Abstract:
The disclosed device is directed towards an animal pen system including a body having a top surface and a bottom surface opposite the top surface. The body is flexible and the body defines a support wall proximate a perimeter of the body. The support wall is configured to support a pen wall disposed on the top surface of the body. The support wall is configured to demountably couple to the pen wall.

Description:
PRIORITY CLAIM  
       [0001]    This application claims priority to Provisional Application No. 60/442,594 filed with the United States Patent and Trademark Office on Jan. 22, 2003. 
     
    
     
       BACKGROUND  
         [0002]    The present disclosure relates to the field of animal enclosures. In particular, the disclosure relates to an animal pen system and support structure.  
           [0003]    Pets, such as dogs, require containment within pens to protect valuables in homes and provide a safe location for a pet to exercise. The pens are typically vertical walls constructed of webbing such as plastic, steel bar, and the like. The walls are mounted on the surface of the ground, or if indoors, set on top of the floor of a home. The pen acts as a barrier to limit the travel of the pet to a particular area. The pen does not shield or protect the floor of a home. Thus, damage to the floor can occur from the pet. Puppies that are teething can scratch, and even gnaw the flooring surface causing damage. The surface of the flooring is also vulnerable to vomit, urine, or fecal matter. The use of the pens outdoors leaves the ground exposed to the wear of the pet. The ground can be defoliated, become muddy, and even be vulnerable to trenches and holes being dug. The pet can become dirty, and if in colder climates, be exposed to the cold earth.  
           [0004]    What is needed in the art is a protective surface that is compatible with and provides a support for animal pens.  
         SUMMARY  
         [0005]    The disclosed device is directed towards an animal pen system including a body having a top surface and a bottom surface opposite the top surface. The body is flexible and the body defines a support wall proximate a perimeter of the body. The support wall is configured to support a pen wall disposed on the top surface of the body. The support wall is configured to demountably couple to the pen wall.  
           [0006]    An alternate embodiment is disclosed comprising a pen platform having a top surface and a bottom surface opposite the top surface. The platform is configured to fold along at least one fold line defined in the pen platform. The pen platform defines a wall portion formed from the pen platform. The wall portion extends from the top surface distally from the bottom surface. The wall portion is configured to enclose a pen wall about a base of said pen wall. The wall portion is configured to extend along the pen wall. A coupling element is demountably coupled to the wall portion and the pen wall. At least one handle is disposed on the bottom surface. The pen platform is configured to encase the pen wall for transportation of tile pen platform and the pen wall.  
           [0007]    A method of using an animal pen system is disclosed. The method includes deploying a pen platform having a top surface and a bottom surface opposite the top surface. The platform is configured to fold along at least one fold line defined in the pen platform. The pen platform defines a wall portion formed from the pen platform. The wall portion extends from the top surface distally from the bottom surface. The wall portion is configured to enclose a pen wall about a base of the pen wall. The wall portion is configured to extend along the pen wall. The method includes mounting the pen wall to the top surface of the pen platform. The method includes coupling the pen wall to the wall portion, wherein the wall portion encloses the pen wall about the base of the pen wall. The pen wall is prevented from moving along the top surface. 
       
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       [0008]    In the drawings:  
         [0009]    [0009]FIG. 1 is a perspective view of an exemplary animal pen system.  
         [0010]    [0010]FIG. 2 is a bottom view of an exemplary animal pen platform.  
         [0011]    [0011]FIG. 3 is a top view of exemplary animal pen platform.  
         [0012]    [0012]FIG. 4 illustrates an exemplary coupling member.  
         [0013]    [0013]FIG. 5 is a top view of exemplary animal pen platform.  
         [0014]    [0014]FIG. 6 is a top view of exemplary animal pen platform.  
         [0015]    [0015]FIG. 7 is a partial cutaway side view of an exemplary animal pen system. 
     
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION  
       [0016]    Persons of ordinary skill in the art will realize that the following disclosure is illustrative only and not in any way limiting. Other embodiments of the invention will readily suggest themselves to such skilled persons having the benefit of this disclosure.  
         [0017]    The disclosure describes an animal pen system. The animal pen system includes a pen platform configured to support a pen wall. The pen wall extends upward from the pen platform to enclose a volume or pen. The pen platform includes a top surface forming a wall portion and a bottom surface opposite the top surface. The pen wall mounts to the top surface at a base of the pen wall. The pen platform is flexible and can fold along at least one fold line and in preferred embodiments can fold along many fold lines. The pen platform wall portion encloses the pen wall along the base of the pen wall. A coupling element couples the pen platform to the pen wall. At least one handle is disposed on the bottom surface to facilitate the pen platform forming a carrying case enclosing the pen wall for transportation of the pen platform and pen wall.  
         [0018]    Referring to FIGS. 1, 2 and  3 , the animal pen system  10  is illustrated. The animal pen system  10  includes a pen platform (or simply body)  12  that supports a pen wall  14 . The pen platform  12  includes a top (or top surface)  18  and a bottom (or bottom surface)  20  opposite the top surface  18 . The top surface  18  can be substantially planar and devoid of features that may be snagged or chewed by an animal. The bottom surface  20  can include a handle  22  that can be formed in the pen platform  12  or coupled to the pen platform  12 . The body  12  is defined by a perimeter  24  that defines the outer boundary of the body  12 . The body  12  can be a flexible material. The body  12  can include rigid portions and flexible portions (not shown). In an exemplary embodiment, the body  12  comprises a woven material having water resistant components. The body  12  can be formed into planar, convex, concave and other contours to enhance the capabilities of the body to handle liquids, such as, rain, water and urine. For example, for an outdoor application the body  12  can have a sloping contour that sheds rainwater and urine away from the top surface  18 . In another exemplary embodiment, the body  12  can be concave such that the top surface contains urine, for indoor use of the animal pen system  10 . The body  12  can also incorporate materials that absorb liquids or allow liquids to pass through the body  12  but be contained.  
         [0019]    The body  12  defines a support wall (or simply a wall portion)  26  that extends from the top surface  18 . The wall portion  26  encloses the pen wall  16  proximate a base  28  of the pen wall  16 . The wall portion  26  encircles the pen wall  16  such that the pen wall  16  cannot slide on the top surface  18 . The wall portion  26  can function to enhance the pen wall  16  in order to contain materials, such as pet food, so as to prevent the materials from spilling outside the animal pen system  10 . The wall portion  26  can partially enclose the pen wall proximate the perimeter  24 .  
         [0020]    At least one attachment element (or coupling member)  30  is coupled to the pen wall  16  and platform  12 . In a preferred embodiment, the coupling member  30  couples the wall portion  26  to the pen wall  16 . In an exemplary embodiment, the coupling member  30  can include a hook  32  and cord  34 . (See FIG. 4) The hook  32  is configured to attach to the pen wall  16 . The cord  34  can be coupled to the hook  32  and the body  12  through cord mounts  36  formed in the body  12 . The cord  34  and hook  32  can be biased or have tensioning elements (not shown) to enhance the coupling between the body  12  and the pen wall  16 . Other elements can be employed for use as the coupling member  30 , hook and loop fasteners, rubber bungy, twist ties, chain, rope, and the like.  
         [0021]    Referring to FIG. 4, the hook  32  includes a hook body  38  having a first receiver  40  and a second receiver  42  at opposite ends thereof. A hook portion  44  is formed between the first receiver  40  and second receiver  42 . The hook portion  44  is configured to couple to the pen wall. The first receiver  40  is configured to couple to the cord  34  and the second receiver  42  is configured to receive fingers for griping the hook  32 . The second receiver  42  includes a receiver rim  46  that includes a raised rim (or lip) around the periphery of the second receiver  42 . A body rim  48  can also be formed at the outer periphery of the hook body  38  to reinforce and strengthen the hook body  38 .  
         [0022]    Referring also to FIGS. 5 and 6, an alternate exemplary embodiment of the animal pen system platform  12  is illustrated. The platform  12  can be more rigid in form having a predefined shape  50 , such as an eight-sided polygon around the perimeter  24 . The wall portion  26  can be formed in the platform  12  as a groove  52  or a ridge  54  formed in the body  12 . The wall portion  26  is configured to perform the same structural and operational functions as in the previous exemplary embodiment. The handle  22  can be formed in the platform  12  as well as disposed on the bottom  20  as in FIG. 2. At least one fold line  56  can be formed in the platform  12  to enable the platform  12  to be flexible and deployable. The fold line  56  can be employed along the base  28  of the pen wall  16  to enhance the coupling between the pen wall  16  and the body  12 . Multiple fold lines  56  can be employed in the platform  12  to create a variety of shapes as well as to adapt the platform  12  to various pen wall  16  designs, thereby the pen wall  16  can form a pen volume (or simply pen)  58  to contain the animals (not shown).  
         [0023]    The pen wall  16  can include doors and slots (not shown) for egress and can be formed from webbing, expanded material, screen, bars, fence and the like. The pen wall  16  can be solid or open celled. The pen wall  16  can be assembled by sections, as shown in FIG. 1 or the pen wall  16  can be a continuous roll. The pen wall  16  is demountable and can collapse into a predetermined shape for ease of transport. The exemplary embodiment illustrated includes eight rectilinear fence sections that clip together and stand vertically in an octagonal pattern. The exemplary platform  12  is illustrated as having the similar pattern to match the pen wall  16 . There can be various combinations of shapes and designs of pen wall  16  and platform  12 .  
         [0024]    Referring to FIG. 7, an exemplary embodiment of the animal pen system  10  is illustrated. The animal pen system  10  is shown stored in a carrying case configuration (or carrying case enclosure)  60 . The pen wall  16  is collapsed and stacked inside the body  12  such that the body  12  encloses the pen wall  16 . The handle  22  is located on the bottom and exterior of the body  12  in the carrying case configuration  60 . The body  12  and pen wall  16  can be deployed, if needed, by unfolding the body  12  and exposing the pen wall  16 . With the carrying case configuration  60 , the animal pen system  10  can be transported from one location to another and easily deployed to form the pen  58 .  
         [0025]    As an example, the animal pen system  10  can include a platform  16  that is shaped to match an eight sided pen wall  16 . The pen wall  16  comprises eight individual panels having a fence material in a rectilinear shape. The base of each panel is flat. The pen wall  16  stands vertically upright to a distance of about 4 feet. One of the eight panels of the pen wall  16  functions as an entrance that can be latched closed. The platform  16  comprises a flexible cloth-like material, such as a canvas having water resistant treatment. The perimeter  24  of the platform  12  extends beyond the pen wall  16 . The pen wall  16  is disposed on the platform  12 . The wall portion  26  is coupled to the pen wall  16  near the base  28 . Multiple coupling members  30  are coupled to the pen wall  16  with the hooks  32  and to the wall portion  26  with the cord  34 . The wall portion  26  is cinched tightly to the pen wall  16 . The pen wall  16  is prevented from sliding or moving along the top surface  18 . The pen wall  16  and platform  12  enclose a pen  58  that allows for an animal, such as a dog, to be contained and prevented from damaging flooring, while maintaining freedom to move about and rest with minimal confinement. When the animal pen system  10  requires relocation, the animal is removed. The coupling members  30  are disconnected from the pen wall  16 . The pen wall  16  is removed from the platform  12 . The pen wall  16  is broken down, folded and stacked into a rectilinear stack. The platform  12  is folded along fold lines  56  and placed over the stack. The platform is secured, enclosing the pen wall  16  and forming a carrying case configuration  60 . The handles  22  are manipulated so that the carrying case  60  can be transported.  
         [0026]    The animal pen system  0 I has the advantages of being adaptable to various pen wall  16  configurations. The animal pen system  10  can be transported and deployed over surfaces that are sensitive to animals, such as finished flooring. The animal pen system  10  can be dismantled and stowed away in a carrying case configuration  60  that is easily moved with little effort. The animal pen system  10  can be manufactured with durable abrasion resistant materials that also resist or repel moisture. The platform  12  of the animal pen system  10  can be formed into contours that contain liquids, such as urine, and prevent the spillage of such liquids onto the sensitive surfaces. Another advantage of the animal pen system  10  is that the system can be manufactured in a lightweight transportable configuration that can function to contain the animals in the pen without unduly restricting or inhumanly confining the animals.  
         [0027]    While embodiments and applications of this disclosure have been shown and described, it would be apparent to those skilled in the art that many more modifications than mentioned above are possible without departing from the inventive concepts herein. The disclosure, therefore, is not to be restricted except in the spirit of the appended claims.