Patent Publication Number: US-2006005783-A1

Title: Cat condo

Description:
CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS  
      This application is closely related to and claims benefit from U.S. Provisional Application Ser. No. 60/585,910 filed Jul. 6, 2004. 
    
    
     FIELD OF THE INVENTION  
      The present invention relates in general to an animal enclosure, and more specifically the present invention relates to a portable animal enclosure used to contain a small pet outdoors.  
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
      There are many times that pet owners would like to take their pet outdoors but can&#39;t do so because of various types of weather conditions. Also, many pet owners are afraid to leave their pet outdoors unattended for fear that the animal may run away or that the pet will attract other animals and possibly be harmed by them. Thus, it would be advantageous for a pet owner to have a shelter in which the pet may be placed which would not require supervision by the owner and yet the pet would be secure and still be able to enjoy being outdoors.  
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
      The present invention provides a pet enclosure. The pet enclosure comprises a framework, such framework has a predetermined configuration. There is a door framework disposed on at least one side of the framework for providing an access opening to an interior portion of the framework and a door disposed within and hingedly connected to the door framework for closing the access opening in the door frame. There is a locking means which has at least a portion thereof connected to each of a predetermined portion of the door framework and the door for securing the door in a closed position. A net like material is engageable with and covers such framework for forming the pet enclosure and a means is engageable with each of the framework and the net like material for securing the net like material to the framework.  
     OBJECTS OF THE INVENTION  
      It is, therefore, one of the primary objects of the present invention is to provide a enclosure to contain a pet outdoors.  
      Another object of the present invention is to provide an enclosure for containing a pet outdoors which is portable.  
      Still another object of the present invention is to provide an enclosure for containing a pet outdoors which will protect the pet from the sun.  
      Yet another object of the present invention is to provide an enclosure for containing a pet outdoors which will protect the pet from other animals.  
      Another object of the present invention is to provide a enclosure for containing a pet outdoors which will allow full air circulation.  
      Yet another object of the present invention is to provide a carpeted shelf in the enclosure for permitting pets to perch above the ground.  
      These and various other objects and advantages of this invention will become apparent after a full reading of the following detailed description, particularly, when read in conjunction with the attached drawings as described below and the appended claims. 
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       FIG. 1  is a perspective view of the pet enclosure according top an embodiment of the invention showing the underlying framework.  
       FIG. 2  is top view of the pet enclosure shown in  FIG. 1  showing the shelf arrangement and the supporting members for the shelf.  
       FIG. 3  is a front view of the door member showing the attachment to the framework.  
       FIG. 4  is a perspective view from the front of a fully assembled pet enclosure showing the enclosure with the door closed according to an embodiment of the invention.  
       FIG. 5  is a perspective view of the completely assembled pet enclosure shown in  FIG. 4  showing a cat occupying the lower level of the pet enclosure.  
       FIG. 6  is a perspective view of the completely assembled pet enclosure shown in  FIG. 4  showing a cat occupying the upper level of the pet enclosure.  
       FIG. 7  is a perspective view of the side of the pet enclosure shown in  FIG. 4 .  
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE PRESENTLY PREFERRED AND ALTERNATE EMBODIMENTS OF THE INVENTION  
      Prior to proceeding with the more detailed description of the present invention it should be noted that, for the sake of clarity, identical components which have identical functions have been designated by identical reference numerals throughout the several views illustrated in the drawings.  
      Reference is now made to  FIGS. 1-7 , illustrated therein is a pet enclosure, generally designated  10 . Such pet enclosure  10  comprises a framework, generally designated  20 , which has a predetermined configuration.  
      In a presently preferred embodiment on the invention such configuration is generally rectangular and particularly being in the shape of a square or more specifically having a cubic shape. This is quite evident in  FIG. 1 . Although it is presently preferred that such framework  20  have a square or cubic configuration and most of the discussion will be related to that configuration it is within the scope of the invention that such shape could also be a different rectangular shape, a triangular or even a circular shape, substantially in the shape of an igloo.  
      The framework  20  has a first predetermined plurality of substantially horizontally disposed elongated rod like base members  2  that are engageable with one another to form a predetermined geometric shape. As mentioned previously it is preferred that such geometric shape be in the form of a square and thus the predetermined plurality of base members would be four.  
      There is further a predetermined plurality of substantially vertically disposed elongated rod-like members  4 , a first end of each of the vertically disposed elongated rod-like members  4  are engageable substantially adjacent a respective end of the horizontally disposed elongated rod-like base members  2 . Again since the preferred shape of the pet enclosure is cubic there would also be four such substantially vertically disposed elongated rod-like members  4  in the preferred embodiment.  
      Such framework  20  also includes a second predetermined plurality of substantially horizontally disposed elongated rod like members  6  that are engageable with an axially opposed second end of the vertical elongated rod-like members  4 . The second plurality of horizontally disposed elongated rod like members  6  are disposed in a plane that is substantially parallel to a plane that contains the first plurality of horizontally disposed elongated rod like base members  2 .  
      Such framework  10  may also include various other horizontally disposed members  42  engageable with the vertical members to provide additional strength to the framework  20 .  
      The framework  10  also has at least one elongated roof member  8  that has a predetermined configuration. Such elongated roof member  8  is engageable with the second plurality of horizontally disposed elongated rod like members  6 . It is presently preferred that such roof member  8  be substantially in the shape of an inverted V.  
      The framework  20  also includes a door framework  12  that is disposed on at least one side of the pet enclosure  10 . Such door framework  12  is disposed at a predetermined height. Such door framework  12  is formed so as to include a portion of one of the vertically disposed elongated rod members  4  and a portion of one of the substantially horizontally disposed elongated rod like members  6 . The predetermined height is such that a bottom portion of such door frame  12  disposed on the framework  20  is approximately 20 inches. Thus, the door frame  12  or the bottom of the door opening is about 20 inches above the ground level. This is an easy jump for a cat.  
      There is a door member  14  that is disposed in the door framework  12 . Such door member  14  is constructed of similar elongated rod members as is the rest of the framework  20 . There is a means  38  that is disposed adjacent a first predetermined edge  16  of the door member  14  for securing the door  14  to the door framework  12 . It is preferred that means  38  be strap hinges.  
      The door member  14  also includes a locking means  18  that has a portion thereof connected to each of the door frame  12  and the door  14  for securing the door member  14  in a closed position. This prevents the pet from accidentally pushing the door open and leaving the enclosure. It is presently preferred that such locking means  18  includes a spring loaded gate hook and an eye bolt to secure the door in a closed position.  
      The framework  20  of pet enclosure  10  includes an engagement means, generally designated  40 , for connecting various members of the framework  20  to other members of the framework  20 . It is presently preferred that such engagement means  40  includes tees and elbows. It is also preferred that such engagement means  40  also include at least one of threads, pins and adhesive to permanently or semi permanently secure such tees and elbows to such parts of the framework  20 . In the presently preferred embodiment of the invention an adhesive is used to secure the parts of the framework  20  to the tees and elbows  40 .  
      There is a net like fabric material  24  which is used for covering the framework  20 . Such net like fabric material  24  provides some shade, privacy and wind protection for the pet in the enclosure and basically forms the enclosure  10 . The net like fabric  24  allows for free air circulation while protecting the pet from other animals and some weather conditions although not providing complete protection from rain,  
      Such net like material is selected from a group including nylon, polyethylene, polypropylene and metallic screen. It is presently preferred that such fabric is polypropylene. The present invention includes a means generally designated  30 , for securing such net like fabric material  24  to the framework  20 . It is presently preferred that such means  30  is nylon cable ties. The net like fabric  24  is wrapped around the framework  20  and is tied to the framework with these nylon cable ties  30 . The net like fabric  24  covers the entire framework including the door.  
      In an alternate embodiment of the invention such pet enclosure  10  also includes a pair of crosspieces  32  that are engageable with a pair of radially opposed vertically disposed elongated rod-like members  4 . The pair of crosspieces  32  are disposed at substantially a midpoint on the substantially vertically disposed elongated rod-like members  4 . The crosspieces  32  are added to support a shelf member  34  which is mounted on the crosspieces  32 . The shelf member  34  is added to permit such pets using said pet enclosure  10  to perch above the ground. With cats this is an important feature. It is also preferred that such shelf member  34  include carpeting, as is seen in FIGS.  4  And  5 , to cover the shelf. It is presently preferred that such carpeting be a carpet designed for outdoor use.  
      The invention also provides an optional ramp which can be used to access the shelf member  34 . This would be important for an aging pet or a pet which is not very agile to have access to the shelf.  
      In a preferred embodiment of the invention such framework  20  is formed from a similar material. Such material is selected from a group of materials including polyvinyl chloride, acrlylonitrile butadiene styrene polymer(ABS), polypropylene, chlorinated polyvinyl chloride (CPVC) and polyethylene. It is presently preferred that such material is polyvinyl chloride. It is also presently preferred that such framework  20  be constructed of tubular sections of such polyvinyl chloride.  
      Such pet enclosure  10  also includes a means, generally designated  50 , for securing the pet enclosure to one of the ground, patio and porch to ensure said pet enclosure remains securely in place. Such securing means  50  includes stakes, for securing the enclosure  10  to the ground and brackets, ropes or wire for securing such enclosure  10  to a porch or patio.  
      The pet enclosure  10  can accommodate at least several pets. The shelf member  34  is large enough for two cats.  
      While both the presently preferred and a number of alternative embodiments of the present invention have been described in detail above it should be understood that various other adaptations and modifications of the present invention can be envisioned by those persons who are skilled in the relevant art without departing from either the spirit of the invention or the scope of the appended claims.