Abstract:
A sheet disposed in a chair underside and attachable to the legs of the chair is disclosed. The sheet is configured for forming a downward droop from the weight of a pet and is designed to provide a comfortable resting place for a household cat and other pets as well as provide storage for various household items. The sheet may be attached to the chair by straps connected to and protruding from the perimeter of the sheet. Stiffening bars may be used to reinforce the sides of the sheet. Flaps attached to the sheet perimeter and attachable to the seat may be used to provide a dark and concealed environment for the pet to rest.

Description:
RELATED APPLICATIONS 
       [0001]    This application claims priority from provisional application number 61/519,178 filed on May 18, 2011. 
     
    
     FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
       [0002]    The present invention relates to a stretchable sheet such as a hammock for a chair underside configured to attach to the chair legs. The sheet may be used for holding a household pet or for storing various household items. 
       BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0003]    Pet owners commonly purchase furniture made specifically for their pets to sleep on. A common piece of furniture for cats is the cat hammock. A typical hammock consists of a piece of fabric attached to a support frame, allowing the cat to sit comfortably on top of the fabric portion. U.S. Pat. No. D431,695 to Burt (1999) discloses the common form of cat hammock design. This form of cat hammock requires a specific support frame to be built and utilized only by the cat hammock. 
         [0004]    Similar cat hammock designs disclosed by U.S. Pat. No. D379,682 to Rafaat (1993) and U.S. Pat. No. 5,860,389 to Caldwell (1997) and U.S. Pat. No. D127,808 to Mcgillicuddy (1941) all use the same basic design of an integral support frame. All of these designs require unique frame parts that cannot be used anywhere but the cat hammock itself. 
         [0005]    Similar designs disclosed by U.S. Pat No. D374,512 to Kiley (1996) and U.S. Pat. No. D294,752 to Palier (1988) utilize a built in shade but still utilize the specific, required, frame to support the fabric. While the shade will give a cat some degree of comfort by allowing it to hide from the added cover, the shade does not give total overhead protection. 
         [0006]    All of these designs require the manufacturer to use extra resources and time in order produce a specific support frame for the hammock. This results in wasted materials for the manufacturer, additional shipping requirements for the retail establishments selling the item, and additional cost to the consumer. 
         [0007]    Additionally, a specific volume of space in the consumer&#39;s home is taken up by the required frame of the hammock. In small apartment dwellings, it is undesirable to dedicate this space to pet furniture. Designs disclosed in U.S. patent application Ser. No. 12/648,732 from Edmonds (2009) and Ser. No. 12/141,576 from Howard (2008) attempt to address the space requirements of cat hammocks. One attaches the cat hammock to a window and the other utilizes a fold-able frame. However, both designs still require the use of support frames and the frames are a higher degree of complexity over the previously mentioned designs. 
         [0008]    One design that is currently available for sale eliminates the built in frame of the cat hammock. This design however is dependent upon a specific style of table that utilizes support pegs for the fabric to drape over. This design replaces the specific integral frame of the hammock with a specific integral table design which does not aid in minimizing complexity or cost. 
         [0009]    Generally, the prior art pet hammock designs are deficient in a number of respects: 
         [0010]    (a) They require a specific frame be built for the function of the hammock. Additional manufacturing steps, materials, and costs are the result of this required frame. 
         [0011]    (b) The required support frame results in a specific volume of space being taken up by the hammock. Valuable floor space in the owner&#39;s dwelling is taken up by the previous designs. 
         [0012]    (c) In order to clean around and under the hammock, the owner must move the entire support frame resulting in unnecessary steps. 
         [0013]    (d) The shipping cost of the hammock to consumers is unnecessarily high due to the large required support frame. 
         [0014]    (e) Through the uncovered design of existing hammocks, the cat is exposed without any cover while sleeping. This may be undesirable to the cat and result in limited adoption of the hammock and buyer&#39;s remorse for the consumer. 
       SUMMARY OF THE PRESENT INVENTION 
       [0015]    The objects and advantages of the sheet of the present invention are as follows: 
         [0016]    (a) The sheet design requires no integral support frame. The support for the sheet comes from the consumer&#39;s existing chair. The sheet is attached to the legs of the chair and rests beneath the chair seat. This results in lower manufacturing costs due to less complexity and lower material requirements. 
         [0017]    (b) The sheet design does not take up any additional floor space. The existing space taken up by the chair is utilized by the sheet resulting in no additional clutter or lost space. 
         [0018]    (c) Since the sheet is attached to the chair, a broom or vacuum can easily be moved underneath for cleaning. Since the chair would most likely be moved in the event of cleaning, an extra step of moving the sheet itself is not needed. 
         [0019]    (d) By removing the support frame from the design, the sheet can be shipped in a smaller amount of space resulting in a cost savings to both the retailer and consumer. 
         [0020]    (e) By attaching the sheet to a chair&#39;s legs and situating the sleeping area underneath the chair&#39;s seat, a cat will have a covering overhead. This will be desirable to the cat and result in further use of the sheet and buyer satisfaction of the consumer. 
         [0021]    Further objects and advantages of my invention will become apparent from a consideration of the drawings and ensuing description. 
         [0022]    In an embodiment of the present invention, a sheet for a chair underside adapted for outstretching, the chair having a first leg, a second leg, a third leg and a seat having an area and an outer perimeter, the sheet comprises an outstretched area not exceeding the seat area; an outer perimeter; a first strap having a first end and a second end, the first end of the first strap being attached to a first attaching point disposed on the outer perimeter of the sheet, the second end of the first strap being attached to the first leg of the chair; a second strap having a first end and a second end, the first end of the second strap being attached to a second attaching point disposed on the outer perimeter of the sheet the second end of the second strap being attached to the second leg of the chair; and a third strap having a first end and a second end, the first end of the third strap being attached to a third attaching point disposed on the outer perimeter of the sheet the second end of the third strap being attached to the third leg of the chair. 
         [0023]    In another embodiment of the present invention, the chair comprises four legs, and the sheet further comprises a fourth strap having a first end and a second end, the first end of the fourth strap being attached to a fourth attaching point disposed on the outer perimeter of the sheet, the second end of the fourth strap being attached to the fourth leg of the chair. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0024]      FIGS. 1A to 1C  show the sheet of the present invention attached to a chair in different views. 
           [0025]      FIGS. 2A to 2C  show the sheet of the present invention in standard configuration and alternative configurations with stiffening bars and side flaps. 
           [0026]      FIGS. 3A to 3C  show the stiffening bar configuration of the sheet of the present invention attached to a chair in different views. 
           [0027]      FIGS. 4A to 4C  show the side flap configuration of the sheet of the present invention attached to a chair in different views. 
           [0028]      FIGS. 5A ,  5 B and  6  illustrate a sheet attached to a three legged chair indicating a front view, rear view and top view respectively. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
       [0029]    The main features and components related to the present invention are as follows: 
       Three Leg Chair 
       [0000]    
       
           10 . Attachment patch to support attaching the sheet to the leg 
           11  Sheet seating area 
           12 . Fastening strap for attaching the sheet to the leg. 
           13  Chair seating area 
           14  Chair leg 
           15  Strap—leg interface and closure point 
       
     
         [0000]    
       
         
               
             
               
               
             
           
               
                   
               
               
                 Four leg chair 
               
               
                   
               
             
             
               
                   
               
             
          
           
               
                   
                  1. Chair 
               
               
                   
                 1A. Chair Leg 
               
               
                   
                 1B. Chair Seat 
               
               
                   
                  2. Attachment point 
               
               
                   
                  3. Sheet seating area 
               
               
                   
                  4. Sheet strap 
               
               
                   
                  5. Sheet strap interface to seating area 
               
               
                   
                  6. Stiffening bar 
               
               
                   
                  7. Flap 
               
               
                   
                  8. Flap attachment point to the chair 
               
               
                   
                  9. Flap attachment point to the sheet 
               
               
                   
                 10 3 leg chair attachment point 
               
               
                   
                   
               
             
          
         
       
     
         [0036]    The sheet of the present invention may be attached to a chair having three or four legs. 
         [0037]    A typical embodiment of the sheet of the present invention installed on a chair having four legs is illustrated in  FIG. 1A  (isometric view),  FIG. 1B  (side view), and  FIG. 1C  (front view). The sheet strap  4  is attached to the chair leg  1 A at four attachment points  2  on the chair. One strap will connect to one leg of the chair providing support for the sheet area  3  which may be made of fabric, plastic, wood, metal, or composites. The attachment point  2  of the sheet strap to the chair leg is accomplished by any of the following means: string, hook and loop connections, buttons, snaps, buckles, zipper, strap, magnets, hooks, or other similar devices. 
         [0038]    The typical embodiment of the invention is shown by itself in the non-installed state in  FIG. 2A . The sheet seating area  3  is of a size sufficient to accommodate a reclined pet. The straps  4  are shown attached to the sheet seating area at the interface point  5 . 
         [0039]    One possible alternate design that utilizes stiffening rods is shown in  FIG. 2B . This configuration utilizes stiffening rods  6  attached to two opposite sides of the seating area  3 . The rods are attached to the sheet on the entire length of two sides of the seating area  3 . The straps  4  and interface point  5  are unchanged from the configuration showin in  FIG. 2A . These stiffening rods could make it easier for a pet to enter or exit the sheet when installed. The installation of this configuration is shown on  FIG. 3A  (isometric view),  FIG. 3B  (side view) and  FIG. 3C  (front view). Similar to  FIG. 1A-1C , the strap  4  is attached to the chair leg  1 A at the attachment point  2  by any of the following means: string, hook and loop connections, buttons, snaps, buckles, zipper, strap, magnets, hooks, or other similar devices. 
         [0040]    Another possible alternate design that utilizes side flaps is shown in  FIG. 2C . This configuration utilizes side straps  7  attached to three sides of the seating area  3  at the strap interface area  9 . These side flaps will provide more of an enclosed area for the pet to sit on the seating area  3  when in the installed configuration. The installed configuration is shown in  FIG. 4A  (isometric view),  FIG. 4B  (side view) and  FIG. 4C  (front view). Similar to  FIG. 1A-1C , the strap  4  is attached to the chair leg  1 A at the attachment point  2  by any of the following means: string, hook and loop connections, buttons, snaps, buckles, zipper, strap, magnets, hooks, or other similar devices. The side flaps  7  are attached to the chair at the flap attachment point  8  by any of the following means: string, hook and loop connections, buttons, snaps, buckles, zipper, strap, magnets, hooks, or other similar devices. 
         [0041]    From the description above, a number of advantages of the pet sheet invention become evident: 
         [0042]    (a) The simple construction of the sheet eliminates the need for any special support framework by utilizing the inherent frame created by a chair&#39;s legs. This eliminates a large cost requirement of typical pet sheets. 
         [0043]    (b) The space normally wasted underneath a chair is utilized by this invention. Therefore, additional floor space will not be required to utilize a pet sheet in the home. 
         [0044]    (c) The sheet can be removed from in its installed state on the chair or left in place for cleaning. For cleaning operations such as sweeping or vacuuming of the floor, the sheet can be left attached to the chair and not present an additional item to be moved as opposed to conventional styles of cat sheets. If desired, the sheet can be removed from the chair for simple cleaning of the fabric. 
         [0045]    (d) By having a simple design not requiring any framework, the packaging and shipping of the sheet will be more economical for both the manufacturer and consumer. 
         [0046]    (e) By providing a covered area for a cat to lie, a pet will be more likely to utilize this style of sheet as opposed to an “open air” design of a typical pet sheet without any overhead covering. Therefore, the consumer will be more satisfied with a sheet their pet uses compared to one that the cat does not use very often. 
         [0047]    The manner in which the invention is installed is the same for any of the previously mentioned designs. The main seating area  3  of the sheet is placed underneath of the chair  1  and in between the four chair legs  1 A. The seating area of the sheet is placed equidistant from all four legs resulting in an equal amount of sheet strap  4  to be available for attachment to the chair legs  1 A at the attachment point  2 . Each of the sheet straps  4  are then individually attached at the attachment point  2  to the chair legs  1 A at a level below the chair seat  1 B to allow sufficient access to the sheet by the pet. 
         [0048]    The installation of the design utilizing the side flaps  7  will follow the previous installation instructions with the following addition: once the sheet straps  4  are attached to the chair legs  1 A at the attachment point  2  each side flap  7  is installed to the chair at the flap attachment point  8 . 
         [0049]    In an alternate embodiment shown in  FIGS. 5A ,  5 B and  6 , a sheet  11  attached to legs  14  of a three legged chair  13  using strap  12  and attachment patch  10  at interface point  15 . 
         [0050]    Accordingly, the reader will see that the configuration of this pet sheet invention will allow the user to save space in their home by using the wasted space underneath their existing chairs. Through the simple installation, the user will have the flexibility to use the sheet on virtually any type of chair with four legs. The cost will also be greatly reduced for both the manufacturer and consumer by eliminating the dedicated support structure of the sheet.
       it eliminates the necessary dedicated support frame of the sheet, instead using chair legs for structural support.   it saves floor space by utilizing the wasted area underneath a chair   it makes cleaning around the sheet easy since vacuums and brooms can reach underneath it easily and when the chair is moved for cleaning, the sheet moves with it.   it saves shipping costs by the elimination of the bulky and heavy support frame.   it increases consumer satisfaction by the pet&#39;s repeated use.       
 
         [0056]    While the above description contains specifics, these should not be construed as limitations on the scope of the invention, but rather as an exemplification of one preferred embodiment thereof. Many other variations are possible, and a few were shown in the drawings. Variations such as the style, pattern, outline of the sheet straps and seating area were not mentioned or the manner in which the straps are attached both to the sheet seating area and to the chair. The straps themselves could be eliminated, thereby attaching the sheet seating area directly to the chair. This variation was not mentioned since the same end effect of creating a seating area for a pet attached to the chair legs would be achieved. 
         [0057]    Accordingly, the scope of the invention should be determined not by the embodiments illustrated, but by the appended claims and their legal equivalents.