Abstract:
A pet step device for allowing pets to reach elevated locations having a pair of stair sides and at least one tread. The pet step device can also have at least one riser, at least one support, and/or a cover. In addition, one for more stair side extensions having at least one tread can be added to the stair sides. The pet step device can be formed by attaching the treads (and the risers, the stair side extensions, and support) to the stair sides and then placing a cover over the entire assembly to create a unitary structure.

Description:
TECHNICAL FIELD  
       [0001]     This invention relates generally to steps and more particularly to a lightweight step structure or stairs for use by domestic pets in reaching and leaving elevated places, such as beds and couches.  
       BACKGROUND  
       [0002]     Domestic pets, such as cats and dogs, like to and sometimes need to access elevated places, such as beds and couches. Pets typically jump or navigate across progressively higher furniture to reach a desired elevated destination. For some pets, especially older and physically impaired pets, such as those with joint problems, hip dysphasia and arthritis, jumping to and off elevated places can expose the pet to injury or can aggravate existing injuries.  
         [0003]     Prior art pet steps tend to be bulky and/or heavy, making transport or storage cumbersome. Many prior art pet steps comprise individual steps stacked one on top of another. Other prior art pet steps comprise numerous parts that make manufacturing and shipping difficult and expensive. Some prior art pet steps require assembly but are often difficult to assemble or require additional materials or tools. Therefore, a need exists for lightweight yet sturdy pet steps that are inexpensive to manufacture and ship while also being easy to assemble.  
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
       [0004]     The present invention provides pet steps that are both sturdy and lightweight such that a pet may easily access elevated locations.  
         [0005]     Also, the present invention provides pet steps that are simple and inexpensive to manufacture and ship.  
         [0006]     Further, the present invention provides pet steps that are easy to assemble without the use of additional tools or materials.  
         [0007]     In addition, the present invention provides a pet step device for allowing pets to reach elevated locations having an assembly having a pair of stair sides, and at least one tread attached to said stair sides. This pet step device can also have: (1) at least one riser attached to said stair sides; (2) at least one support attached to said stair sides; and/or (3) a cover for covering said assembly. Also, said stair sides can have one or more connectors and said at least one tread, said at least one riser, and/or said at least one support can have one or more mating connectors for connecting said tread, riser, and/or support to said stair sides. The connectors and mating connectors can be posts and corresponding holes.  
         [0008]     Also, the present invention provides that the pet step device can have at least one pair of stair side extensions attached to said stair sides and at least one tread attached to said stair side extensions. Said side stair extensions can also have at least one riser and/or support attached to thereto. Further, the pet step device can have a cover for covering said assembly, including the stair side extensions.  
         [0009]     In addition, the present invention provides that each tread, riser, stair side, and/or stair side extension can have one or more anti-slip devices, such as, but not limited to, nubs, loop fasteners, hook fasteners, and/or glue.  
         [0010]     The present invention also provides a method of assembling a pet step device having the steps of: attaching at least one tread to a pair of stair sides to form a freestanding structure; and covering said freestanding structure with a cover. The method can also have the steps of attaching: (1) at least one riser to said freestanding structure; (2) at least one support to said freestanding structure; and/or (3) a pair of stair side extensions to said pair of stair sides.  
         [0011]     Additionally, the present invention provides for pet steps having a pair of stair sides, at least one tread, at least one riser, at least one or more supports connecting the stair sides, and a cover. The pet steps are formed by attaching the tread, riser and support to the stair sides. The cover goes over the entire assembly to create a unitary structure.  
         [0012]     Also, the present invention provides for pet steps having a pair of stair sides, at least one or more supports connecting the stair sides, at least one tread, at least one riser, at least one pair of stair side extensions, at least one or more supports connecting the stair side extensions, and a cover. The pet steps are formed by attaching the treads, risers, stair side extensions and supports to the stair sides. The cover goes over the entire assembly to create a unitary structure.  
     
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       [0013]     The features of the present invention can be more readily understood from the detailed description below with reference to the accompanying drawings herein.  
         [0014]      FIG. 1  is an exploded perspective of pet steps in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention.  
         [0015]      FIG. 2  is an exploded perspective of pet steps in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention.  
         [0016]      FIG. 3  is a plan view of the underside of a tread or riser in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention.  
         [0017]      FIG. 4  is a side view of a tread in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention.  
         [0018]      FIG. 5  is a perspective view of a cover for enveloping pet steps in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention.  
     
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION  
       [0019]     One embodiment of pet steps of the present invention, generally designated as  100 , is shown in  FIG. 1 . Pet steps  100  has a pair of stair sides  10 , at least one tread  12 , at least one riser  14 , at least one support  16 , and a cover (see  FIG. 5 ).  
         [0020]     Each stair side  10  has one or more connectors  10   a  for the treads and one or more connectors  10   b  for the risers. According to the embodiment in  FIG. 1 , each stair side  10  has a pair of connectors for connecting one side of each respective tread and riser. Also in the embodiment, each connector is a rectangular male post. Each tread  12  has mating connectors  11   a  for the tread connectors  10   a  of the stair side  10  located on its underside. Similarly, each riser  14  further comprises mating connectors  11   b  located on its underside to receive the riser connectors  10   b . In this embodiment, the tread and riser mating connectors are rectangular female holes for receiving the posts of tread connectors  10   a  and riser connectors  10   b , respectively (see  FIG. 3 ), and for holding the male posts in place by a locking mechanism, for example, friction between the posts and holes. By interlocking connectors  10   a  with mating connectors  11   a  on tread  12  and connectors  10   b  with mating connectors  11   b  on riser  14 , tread  12  and riser  14  are secured to stair sides  10 .  
         [0021]     In this embodiment, each stair side  10  has one or more connectors  10   c  for support  16 . The connectors are preferably rectangular male posts. Support  16  has mating connectors  16   a , preferably rectangular female holes, to receive the posts of connectors  10   c  and to hold the male posts in place by a locking mechanism, for example, friction between the posts and holes. By interlocking support connectors  10   c  and mating connectors  16   a , support  16  is secured to stair sides  10  and provides additional support to pet steps  100 . Each stair side  10  further has one or more connectors  10   d , which may be used to connect an additional support to the stair sides  10  (see below).  
         [0022]     In one embodiment, the risers  14  and/or the support  16  can be omitted. Also in such an embodiment, the connectors  10   b ,  10   c  for the risers and/or support can be omitted from the stair sides  10  and/or extensions of the stair sides (see below).  
         [0023]     The embodiment of  FIG. 1  can be augmented with additional steps. A four-step embodiment of pet steps of the present invention, generally designated as  200 , is shown in  FIG. 2 . Pet steps  200  has a pair of stair sides  20 , at least one tread  22 , at least one riser  24 , at least one pair of stair side extensions  26 , a support  28 , an additional support  30 , and a cover (see  FIG. 5 ).  
         [0024]     Each stair side  20  has one or more connectors  20   a  for the treads and one or more connectors  20   b  for the risers. According to the embodiment in  FIG. 2 , each stair side  20  has a pair of connectors for connecting one side of each respective tread and riser. Also in the embodiment, each connector is a rectangular male post. Each tread  22  has mating connectors  21   a  for the tread connectors  20   a  of the stair side  20  located on its underside. Similarly, each riser  24  further comprises mating connectors  21   b  located on its underside to receive the riser connectors  20   b . In this embodiment, the tread and riser mating connectors  21   a  and  21   b  are rectangular female holes for receiving the posts of tread connectors  20   a  and riser connectors  20   b , respectively (see  FIG. 3 ), and for holding the male posts in place by a locking mechanism, for example, friction between the posts and holes. By interlocking connectors  20   a  with mating connectors on tread  22  and connectors  20   b  with mating connectors on riser  24 , tread  22  and riser  24  are secured to stair sides  20 .  
         [0025]     Each stair side  20  has one or more connectors  20   c  for a stair side extension  26 . In this embodiment, connectors  20   c  are rectangular male posts. Stair side extensions  26  have such a height above the height of stair sides  20  as to accommodate an additional step for pet steps  200 . Each stair side extension  26  has one or more mating connectors  26   e . In this embodiment, mating connectors  26   e  are rectangular female holes for receiving the posts of connectors  20   c  and for holding the male posts in place by a locking mechanism, for example, friction between the posts and holes. By interlocking connectors  20   c  with mating connectors  26   e , stair side extensions  26  are secured to stair sides  20 .  
         [0026]     Each stair side extension  26  has one or more connectors  26   a  for a tread and one or more connectors  26   b  for a riser. In this embodiment, connectors  26   a  and  26   b  are rectangular male posts. By interlocking connectors  26   a  with mating connectors  21   a  on tread  22  and connectors  26   b  with mating connectors  21   b  on riser  24 , tread  22  and riser  24  are secured to stair side extensions  26 .  
         [0027]     Each stair side extension  26  has one or more connectors  26   c  for support  28 . In this embodiment, connectors  26   c  are rectangular male posts. Support  28  has one or more mating connectors  28   a . In this embodiment, mating connectors  28   a  are rectangular female holes for receiving the posts of connectors  26   c  and for holding the male posts in place by a locking mechanism, for example, friction. between the posts and holes. By interlocking connectors  26   c  and mating connectors  28   a , support  28  is secured to stair side extensions  26  and provides additional support to pet steps  200 . Alternatively, additional stair side extensions of greater height than stair side extensions  26  such as to accommodate an additional step may be attached to stair side extensions  26  instead of support  28 . Additional stair side extensions may be added as many times as desired with support  28  attached to the final added stair side extensions in order to provide support to the final assembly.  
         [0028]     Each stair side  20  further has one or more connectors  20   d  for additional support  30 . Each stair side extension  26  has one or more connectors  26   d  for additional support  30 . In this embodiment, connectors  20   d  and  26   d  are rectangular male posts. Support  30  has one or more mating connectors  30   a . In this embodiment, mating connectors  30   a  are rectangular female holes for receiving the posts of connectors  20   d  and  26   d . By interlocking connectors  20   d  and  26   d  with mating connectors  30   a , support  30  is secured to both stair sides  20  and stair side extensions  26  such that additional support is provided to pet steps  200 . If additional stair side extensions are added to accommodate additional steps, multiple supports may be utilized in the same manner as additional support  30  to provide added stability to the present invention.  
         [0029]     The connectors described in the above embodiments are preferably rectangular, but other shapes, for example squares, circles and/or triangles, may be utilized to connect the treads, risers, stair side extensions, and supports to the stair sides. Alternatively, in lieu of the connectors thus far contemplated, adhering devices and/or materials, for example loop and hook fasteners or glue, may be used to connect the treads, risers, stair side extensions, and supports to the stair sides in order to form the pet steps of the present invention.  
         [0030]     Although the above embodiments describe the use of a pair of connectors to connect one side of each respective tread and riser to the stair sides, any number of connectors may be employed to connect the treads and risers to the stair sides. Similarly, any number of connectors may be used to connect the stair side extensions to the stair sides as well as to connect the supports to the stair sides or the stair side extensions. The supports in the above embodiments are preferably two cross beams held together by a fastener. Any known configuration for supporting the pet steps, however, may be utilized in lieu of the support member described above so long as enough support is provided to stabilize the pet steps of the present invention such that a pet can safely reach an elevated location.  
         [0031]     Pet steps  100  and  200  can be made of any material but preferably a lightweight material, for example wood, plastic such as polypropylene, fiberglass, or metal.  
         [0032]     A cover, shown in  FIG. 5 , can be used to envelop pet steps  100  and  200 . The cover is preferably a single piece made out of one or more reusable and durable materials, for example natural fiber, nylon or acrylic fabric. The cover preferably has a stretchable opening capable of accepting pet steps  100  or  200 . The dimensions of the cover and the opening are dependent on the size of pet steps  100  and  200 . The cover should fit as snugly as possible with pet step  100  and  200  such that there is no excess or overhang on which a pet may get caught in or trip over. The surfaces of tread  12  and tread  22  are preferably made to grab the cover and prevent slippage of the cover such that the cover will not slip when a pet walks on the surface of the treads.  FIG. 4  illustrates one embodiment in which a tread has small nubs  40  to grab the cover. The cover may be made out of different materials or reinforced with additional materials at locations where the cover covers the treads. Alternatively, the cover may be made out of carpet at locations where the cover covers the treads. The carpet can be anchored or held in place by the nubs  40  on the treads or by other anti-slip devices and/or materials, for example loop and hook fasteners, or glue. The cover may come in a variety of colors, patterns and textures to accommodate the preferences of the pet or its owner.  
         [0033]     In one embodiment, the cover is further held in place by plastic or elastic bands  44  drawing the bottom opening of the cover underneath the base of the pet steps. Downward facing nubs  42  or other non-slip mechanism on the stair sides  10 ,  20  can prevent slippage of pet steps  100 ,  200  across a floor.  
         [0034]     The present invention is easy to assembly without the use of additional tools or adhesive materials. A single tread and a single riser can be simply pressed to attach onto the stair sides to create a freestanding structure. Additional treads and risers can then be added onto the freestanding structure along with stair side extensions and supports to form the pet steps assembly of the present invention.  
         [0035]     Although descriptions have been provided above for three-step and four-step embodiments of the present invention, it should be appreciated by one skilled in the art that the number of steps is not limited by the above descriptions. Stair side extensions and accompanying treads and risers may be added to increase or removed to decrease the height of the present invention to accommodate various locations.  
         [0036]     In describing exemplary embodiments, specific terminology is employed for the sake of clarity in this disclosure. The disclosure of this patent specification, however, is not intended to be limited to the specific terminology so selected and it is to be understood that each specific element includes all technical equivalents that operate in a similar manner.  
         [0037]     In addition, the above specific embodiments are illustrative, and many variations can be introduced on these embodiments without departing from the spirit of the disclosure or from the scope of the appended claims. For example, elements and/or features of different illustrative embodiments may be combined with each other and/or substituted for each other within the scope of this disclosure and appended claims.