Abstract:
A device for protecting furniture from pet damage for preventing pets from chewing on covered areas of the furniture covered by the panels of the invention. The device for protecting furniture from pet damage includes a plurality of protective panels comprising side edges, end edges, faces and a connector system; and an anchoring panel comprising an anchor edge and T-shaped protrusions.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     1. Field of the Invention 
     The present invention relates to furniture protection devices and more particularly pertains to a new device for protecting furniture from pet damage for preventing pets from chewing on covered areas of the furniture covered by the panels of the invention. 
     2. Description of the Prior Art 
     The use of furniture protection devices is known in the prior art. More specifically, furniture protection devices heretofore devised and utilized are known to consist basically of familiar, expected and obvious structural configurations, notwithstanding the myriad of designs encompassed by the crowded prior art which have been developed for the fulfillment of countless objectives and requirements. 
     Known prior art includes U.S. Pat. No. 5,592,901; U.S. Pat. No. Des. 336,033; U.S. Pat. Nos. 3,085,551; 5,161,484; 5,619,953; 3,936,025. 
     While these devices fulfill their respective, particular objectives and requirements, the aforementioned patents do not disclose a new device for protecting furniture from pet damage. The inventive device includes a plurality of protective panels comprising side edges, end edges, faces and a connector system; and an anchoring panel comprising an anchor edge and T-shaped protrusions. 
     In these respects, the device for protecting furniture from pet damage according to the present invention substantially departs from the conventional concepts and designs of the prior art, and in so doing provides an apparatus primarily developed for the purpose of preventing pets from chewing on covered areas of the furniture covered by the panels of the invention. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     In view of the foregoing disadvantages inherent in the known types of furniture protection devices now present in the prior art, the present invention provides a new device for protecting furniture from pet damage construction wherein the same can be utilized for preventing pets from chewing on covered areas of the furniture covered by the panels of the invention. 
     The general purpose of the present invention, which will be described subsequently in greater detail, is to provide a new device for protecting furniture from pet damage apparatus and method which has many of the advantages of the furniture protection devices mentioned heretofore and many novel features that result in a new Device for protecting furniture from pet damage which is not anticipated, rendered obvious, suggested, or even implied by any of the prior art furniture protection devices, either alone or in any combination thereof. 
     To attain this, the present invention generally comprises a plurality of protective panels comprising side edges, end edges, faces and a connector system; and an anchoring panel comprising an anchor edge and T-shaped protrusions. 
     There has thus been outlined, rather broadly, the more important features of the invention in order that the detailed description thereof that follows may be better understood, and in order that the present contribution to the art may be better appreciated. There are additional features of the invention that will be described hereinafter and which will form the subject matter of the claims appended hereto. 
     In this respect, before explaining at least one embodiment of the invention in detail, it is to be understood that the invention is not limited in its application to the details of construction and to the arrangements of the components set forth in the following description or illustrated in the drawings. The invention is capable of other embodiments and of being practiced and carried out in various ways. Also, it is to be understood that the phraseology and terminology employed herein are for the purpose of description and should not be regarded as limiting. 
     As such, those skilled in the art will appreciate that the conception, upon which this disclosure is based, may readily be utilized as a basis for the designing of other structures, methods and systems for carrying out the several purposes of the present invention. It is important, therefore, that the claims be regarded as including such equivalent constructions insofar as they do not depart from the spirit and scope of the present invention. 
     Further, the purpose of the foregoing abstract is to enable the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office and the public generally, and especially the scientists, engineers and practitioners in the art who are not familiar with patent or legal terms or phraseology, to determine quickly from a cursory inspection the nature and essence of the technical disclosure of the application. The abstract is neither intended to define the invention of the application, which is measured by the claims, nor is it intended to be limiting as to the scope of the invention in any way. 
     It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide a new device for protecting furniture from pet damage apparatus and method which has many of the advantages of the furniture protection devices mentioned heretofore and many novel features that result in a new device for protecting furniture from pet damage which is not anticipated, rendered obvious, suggested, or even implied by any of the prior art furniture protection devices, either alone or in any combination thereof. 
     It is another object of the present invention to provide a new device for protecting furniture from pet damage which may be easily and efficiently manufactured and marketed. 
     It is a further object of the present invention to provide a new device for protecting furniture from pet damage which is of a durable and reliable construction. 
     An even further object of the present invention is to provide a new device for protecting furniture from pet damage which is susceptible of a low cost of manufacture with regard to both materials and labor, and which accordingly is then susceptible of low prices of sale to the consuming public, thereby making such device for protecting furniture from pet damage economically available to the buying public. 
     Still yet another object of the present invention is to provide a new device for protecting furniture from pet damage which provides in the apparatuses and methods of the prior art some of the advantages thereof, while simultaneously overcoming some of the disadvantages normally associated therewith. 
     Still another object of the present invention is to provide a new device for protecting furniture from pet damage for preventing pets from chewing on covered areas of the furniture covered by the panels of the invention. 
     Yet another object of the present invention is to provide a new device for protecting furniture from pet damage which includes a plurality of protective panels comprising side edges, end edges, faces and a connector system; and an anchoring panel comprising an anchor edge and T-shaped protrusions. 
     Still yet another object of the present invention is to provide a new device for protecting furniture from pet damage that provides protective panels that are easily coupled to and removed from furniture without requiring any modifications or damage to the furniture. 
     Even still another object of the present invention is to provide a new device for protecting furniture from pet damage that provides protective panels that are easily configured for different furniture sizes and shapes, and easily collapsed into a relatively, flat compact form for transport and storage. 
     These together with other objects of the invention, along with the various features of novelty which characterize the invention, are pointed out with particularity in the claims annexed to and forming a part of this disclosure. For a better understanding of the invention, its operating advantages and the specific objects attained by its uses, reference should be made to the accompanying drawings and descriptive matter in which there are illustrated preferred embodiments of the invention. 
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     The invention will be better understood and objects other than those set forth above will become apparent when consideration is given to the following detailed description thereof. Such description makes reference to the annexed drawings wherein: 
     FIG. 1 is a perspective schematic view of the present invention. 
     FIG. 2 is a schematic view of the present invention detailing the connector system. 
     FIG. 3 is a detail schematic view of corner connector system in an embodiment of the present invention. 
     FIG. 4 is a schematic view detailing the anchoring panel of the present invention. 
     FIG. 5 is a schematic view illustrating the use of an embodiment of the present invention. 
    
    
     DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT 
     With reference now to the drawings, and in particular to FIGS. 1 through 5 thereof, a new device for protecting furniture from pet damage embodying the principles and concepts of the present invention and generally designated by the reference numeral  10  will be described. 
     As best illustrated in FIGS. 1 through 5, the device for protecting furniture from pet damage  10  generally comprises a plurality of protective panels  20  (including side edges  22 , end edges  24 , faces  26 , and a connector system  30 ) and an anchoring panel  60  including an anchor edge  62  and T-shaped protrusions  64 . 
     One type of furniture  2  highly suitable for use with the invention  10  has a base  4  and a cushion  6  with a slot  8  being formed between the two. Common illustrative examples of this type of furniture include sofas and upholstered chairs. 
     The furniture protection system comprises a plurality of protective panels  20  and an anchoring panel  60 . 
     The protective panels  20  each have a pair of opposite faces  26 , a pair of end edges  24 , a pair of side edges  22 , and a connector system  30 . The end edges  24  are relatively shorter than the side edges  22 . The end edges  24  and side edges  22  when taken together form a generally rectangular shape. 
     The connector system  30  of each protective panel  20  allows the protective panels  20  to be connected together. The connector system  30  is comprised of a first connector structure  32  and a second connector structure  34 . 
     The first connector structure  32  is located on one of the end edges  24 , and comprises at least one protrusion. The second connector structure  34  is located on the opposite end edge  24 , and comprises at least one recess. 
     In an illustrative embodiment (FIG.  2 ), the first connector structure  32  consists of a pair of protrusions, which are generally trapezoidal in shape. The narrower portion of each of the trapezoidal shapes is positioned closest to the end edge  24 , and the wider portions of each of the trapezoidal shapes is positioned away from the end edge  24 . The second connector structure  34  consists of a pair of recesses also generally trapezoidal in shape. The narrower portion of each of the recesses is positioned at the end edge  24  of the protective panel  20 , and the wider portion is positioned interiorly of the end edge  24  of the protective panel  20 . 
     In an embodiment, the protective panels  20  comprise a perimeter frame with an opening. A plurality of longitudinal members  42  and lateral members  44  extend across the opening, forming a grid with a plurality of apertures. An X-shaped member  46  is situated in each of the apertures (FIG.  3 ). 
     In an embodiment having optional features (FIG.  3 ), two of the plurality of protective panels  20  include a corner connector system  50 . The corner connector system  50  comprises a pair of channel members  54  mounted on one of the faces  26  of the first of the two protective panels  20 . A pair of rod members  52 , designed to be removably received by the channel members  54 , are mounted on an end edge  24  of the second of the two protective panels  20 . 
     The anchoring panel  60  is used to anchor one of the protective panels  20  in a position adjacent to the furniture to be protected. The anchoring panel  60  is positionable between a cushion and the base of the furniture. The anchoring panel  60  has an anchor edge  62 , and a pair of T-shaped protrusions  64  (FIG.  4 ). Each of the protrusions extends from the anchor edge  62  for inserting between and engaging portions of on of the X-shaped members  46  of the protective panels  20 . 
     As to a further discussion of the manner of usage and operation of the present invention, the same should be apparent from the above description. Accordingly, no further discussion relating to the manner of usage and operation will be provided. 
     With respect to the above description then, it is to be realized that the optimum dimensional relationships for the parts of the invention, to include variations in size, materials, shape, form, function and manner of operation, assembly and use, are deemed readily apparent and obvious to one skilled in the art, and all equivalent relationships to those illustrated in the drawings and described in the specification are intended to be encompassed by the present invention. 
     Therefore, the foregoing is considered as illustrative only of the principles of the invention. Further, since numerous modifications and changes will readily occur to those skilled in the art, it is not desired to limit the invention to the exact construction and operation shown and described, and accordingly, all suitable modifications and equivalents may be resorted to, falling within the scope of the invention.