Abstract:
Animal shelter to protect animals from the elements by locating a platform where the animals recline or sit substantially above the level of an entryway. Some embodiments of the invention may be of double-willed insulated construction. Some embodiments of the invention may have a stair or ramp that leads from the entryway to platform. Some embodiments may have more than one entryway and more than one stair or ramp leading to the platform to provide an escape route for the animal. Some embodiments of the invention may have windows at or above the level of the platform. Some embodiments of the invention may have a moisture vent installed to aid in removing water vapor from the shelter. Some embodiments of the invention may have a methane vent installed to aid in removing methane gas from the shelter.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
       [0001]     1. Technical Field of the Invention  
         [0002]     This disclosure relates generally to animal care products, and more particularly to a heat efficient animal shelter.  
         [0003]     2. Description of the Related Art  
         [0004]     In U.S. Pat. No. 4,367,697 issued to Lance, a dog house is described that is made by mounting a barrel atop a vertical pole, the barrel lying on its side. An entrance is cut in one end of the barrel, and the dog reclines or sits upon an inside surface of the barrel that is lower than the level of the entrance.  
         [0005]     In U.S. Pat. No. 5,383,313 issued to Deeke et al., a mini storage silo is described that has an elevated floor. The storage silo may be used as a dog house, but the canine entryway is set into the one of the walls just above the level of the elevated floor.  
         [0006]     In U.S. Pat. No. 5,727,501 issued to York, a dog house apparatus is described where the dog reclines or sits upon a floor that is lower than the level of an entryway.  
         [0007]     In U.S. Pat. No. 6,234,116 issued to Havener, a heat retaining dog house is described where the entryway is set into one of the walls above the level of the elevated floor.  
         [0008]     An entryway that is higher than the surface where the animal sits or reclines is not desirable in an animal shelter that purports to insulate the animal from temperature extremes. The air that is warmed by the animal&#39;s body rises and may be lost through the entryway, or it is trapped in the upper part of the animal shelter, away from the animal that remains on the floor of the shelter. Additionally, the animal may be exposed to winds or drafts if the entryway is not offset from the level where the animal sits or reclines.  
         [0009]     Embodiments of the invention address these and other disadvantages of the conventional art. 
     
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       [0010]      FIG. 1  is a cut-away diagram illustrating an example animal shelter according to some embodiments of the invention.  
         [0011]      FIG. 2  is a perspective diagram illustrating another example animal shelter according to some other embodiments of the invention.  
         [0012]      FIG. 3  is an exploded perspective diagram further illustrating components of the example animal shelter of  FIG. 2 .  
         [0013]      FIG. 4  is a cross-sectional diagram further illustrating the example animal shelter of  FIG. 2 . 
     
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION  
       [0014]      FIG. 1  is a cut-away diagram illustrating an example animal shelter  10  according to some embodiments of the invention.  
         [0015]     As illustrated, the insulated animal shelter  10  includes an outer shell  105  and an inner shell  110 . The outer shell  105  and the inner shell  110  are substantially cylindrical in shape, with the inner shell  110  nested inside the outer shell  105 . The wall of the outer shell  105  preferably includes an insulative material, such as styrofoam or fiber insulation. Preferably, the wall of the inner shell  110  is of the same construction as the outer shell  105 . The amount of insulating material or the thickness of the walls may be chosen depending on the climate where the shelter  10  is to be used. For example, thicker insulative walls may be used for climates where winter temperatures are frequently below freezing, and thinner insulative walls may be used in climates where freezing temperatures are less common.  
         [0016]     There is an opening  115  at the base of the outer shell  105 . From the opening  115 , the animal gains access to a stair  130  that is attached to the side of the inner shell  110 . Preferably, as shown in  FIG. 1 , the stair  130  is an integral part of the inner shell  110 . The stair  130  leads to a sleeping platform  120 , which is the top surface of the inner shell  110 . Preferably, as shown in  FIG. 1 , the radial outer surface of the inner shell  110  and the radial outer surface of the stair  130  are formed of one continuous surface. In other words, if a cylinder of appropriate diameter was placed over the inner shell  110  and the stair  130 , the radial inner surface of the cylinder would contact the radial outer surface of the inner shell  110  and the radial outer surface of the stair  130 .  
         [0017]     As illustrated in  FIG. 1 , the radial inner surface of the outer shell  105  is slightly separated from the radial outer surface of the inner shell  110  and the stair  130 . However, as was suggested in the above paragraph, the outer shell  105  could be made such that the radial inner surface of the outer shell  105  contacts the radial outer surface of the inner shell  110  and the radial outer surface of the stair  130 . Thus, the interior volume of the shelter  10  would be minimized, making it easier for the animal&#39;s body heat to warm the interior volume. In this case, the opening  115  should be aligned with the bottommost step of the stair  130  so that the animal can gain access to the stair.  
         [0018]     Consequently, by choosing appropriate dimensions for the outer shell  105  and inner shell  110 , the sleeping platform  120  and interior volume of the animal shelter  10  may be optimized for the size and number of animals that will be using the shelter.  
         [0019]     According to preferred embodiments of the invention, the outer shell  105  is detachably affixed to the inner shell  110  and the stair  130  so that it may be removed to expose the inner shell  110 , the stair  130 , and sleeping platform  120  for effective cleaning.  
         [0020]     In alternative embodiments of the invention, there may be two openings  115  and two stairs  130 . The extra opening and extra stair would provide a means of egress for the animal if an intruding animal attempted to gain access to the sleeping platform  120 . Carpeting or other bedding material may be affixed to the sleeping platform  120 .  
         [0021]     To further provide a sense of security for the animal, there may be one or more windows  125  installed in the wall of the outer shell  105  so that the animal may visibly monitor the outside world. Preferably, the windows  125  are made of a transparent plastic, but other embodiments may have glass windows.  
         [0022]     The height and width of the shelter  10  is a design choice, and the actual dimensions will be determined by the size of the animal and/or the number of animals that will be using the shelter. As illustrated in  FIG. 1 , the sleeping platform  120  is located above the level of the opening  115 . Thus, the shelter  10  efficiently utilizes warmed air by trapping it against the roof of the outer shell  105  at substantially the same level where the animal is reclining or sitting. The sleeping platform  120  is also sheltered from drafts and winds by being above the level of the opening  115 . Furthermore, there is an adequate exchange of fresh air since the opening  115  near the bottom of the outer shell  105  allows the heavier CO 2  exhaled by the animal to be replaced with lighter O 2 .  
         [0023]     Embodiments of the invention also provide for the removal of methane gas, a by-product of animal digestion that may be potentially harmful to the animal if allowed to accumulate in the shelter  10 . Methane is about 60% the weight of air, so it will accumulate in the highest portion of the shelter  10 .  
         [0024]     Therefore, according to some embodiments of the invention, there is a methane vent  135  installed in the outer shell  105 . Preferably, the methane vent  135  is configured to vent methane gas from at or near the highest part of the shelter  10  to the exterior of the shelter  10 . The methane vent  135  is preferably formed of a plastic or metal tube. Because the size of the methane vent  135  need not be very large to effectively remove the methane gas, the amount of beneficial heated air that is lost through the methane vent  135  does not appreciably reduce the heat efficiency of the shelter  10 . In other words, the size of the methane vent  135  may be adjusted so that methane is vented while simultaneously minimizing the heat loss through the methane vent  135 . Although not shown in  FIG. 1 , in alternative embodiments of the invention the top of the methane vent  135  may have a shield placed above it, similar to a covered chimney on houses. The shield prevents rain and snow from entering the shelter  10 , while still allowing methane gas to escape.  
         [0025]     In some embodiments of the invention, the removal of water vapor from the shelter  10  may be accomplished using a moisture vent  140 . The moisture vent  140  is preferably made of a metal tube, such as copper. The moisture vent  140  may be affixed substantially vertically on the outside of the outer shell  105 . The upper end of the moisture vent  140  is angled and pierces the outer shell  105 , so that the upper end of the moisture vent is located in an upper portion of the shelter  10 , near the sleeping platform  120 .  
         [0026]     Since most of the moisture vent  140  lies outside the shelter  10  and metal is a good conductor, the temperature of the metal tube will typically closely match the temperature outside the animal shelter  10 . Thus, when cooler temperatures are present, gaseous water vapor inside the animal shelter  10  will tend to condense on the cool inner metal surface of the moisture vent  140 , where it will drain away to the outside of the shelter  10 . Preferably, the upper end of the moisture vent  140  does not extend past the radially inner wall of the outer shell  105 , so that water vapor will not condense on the outer surface of the moisture vent  140  and cause the interior of the shelter  10  to become wet.  
         [0027]     It should be noted that the moisture vent  140  is illustrated as being attached to the outer shell  105  above the opening  115  for ease of illustration. The moisture vent  140  may alternatively be located in any convenient location on the outer shell  105 , and it is preferable that the moisture vent  140  drains to an area that is not immediately in front of the opening  115 .  
         [0028]      FIG. 2  is a perspective diagram illustrating another example animal shelter  20  according to some other embodiments of the invention. As illustrated in  FIG. 2 , the animal shelter  20  looks substantially like a barn.  FIG. 3  is an exploded perspective diagram further illustrating components of the example animal shelter of  FIG. 2 .  FIG. 4  is a cross-sectional diagram further illustrating the example animal shelter of  FIG. 2 .  
         [0029]     Referring to  FIGS. 2, 3 , and  4 , the example animal shelter  20  according to some embodiments of the invention includes a base unit  205 , a wall unit  210 , and a roof  230 . The base unit  205  includes a pedestal  215  and two ramps  225 . The two ramps  225  are affixed to opposite ends of the pedestal  215 . The sleeping platform  215   a  is the top surface of the pedestal  215 . The two ramps  225  provide the animal access to the sleeping platform  215   a.    
         [0030]     The wall unit  210  includes four walls  210   a ,  210   b ,  210   c , and  210   d , each wall having a window  220 . Preferably, similar to the above embodiments having the outer shell  105  and the inner shell  110 , the wall unit  210  is designed to fit over the base unit  205 . In other words, when the wall unit  210  is placed over the base unit  205 , the walls  210   b  and  210   d  contact the edges of the ramps  225 , while the walls  210   a ,  210   c  contact opposite sides of the pedestal  215 . The walls  210   a ,  210   c , do not completely extend to the floor of the base unit  205 . Thus, as shown in  FIG. 2 , when the wall unit  210  is placed over the base unit  205 , the ramps  225  allow entry to the sleeping platform  215   a.    
         [0031]     Similar to the embodiments illustrated in  FIG. 1 , both the walls of the wall unit  210  and the pedestal  215  of the base unit  205  are preferably insulated. The four windows allow the animal to see his surroundings, and the additional ramp  225  provides an escape route for the animal should it be required.  
         [0032]     Similar to the embodiments illustrated in  FIG. 1 , the shelter  20  provides a sleeping platform  215   a  that is above the level of the entryway. Consequently, the shelter  20  effectively protects the animal from wind and precipitation while also making maximum use of the warm air that is trapped by the shelter.  
         [0033]     Similar to the embodiments illustrated in  FIG. 1 , the shelter  20  also has a methane vent  235 . Although the shelter  20  is not shown with a moisture vent, such as the moisture vent  140  illustrated in  FIG. 1 , it is anticipated that one of ordinary skill could easily modify the shelter  20  to include such a vent using the principles that have been illustrated above.  
         [0034]     The preceding embodiments are exemplary. Although the specification may refer to “an”, “alternative”, or “some” embodiment(s) in several locations, this does not necessarily mean that each such reference is to the same embodiment(s), or that the feature only applies to a single embodiment.  
         [0035]     One of ordinary skill in the art will recognize that the concepts taught herein can be tailored to a particular application in many other advantageous ways. In particular, those skilled in the art will recognize that the illustrated embodiments are but one of many alternative implementations that will become apparent upon reading this disclosure.  
         [0036]     Many of the specific features shown herein are design choices. For example, the exterior look of embodiments of the invention may be representative of any number of architectural styles in order to mimic the design of the larger buildings surrounding the animal shelter. As just a few examples, animal shelters according to embodiments of the invention may suggest design elements of a farm building (such as the barn illustrated in  FIG. 2 ), a Victorian style home, or a medieval castle. Furthermore, the materials used for the embodiments are also design choices, as in order to mimic different architectural styles different materials may be a necessity.  
         [0037]     Functionality shown embodied in a single component may be implemented using multiple cooperating components, or vice versa. For example, in the exemplary embodiments illustrated above, the outer shell  105  and inner shell  110 , and, likewise, the wall unit  210  and the base unit  205 , are intended to be detachably affixed to each other for ease of cleaning and maintenance. However, it is recognized that embodiments of the invention could be assembled in other ways. For example, with regard to the embodiments illustrated in  FIG. 1 , injection molding techniques could be utilized to manufacture an animal shelter where the outer shell  105  is formed from a single piece of molded plastic as is the inner shell  110 /stair  130 . Alternatively, the outer shell  105 /inner shell  110 /stair  130  could be formed of a single piece of molded plastic. The methane vent  135  of  FIG. 1  may also be an integral feature of the outer shell  105 , for example, the methane vent  135  may be formed during the same plastic injection-molding process that forms the outer shell  105 . In another example, the components of the embodiments illustrated in  FIGS. 2 and 3  could be permanently affixed to each other using conventional fasteners. Such minor modifications are encompassed within the embodiments of the invention, and are intended to fall within the scope of the appended claims.