Patent ID: 7380521

Claim:
A collapsible pet crate comprising: a) an internal framework having: a first hub having a first central axis; a second hub having a second central axis; a first set of at least three masts each having a respective first mast end pivotally attached to the first hub and a second mast end, wherein each mast in the first set of masts pivots in a separate mast plane parallel to the first central axis; a number of beams corresponding to the number of masts in the first set of masts, wherein a first beam end of each beam is pivotally connected to the second mast end of a mast from the first set of masts and the beams are substantially parallel to the first central axis; a second set of at least three masts each having a respective first mast end pivotally attached to the second hub and a second mast end attached to a respective beam, wherein each mast in the second set of masts pivots in a separate mast plane parallel to the second central axis and the number of masts that are in the first set of masts; and b) an external shell that covers a substantial portion of the internal framework wherein the crate has at least two positions, a first position in which the crate is deployed and the first set of masts are in a common plane substantially orthogonal to the first central axis and to the beams and the second set of masts are in a common plane substantially orthogonal to the second central axis and to the beams, and a second position in which the crate is collapsed and all of the masts are substantially parallel to each other and parallel and proximal to the beams.