Foldable holder for absorbent pad

A holder for an absorbent pad, the pad holder having two halves with a bottom wall section bounded by a hinged side and a plurality of wall-in sides, the hinged sides of the two halves cooperating to make the pad holder foldable for packaging, shipment and storage, at least one selectively releasable locking or latching mechanism to hold the pad holder in an unfolded position during use, and a plurality of spaced-apart, selectively releasable pad attachment devices, each preferably disposed in a corner wall section, to limit relative motion between the pad holder and an absorbent pad installed inside it without pressuring any portion of the absorbent pad against the bottom wall.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

This invention relates to a holder for an absorbent pad for liquids, and more particularly, to a reusable holder for pads that, as an example, absorb animal urine. Such pads are often referred to as “puppy training pads.” It will also be apparent to those of ordinary skill in the art upon reading the present disclosure, however, that the pad holder disclosed herein is similarly useful for holding and stabilizing liquid absorbent pads or pads comprising liquid adsorbents, or pads comprising both absorbent and adsorbent materials (all of which are referred to herein as “absorbent pads” for convenience), for application other than as puppy training pads. The pad holders of the invention can also be used, for example and without limitation, to hold and stabilize pads used with other types of animals, or in cages or crates, or under motor vehicles in repair shops, or for craft projects, or to help protect tables, or as drip or catch pads for various types of spills, such as paint, water, glue, or the like.

2. Description of Related Art

In the past, holders for absorbent pads have been made in numerous different configurations. Because the commercially available absorbent pads are generally rectangular or square, the pad holders are typically similarly shaped. Some conventional pad holders are relatively flat and others have sidewalls. Some conventional pad holders have frames with bottoms, some have no bottoms, and various mechanisms have previously been disclosed for securing pads in or to the pad holders. Examples of some other pad holders are disclosed in U.S. Pat. Nos. 7,763,338; 6,059,247; and 6,450,119; in U.S. Pub. No. 2010/0300367; and in other patents cited therein.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The pad holder disclosed herein desirably comprises two halves, with each half further comprising a bottom wall section bounded on all but one side by upwardly extending side wall sections. One side of the bottom wall section is not bounded by an upwardly extending wall section and preferably comprises a plurality of spaced apart hinge elements that allow the two halves to be joined and folded back against themselves so that the undersides of the two halves are in facing juxtaposition when the pad holder is folded for shipment and storage, and for display at the point of sale. Sliding latches or other similarly effective known devices are desirably provided for locking the two halves of the pad holder in an unfolded position with the bottom wall sections substantially flat when the pad holder is deployed for use.

According to one embodiment of the invention, the corners of each half are truncated where two upwardly extending intersecting side wall sections would ordinarily abut each other to form a corner in a conventional rectangular pad holder, and a corner wall section is desirably disposed at each truncated corner. Each corner wall section is disposed obliquely relative to the closest adjacent side wall sections and each end of each corner wall section is connected to or unitarily formed together with an end of an adjacent side wall section, so that each half of the subject pad holder desirably comprises three side wall sections alternating with and separated by two corner wall sections. When the two halves of a pad holder configured in this manner are joined at the hinges with the bottom wall laid flat, a pad holder is formed that has a polygonal shape with eight sides and a bottom. The eight sides of the assembled pad holder desirably comprise four longer side wall sections alternating with four shorter corner wall sections. Two side wall sections of each half of the pad holder are disposed transverse to a hinge line separating the bottom wall sections of the two halves, one at each end thereof, and the two transverse side wall sections of each half are longitudinally aligned with two side wall sections of the other half when the two halves are hinged together. A releasable locking element is desirably provided to prevent the two halves from folding about the hinge line while the pad holder is disposed in the unfolded, locking (use) position. As used herein, the term “hinge line” is intended to mean a line of separation between the two halves, although it will be appreciated upon reading this disclosure that the hinge line may not be strictly linear, depending upon factors such as the hinge configuration, manufacturing considerations, and the like.

In another embodiment of the invention, a shallow trough is disposed around the perimeter of the bottom wall at the base of the upwardly extending side wall. The shallow trough can serve as a catch-basin for any excess liquid that may pass through or out the sides of an absorbent pad during use. The bottom wall, side walls and corner walls, and a shallow trough of each half of the absorbent pad holder of the invention can be unitarily molded from a moldable polymeric material and, if desired, other modifications can also be incorporated into the mold. Such modifications can include, for example and without limitation, structural support ribs and/or pedestals disposed on the underside of the bottom wall; or alternating projections and recesses disposed at or near the top surfaces of the side walls and corner walls to facilitate stacking of the subject pad holders for packaging, shipment or storage.

A pad attachment device is desirably provided at each corner position, a principal purpose of which is to secure to the pad holder a corner of an absorbent pad that is spread out across the upwardly facing surface of the bottom wall. The length and width of the assembled pad holder are desirably such that at least a portion of an absorbent pad used with the device will extend sufficiently beyond the bottom wall that a pad attachment device disposed at each corner of the pad can releasably grasp and hold some portion of pad so that the pad will remain spread over the bottom wall during use. Significantly, no portion of the pad holder presses the absorbent pad against the bottom wall. If desired, the dimensions of the pad holder can be selected in such manner that a conventional, commercially available pad is slightly longer and wider than the bottom wall. Alternatively, absorbent pads of a particular dimension can be specially made to fit the pad holder or straps, tabs, or the like, can be provided for use at or near the corners of the pad to attach the pad to the pad holder, provided that the pad attachment device utilized as part of the subject pad holder is able to releasably grasp or hold the corner of the pad in substantially the same position relative to the pad holder from the time the pad is installed in the pad holder until the pad is replaced following a desired period of use.

According to another embodiment of the invention, the pad holder is assembled into a hinge-folded position during manufacture and is stacked together with a plurality of other similarly configured pad holders for packaging or storage. To facilitate stacking of the subject pad holders while in the folded position, the top of each side wall section can be provided, for example and without limiting the particular structure used, with spaced-apart projections and slots or recesses positioned so that, when a pad holder is stacked on another pad holder, the slots or recesses will receive and releasably engage projections from the pad holder stacked either over or under it.

According to another embodiment of the invention, if the subject pad holders are configured so that at least a major portion of the downwardly facing surface of the bottom wall is slightly higher than the floor or other underlying support surface upon which the pad holder rests during use, a plurality of ribs or pedestals are desirably provided on the underside of the bottom wall to prevent the bottom wall from flexing under the weight of an animal eliminating on the pad. Depending upon the material(s) of construction used in making the pad holders, keeping the bottom wall of the pad holder substantially level during use may reduce the likelihood of stress-cracking due to repeated flexing during prolonged use.

The foldable pad holder of the invention is self-contained, yet can be marketed as a one-piece product with no separate detached components or parts to be lost or misplaced. Because the subject pad holder is foldable, it takes up less space on shelves in a store or at home and allows for easier portability. This can be particularly helpful when transporting the device home from the point of sale, or when traveling with a pet, or when storing it during periods when it is not needed. Reduction in the amount of uncovered and unprotected surface area in a pad holder is also a beneficial aspect of the present invention. As compared to conventional pad holders having an extensive amount of exposed plastic surface not covered by the absorbent pad that are subject to wetting with the pet's urine during use, for example, the foldable pad holder of the invention reduces the need for extensive cleaning of such parts and surrounding areas off the pad.

Like reference numerals are used to describe like parts in all Figures of the drawings and prime numbers indicate different structural versions of the same component.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

Referring toFIG. 1, pad holder20comprises two halves22,24separated by a generally linear hinge line50incorporating offset segments52,54joined by irregular segments53. Half22further comprises bottom wall section26, side wall sections30,32and34, and corner wall sections36,38. Half24similarly comprises bottom wall section28, side wall sections40,42and44, and corner wall sections46,48. In the embodiment shown inFIG. 1, bottom wall sections26,28each further comprises a shallow trough29,31, respectively, that extends around the perimeter at the foot of the side wall and corner wall sections except on the hinge side of each bottom wall section. The bottom wall, trough, side wall and corner wall sections of each of the halves22,24of pad holder20are desirably unitarily molded from any moldable polymeric resin in a moldable configuration having physical properties and durability that are adequate to achieve the performance characteristics desired by the manufacturer of the subject pad holder20. Halves22,24of pad holder20are desirably unitarily molded with hinge elements that can be conveniently joined together when the halves are lying in either a substantially coplanar or stacked position relative to each other.

It will also be appreciated upon reading this disclosure that bottom wall sections26,28, side wall sections30,32,34,40,42,44and corner wall sections36,38,46,48can be molded separately provided that such sections have component parts configured to facilitate assembly to form pad holder20and further provided that halves22,24are selectively foldable at hinge line50. Thus, for example, a plurality of cooperating tabs and slots can be provided to permit the assembly of such component parts into halves22,24within the scope of the invention if desired. Such components can, for example and without limitation, be assembled by snap-fit connections, by the use of conventional fastening devices, or the like.

According to one embodiment of the invention, a releasable latch mechanism64,66is desirably provided at each end of hinge line50for use in bridging the line of separation between halves22,24. When halves22,24of pad holder20are in the positions shown inFIG. 1, bottom wall sections26,28cooperate to form one substantially coplanar, substantially continuous bottom wall and side wall sections30,40and34,44are cooperatively aligned. When the bottom wall and side walls are in the position shown, releasable latch mechanisms64,66are desirably moved from the unlatched position shown inFIG. 1to a latched position by sliding latch mechanisms64,66so that one latch mechanism bridges the line of separation between side wall sections34,44and another latch mechanism bridges the line of separation between side wall sections30,40. The movement of releasable latching mechanism66from the unlatched position shown inFIG. 1to the latched position shown inFIG. 7is more easily seen inFIGS. 8 and 9, respectively. The “track” along which releasable latching mechanism moves between the latched and unlatched position is the recessed free end section70of each of side wall sections30,40. However, it will be appreciated by those of ordinary skill in the art upon reading this disclosure that other similarly effective conventional latching mechanisms such as, for example, straps, snaps, hooks or other selectively releasable mechanical interlocks can also be used to secure halves22,24of pad holder20in the unfolded position shown inFIG. 1prior to use.

FIG. 6discloses pad holder20ofFIG. 1with half22folded back under half24in a preferred position for packaging, shipment or storage of pad holder20. Pad holder20is folded along hinge line50(identified inFIG. 1), which can be done when releasable latching mechanisms64,66are unlatched and disposed in the positions shown inFIG. 1.FIG. 3is an exploded view of halves22,24prior to engagement of the hinge sections on the hinge side of each of bottom wall sections26,28.FIG. 4is an enlarged, detail view of a hinge section when halves22,24of pad holder20are exploded prior to engagement of the two halves as shown inFIG. 3.FIG. 5is an enlarged, detail view showing the same hinge section as inFIG. 4when the two halves are assembled by connecting the cooperatively aligned hinge sections of each half, which orients halves22,24in the same position as when half22is folded under half24as shown inFIG. 6.

Referring toFIG. 4, a hinge section of half24overlies a cooperatively aligned hinge section comprising spaced apart hinges82of half22. In one preferred embodiment as shown, two facing cylindrical projections90are positioned to snap into engagement with upwardly opening clevises92while slot94slides down over and receives upwardly projecting fin98and oppositely facing cylindrical projections100snap into engagement with downwardly opening clevises96(only one of which is visible inFIG. 4) of half24. After each spaced-apart hinge section82along hinge line50(FIG. 1) of pad holder20is connected in the manner shown inFIG. 5so that halves22,24are connected, half22can be folded out from under half24to place halves22,24, and more particularly, bottom wall sections26,28, in a substantially coplanar configuration as shown inFIG. 1. Alternatively, the hinge sections of each respective half22,24can also be cooperatively aligned and engaged while halves22,24are lying in the unfolded position substantially as shown inFIG. 1. When halves22,24are unfolded, tabs102of half22are rotated into a position where they fit into recesses54of half24, and tabs88of half24fit into recesses52of half22.

Referring toFIGS. 1,2,10,11,12A and12B, each corner wall section36,38,46,48preferably further comprises a selectively releasable pad attachment device56,58,60,62adapted to engage, hold or grasp a corner of an absorbent pad during use, when pad holder20is deployed in the unfolded, use position, without pressing the pad downwardly against either of bottom wall sections26,28. Referring toFIG. 10, corner wall section46is disposed between and desirably either abuts against or is unitarily molded to each adjacent side wall section40,42and bottom wall section28. Referring toFIG. 10, a recess or indentation45is desirably provided to assist a user of pad holder20in grasping the underside of pad attachment device60and lifting it upward relative to corner wall46prior to securing an absorbent pad inside pad holder20. Also visible inFIG. 10along the top edges of side wall sections40,42are recess106and an upwardly projecting boss104that are representative of a plurality of such elements disposed in spaced-apart, alternating relation around the perimeter of pad holder20as seen inFIG. 1. When configured in this manner, each upwardly projecting boss104is desirably positioned opposite and aligned with an associated recess106when pad holder20is folded for packaging, shipment and/or storage, thereby providing frictional engagement between each cooperatively aligned pair of folded pad holders20in a stack.

Referring toFIG. 11, a cross-section taken through corner wall46ofFIG. 10, recess45is visible under pad attachment device60, which can be manipulated upwardly or downwardly as indicated by arrow108when installing or removing an absorbent pad (not shown) from the device. Also visible are a portion of bottom wall section28and shallow trough31disposed at the base of corner wall46. Referring next toFIG. 12A, pad attachment device60has been pulled upwardly relative to the top of corner wall46as indicated by arrow110. In the embodiment shown, pad attachment device60slidably engages a track114molded into corner wall section46. A corner portion of absorbent pad120has been pulled upwardly onto the top of corner wall section46. Referring next toFIG. 12B, pad attachment device60is pressed downwardly as indicated by arrow112to releasably capture and hold the corner portion of pad120between the underside of pad attachment device60and the top of corner wall section46. A top perspective view of the corner of pad holder20as seen inFIG. 10, but with absorbent pad120disposed inside pad holder20and overlying bottom wall section28, and a corner of absorbent pad120releasably captured and held against the top of corner wall46by pad attachment device60.FIG. 7is a cross-sectional view taken along line7-7, transverse to hinge line50, ofFIG. 1, but also showing absorbent pad120captured by pad attachment devices56,60disposed at opposite ends of pad holder20.

Referring toFIGS. 14,14A, and14B, an alternate preferred embodiment is shown that uses an alternate pad attachment device. Just like in the first described embodiment, each corner wall section36,38,46,48further comprises a selectively releasable pad attachment device56′,58′,60′,62′ adapted to engage, hold or grasp a corner of an absorbent pad during use, when pad holder20is deployed in the unfolded, use position, without pressing the pad downwardly against either of bottom wall sections26,28. The alternate embodiment differs from the first preferred embodiment in that a different structure is used for the selectively releasable pad attachment device as depicted by60′ inFIGS. 14A and 14B. Referring toFIG. 14, a recess or indentation45is desirably provided to assist a user of pad holder20in grasping the underside of lip124of the pad attachment device60′ and rotating the pad attachment device60′ with respect to corner wall46prior to securing an absorbent pad inside pad holder20. Also visible inFIG. 14along the top edges of side wall sections40,42are recess106and an upwardly projecting boss104that are representative of a plurality of such elements disposed in spaced-apart, alternating relation around the perimeter of pad holder20as seen inFIG. 1. When configured in this manner, each upwardly projecting boss104is desirably positioned opposite and aligned with an associated recess106when pad holder20is folded for packaging, shipment and/or storage, thereby providing frictional engagement between each cooperatively aligned pair of folded pad holders20in a stack.

Referring toFIGS. 14A and 14B, which are both a cross-section view taken through corner wall46ofFIG. 14along line identified as14A-14A and14B-14B, recess45is visible under pad attachment device60′. Also visible are a portion of bottom wall section28and shallow trough31disposed at the base of corner wall46. Pad attachment device60′ is rotatably secured to corner wall46by hinge pin122. Hinge pin122is preferably integrally molded with the outer portion of corner wall46on each side of pad attachment device60′ and seats in a corresponding hole on each end of pad attachment device60′ Referring toFIG. 14A, pad attachment device60′ has been rotated away from the top of corner wall46in the direction opposite of arrow126so that pad120can be positioned on the top of corner wall46. A corner portion of absorbent pad120has been pulled upwardly onto the top of corner wall section46. Pad attachment device60′ is rotated as indicated by arrow126to releasably capture and hold the corner portion of pad120between the underside of pad attachment device60′ and the top of corner wall section46as shown inFIG. 14B.

One of skill will recognize numerous ways to allow pad attachment device60′ to rotate over corner wall46and still allow lip124of pad attachment device60′ to secure pad120against corner wall46. Examples include forming pad attachment device60′ so that lip124can slightly flex to pass over the top of corner wall46and then return to its original shape to hold pad120against corner wall46. Alternatively, hinge pin122can be seated in a vertical slot instead of a cylindrical hole on each end of the pad attachment device60′. This would allow pad attachment device60′ to move up as it is rotated in place in a manner similar to the first preferred embodiment. Even if a slot is not used, depending upon the materials and manufacturing techniques used, there may be a slight amount of “play” between hinge pin122and the corresponding hole in pad attachment device60′ that will allow lip124to slightly lift as it rotates over corner wall46. This is generally sufficient when coupled with the natural flexibility present in pad attachment device60′ when it is molded out of a polymeric material to allow lip124to pass over corner wall46and yet still be able to press pad120against corner wall46.

To the extent that additional support is desired, one or more protrusions128can be included along the width of pad attachment device60′. These additional protrusions128can provide additional contact points to hold pad120against the top of corner wall46. More preferably, as shown inFIG. 14B, protrusions128can push pad120against the outside of a raised ridge130at the top of corner wall46. In this way, pad120is pinched between lip124and protrusion128against both sides of raised ridge130at the top of corner wall46.

Alternatively, it will be apparent to those of ordinary skill in the art upon reading the present disclosure that other functionally equivalent pad holding devices can be similarly configured to releasably attach an absorbent pad to restrict relative movement between the pad and an underlying bottom wall of a pad holder such as pad holder20without pressuring any portion of the absorbent pad against the bottom wall.

Referring toFIG. 2, undersides72,74of halves22,24of pad holder20are shown to demonstrate one way in which a plurality of spaced-apart, cylindrical bosses or pedestals80and a grid or network of intersecting linear ribs76and arcuate ribs78disposed in a suitably configured array can provide structural support and reinforcement to the undersides72,74of the bottom wall and maintain the bottom wall in a substantially level position relative to an underlying support surface such as a floor, even when an animal is standing or moving on an absorbent pad installed inside pad holder20. InFIG. 2, halves22,24are disposed in the same unfolded position as inFIG. 1, except that releasable locking elements64,66have been moved to the locking position relative to the line of hinge sections82. Those of ordinary skill in the art will understand upon reading this disclosure in relation to the accompanying disclosure that the configuration of integrally molded structural supports shown inFIG. 2are merely illustrative of the many different configurations that can be used in making pad holders20of the invention.

Other alterations and modifications of the invention will likewise become apparent to those of ordinary skill in the art upon reading this specification in view of the accompanying drawings, and it is intended that the scope of the invention disclosed herein be limited only by the broadest interpretation of the appended claims to which the inventors are legally entitled.