Covering for a pet crate

A covering for an animal crate is described. In accordance with one implementation, a covering is configured to prevent an amount of an animal's hair, dirt, or mess created by the animal from escaping through at least one aperture located on a lower portion of a wall of a crate. The covering comprises a panel operably attached to the lower portion of the wall of the crate. The panel is of a length and height sufficient to prevent an amount of the animal's hair, dirt, or mess created by the animal from escaping through the at least one aperture located on the lower portion of the wall of the crate.

TECHNICAL FIELD

This application relates in general to animal crates.

BACKGROUND

Many pet owners crate train their pets. As explained in U.S. Pat. No. 5,626,098, dog crates generally provide a safe, secure environment for housetraining, travel, and general control. In time, a crate often becomes the dog's den, which is presumed to utilize the dog's natural instincts as a den animal. Other pets, including, but not limited to, cats and rabbits also may be crate trained. In addition, pets such as rodents may be kept in a cage that may be designed similar to a crate.

Crates, often referred to as “kennels,” may come in different shapes and sizes and may be made out of different materials. Two non-limiting examples of material that may be used to make crates are plastic and metal. Plastic crates generally are molded two-piece units with ventilation areas along the sides and a metal wire door in front. Some metal crates are made of wires that form a grid-like pattern for the walls of the crates.

If the pet inside the crate sheds or is messy, hair and/or “dirt” may exit the crate through the apertures. Depending on how much hair and/or dirt exits the crate, the pet's owner may have to clean the hair and/or dirt off the floor several times a week.

SUMMARY

This application describes a covering for a pet crate.

In accordance with one implementation, a covering is configured to prevent an amount of an animal's hair, dirt, or mess created by the animal from escaping through at least one aperture located on a lower portion of a wall of a crate. The covering comprises a panel operably attached to the lower portion of the wall of the crate. The panel is of a length and height sufficient to prevent an amount of the animal's hair, dirt, or mess created by the animal from escaping through the at least one aperture located on the lower portion of the wall of the crate.

In accordance with another implementation, a covering is configured to prevent an amount of an animal's hair, dirt, or mess created by the animal from escaping through at least one lower portion of a crate having a plurality of walls, and the lower portion of at least one of the walls has at least one aperture. The covering comprises a panel operably attached to each lower wall of a plurality of the walls of the crate. Each panel is of a height sufficient to prevent an amount of the animal's hair, dirt, or mess created by the animal from escaping through the lower portion of the wall of the crate to which the panel is operably attached.

The details of one or more implementations are set forth in the accompanying drawings and the description below. Other features, aspects, and advantages will become apparent from the description, the drawings, and the claims. It is to be understood that the foregoing general description and the detailed description are exemplary, but not restrictive of the covering or the method for making the covering.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

While the specification concludes with claims particularly pointing out and distinctly claiming subject matter, the covering will now be further described by reference to the following detailed description of exemplary implementations taken in conjunction with the above-described accompanying drawings. The following description is presented to enable any person skilled in the art to make and use the covering for a pet crate. Descriptions of specific implementations and applications are provided only as non-limiting examples and various modifications will be readily apparent to those skilled in the art. The general principles defined herein may be applied to other implementations and applications without departing from the spirit and scope of the covering for a pet crate. Thus, the covering for a pet crate is to be accorded the widest scope encompassing numerous alternatives, modifications, and equivalents consistent with the principles and features disclosed herein. For purpose of clarity, details relating to technical material that is known in the technical fields related to the covering for a pet crate have not been described in detail so as not to unnecessarily obscure the present application.

FIG. 1shows an exemplary implementation of a covering100that may be used with an animal crate102. In some implementations, the crate102may have at least two generally parallel side walls104,106, at least two generally parallel end walls108,110, and a top wall112operably attached to the side walls104,106and end walls108,110. An optional base114may be operably attached to the bottom of the side walls104,106and end walls108,110. In some implementations, the optional base114may be removable. In some implementations, a tray may lay on top of the base114. In some implementations, as shown inFIG. 4, a tray may be the base114. In some implementations, the crate102may have at least one “door” for the animal to enter and exit the crate102.

As shown inFIG. 1, the walls104,106,108,110,112may have apertures116for ventilation. In some implementations, the walls104,106,108,110,112are each formed of grids with parallel rods. In some implementations, not all of the walls104,106,108,110,112are formed of grids with parallel rods. In some implementations, at least one of the walls has at least one aperture116for ventilation. When an animal, including, but not limited to a dog118, that sheds hair or is messy is inside the crate102, hair and/or dirt may exit the crate102through the apertures116located on the bottom side and end walls104,106,108,110of the crate102. As used in this disclosure, the term “hair’ encompasses both hair and fur.

The covering100may be configured to prevent an amount of the animal's hair or dirt from escaping through apertures116located on the lower portions of the side and end walls104,106,108,110of the crate102. As shown inFIGS. 1 and 2, the covering100may have panels120,122,124,126. The panels120,122,124,126have an inner portion128and an outer portion130. The inner portion128faces the inside of the crate102and the outer portion130faces outside of the crate102. The panels120,122,124,126are of length and height sufficient to prevent an amount of the animal's hair132from escaping through the apertures116found in the lower portions of the walls104,106,108,110of the crate102.

In some implementations, the inner portion128and the outer portion130of the panels120,122,124,126may be made of the same material. In some implementations, the inner portion128and the outer portion130of the panels120,122,124,126may be made of different materials. In some implementations, the material used for the inner portion128of the panels120,122,124,126is sufficient to permit an amount of hair132to “stick” to the material. In some implementations, the materials used for the panels120,122,124,126may be man-made or natural materials or fabrics. In some implementations, the panels120,122,124,126may be made of fleece, felt, a cotton-based fabric, a polyester-based fabric, a material made of an olefin, plastic, or a combination of the foregoing. In some implementations, the inner portion128of the panels120,122,124,126may be fleece and the outer portion130may be denim. In some implementations, the panels120,122,124,126may be made of a substantially rigid material. In some implementations, the material for the inner portion128and the material for the outer portion130are attached to each other by stitching, heat seal, zipper, a hook and loop fastener, a button, or any other suitable mechanism known by one of ordinary skill in the art for connecting the inner and outer portions128,130together.

In some implementations, the length of each panel120,122,124,126is substantially the length of the wall to which it is operably attached. Referring toFIG. 1, the length of panel120may be substantially the same length as side wall104, the length of panel122may be substantially the same length as end wall108, the length of panel124may be substantially the same length as side wall106, and the length of panel126may be substantially the same length as end wall110. In some implementations, the panel120,122,124,126may be longer than the length of its corresponding side or end wall104,106,108,110. In some implementations, the panel120,122,124,126may be shorter than the length of its corresponding side or end wall104,106,108,110.

In some implementations, the height of the panels120,122,124,126is sufficient to permit the animal inside the crate102to see out and contain an amount of the hair132shed from the animal, dirt, or the mess created by the animal from escaping through apertures116found in the lower portions of the walls104,106,108,110of the crate102. In some implementations, the height of the panels120,122,124,126is about 5% to about 75% of the height of the wall to which the panel is operably attached. In some implementations, the height of the panels120,122,124,126is about 25% of the height of the wall to which the panel is operably attached. In some implementations, the height of the panels120,122,124,126is about 10%-15% of the height of the wall to which the panel is operably attached. In some implementations, the height of the panels120,122,124,126is about 2 inches to about 8 inches. In some implementations, the height of the panels120,122,124,126is about 6 inches to about 8 inches. In some implementations, the height of the panels120,122,124,126is about 8 inches.

In some implementations, a mechanism200for operably attaching the cover100to the crate102may be present. As shown inFIG. 2, the mechanism200may be a hook and loop fastener. InFIG. 2, hooks202are positioned on one panel and correspond to mating loops204on another panel. As a non-limiting example, panel120may be operably connected to panels120and128via corresponding hook and loop fasteners202,204. In some implementations, the mechanism200may be found within one panel. As a non-limiting example, a panel may have a hook and loop fastener on it so that an end of the panel may have hooks on one side and loops on the opposite side so that when it is wrapped around the wall of the crate, it may be operably attached to the opposite side of the panel via corresponding loops. In some implementations, the mechanism200may be a snap-lock mechanism, a press-fit mechanism, a slide-and-lock mechanism, a twist-and-lock or other friction-fit mechanism, a tongue-and-groove mechanism, a buckle mechanism, a button mechanism, string, rope, laces, magnets, a zipper, an elastic band, clip, hook, or any other suitable mechanism for securing the cover100to the crate102.

In some implementations, as shown inFIG. 2, the panels120,122,124,126may be connected to each other via material206. When material206connects the panels120,122,124,126, the crate102may rest on top of material206and the panels120,122,124,126may be raised and lowered as shown inFIGS. 1 and 2, respectively. In some implementations, the panels120,122,124,126may be lowered so that the inner portions128of the panels120,122,124,126may be cleaned. In some implementations, the weight of the crate102may prevent the panels120,122,124,126from significantly moving when a vacuum212is used to clean the inner portions128of the panels120,122,124,126. In some implementations having panels120,122,124,126made of a rigid or substantially rigid material, a mechanism for raising or lowering the panels120,122,124,126may be present. In some implementations, the mechanism for raising or lowering the panels120,122,124,126may be a hinge, elastic, a joint, or any other mechanism for raising or lowering the panels120,122,124,126.

In some implementations, the panel may be a sleeve. In some implementations, an insert300may be located within the sleeve. In some implementations, the insert300may be a rigid or semi-rigid material. As shown inFIG. 4, the panel124has an insert300of a rigid or semi-rigid material located within the inner portion128and outer portion130of the panel124. In some implementations having an insert300located within the panel, the insert300may prevent or substantially prevent the panel from sagging. The rigid or semi-rigid material may be a natural or man-made material. Non-limiting examples of materials that may be used for the insert300are plastic, Plexiglas, glass, metal, rubber, fiberglass, cardboard, any other material suitable for the purposes described herein, or combinations of these materials.

FIG. 5shows another implementation of the covering. The covering500may be configured to prevent an amount of the animal's hair or dirt from escaping through apertures116located on the lower portions of the side and end walls104,106,108,110of the crate102. As shown inFIGS. 5 and 6, the covering200may have panels520,522,524,526. The panels520,522,524,526have an inner portion528and an outer portion530. The inner portion528faces the inside of the crate102and the outer portion530faces outside of the crate102. The panels520,522,524,526are of length and height sufficient to prevent an amount of the animal's hair132from escaping through the apertures116found in the lower portions of the walls104,106,108,110of the crate102.

In some implementations, the inner portion528and the outer portion530of the panels520,522,524,526may be made of the same material. In some implementations, the inner portion128and the outer portion530of the panels520,522,524,526may be made of different materials. In some implementations, the material used for the inner portion528of the panels520,522,524,526is sufficient to permit an amount of hair132to “stick” to the material. In some implementations, the materials used for the panels520,522,524,526may be man-made or natural materials or fabrics. In some implementations, the panels520,522,524,526may be made of fleece, felt, a cotton-based fabric, a polyester-based fabric, a material made of an olefin, plastic, or a combination of the foregoing. In some implementations, the inner portion528of the panels520,522,524,526may be fleece and the outer portion530may be denim. In some implementations, the panels520,522,524,526may be made of a substantially rigid material. In some implementations, the material for the inner portion528and the material for the outer portion530are attached to each other by stitching, heat seal, zipper, a hook and loop fastener, a button, or any other suitable mechanism known by one of ordinary skill in the art for connecting the inner and outer portions528,530together.

In some implementations, the length of each panel520,522,524,526is substantially the length of the wall to which it is operably attached. Referring toFIG. 5, the length of panel520may be substantially the same length as side wall104, the length of panel522may be substantially the same length as end wall108, the length of panel524may be substantially the same length as side wall106, and the length of panel526may be substantially the same length as end wall110. In some implementations, the panel520,522,524,526may be longer than the length of its corresponding side or end wall504,506,508,510. In some implementations, the panel520,522,524,526may be shorter than the length of its corresponding side or end wall104,106,108,110.

In some implementations, the height of the panels520,522,524,526is sufficient to permit the animal inside the crate102to see out of the crate102and contain an amount of the hair132shed from the animal, dirt, or the mess created by the animal from escaping through apertures116found in the lower portions of the walls104,106,108,110of the crate102. In some implementations, the height of the panels520,522,524,526is about 5% to about 75% of the height of the wall to which the panel is operably attached. In some implementations, the height of the panels520,522,524,526is about 25% of the height of the wall to which the panel is operably attached. In some implementations, the height of the panels520,522,524,526is about 10%-15% of the height of the wall to which the panel is operably attached. In some implementations, the height of the panels520,522,524,526is about 2 inches to about 8 inches. In some implementations, the height of the panels520,522,524,526is about 6 inches to about 8 inches. In some implementations, the height of the panels520,522,524,526is about 8 inches.

In some implementations, as shown inFIG. 6, the panels520,522,524,526may extend under a portion of the crate102. In some implementations, the panels520,522,524,526may be raised and lowered as shown inFIGS. 5 and 6, respectively. In some implementations, the panels520,522,524,526may be lowered so that the inner portions528of the panels520,522,524,526may be cleaned. In some implementations having panels520,522,524,526of sufficient dimensions so that the crate102may rest on a portion of the panels520,522,524,526, the weight of the crate102may prevent the panels520,522,524,526from significantly moving when a vacuum is used to clean the inner portions528of the panels520,522,524,526. In some implementations having panels520,522,524,526made of a rigid or substantially rigid material, a mechanism for raising or lowering the panels520,522,524,526may be present. In some implementations, the mechanism for raising or lowering the panels520,522,524,526may be a hinge, elastic, a joint, or any other mechanism for raising or lowering the panels520,522,524,526.

In some implementations, the panel may be a sleeve. In some implementations, an insert300may be located within the sleeve. In some implementations, the insert300may be a rigid or semi-rigid material. As shown inFIG. 7, the panel524has an insert300made of a rigid or semi-rigid material located within the inner portion528and outer portion530of the panel524. In some implementations having an insert300located within the panel, the insert300may prevent or substantially prevent the panel from sagging.

Another implementation of the covering is shown inFIG. 8. The covering800may be configured to prevent an amount of the animal's hair or dirt from escaping through apertures116located on the bottom side and end walls104,106,108,110of the crate102. In some implementations, the covering800has a panel820that is stored within a housing802. In some implementations, the housing802is substantially the length of the wall104,106,108,110of the crate102to which it is operably attached.

As shown inFIG. 8, a housing802may be operably connected to wall104and a housing802is operably connected to wall106. In some implementations, the housing802may be operably connected to a wall104,106,108,110of the crate102via a mechanism806such as a latch as shown inFIG. 9. In some implementations, mechanism806may be a hook, a hook and loop fastener, a snap-lock mechanism, a press-fit mechanism, a slide-and-lock mechanism, a twist-and-lock or other friction-fit mechanism, a tongue-and-groove mechanism, a buckle mechanism, a button mechanism, string, rope, laces, or any other suitable mechanism for securing the housing802to the crate102. In some implementations, the housing802may be detachably connected to the crate102. In some implementations, the housing802is not operably connected to the housing. In some implementations, the housing802rests adjacent to a wall104,106,108,110of the crate.

In some implementations, a roller804may be located within the housing802and the roller804may be operably connected to the housing802. In some implementations, the panel820is “rolled” or “wrapped” around the roller804, and one end of the panel820may be operably attached to the roller804. In some implementations, the panel820may be unrolled from around the roller804to extend a distance up the corresponding wall104,106,108,110of the crate102to which the housing802is located. In some implementations, the panel820is configured to extend a length and height sufficient to prevent an amount of the animal's hair132, dirt, or the mess created by the animal from escaping through the apertures116found in the lower portion of the wall104,106,108,110of the crate102to which it is operably attached.

In some implementations, a mechanism808for attaching the panel820to the wall104,106,108,110to which it is operably connected may be present. The mechanism808may be a hook (as shown inFIGS. 8 and 9), a hook and loop fastener, a snap-lock mechanism, a press-fit mechanism, a slide-and-lock mechanism, a twist-and-lock or other friction-fit mechanism, a tongue-and-groove mechanism, a buckle mechanism, a button mechanism, string, rope, laces, magnets, an elastic band, clip or any other any other suitable mechanism for connecting the panel820to its associated wall104,106,108,110of the crate102. In some implementations, the mechanism808may be located on or connected to the panel820. In some implementations, the mechanism808may be located on at least one wall of the crate102. In some implementations, the mechanism808may be located on the panel820and the wall of the crate102to which the panel820is to be operably connected. In some implementations, the mechanism808may be attached to a separate piece of material822that is operably connected to the panel820as shown inFIG. 9. The material822may be the same or different type of material that is used for the panel820.

In some implementations, the height of the panel820is sufficient to permit the animal inside the crate102to see out and contain an amount of the hair132shed from the animal, dirt, or the mess created by the animal from escaping through apertures116found in the lower portion of the wall104,106,108,110of the crate102to which the panel108is operably attached. In some implementations, the height of the panel820is about 5% to about 75% of the height of the wall to which the panel is operably attached. In some implementations, the height of the panel820is about 25% of the height of the wall to which the panel is operably attached. In some implementations, the height of the panel820is about 10% to about 15% of the height of the wall to which the panel is operably attached. In some implementations, the height of the panels820is about 2 inches to about 8 inches. In some implementations, the height of the panels820is about 6 inches to about 8 inches. In some implementations, the height of the panels820is about 8 inches.

In some implementations, the panel820is made of fleece, felt, a cotton-based fabric, a polyester-based fabric, a material made of an olefin, plastic, a solar fabric, or a combination of the foregoing. In some implementations, the panel820is made of solar fabric so that the animal118inside the crate102may see outside of the crate102through the panel820.

A number of implementations have been described. Nevertheless, it will be understood that various modifications may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the disclosures in this application. As a non-limiting example, additional components may be added to those described above, or components may be removed or rearranged. It is understood by one skilled in the art that the connections and attachments described in this disclosure may be direct or indirect connections and attachments, respectively.

As another non-limiting example, a mechanism to prevent or substantially prevent the panel120,122,124,126,820from sagging may be present. The mechanism to prevent or substantially prevent the panel from sagging may be a button mechanism, string, rope, laces, hook, clip, magnets, a zipper, an elastic band, or any other suitable mechanism for preventing or substantially preventing the panel120,122,124,126,820from sagging.