposite sides  116 , 118  as well. Alternatively, the attachment members  108 , 100  could also be snap fasteners as well. Again, the male and female portions of the snap fasteners could be attached to the pet door  100  and the door/door frame  112 / 114  in the same manner as described above for the hook-and-loop fasteners. Other types of fasteners (e.g., zippers, buttons, magnets, etc.) could also be used and still fall within the scope of the present invention. 
     The pet door  100  is preferably made from a pliable material such as PVC, plastic, or other materials suitable for the intended purpose. The pet door  100  may also have rigid portions as described in more detail below. The pet door  100  may have a clear portion  130  in a central portion  132  of the first panel  102  to allow the owner to see through the pet door  100 . The clear portion  130  may be transparent plastic (hard or soft/flexible) or, given the appropriate dimensions to allow for movement of the pet door  100  when the door  114  is moved, glass or glass based materials. The clear portion  130  may also be larger or smaller relative to the size of the pet door  100  than that illustrated in figures. 
     The pet door  100  has an opening  140  in a lower portion  142  of the first panel  102 . The opening  140  is illustrated as being comprised of four slits  144 , 146 , 148 , 150  in the lower portion  142 . The opening  140  may be made of any number of appropriate slits and still fall within the scope of the present invention. The first slit  144  is vertical in orientation and intersects the second slit  146 , which is horizontal in orientation, and the first slit  144  preferably intersects the second slit  146  at about the midpoint thereof. At either end of the second slit  146  are two vertically oriented slits  148 , 150 , which complete the opening  140 . Each of the slits  144 , 146 , 148 , 150  penetrate through the first panel  102  so as to allow movement of the flaps  152 , 154  created by slits  144 ,  146 , and  148  and  144 ,  146 , and  150 , respectively. The pet can enter and exit the house by pushing on the flaps  152 , 154 . The flaps  152 , 154  may also each have a magnet  156 , 158  attached to the inner corners thereof, which are attracted to one another, thereby keeping the flaps  152 , 154  together and the opening  140  closed. This keeps the cool air inside and the warm air and insects outside. It should be noted that the slits  144 , 146 , 148 , 150  are far enough away from the edges of the pet door  100  so as not to affect the integrity of the pet door  100 , but close enough to allow even smaller pets to be able to use the door. 
     The pet door  100  may also have stitching  160  that provides a natural folding point for the pet door  100 , for when the door  114  is in the closed position. See  FIG. 3 . The stitching  160  is known to be supportive and prevent the pliable material from breaking, cracking, or otherwise becoming brittle and deteriorating. As illustrated in  FIG. 3 , when the door  114  is closed, the pet door  100  can remain attached to the door frame  112  and to the door  114 . The door  114  can be opened without having to attach the pet door  100  since it remains attached even when closed. As illustrated in  FIG. 4 , the pet door  100  may also have an extension  170  that is disposed at the top and/or bottom there of. The extension is preferably a resilient foam strip that engages the top and/or bottom of the door frame, thereby providing an additional way to seal the door opening when the door  114  is open. As the pet door  100  is stretched with the door  114  open, the extension  170  can resiliently engage the top and/or bottom of the door frame, much in the same way as weather stripping does. Naturally, the extension  170  is oriented on the appropriate side  116 , 118  of the pet door. 
     Another embodiment of a pet door  200  is illustrated in  FIG. 5 . The pet door  200  is similar to the first embodiment, but the first panel  202  of pet door  200  has two independent panels  202   a  and  202   b . The features of the two panels  202   a  and  202   b  are the same as the first embodiment, but the two panel pet door  200  allows the owner/user to modify the height of the pet door  200  to accommodate different sizes of doors and openings. The panels  202   a  and  202   b  have a first edge portion  204   a  and  204   b , respectively, and a second edge portion  206   a  and  206   b , respectively. Each of the edge portions  204   a ,  204   b ,  206   a ,  206   b  have an attachment member  208 , 210 , respectively, attached thereto. The attachment members  208 , 210  are preferably one portion of a hook-and-loop fastener. For example, the attachment members  208 , 210  could each be the hook portion of the hook-and-loop fastener, the loop portion of the hook-and-loop fastener, or even one could be the hook portion, while the other is the loop portion. The corresponding portion of the hook-and-loop fastener is then attached to a door frame  112  and a door  114 . While the attachment members attached to the panels  202   a  and  202   b  are separate from one another (i.e., pieces of the hook-and-loop fasteners), the attachment members attached to the door frame  112  and the door  114  may be one continuous piece. 
     The pet door  200  is also preferably made from a pliable material such as PVC, plastic, or other materials suitable for the intended purpose. The pet door  200  may also have rigid portions as described in more detail below. The pet door  200  may have a clear portion  230  in a central portion  232  of the panel  202   a  to allow the owner to see through the pet door  200 . The clear portion  230  may be transparent plastic (hard or soft/flexible) or, given the appropriate dimensions to allow for movement of the pet door  200  when the door  114  is moved, glass or glass based materials. The clear portion  230  may also be larger or smaller relative to the size of the pet door  200  than that illustrated in figures. 
     The bottom panel  202   b  has an opening  240  in a lower portion  242  of the panel  202   b . The opening  240  is illustrated as being comprised of four slits in the lower portion  242 . The first slit  244  is vertical in orientation and intersects the second slit  246 , which is horizontal in orientation and the first slit  244  preferably intersects the second slit  246  at about the midpoint thereof. At either end of the second slit  246  are two vertically oriented slits  248 , 250 , which complete the opening  240 . Each of the slits  244 , 246 , 248 , 250  penetrate through the panel  202   b  so as to allow movement of the flaps  252 , 254  created by slits  244 ,  246 , and  248  and  244 ,  246 , and  250 , respectively. The pet can enter and exit the house by pushing on the flaps  252 , 254 . The flaps  252 , 254  may also each have a magnet  256 , 258  attached to the inner corners thereof, which are attracted to one another, thereby keeping the flaps  252 , 254  together and the opening  240  closed. This keeps the cool air in and the warm air and insects out of the house. It should be noted that the slits  244 , 246 , 248 , 250  are far enough away from the edges of the pet door  200  so as not to affect the integrity of the pet door  200 , but close enough to allow even smaller pets to be able to use the door. 
     The pet door  200  also has similar attachments members at the bottom of the panel  202   a  and the top of panel  202   b . For example, the panel  202   a  has two larger attachment members  260  at the bottom  262 . These may be one of the hook-and-loop fasteners while the top  264  of panel  202   b  has attachment members  266  which would the other of the hook-and-loop fasteners. The attachment members  260  and  266  cooperate to attach panels  202   a  and  202   b  to one another. Given the sizes of attachment members  260  and  266 , the overall height of the pet door  200  can be altered to accommodate any variability in the height of the door  114  or door frame  112 . Alternatively, the pet door  100 ,  200  could also be made of more sections of panels that allow for further adjustment of the overall height of the pet door. 
     Another embodiment of a pet door  300  is illustrated in  FIG. 6 . The pet door  300  is similar to the other pet doors, but does not have a clear portion in the center of the pet door  300 . Rather, the pet door  300  has a re-closable opening  330 . The re-closable opening  330  is illustrated as being a zipper-type closure, but could also be a hook-and-loop fastener, snaps, etc. The opening  340  and flaps  352 , 354  also have more magnets  350  to keep the flaps closed on pet door  300 . 
       FIG. 7  is a top view of another embodiment of the pet door  400 . In this embodiment, the panel  402  is completely pliable and does not have a preferred bending location. The pet door  400  is illustrated with the door in the closed position. Otherwise, the pet door  400  may have some or all of the other features of the pet doors noted above. 
     Another embodiment of a pet door  500  is illustrated in  FIG. 8 . Pet door  500  can be any of the pet doors discussed and described above. Pet door  500  has hooking members  520  that are attached to the pet door  500  at an appropriate height and to a pet container  522 . The pet can enter the house through the pet door  500  but, given the proximity of the pet container  522  to the pet door  500 , must enter into the pet container  522 . In this way, the owner can prevent the pet from entering areas of the house where the pet is not allowed. The length of the hooking members  522  may depend on the type of pet container  522  and the type and size of the pet. The pet container  522  may also have a second door opposite the pet door  500  to allow for access to the house, if desired, and access to the pet by the owner without having to unhook the pet container from the pet door  500 . 
     Another embodiment of a pet door  600  is illustrated in  FIGS. 9 and 10 . The pet door  600  is preferably all pliable, with or without the clear panel. The pet door  600  has attachment members  606  and  608 . Attachment member  606  is attached to one edge of the pet door  600  and is attached to the door  114 . The attachment member  606  may be one portion of the hook-and-loop fastener or may be an elongated member that attaches directly to the door  114 . The attachment member  608  is attached to the other side of the pet door  600  and also to the door frame  112 . The attachment member  608  has a rotatable portion  626  that, when the door  114  is being closed, winds up the pet door  600 . Similarly, when the door  114  is being opened, the rotatable portion  626  allows the pet door to unwind to a predetermined length. The attachment member  608  has features that allow the door  114 , when in the closed position, to be sealed tightly against the attachment member  608 , as if it were closed against the door frame. 
     It will be apparent to those skilled in the art that various modifications and variations can be made to the present invention without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention. Thus it is intended that the present invention cover the modifications and variations of this invention provided they come within the scope of the appended claims and their equivalents.