Abstract:
The present invention is a series of foamed steps, usable by an animal to climb to an elevated surface. The steps are covered in a plastic barrier layer to protect them from fluids.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
       [0001]     1. Field of the Invention  
         [0002]     This invention relates to portable stairs to allow pets, such as small or otherwise infirm dogs or animals, to easily climb onto beds, couches or other elevated surfaces.  
         [0003]     2. Background  
         [0004]     Traditionally, dogs and other pets were prohibited from going up onto elevated surfaces in the home, such as couches and beds. Pets were often considered dirty or denied access to these softer seating areas simply to maintain a clear hierarchy of dominance in the household.  
         [0005]     Recently, however, as pets, such as dogs, are kept more as companions rather than working animals, the prohibition from couches and beds has eroded. As the population of the United States and many other nations grows older, and as these populations are waiting to have children later in life, the growth of pet-ownership has expanded greatly.  
         [0006]     Just as the human populations of these countries is growing older due to advances in medicine, similar increases in age in pets has been observed. Thus, as the average age of the people of this, and many other countries, eases higher, so do that of our non-human companions.  
         [0007]     Just as increased age of humans is generally concurrent with an increase in health problems, similar issues occur with our non-human companions. These health problems include arthritis, decreased range of motion and muscle weakness.  
         [0008]     A common result of these health issues is an inability to reach elevated surfaces, such as couches, chairs and beds.  
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
       [0009]     Thus, the present invention is a series of steps or stairs, which are designed to be used by pets, such as dogs and cats, to enable them to reach the aforementioned elevated surfaces.  
         [0010]     In a preferred embodiment, the stairs are formed of a foamed material, which can support the weight of the pet. In order to protect the foam material, the stairs are covered with an additional material, such as a removable faux-sheepskin, which can be removed for cleaning.  
         [0011]     Additionally, a barrier may be placed between the cover and the foam. This barrier can be used to further protect the foam, and may take the form of a plastic bag, or other form fitted, liquid impermeable, material.  
         [0012]     This invention also relates to a method of forming the stairs. For example, a series of blocks, all of the same size or of different size, can be adjoined or the shape of the stairs can be cut from a larger form. When the latter method is used, it is possible to create two units of, for example, the same dimension, from a single monolithic structure. 
     
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       [0013]      FIG. 1  is a side view of the invention.  
         [0014]      FIG. 1A  is an alternate method of forming the invention.  
         [0015]      FIG. 2  is a side view of a method of forming the invention.  
         [0016]      FIG. 3  is a perspective view of the invention.  
     
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION  
       [0017]     The present invention, as shown in  FIG. 1 , is a stair system  10 , having a number of steps  12 . The size of the various steps  12  is preferably selected to allow an animal, such as a dog or cat, to climb from a floor to an elevated surface, such as a chair or couch.  
         [0018]     Just as is typical in stair systems for humans, the system of the invention includes steps which have a run  14  and a rise  16 . In order to permit easy climbing, preferably, the ratio of run to rise is generally 10-13 to 6-8. This allows for a suitable sized run, while being short enough to be easily traversed. Although  FIG. 1  shows the system  10  including four steps,  12 A- 12 D, respectively, it is considered within the scope of the invention to vary the number of steps. In such embodiments, the system  10  may typically include as few as two, or as many as ten steps, but preferably, the system  10  is limited to between three and six steps, inclusive.  
         [0019]     In one embodiment, the system  10  is assembled from a plurality of foam blocks which are affixed together. As shown in  FIG. 1 , steps  12 A- 12 D are joined to form the rises  16 A- 14 D. Specifically, the rises  16 A- 16 D are formed from the front side of the blocks  12 A- 12 D, as the back sides  18 A- 18 D are, typically, glued to the front sides. Although not preferred, it is additionally possible to utilize one or more straps or bands, which, when placed around the blocks  12  in a tight manner, function to hold the system  10  together.  
         [0020]     The size and shapes of the blocks  12  are selected as to form the desired configuration of the system  10 . For example, to form a five step system, an additional block  12  can be utilized and joined to the other blocks  12  at any location in the system. Additionally, it is considered within the scope of the invention to utilize blocks  12  of all the same size, simply used in combination to achieve the familiar step configuration of the system.  
         [0021]     Additionally, as shown in  FIG. 2 , the system  10  can be cut from larger block  24 , in order to form two systems.  
         [0022]     Although the system  10  can be formed from any material, such as metal, wood or plastic, in a preferred embodiment, the blocks  12  are foamed. The foam can be any type of foam, such as open cell and closed cell, any chemical composition, such as polystyrene, polyurethane, polyisocyanurate, and other foamed polymeric materials. These foams can be expanded, extruded, molded or formed in any conventional method. These foams can have any density, provided they have sufficient strength alone, or in combination with internal or external reinforcement to support the weight of the animal.  
         [0023]     Typical closed cell foams include Aerogel, Airex, FloTex, latex, polychloroprene (e.g, Neoprene), polyethylene, and polystyrene foams.  
         [0024]     Typically, the system  10  is provided with a cover. In one embodiment, the cover is simply a soft surface, such as (real or faux) sheepskin, fleece, cotton, acrylic, or other covering, which is placed over the system  10 . Preferably, the coverings are designed to be removable and preferably washable. Suitable reinforcement includes metal, prefabricated polymer sheets, bars, rods and trusses, wood, veneers, laminates, fibers, filaments, and tows and rope. The system  10  may also include a barrier layer, such as a layer of plastic which protects the blocks  12 . The barrier layer may protect the blocks  12  from pet excretions, such as urine, feces, saliva and other fluids. In one embodiment, the blocks  12  are shrink-wrapped (or otherwise heat-sealed) inside the barrier layer, while in other embodiments, the barrier layer may be disposable/replaceable, and optionally provided with closing elements, such as snaps, hook-and-loop fasteners (e.g., VELCRO), zippers, and buttons, as can the soft surface. In a particularly preferred embodiment, the barrier layer acts as an external reinforcement for the foamed blocks.  
         [0025]     Although any thickness for the barrier layer can function to protect the blocks  12 , preferably the barrier layer includes a layer of, for example, low density polyethylene (LDPE), having a thickness of between 0.5 and 50 mils, typically between 1 and 5 mils, and more typically between 2 and 4 mils. Although increased thickness functions to better protect the blocks  12 , as well as acting as the external reinforcement, the increased thickness will necessarily increase cost of the barrier layer.  
         [0026]     It should be apparent from this description that embodiments other than those described above come within the spirit and scope of the present invention. Finally, due to the construction, the vessels can be re-used, if only for limited times. Additionally, although the above-description has been made using a liquid, any fluid or combination of fluids may be used in either chamber.