Abstract:
A mobile pet kennel comprising: a plurality of kennel walls connected to form an enclosure; rollers; and a roller positioner, wherein the roller positioner is configured to retain the rollers in a selectable first or second position relative to the kennel walls. In the first position the rollers contact the ground and in the second position the rollers are elevated above the ground.

Description:
TECHNICAL FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
       [0001]    The present invention is generally directed to outdoor animal kennels. 
       BACKGROUND ART OF THE INVENTION 
       [0002]    Kennels for outdoor animals, such as pet dogs, are typically large enclosures constructed with materials similar to a chain link fence. The enclosures are preferably large enough to give a dog room to run around within the kennel. As a result, the kennels are heavy and bulky. In many situations, it would be advantageous to be able to move the kennel—either temporarily, such as for mowing a yard, or permanently to a new location. Prior art kennels are very difficult to move, often requiring disassembly or a large number of persons. What is needed is an outdoor dog kennel that may be easily moved when desired, yet remains stable and stationary at other times. 
       SUMMARY 
       [0003]    The present invention solves problems with the prior art by providing rollers, attached to a kennel, and configurable in first and second positions. In the first position, the rollers contact the ground and the kennel walls are elevated above the ground. In the second position, the kennel walls rest on the ground while the rollers are elevated. In one embodiment, a kit provides rollers which are attachable to existing kennels. The kit allows rollers to be easily attached to each corner of the kennel. The rollers remain attached and are movable from a mobile position, with wheels in contact with the ground, to a stationary position with wheels off the ground. In another embodiment, the kit includes two or more brackets which secure a shaft to the kennel. A device, such as a cotter pin, secures the shaft in two or more selectable positions relative to the brackets. The wheels are lowered by 1) lifting a portion of the kennel, 2) removing a cotter pin from a first position, 3) lowering the wheel, and 4) inserting the cotter pin in a second position. The kit may also include a handle for easily lifting the kennel. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0004]    For a more complete understanding of the present invention and for further advantages thereof, reference is now made to the following Description of the Preferred Embodiments taken in conjunction with the accompanying Drawings in which: 
           [0005]      FIG. 1  is a perspective view of a typical outdoor kennel. 
           [0006]      FIG. 2A  is a perspective view of a mobile kennel with wheels in a raised position. 
           [0007]      FIG. 2B  is a perspective view of a mobile kennel with wheels in a lowered position. 
           [0008]      FIG. 3A  is a closer view of a roller assembly for a mobile kennel, with wheel in a raised position. 
           [0009]      FIG. 3B  is a closer view of a roller assembly for a mobile kennel, with wheel in a lowered position. 
           [0010]      FIG. 4  is a closer view of a mounting bracket for a mobile kennel. 
           [0011]      FIG. 5  is a closer view of a portion of a roller shaft for a mobile kennel. 
           [0012]      FIG. 6A  is a closer view of a shaft engaged in a mounting bracket in a raised position. 
           [0013]      FIG. 6B  is a closer view of a shaft engaged in a mounting bracket in a lowered position. 
           [0014]      FIG. 7  shows a handle for a dog kennel. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
       [0015]      FIG. 1  shows a kennel  10  for a large dog. Kennel  10  shown in  FIG. 1  comprises four walls  102 . One of the walls  102  comprises a door  104 . Walls  102  and door  104  are preferably constructed of a galvanized steel frame supporting a chain-link mesh (not shown). Walls  102  are connected at corner poles  106  to form a square enclosure. Kennel  10  does not include a floor or roof. 
         [0016]      FIGS. 2A and 2B  show a kennel embodying features of the present invention. A roller assembly  20  is preferably connected to a corner pole  106  at each corner of kennel  10 . In  FIG. 2A  roller assembly  20  is shown with rollers in a raised position. In this position, walls  102  rest on the ground. In  FIG. 2B  roller assembly  20  is shown with rollers in a lowered position. In this position, walls  102  are elevated above the ground. 
         [0017]      FIG. 3A  shows a closer view of roller assembly  20 . Roller assembly  20  includes a shaft  302  which is attached to corner poles  106  by brackets  304 . Shaft  302  is preferably  13  gauge tube constructed from powder coated cold-rolled steel with an outer diameter of about 11/16″ and in inner diameter of about 0.520″. A roller  308  is attached to the bottom of shaft  302 . Roller  308  is preferably a swivel caster with a steel body and rubber wheels about 4″ in diameter, however, many other rollers, including many types of wheels, are known and may be used. Roller  308  preferably comprises a 1 1/4″ long steel prong (not shown) with an outer diameter of about 7/16″ and a ring clip (not shown). Roller  308  is preferably held in shaft  302  by the ring clip and a nylon bushing (not shown) with an inner diameter of 7/16″ and an outer diameter of ½″. Other dimensions for the steel prong, nylon bushing, and shaft  302  may be used, however, the listed dimensions have been found to securely attach roller  308  to shaft  302  without the need for gluing. Alternatively, roller  302  may be attached to shaft  308  by gluing, welding, or other methods. 
         [0018]    Roller assembly  20  preferably comprises at least two brackets  304  which are attached to higher and lower positions on corner pole  106 , such as at about 10″ and 30″ from the bottom of corner pole  106 . Using multiple brackets  304  is helpful to keep shaft  302  aligned with corner pole  106 . Alternatively, shaft  302  could be maintained in alignment with corner pole  106  by other means, such as providing a tube (not shown) attached to bracket  304  and positioning shaft  302  within the tube. In  FIG. 3A , roller assembly  20  is shown with roller  308  in the raised position.  FIG. 3B  shows roller assembly  20  with roller  308  in the lowered position. 
         [0019]      FIG. 4  is a closer view of bracket  304 . Bracket  304  comprises two mounting panels  404 , a front panel  406 , and a positioning panel  408 . Mounting panels  404 , front panel  406 , and positioning panels  408  are preferably constructed from a single piece of metal, preferably powder coated steel. Mounting holes  412  are defined in each mounting panel  404 . Bracket  304  is preferably mounted to corner pole  106  by positioning corner pole  106  between the two mounting panels  404  and securing bracket  304  in place using screws  414  (seen in  FIGS. 6A and 6B ) through mounting holes  412  and corner pole  106 . Screws  414  are preferably self tapping screws, however, bolts or other types of screws may be used. To facilitate securing bracket  304  to corner pole  106 , bracket holes (not shown) are preferably pre-drilled in corner pole  106 . A positioning hole  402  is defined in positioning panel  408 . In operation, shaft  302  is retained in positioning hole  402  but is able to slide up and down within positioning hole  402 . As discussed above, alternatively to positioning hole  402 , bracket  304  may comprise an outer tube (not shown) configured to align and retain shaft  302  with the ability to slide within the tube. 
         [0020]      FIG. 5  is a view of an upper section of shaft  302 . Preferably, three sets of holes are defined in shaft  302 : upper retaining holes  502 , support holes  504 , and lower retaining holes  506 . Each set of holes comprises a pair of holes defined at equal heights on opposite sides of shaft  302 . Upper retaining holes  502  are preferably defined near an upper end of shaft  302 . Support holes  504  are defined slightly below upper retaining holes. Lower retaining holes  506  are preferably defined several inches below support holes  504 . Lower retaining holes  506  are configured so that, when shaft  302  is in positioning hole  402  and a support pin  604  (shown in  FIGS. 6A and 6B ) is placed in lower retaining holes  506 , shaft  302  is held in an elevated position with rollers  308  above the ground. Support holes  504  are configured so that, when shaft  302  is in positioning hole  402  and support pin  604  (shown in  FIGS. 6A and 6B ) is placed through support holes  504 , support pin  604  will support walls  102  of kennel  10  above the ground on rollers  308 . In one embodiment, upper retaining holes  502 , support holes  504 , and lower retaining holes  506  are about ⅝″, 1″ and 7″, respectively, below the top of shaft  302  and are about 3/16″ in diameter. Support pin  604  and retaining pin  602  are preferably steel. 
         [0021]    Upper retaining holes  502  are configured so that when retaining pin  602  (shown in  FIGS. 6A and 6B ) is place through the retaining holes  502 , shaft  302  going through positioning hole  402  will not disengage with bracket  304 . This configuration helps prevent accidental disassembly. Other configurations, such as an enlarged upper cap (not shown) which does not fit through positioning hole  402  would provide similar benefit. As described above, the upper retaining holes  502 , support holes  504  and lower retaining holes  506  are preferably configured to interact with an upper bracket  304 . Where multiple brackets  304  are used, the holes may be configured to interact with any of the brackets  304 , however, using the topmost bracket  304  will generally be more convenient to the user. Shaft  302  is preferably provided with an end cap (not shown) configured to protect the interior of shaft  302  from the elements and from entry of foreign objects. The end cap is preferably plastic. 
         [0022]      FIGS. 6A and 6B  show a closer view of a bracket  304  engaging a shaft  302 . In  FIG. 6A , shaft  302  is shown in a raised position, in which walls  102  will contact the ground and rollers  308  will be elevated. A retaining pin  602  placed through lower retaining holes  506  supports the weight of shaft  302  and rollers  308  in an elevated position off the ground. In  FIG. 6B , shaft  302  is show in its lower position. In this position, support pin  604  is placed through support holes  504  defined in shaft  302 . Positioning panel  408  rests on support pin  604  and a portion of the weight of kennel  10  is transferred to shaft  302  through support pin  604 . Retaining pin  602  is positioned in upper retaining holes  502 . Alternatively to using pins extending completely through shaft  302 , a shorter pin (not shown) could potentially be used and held in position by, for example, being attached to bracket  304  and biased toward shaft  302  by a spring (not shown) or similar device. Further alternatively, shaft  302  could be positioned using a clamp or other friction means. 
         [0023]    To transform kennel  10  from its stationary position (with walls  102  resting on the ground and rollers  308  elevated), to its mobile position (with walls  102  elevated and rollers  308  on the ground) the user lifts a portion of kennel  10 , preferably near a corner pole  106 . While lifting kennel  10 , the user removes support pin  604  from lower retaining holes  506  and allows shaft  302  to slide down until retaining pin  602  contacts positioning panel  408 . The user then inserts support pin  604  into support holes  504  and lowers kennel  10  until positioning panel  408  rests on support pin  604 . To transform kennel from its mobile position to its stationary position, the user lifts kennel  10 , removes support pin  604 , and lowers kennel  10  until walls  102  rest on the ground. The user then lifts shaft  302  until lower retaining holes  506  are above positioning panel  408 . Next the user places support pin  604  through lower retaining holes  506  and releases shaft  302 . 
         [0024]    Because it can be painful to lift kennel  10  using only the chain link, a lifter  30  may be provided as shown in  FIG. 7 . Lifter  30  preferably comprises a wooden handle  702  attached to a metal engaging hook  704 . The user may lift kennel  10  using handle  702  by engaging hook  704  with the chain link. Many other handles designs are know and may be used. 
         [0025]    Although the invention has been described with reference to specific embodiments, this description is not meant to be construed in a limiting sense. Various modifications of the disclosed embodiments, as well as alternative embodiments of the inventions, will be apparent to persons skilled in the art upon reference to the description of the invention. It is, therefore, contemplated that the appended claims will cover such modifications that fall within the scope of the invention.