Patent Abstract:
An animal furniture bed having one side open to allow for storing of objects in an area of the bed below the sleeping surface. The bottom of that open side has a lip element that extends the complete length of that side to prevent objects from rolling out of the furniture bed. Lips can also extend upward from each side to create an area in which to place a sleeping pad for an animal. The pad serves as the animal bed.

Full Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS  
       [0001]     This application is a continuation-in-part of U.S. application Ser. No. 11/121,797 filed on May 4, 2005, which is herein incorporated by reference in its entirety. 
     
    
     STATEMENT REGARDING FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH OR DEVELOPMENT  
       [0002]     Not applicable.  
       BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
       [0003]     1. Field of the Invention  
         [0004]     This invention relates to an animal bed and in particular to a multiple function animal bed, which also serves as a storage location for objects, related to the animal, as a bench for humans and as an animal step for getting into a human bed.  
         [0005]     2. Background of the Invention  
         [0006]     There have been many types of animal beds. These beds come in various designs. Some of the designs include beds shaped as different types of animals. Many beds in the form of animal designs are made of a cushion material to facilitate animal comfort.  
         [0007]     One animal bed as disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 5,662,065 describes an animal bed that includes an annular bed frame defining an interior chamber. A perforated top wall is supported at its periphery by the bed frame to receive and support the animal above the chamber. The perforated top wall is composed of a non-woven fabric material to provide a hammock like suspension for the animal and to permit small insects to fall through the top wall. The chamber is dimensioned to provide a space below the top wall sufficient to inhibit the insects from traveling upwardly through the top wall. An insect exterminating composition contained within the chamber receives the falling insects and destroys them.  
         [0008]     U.S. Pat. d 288,970 describes a combined animal bed and housing unit. This design has a bed mat resting on a storage unit. The bed also has a canopy covering the mat. The animal would rest on the mat and would be covered by the canopy.  
       BRIEF SUMMARY OF SOME OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS  
       [0009]     It is an objective of the present invention to provide a multiple purpose animal bed.  
         [0010]     It is a second objective of the present invention to provide an animal bed with a storage area below the location where the animal rests.  
         [0011]     It is a third objective of the present invention to provide a multiple purpose animal bed that can be used as a rest bench for humans.  
         [0012]     It is a fourth objective of the present invention to provide a multiple purpose animal bed that can be used as a step for animals to jump to a higher human bed.  
         [0013]     The present invention comprises a furniture bed having a shape that can be for example a square or rectangular shape design with four sides, a top surface and an optional bottom surface. One of the sides is open to allow for storing objects in the present invention. Doors can be included on the furniture bed as an option. The bottom of that open side has a lip element that extends the complete length of that side to prevent objects from rolling out of the furniture bed. Lips can also extend upward from each side to create an area in which to place a sleeping pad for an animal. The pad serves as the animal bed. The material for the animal bed element can be of any conventional material that is used in animal beds. The remaining walls of the furniture bed may be of any suitable composition and configuration suitable for use in the bed. In some instances, the multiple function animal bed may be positioned adjacent a human bed enabling humans to use the bed as a rest bench or as a step to enable animals to get into the human bed.  
         [0014]     The foregoing has outlined rather broadly the features and technical advantages of the present invention in order that the detailed description of the invention that follows may be better understood. Additional features and advantages of the invention will be described hereinafter that form the subject of the claims of the invention. It should be appreciated by those skilled in the art that the conception and the specific embodiments disclosed may be readily utilized as a basis for modifying or designing other structures for carrying out the same purposes of the present invention. It should also be realized by those skilled in the art that such equivalent constructions do not depart from the spirit and scope of the invention as set forth in the appended claims. 
     
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       [0015]     For a detailed description of the preferred embodiments of the invention, reference will now be made to the accompanying drawings in which:  
         [0016]      FIG. 1  illustrates a front view of the multiple function animal furniture bed;  
         [0017]      FIG. 2  illustrates a top view of the multiple function animal furniture bed;  
         [0018]      FIG. 3  illustrates a top view of the multiple function animal furniture bed adjacent a human bed;  
         [0019]      FIG. 4  illustrates a side view of the multiple function animal furniture bed adjacent a human bed; and  
         [0020]      FIG. 5  illustrates a top view of an alternate embodiment of the present invention. 
     
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS  
       [0021]     Referring to  FIG. 1 , shown is the front view of the multiple function animal furniture bed  10 . The multiple function animal furniture bed  10  may have a generally rectangular shape, alternatively the multiple function animal furniture bed  10  may have any other shape suitable for a desired use. Sides  11  and  12  form the two ends of the multiple function animal furniture bed  10 . Side  13  is the front and open side of the multiple function animal furniture bed  10 . The back side, not shown, is a side similar to sides  11  and  12 . The back side may also have similar dimensions as the front side  13 . In alternative embodiments, the backside has different dimensions than the front side  13 . The multiple function animal furniture bed  10  has a top side  14  as shown in  FIGS. 1 and 2 . The top side  14  supports the mat material  15  on which the animal may lay. This mat material  15  may be of any composition suitable for use with the multiple function animal furniture bed  10 . For instance, the mat material  15  may be a cushion, a padded material, and the like. In some embodiments, the top side  14  may be moveable (e.g., the top side  14  may be lifted up). As shown, the top side  14  may have tapered corners  14 ′. The multiple function animal furniture bed  10  may have an optional bottom side or floor (not illustrated).  
         [0022]     Multiple function animal furniture bed  10  may be composed of any material suitable for the uses of multiple function animal furniture bed  10 . For instance, multiple function animal furniture bed  10  may be composed of wood, mesh, wire, plastic, metal, and the like. In an embodiment, multiple function animal furniture  10  includes sides (e.g., sides  11 ,  12 ,  13 ,  14 , and back side) composed of a plurality of openings. The openings may be of any desired shape and configuration. Such sides composed of a plurality of openings may comprise wire, mesh, netting, weaving, and the like, preferably wire or mesh, and more preferably wire or wire-like material. Moreover, such sides may be composed of any porous material suitable for use as a side in an animal cage (e.g., porous metal or plastic siding). In an embodiment, such sides are composed of a plastic, wood, or metal wire or wire-like material. One or more sides of multiple function animal furniture bed  10  may be composed of such materials. In an embodiment (not illustrated), an outer covering may be disposed on the outside and/or inside surface of one or more sides of multiple function animal furniture bed  10 , preferably an outer covering is disposed on the outside of one or more sides of multiple function animal furniture bed  10 . In some embodiments, an outer covering is disposed on the outside of sides  11 ,  12 . The outer covering may cover any desired portion of a side. The outer covering may comprise any suitable covering for use with animals. For instance, the outer covering may be composed of natural or synthetic woods, veneers, vinyl, wicker, plastic, ceramic, and the like. In alternative embodiments, at least one of the sides comprises a substantially solid material.  
         [0023]     A lip element  16  is positioned at the bottom of the open front side  13 . This lip  16  extends the length of the front side  13 . In alternative embodiments, lip  16  extends a portion of the length of front side  13 . Without being limited by theory, lip  16  may prevent objects from rolling out of the storage area of the multiple function animal furniture bed  10 . For instance, many objects and toys for animals have rounded shapes and have a tendency to roll. This lip  16  may serve as a stop to prevent the objects from rolling out of the storage area (e.g., interior of multiple function animal furniture bed  10 ). In addition, sides  11  and  12  may have lips  17  and  18  that extend upward from these sides beyond the top side of the bed. Similar extensions may also extend from the front side  13  and back side in the same manner as the extensions  17  and  18 . Without being limited by theory, these extensions create an area in which to place the mat material  15 . For instance, some mats have the tendency to slide in response to the weight of an animal. These extensions may serve to help hold the mat in place. In alternative embodiments (not illustrated), multiple function animal furniture bed  10  may comprise no such lips or may comprise only a portion of such lips.  
         [0024]      FIG. 3  shows the multiple function animal furniture bed  10  positioned adjacent a human bed  20 . Positioning the multiple function animal furniture bed  10  at the foot  40  of the human bed  20  may provide a step for an animal/pet to get into human bed  20 . For instance, many people have pets that sleep in the bedroom. In addition, this multiple function animal furniture bed  10  has the strength to serve as a bench for humans to use as well.  
         [0025]      FIG. 4  gives a side view of the multiple function animal furniture bed  10 . Shown is a human bed  20  with a mattress  22 . By the animal climbing onto the top side  14  and mat material  15  of the multiple function animal furniture bed  10 , the animal may have sufficient elevation to move into the human bed  20 .  
         [0026]     The multiple function animal furniture bed  10  may have various dimensions. In addition, the lip extensions (e.g.,  16 ,  17 ,  18 ) may also have various dimensions. For example, the lip extension  16  may not have the same dimensions as lip extensions  17  and  18 . In a preferred embodiment, all lip extensions may be two to three inches in height.  
         [0027]      FIG. 5  is a top view of an alternate embodiment in which only the side  23  adjacent the human bed  20  has a substantially straight design. The other portion of the bed may have a curved or convex shape as shown. The other previously described features would be the same as in the other embodiments (e.g., these features include an opening in the front side  13  and a lip extension  16  at the bottom).  
         [0028]     In addition to the lip extensions  17  and  18  on the top side  14 , other attaching means may be used to secure the mat material  15  to the top of the multiple function animal furniture bed  10 . Without limitation, these means may include straps attached to the multiple function animal furniture bed  10  that may restrain the mat material  15 . Another means is an attaching or adhesive material such as VELCRO, which is commercially available from Velcro Industries B.V. Ltd. Liability Co. This material may be attached to a skirt that may be attached to the mat material  15 .  
         [0029]     Although the present invention and its advantages have been described in detail, it should be understood that various changes, substitutions and alterations may be made herein without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as defined by the appended claims.

Technology Classification (CPC): 0