Pet enclosure

A pet enclosure adapted to be mounted to a window sill permitting access from the interior of a room into the enclosure. The enclosure has a perch for the pet and a removable waste receptacle.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
1. Field of the Invention 
The invention relates to pet enclosures; and, more particularly, to an 
enclosure detachably mounted to a window sill of a room wherein the 
enclosure is disposed outside of the room. 
2. Description of the Prior Art 
Many people keep small pets in apartments and the like. It is undesirable 
to keep such pets cooped up in a house or the like without occasional 
outings. However, it is difficult for many people to take a dog for a 
walk, or let a cat or bird or the like out of the apartment or house. 
Further, keeping a small pet in a house or apartment without airing the pet 
may result in undesirable odors. Further, some people may not mind the 
presence of a pet in the house whereas their friends or companions may not 
like having a pet in the house. 
Some pets, such as cats, like to bask in the sun or to look out a window. 
Dogs like to be cool, but cats like air and heat. Thus, cats like sun, 
fresh air, enough room to move around in and a ledge to bask in or jump up 
and down on. Small dogs may also like to bask in the sun on a ledge or 
perch or lie in a cool shaded well aerated area. 
Thus, there is a need for a pet enclosure which can be quickly and easily 
attached to a window sill of a room or the like where the enclosure itself 
is outside of the room with pet access from the room into the enclosure. 
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
It is an object of this invention to provide a pet enclosure that is 
detachably mounted to the window sill of a room or the like. 
It is a further object of this invention to provide such an enclosure 
having access from the interior of the room into the interior of the 
enclosure outside of the room. 
It is still further an object of this invention to provide such a pet 
enclosure having a ledge for the pet to rest on and a removable pet waste 
collection area. 
These and other objects are preferably accomplished by providing a pet 
enclosure adapted to be mounted to a window sill permitting access from 
the interior of a room into the enclosure. The enclosure has a perch for 
the pet and a removable waste receptacle.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT 
Referring now to FIG. 1 of the drawing, FIG. 1 is a perspective side view 
of the pet enclosure 10 of the invention. Enclosure 10 includes a mounting 
structure 11 (see also FIG. 3) and an outdoor box 12. Mounting structure 
11 includes an open framework 13 which may be comprised of four 
interconnected members 14 to 17, (see also FIG. 3) each side wall having 
horizontally inwardly extending flanges 18, forming a generally 
rectangular framework encompassing opening 22. 
A pair of vertical side legs 23, 24 (see FIG. 2) are coupled on each side 
of framework 13 which legs 23, 24 are in turn secured to an elongated open 
framework 25 (see FIG. 1). Flange 18 of member 15 forms the bottom of 
framework 25 (secured to legs 23, 24) and an elongated upper member 26, 
spaced from member 15, is also connected to legs 23, 24, forming the top 
of framework 25. An intermediate vertical flange 27, between legs 23, 24, 
divides framework 25 into two parts, one side (the left side in FIG. 1) 
having an opening 28 and the other side having an L-shaped sill mounting 
bracket 29. 
Bracket 29 has an upper open framework 30 defined by interconnected 
brackets 31 to 33. A front panel 35 extends downwardly from bracket 34 
spaced from framework 25. Panel 35 has one or more apertures therethrough, 
such as apertures (FIG. 3) which may be threaded, receiving therein 
tightening screws 38, 39, respectively. Each screw 38, 39 has an integral 
enlarged head, such as ring 40 (FIG. 3) for grasping the same. 
In operation, bracket 29 is disposed over a conventional window sill 41, as 
shown in dotted lines in FIG. 3, with framework 13 extending outside of 
the window 42 associated with sill 41. Screws 38, 39 are then tightened to 
firmly secure bracket 29 to sill 41. 
Box 12 has a base 43, a top wall 44, and interconnected side walls 45-48 
(see also FIG. 1). Top wall 44, and side walls 45, 46, 47 may be of glass 
or plastic or the like and generally imperforate. However, vents 49, 50 
(FIG. 1 and 3) may be provided on portions of side walls 45, 46, 47 and 
top walls 44, such as vents 49, 50 associated with the lower portions of 
side walls 45, 47, respectively. 
Base 43 may also be screened or vented, or perforated as shown in FIG. 3 as 
having a plurality of spaced air holes 51 therethrough. A hole or opening 
52 (FIG. 5) may be provided in base 43. As seen in FIG. 5, hole or opening 
52 may have peripheral flange 53 adapted to support thereon the lip 54 of 
a kitty litter receiving tray 55 that can be removably mounted in hole or 
opening 52. If desired, a cover or lid 56, also perforated via holes 57, 
may be provided conforming to opening 52 for closing off the same when it 
is not necessary or desired to use tray 55. 
As seen in FIG. 1, opening 52 is on the left side of box 12. On the 
opposite or right side in FIG. 1, as particularly seen in FIG. 4, a pair 
of spaced tracks 58, 59 are provided spaced up from base 43. As seen in 
FIG. 2, each track 58, 59 is comprised of a first elongated upper flange 
60 spaced from a second elongated lower flange 61. A pair of spaced 
interconnected cross-plates 62, 63 (FIG. 3) are disposed on flanges 60, 
61, plate 62 extending across the top of flanges 60 and plate 63 extending 
across the bottom of flange 61. A tightening screw 64, showed in detail in 
FIG. 3, is provided having a slotted head 65 abutting against flange 63 
through which the shaft 67 of screw 64 extends. Wing nut 69 is threaded on 
shaft 67 to tighten screw 64 against plates 62, 63 and thus lock the 
plates 62, 63 in any desired location along tracks 58, 59. 
As seen in FIG. 1, the front or area opposite rear wall 46 of box 12 has an 
elongated open area 70 separated by support flange 71 from a second area 
72. Area 70 is closed off (FIG. 2), by door 73, hinged at hinges 74, 75 to 
flange 26, and has a lower open area 77 below flange 26. As seen in FIG. 
3, flange 26 is generally aligned with lower flange 15. A lock 78 may be 
provided at the top of door 73 removably locking door 73 to top wall 44. 
The configuration of base 43 of box 12 is such that it can fit within 
framework 13, as shown in FIG. 1. Side walls 15 to 17 may extend upwardly 
a sufficient distance to accommodate box 12 and hold it in place as seen 
in FIG. 3. 
As seen in FIG. 1, an elongated panel 79, which may also be perforated, is 
slid between flange 60, 61 until it abuts against screw 64. Panel 79 may 
have a cut-out section 79' where it abuts against screw 64 for receiving 
screw 64 therein. Tightening of wing nut 69 thus tightens plates 62, 63 in 
any desired location along tracks 58, 59. Panel 79 has a flange plate 84 
(FIG. 3) secured to the end opposite section 79' with an inwardly 
extending lip 82 at its lower end. Panel 35 is mounted to brackets 31, 33 
by spaced side flanges 82, 83 (see also FIG. 1), top flange 32 and bottom 
flange 85. Lip 82 thus extends under top flange 32 (FIG. 3) and abuts 
against panel 35 to firmly hold panel 79 to mounting structure 11. 
If it is desired to close off the opening 72 (FIG. 1) leading into box 12, 
a removable closure member 86 (FIGS. 2, 3 and 6) may be provided having 
interconnected side walls 88 (FIG. 3 and 6) which side walls may extend 
into opening 72 as seen in FIG. 3 (only one wall 88 being visible in FIG. 
3). Window 42 may be slid laterally (if of that type of window) to abut 
against either side wall 88. Closure member 86 may be comprised of a 
framework 90 (FIG. 2) having a track 91 (see FIG. 6) on each side 
receiving therein in a friction fit relationship a slidable door 92. Thus, 
door 92 may be raised and lowered to selectively open and close opening 70 
to provide access to, or exclude access to, the interior of box 12. A 
handle 93 may be provided at the bottom of door 92 to assist in raising 
and lowering the same. 
Any suitable materials may be used, such as glass, clear or opaque plastic, 
etc. Steel or plastic may be used for the support members. 
It can be seen from FIG. 1 that panel 79 will be disposed inside of the 
room or house in which apparatus 10 is installed. A cat or dog or the like 
can jump on panel 79 and, if door 92 is open or raised, enter box 12. The 
pet can then sit on top of panel 79 basking in the sun. If the pet desires 
to use the litter box 55 (cover 56 being removed), it can do so. The box 
12 is well ventilated and can be of clear plastic or glass to provide sun 
for the animal. A shady resting spot is provided under panel 79. Door 73 
can be unlocked so as to provide access to the interior of box 12 for 
cleaning out the same, particularly removing tray 55. 
The apparatus 10 can be used in any window having a sill or ledge. If such 
window opened upwardly, it can be closed down on top of walls 88. 
There is thus disclosed a novel pet enclosure which can be used by many 
types of small pets, such as dogs, cats, birds, snakes, etc. A water tray 
can be placed in box 12. The interior of box 12 is well ventilated so 
odors are kept out of the house or apartment.