Classifications

• • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
  • A47—FURNITURE; DOMESTIC ARTICLES OR APPLIANCES; COFFEE MILLS; SPICE MILLS; SUCTION CLEANERS IN GENERAL
  • A47C—CHAIRS; SOFAS; BEDS
  • A47C27/00—Spring, stuffed or fluid mattresses or cushions specially adapted for chairs, beds or sofas
  • A47C27/08—Fluid mattresses or cushions
  • A47C27/081—Fluid mattresses or cushions of pneumatic type
• • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
  • A01—AGRICULTURE; FORESTRY; ANIMAL HUSBANDRY; HUNTING; TRAPPING; FISHING
  • A01K—ANIMAL HUSBANDRY; AVICULTURE; APICULTURE; PISCICULTURE; FISHING; REARING OR BREEDING ANIMALS, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR; NEW BREEDS OF ANIMALS
  • A01K1/00—Housing animals; Equipment therefor
  • A01K1/02—Pigsties; Dog-kennels; Rabbit-hutches or the like
  • A01K1/035—Devices for use in keeping domestic animals, e.g. fittings in housings or dog beds
  • A01K1/0353—Dog beds
• • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
  • A47—FURNITURE; DOMESTIC ARTICLES OR APPLIANCES; COFFEE MILLS; SPICE MILLS; SUCTION CLEANERS IN GENERAL
  • A47D—FURNITURE SPECIALLY ADAPTED FOR CHILDREN
  • A47D7/00—Children's beds
  • A47D7/002—Children's beds foldable

Definitions

• THIS INVENTION relates to a fluid inflatable support which in one aspect is particularly suitable for use as a bed for pets such as dogs or cats and which in another aspect may be combined with a framework for use as a foldable cot or playpen for infants.
• pet beds A number of different types are presently in use or commercially available, however, none of the presently available arrangements is sufficiently versatile to be easily portable. Furthermore, in most instances, pet beds which are available are formed of a fabric material and tend to become unclean and a haven for vermin so as to be therefore unhygienic. A further disadvantage is that the normal fabric arrangements are not particularly comfortable and are not particularly suitable for use in veterinary applications. The present arrangements also tend to be relatively hot in summer conditions.
• the present invention aims to overcome or alleviate at least some of the above disadvantages by providing a fluid inflatable support which is particularly suited for use as a bed for pets such as dogs or cats and which is portable, versatile and hygienic in use.
• the present invention provides a foldable infant's cot or playpen which incorporates the above inflatable support.
• the present invention also relates to a method of manufacture for such inflatable supports.
• this invention resides broadly in a fluid inflatable support including a first portion adapted to be supported on an underlying surface, said first portion being formed of air impervious material and being adapted when inflated to adopt a generally hollow annular configuration surrounding a central, open area and a second support portion formed of sheet material, said support portion being fixed to said first portion and extending over said central open area whereby to define, when said first portion is inflated, a support area spaced from said underlying surface.
• FIG. 1 is a plan view of one form of inflatable support according to the present invention in an inflated mode
• Fig. 2 is a sectional elevational view of the support along line A-A of Fig. 1;
• Fig. 3 is an exploded view showing the components of the support;
• Fig. 4 is an enlarged sectional view of a side portion of the inflatable support;
• Fig. 5 is a plan view of an alternative form of inflatable support according to the present invention.
• Figs. 6 and 7 illustrate an infant's cot or playpen in an erect and collapsed mode incorpor ⁇ ating an inflatable support according to the present invention.
• an inflatable support 10 in this embodiment in the form of a pet bed which comprises an inflatable annular ring 11 which is of do-nut like configuration when inflated with a wall of hollow generally circular cross-section and defining a central open area 12.
• a layer of -flexible, sheet material 13 which is fixed to the inflat ⁇ able ring 11 to extend across the central opening 12 and arranged to be under tension in the inflated attitude of the ring.
• the flexible sheet 13 being suspended under tension over the opening 12 therefore provides a support surface for an animal such as a dog, cat or child to lie thereon which is spaced from the floor or ground.
• the inflatable annular ring 11 comprises two substantially identical annular sheets of flexible air impervious material prefer ⁇ ably polyvinyl chloride sheet 14 and 15, the lower sheet
• the respective annular sheets 14 and 15 are overlapped and are joined to each other preferably by heat welding adjacent their respective inner and outer edges at 17 and 18 respectively to define the ring 11 which when inflated adopts the generally do-nut like shape.
• the support layer 13 is preferably formed of air pervious sheet material such as a n apertured P.V.C. sheet or nylon mesh and is of circular form having a diameter substantially the same as the outer diameter of the annular parts 14 and 15.
• the support sheet 13 is placed in align- ment over the parts 14 and 15 and connected to the overlapping joined portions of the annular parts 14 and 15 at a position spaced outwardly from the join 18 between the annular parts 14 and 15 as shown in Fig. 4. This reduces the possibility of damage being caused to the respective annular portions 14 and 15 and minimises the risk of leakage in the assembled product.
• the outer joins between the annular parts 14 and 15 and the support sheet 13 may be formed at the same time and in this instance, provided care is taken, one weld may be used to join the three overlapping parts 13, 14 and 15. It will be seen that the support sheet 13 extends from its join at the outer periphery of the ring 11 and over the top of the ring 11 and central opening 12 and this ensures that the necessary tension is applied to the support sheet 13 when the annular ring 11 is inflated.
• This arrangement also ensures a wide variance in weights of pets can be tolerated without the sheet 13 touching the underlying surface.
• the inflatable support 19 includes an annular inflatable ring 20 in this instance in the form of two part-circular opposed end portions 21 joined by respective side portions 22 which as illustrated are slightly bowed outwardly.
• a sheet 23 extends over the inflatable ring portion 20 to define a support for an animal or child when the device is inflated.
• the bowing out of the side portions 22 of the device will assist in preventing excess deflection" of the support sheet 23 when subject to loads.
• the folding cot assembly 24 which incorporates a fluid inflatable support of the type illustrated in Fig. 5.
• the folding cot assembly 24 includes a lower frame portion 25 which is preferably formed of tubular plastics material or alternatively, aluminium or steel and which has a shape which substant ⁇ ially follows the outer periphery of the inflatable support 18 so that the inflatable support 18 may be neatly located therein (as shown in dotted outline in Fig. 5) . In this instance, the overlapped outer portions of the.
• component sheets of the support define a flap 26 which is fixed to the lower frame portion by any suitable fastening means such as screws, press studs or the like, or alternatively, the flap 26 may be wrapped about the frame portion 25 to define an envelope or pocket which - 5 -
• the lower frame portion 25 accommodates the lower frame portion 25.
• the lower frame portion 25 also includes respective spaced legs 27 which raise the frame portion 25 above an underlying surface and to a position located adjacent to the joined portions of the component sheets so that when inflated, the inflat ⁇ able support 19 will rest on the ground and not carry the weight of the frame portions of the cot.
• the folding cot assembly 24 also includes an upper frame portion 28 which is of similar configuration to the lower frame portion 25 and which is joined thereto by respective pivotal link assemblies 29 each of which comprise first and second links 30 and 31 pivotally attached at one end to the respective frame portion 25 and 28 and pivotally interconnected at their opposite ends.
• respective links 30 -and 31 may be provided with apertures therethrough which become aligned when the links 30 and 31 are in an upright attitude so as to receive a locking pin therethrough.
• a sleeve 32 is placed about one of the links 30 and slid over the pivotal join between the links 30 and 31 when the links are in their aligned attitude so as to lock the links in that position.
• an open mesh material 33 extends between the upper and lower frame portions 24 and 28 to define the enclosure for the cot 24.
• the open mesh material 33 is fixed say by heat welding at its lower end to the flap 26 of the support 19, whilst at its upper end the mesh material 33 may be fixed by press, studs, spring clips or other suitable fasteners, or alternatively, may be folded about the upper frame to define an envelope or pocket therefor.
• the frame portions 25 and 28 and interconnected links 30 and 31 are preferably formed of tubular plastics material so that the cot is - 6 -
• the links 30 and 31 are erected and locked in an upright attitude and the support 19 inflated so that a child may lie thereon, whilst if the cot 24 is desired to be used as a playpen, the support 19 is deflated to merely act as a floor which is surrounded by the mesh wall 33.
• the cot 24 may also be adapted for use with animals say for show or travelling purposes.
• the upper frame 28 may be covered by mesh or other material, or alternatively, by a solid panel whilst a door or z ' ippered opening may be provided therein or in the mesh wall 33 to permit access to the interior thereof.
• the frame portions 25 and 28 may be varied in configuration to suit the particular external periphery of the inflatable support used. For example, if the support 10 of Figs. 1 to 4 is employed, the frame portions 25 and 28 will.be of generally circular ring like configuration.
• the inflatable support of the present invention being formed normally o fplastics material is simple to clean. Furthermore, the support is suitable for winter and summer conditions as in winter an insulating layer of air may be trapped underneath the support material by the use of say a blanket over the bed, whilst in summer, air will circulate through the air pervious support material 13 or 23. The support is also easily transport ⁇ able as when deflated occupies very little space.

Landscapes

• Life Sciences & Earth Sciences (AREA)
• Environmental Sciences (AREA)
• Animal Behavior & Ethology (AREA)
• Zoology (AREA)
• Animal Husbandry (AREA)
• Biodiversity & Conservation Biology (AREA)
• Housing For Livestock And Birds (AREA)

Applications Claiming Priority (4)

Publications (1)

Family

ID=25610782

Family Applications (1)

Country Status (2)

Families Citing this family (12)

Family Cites Families (11)

• 1985
  • 1985-04-10 EP EP19850901919 patent/EP0176577A1/de not_active Withdrawn
  • 1985-04-10 WO PCT/AU1985/000079 patent/WO1985004550A1/en unknown

Non-Patent Citations (1)

Also Published As

Similar Documents

Legal Events