Patent Publication Number: US-2013247828-A1

Title: Heating and/or cooling bed

Description:
BACKGROUND 
     Exemplary embodiments relate to pet beds, and more particularly to pet beds for providing a cooled and/or heated surface upon which a pet can rest. 
     Pet beds are typically developed and marketed to pet owners who wish to provide a comfortable surface for their pets to rest. In some instances, however, the pet beds may not provide such a comfortable environment. For example, pet beds may cause the pet to be too warm or conversely may not provide sufficient warmth to the pet depending on several factors, including the ambient temperature of the environment, the material used to form the bed, the pet&#39;s coat, and so on. 
     SUMMARY 
     Exemplary embodiments of the present disclosure are directed to a pet cooling and/or heating bed for indoor and/or outdoor use. Embodiments of the pet bed can include a base portion and a detachable top portion that can be secured to the base portion. The top portion includes one or more compartments within which one or more thermal pack inserts can be removably disposed. In exemplary embodiments, the top portion can be detached from the base portion so that the top portion and the base portion can be cleaned, washed, and/or used separately. Embodiments of the pet bed can be made from durable materials and at least portions of the pet bed can be made or coated with a water resistant or water proof material. 
     In one embodiment, a pet bed including a base portion, top portion, and thermal insert pack is disclosed. The base portion includes an outer shell defining a cavity and a fill material disposed within the cavity of the outer shell. The top portion is detachably fastened to the base portion. The top portion includes a closable compartment defining an interior area and the thermal pack insert is configured to fit within the interior area defined by the compartment and to heat, cool, and/or maintain a temperature and/or a range of temperatures associated with the top portion. 
     In another embodiment, a pet bed including a base portion, top portion, and fastening device is disclosed. The base portion has first and second surfaces and at least one side surface extending between the first and second surfaces to form a cavity within which a fill material is disposed. The top portion is detachably fastened to the first surface and has third and fourth surfaces. A compartment is disposed between the third and fourth surfaces for receiving a thermal pack insert. A fastening device fastens the top portion to the first surface of the base portion. 
     Other objects and features will become apparent from the following detailed description considered in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, wherein like reference numerals identify like elements. It is to be understood, however, that the drawings are designed as an illustration only and not as a definition of the limits of the invention. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         FIG. 1  shows a cross-sectional view of an exemplary pet bed having a base portion and a detachable top portion within which a thermal pack insert can be inserted. 
         FIG. 2  shows an exemplary top view of the pet bed with the top portion attached to the base portion. 
         FIG. 3  shows an exemplary side view of the pet bed with the top portion attached to the base portion. 
         FIG. 4  shows an exemplary bottom view of the pet bed. 
         FIG. 5  shows a perspective view of the pet bed with the top portion attached to the base portion. 
         FIGS. 6A and 6B  show a perspective view of the pet bed in which the top portion of the pet bed is partially and fully detached from a base portion of the pet bed, respectively. 
         FIG. 7  shows a thermal pack insert insertable into the top portion of the pet bed. 
         FIG. 8  shows another exemplary pet bed for providing a cooled and/or heated surface upon which a pet can rest. 
         FIG. 9  shows another exemplary pet bed for providing a cooled and/or heated surface upon which a pet can rest. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF EXEMPLARY EMBODIMENTS 
     Exemplary embodiments of the present disclosure include a pet bed for providing a cooling and/or heating affect to a pet, such as a dog, cat, or other domesticated animal. The pet bed can include a base portion and a top portion that can be detachably fastened to the base portion. The top portion can include a closable compartment for receiving a thermal pack insert, which can be cooled or heated before insertion into the compartment. Once the cooled or heated thermal pack insert has been inserted into the compartment, the top portion of the pet bed can provide a cooled or heated area upon which a pet can rest. 
       FIG. 1  is a cross-sectional view of an exemplary pet bed  10 . The exemplary pet bed  10  includes a base portion  12 , a top portion  14 , a fastening device  16 , and a thermal pack insert  18 . The top portion  14  can be detachably fastened to the base portion  12  by the fastening device  16  such that the top portion  14  can be attached to and detached from the base portion  12  allowing the base portion  12  and/or the top portion  14  to be used, washed, and/or cleaned separately. The pet bed  10  can provide a cushioned pillow-like or mattress-like support surface upon which a pet or a portion of the pet can rest. At least a portion of the support surface can be cooled, warmed, and/or maintained at a temperature and/or a temperature using the thermal pack insert  18  that can be removably disposed within the top portion  14 . 
     Still referring to  FIG. 1 , the base portion  12  can include, for example, an outer shell  20  that forms a cavity  22  within which a fill material  24  can be disposed. The base portion  12  can provide a supporting structure for the top portion  14  and can provide a pillow-like or mattress-like body to provide a cushioned surface on which a pet can rest. The outer shell  20  can include a first surface  26 , a second surface  28 , and side surfaces  30  extending between the first and second surfaces  26  and  28 , respectively, such that the first surface  26 , second surface  28 , and the side surfaces  30  define the cavity  22 . The first and second surfaces  26  and  28  can form generally parallel planar surfaces extending between the side surfaces  30  when the cavity  22  is filled with the fill material  24  and the base portion  12  is uncompressed, for example, under the weight of a pet. The outer shell  20  can have a generally rectangular or trapezoidal cross-sectional shape when the cavity  22  is filled with the fill material  24 . The first surface  26  can provide a surface upon which a pet can rest when the base portion  12  is used separately from the top portion  14  and can provide a supporting surface to the top portion  14  when the base portion  12  and the top portion  14  are used together. The second surface  28  provides a surface that rests on a supporting surface, such as, for example, a floor. 
     The outer shell  20  can be formed of a water resistant or water proof material and/or can be coated with a water resistant or water proof coating. In exemplary embodiments, the outer shell  20  can be formed using a polymer-based material, such as nylon, which can be coated with water resistant material, such as a Teflon coating, to make the outer shell  20 , or a portion thereof, resistant to water. For example, the outer shell  20  can be formed by Teflon coated Nylon from DuPont so that the base portion is suitable for outdoor use and can be rinsed clean with water. 
     The fill material  24  can be used to form the cushioned pillow-like or mattress-like body of the base portion  12  to aid in retention of the shape of the base portion  12  and/or to provide a cushioned surface upon which a pet can rest. Some examples of a fill material  24  can include one or more of foams, battings, gels, water, and the like. Foams can include, for example, a foam material with an open cell structure, such as a polyester and/or polyurethane foam, and/or a foam material with a closed cell structure, such as layers of Neoprene foam. Batting can include, for example, one or more sheets of polyester or a blended polyester material. In an exemplary embodiment, the fill material  24  can be Poly-Fill. 
     Piping  32  can be disposed along an upper edge of the side surfaces  30  forming a boundary between the first surface  26  and the side surfaces  30 . The piping  32  can be sewn or otherwise disposed in or on the outer shell  20  and can provide structural support to the base portion  12 . For example, the piping  32  can be formed from a material, such as nylon tubing, that is resilient and/or flexible so that the piping  32 , at least in part, can resiliently retain the shape of the base portion  12  along one or more dimensions of the base portion  12 . 
     In exemplary embodiments, a connecting material  34  can extend from the base portion  12 . For example, the connecting member  34  can be disposed on the first surface extending inward from the piping  32  to provide an area for connecting the top portion  14  to the base portion  12 . The connecting material  34  can be fastened to the top portion  14  by the fastening device  16 . In exemplary embodiments, the connecting member can form a flap having one end attached to the base portion at the piping  32  and having a free end configured to be fastened to the top portion  14 . In exemplary embodiments, the connecting material  34  can be formed of a different material than that of the base portion  12 . In exemplary embodiments, the connecting material  34  and the top portion  14  can be formed of the same material. 
     Still referring to  FIG. 1 , the top portion  14  can include a first surface  36  connected to or continuously formed with a second surface  38 . The top portion  14  can be dimensioned to mate with the connecting material  34  of the base portion  12  such that when the top portion  14  is fastened to the base portion  12 , the first surface  36  of the top portion  14  and the connecting material  34  form an upper surface of the bed  10  upon which a pet can rest. The top portion  14  can substantially overlay the first surface  26  of the base portion  12 . When the top portion  14  is attached to the base portion  12 , the second surface  38  of the top portion  14  is positioned adjacently to the first surface  26  such that the surfaces  38  and  26  are proximate to and face each other. 
     In exemplary embodiments, the top portion  14  can be formed of a porous structure, such as a mesh, to facilitate air circulation in the top portion  14 . One or more layers of material can be used to form the first surface  36  and/or the second surface  38 . In some embodiments, the porous structure can be formed as a meshed material or materials, which can be referred to herein as “air mesh”, and which facilitates air circulation through at least one of the surfaces  36 ,  38  of the top portion  14 . In some embodiments, the first surface  36  and/or the second surface  38  can be formed of Nylon, polyester, or any other suitable material or materials. 
     The closable compartment  40  can be sandwiched between first and second surfaces  36  and  38 , respectively, of the top portion  14  such that the first and second surfaces  36  and  38  can encase the closable compartment  40 . In exemplary embodiments, the compartment  40  can be a sleeve sewn into the top portion  14  to form a hidden pocket within the top portion  14  having an opening at a first end and being closed at a second end. The compartment  40  can be configured to receive and retain the pack insert  18 . In exemplary embodiments, the compartment  40  can be lined with polyester. 
     The fastening device  16  can detachably fasten the top portion  14  and the base portion  12  such that the top portion  14  can be fastened to or detached from the base portion  12 . A first portion  42  of the fastening device  16  can be disposed on the connecting material  34  of the base portion  12  and a second portion  44  of the fastening device  16  can be disposed on the top portion  14 . The first and second portions  42  and  44  of the fastening device  16  can mate to detachably fasten the top portion  14  to the base portion  12 . In exemplary embodiments, the fastening device  16  can include a zipper, buttons, snaps, a loop and hook fastener (e.g., Velcro), and the like. 
     The thermal pack insert  18  can be formed using one or more thermal materials having thermal properties that can facilitate a generally slow temperature rise or fall after being cooled or heated, respectively, until temperature equilibrium is reached with a surrounding environment. Some examples of thermal materials include for example, water, Blue Ice® from Rubbermaid, a refrigerant gel, grains (e.g., oats, flax seed, wheat), and the like. In exemplary embodiments, the thermal material can include a mixture of water and hydroxyethyl cellulose or silica gel to form a gel pack and/or can include propylene glycol. 
       FIGS. 2-4  show a top, side, and bottom view of the pet bed  10 , respectively, with the top portion  14  attached to the base portion  12 . The piping  32  defines a perimeter  46  of the first surface (obscured) of the base portion (obscured) and the connecting member  34  forms a frame-like structure extending inward from the perimeter  46  to an inner perimeter  47 . A perimeter  48  of the top portion  14  fits within the inner perimeter  47  of the frame-like structure formed by the connecting member  34  to facilitate attachment of the top portion  14  to the connecting member  34  via the fastening device  16 . 
     As shown in phantom in  FIG. 2 , the top portion  14  of the pet bed  10  includes the closable compartment  40  disposed therein having an interior area  50  for receiving the thermal pack insert  18  (shown in phantom in  FIG. 2 ). The interior area  50  of the compartment  40  can be defined by a sleeve lined with polyester and can be accessed through an opening  52  at a first end  53  of the compartment  40 , which is formed in the first surface  36  of the top portion  14 , and a closed second end  55 . The opening  52  can be dimensioned to permit insertion of the thermal pack insert  18  into the compartment  40  and removal of the thermal pack insert  18  from the compartment  40 . For example, the opening  52  can be formed as a slit in the first surface  36  having a width that is wider than a width of the thermal pack insert  18 . 
     In the present embodiment, the interior area  50  can have a generally rectangular configuration having a perimeter  54  that is smaller than the perimeter  48  associated with the top portion  14 . The interior area  50  defined by the compartment  40  can be configured to generally conform to the size and shape of the thermal pack insert  18  such that when the pack insert  18  is inserted into the compartment  40 , the thermal pack insert  18  generally occupies the interior area  48  of the compartment  40  to generally fix the position of the thermal pack insert  18  with respect to the surfaces  36  and  38 . 
     A closure device  56  can be disposed along the opening  52  to facilitate closing and opening of the compartment  40 . Some exemplary closure devices can include a zipper, buttons, snaps, a loop and hook fastener (e.g., Velcro), and the like. In the present embodiment, a zipper can be used to implement the closure device  56 . Although the closable opening  52  is formed in the first surface  36  of the top portion  14 , those skilled in the art will recognize that the opening  52  can be disposed in other locations. As one example, the opening  52  can be disposed in the second surface  38  such that the opening  52  is not visible when the top portion  14  is attached to the base portion  12  and the top portion  14  would have to be at least partially detached to access the compartment  40 . As another example, the opening  52  can be formed along a portion of the perimeter  48  of the top portion  14  between the first and second surfaces  36  and  38 . 
     In exemplary embodiments, the compartment  40  can be centrally or substantially centrally positioned in the top portion  14 . Positioning the compartment  40  centrally in the top portion  14  can align the compartment  40  with the pet&#39;s core (e.g. torso region) so that when the pet rests on the pet bed  10  with a cooled or heated pack insert  18  disposed therein, a transfer of thermal energy between the pet&#39;s core and the pack insert  18  can occur to provide efficient and effective cooling or heating of the pet. 
     The thermal pack insert  18  can include one or more reusable thermal packs  58  encapsulated by a membrane  60 . In some embodiments, the thermal pack insert  18  can be a single thermal pack  58  such that the thermal pack insert  18  and the thermal pack  58  are one and the same. The membrane  60  can be formed of a puncture resistant material that facilitates cooling or heating disbursement, such as a nylon ripstop material. In the present embodiment, the pack insert  18  includes a quantity of separate thermal packs  58  that are each sewn into or otherwise disposed in the membrane  60  such that the thermal packs  58  and the membrane  60  form the pack insert  18 . The thermal packs  58  can be permanently and/or removably disposed within the membrane  60 . The thermal packs  58  can be disposed in the membrane  60  such that the membrane  60  can be partitioned into segments  62 , where each of the segments  62  can include at least one of the thermal packs  58 . By partitioning the membrane  60  into segments  62 , the thermal pack insert  18  can be flexible despite any rigidity of the individual thermal packs  58 , such as, for example, when the thermal packs  58  are frozen. In exemplary embodiments, the thermal packs  58  can have a membrane  64  with a reusable thermal material  66  disposed therein. The thermal material  66  can have thermal properties that facilitate a generally slow temperature rise or fall after being cooled or heated, respectively, until temperature equilibrium is reached with its surrounding environment. 
     As shown in  FIG. 3 , the side surfaces  30  of the base portion  12  can extend between the piping  32  and the second surface  28  in a generally curved or rounded manner. The second surface  28  can form a generally flat surface to form a contact area between the bed  10  and a supporting surface, such as a floor. The first surface  36  of the top portion  14  can form a slightly convex protrusion that can be compressed towards the base portion  12  under the weight of a pet. 
     As shown in  FIG. 4 , a perimeter  68  of the second surface  28  can be smaller than the perimeter  46  of the first surface  26  such that the base portion  12  narrows from the first surface  26  to the second surface  28  to form a generally trapezoidal body. An opening  70  can be formed in the outer shell  20  to permit access to the cavity  22  ( FIG. 1 ). For example, the fill material  24  can be inserted and/or removed from the cavity  22  via the opening  70 . In exemplary embodiments, the opening  70  can be formed in one of the side surfaces  30  of the outer shell  20  proximate to and under the piping  32 . The opening  70  can be closed by a closure device  72 , such as a zipper, hook and loop fastener (e.g., Velcro), buttons, snaps, and the like, and can be covered so that the opening  72  is not visible or is mostly obscured when it is closed. 
       FIG. 5  shows an exemplary perspective view of the pet bed  10  in which the top portion  14  is fastened to the base portion  12  by the fastening device  16 . As shown in  FIG. 5 , the pet bed  10  can have a generally rectangular or trapezoidal elongate body. The compartment (obstructed) can be accessed via the closable opening  52 , which can be opened or closed using the closure device  56 . The pet bed  10  can be dimensioned to accommodate different sized animals. For example, the pet bed  10  can be dimensioned for small, medium, and/or large sized pets. While the pet bed  10  has been illustrated as being generally rectangular or trapezoidal, those skilled in the art will recognize that the pet bed  10  can be any other shape. In exemplary embodiments, the pet bed can be, for example, circular, square, oval, hexagonal, octagonal, kidney shaped, and the like. 
       FIG. 6  shows a perspective view of the pet bed  10  with the top portion  14  partially and completely detached from the base portion  12 . When the top portion  14  completely detached from the base portion  12 , the base portion  12  and/or the top portion  14  can be separately washed in a washing machine, rinsed with water, or otherwise cleaned. Likewise, when the base portion  12  and the top portion  14  are completely detached, the base portion  12  and/or the top portion  14  can be used independently of each other. In the present embodiment, for example, the fastening device  16  is a zipper assembly  74  including a first set of teeth  76  coupled to the connecting material  34  and extending about a perimeter  48  of the top portion  14 , a second set of teeth  78  coupled to and extending about inwardly facing end of the connecting material  34 , and a sliding tab  80  moveably attached to the second set of teeth  78  to interlock the second set of teeth  78  to the first set of teeth  76 . 
     To fasten the top portion  14  to the base portion  12  the sliding tab  80  aligns and interlocks the second set of teeth  78  to the first set of teeth  76  by sliding in a first direction. To detach the top portion  14  from the base portion  12 , the sliding tab  80  is slid in an opposite direction to disengage the first and second sets of teeth  76  and  78 . When the zipper assembly  74  is fully zipped, the top portion  14  is secured to the base portion  12 , and the surfaces  26  and  38  can be inaccessible. 
       FIG. 7  shows the thermal pack insert  18  being inserted into the top portion  14  of the pet bed  10 . To insert the thermal pack insert  18  into the compartment  40 , the closure device  56  is moved to the open position so that the opening  52  permits access to the interior area  50  of the compartment  40 . The thermal pack insert  18  slides through the opening  52  until it is fully retained within the compartment  40 . Once the thermal pack insert  18  is inserted into the compartment  40 , the closure device  56  is moved to the closed position to close the opening  52  and prevent access to the interior area  50  of the compartment  40 . The thermal pack insert  18  can be removed from the compartment  40  by moving the closure device  56  to the open position to open the opening  52  and permit access to the interior area  50  of the compartment  40 . 
       FIG. 8  shows another exemplary pet bed  10  for providing a cooled and/or heated surface upon which a pet can rest. The pet bed  10  can include the base portion  12 , the top portion  14 , the fastening device  16 , and two pack inserts  18 . In exemplary embodiments, the pet bed  10  can have a generally circular configuration and can be dimensioned to accommodate different sized animals. For example, the pet bed  10  can be dimensioned for small, medium, and/or large sized pets. While the pet bed  10  has been illustrated as being circular, those skilled in the art will recognize that the pet bed  10  can be implemented using other shapes, such as rectangular, square, oval, hexagonal, octagonal, kidney shaped, and the like. 
     The top portion  14  can have a generally circular configuration including the first and second surfaces  36  and  38 . The top portion  14  can include at least two compartments  40  disposed therein, each having corresponding interior areas  50  for receiving one of the pack inserts  18 . The compartments  40  can be disposed between the first and second surfaces  36  and  38  of the top portion  14 . The closure devices  56  can be disposed along the openings  52  to facilitate closing and opening of the compartments  40 . In the present embodiment, a Velcro can be used to implement the closure devices  56 . When the top portion  14  is fastened to the base portion  12  the openings  52  on the second surface  38  are not visible and/or can be inaccessible such that the top portion  14  has to be at least partially detached from the base portion  12  to access the compartments  40 . 
     The interior areas  50  can be positioned in the top portion  14  to provide one or more areas for receiving the thermal pack inserts  18  to facilitate cooling and/or heating. As one example, the interior areas  50  can be placed side-by-side such that the interior areas  50  form a substantially single area, which can be centrally positioned in the top portion  14  or can be offset from the center of the top portion  14 . As another example, the interior areas  50  can be spaced apart in the top portion  14  such that the interior areas  50  can form separate areas of cooling and/or heating. 
     In the present embodiment, the fastening device  16  is Velcro including one or more loop elements  176  coupled to and extending about the perimeter  48  of the top portion  14 , one or more hook elements  178  coupled to and extending about the perimeter  46  of the first surface  26 . To fasten the top portion  14  to the base portion  12 , the loop and hook elements  176  and  178 , respectively, are aligned and pressed together. To detach the top portion  14  from the base portion  12 , the top portion  14  can be pulled apart from the base portion  12  with a force that overcomes the binding force of the Velcro. 
       FIG. 9  shows another exemplary pet bed  10  for providing a cooled and/or heated surface upon which a pet can rest. The pet bed  10  can include the base portion  12 , the top portion  14 , the fastening device  16 , and pack insert  18 . In the present embodiment, the interior area  50  can have a generally rectangular configuration having a perimeter  54  that is substantially equal to or slightly smaller than the perimeter  48  associated with the top portion  14  so that the perimeters  54  and  48  generally coincide. In some embodiments, the compartment  40  can be defined by the perimeter  48  of the top portion  14  such that the perimeter  48  and  54  are one and the same. The pack insert  18  can be dimensioned to generally coincide with the perimeter  48  so that the pack insert  18  extends over a substantial portion of the top portion  14  to provide an area of cooling or heating that generally coincides with a surface area of the top portion  14 . 
     Embodiments of the pet bed  10  described herein provide a flexible for providing a comfortable surfaces upon which a pet can rest. For example, the base portion  12  and the top portion  14  can each be used separately and can be used together, where the top portion  14  can retain the thermal pack insert  18 . Using the thermal pack insert  18 , the pet bed  10  can provide a cooled, heated, and/or maintained temperature and/or temperature range to promote a thermal energy transfer between the pet and the pet bed to cool, heat, and/or maintain a temperature of the pet. Additionally, the including a separable base portion  12  and top portion  14  and having the removable thermal pack insert  18  allows the each portion to be cleaned or washed separately. 
     While preferred embodiments have been described herein, it is expressly noted that these embodiments should not be construed as limiting, but rather that additions and modifications to what is expressly described herein also are included within the scope of the invention. Moreover, it is to be understood that the features of the various embodiments described herein are not mutually exclusive and can exist in various combinations and permutations, even if such combinations or permutations are not made express herein, without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention.