AU2015100197A4 - Raised pet bed - Google Patents

Abstract

A pet bed structure including: - a frame formed by a plurality of interconnected frame members(1) defining a pet bed area adapted to support a bed cover; and - a plurality of legs (2) attached to the frame (1) for substantially elevating the frame (1); wherein the frame (1) has a closed frame design; and the legs (2) are connected to but relatively movable with respect to the frame (1) between at least a deployed position, wherein the legs (2) are positioned to substantially elevate the frame (1), and a collapsed position, wherein the legs (2) are retracted toward the frame (1) for storage of the bed. 2 -2 FIGlw/

Description

- 1 Raised Pet Bed Field of the Invention The present invention relates to sleeping structures and in particular to raised sleeping structures for pets. 5 The invention has been developed primarily for providing a raised pet bed and will be described hereinafter with reference to this application. However, it will be appreciated that the invention is not limited to this particular field of use. Background of the Invention 0 Any discussion of the prior art throughout the specification should in no way be considered as an admission that such prior art is widely known or forms part of the common general knowledge in the field. Commercial raised pet beds are usually sold as a pre-constructed fixed bed or as a pack that requires assembly by the customer. These packs are most commonly retailed in the form of 5 a substantially flat box, which retailers favour due to their stackability and the reduced storage space required in stocking such a product. These packs generally contain the individual components of the bed frame, the bed legs, the bed cover and all required fasteners to construct the pet bed, which the customer is required to assemble, typically using simple hand tools. o In some versions the pet bed packs are in a partially-constructed form. For instance, the legs of the bed may be integrated with some of the bed frame members; however the bed frame members and the bed cover are not pre-assembled and still require user-assembly using simple hand tools. The assembly of these kinds of packs can be problematic for some users as they must have 25 access to the tools and must also possess the required skills to use the tools when assembling the bed. Furthermore, in pet bed products, typically the bed cover is designed with a plurality of peripheral closed loops which must be fixed to the bed frame by sliding individual bed frame members through the closed loops and then assembling these bed frame members to form 30 the bed frame. Users have stated that this assembly is difficult and requires significant strength and dexterity in passing the bed frame members through the loops, and then stretching the bed cover to achieve sufficient tautness of the bed cover while simultaneously -2 assembling the bed frame. Furthermore, if the assembled bed cover requires replacement (for example, if it requires washing, is torn, begins to sag, etc.), due to the construction of the bed, the user is required to completely disassemble the entire frame, replace the cover, and then reassemble the frame. This is extremely inconvenient for the user due to the time 5 required in disassembling and reassembling the bed, and while reassembling the bed the user will re-encounter the aforementioned strength and dexterity issues. As such, a need exists for a raised pet bed product that is easier to assemble than current commercial options. Furthermore, a need also exists for a raised pet bed product with a replaceable bed cover that is easy to replace. 0 Object of the Invention It is an object of the present invention to overcome or ameliorate at least one of the disadvantages of the prior art, or to provide a useful alternative. It is an object of the invention in its preferred form to provide a raised pet bed that is easily 5 assembled. Summary of the Invention According to the first aspect, the present invention provides a pet bed structure including: - a frame formed by a plurality of interconnected frame members defining a pet bed 0 area adapted to support a bed cover; and - a plurality of legs attached to said frame for substantially elevating said frame; wherein said frame has a closed frame design; and said legs are connected to but relatively movable with respect to said frame between 25 at least a deployed position, wherein said legs are positioned to substantially elevate said frame, and a collapsed position, wherein said legs are retracted toward said frame for storage of said bed. The pet bed structure preferably further includes a locking mechanism adapted to selectively configure the legs in the deployed position or the collapsed position. More preferably, the 30 locking mechanism is a spring-loaded pin that secures into preformed holes on -3 predetermined positions of the pet bed structure such that the legs may only move relative to the frame when said pin is released. According to the second aspect, the present invention provides a pet bed cover for use with a pet bed structure according to the first aspect wherein said bed cover includes a releasable 5 fastening mechanism adapted to secure said bed cover to a frame of said pet bet structure when fastened, and adapted to release said bed cover from said pet bed structure when unfastened. Preferably the fastening mechanism is adjustable for controlling the tautness of the bed cover when fastened. 0 Brief Description of the Drawings Preferred embodiments of the invention will now be described, by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying schematic drawings in which: Figure 1 is a perspective top view of a pet bed structure in its deployed position according to 5 the invention; Figure 2 is a perspective top view of the pet bed structure in its collapsed position; Figure 3 is a perspective bottom view of a pet bed structure with a pet bed cover being attached; and Figure 4 is a perspective bottom view of the pet bed structure with the pet bed cover 0 attached. Preferred Embodiments of the Invention Unless the context clearly requires otherwise, throughout the description and the claims, the words "closed frame design" in relation to the bed frame is to be construed in the sense that 25 the frame does not possess openly engageable fasteners (e.g. nuts, bolts, etc) which can be disengaged or loosened by users or through general use to distort or deconstruct the frame. In order to access the fasteners of the frame, if any exist, the frame must be effectively damaged and/or impaired from its original condition such that it can no longer fulfil its original purpose. 30 Referring initially to Figures 1 and 2, there is provided a pet bed structure including a frame having a closed frame design, formed by a plurality interconnected frame members 1 to -4 define a pet bed area adapted to support a pet bed cover. The bed also includes a plurality of legs 2 connected to the frame for substantially elevating the frame. The legs are movable with respect to the frame between at least a deployed position, as shown in Figure 1, for elevating the frame, and a collapsed position, as shown in Figure 2, to collapse the bed for 5 storage. It will be appreciated that this collapsed position may be substantially flap such that the pet bed structure can be packed in a flat, stackable box for retail or transportation purposes; however in other embodiments the bed structure may not be flat in the collapsed position. The frame construction of the present invention differs from the pet beds of the prior art, 0 which utilise a frame which is made up of connectable separate parts i.e. multiple frame members connected at a fastening points on the frame. These conventional frames commonly require the use of simple hand tools in order to disassemble them. Furthermore, these frames, made of separate connectable components, can experience significant stress at their fastening points during use, which may lead to the loosening of the fasteners 5 (resulting in loss of shape and tension in the bed cover) or the structural failure of the frame (by warping the frame members or otherwise). Conversely, the closed frame design of the present invention is provided in an assembled form that requires no subsequent assembly by the user. This frame also provides a rigid construction that is more resilient to structural stresses, and thus is more structurally sound 0 in use. Also, without the requirement for openly engageable fasteners, embodiments of the closed frame may not possess the characteristically weak stress points at the fastener points, and thus the closed frame may potentially be constructed of a thinner or lighter material without compromising the structural integrity of the frame. These advantages allow a product that is easier for the user, while also being more resilient in use. 25 In the illustrated embodiments, pairs of the legs 2 are connected by telescopically extending support bars 3 for improving structural support of the bed, as shown in Figure 1. The support bars are shown to be constructed by a smaller diameter pipe that can slide within a larger diameter pipe, such that the support bar may extend and contract in accordance with the position of the legs. For example, when the legs are configured into a collapsed position, as 30 shown in Figure 2, the support bars can telescopically collapse to reduce the overall length of the support bar for storage of the bed. The support bars can also feature a locking mechanism 4 adapted to selectively lock the legs 2 in the deployed position (Figure 1) or in the collapsed position (Figure 2). In some embodiments, the locking mechanism can be constructed as a spring-loaded pin that -5 secures into preformed holes at predetermined positions on any combination of frame members, legs or support bars such that the legs may only move relative to the frame when the pin is released; i.e. to adjust the position of the legs between the deployed position and the collapsed position, a user may disengage the spring-loaded pin from a first hole and 5 redeploy the pin into another hole, such that the legs are immobile when the pin is engaged in one of the holes. In other embodiments, the support bars may be in other forms or shapes such that they improve the structural strength of the pet bed structure. In some further embodiments, the locking mechanism may be differently designed such that the mechanism can selectively 0 lock a plurality of legs into the deployed position or the collapsed position. This can include the use of: a securing pin; a screw-type tightening system; a latch system; or any combination therein that achieves this object. Figures 3 and 4 illustrate the bed cover 5 being attached to the pet bed structure. The bed cover includes a releasable fastening mechanism, shown in the form of strips of fabric hooks 5 6 and fabric loop fastener section 7 (together known colloquially as Velcro). This fastening mechanism is adapted to secure the bed cover to the frame of a pet bed when fastened (Figure 4), and release the bed cover from the pet bed frame when unfastened (Figure 3). Furthermore, the fastening mechanism may optionally be adjustable for controlling the tautness of the bed cover when fastened. o As shown in Figure 3, the bed cover 5 is presented over the pet bed structure, with the legs 2 in the deployed position, and the strips of fabric hooks 6 are drawn around the frame members 1 to attach and secure to the fabric loop fastener section 7, resulting in the structure shown in Figure 4. In some embodiments, the fabric loop fastener section is substantially longer than the width of the fabric hook strips such that the attachment of the 25 strips of fabric hooks can be adjusted to control the tautness of the bed cover when fastened to the bed structure. It will be appreciated that this design allows the detachment and attachment of the bed cover 2 to the pet bed structure without any manipulation of the pet bed structure. In other embodiments, the fastening mechanism can be selected from the group including: 30 clips, clasps, clamps, zips, straps, fabric hooks and loop fasteners, or any combination therein. The use of this releasable bed cover is particularly advantageous as it provides an easy and quick means for detaching and reattaching the cover if, for example, the cover requires washing, is torn or begins the sag from general use. This improves upon the convenience of -6 the bed cover products of the known prior art which are permanently fixed to the bed frame members and require the complete disassembly of the frame to remove the cover. In these products, a significant amount of strength and dexterity are also required in pulling the bed cover to achieve sufficient tautness of the cover while simultaneously assembling the bed. In 5 the bed cover of the present invention, these issues are largely overcome by allowing the sequential actions of assembling the bed and then attaching the bed cover, or when used with the bed structure of the present invention, removing the bed assembling requirement altogether. It will be appreciated that the illustrated embodiment provides a raised pet bed that is easily 0 assembled. Although the invention has been described with reference to a specific example, it will be appreciated by those skilled in the art that the invention may be embodied in many other forms.

Claims (5)

1. A pet bed structure including: - a frame formed by a plurality of interconnected frame members defining a pet bed area adapted to support a bed cover; and 5 - a plurality of legs attached to said frame for substantially elevating said frame; wherein said frame has a closed frame design; and said legs are connected to but relatively movable with respect to said frame 0 between at least a deployed position, wherein said legs are positioned to substantially elevate said frame, and a collapsed position, wherein said legs are retracted toward said frame for storage of said bed.

2. The pet bed structure according to claim 1 further including a locking mechanism adapted to selectively configure said legs in said deployed position or said collapsed 5 position.

3. The pet bed structure according to claim 2 wherein said locking mechanism is a spring-loaded pin that secures into preformed holes on predetermined positions of said pet bed structure such that said legs may only move relative to said frame when said pin is released. 0

4. A pet bed cover for use with a pet bed structure according to any one of the claims 1 to 3 wherein said bed cover includes a releasable fastening mechanism adapted to secure said bed cover to a frame of said pet bet structure when fastened, and adapted to release said bed cover from said pet bed structure when unfastened.

5. The pet bed cover according to claim 4 wherein said fastening mechanism is 25 adjustable for controlling the tautness of said bed cover when fastened.