Patent ID: 8333037

Claim:
A portable pet portal insert for use with sliding patio doors, comprising: independent top, center, and bottom modules, each having a top, bottom, front, back, right side and left side portions; a first interlocking mechanism affixed to the bottom of said top module; a second interlocking mechanism affixed to the top of said center module, for interacting with said first interlocking mechanism to permit said top and center modules to be removably secured together; a third interlocking mechanism affixed to the bottom of said center module; a fourth interlocking mechanism affixed to the top of said bottom module, for interacting with said third interlocking mechanism to permit said center and bottom modules to be removably secured together; said top, center, and bottom modules when assembled or secured together being configured to be inserted and retained between a leading edge of a sliding patio door, a vertical edge of a frame retaining the latter, and within top and bottom tracks of said frame; a flap assembly cassette including: a frame including an opening between top and bottom rails, and opposing side rails; a flap; means for securing said flap to said frame for permitting pivotal movement of said flap through said opening, for the ingress and egress of a pet; and a security panel including: a second frame; a first channel formed on top, bottom, and leading edge portions of said second frame, the first channel extending on the leading edge portion between the top and bottom portions; a handle secured proximate a trailing edge portion of said second frame; and said bottom module further including: a third frame having a top, a left side edge, a right side edge, a bottom, a front face, a back face opposing said front face, and a cutout portion therebetween serving as a pet portal; an elongated channel cut through a central portion of said left side edge, with upper and lower portions of the second channel extending into interior top, bottom, and right side edge portions of said cutout portion, for slideably receiving top, bottom, and leading edge portions of said flap assembly cassette when inserted through said channel into said third frame, with said flap positioned to move into and out of said cutout portion, thereby permitting said flap assembly cassette to be selectively installed into or removed from said bottom module; a first track formed on said front face proximate the top, bottom, and right side edge portions of the cutout portion, with free ends of the track being proximate said elongated channel opening into the cutout portion, said first track being adapted for slideably receiving the first channel of said security panel; thereby permitting said security panel to be selectively secured upon said bottom module for covering said cutout portion, or removed from said bottom module; a second track formed on said back face, said second track being a mirror image of said first track, and being adapted for receiving the channel of said security panel.