Abstract:
An apparatus for bathing animals is disclosed in which a tub having two rotatably connected water distribution frames is provided. The water distribution frames are telescoping to allow for different size animals, and also to act to hold the animal in position within the apparatus. The tub has a water inlet and shampoo reservoir connected to the water distribution frames by a mixing valve. The upper portion of the apparatus includes a flexible enclosure which has four side panels, each of which has an inlet to allow a user to insert arms or bathing materials into the apparatus, and a top panel which includes a dryer system for drying the animal after bathing.

Description:
CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS  
       [0001]     Reference is hereby made to provisional application No. 60/475,599, filed Jun. 4, 2003, from which priority is hereby claimed pursuant to 35 U.S.C. § 120. 
     
    
     STATEMENT REGARDING FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH  
       [0002]     Not Applicable.  
       REFERENCE TO “MICROFICHE APPENDIX” 
       [0003]     Not Applicable.  
       BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
       [0004]     The present Invention is directed towards a portable pet washing device which allows the user to bathe and dry a pet while preventing shampoo and water used in the bathing process from being splashed by movement or resistance from the pet being bathed.  
         [0005]     It is well known that a variety of problems are typically encountered while bathing and grooming pets. Many pets resist being bathed and must be restrained during the bathing process. Furthermore, when wet, many pets will instinctively attempt to shake water from their fur, which can throw the water a substantial distance. Traditional bathing methods generally involve washing in open tubs; due to these natural tendencies of pets, traditional methods generally result in the wetting of a large area surrounding the bathing area as well as the wetting of the person washing the pet. Also, the requirements of restraining the pet generally make it difficult for the person washing the pet to properly direct bathing water and to access implements needed for bathing, such as brushes and shampoo.  
         [0006]     It is among the objects of this invention to provide a portable apparatus for bathing a pet which is lightweight, folds into a minimum volume for storage, is easy, reliable, and efficient to use, and permits a complete washing and drying of the pet without wetting or splashing the surrounding area or the user. It is furthermore among the objects of the invention to provide an apparatus which allows for the automatic mixing of shampoo with water and uniform distribution of the mixture over the pet to allow the user to concentrate efforts on bathing the pet and to make the bathing process more efficient  
         [0007]     Prior attempts to solve some of these problems have resulted in a variety of devices. Prior efforts include such devices as Weinstein et al., U.S. Pat. No. 3,749,064, and Miller, U.S. Pat. No. 3,263,653, each of which is essentially a bag with an attached hose; Baker, U.S. Pat. No. 4,083,328, which includes a tub with a tent-like flexible upper bag; Kleman, U.S. Pat. No. 4,407,234, which includes a completely rigid housing within which the pet is placed; as well as more elaborate devices such as Yoshikawa, U.S. Pat. No. 4,730,576 and Cucchi et al., U.S. Pat. No. 5,845,604. While some of these prior efforts are collapsible for ease of storage, none of the prior solutions which are collapsible include built-in mechanisms for mixing shampoo with water in a system which then evenly distributes the mixture over the pet for more efficient washing, and none of the prior collapsible solutions incorporates a dryer unit. The present invention therefore represents an improvement upon the prior art in providing features which are typically associated with bulky, expensive, non-collapsible pet baths in collapsible frame.  
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
       [0008]     The present Invention provides a collapsible pet bath with efficient systems for mixing shampoo and other fur treatment chemicals with water and distributing the mixture over the subject pet as well as a system for drying the pet without removal from the apparatus. A basin is provided which consists essentially of a shallow rectangular tub which includes a plurality of holes in its bottom surface to allow for drainage of water from the tub. Furthermore, in one end wall of the tub, a water inlet is provided to which a standard water hose may be attached. Mounted to the inside of the walls of the tub, the distribution system for water and shampoo consists of a shampoo reservoir which is connected to the water inlet by means of a mixing valve, which allows the shampoo input to be regulated or terminated; the mixing valve is then connected to tubing which runs parallel to the inlet end wall. This tubing is rotatably connected at either end to a water distribution frame; the water distribution frames are mounted parallel to and connected rotatably to the side walls. The rotatable connection allows the water distribution frames to be rotated into a position within the tub (approximately parallel to the bottom of the tub) for storage, or into a fully extended position (approximately perpendicular to the bottom of the tub) to allow a pet to be placed within the invention. Each frame includes three parallel distribution tubes. The distance between the distribution tubes may be varied by means of compression fittings at either end of the distribution frames, which allow the end tubes of the distribution frames (which connect the three parallel water distribution tubes) to telescope. At one end of the distribution frames, the upper connecting end tubes include a curved portion which clamp around the neck of the pet to be bathed when the distribution frames are rotated down around the subject pet, thus providing the user with control over the animal.  
         [0009]     Furthermore, along each upper edge of the side and end walls of the tub, a clear, flexible enclosure is connected. This flexible enclosure includes four side panels, each with an inlet port approximately centered in its corresponding panel. The flexible enclosure is connected to the upper edges of the walls of the tub by means of snaps or some other secure fastening means. The flexible enclosure is large enough for the tub to fit inside it, and the enclosure also includes a zipper along its bottom edge to allow it to be sealed with the tub inside it for storage. Thus, the device meets its goals of providing the user with an easy-to-use, collapsible system for bathing and drying a pet which includes a distribution system that holds the pet in place and distributes water and/or shampoo evenly around the pet. These and other features, aspects, and advantages of the present invention will become better understood with reference to the drawings and the following description.  
     
    
     DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       [0010]      FIG. 1  is an oblique view of the invention without the flexible enclosure, showing the water distribution frames in their operative position.  
         [0011]      FIG. 2  is an oblique view of the invention with the flexible enclosure, showing the water distribution frames in their operative position, and noting the blower units in each side of the flexible enclosure.  
         [0012]      FIG. 3  is a top view of the flexible enclosure, showing both means for attaching the enclosure to the tub (snaps) and means for sealing the flexible enclosure around the tub for storage (zipper).  
         [0013]      FIG. 4  includes an oblique view of the invention without the flexible enclosure, showing one of the water distribution frames rotated into its storage position.  
         [0014]      FIG. 5  shows the invention without the flexible enclosure, with both water distribution frames rotated into their storage positions.  
         [0015]      FIG. 6  shows additional detail of each of the side panels, particularly the securing tab.  
         [0016]      FIG. 7  shows additional detail of the top panel and dryer system. 
     
    
     CATALOG OF ELEMENTS  
       [0000]    
       
         
           
               10  Tub  
               12  Tub drainage holes  
               14  Tub side walls  
               16  Tub forward end wall  
               18  Tub rear end wall  
               20  Water inlet connector  
               30  Shampoo reservoir  
               32  Mixing valve  
               34  Mixing valve t-joint  
               36  Connection point  
               38  Water dispensation device  
               100  Left water distribution tube  
               102  Left water distribution tube to water distribution frame connector  
               104  Left water distribution frame  
               110  Left water distribution frame hinges  
               120  Left lower water distribution tube  
               122  Left middle water distribution tube  
               124  Left upper water distribution tube  
               130  Left lower to middle water distribution frame end tubes  
               132  Left middle to upper water distribution frame rear end tube  
               134  Left middle to upper water distribution frame forward end tube  
               140  Left animal restraint water distribution frame tube  
               150  Left water distribution frame compression fittings  
               200  Right water distribution tube  
               202  Right water distribution tube to water distribution frame connector  
               204  Right water distribution frame  
               210  Right water distribution frame hinges  
               220  Right lower water distribution tube  
               222  Right middle water distribution tube  
               224  Right upper water distribution tube  
               230  Right lower to middle water distribution frame end tubes  
               232  Right middle to upper water distribution frame rear end tube  
               234  Right middle to upper water distrubution frame forward end tube  
               240  Right animal restraint water distribution frame tube  
               250  Right water distribution frame compression fittings  
               300  Flexible enclosure  
               310  Flexible enclosure forward side panel  
               312  Flexible enclosure forward side inlet  
               320  Flexible enclosure rear side  
               322  Flexible enclosure rear side inlet  
               330  Flexible enclosure left side  
               332  Flexible enclosure left side inlet  
               340  Flexible enclosure right side  
               342  Flexible enclosure right side inlet  
               350  Flexible enclosure snaps  
               360  Flexible enclosure edge zipper  
               370  Securing tab  
               400  Top panel  
               410  Dryer system  
               420  Blow dryer  
               430  Air distribution tube  
               440  Dryer slides  
           
         
       
     
       DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT  
       [0069]     Referring to the drawings it may be seen in  FIG. 1  that a tub  10  having left and right side walls  14 , a forward end wall  16 , and a rear end wall  18  is provided. It may further be seen that the tub includes tub drainage holes  12  in its bottom surface. Underneath the upper edge of the forward end wall  16 , a water inlet connector  20  is mounted. Inside the forward wall of the tub, a mixing valve  32  connects the water inlet connector  20  and a shampoo reservoir  30  to the mixing valve t-joint  34 . The mixing valve t-joint  34  is then connected to each of the left and right water distribution tubes  100  and  200 , each of which extends from the midpoint of and substantially parallel to the forward end wall  16  to the corresponding side wall  14 . Each water distribution tube  100  and  200  is rotatably connected to the lower forward corner of the corresponding left water distribution frame  104  or right water distribution frame  204 . As an alternative embodiment, a connection point  36  may be provided at or approximately between the mixing valve t-joint  34  and left and right water distribution tubes  100  and  200  such that an additional water dispensation device  38 , such as a shower head (with or without an integral cutoff valve), may be releasably affixed to the apparatus to provide water flow in addition to that provided by the water distribution frames  104  and  204 .  
         [0070]     Each water distribution frame  104  and  204  is rotatably connected to the corresponding side wall  14  by means of a pair of hinges  110  and  210  approximately located at the forward and rear ends of the corresponding lower water distribution tube  120  and  220 . The left and right water distribution frames  104  and  204  are essentially identical to each other in operation and construction, although they are nonsuperimposable mirror images of each other due to the left and right animal restraint water distribution tubes  140  and  240 . For this reason, it will be recognized that the following description of the left water distribution frame  104  applies similarly to the right water distribution frame  204 .  
         [0071]     Examining the left water distribution frame  104  in  FIG. 1 , one can see left lower, left middle, and left upper water distribution tubes  120 ,  122 , and  124 , which extend approximately parallel to the left side wall  14  and to each other. The forward and rear ends of the left lower water distribution tube  120  and left middle water distribution tube  122  are connected by the left lower to middle water distribution frame end tubes  130 , which are identical. Similarly, the rear ends of the left middle water distribution tube  122  and left upper water distribution tube  124  are connected by the rear left middle to upper water distribution frame rear end tube  132 . The forward ends of the left middle water distribution tube  122  and left upper water distribution tube  124  are connected by a combination of the left middle to upper water distribution frame forward tube  134  and left animal restraint tube  140 . The outer diameter of the left middle to upper water distribution frame tubes  132  and  134  is approximately the same as the inner diameter of the left lower to middle water distribution frame tubes  130 , such that each of the former tubes will slide into the corresponding latter tube. By this arrangement, the left water distribution frame  104  can be made to telescope to accommodate different sized animals. The left water distribution frame compression fittings  150  are provided to prevent leaks from the joint between the left middle to upper water distribution frame tubes  132  and  134  and the left lower to middle water distribution frame tubes  130 , and the compression fittings  150  may be used to lock the joint at a given point. Combined with the drawings, those skilled in the art will readily understand the method of constructing the water distribution frames  104  and  204 . Furthermore, while any tubular material may be used for these distribution frames, it will be understood that for purposes of weight, cost, durability, and ease of manufacture, the preferred material is polyvinyl chloride (PVC) tubing, which is a readily available material whose properties are well understood.  
         [0072]      FIG. 2  shows the invention with the addition of the flexible enclosure  300 . The flexible enclosure  300  has four side panels, the flexible enclosure left side  330 , the flexible enclosure right side  340 , the flexible enclosure forward side  310 , and the flexible enclosure rear side  320 . Each side panel of the flexible enclosure  300  has a plurality of snaps  350  around its perimeter, as well as a zipper  360  along each edge, as shown in  FIG. 3 . These snaps are used to connect the lower edge of each side panel  310 ,  320 ,  330 , or  340  to the tub  10  as well as to each other. Additionally, the zippers  360  may be used to connect the edges of the side panels  310 ,  320 ,  330 , and  340  together to form the overall flexible enclosure  300 . Furthermore, referring to  FIG. 6 , each side panel may further include a tab  370  with fastening means, such as a snap, at one upper corner for securing the runner of the zipper  360  in its closed position. In the center of each side panel  310 ,  320 ,  330 , or  340 , a corresponding inlet  312 ,  322 ,  332 , or  342  allows passage of air, the user&#39;s hands, or any other material to pass through the enclosure in a fashion that prevents water from easily exiting the invention. Each inlet consists essentially of an aperture in the corresponding panel with a sleeve extending from the aperture. Each panel and inlet combination can be and are preferably formed as a single, integral unit.  
         [0073]     Referring to  FIG. 7 , a flexible enclosure top panel  400  may be added to the flexible enclosure  300  by attaching its edges to the top edges of the flexible enclosure side panels  310 ,  320 ,  330 , and  340 . The flexible enclosure top panel  400  may furthermore include a dryer system  410 , including a blow dryer  420  (essentially an electric motor which turns a high-efficiency fan for moving large volumes of air, and which may include a heater) which is detachably connected to an air distribution tunnel  430 . The air distribution tunnel  430  is suspended from a pair of dryer slides  440 , each of which are mounted substantially parallel to each other on the lower surface of the flexible enclosure top panel  400 . By this arrangement, a standard, commercially available blow dryer may be used to dry the hair of a pet after bathing. This arrangement keeps the animal in the controlled setting of the invention and prevents the animal from shaking or otherwise spreading water from the bathing operation.  
         [0074]     The method of operation of the invention will be readily understood from the drawings and the foregoing description. Initially, the side panels  310 ,  320 ,  330 , and  340  of the flexible enclosure are attached to the tub  10  and to each other. The tabs  370  may secure the zippers  360  from opening during use of the invention. Shampoo or other fur treatment chemical is place din the shampoo reservoir  30  if desired, and the mixing valve  32  is turned to the open position. A water hose is attached to the water inlet. The left and right water distribution frames  104  and  204  are each rotated up; the animal is placed in the center of the tub, with its head at the forward end, and the left and right water distribution frames are each rotated into place such that the left and right animal restraint water distribution frame tubes  140  and  240  are around the animal&#39;s neck. If necessary, the height of the left and right animal restraint water distribution frame tubes  140  and  240  may be adjusted by means of the telescoping action of the various water distribution frame end tubes, as described above. At this time, with the flexible enclosure side panels  310 ,  320 ,  330 , and  340  sealed at each edge, including the top, the unit is ready for operation. Water is turned on, which mixes with shampoo at the mixing valve  32  (if desired), and is distributed around the animal through holes in the upper, middle, and lower water distribution tubes  120 ,  122 ,  124 ,  220 ,  222 , and  224 . When the animal is sufficiently wet and shampooed, the water is turned off to allow for lathering and the mixing valve  32  is turned to the off position so that pure water may be used to rinse the shampoo from the animal&#39;s fur. The flexible nature of the flexible enclosure  300 , along with the presence of the inlets  312 ,  322 ,  332 , and  342 , allows for these actions without the need to open any of the seals. Excess water and fouled water drains through the tub drain holes  12 . After lathering, the water is turned on, rinsing off the shampoo. After rinsing is complete, the top seal of the flexible enclosure  300  may be opened to allow for the flexible enclosure top panel  400  to be added to the flexible enclosure  300 . The dryer system  410  may then be used to dry the pet, with the user moving the dryer system  410  back and forth approximately parallel to the orientation of the animal so that all parts of the animal are subjected to drying air. After drying, the flexible enclosure  300  is removed from the tub  10 , and the left and right water distribution frames  104  and  204  are rotated down into a position substantially parallel to the bottom of the tub  10 . The flexible enclosure  300  may then be placed around the tub and sealed for storage.  
         [0075]     While the various parts of the invention may be formed from any suitably strong material, it is understood that the preferred material for the tub  10  and the flexible enclosure  300  is plastic. Those familiar with the art will understand the components of the invention, their methods of manufacture, and the methods of connecting them to form the complete invention. While the preferred embodiment has been described, it will furthermore be understood that various changes can be made therein without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention.