Abstract:
A plurality of interconnected panels are pivotally mounted to a vehicle for use in forming a portable animal enclosure. The weight of the panels is substantially supported by the vehicle while being pivoted into a deployed position, making it easy for those of slighter stature, such as women, to deploy and configure the portable animal enclosure. Two sets of interconnected panels may be mounted to the vehicle for forming a single enclosure. Additional sets of interconnected panels may be added to form further enclosures. The sets of interconnected panels may be configured into variously shaped enclosures. The interconnected panels may be configured to telescope or nest inside one another when stored on the vehicle, so as to protrude only slightly from the side of the vehicle when in a folded position for transportation or storage.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     1. The Field of the Invention 
     The present invention relates to portable corrals and enclosures for holding animals. More specifically, the present invention relates to a portable enclosure which may be mounted to and transported on a vehicle for use in temporarily confining animals. 
     2. The Relevant Art 
     Livestock, such as horses, are often transported to various locations such as camping spots, rodeos, and horse shows in a trailer. The animals often remain at the locations for long periods of time, even over night or over several nights during that period of time. It is not practical to keep the animals in the trailer, and it often becomes necessary to find a suitable place to corral the animals. In many locations it is difficult to find available corral space for the animals being transported, and the cost of renting a corral, stall, or other enclosure to house the animal may likewise be prohibitive. It may also be necessary to allow the animal being transported time to rest and eat during long trips. Portable corrals that attach to livestock trailers have been used in an attempt to solve these problems. 
     Existing portable corrals nevertheless pose certain problems for those who use them. For instance, many are extremely heavy and awkward, making if difficult for those of smaller stature, such as women, to maneuver them into desired configurations. Additionally, existing portable corrals are generally designed to be stacked in or on the side of the livestock trailer and generally project significantly off the side of the trailer. This makes it difficult to secure the corrals and may create a danger to other vehicles. Also, existing portable corrals are designed to be configured and attached to a trailer in a limited ways and do not allow for flexibility of design and configuration of the resulting enclosure. 
     From the above discussion, it can be seen that it would be beneficial to improve the current state of portable animal enclosures by making the enclosures easier to deploy and to retract for storage, and by providing a portable enclosure that may be stored on a vehicle such as a trailer without creating a significant projection off the side of the trailer. It would be further beneficial to provide such a portable enclosure that is modular and configurable to meet a user&#39;s particular needs. 
     OBJECTS AND BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     The vehicle-mounted animal enclosure of the present invention has been developed in response to the present state of the art, and in particular, in response to the problems and needs in the art that have not yet been fully solved by currently available vehicle-mounted animal enclosures. Accordingly, it is an overall object of the present invention to provide a vehicle-mounted animal enclosure that overcomes many or all of the above-discussed shortcomings in the art. 
     To achieve the foregoing object, and in accordance with the invention as embodied and broadly described herein in the preferred embodiment, an improved vehicle carried animal enclosure is provided and in one embodiment comprises a portable enclosure or corral that may be mounted on a livestock trailer. The enclosure comprises a plurality of panels that extend from the trailer in a telescoping fashion to form an enclosure for temporality housing animals. 
     The panels may comprise vertical and horizontal support members coupled to each other with sleeves. The panels are preferably constructed to telescope or nest within one another when in a folded storage position. In one embodiment, a distal panel nests inside a proximal panel that is mounted to the trailer. In a further embodiment, the distal panel telescopically retracts partially into the proximal panel. Two such groups of panels are preferably separately mounted to a vehicle. This allows for a large enclosed area attached to the trailer, while the panels when stored protrude only slightly from the vehicle. The panels are preferably constructed of a lightweight material and pivot outward from the trailer with the majority of the weight of the panels being born by the trailer. The lightweight material of the panels also allows the panels to be configured into various deployed configurations with a minimum of effort. 
     Once the panels have been extended outward from the trailer they are preferably anchored to the ground through the use of retractable legs that may terminate in a base plate. 
     In one embodiment, the base plate of the retractable legs may then be staked to the ground, providing secure anchor points for the enclosure. In another embodiment, stakes of rolled steel are placed through the joints of the panels and then are driven into the ground to provide a secure anchor point for the enclosure. 
     These and other objects, features, and advantages of the present invention will become more fully apparent from the following description and appended claims, or may be learned by the practice of the invention as set forth hereinafter. 
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     In order that the manner in which the advantages and objects of the invention are obtained will be readily understood, a more particular description of the invention briefly described above will be rendered by reference to specific embodiments thereof which are illustrated in the appended drawings. Understanding that these drawings depict only typical embodiments of the invention and are not therefore to be considered to be limiting of its scope, the invention will be described and explained with additional specificity and detail through the use of the accompanying drawings in which: 
     FIG. 1 is a partial perspective view illustrating one embodiment of an animal enclosure of the present invention in a deployed position. 
     FIG. 1 a  is a partially exploded perspective view illustrating an alternative embodiment of panels of the present invention. 
     FIG. 2 is a side view illustrating one embodiment of an animal enclosure of the present invention collapsed for storage or travel. 
     FIG. 3 is a partial perspective view illustrating one embodiment of an optional shade canopy for use with the animal enclosure of the present invention. 
     FIG. 4 is a perspective view illustrating one embodiment of a gate for use with the animal enclosure of the present invention. 
     FIG. 5 is a side view illustrating one embodiment of one manner of securing the folded animal enclosure to the trailer. 
     FIG. 5 a  is a side view illustrating an alternative embodiment of a gate of the animal enclosure of the present invention modified to conveniently store poles and stakes of the animal enclosure. 
     FIG. 6 is a partial perspective view illustrating a dual stall configuration of the animal enclosure of the present invention. 
     FIG. 7 is a partial perspective view illustrating a dual gate configuration of the animal enclosure of The present invention. 
     FIGS. 8 a  through  8   g  are top views illustrating different configurations of which the animal enclosure of the present invention is capable. 
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
     FIG. 1 shows one embodiment of a vehicle-mounted animal enclosure  100  of the present invention in a deployed position useful for holding animals therein. As shown in FIG. 1, the vehicle-mounted animal enclosure  100  comprises two sets of panels (panel sets)  115  coupled to a vehicle. In the depicted embodiment, the vehicle comprises a livestock trailer  102 , and each panel set  115  comprises a pair of panels, a proximal panel  112  and a distal panel  113 . Of course, each panel set  115  could contain more than two panels. 
     The panel sets  115  are mounted to the trailer  102  with the use of four mounting brackets  106  which are shown attached in pairs to the trailer  102 . The mounting brackets  106  are mounted in pairs of an upper bracket  106   a  and a lower bracket  106   b , each pair of mounting brackets  106  pivotally mounting one of the panel sets  115 . The upper brackets  106   a  are preferably hollow and are mounted toward the top of the trailer  102 , while the lower brackets  106   b  are preferably capped at a bottom thereof with a metal cap  108  and are mounted toward the bottom of the trailer  102 . 
     As depicted, a vertical support post  110  of each panel set  115  is inserted through the respective top bracket  106   a  and into the bottom bracket  106   b  to secure the panel set  115  to the trailer  102 . This arrangement allows the animal enclosure  100  to be removably mounted to the vehicle  102 . It also allows each panel set  115  to “float” on its mountings. Thus, each panel set  115  can be lifted into place on the top of a fender  127  of the trailer  102 , can be lifted above the fender  127  during deployment, and can be lowered below the level of the fender  127  into a final deployed position. 
     The interconnected panels  112 ,  113  of each panel set  115  are shown pivotally and removably coupled to the vertical support post  110  with a pair of cylindrical metal sleeves  107 . Each interconnected panel  112  and  113  in the depicted embodiment comprises two horizontal cross members  116  connected at a distal end by a vertical support member  114 . The distal interconnected panel  113 , is designed to have a perimeter smaller than the interior of the proximal interconnected panel  112 . This allows the outer interconnected panel  113  to nest within the inner interconnected panel  112  when the enclosure is in the folded storage position for storage or transportation (as shown in FIG.  2 ). In the folded storage position, the thickness of the two combined panels  112 ,  113  is preferably no greater than the thickness of a single panel. Gates  146  may be connected to one or more of the panel sets  115  and may also nest inside the distal panel  113 . In the embodiment shown, a single gate  146  is shown and is not configured to nest inside the panels  112 ,  113 . Accordingly, the combined panel set  115  and gate  142  has the width of approximately two panels  112 ,  113 . 
     The interconnected panels  112 ,  113  are shown connected with a hollow core  121  that passes through outer sleeves  117  of the proximal panel  112  and through a central sleeve  119  of the distal panel. The hollow core  121  is in one embodiment fixed to the outer sleeves  117 , but the central sleeve  119  is free to pivot around the hollow core  121 , allowing the distal panel  113  to pivot freely with respect to the proximal panel  112 . 
     An extendable stake or pole  118  is shown passing through the hollow core  121 , the outer sleeves  117  and the central sleeve  119  of each panel set  115  in order to anchor the panel set  115  to the ground. In one embodiment, the extendable pole  118  is fastened to a base plate  120  and has a series of holes or slots for receiving a pin that passes through the panel  112 ,  113  and the pole  118  to attach the pole  118  to the panel  112 ,  113  at various heights. When the extendable pole  118  is inserted into the hollow core  121  of the interconnected panel  112  and secured with the pin, an anchor may be formed by driving stakes  122  through holes provided in the base plate  120 . In an alternative embodiment, a stake  140 , preferably formed of rolled steel, is inserted into the central core  121  and driven directly into the ground. Such an arrangement is shown anchoring a joint of the interconnected panel  113  and the gate  146 . Of course, any combination of extendable poles  118  terminating in a base plate  120  and stakes  140  may be used to anchor the enclosure  100  when in the deployed position. 
     The gate  146  may be fasted to a far end of the distal panels  113 . The gate  146  preferably comprises two vertical support members  143  rotationally coupled to the outer interconnected panel  113 . The depicted gate  146  further comprises a horizontal cross member  142  and a bent support member  144 . The bent support member  144  adds height to the gate assembly, and thus is useful in preventing animals from jumping over the gate assembly. 
     Any suitable mechanism may be used to fasten the gate to the panel sets  115 . In one the depicted embodiment, one end of the gate  146  is fastened using outer sleeves  117 , a central sleeve  119 , and a hollow core  121  as discussed above. The gate  146  is detachably latched to the other panel set  115  using a mechanism such as a chain fastener to the distal panel  113  which passes around the end of the gate and fits into a slot as know in the art. 
     In an alternate embodiment of FIG. 4, a plurality of links of chain  132  are affixed to a distal end of the gate  146  as shown in FIG.  4 . The links of chain  132  are then used to secure two vinyl coated chains  124  across the end of the enclosure. The chains  124  act as a gate and may have the distal ends thereof connected with a clip, device or the like. 
     The brackets  106 , vertical support post  110 , interconnected panel assembly  112 , gate  146 , and extension poles  118  are preferably formed of chrome molybdenum alloy (chrome moly) tubing. Alternatively, aluminum tubing could be used. Of course, any material that meets the specifications of being relatively lightweight and durable may be uses. 
     Shown affixed to the livestock trailer  102  is a cushioning strip  104 . The cushioning strip  104  is affixed vertically to the trailer  102  such that when the animal enclosure  100  is placed in the folded storage position for storage or transportation, the trailer  102  is not damaged. In one embodiment, the cushioning strip  104  is removable, comprising for instance, a segment of cylindrical foam pipe insulation. Also shown is a cushioned cradle  126  that is affixed horizontally to the fender  127  of the trailer  102 . The cushioned cradle  126  prevents damage to the trailer  102  and provides support for the enclosure assembly  100  while allowing the enclosure assembly  100  to ride on the fender  127  of the livestock trailer  102  without excessive movement. 
     FIG. 1 a  is a partially exploded view of an alternate embodiment of a panel set of the present invention. The depicted panel set  200  is shown configured in a telescoping arrangement with a proximal panel  210  connected to the trailer  102  with the previously discussed brackets  106   a ,  106   b  and vertical support post  110 . A distal panel  212  is telescopically engaged within the proximal panel  210 . A plurality of cylindrical rails  214 ,  216  are provided on the proximal panel  210  and a plurality of smaller dimensioned cylindrical rails  218 ,  220  are provided on the distal panel  212 . The smaller dimensioned cylindrical rails  218 ,  220  are slidably received within the larger dimensioned cylindrical rails  214 ,  216  of the proximal panel  210 . 
     The panel set  200  of FIG. 1 a  is preferably configured to telescope between a stored position and one or more deployed positions. In the stored position, the distal panel  212  is fully retracted within the proximal panel  210 . The distal panel  212  may be secured in the storage position using a pair of pins  222  which are inserted through holes  224  in the proximal panel  210  and through holes  228  in the distal panel  212 . Alternatively, a press button or other arrangement may be used. 
     In the deployed position, the distal panel  212  is extended outward and is partially engaged within the proximal panel  210 . The distal panel  212  is secured to the proximal panel  210  in the deployed position by passing the pins  222  through holes  226  on the distal ends of the rails  214 ,  216  and through the holes  228  on the distal panel  212 . Of course, more holes could be positioned at different locations on the proximal panel  210  to make the length of the panel set  200  variable and adjustable. As with the embodiment of FIG. 1, a gate  146  may be attached to the panel set  200  as shown. Two or more such panel sets  200  may be attached to the trailer  102  to make one or more enclosures. 
     FIG. 2 shows a vehicle-mounted animal enclosure of the present invention in the folded storage position. As shown in FIG. 2, the interconneted panels  112  and  113  are folded with the outer panel  113  nesting within the inner panel  112  with the gate  146  folded in front of the interconnected panels  112  and  113 . The cradle  126  is affixed to the fender  127  of the trailer and preferably comprises a strip of resilient material such as rubber, of which the distal end preferably widens to retain the panel assemblies  115  therein. Thus, when folded, the vehicle-mounted animal enclosure  100  rides securely on the fender  127  of the trailer  102 . 
     Due to the light weight of the panel sets  115  and the particular manner of mounting the panel sets  115  to the trailer  102 , the enclosure  100  can be transitioned between the folded storage position of FIG.  2  and the deployed position of FIG. 1 easily. Preferably, the mounting structure  110 ,  106  transfers all or substantially all of the weight of the panel sets  115  to the vehicle  102  during deployment of the enclosure  100 . Accordingly, a user merely has to grasp the panels  112 ,  113  and pull lightly upward on the panels  112 ,  113  without substantially carrying the weight of the panels  112 ,  113  while transitioning between the deployed position and the storage position and vice verse. 
     FIG. 3 is a partial perspective top view illustrating one embodiment of an optional shade canopy assembly  300  for use with the animal enclosure of the present invention. The shade canopy assembly  300  is shown attached to the proximal panel  112  through the use of a metal sleeve  310  slidably coupled to the horizontal cross member  116  of the inner interconnected panel  112 . The metal sleeve  310  is preferably secured in place by a wing nut  312 . A second metal sleeve  308  is attached to the first metal sleeve  310  and is configured to hold the awning support arm  306 . The awning support arm  306  is configured to slide into the metal sleeve  308  and support the awning  302  above the vehicle-mounted animal enclosure  100 . The awning  302  may be self retracting into an awning case  304  for storage when not in use. The awning case  304  is preferably detachably mounted to the trailer  102  and configured in such a manner that it may be quickly removed when desired. 
     FIG. 5 is aside view illustrating one embodiment of a securing assembly  500  for securing the panel sets  115  to the trailer  102  when in the folded storage position. The securing assembly  500  as shown comprises a bolt  501  and a locking nut  502  coupled to the vehicle. Threads are preferably provided in or attached to the vehicle  102  to receive the bolt  501 . A strip of material  504 , in one embodiment a  ¼″ steel plate, is placed across the folded vehicle-mounted animal enclosure 100 and held tightly in place by the locking nut 502. The strip of material 504 is configured to apply pressure to the panels 112, 113 of the vehicle-mounted animal enclosure 100 and keep them from swinging free of the vehicle while the vehicle is in motion.    
     FIG. 5 a  is a side view illustrating one embodiment of a manner of securing the stakes  140  and poles  118  of FIG. 1 to the gate  146  and of latching the gate  146 . In FIG. 5 a , the gate  146  is shown provided with a center pole  510  fixed vertically across the center of the gate  146 . The center pole  501  may be provided to add strength and also, in the depicted embodiment, to help hold the poles  118  and/or stakes  140  (hereinafter, just stakes  140 ) in place. Also provided are cylindrical bases  512  and slots  514 . 
     The stakes  140  may be stored on the gate by placing a first end of each stake  140  in a cylindrical base  512  and sliding a second end of the stake into a corresponding slot  514 . Preferably, the strip of material  504  of FIG. 5 covers the stakes  140  and holds them against the center pole  510 , securing them in place. In this manner, the stakes  140  may be removably stored on the gate  146  when the animal enclosure  100  is in the storage position during storage and travel. 
     Also shown in FIG. 5 a  is a folding channeled brace  516  that may be fixed to a panel  113  to serve as a latch. The brace  516  preferably folds up vertically against the panel  113  and may be secured with a bracket  518  when in the stored position. When in the deployed position, the brace  516  is dropped to the horizontal position shown. The gate  146  is then lifted up over the sides of the brace  516  and off the brace  516  to open the gate and is lifted back onto the brace  516  to close the gate  146 . For security purposes, a more secure and permanent latch such as the chain mentioned above is also preferably used when the animals are to be stored within the enclosure  100  for long periods of time. 
     FIG. 6 shows one configuration in which three panel sets  115  are used to form two vehicle-mounted animal enclosures  100  attached to the same vehicle. FIG. 7 shows an additional configuration of two panel sets  115  attached to the same vehicle with two gates  146  to form a larger enclosure. As can be seen, the mounts  106  for the central panel set  115  remain in place, illustrating the ease of reconfiguring the animal enclosure  100 . 
     FIGS. 8 a  through  8   g  are alternate configurations of the animal enclosure  100  of the present invention, further illustrating the flexibility of configuration of the animal enclosure  100 . FIG. 8 g  shows a trailer  102  with a vehicle-mounted animal enclosure  100  attached to one side of the trailer  102  and extended out from one side thereof in a rectangular fashion. FIG. 8 f  shows a trailer  102  with a vehicle-mounted animal enclosure  100  attached to each side of the trailer  102 . The vehicle-mounted animal enclosure  100  are shown extended from the trailer  102  in a hexagonal shape. 
     FIG. 8 e  shows a trailer  102  with a vehicle-mounted animal enclosure  100  attached to the rear of the trailer  102  and extended from the rear of the trailer  102  in a rectangular shape. FIG. 8 d  shows a trailer  102  with a vehicle-mounted animal enclosure  100  attached to one side of the trailer  102  and extended from the side of the trailer  102  with a hexagonal shape. FIG. 8 d  also shows a dual gate configuration on a shorter trailer. With the dual gate configuration, the enclosure may be trapezoidal in shape, with the panel sets in a straight, parallel orientation rather than cornered and the distal end formed by the dual gates wider than the proximal end formed by the trailer. In the dual gate arrangement, a stake may be inserted through and connected with a cylindrical metal sleeve attached to one of the gates at the junction of the two gates to anchor the gates in place. 
     FIG. 8 c  shows a trailer  102  with a vehicle-mounted animal enclosure  100  attached to a side of the trailer  102  opposite that of FIG. 8 g  and extended from the trailer  102  in a rectangular shape. FIG. 8 b  shows a longer trailer  102  a vehicle-mounted animal enclosure having two panel sets  115  attached to one side of the trailer  102  and extending from the trailer  102  in a rectangular shape. AS discussed above with respect to FIGS. 6 and 7, the vehicle-mounted animal enclosures  100  of FIG. 8 b  are shown with the common center panel set  115  of the enclosures  100  removed, thus forming one large corral against the side of the trailer  102 . 
     FIG. 8 a  shows a trailer  102  with two vehicle-mounted animal enclosures  100  attached to one side of the trailer  102  and extending from the trailer  102  in a rectangular shape. The enclosures  100  of FIG. 8 a  are shown with the common center panel set  115  in place, thus forming two enclosures against the side of the trailer  102 . Of course many other configurations are possible due to the unique and flexible nature of the animal enclosure of the present invention, and those shown herein are merely examples of the many configurations possible. 
     The present invention may be embodied in other specific forms without departing from its spirit or essential characteristics. The described embodiments are to be considered in all respects only as illustrative and not restrictive. The scope of the invention is, therefore, indicated by the appended claims rather than by the foregoing description. All changes which come within the meaning and range of equivalency of the claims are to be embraced within their scope.