Abstract:
A bedside pet sleeper comprises first, second and third side members, each with at least one pet animal ventilation opening. A fourth side member is coupled between the first and third side members and is provided with at least one pet animal doorway. Also included is a bottom member coupled to the first, second, third and fourth side members and adapted to support the weight of at least one pet animal. A top shelf portion is coupled to the first, second, third and fourth side members. The bedside pet sleeper is secured to a pet owner&#39;s bedside via one of the first, second or third side members.

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS  
       [0001]     This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 60/605,036, filed on Aug. 27, 2004, which is incorporated herein in its entirety by reference. 
     
    
     BACKGROUND  
       [0002]     Pet animal owners desiring companionship with their pet animal(s) during the night are faced with pet hair problems, pests, pet odors and the like as a result of pet animals sleeping in their beds. To eliminate these problems and to provide a comfortable area for a small pet animal to sleep in during the night, it would be advantageous to have a bedside pet sleeper that allows the pet owner to have access to and companionship with the pet during the night without actually having the pet in the owner&#39;s bed. Such a pet sleeper would alleviate pet hair problems, pests associated with fur bearing animals and dirt, odors or pet dander that might be unintentionally brought to the owner&#39;s bed by the pet. A pet sleeper of this type may be used inside and outside on a patio, balcony, or the like. It may also be used as a table or storage shelf, as needed.  
       SUMMARY  
       [0003]     Exemplary embodiments disclosed herein are generally directed to a bedside pet sleeper.  
         [0004]     In accordance with one aspect of the invention, the bedside pet sleeper comprises a first side member with at least one pet animal ventilation opening, and a second side member coupled to the first side member. The second side member has at least one pet animal ventilation opening as well. The bedside pet sleeper also comprises a third side member coupled to the second side member, wherein the third side member has at least one pet animal ventilation opening. The bedside pet sleeper further comprises a fourth side member coupled between the first and third side members, wherein the fourth side member is provided with at least one pet animal doorway. Also included is a bottom member coupled to the first, second, third and fourth side members. The bottom member is adapted to support the weight of at least one pet animal. Further included is a top shelf portion coupled to the first, second, third and fourth side members. The bedside pet sleeper includes means for securing at least one of the first, second and third side members to a pet owner&#39;s bedside.  
         [0005]     This and other aspects of the invention will become apparent from a review of the accompanying drawings and the following detailed description of the invention. 
     
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       [0006]     The present invention is generally shown by way of reference to the accompanying drawings in which:  
         [0007]      FIG. 1  is a front elevation view of a vertical side frame bent tube support system for use with the bedside pet sleeper of the present invention;  
         [0008]      FIG. 2  is a front elevation view of a horizontal stabilizing frame system for use with the bedside pet sleeper of the present invention;  
         [0009]      FIG. 3  is a front elevation view of assembled side frames with horizontal welded frames for use with the bedside pet sleeper of the present invention;  
         [0010]      FIG. 4  is a front perspective view of a canvas fabric body which is sewn to the horizontal frames of  FIGS. 2-3 ;  
         [0011]      FIG. 5  is a front perspective view of a bedside pet sleeper in accordance with the present invention;  
         [0012]      FIG. 6  is a rear perspective view of the bedside pet sleeper of  FIG. 5  in accordance with the present invention;  
         [0013]      FIG. 7  is a schematic representation of a locking system for horizontal welded frames to vertical side support frames to use with the bedside pet sleeper of the present invention;  
         [0014]      FIG. 8A  is a cut-away view of a rigid panel being used with the bedside pet sleeper of the present invention;  
         [0015]      FIG. 8B  is a front perspective view of an extensions leg system for use with the bedside pet sleeper of the present invention;  
         [0016]      FIG. 8C  is a perspective view of top and bottom rigid panels for use with the bedside pet sleeper of the present invention;  
         [0017]      FIG. 9  is front perspective view of a pet sleeper carry case adapted to accommodate a disassembled bedside pet sleeper in accordance with the present invention;  
         [0018]      FIG. 10  is a front perspective view of an anchor system for securing the bedside pet sleeper of the present invention to one side of a pet owner&#39;s bed;  
         [0019]      FIG. 11  is a rear perspective view of the anchor system for use with the bedside pet sleeper of the present invention; and  
         [0020]      FIG. 12  is a cut-away view of the anchor system of  FIGS. 10-11  being used in accordance with the present invention. 
     
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION  
       [0021]     The detailed description set forth below in connection with the appended drawings is intended as a description of exemplary embodiments and is not intended to represent the only forms in which the exemplary embodiments may be constructed and/or utilized. The description sets forth the functions and the sequence of steps for constructing and operating the exemplary embodiments in connection with the illustrated embodiments. However, it is to be understood that the same or equivalent functions and sequences may be accomplished by different embodiments that are also intended to be encompassed within the spirit and scope of the present invention.  
         [0022]     Some embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to a bedside pet sleeper, as generally shown in  FIGS. 1-12 . Additional embodiments, features—and/or advantages of the invention will become apparent from the ensuing description or may be learned by practicing the invention. In the figures, the drawings are not to scale with like numerals referring to like features throughout both the drawings and the description.  
         [0023]     An elevated bedside pet sleeper  20  [FIGS.  5 - 6 ] includes three ventilated sides, a rear side, a top shelf and a bottom with a rigid panel sufficient to support the weight of a small pet animal. Each of the three sides has a round screened aperture  22  for ventilation that allows light in and a view out. A rear side  24  is coupled between two adjacent ventilated sides. Rear side  24  has a generally square door opening  26  fitted with a self-closing fabric flap  28  to cover door opening  26  so as to allow a small pet animal to pass freely therethrough. A bottom  30  with a rigid panel  32  [FIGS.  8 A,  8 C] supports the weight of a small pet animal. A ceiling which is at the same dimensions as rigid panel  32  of bottom  30  is disposed over bottom  30 . Ceiling  34  is coupled between three side frames  35 ,  37 ,  39  ( FIG. 8C ) to form a top shelf  41  ( FIG. 6 ). The enclosure provided by the three ventilated sides, rear side  24 , bottom  30  and ceiling  34  serves as a pet house that the pet may use at will as a private, safe and personalized environment.  
         [0024]     Pet sleeper  20  allows the pet owner to provide a comfortable area for a small pet animal to sleep in as well as to have access to and companionship with the pet during the night without actually having the pet in the owner&#39;s bed.  
         [0025]     The advantages of this arrangement would be the elimination of pet hair, pests associated with fur bearing animals and dirt, odors or pet dander that might be unintentionally brought to the owner&#39;s bed by the pet.  
         [0026]     Bedside pet sleeper  20  may be secured against a pet owner&#39;s bed  38  ( FIG. 12 ) via under a mattress  40  via a strap and plate anchor system  42 . The pet animal has an open-air bed near its owner and secluded private quarters for sleeping or getting away from the outside world as needed. Pet sleeper  20  may be used inside or outside on a patio, balcony or veranda, as desired. When top shelf  41  faces a wall, it becomes a table or storage shelf the enclosure below serving as an outside pet house.  
         [0027]     Constructing pet sleeper  20  involves sewing a canvas body  44  ( FIG. 4 ) directly onto three tube steel square frames  46 ,  48 ,  50  ( FIG. 4 ). Each tube steel frame has at each corner a connecting ring with a hand tightening locking bolt. The three frames are fitted onto two side support frames  52 ,  54  ( FIG. 1 ). Each frame has a designated position along the length of the side support frames indicated by respective drilled holes at three different levels. As each frame finds its position, it is locked into place with hand tightening threaded bolts. Once the three frames are locked in place, pet sleeper  20  is ready for positioning next to a pet owner&#39;s bed or free standing in any room or outside.  
         [0028]     Pet sleeper  20  may be secured to a pet owner&#39;s bed via two anchor plates  56  and two securing straps  58 , as generally shown in  FIG. 12 . To connect pet sleeper  20  to bed  38 , the user passes the two anchoring straps  58  between box spring  60  and mattress  40  of bed  38 . They must be aligned along both sides of the pet sleeper and passed through whatever slot in the two sewn pockets on the front of the pet sleeper that comes closest to the top of the box spring mattress of the human bed. These straps are threaded through the above mentioned slot, up and out the top of the sewn pockets and passed through the slot found at the top of the sewn pocket.  
         [0029]     Specifically, the user passes the strap through this slot and then reaches through pet door opening  26  ( FIG. 6 ) located at the rear of the pet sleeper and passes the straps out through the slot on the opposite side or back of the pet sleeper&#39;s rear wall. When the mattress  40  is in place, straps  58  are pulled through the unit and anchor plates  56  serve as the means of resistance one would pull against. Directly below this rear strap slot is a vertical Velcro® strip to which the strap will be attached once the desired amount of tension has been achieved to hold the pet sleeper securely to pet owner&#39;s bed  38 .  
         [0030]     By separating canvas body  44  from the side frames, canvas body  44  and its three frames simply fold down onto each other to create a compact item. The side frames stack up on each other to create another compact item. All of these parts fit into a canvas carry bag  60  with an adjustable shoulder strap as generally shown in  FIG. 9 . Carry bag  60  also has a pocket  62  ( FIG. 9 ) on the outside to hold the four extension leg tubes and pet owner bed anchoring straps.  
         [0031]     In accordance with one exemplary embodiment of the present invention, pet sleeper  20  may be constructed using ¾″ outside diameter, light gauge round tubing (larger size tubing may be introduced for larger sizes and heavier animals). The user may bend the tube at equal lengths to create a singer shape with two 36″ legs and a top bar to separate the two legs 24″ apart. ¼″ holes  70 ,  72 ,  74 ,  76  may be drilled into the outside facing side of each of the four vertical legs as shown in  FIG. 1 .  
         [0032]     Extension legs with locking bolts may be made of a tube size that allows them to fit over the side frame tube and lock into the first ¼″ hole up from the floor. This will give the bedside pet sleeper the adjustment to position its ceiling at 24″ and 32″ off the floor.  
         [0033]     Canvas fabric body  44  is shown in  FIG. 4  without the horizontal tube frames sewn into the fabric. This view is to illustrate the sewing phase of the pet sleeper separated from the metal parts.  
         [0034]     The three horizontal frames are sewn into the canvas body so as to facilitate simplicity of assembly and to eliminate customer error in trying to assemble structurally critical components. The horizontal frames are welded together. There is no need to use nuts, bolts, snaps or spring lock connections which may fail due to reasonable misuse or assembly by the customer.  
         [0035]     The horizontal frames may be made of ¾″ outer diameter tube steel welded into a rectangular shape with a slide ring at each corner. A ¼″ hex nut  90  is welded to the side of each slide ring  92  to receive a ¼″ threaded hand tightening bolt  94  that is long enough to be screwed into hex nut  90  and into the hole provided for it on the vertical leg of the side frame as generally illustrated in  FIG. 7 . Thus, the three horizontal frames attached to the side frames in this manner create a structural frame of welded steel and bolted connections.  
         [0036]     The sections used for bottom  30  and ceiling  34  may be made of plastic, plywood, masonite or any other suitable material that will serve to support the weight of the pet. Each panel is to be sewn into the floor sections between two layers of canvas. These panels are positioned to sit between the tube frames.  
         [0037]     The basic concept of the anchoring system is to be able to have something to pull against in order to secure the pet sleeper to a pet owner&#39;s bed. In this case, one may use a 6″×6″−¼″ plastic plate with a 2″ nylon strap attached to make it long enough to pass from one side of the pet owner&#39;s bed, through the length of the pet sleeper and out the back side with enough strap to attach to the back wall of the pet sleeper and hold it against the pet owner&#39;s bed.  
         [0038]     The anchor plate and the strap lay between the box spring mattress and the top mattress of the pet owner&#39;s bed. It is important that the strap come into contact with the pet sleeper at the same elevation as where the strap comes out from between the mattress and box spring.  
         [0039]     As generally depicted in  FIGS. 10-12 , there are two sewn “pockets”  80 ,  82  ( FIG. 10 ) attached to the front of the pet sleeper at each side just under the opening for the upper sleeping nest. The user selects which slot to use determined by the height of the box spring mattress. By threading the strap into the desired slot in the pocket and drawing the strap up and out of the pocket the user then threads the strap through the slot in the pet sleeper wall just above the pocket and passes it under the sleeping nest&#39;s floor board. Reaching into the pet house area through the pet door the user now takes the end of the strap and passes it through the slot on the back wall of the pet sleeper just under the floor panel. By pushing the pet sleeper against the human bed with one hand and pulling the strap tight with the other hand, the pet sleeper is ready to be secured into that position. An exit slot  83  for strap  58  is shown at the rear of pet sleeper  20  in  FIG. 11 .  
         [0040]     The final move is to press the remaining strap onto a Velcro® strip  84  ( FIG. 11 ) attached to the back wall of the pet sleeper. The user repeats this move with the remaining strap and plate until pet sleeper  20  is held securely to the bed  38  ( FIG. 12 ). Once mattress  40  is in place and the strap and plate between the mattress and box spring of the human bed are secured, pet sleeper  20  is securely attached to bed  38 .  
         [0041]     Reference numerals  100 ,  102 ,  104 ,  106  and  108  refer to associated component systems, as generally described herein above.  
         [0042]     The bedside pet sleeper of the present invention may be assembled in other ways and/or with other suitable components and/or materials, as long as there is no departure from the intended purpose and scope of the present invention. The exemplary embodiments described hereinabove are merely illustrative of the general principles of the present invention. Various design modifications may be employed that would reside within the scope of the invention. Thus, by way of example, but not of limitation, alternative configurations may be utilized in accordance with the teachings herein. Accordingly, the drawings and description are illustrative and not meant to be a limitation thereof.  
         [0043]     Moreover, all terms should be interpreted in the broadest possible manner consistent with the context. In particular, the terms “comprises” and “comprising” should be interpreted as referring to elements, components, or steps in a non-exclusive manner, indicating that the referenced elements, components, or steps may be present, or utilized, or combined with other elements, components, or steps that are not expressly referenced. Thus, it is intended that the invention cover all embodiments and variations thereof as long as such embodiments and variations come within the scope of the appended claims and their equivalents.