Abstract:
An animal kennel includes a top unit and a bottom unit and a divider unit. The divider unit includes two spring-biased support pins that are each accommodated in holes defined in the top unit and in the bottom unit when the kennel is in use. The holes are all spaced apart from each other in the direction of the longitudinal axis of the top and bottom units so the divider unit defines differently sized spaces when it is supported in different holes. The divider unit also includes an open mesh body so the animal has a large open space in which to reside even though the actual space is restricted.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
   The present invention relates to the general art of animal husbandry, and to the particular field of portable housing for animals. 
   Animal kennels have been in use for many years. A conventional animal kennel generally includes a lower portion, an upper portion defining an interior cavity, and a front opening. Animal kennels are created in various sizes and shapes. 
   The main problem with conventional kennels is that they are not adjustable for various sizes of animals. 
   Therefore, there is a need for an animal kennel that can be adjusted in size. 
   A further problem with conventional kennels is that the owner of a young pet must purchase additional larger-sized kennels as the animal increases in size, which can be costly. 
   Therefore, there is a need for an animal kennel that can be adjusted in size as an animal increases in size. 
   Another problem with conventional kennels is that when an animal is relatively small compared to the kennel, it can be difficult to train the animal not to urinate or defecate within the interior of the kennel. 
   Therefore, there is a need for an animal kennel that can be sized according to the size of the animal and which can increase in size without producing a living space that is too large for the animal. 
   While the inventor is aware of several kennels, none of these known kennels satisfy the problems discussed above. In particular, the kennels known to the inventor are not easily adjustable while still allowing the animal to feel that he has free and open space. 
   Therefore, there is a need for an animal kennel that can be sized according to the size of the animal and which can increase in size without producing a living space that is too large for the animal and which can still provide the animal with a feeling of a large and open space if suitable. 
   PRINCIPAL OBJECTS OF THE INVENTION 
   It is a main object of the present invention to provide an animal kennel that can be adjusted in size. 
   It is another object of the present invention to provide an animal kennel that can be adjusted in size as an animal increases in size. 
   It is another object of the present invention to provide an animal kennel that can be sized according to the size of the animal and which can increase in size without producing a living space that is too large for the animal. 
   It is another object of the present invention to provide an animal kennel that can be sized according to the size of the animal and which can increase in size without producing a living space that is too large for the animal and which can still provide the animal with a feeling of a large and open space if suitable. 
   SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
   These, and other, objects are achieved by an animal kennel that includes a top portion having a plurality of support pin-accommodating holes defined therein, a bottom portion having a plurality of support pin-accommodating holes defined therein, with the bottom portion holes all being located to be aligned with corresponding top portion holes when the top portion is in place on the bottom portion. The animal kennel further comprises a divider unit which includes an open mesh body and two spring loaded support pins. The support pins on the divider unit are located to be accommodated in the holes defined in the top portion and in the bottom portion to mount the divider portion on the top and bottom portions when the divider portion is in use. 
   Using the adjustable animal kennel embodying the present invention will permit the animal to be comfortably stored therein while allowing the animal to have a great deal of open space. The kennel can be easily and quickly altered as the animal grows whereby the size of the kennel can be increased as the animal grows. Therefore, only one kennel needs to be purchased and the animal will not have so much room that he will tend to treat one portion of the kennel as a restroom. 

   
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING FIGURES 
       FIG. 1  is a perspective view of a bottom portion of an adjustable animal kennel embodying the present invention. 
       FIG. 2  is a perspective view of a top portion of the adjustable animal kennel embodying the present invention. 
       FIG. 3  is a detail view of a spring-biased support pin used in the adjustable animal kennel embodying the present invention. 
   

   DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT 
   Other objects, features and advantages of the invention will become apparent from a consideration of the following detailed description and the accompanying drawings. 
   Referring to the Figures, it can be understood that the present invention is embodied in an adjustable animal kennel which achieves the above-stated objectives. 
   The kennel comprises a first unit  12  which is a top unit when in use and which includes a first end wall  14  which is a rear end wall when first unit  12  is in use. First end wall  14  includes a first rim  16 , which is a top rim when first unit  12  is in use, and a second rim  18 , which is a bottom rim when first unit  12  is in use. 
   A second end wall  20  is a front end wall when first unit  12  is in use. A first rim  22  is a top rim when first unit  12  is in use, and a second rim  24  is a bottom rim when first unit  12  is in use. 
   A longitudinal axis  26  extends between first end wall  14  and second end wall  20 . 
   A first side wall  30  has a first rim  32 , which is a top rim when first unit  12  is in use, and a second rim  34 , which is a bottom rim when first unit  12  is in use. A plurality of support pin-accommodating holes  36  are defined through first side wall  30  near top rim  32 . Support pin-accommodating holes  36  are spaced apart from each other in the direction of longitudinal axis  26 . First side wall  30  has a first end  38 , which is unitary with first end wall  14 , and a second end  40 , which is unitary with second end wall  20 . 
   A second side wall  50  has a first rim  52 , which is a top rim when first unit  12  is in use, and a second rim  54 , which is a bottom rim when first unit  12  is in use. A plurality of support pin-accommodating holes  56  are defined through second side wall  50  near top rim  52 . Support pin-accommodating holes  56  are spaced apart from each other in the direction of longitudinal axis  26  and are aligned with corresponding support pin-accommodating holes  36  defined in first side wall  30 . Second side wall  50  has a first end  56 , which is unitary with first end wall  14 , and a second end  58 , which is unitary with second end wall  20 . 
   A width dimension  60  extends between first side wall  30  and second side wall  50 . 
   A third wall  64  is a top wall when first unit  12  is in use. Third wall  64  is unitary with the top rims of the end walls  14 ,  20  and the side walls  30 ,  50  of first unit  12 . 
   A second unit  70  is a bottom unit when in use and includes a first end wall  72 , which is a rear end wall when second unit  70  is in use. First end wall  72  includes a first rim  74 , which is a top rim when second unit  70  is in use, and a second rim  76 , which is a bottom rim when second unit  70  is in use. First rim  74  of first end wall  72  of second unit  70  is in abutting contact with second rim  18  of first end wall  14  of first unit  12  and the first end walls  14  and  72  are substantially co-planar with each other when first and second units  12  and  70  are in use. 
   A second end wall  80  is a front end wall when second unit  70  is in use. A first rim  82  is a top rim when second unit  70  is in use, and a second rim  84  is a bottom rim when second unit  70  is in use. First rim  82  is in abutting contact with second rim  24  of second end wall  20  of first unit  12  and second end walls  20  and  80  of first and second units  12  and  70  are substantially co-planar with each other when the first and second units  12 ,  70  are in use. 
   A longitudinal axis  86  extends between first end wall  72  and second end wall  80  of second unit  70 . 
   A first side wall  90  of second unit  70  has a first rim  92 , which is a top rim when second unit  70  is in use, and a second rim  94 , which is a bottom rim when second unit  70  is in use. A plurality of support pin-accommodating holes  96  are defined through first side wall  90  near bottom rim  94 . Support pin-accommodating holes in  96  are spaced apart from each other in the direction of longitudinal axis  86  of second unit  70  and are aligned with corresponding support pin-accommodating holes  56  defined in second side wall  50  of first unit  12  when first unit  12  is in use in conjunction with second unit  70 . First side wall  90  has a first end  98 , which is unitary with first end wall  72  of second unit  70 , and a second end  100 , which is unitary with second end wall  80  of second unit  70 . First rim  92  of first side wall  90  of second unit  70  is in abutting contact with second rim  54  of second side wall  50  of first unit  12  and first side wall  90  of second unit  70  and second side wall  50  of first unit  12  are substantially co-planar with each other when the first and second units  12 ,  70  are in use. 
   A second side wall  110  has a first rim  112 , which is a top rim when second unit  70  is in use, and a second rim  114 , which is a bottom rim when second unit  70  is in use, and a plurality of support pin-accommodating holes  116  defined through second side wall  110  near bottom rim  114  of second side wall  110  of second unit  70 . Support pin-accommodating holes  116  are spaced apart from each other in the direction of longitudinal axis  86  of second unit  70  and are aligned with corresponding support pin-accommodating holes  96  defined in first side wall  90  of second unit  70  and which are also aligned with corresponding support pin-accommodating holes  36  defined in first side wall  30  of first unit  12  when first unit  12  is in use in conjunction with second unit  70 . Second side wall  110  has a first end  120 , which is unitary with first end wall  72 , and a second end  122 , which is unitary with second end wall  80 . 
   A width dimension  126  extends between first side wall  90  and second side wall  110  of second unit  70 . 
   A third wall  130  is a bottom wall when second unit  70  is in use. Third wall  130  is unitary with the bottom rims of the end walls  72 ,  80  and the side walls  90 ,  110  of second unit  70 . 
   A first doorway-defining hole  131  is defined through second end wall  20  of first unit  12  and a second doorway-defining hole  132  is defined through second end wall  80  of second unit  70 . A doorway is defined by the first and second doorway-defining holes  131 ,  132  co-operating with each other when the first and second units  12 ,  70  are in use. First doorway-defining hole  131  includes first support pin-accommodating holes  134  defined in bottom rim  24  of second end wall  20  and second doorway-defining hole  132  includes second support pin-accommodating holes  136  defined in top rim  82  of second end wall  80 . The first and second support pin-accommodating holes  134 ,  136  are aligned with each other when the first and second units  12 ,  70  are in use. 
   A lock unit includes a tongue element  142  mounted on at least one of the side walls of second unit  70  near the top rim of at least one side wall of the second unit  70 . The lock unit further includes a catch element  144  mounted on at least one of the side walls of first unit  12  near the bottom rim of one side wall of first unit  12 . Catch element  144  is adapted to releasably engage tongue element  142  when the first and second units  12 ,  70  are in use. 
   An interior volume is defined by the walls of the first and second units  12 ,  70  when the first and second units  12 ,  70  are in use. 
   A divider unit  150  is located in the interior volume when in use and includes an open mesh body  152  having a multiplity of openings, such as opening  153 , defined therethrough, a first end  154  which is a top end and which is located near top wall  64  of first unit  12  when divider unit  150  is in use, a second end  156  which is a bottom end and which is located near bottom wall  130  of second unit  70  when divider unit  150  and the first and second units are in use, a first side  160  which is located adjacent to the first and second side walls  90 ,  50  of the first and second units  12 ,  70  when the divider unit  150  and the first and second units  12 ,  70  are in use, and a second side  162  which is located adjacent to the second and first side walls  110 ,  30  of the first and second units  12 ,  70  when the divider unit  150  and the first and second units  12 ,  70  are in use. The openings  153  through open mesh body  152  permit an animal to get the feeling of a large living space inside the kennel when, in fact, part of the living space is blocked off by divider unit  150 . 
   A first spring-biased lock pin unit  170  is mounted on first end  154  of divider unit  150  and includes a first side lock pin  172  located adjacent to first side  160  of divider unit  150  and which is located to be accommodated in one of the plurality of lock pin-accommodating holes  56  defined in second side wall  50  of first unit  12  when divider unit  150  is in use. First side lock pin  172  includes a finger-grip element  173  thereon. A second side lock pin  174  is located adjacent to second side  162  of divider unit  150  and which is located to be accommodated in one of the plurality of lock pin-accommodating holes  36  defined in the first side wall  30  of the first unit  12  when the divider unit  150  is in use. Second side lock pin  174  includes a finger grip element  176  thereon. A spring  180  biases the first and second side lock pins  172 ,  174  of first lock pin unit  170  away from each other. 
   A second spring-biased lock pin unit  181  is mounted on second end  156  of divider unit  150  and is identical to the first spring-biased lock pin unit  170 . Second spring-biased lock pin unit  181  includes a first side lock pin  182  located adjacent to first side  160  of divider unit  150  and which is located to be accommodated in one of the plurality of lock pin-accommodating holes  96  defined in first side wall  90  of second unit  70  when divider unit  150  is in use, a second side lock pin  184  is located adjacent to second side  162  of divider unit  150  and is located to be accommodated in one of the plurality of lock pin-accommodating holes  116  defined in second side wall  110  of second unit  70  when divider unit  150  is in use. A spring  186  biases the first and second side lock pins  182 ,  184  of second spring-biased lock pin unit  181  away from each other. Fingergrips are also located on the lock pins  182 ,  184  of the second lock pin unit  181  as described above with regard to the first lock pin unit  170 . 
   A door-covering unit  200  includes a body  202  which covers the doorway  131 ,  132  when door covering unit  200  and the first and second units  12 ,  70  are in use. Body  202  includes a plurality of openings  204  defined therethrough, a first rim  206  which is a top rim and which is located adjacent to bottom rim  24  of second end wall  20  of first unit  12  when door covering unit  200  and the first and second units  12 ,  70  are in use. A second rim  208  is a bottom rim and is located adjacent to top rim  82  of second end wall  80  of second unit  70  when door covering unit  200  and the first and second units  12 ,  70  are in use. 
   A spring-biased lock pin unit  210  is mounted on body  202  of door covering unit  200  and includes a first support pin  212  located adjacent to top rim  206  of body  202  and which is adapted to be accommodated in one of the first support pin-accommodating holes  134  defined in the bottom rim  24  of the second end wall  20  of first unit  12  when door covering unit  150  and the first and second units  12 ,  70  are in use. The first support pin  212  includes a finger grip element  214  thereon that is substantially similar to finger grip elements  173 ,  176  hereinbefore described. 
   A second support pin  220  is located adjacent to bottom rim  208  of body  202  of door covering unit  200  and is adapted to be accommodated in one of the second support pin-accommodating holes  136  defined in the top rim  82  of the second end wall  80  of second unit  70  when the door covering unit  200  and the first and second units  12 ,  70  are in use. Second support pin  220  includes a finger grip element  222  thereon that is substantially similar to finger grip elements  173 ,  176  hereinbefore described. A spring  224  biases first and second support pins  212  and  220  away from each other. Preferably, the kennel also includes a similar spring-biased lock pin unit mounted on the opposing side of body  202  of door covering unit  200 , as shown in  FIG. 2 . 
   Use of the adjustable kennel can be understood from the teaching of the foregoing disclosure and thus will not be fully discussed in detail. An animal owner can purchase the kennel when the animal is a baby and the divider unit  150  is placed close to the doorway  131 ,  132 . As the animal grows, the divider unit  150  can be moved toward the rear end walls  14 ,  72  to provide more room for the animal. The doorway  131 ,  132  is covered by door covering unit  200  to close the kennel after the first and second units  12  and  70  are assembled to close the kennel as indicated by arrow C in  FIG. 1 . The door covering unit  200  can be removed so the animal has easy access to the interior of the kennel. The open nature of the divider unit  150  permits the animal to feel like it has a great deal of room, but access to some of the room inside the kennel is restricted as long as the divider unit  150  is in place. As will be understood by those skilled in the art based on the teaching of the present disclosure, the adjustable kennel of the present invention can be used for more than one animal by simply moving the divider unit  150  as needed. 
   It is to be understood that while certain forms of the present invention have been illustrated and described herein, it is not to be limited to the specific forms or arrangements of parts as described and shown.