AU2006100347A4 - An Enclosure for Domestic Animals - Google Patents

Description

AUSTRALIA

Patents Act 1990 INNOVATION PATENT SPECIFICATION Applicants: RUSSELL LORNE MAGNUS WOOD-ROE CAROLYN WOOD-ROE HOMER JOE WOOD-ROE Invention title: AN ANIMAL ENCLOSURE The invention is described in the following statement: 0 AN ENCLOSURE FOR DOMESTIC ANIMALS 0 STechnical Field This invention relates to an enclosure for domestic animals.

00 Background to the Invention t" Domestic animals including pets such as cats and dogs often spend much of their time inside buildings such as houses and apartments or the like. This is e¢3 particularly the case when pet owners work full-time and the pet is required to stay inside at home for extended periods of time. A domestic animal may spend up to eight o or nine hours a day shut up inside a dwelling. This can lead to boredom and 0 unhappiness for the animal. Further, the animal may make unwanted noise such as howling in the case of a dog. Sometimes, an animal shut inside will damage furniture or other fittings inside the house. There is a need to improve conditions for animals that must be shut inside buildings.

Summary of the Invention In a first aspect the present invention provides an animal enclosure including a barrier member that is arranged to be associated with an opening of a building; the barrier includes apertures, the apertures are sized to allow for the passage of air and are too small for a domestic animal to pass through; in use, the barrier defines a space accessible by an animal from the interior of the building, the space extends outside of the building opening to afford the animal an outside view of the building.

Brief Description of the Drawings An embodiment of the present invention will now be described, by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: Figure 1 is a front view of an animal enclosure according to an embodiment of the present invention associated with a window opening of a house; and Figure 2 is a side cross sectional view of the animal enclosure of figure 1; and Figure 3 is a top view of the animal enclosure of figure 1 with an animal in the enclosure.

Detailed Description of the Preferred Embodiment Referring to Figures 1 and 2, an animal enclosure 10 is shown including a barrier member in the form of a section of flexible fly-screen material 12. The enclosure is associated with an opening in a building in the form of window 13 of a O house. The fly screen material 12 includes numerous apertures 14. A base in the form N of wooden board 16 lies over windowsill 18 and the barrier and is affixed to the windowsill by way of several screws 19. Board 16 extends outside of the building and allows the animal to walk outside the building. The fly screen material 12 is affixed along the underside of board 16 and around the edges of window 13 by way of staples.

In this embodiment, window includes upper and lower leaves 22, 24. The barrier material is affixed along the lower edge of upper leaf 22. Lower leaf 24 can then be 71 raised or lowered at will to allow an animal to enter the space defined by the barrier O material from inside the building.

Apertures 14 allow air to pass through, but are too small for certain animals, o such as flies, to pass through. The screen 12 thus prevents the animal from escaping o through the window opening. Screen 12 also allows air in to allow an animal in the

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enclosure to experience the smells in the air. Many animals, such as cats for instance, take the opportunity to smell the air. It is believed that this allows certain animals to learn about their surroundings. Some have suggested that some smells are pleasant to certain animals. Thus, the animal may enjoy being able to smell the air.

Referring to figure 3, the enclosure is shown with the screen 12 removed for ease of understanding. It can be seen that the screen 12 extends outside of the building.

A domesticated gecko is shown in the enclosure. It can be seen that the enclosure affords the gecko an outside view of the building and allows the gecko to look each way along the walls of the building to the left and to the right. If the gecko were shut behind the window glass in the usual manner, its view would be restricted to looking outwards.

Thus, the animal is more entertained as it can look around and take in many views of its surroundings.

Screen 12 also prevents unwanted animals from entering through the window opening. For instance, in an area where wild bears roam, a strong barrier material such as metal may be used to prevent entry of bears. In the case of keeping very large domestic animals, such as goats, a barrier with quite large apertures may be used. Of course, if there were undesirable animals outside of the goat enclosure that were smaller than a goat, such as weasels, then the apertures could be sized to prevent the weasels from entering and troubling the goat.

The enclosure may be provided with a waterproof cover (not shown) to protect an animal in the enclosure from rain or snow.

The animal is at all times free to leave the enclosure and retreat inside the building.

In the above described embodiment the enclosure was associated with a window opening. Similarly, the enclosure can be used with other types of openings 0 including door openings. In the case of keeping birds, the enclosure may be fitted to an C opening in the roof of a building.

Any reference to prior art contained herein is not to be taken as an admission that the information is common general knowledge, unless otherwise indicated.

00 5 Finally, it is to be appreciated that various alterations or additions may be made to the parts previously described without departing from the spirit or ambit of the present invention.

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Claims (4)

1. An animal enclosure including a barrier member that is arranged to be 00 5 associated with an opening of a building; the barrier member includes apertures, the apertures are sized to allow for the passage of air and are too small for a domestic animal to pass through; in use, the barrier member defines 1 a space accessible by an animal from the interior of the building, the space O extends outside of the building opening to afford the animal an outside view of 0 the building. o

2. An enclosure according to claim 1 wherein the barrier member is formed from 0 fly screen material.

3. An enclosure according to either claim 1 or claim 2 wherein the enclosure includes a base upon which the animal may rest.

4. An enclosure according to any preceding claim wherein the enclosure is associated with a window opening of a building. An enclosure according to any preceding claim wherein the enclosure further includes a waterproof cover to protect an animal in the enclosure from rain or snow.