Patent Publication Number: US-2007095872-A1

Title: Convertible caddy for pets for a bicycle or satchel transport

Description:
This application claims the priority and benefits of Provisional Patent Application Ser. No. 60/723,797 filed on Oct. 5, 2005 by these inventors. 
    
    
      This invention relates to a pet carrier for use on a bicycle or as a satchel. In particular, the invention relates to a pet caddy for small animals that can be mounted on the handlebars of a bicycle or used as a satchel to carry a pet.  
     THE PRIOR ART  
      When traveling by bicycle it is often desirable to bring one&#39;s pet along. Thus there are pet carriers for bicycles so that small pets, such as small dogs, can travel with the owner when the owner is on a bicycle.  
      U.S. Pat. No. 5,577,646 to White discloses a pet carrier for a bicycle that is attached to a frame that is affixed over the rear wheel of a bicycle. Another such pet carrier is disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 5,832,874 to Ravin U.S. Pat. No. Des. 276,713 to Schacter discloses another similar pet carrier.  
      Various baskets for the front of a bicycle are disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 530,160 to Coulson and U.S. Pat. No. 482,938 to Blood.  
      Pet carriers for automobiles are shown in U.S. Pat. No. 4,010,880 to Guillot-Munoz and U.S. Pat. No. 5,785,003 to Jacobson et al.  
      U.S. Pat. No. 6,425,349 issued to Laskin, et al. teaches a bracket for the front of a bicycle that receives a basket for transporting a small pet on the front of a bicycle so the pet is in full view of the rider and secured by a harness.  
      An object of the invention is to provide a pet carrier that safely and comfortably transports a small pet on the front of a bicycle and/or can be used as a satchel to transport a small pet.  
      Another object of the invention to provide a pet carrier that is simple and quick for consumers to attach to their bicycles.  
      Also an object of the invention to provide a front-mounted pet carrier in which the pet is always in full view of the bicycle rider which is preferable to rear-mounted carriers in which the pet is riding behind the rider, so the condition of the pet cannot be monitored.  
      Other objects and advantages will be apparent from the description and the drawings of this invention.  
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
      According to the invention the pet caddy has a substantially flat bottom, a soft side wall extending from the bottom to an open top, with two integral brackets adjacent to the top arranged to clamp around the bicycle handlebars to support the housing with a removable strut secured to the bottom and extending to neck of the handle bars to support the caddy in a vertical position, plus a strap located on the inside surface of the wall for connecting a short leash to restrain a pet. Handles are connected to the wall so that the caddy can be carried like a satchel and further straps are connected to the wall so that the caddy can be transported as a backpack. Removable padding inserted on the bottom enclosure of the housing creates a more comfortable environment for the pet and can be removed and replaced if soiled. The wall also has a plurality of ventilation ports therein adjacent to the base to allow air to pass into the interior of the caddy.  
      Small dogs, such as the Maltese, Coton de Tulears, West Highland Terrier and Chihuahua, can be transported in the caddy as well as cats.  
      An optional removable canopy connected to the caddy in an arrangement that covers the top opening of the caddy protects a pet inside from the elements when employed. 
    
    
     DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       FIG. 1  is a perspective of the novel pet caddy of this invention;  
       FIG. 2  is a top view of the pet caddy shown in  FIG. 1 ;  
       FIG. 3  is an elevation of the pet caddy shown in  FIG. 1 ;  
       FIG. 4  is an elevation of the removable strut that hold the caddy vertical;  
       FIG. 5  is a perspective of the optional canopy for the caddy to protect a pet from the elements; and  
       FIG. 6  is an elevation of the caddy folded for storage. 
    
    
     DESCRIPTION OF AN EMBODIMENT  
      The novel sport caddy  10  is best shown in  FIGS. 1 and 2 . It includes a bottom panel  11  (see  FIG. 2 ) encircled by a fabric wall  12  that extends to the top rim  13  of the caddy to form a basket like enclosure which is open at the top. Typically the fabric is stiff enough to maintain the described basket configuration when assembled between the bottom and the rim. This rim is reinforced so that it maintains a rectangular opening at the top of the caddy and forms a support structure for attaching a pair of handles  14  and strap rings  15  through which a shoulder strap  16  can be attached. In addition the rim structure includes spaced apart loops  17  which can be opened and closed to attach the rim structure to the handle bars of a bicycle. An alternative attachment  18  shown in  FIGS. 2 and 3  includes a pair of spaced apart sockets  19  mounted on a plate adjacent to the rim that receives u-shaped members  20  that are placed on the handle bars of a bicycle and inserted into the sockets in the caddy to retain the caddy on the handle bars.  
      As can be seen in  FIG. 1  the fabric  12  forming the generally vertical wall has ventilation ports  30  adjacent to its connection to the bottom of the caddy. On the opposite side of the loops  17 , a compartment  31 , a cargo pocket, can be mounted just below the rim and equipped with a zipper  32  so that pet supplies can be carried with the caddy. It is one of serval pockets, see pockets  34  and  35 , in the novel caddy and enables the storage of leashes, cell phones, sun glasses, keys and similar items while biking. Further a reflective horizontal band or strip  33  is secured to the outside of the compartment to provide a visual cue to other vehicles.  
      Additional pockets  34  and  35  can be affixed to the wall  12  at both ends of the caddy and closed with zippers  36 . These additional pockets can also have a horizontal reflecting band thereon like the band on compartment  31 . Further as can be seen in  FIG. 3 a  mesh bottle holder  37  is provided at one end of the caddy  10  which constructed of a stretchable netting so that it can accept various size bottles.  
      In order to keep the caddy  10  in a vertical position, a removable strut  40  shown in  FIG. 4  is attached to the bottom  11  of the caddy and extends to the journal (post for the fork) for the handlebars so that the bottom of the caddy is supported in a manner that will keep the fabric wall the caddy vertical distal end of the strut has an arcuate bearing surface that tracks on the journal when the handle bars are manipulated. The strut is removable and can be placed in one of the pockets when not in use.  
      As can seen in  FIG. 1  there is an elongated strap  41  with a traveling ring  42  thereon located just below the rim  13  with connections on the opposite side to loops  17 . A short leash can be connected between the ring and a collar of the pet in the caddy, insures the pet will not unexpectedly exit the caddy while so secured but allows the pet increased mobility when in the caddy.  
      It can be appreciated, that if the caddy  10  is removed from the handlebars of a bicycle, a pet in the caddy can be transported using the straps  14  without removing the pet. Likewise, the shoulder strap  16 , typically stored in one of the pockets, can be removed and employed to transport the pet without removing the pet from the caddy.  
      If inclement weather is encountered when the caddy  10  is mounted on the handlebars of a bicycle, a canopy  50  shown in  FIG. 5  can be attached to fasteners  51  on the rim  13  with cooperating fasteners  52  on the canopy so the latter can be placed over the caddy and secured to the handlebars of the bicycle with spaced apart connecting loops  53  which can be opened and closed using buckles or Velcro® fastening devices. The canopy also functions as sun shade for pets if desired.