Abstract:
A pet stroller which includes a frame and at least one enclosure. There can also be an additional enclosure disposed on top of the first enclosure. The enclosures can include a hoop frame and a webbed netting which covers the frame. The enclosures can be opened by a door which can be used to allow animals or pets to be put inside.

Description:
CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS  
       [0001]     This application is a continuation in part of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 10/825,272 filed on Apr. 15, 2004 which is a continuation in part application of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 10/663,465 filed on Sep. 16, 2003 which hereby claims priority from and the benefit of U.S. Provisional Application No. 60/411,366 filed on Sep. 17, 2002 wherein the disclosures of both listed utility applications and the provisional application are hereby incorporated herein by reference. 
     
    
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
       [0002]     1. Field of the Invention  
         [0003]     The present invention relates to an animal enclosure for use with a stroller wherein this device can be used for transporting small animals. This type of device includes at least two enclosures, which can be attached to a collapsible frame with wheels for transporting the pet.  
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
       [0004]     The invention relates to an animal enclosure in the form of an animal stroller that can be used to transport animals in a top and bottom manner. There can therefore be two animal enclosures for two different pets.  
         [0005]     For example, there can be a pet stroller comprising a frame and at least two enclosures. The frame can comprise a plurality of wheels rotatably secured to a frame. The enclosure can include a frame and a flexible netting material secured to the frame and covering the outer section of the enclosure. There can also be a padded material covering the bottom section of the enclosure. However, in one embodiment there can be doors on both ends of the stroller.  
         [0006]     There is also at least one door releasably secured to at least one of the end sections of the enclosure.  
         [0007]     There can also be at least one additional enclosure coupled to the first enclosure. The additional enclosure can include additional netting covering the additional enclosure. 
     
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       [0008]     Other objects and features of the present invention will become apparent from the following detailed description considered in connection with the accompanying drawings. It should be understood, however, that the drawings are designed for the purpose of illustration only and not as a definition of the limits of the invention.  
         [0009]     In the drawings, wherein similar reference characters denote similar elements throughout the several views:  
         [0010]      FIG. 1  is a perspective view of the first embodiment of the invention;  
         [0011]      FIG. 2  is a side view of another embodiment of the invention;  
         [0012]      FIG. 3  is a side view of the container;  
         [0013]      FIG. 4  is a side perspective view of one embodiment of the invention; and  
         [0014]      FIG. 5  is a front perspective view of another embodiment of the invention. 
     
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION  
       [0015]     Turning now in detail to the drawings,  FIG. 1  shows a perspective view of the device  8  which can include a first container  20  and a second container  40  disposed on frame  10  wherein this first container  20  includes a wire or metal rim in the form of a hoop  21 , a base  22 , a mesh screen  23 , a divider  26  and a covering  28 . Container  20  can include a bottom  25  which is made from heavy fabric and which can include a pillow or padded material, such that for example, one embodiment can include a padded base. For example, a pillow  25   a  or soft fabric cover may be placed on fabric bottom  25 , or fabric bottom  25  may include a padding disposed therein. There is also a handle  29  (See  FIG. 3 ) which can be in the form of a front and back handle extending lengthwise, which can be used to carry container  20 . In this case, second container  40  can also include similar elements such as a hoop  41 , a base  42 , a mesh screen  43 , a divider  46 , and a covering  48 .  
         [0016]     As shown in  FIG. 3 , there is a door  27  mounted onto each end of enclosure  20  to let the animal in and out of enclosure  20 . Door  27  can be made of one of the frame components or hoops  21  covered in netting or mesh screen  23 . Door  27  is secured to enclosure  20  via string, a zipper a clasp, or any other known fastener. Door  27  opens downward so that the pet can easily exit the enclosure. Other securing devices could also be used.  
         [0017]      FIG. 2  shows a side perspective view of the frame. In this view, there is a bottom section  12  which can include a support or tray  15 . Frame  10  can include side rails  11  and rear rails  13 , which are connected to a handle  14 . There are four wheels  16  rotatably mounted to frame  10  to allow frame  10  to roll along a surface. Wheels  16  are preferably rubber. Frame  10  is preferably made of metal tubing but other materials could be used. There is also a foot brake  17  which can be coupled to frame  10 . Handle  14  can be mounted on a frame via a rotatable hinge  14   a.    
         [0018]     As shown in  FIGS. 1-4 , enclosure  20  can be mounted in frame  10  by placing enclosure  20  on tray  15 . Tray  15  is made of stiff and durable material and is made to hold the weight of enclosure  20  and a small animal. Tray  15  can also be made from cloth stretched across two side rails  31  extending front to back from the front wheels to the back wheels. Side rails  11  prevent enclosure  20  from falling off of frame  10  during use. During use, the animal can sit comfortably either out in the open air or inside the tent formed from cover  24 . The stroller according to the invention could be made in many different sizes.  
         [0019]     In one embodiment of the double decker stroller as shown in  FIG. 4 , there is an additional tray  34  which can be mounted on guide rails  33   a  and  33   b  extending across side rails  11 . Guide rails  33   a  and  33   b  support additional tray  34  in place, wherein tray  34  can be mounted on guide rails  33   a  and  33   b  in any known manner such as with any known fasteners which may include screws, bolts, nuts, adhesives, brackets, cloth wrap etc. This is so that the stroller can be used as a portable grooming station.  
         [0020]     The second container  40  can also be selectively secured to additional tray  34  wherein second container  40  can be mounted directly on additional tray  34  and then fastened thereto by any known fastening means such as brackets, cloth, bolts screws, clips etc.  
         [0021]      FIG. 5  shows an alternative embodiment of the invention which can include a first container  20  disposed on tray  15  and a frame  10 ′, wherein this frame  10 ′ includes side bars  11  and  13  and a collapsible connecting bar  9  which allows side bars  13  and  11  to collapse onto themselves. This frame  10 ′ does not include the trays shown in  FIG. 4 . There is also an additional frame  60  coupled to first container  20  via a plurality of connecting elements  62 ,  64 ,  66 ,  68  which can be used to receive frame or supporting bracket  60 . These connecting elements  62 ,  64 ,  66 ,  68  can be in the form of cylinders, which receive supporting bracket  60 . These connecting elements can be coupled to the frame of first container  20  by any known means such as welding, clamping, screws associated with a bracket or any other known fasteners.  
         [0022]     In addition, as shown in this view, coupled to door  27  is a door securing and closing means  35 , and  37  in the form of a loop which can be in the form of a cloth or leather strap which can have a fastening closure  35   a  in the form of a snap enclosure, a hook and loop fastener, a turnable clasp or any other type of fastening means. There is also a back end fastener  39  which can be snapped closed on a back end.  
         [0023]     Top or additional container  40  can be secured to bracket or frame  60  via a plurality of clips  50  which can be used to secure additional container  40  to bracket  60 . Alternatively, additional container  40  can be secured to the lower container  20  via any known means. One means or method would be to use a bungee cord or strap  80  with clips  81  to secure either one or both enclosures to the frames. The bungee cord  80  has clips  81  that would secure to the enclosure and then wrap around underneath any securing means such as the tray and then secure to the opposite side of the enclosure with the opposite clip. This type of securing device would then keep one or more of the enclosures releasably secured with the frame. Additional container  40  also includes semi-circular hoops  41 ,  46 , and  45 . In addition, additional container  40  includes a back end fastener  44  and a front end fastener  47 , along with additional straps  49 , wherein additional straps  49  can be used to carry container  40 .  
         [0024]     The device is designed to be made in many different sizes and from many different materials. Essentially it is designed as a portable and collapsible device, which can include two enclosures coupled to a frame.  
         [0025]     Accordingly, while a few embodiments of the present invention have been shown and described, it is to be understood that many changes and modifications may be made thereunto without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as defined in the appended claims.