Abstract:
An animal compartment assembly that has a roof that is supported by a sidewall. The sidewall has a door therein that is slidably within the sidewall. A floor supports the sidewall to complete the structure. There is a storage chamber that is disposed within the sidewall and has a door that opens to provide access to the storage chamber from outside the sidewall wherein items for the animal can be stored.

Description:
CROSS REFERENCE TO A RELATED APPLICATION 
       [0001]    This application is a continuation-in-part of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 12/542,018 filed Aug. 17, 2009. 
     
    
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0002]    This invention is directed to an animal compartment and more specifically, this invention is directed to an all inclusive animal compartment. 
         [0003]    Animal compartments are well known in the art and are used to house animals and protect them from adverse weather conditions such as cold temperatures and precipitation. While these animal compartments provide shelter for the dog, they often provide the bare minimum to care for an animal&#39;s life. Additionally, these animal compartments require daily maintenance by the animal&#39;s caretaker to provide food and water to the animal. 
         [0004]    Typically, because these animal compartments contain the bare minimum to care for an animal, they are inconvenient and add additional time to care for an animal as food, drugs, and water are not readily available. Therefore a need exists in the art for a device that addresses these deficiencies. 
         [0005]    Thus, an object of this invention is to provide an animal compartment that is more convenient to use. 
         [0006]    Another object of the present invention is to provide an animal compartment with storage capacity so that care items are readily available. 
         [0007]    These and other objects, features, or advantages of the present invention will become apparent from the specification and claims. 
       BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0008]    An animal compartment having a roof, sidewall, and floor that form a hollow chamber. The sidewall has a plurality of doors that provide access to the hollow interior. Associated with one door is a food compartment, associated with a second door is a water device, and associated with a third door is a storage compartment. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0009]      FIG. 1  is a side plan view of an animal compartment assembly; 
           [0010]      FIG. 2  is a top plan view of an animal compartment assembly wherein the roof has been removed; 
           [0011]      FIG. 3  is a partial top plan view of a door in a closed position; 
           [0012]      FIG. 3A  is a partial top plan view of a door in an open position; 
           [0013]      FIG. 4  is a side sectional view of a food door in a closed position; 
           [0014]      FIG. 4A  is a side sectional view of a food door in an open position; 
           [0015]      FIG. 5  is a side sectional view of a water door in a closed position; 
           [0016]      FIG. 5A  is a side sectional view of a water door in an open position; 
           [0017]      FIG. 6  is a side sectional view of a storage door in a closed position; 
           [0018]      FIG. 6A  is a side sectional view of a storage door in an open position; 
           [0019]      FIG. 7  is a side sectional view of a storage door in a closed position; 
           [0020]      FIG. 7A  is a side sectional view of a storage door in an open position; and 
           [0021]      FIG. 7B  is a side plan view of an animal compartment assembly. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
       [0022]    An animal compartment  10  having a roof  12 , a sidewall  14  and a floor  16  that form a hollow chamber  18 . As one example, the roof  12  includes a plurality of struts  20  which form a strut network to support roof  12 . Struts  20  are connected to the sidewall  14  at a first end and are connected to a central member  22  at a second end. Alternatively, struts  20  are connected to a frame member  24  which extends downwardly at a first end of the strut  20 . A plurality of panels  26  are connected to struts  20 . Panels  26  extend at a slightly downward pitch from central member  22  towards sidewall  14 . At least one window  28  is positioned within a panel  28  which is made of a transparent or translucent material which allows light to pass therethrough to illuminate hollow chamber  18 . Alternatively, panel  26  is constructed of a transparent or translucent material. At least one vent  30  is connected to roof  12 . Vent  30  is preferably integral with central member  22  and is adjustable between an opened or closed position to allow air to flow into the hollow chamber  18 . Vent  30  is any form such as a square roof vent, a roof cap, a turbine roof vent, louvers, or the like. Alternatively, vent  30  is a two position vent that is extendable and retractable out of roof  12 . That is, when venting is desired, vent  30  is extended out of roof  12  thereby exposing vent  30  to the outside environment allowing for the exchange of air. When no venting is desired, vent  30  is retracted within roof  12 , such that the top of vent  30  is flush with the remaining portions of roof  12 , thereby preventing the exchange of air between the hollow chamber  18  and the surrounding environment. 
         [0023]    Connected to and extending upwardly from the central member  22  is lift member  32 . The lift member  32  has a shaft  34 , a bearing  36  which allows for rotation, and an I-bolt portion  38  for attachment to a leash, cable, chain or the like. Alternatively, lift member  32  is connected to any portion of roof  12 . Lift member  32  also functions as a hard-point to connect the animal compartment  10  to lift, move and place the animal compartment  10 . Additionally, an I-bolt portion  38  is connected to the interior of the roof  12 . 
         [0024]    Sidewall  14  is made of at least one piece, preferably arcuate in shape, or is made of several pieces forming any shape such as a square or rectangle. Sidewall  14  extends downwardly in vertical fashion in relation to the roof  12  at a top edge, to the floor  16  at a bottom edge. Sidewall  14  has at least one opening  42  which allows access to the hollow chamber  18 . Opening  42  is covered by a door  44 . Door  44  is preferably slidably connected to a rail  45  mounted to sidewall  14 . 
         [0025]    Sections of the sidewall  14  are cut to form a food door  46 , water door  48 , and a storage door  50  and are connected to the floor  16  by a conventional means such as a sliding rail, a drawer, a removable attachment such as a clip or the like. Preferably, the doors  46 ,  48  and  50  are hingedly connected to floor  16  or sidewall  14  by hinge  52  and have a handle  53  attached thereto. Alternatively, the hinge may be placed above the floor  16  on the sidewall  14 . 
         [0026]    Feeding compartment  54 , which is connected to the feeding door  46  or sidewall  14 , has an open top  56 , sidewalls  58 , and a bottom  60  that form a food compartment  61 . The food compartment  61  has a food storage section  62  and a feeding section  63  that are in communication with one another. The feeding section  63  has an opening  64  that permits access to the feeding section  63  by the animal. A resealable top  65  is formed to fit the open top  56 . Alternatively, feeding compartment  54  is any specialized feeding device known in the art such as a hog feeder, rabbit feeder, fowl feeder, dog feeder, cow feeder, calf feeder or the like specialized feeder that is particularly designed and efficient for feeding a particular type of animal. 
         [0027]    A watering device  66 , which is connected to the water door  48  or sidewall  14 , has a top  67 A, a sidewall  67 B, and a bottom  67 C that form a water storage chamber  68 . The water storage chamber  68  is in fluid communication with a water dish  70  through an opening sealed by valve  72 . Valve  72  is of any type that permits flow of water from chamber  68  to dish  70  and preferably has an activation device  73  that permits flow when the water level in dish  70  reaches a predetermined level. Water is supplied to the watering device  66  from a pressurized source through a spigot  74  that preferably extends through sidewalls  14  and  67 B. In one example, the spigot  74  has a conventional attachment  76  such as a hose attachment or the like. Alternatively, watering device  66  is any specialized watering device known in the art such as a hog waterer, rabbit waterer, fowl waterer, dog waterer, cow waterer, calf waterer or the like specialized waterer that is particularly designed and efficient for watering a particular type of animal. In one embodiment watering device  66  is a watering jug  66 A having a cap  66 B with a pressure sensitive dispenser  66 C extending therefrom. In this embodiment, the watering device  66  is connected to sidewall  14  and is positioned entirely within the hollow chamber  18 . Alternatively, the jug  66 A is positioned outside of hollow chamber  18  and the dispenser extends within the hollow chamber  18 . In this embodiment, the jug  66 A is filled with water, the cap  66 B is placed thereon and the watering device  66  is inverted so as to allow water to exit through the cap  66 B by way of gravity when the dispenser  66 C is activated, such as when an animal attempts to extract water therefrom. 
         [0028]    Storage compartment  78  has a top wall  80 , a plurality of sidewalls  82  and bottom wall  84  which define a hollow interior chamber  86 . Connected to sidewalls  82 , and preferably extending therebetween, are shelves  88  which define separated areas for the separation and storage of animal related items within the storage compartment  78  such as extra food, toys, medicines, leashes, brushes, tools, bedding and the like. Preferably, shelves  88  define separated areas of varying size so as to accommodate both large bulky items, such as bags of food or bedding, and small items such as brushes and leashes. Alternatively, shelves  88  are connected to the interior side of storage door  50 . In another embodiment, storage compartment  78  is placed on a sliding drawer-type assembly  90  such that as the handle  53  connected to the storage door  50  is pulled; drawer-type assembly  90  slidably pulls out from animal compartment  10  providing access to storage compartment  78 . 
         [0029]    The floor  16  is of any type known in the art. Preferably floor  16  contains a heating element so as to warm the animal compartment  10 . In one embodiment, floor  16  has a conduit  100  which extends throughout floor  16 . Conduit  100  is a tube which is connected to a source of water (not pictured) such that heated or cooled water is passed through the conduit  100  to heat or cool the floor  16 . Alternatively, conduit  100  is an electrical conduit which radiates heat. In another embodiment, conduit  100  is positioned within a removable floor panel  102  so as to facilitate easy cleaning, repair and replacement. In addition to having a heating element, removable floor panels  102  also are slotted so as to allow for material to fall through the slots so as to help maintain a more sanitary environment as well as facilitate easier cleanup. 
         [0030]    Also connected to the animal compartment  10  is a misting device  104 . Misting device  104  comprises a single or a plurality of nozzles connected to a source of pressurized water (not shown) such that when activated, misting device  104  sprays a mist of water thereby cooling the environment. Misting device  104  is connected to the roof  12  or sidewall  14  of animal compartment  10  and is either positioned within or outside of hollow chamber  18 . Misting device  104  is manually controlled with a valve, or alternatively it is activated by a temperature sensitive controller or thermostat. 
         [0031]    Animal compartment  10  also has an animal divider  106  such as a fence, gate or panel. Animal divider has height restrictive panes or bars which restrict the movement of large animals so as to keep smaller animals safe. In one embodiment, animal divider  106  is a conventional farrowing crate which allows baby animals access to the mothers teats yet it prevents the mother from crushing the baby animals. Alternatively, animal divider  106  is any other specialized animal divider or holding device known in the art such as a hog farrowing crate, a birthing pen, a isolation cage, or the like. Preferably, animal divider  106  is connected to sidewall  14 . 
         [0032]    Also connected to the animal compartment  10  is an air circulator  108  such as a conventional fan, furnace or air conditioner. Air circulator  108  is used to circulate or exchange air within hollow chamber  18 . Air circulator  108  is connected to the sidewall  14  or roof  12  of animal compartment  10 . Air circulator is manually controlled by an on/off switch or controller or by way of a temperature sensitive controller or thermostat. 
         [0033]    Animal compartment  10  also has a hay feeder  109 . Hay feeder  109  is connected to sidewall  14  or alternatively hay feeder is connected to roof  12 . In a preferred embodiment, hay feeder  109  is a conventional 4 foot long hay feeder having a metallic tubular frame with wire paneling which receives and holds a conventional hay bail. Hay feeder  109  is positioned within hollow compartment  18 , or alternatively outside of hollow compartment  18 . 
         [0034]    Positioned within the sidewall  14  is at least one sightglass  110  which allows people or animals within animal compartment  10  to see outward, and vice versa. A lamp  112  is also connected to animal compartment  10 . Lamp  112  is a conventional incandescent or florescent lamp which provides light. Alternatively, lamp  112  is a heat lamp which also provides radiant heat to the animal compartment  10 . Lamp  112  is connected to sidewall  14  or alternatively roof  12 , either inside or outside of hollow chamber  18 . 
         [0035]    Roof  12  also has solar panels  114  connected thereto or integrated therein. Solar panels  114  generate electricity to recharge batteries (not shown) or to power the electrical devices associated with animal compartment  10  such as lamp  112 , air circulator  108  or heated floor panels  102  or the like devices. Alternatively, protective cover  115  covers all or a portion of roof  12 . Protective cover  115  reflects the sun&#39;s radiation, especially ultraviolet radiation, thereby helping to maintain a lower temperature within the hollow chamber  18 . 
         [0036]    To anchor animal compartment  10 , tie downs  116  with earth anchors  118  are connected to either sidewall  14  or roof  16 . Earth anchors  118  are embedded in the ground around animal compartment  10  and tie downs  116  are tightly connected between earth anchors  118  and roof  12  or sidewalls  14  thereby firmly holding maintaining the position of animal compartment  10 . 
         [0037]    Connected to roof  12 , preferably atop lift member  32  or I-bolt portion  38 , is a wind vane  120  which rotates with the wind. Wind vane  120  is aesthetically pleasing and preferably has the shape of an animal&#39;s profile. 
         [0038]    To facilitate access to the hollow chamber  18  without having to open door  44 , at least one roof panel  26  is hingedly attached to the remaining portions of roof  12  by way of roof panel hinge  122 . This is especially helpful for smaller sized animal compartments  10 . Roof panel  26  can also be raised to allow increased air flow into hollow chamber  18 . 
         [0039]    To improve the aesthetic appearance as well as improve longevity and the ease of cleaning, animal compartment  10 , and especially roof  12  and sidewalls  14  are powder coated, any desired color, which is durable and easy to clean. 
         [0040]    In operation, a user connects one end of a leash, cable, chain or any other attachment device to the I-bolt portion  38  of lift member  32  and the opposing end to an animal. By way of the position of lift member  32  being above roof  12  and the rotating abilities of bearing  36  the animal has the ability to walk all the way around animal compartment  10 . To allow the animal to access the hollow chamber  18  the user opens door  44  which slides upon rail  45 . To restrict the animal to the hollow chamber, the user places the animal within the hollow chamber  18  and closes door  44  behind the animal. 
         [0041]    To allow ventilation of the hollow chamber  18  the user adjusts vents  30  to a desired open position. Alternatively, to restrict airflow to the hollow chamber  18  the user adjusts vents  30  to a closed position. 
         [0042]    To fill the feeding compartment  54  the user opens food door  46  by way of handle  53 . In a preferred embodiment the food door  46  rotates outwardly upon hinge  52  positioned at the bottom of food door  46  thereby exposing feeding device  54 . The user then removes the resealable top  58  and fills the food storage chamber  56  with a bulk portion of food. As the animal consumes food from food dish  64 , food contained within storage chamber  56  migrates downwardly by the force of gravity, through the opening in bottom  62 , and into food dish  64 . 
         [0043]    Similarly, to access the watering device  66  the user opens water door  48  by way of handle  53 . In a preferred embodiment the water door  48  rotates outwardly upon hinge  52  positioned at the bottom of water door  48  thereby exposing watering device  66 . The user then fills the watering device  66  through the top of the water storage chamber  68 . Alternatively, the user fills the water storage chamber  68  through spigot  74  by pouring water down spigot  74  or by way of attaching a hose to conventional attachment  76 . 
         [0044]    To access the storage compartment  78 , the user opens the storage door  50  by way of handle  53 . In a preferred embodiment the storage door  50  rotates outwardly upon hinge  52  positioned at the bottom of storage door  50  thereby providing the user with access to storage compartment  78 . Alternatively, as the user pulls on handle  53  the storage door pulls out upon a drawer-type arrangement  90  thereby providing the user with access to storage compartment  78 . In this way the user removes and replaces animal related items upon shelves  88  within the hollow interior chamber  86  of the storage compartment  78 . 
         [0045]    From the above discussion it will be appreciated that the all inclusive animal compartment  10  described above improves upon prior art animal houses, is more convenient to use, and provides storage for ready access. Therefore, the all inclusive animal house described above achieves all of the above stated objectives. 
         [0046]    It will be appreciated by those skilled in the art that other various modifications could be made to the device without parting from the spirit and scope of this invention. All such modifications and changes fall within the scope of the claims and are intended to be covered thereby.