Abstract:
A kit for converting a cylindrical container into a subterranean animal shelter includes a cradle for supporting and stabilizing the container when placed on its side; a curtained door; and a piece of material, typically netting, large enough to drape the container, forming a tent, and to support the placement of soil to substantially cover the container with a mound of dirt to permit the sewing of vegetation or laying of sod, thus creating a secure and comfortable subterranean shelter.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     This invention relates, in general, to backyard housing for domesticated animals, typically pets; and, in most instances, the disclosed abode will be described primarily in terms descriptive of, and relevant to, housing for the family&#39;s favorite pets. 
     DESCRIPTION OF THE PRIOR ART 
     Earlier inventors, for various reasons, have been motivated to apply their creativity to the design and creation of subterranean shelters for animals. For instance, U.S. Pat. No. 2,034,156, issued Mar. 17, 1936, to Snider, discloses a den for foxes. The den is designed to be buried in the earth up to one-half its height with additional dirt piled up around the sides and up to the rim of the removable lid. The den is described as well-insulated and therefore warm in the winter and cool in the summer. 
     U.S. Pat. No. 2,324,339, issued Jul. 13, 1943, to Vanbussum, describes an elaborate subterranean den with tunnels to provide wildlife with a suitable habitat for whelping and rearing their young. 
     U.S. Pat. No. 2,795,208, issued Jun. 11, 1957, to Rasmussen, describes a combination of underground and an above-ground enclosures providing an option for a confined animal, ideally resulting in a healthier animal with a more marketable pelt. 
     U.S. Pat. No. 5,809,936, issued Sep. 22, 1998, to Wall describes a virtual subterranean pleasure dome decreed by the inventor to have a foyer for unhindered entry and egress, a venting and air heating system coupled to the master&#39;s residence and a ventilation outlet conduit for automatically refreshing the air within the housing with clean and aromatically pleasing air. 
     While the housing kit disclosed herein falls woefully short when it comes to providing the amenities and creature comforts for man&#39;s most favored domesticated creature described in the disclosures of the prior art, the disclosed housing kit offers simpler yet inventively distinct features that are more suitable for mass-marketing an uncomplicated structure ideally suited for housing the family pet in clean and comfortable backyard quarters. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     Essentially, the disclosed animal shelter is presented in the form of a kit facilitating the construction of a subterranean animal shelter from a cylindrical container. More specifically, the kit comprises a cradle for stabilizing and supporting the cylindrical container when placed on its side; a curtained door to provide for easy entry and exit by the occupant of the shelter; and a piece of material, sufficiently sized to drape over the container, forming a tent to support the placement of soil and sod to substantially cover the container, thus creating the subterranean shelter. A preferred embodiment of the kit will include the above-listed items neatly enclosed within said container or sold with instructions for obtaining and refurbishing a used container. 
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING 
     FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the disclosed shelter kit prior to draping with the soil-supporting and stabilizing material. 
     FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the disclosed shelter draped with the soil-supporting material. 
     FIG. 3 is an elevated frontal view of the support cradle 
     FIG. 4 is an elevated frontal view of the curtained door. 
    
    
     DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
     A full understanding of the disclosed shelter is afforded by referring directly to the four views of the drawing. FIG. 1 presents a perspective view of the disclosed shelter  10  without the draping  24 . In this depiction, the cylindrical container  12  is shown resting on its side  16  and supported by a pair of cradles  22 . Typically, the container has a top  14 , a bottom (not shown) and a continuously curving side  16 . These containers are frequently found in 55 and 30 gallon sizes and are fabricated from either metal or plastic materials. They can be new or unused but are frequently offered for sale by manufacturers who receive large quantities of chemicals, reagents or solvents in the course of their business. 
     When placed on its side, of course, the cylindrical container  12  is unstable and possesses very little inertia. A slight slope or lateral force is all that is necessary to reposition the container away from the desired location. To stabilize the container  12 , the shelter kit  10  will provide a pair of cradles  22  that will be positioned fore and aft of the container as it rests on its continuously curving side  16 . 
     In FIG. 3, a detailed depiction of a preferred cradle  22  shows that it will have a substantially flat bottom surface  25  and a notched upper surface. In this particular embodiment, the cradle  22  has two pairs of notches  21  and  23  for accommodating two different sizes of containers. Notches  21  will permit the stable cradling of a smaller container than notches  23 , which are farther apart. Typically, notches  21  will accommodate a 30 gallon container and notches  23  will cradle a 55 gallon container or drum. 
     Returning again to FIG. 1, it is apparent that a portal is provided to allow and permit entry and egress to and from the interior of the container  14 . Preferably, this portal is provided in the top  14  of the container and is framed by door  18 . The door is further adorned with a curtain or portiere  20  positioned over the opening of the door to provide additional comfort, and perhaps an element of privacy, to the inhabitant of the shelter by offering protection from the elements. The door could be any size or shape, but a substantially rectangular door has been found to be easy and inexpensive to construct and install. Furthermore, the door can be fabricated from any of a variety of materials, but currently a plastic frame is performing nicely. 
     The curtain or portiere  20  need be nothing special, but current manufacturing specifications call for a series of rubber or soft plastic flaps or strips that are longitudinally suspended from the top of the door frame  18 . FIG. 4 provides an enlarged depiction of the door  18  and curtain  20 . 
     FIG. 2 provides a depiction of the disclosed kit  10  fully assembled and ready to cover or bury with soil or earth. To facilitate the “burial”, the kit provides a piece of cloth  24  that is large enough to drape over cylindrical container  12  as it rests on its continuously curving side  16  on the paired cradles  22 , which, in turn, rest securely on the ground. The material is draped over the container in a tent-like fashion, and it is suggested that the corners of the material be secured to the ground by pegs  26 . These pegs may or need not be part of the kit. They perform their function during the “burial” process, and they are ultimately covered by soil, so their appearance and durability need not be remarkable. Clearly, a preferred embodiment of the disclosed kit would include stakes, if only to simplify construction of the kit. 
     This draped material  24  can be fashioned from any of a variety of materials, but a woven mesh material, similar to the material currently being used by landscapers to secure and stabilize sewn seed and protective mulch on barren and exposed plots of land, has been used advantageously in this application. 
     The draping, once in place over the container, as depicted in FIG. 2, is buried with dirt, soil or sand to cover all sides but the top side  14 , which, of course, has the portal with its door  18  and curtain  20  for easy and unassisted entry and exit. The “burial” will be facilitated by the draping material, which will stabilize the earth, allowing it to form a neat and smooth mound resembling a storm shelter or tumulus. After the mounding of earth over the shelter has been completed and stabilized, it can be covered with sod, blankets of turf, or seeded to encourage the growth of vegetation such as grass or ground cover. A covering of vigorously growing vegetation would provide the ultimate in stability and insulation. And, of course, an insulated shelter will be a comfortable shelter. It will be cool in summer, warm in winter and dry year-round. A subterranean shelter constructed by employing the elements of the disclosed kit will be unaffected by high winds, and, except for an occasional cleaning, require little or no maintenance. 
     With regard to caring for the interior of the shelter, it will require, or at least benefit from, an occasional cleaning. Ideally, the shelter will be swept free of used bedding material such as straw or wood chips, and hosed-out with water on a regular schedule. To facilitate the removal of wash water, the continuously curving side  16  of the cylinder adjacent to the ground will have small apertures or holes (not shown) to permit the wash water to drain in the ground. 
     While the foregoing is a complete and detailed description of the preferred embodiments of the disclosed shelter kit, numerous variations and modifications may be employed to implement the all-important purpose of the disclosure without departing from the spirit of the invention; and, therefore, the elaboration provided herein should not be assumed to limit, in anyway, the scope of the invention which is fairly defined by the appended claims.