Abstract:
An animal barrier for use in a vehicle is formed by a frame having an opening therein, and partition members mounted to the frame. First and second partition members are spaced apart to define the opening therebetween and are moveable relative to the frame so as to vary the width of the barrier and the width of the opening. A third partition member is slidably mounted to the frame so as to be moveable between a closed position in which it overlies the opening so as to substantially close the opening, and an open position in which is removed from the opening. In the open position, the third partition member may be located to one side of the opening, overlapping one of the first and second partition members or may be located above or below the opening, away from the first and second partition members.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0001]    1. Field of the Invention 
         [0002]    The present invention relates to a barrier mountable between the passenger area and load carrying area of a vehicle for safely containing an animal in said load carrying area during transit, and, in particular to such a barrier with means to allow access to the animal from the passenger area. 
         [0003]    2. The Prior Art 
         [0004]    Safety barriers designed to prevent an animal in the boot of a vehicle gaining access to the passenger seating area exist in many forms, the desirable characteristics of which include ease of assembly, robustness, reliability and aesthetic appearance. 
         [0005]    U.S. Pat. No. 7,017,520 is one such example of prior art in this field and describes a pet separation device comprising two parallel vertical posts mounted to a netted frame. Suction members on each end of both vertical posts enable said posts to be removably fastened to the floor and the ceiling of the vehicle respectively such that the netted frame can be positioned to form a barrier between the vehicle boot and rear passenger area. 
         [0006]    Conventional barriers prevent an animal, such as a pet dog, gaining access to the rest of the vehicle from the boot, which is of particular importance when the vehicle is in transit. However, use of these barriers carries the inherent risk of trapping the animal in the boot in the event that a rear collision should mean it is not possible to open the boot door. In addition to this, a passenger may wish to feed or comfort the animal during transit but would be prevented from doing so by the presence of a barrier such as that shown in U.S. Pat. No. 7,017,520. 
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0007]    According to the present invention, there is provided an animal barrier for use in a vehicle, the barrier comprising a frame and at least one partition member, the at least one partition member being mounted to the frame such that it can move relative to the frame between a first substantially closed position in which the partition member forms a barrier preventing access through an opening in said frame and a second substantially open position in which the partition member is offset from said opening so as to allow access through said frame. 
         [0008]    A barrier in accordance with the invention has the advantage that the movement of an animal within a vehicle can be confined whilst not endangering the animal by removing a means of exiting said vehicle. Furthermore, the moveable nature of at least one partition member means a passenger can have unrestricted access to the confined animal during transit should they, for example, wish to feed or comfort them—there being no need to stop the vehicle and open the boot in order to do this, as is the case in the prior art. 
         [0009]    Preferably the barrier comprises at least a first and second partition member. Advantageously, at least the first partition member is moveable relative to the frame to open and close the opening. 
         [0010]    In a first preferred embodiment the barrier comprises a third partition member. The first and second partition members are, preferably, spaced apart along the width of the barrier and may be moveable along said width so as to vary the size of, but not close, the opening such that the barrier can fit in cars of various sizes. Advantageously, the third partition member is moveable perpendicular to the width of the frame, in particular being moveable between the first substantially closed position and the second substantially open position. 
         [0011]    In an alternate preferred embodiment the barrier comprises at least four partition members, wherein the third and fourth partition members move apart relative to each other along the width of the barrier between the first substantially closed position and the second substantially open position. 
         [0012]    Preferably, each moveable partition member is slidably mounted to the frame for movement relative thereto, however in an alternate preferred embodiment at least one partition member may be hingedly mounted to said frame. 
         [0013]    Furthermore, the moveable partition members may advantageously be located on at least two different tracks so as to enable them to overlap each other. In this way, for example, in an arrangement having two moveable partition members, they may be moved into a position in which they fully overlap each the and one of the side panels to maximise the size of the opening. In a still further embodiment, four moveable panels may be provided, grouped into pairs with each panel of a pair being configured so as to be fully overlapable with the other panel of said pair, the overlapping panels, in turn, being moveable into a position in which they are fully retracted from the opening and fully overlapping an associated side panel. Each pair of panels then cooperate to extend from each other in series in an extended position in order to cover half of the opening. In this way, the size of the side panels can be minimised and hence the size of the opening maximised. 
         [0014]    At least one partition member may be trapezoidal in shape so as to substantially conform to the vehicle interior. Furthermore, the at least one trapezoidal partition member may include a substantially rectangular cutout portion at a corner so as to further conform to the vehicle interior. 
         [0015]    Advantageously, the frame comprises two upright posts which span the interior height of the vehicle and secure the barrier in the load carrying area of the vehicle. Preferably the posts are removably secured to the floor and ceiling of the vehicle interior, said posts being variable in length such that they can be adjusted to span vehicle interiors of different heights. Further advantageously, adjustable feet are secured to the ends of each post such that said feet can form a friction tight fit against the vehicle interior. A partition member associated with each side of the barrier may, in a particularly preferred embodiment, be fixedly attached to each upright post so as to be fast therewith, each upright post being moveable laterally along at least one horizontal support bar to adjust the separation between the upright posts, the associated partition member moving with each said post to adjust the width of the barrier. 
         [0016]    A clip or other fastening means known in the art may be used to secure the movable partition in place when in the first substantially closed position, second substantially open position or any position therebetween. Advantageously, netting may be used to form at least one partition, though, finally, it will be apparent that a partition may not include netting and may be formed of any material suitable to provide a robust barrier. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0017]    In order that the invention may be well understood, there will now be described an embodiment thereof, given by way of example, reference being made to the accompanying drawings, in which: 
           [0018]      FIG. 1  is an exploded view of a first embodiment of the barrier, showing the frame and partition members; 
           [0019]      FIG. 2  is an exploded view of a second embodiment of the barrier, showing the frame and partition members; 
           [0020]      FIGS. 3(   a ), ( b ) and ( c ) are views of the first embodiment of the barrier showing various positions of the partition members; 
           [0021]      FIGS. 4(   a ), ( b ) and ( c ) are views of the second embodiment of the barrier showing various positions of the partition members; and 
           [0022]      FIGS. 5   a  to  5   c  are views of a third embodiment of the barrier according to the invention. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT 
       [0023]    Referring first to  FIGS. 1 and 3 , there is shown an adjustable barrier  100  for an animal such as a dog or other domesticated creature, that, in use, mounts in a vehicle to provide a barrier between the load carrying and passenger areas of said vehicle and thus prevent movement of said animal between those areas. 
         [0024]    The barrier  100  comprises two main elements—a frame  200  and netted partition members  300 . The frame  200  comprises two substantially parallel posts  201  that, in use, are removably secured, substantially upright, to the boot floor and ceiling of the vehicle. Feet  202  are secured to the ends of each post  201  and the length of each post  201  is adjustable such that a friction tight fit can be achieved between the feet  202  and the vehicle. The adjustable nature of the length of each post  201  also means a wide range of vehicle sizes can be accommodated. 
         [0025]    First and second guide rails  203 ,  204  are secured to the posts  201 , opposite each other and perpendicular thereto. The first guide rail  203  is secured proximate to the top end of each substantially upright post  201  and the second guide rail  204  is secured parallel to, and below, the first guide rail  203 , proximate to the mid-point of the upright posts  201 . 
         [0026]    The partition members  300  then complete the barrier  100  by slidably mounting to the frame  200  via the first and second guide rails  203 ,  204 . In a first preferred embodiment of the invention four partition members  300  are present. When viewed from the front the left and right partitions  301 ,  302  are slidably mounted proximate to the left and right ends respectively of the guide rails  203 ,  204  and two central partitions  303 ,  304  are slidably mounted between the left and right partitions  301 ,  302 . 
         [0027]    As shown in  FIGS. 1 and 3 , each partition member  300  of the first embodiment of the invention is substantially trapezoidal in shape with a cutout corner portion, each partition being made up of a quadrilateral having only two parallel sides and one side sloping inwardly from bottom to top, the cutout portion being at the lower corner adjacent to the sloping side. In use, the left and right partitions are positioned with the sloping side proximate to the left and right sides of the vehicle respectively. The central partitions  303 ,  304  are similarly orientated with left and right sides sloping inwardly proximate to the left and right vehicles sides. As such, the shape of each partition accommodates the inwardly tapering interior common to most vehicles. 
         [0028]    In use, the barrier  100  is removably mounted in the load carrying area of a vehicle, behind the rear passenger headrests to prevent an animal moving from said load carrying area over the rear seats and into the passenger area. The effective width of the barrier can be altered to accommodate various vehicle widths by extending and retracting the slidable left and right partitions  301 ,  302  horizontally along the guide rails  203 ,  204 . This is shown in  FIGS. 3(   a ) and  3 ( b ). Such guide rails are within the practical knowledge of the skilled person and will not, therefore, be described here in greater detail. 
         [0029]    The central partitions  303 ,  304  similarly slide horizontally left and right respectively to allow access to the load carrying area from the rear passenger seats, as shown in  FIG. 3(   c ). A clip  305  is used to secure the central partitions together such they do not slide apart accidentally during transit. 
         [0030]    In an alternate preferred embodiment, as shown in  FIGS. 2 and 4 , a single central partition member  306  is used. This central partition  306  does not slide horizontally left or right as in the previous embodiment, but slides vertically to allow access from the passenger area to the load carrying area. 
         [0031]    As in the previous embodiment, a frame  200  comprising guide rails is secured to two vertical posts  201 , said posts being adjustable in length and with feet  202  at each end to enable said frame  200  to be similarly mounted in a vehicle with a friction tight fit. Whereas the guide rails  203 ,  204  of the previous embodiment span the width of the frame  200 , in this alternate embodiment a left upper guide rail  205  is secured proximate to the top end of the left substantially upright post  201  when the frame  200  is viewed from the front, and a right upper guide rail  206  is secured proximate to the top end of the right substantially upright post  201  and in the same horizontal plane as the left upper guide rail  205 . The guide rails  205 ,  206  are secured perpendicular to posts  201 , with the left upper guide rail  205  extending to the left and the right upper guide rail  206  extending to the right. 
         [0032]    A left lower guide rail  207  positioned parallel to, and below, the left upper guide rail  205  enables a left partition member  301  to slidably mount therebetween and, in a similar fashion, a right lower guide rail  208  parallel to, and below, the right upper guide rail  206  supports a right partition member  302  slidably mounted therebetween—the left and right partition members  301 ,  302  being the same as those described in the previous embodiment. 
         [0033]    To provide rigidity to the frame  200  of the barrier  100 , upper and lower frame members  209 ,  210  are secured perpendicular to posts  201 . The upper frame member  209  is secured proximate to the top end of posts  201  and below guide rails  205 ,  206  and the lower frame member  210  is secured proximate to the lower end of posts  201  and below guide rails  207 ,  208 . Further frame rigidity is provided by two upright guide rails—a left upright guide rail  211  secured perpendicular to guide rails  205 ,  207  and proximate to the left end of frame members  209 ,  210  and a right upright guide rail  212  secured perpendicular to guide rails  206 ,  208  and proximate to the right end of frame members  209 ,  210 . The central partition  306  is then slidably mounted therebetween. 
         [0034]    As with the barrier of the previous embodiment, the effective width can be adjusted to fit various vehicle interiors by extending and retracting the slidable left and right partitions  301 ,  302  horizontally. This is shown in  FIGS. 4(   a ), ( b ), and ( c ). Access to the load carrying area of the vehicle from the passenger area can then be achieved by slidably lowering the central partition  306  vertically between guide rails  211 ,  212  from a first position shown in  FIG. 4(   a ) to a second position shown in  FIG. 4(   c ). The central partition  306  is secured in the first position by resting on lower guide rails  207 ,  208 . 
         [0035]    Referring now to  FIGS. 5   a  to  5   c,  there is shown a still further embodiment of the present invention which is similar to the embodiment illustrated in  FIG. 1  except that each central partition  303 ,  304  is replaced by a pair of partitions  403   a,    403   b,    404   a,    404   a,  which cooperate together to close the gap. Each central partition is mounted for sliding movement along the horizontal side rails  412 ,  413  between a fully extended position illustrated in  FIG. 5   a  in which each partition is extended away from the left/right partition  401 ,  402  and from each other, and a fully retracted position in which each partition of a part fully overlaps the other partition of the part as well as the associated left/right partition. More particularly, first left central partition  403   a  is constrained to move between a retracted position in which it is fully withdrawn from the opening and fully overlaps the left partition  401 , and an extended position in which its left edge is substantially aligned with the right edge of the left partition  401 . Second left central partition  403   b,  in turn, in its retracted position fully overlies the first left central partition  403   a  and in its extended position extends from the right edge of the first left central partition  403   a  so that the two left central partitions  403   a,    403   b  together span half of the opening. In this way, the width of the left partition necessary to accommodate overlap of the left central partitions is reduced compared with the other embodiments and hence the width of the opening is increased, improving access. 
         [0036]    Furthermore, in this embodiment, each of the left and right partitions  401 ,  402  is fixedly attached to left and right upright support  410 ,  411  respectively, each said upright support  410 ,  411 , in turn, being slidably moveable along the horizontal bars  412 ,  413  to adjust the width of the frame. Suitable mechanism for achieving this movement relationship are well known in the art and will not be described any further at this time. 
         [0037]    It will be appreciated that a combination of guide rails, frame members and partition members of the first embodiment of the invention could be used in conjunction with the guide rails, frame members and partition members of the second embodiment. It will also be appreciated that many different variations of guide rail, frame member and partition member size and configuration are possible, the important feature remaining that the barrier has accessibility means as disclosed herein and fits in vehicles of various size and shape. Similarly, many different variations of guide rail position and method of partition adjustment are possible, as well as alternative permanent and removable frame mounting means. 
         [0038]    Finally, it is understood that the barrier could be used to safely contain other things, for example luggage, in the load carrying area of a vehicle, rather than purely animals.