HOME AND TRAVEL COLLAPSIBLE DOG CRATE

In an embodiment, a collapsible and portable pet crate has a rear, top, bottom, folding side, and front panels. The assembled crate may be collapsed by lifting the top panel and pressing the forward panel towards the rear panel as the side panels fold, folding the top panel over the front panel, and then folding the bottom panel over the front panel. Sliding hinges may be provided at the junction between the bottom plate and the rear plate to enable a smaller profile for the collapsed crate. Latches may be provided to secure the crate in the assembled and collapsed configurations. The rear wall may include wall mounting attachment(s), for example, magnetic assemblies that can be mated with another magnetic mounting on the user's wall for easy storage and/or enable collapsing the crate in much the same way as a Murphy bed.

TECHNICAL FIELD

The technical field of the disclosed embodiments relate to collapsible and portable pet crates. More particularly, the disclosed embodiments relate to a collapsible pet crate than can be folded into a collapsed configuration that can be easily transported and/or secured when not in use.

BACKGROUND

Owners of pets, especially dogs, may use crates to provide a secure place for their pets to calm down, sleep, and also to prevent them from damaging their home or belongings when unable to supervise them, either at home or when traveling.

A common type of dog crate is a solid housing typically made of heavy-duty materials such as metal frames, mesh wiring and/or thick plastic, which are designed to be durable and long-lasting. However, they can be challenging to transport due to their size, weight, and bulk, making them impractical for pet owners who need to move their dogs frequently, either within their homes or when traveling. These types of crates can also be difficult to store, taking up a lot of space when not in use.

SUMMARY

Disclosed are various embodiments of a collapsible and portable pet crate. The pet crate may have a rear panel, top panel, bottom panel, two folding side panels, and a front panel including a door to allow a pet to enter and exit the assembled crate. In the assembled, or “crate”, configuration, the crate may have a generally box-like shape in which the top and bottom panels extend horizontally from hinges attached to the rear panel, with the side panels, rear panel, and front panel extending vertically supporting the top panel. Latches may be provided between the bottom panel and the side panels and front panel, as well as between the top panel and front panel to provide rigidity and structural integrity to the cage in this configuration.

The assembled crate may be collapsed by lifting the top panel and pressing the front panel towards the rear panel as the side panels fold. In an embodiment, the side panels may be suspended by their hinged attachment to the rear panel. In another embodiment, the folding side panels may include sliding elements on the front of the side panels slide along rails on the bottom panel. Once the front panel is fully retracted in a first collapsed position, the top panel may then be folded over the front panel in a second collapsed position. In this position, the bottom panel may be exposed to enable a user to clean the bottom panel and any bedding or other items therein. The bottom panel may then be folded over the top panel into a fully collapsed configuration. Sliding hinges may be provided at the junction between the bottom plate and the rear plate to enable a smaller profile for the collapsed crate.

The user may engage the side latches with mating elements on the rear panel to secure the collapsed cage into a package that is readily transported and/or stored. A handle may be provided to facilitate moving the collapsed crate.

The rear wall may include wall mounting attachment(s), for example, magnetic assemblies that can be mated with another magnetic mounting on the user's wall for easy storage and/or enable collapsing the crate in much the same way as a Murphy bed.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

In an embodiment, a pet crate with a lightweight, durable design includes a folding mechanism enabling rapid set-up and breakdown for ease of transportation and storage. The pet crate may include a magnetic mounting mechanism to enable the collapsed (broken-down) crate to be secured to a wall to provide extra space when not in use.

FIG.1shows a collapsible and portable pet crate100in an assembled or “crate” configuration according to an embodiment. The pet crate100may include a top panel102, a bottom panel104, a front panel106, a rear panel108, and left and right folding side panels110,112, respectively. The panels may include various apertures to enable the owner (user) to view their pet(s) and to provide sufficient air for their pet(s), while still providing sufficient strength to prevent the pet from escaping the crate. In an embodiment, the panels may be constructed from a molded plastic material, however other durable and lightweight materials may be used, for example, wire mesh panel sections attached to metal frames. Other materials and fabrication techniques are also contemplated, such as, for example, carbon fiber, wood, 3-D printing, computer numerical control (CNC), etc.

The top panel102may be attached to the rear panel108by bi-directional hinges114which enable the top panel102to be lifted to access the enclosed pet area (FIG.12) or lowered during a folding operation described below (FIG.7).

In an embodiment, the front panel106may include two doors116with door handles117to enable the pet to enter and exit the cage. Alternatively, a single, larger door may be used.

The folding side panels110,112may include two sections connected by hinges120to enable to fold inwards when collapsing the pet crate100.

In the crate configuration, the structure may be secured may a number or latches or locks. The front panel106may be secured to the bottom panel104by front panel latch(es), or hooks,122, as shown inFIG.2. The side panels110,112may be secured to the bottom panel104by bottom panel latches124which attach to female side panel latch elements126on the side panels, as shown inFIG.3. The top panel102may be secured to the front panel106and/or the side panels110,112by a twisting latch mechanism128, as shown inFIGS.4&5. Latching mechanisms122,124,126, and128are merely exemplary. Other means to secure the panels together in the crate configuration are also contemplated.

To fold the pet crate into a fully “collapsed” configuration (FIG.9), the user may unlatch latches122and124and unlock top twisting locks128. Once unsecured, front panel106may be pushed back to rear panel108, as shown inFIGS.6&7. In an embodiment, the folding side panels110,112may supported by their hinged attachment to the rear panel108. In another embodiment, the bottom panel104may include grooves or rails on its left and right sides and mate with pins, wheels, bearings, or other sliding mechanisms provided near the front, bottom edges of the folding side panels110,112.

Once the front panel has been fully retracted into a first collapsed position, the top panel102may be folded down to cover the front panel106, as shown inFIG.7. Once the top panel102is fully folded down over the front panel106in a second collapsed position, the user has easy access to the bottom of the crate, which may include a recess130to house bedding, which may be removed and cleaned.

The bottom panel104may then be lifted up (FIG.8) to completely close the assemble (FIG.9). The bottom panel latches124may then be attached to rear panel latch elements131on the sides of the rear panel108to secure the assembly in a fully collapsed, or “closed”, configuration for transportation or storage, as shown inFIG.10.

A handle132may be provided on the top of the rear panel108to enable the user to easily carry the collapsed pet crate.

In an embodiment, the pet crate may be 37″ long by 26″ wide by 26″ tall (24.5″ tall without the handle) to accommodate dogs up to 22 inches tall and 30 inches long. In this embodiment, the collapsed pet crate may weigh only about fifteen pounds with a thickness of only 6.5″. To accommodate for this slim profile, a sliding hinge134may be provided at the junction between the bottom panel104and rear panel108, providing flexibility at that joint when folding the two panels together, as shown inFIG.11. In alternative embodiments, the dimensions of the pet crate100in the crate configuration and collapsed configuration may be modified to accommodate different sized pets.

In an embodiment, grooves may be provided in internal portions of the front panel106and rear panel108to enable the user to insert a “puppy” divider136between portions of the interior of the pet crate100, as shown inFIG.12. This may be useful for a puppy to have an appropriate and comfortable space while it is small and young, but provide a more appropriate space as it grows into adolescence and adulthood.

In an embodiment, a wall attachment assembly138may be affixed to a wall140for removable attachment to the wall140, as shown inFIGS.13-15. The wall attachment assembly138may include an attachment arm including a magnetic material142for mating with a corresponding magnet areas on the rear panel108with the opposite polarity of the magnetic material142on the wall attachment assembly138. In this manner, the pet crate may be folded up and stored when not in use in much the same way as a Murphy bed in order to save floor space.

It is to be understood that the phraseology and terminology employed herein are for the purpose of description and should not be regarded as limiting. For example, the use of the articles “a,” “an,” or “the” is not to be construed as limiting the element to the singular. Further, the use of directional descriptors such as “up”, “upward”, “down”, “downward”, “front”, “back”, “rear”, “top”, “upper”, “bottom”, “lower”, “left”, “right” and other such terms refer to the device as it is oriented and appears in the drawings and are used for convenience only; they are not intended to be limiting or to imply that the device has to be used or positioned in any particular orientation.

The preceding description of the disclosed aspects is provided to enable any person skilled in the art to make, implement, or use the claims. Various modifications to these aspects will be readily apparent to those skilled in the art, and the generic principles defined herein may be applied to other aspects without departing from the scope of the claims. For example, other, non-magnetic types of releasable attachment devices may be used to attach the pet crate to a wall or another vertical structure in the user's dwelling. Thus, the present disclosure is not intended to be limited to the aspects illustrated herein but is to be accorded the widest scope consistent with the claims disclosed herein.

With respect to the above description, it is to be understood that described embodiments are not limited in its application to the details of construction and to the arrangement of the components in the following description or illustrations in the drawings. Other embodiments may be carried out in various ways and used with other items.

As such, those skilled in the art will appreciate that the conception upon which this disclosure is based may readily be utilized as a basis for the designing of other structures, methods, and systems for carrying out the several purposes of the present disclosed device.