Abstract:
A pet carrier for transporting an animal includes a floor panel having a substantially rigid bottom, a pair of side panels each having a lower edge and an upper portion, the lower edges of each side panel attached to opposite ends of the floor panel, and an arcuate top panel having a pair of oppositely located lateral edges, a pair of oppositely located ends, and an inner surface, the ends being fixedly attached to the floor panel and the lateral edges being releasably attached to the side panels. At least two arches are detachably engaged to the top panel inner surface and spaced above the floor panel, the arches being formed from a resiliently planar material and bent to conform with the arcuate top panel. An inflexible bar is positioned along an apex of the top panel inner surface for providing longitudinal stability to the carrier.

Description:
CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION 
   The present application claims priority to U.S. Provisional Application Ser. No. 60/347,667 filed on Jan. 10, 2002. 

   BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
   1. Field of Invention 
   The present invention relates to pet carriers and, more specifically, to a compressible pet carrier adapted for comfortable carriage by a pet owner. 
   2. Description of Prior Art 
   Pet owners have traditionally relied on rigid cages to contain pets while traveling. These cages are often bulky and difficult to move and they are not suitable for modern traveling conditions where limited space is available or for an active lifestyle, such as when jogging or rollerblading. Generally, these unwieldy carriers cannot be used if the pet owner is traveling by foot because they are too cumbersome to carry by hand and may have to be wheeled or placed on a trolley. 
   Lighter weight carriers made from flexible materials that are designed to be carried like a purse or shoulder bag have been designed for use by pet owners traveling on foot. These carriers, however, lack proper ventilation, do not allow access for water, are difficult to access, lack safety measures, and are not adaptable for safe and comfortable when traveling in a vehicle, such as an automobile or airplane. These carriers are also prone to becoming unbalanced because of the motion of the pet or the way the carrier must be transported. As these carriers must be held in one hand or worn over a single shoulder and pets can be quite heavy, carriage for any appreciable 
   Lighter weight carriers made from flexible materials that are designed to be carried like a purse or shoulder bag have been designed for use by pet owners traveling on foot. These carriers, however, lack proper ventilation, do not allow access for water, are difficult to access, lack safety measures, and are not adaptable for safety and comfort when traveling in a vehicle, such as an automobile or airplane. These carriers are also prone to becoming unbalanced because of the motion of the pet or the way the carrier must be transported. In addition, the lack of a proper support structure can distort the interior room of the carrier, causing discomfort to the pet. As these carriers must be held in one hand or worn over a single shoulder and pets can be quite heavy, carriage for any appreciable distance often becomes tiring and the owner has to frequently shift the way that the carrier is held. 
   While pet carriers have been designed for use in cars or on airplanes, these carriers are typically very rigid and cannot fit into non-geometric spaces, such as under an airplane seat. As a result, the pet may often have to travel in the luggage compartment where conditions are often unsafe for animals. Those carriers that are designed from flexible materials are without any structural support to prevent collapse onto an enclosed pet and result in reduced interior space for the pet, a severe detriment during long transit periods. 
   3. Objects and Advantages 
   It is a principal object and advantage of the present invention to provide a pet carrier that is convenient to use and can be comfortably worn by a pet owner. 
   It is an additional object and advantage of the present invention to provide a pet carrier that has a flexible structure that can be compressed during use and collapsed for storage. 
   It is a further object and advantage of the present invention to provide a pet carrier that is safe for use when traveling in a vehicle. 
   It is another object and advantage of the present invention to provide a pet carrier that allows a pet to have adequate access to air and water. 
   Other objects and advantages of the present invention will in part be obvious, and in part appear hereinafter. 
   SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
   In accordance with the foregoing objects and advantages, the present invention provides a flexible pet carrier having a support structure, a leveling system and climate control compartment that is convenient to use and can be comfortably worn by a pet owner. The pet carrier comprises a flexible enclosure formed from a series of interconnected panels supported by removable stiffening members. A transverse beam stiffener extends longitudinally along the roof panel and cooperates with a pair of transverse support members removably attached to either end of the enclosure. The support members are preferably semi-rigid plastic pieces that are flat or planar and can be flexed by the application of force. A user inserts the transverse support members by bending them into an arch, inserting into the enclosure, and engaging them into place via a series of fasteners. The support members then flex outwardly to assist in supporting the roof of the enclosure. As the support members are semi-rigid, the roof of the enclosure may be resiliently deformed as needed, such as for placing the carrier under a passenger airline seat. Further flexibility is achieved by disengaging one or more of the fasteners, thereby reducing the height of the enclosure without fully collapsing the unit. Removal of the support members allows a user to collapse the pet carrier to a substantially flat configuration. 
   The pet carrier of the present invention further comprises a detachable shoulder strap system for carrying the pet carrier like a backpack and a leveler for balancing the carrier when worn by the user. The leveler includes a pair of front extension straps having two ends, wherein each front extension strap is attached at one end to a respective end of the shoulder straps. Each of the front extension straps extends over the roof of the enclosure and the other end of the strap is removably attached to the front side of the enclosure. An adjusting mechanism is provided on each front extension strap for adjusting the length of the strap to level the floor of the enclosure when carried by the user. 
   The pet carrier of the present invention also comprises an air conditioning compartment attached to the inside portion of the roof of the enclosure. At least a portion of the air conditioning compartment is located in the interior of the enclosure, and at least one opening, such as a mesh panel, allows air to flow between the compartment and the interior of said enclosure. Preferably, access doors to the compartment are also provided within the roof of the enclosure and on one side of the compartment. The compartment can optionally hold a means for conditioning the air within said enclosure, such as a heating or cooling pad, an odor remover, or an air freshener. 

   
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       FIG. 1  is a front perspective view of a pet carrier according to the present invention. 
       FIG. 2  is a rear perspective view of a pet carrier according to the present invention. 
       FIG. 3  is a plan view of the shoulder strap system of the present invention. 
       FIG. 4  is a perspective view of an accessory item for use with shoulder strap system of the present invention. 
       FIG. 5  is an exploded view of a bottom panel of the pet carrier of the present invention. 
       FIG. 6  is a rear perspective view of the pet carrier of the present invention. 
       FIG. 7  is a side perspective view of a pet carrier and the shoulder strap system according to the present invention. 
   

   DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
   Referring now to the drawings in which like numerals refer to like parts throughout, there is seen in  FIG. 1  a pet carrier  10  according to the present invention generally comprising an enclosure  12  formed from a series of flexible panels preferably formed from a waterproof or water resilient fabric. Panels include a floor panel  14 , two side panels  16  and  18  attached along their lower edges to floor  14 , and an arcuate top panel  20  fixedly attached along either end to floor panel  14  and releaseably attached along its lateral edges to side panels  16  and  18 . Panels may be interconnected via stitching or other means for fixedly attaching fabric panels together and it should be recognized by one of skill in the art that any number of individual panels may be interconnected together in to form the various elements of enclosure  12 . Panels are preferably formed from two- or three-ply material containing a soft padding and have a water-resistant coating. Panels may also contain semi-rigid plastic sheets between the plies in areas that need additional reinforcement. 
   Side panels  16  and  18  are releasably attached to top panel  20  and fixedly attached to floor panel  14 , such as by a double-headed zipper provided that zipper does not allow zipper heads to slide backward when force is applied from inside enclosure  12  by a pet. In order to prevent leaks of pet droppings and meet aviation transportation requirements for cargo shipping (no such requirements are known for travel in the cabin area), the releasable portion of both side panels  16  and  18  should begin at least one inch above seam with floor panel  14 . 
   Side panels  16  and  18  preferably contain netted windows  22  in their upper portion, thereby enabling ventilation and visibility into and out of enclosure  12 . Side panels  16  and  18  preferably contain at least one-half solid material to provide sufficient strength. Additional webbing  24  may be sewn along the middle of windows  22  in side panels  16  and  18  to improve structural integrity. The seams between side panels  16  and  18  and floor panel  14  or top panel  20  may additionally contain piping  26  with plastic wire for reinforcement. 
   As seen in  FIG. 6 , the structural integrity of carrier  10  is maintained by a system of resilient members that engage the material forming the outer surface of carrier  10 . Two arches  28  are removably engaged to the inner surface of top  20  via a row of fasteners  30 , such as snaps. Arches  28  are formed by inserting a resilient planer material, such as a plastic sheet, into enclosure  12 , bending the material into an arcuate shape, and then snapping the material into place. The resiliency of arches  28  insures that top panel  20  is maintained in an arcuate shape, yet allows for carrier  10  to be flexible. Additionally, removal of arches  28  allows carrier  10  to be nearly completely flattened for storage or transport when a pet is not inside enclosure  12 . An inflexible bar  31 , such as an aluminum rod, is positioned along the apex of top panel  20  to provide longitudinal stability to carrier  10 . Less rigid material, such as plastic, may be used instead of aluminum for a smaller carrier. 
   The rigidity of floor panel  14  is accomplished by a rigid bottom  32  having a strip of adhesive  34 , such as VELCRO®, for releasable attachment to a tray  36  ( FIG. 5 ). Tray  36  may have a rim for containing fluids, thus avoiding the need for the one inch margin between the releasable portion of side panels  16  and  18  and floor panel  14 . As seen in  FIG. 5 , tray  36  contains a washable pad  38  releasably attached to tray  36 . Referring back to  FIG. 6 , four studs  40  are interconnected through floor panel  14  to bottom  30  and extend outwardly from carrier  10 . Wheels (not shown) may be attached to floor panel  14  in lieu of studs  40 . 
   The transport of carrier  10  may be accomplished by at least three separate systems, which may be used individually or in concert. As seen in  FIG. 1 , two rows of handle webbing  42  are secured to front and back of carrier  10  along the lower portions of top panel  20 . Handle webbing  42  is sewn or stitched directly to floor panel  14  and the lower portion of top panel  20 , and is further secured by a rivet  44  at the point where it detaches from top  20 . Rows of handle webbing  42  extend outwardly and independently from carrier  10  at rivet  44  and interconnect on either side of carrier  10  to form a pair of opposing handles  46 . A padded hand strap  48  may be secured around handles  46  by releasable means, such as VELCRO®, to keep handles  46  together and improve user comfort. 
   Carrier  10  may also be transported by engaging an adjustable shoulder strap  50  to D-rings  52  positioned on either side of the upper most portion of top panel  20 . Shoulder strap  50  preferably contains a padded cushion  54  and a pair of tangle-free swivel hooks  56  for attachment to D-rings  52 . 
   Referring to  FIG. 3 , carrier  10  may also be transported by a backpack system  58  that is engageable with carrier  10 . As seen in  FIG. 1 , the front side of carrier  10  contains two front buckles  60  positioned beneath webbing  42 . As seen in  FIG. 2 , the rear side of carrier  10  contains a pair of upper strap buckles  62  attached to an intermediate portion of top panel  20  and two waist buckles  64  positioned on the lowermost portion of top panel  20  proximate to side panels  16  and  18  and floor panel  14 . 
   As seen in  FIG. 3 , backpack system  58  comprises two adjustable straps  66  having two sets of buckles  68  and  70  at one end and a single set of buckles  72  at the opposite ends. As seen in  FIG. 7 , the two sets of buckles  68  and  70  are engageable with upper strap buckles  62  on the rear of carrier  10  and front buckles  60  on the front of carrier  10 , respectively. Single set of buckles  72  is engageable with waist buckles  64  on the rear of carrier  10 . Referring back to  FIG. 3 , backpack system  58  additionally includes an adjustable waist strap  74  that is attached to and interconnects the ends of straps  66  having single set of buckles  72 . The six points of connection to carrier  10  provided by backpack system  58  allows carrier  10  to be maintained in a level position when worn by a pet owner by adjusting the length of the various straps accordingly. 
   Carrier  10  also includes various elements for improving the convenience and ease by which pets and pet related paraphernalia are transported. As seen in  FIG. 1 , a water bottle holder  75  may be provided on a portion of side panel  16  below mesh window  22 . Holder  75  preferably contains an elastic opening sized to accommodate and secure conventionally sized drink bottles. An additional elastic strap (not shown) may be positioned above holder  75  to retain a water bottle in place and a small opening (not shown) into enclosure  12  may be provided to allow a pet to access the water bottle in holder  75 . 
   As seen in  FIG. 2 , a mesh pocket  76  with an elastic opening may be provided on the exterior surface of side panel  18 . As seen in  FIG. 6 , flexible curtains  78  may be positioned on the inside surface of enclosure  12 . Curtains  78  can be rolled up and down and held in either position by VELCRO® strips  80 . 
   As seen in  FIG. 1 , carrier  10  may also comprise a large pocket  82  with a releasable cover  84  positioned on the front surface of top panel  20  for the storage of additional materials, such as a can of pet food, a leash, treats, or similar items. An intermediate portion of top panel  20  may further include a mesh window  86  and corresponding flap  88  having a strip of VELCRO® for fastening in an open or closed position. Mesh window  86  is preferably positioned in the upper portion of top panel  20  to allow visibility into and out of enclosure  12 . Mesh window  86  is particularly useful when carrier  10  is placed underneath a seat, such as on an airplane, or when strapping in an adjoining seat, such as in an automobile. Mesh window  86  may be releasably attached to top panel along one or more sides by a double zipper or the like which allows access to enclosure  12  but does not allow a pet to force the zipper open from the inside. Flap  88  should be slightly larger than opening formed by window  86  to prevent the entry of precipitation into enclosure  12 . 
   Backpack system  58  may further include D-rings  90  ( FIG. 3 ) for attaching accessories, such as a cellular phone pouch or waste bag pouch. As seen in  FIG. 4 , an accessory pouch  92  adapted for attachment to system  58  includes a tangle free, 360 degree swivel hook  94  for attachment to D-rings  90 . 
   As seen in  FIG. 1 , a D-ring  96  is permanently attached or sewn to the interior of carrier  10 , preferably onto the inner surface of top panel  20 , and a leash  98  is secured to D-ring  96 . The leash preferably has a tangle free swivel hook at both ends and is adjustable to various lengths to restrain a pet inside enclosure  12  while allowing limited movement when any one of mesh window  88 , side panel  16 , or side panel  18  are open. 
   As seen in  FIGS. 2 and 6 , top panel  20  further comprises a zippered opening  100  that communicates with a pouch  102  positioned on the inside of top panel  20  to allow for the insertion of a heating pad, a cooling pad, an air freshener, or an odor remover (not shown). Pouch  102  can optionally used for storage of personal items. Rear portion of top panel  20  may further contain a storage compartment having a releasable flap and various of pouches or holders designed for holding personal items, such as stationary supplies pens or pencils. Rear portion of top panel  20  may also include a pair of loops  104  ( FIG. 2 ) for attachment to an adjustable bicycle handle, car seat belt, or luggage rack.