GB2118015A

GB2118015A - Pet accommodation

Info

Publication number: GB2118015A
Application number: GB08210497A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Ronald Gath
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1982-04-08
Filing date: 1982-04-08
Publication date: 1983-10-26

Abstract

A receptacle for accommodation of a pet, particularly a cat or dog, is incorporated in an article of domestic seating furniture. In one embodiment, the article of furniture comprises a box structure body (1) supporting a seating cushion (7) and having a side opening (5) to provide access to the interior of the body for the pet. <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION Pet accommodation This invention relates to accommodation for domestic pets particularly cats and dogs.

It is common to provide baskets or like receptables for the accommodation of cats and dogs for sleeping or resting purposes in a domestic context. Such receptacles may however be of an unduly obtrusive or unsightly nature in the domestic environment.

An object of the present invention it to provide accommodation for domestic pets which can be comfortable and convenient yet which need not be unduly obtrusive or unsightly.

According to the invention therefore there is provided pet accommodation comprising a receptacle in which a domestic pet such as a cat or dog can rest or sleep and which has an opening thereto through which the pet can enter and leave the receptable, characterised in that the said receptacle forms at least part of a body structure of an article of domestic seating furniture.

With this arrangement, due to incorporation of the receptacle in seating furniture it is possible to provide comfortable and convenient accommodation for a pet in a presentable even attractive manner.

With regard to the said body structure this may take any suitable form although in a particularly preferred embodiment it is of the nature of a box of round, rectangular or other shape having top, side and bottom walls thereto, and the said access opening may be defined by a missing or apertured side wall or by a door formed by or provided in a side wall. A seat may be permanently, detachably or loosely applied to the top wall and this conveniently may comprise an upholstered cushion. If desired, said top wall (or other part of the body structure) may be removable or openable to provide access, for example for cleaning purposes, to the interior of the box structure. Also if desired the bottom wall may be provided with a soft and/or protective surface cover, such as a piece of carpeting, and/or a tray or other like structure.

The body structure may be formed from any suitable material or combination of materials and thus for example it may be a moulded plastics structure or a fabricated wooden structure, and if desired an upholstered or other attractive finish may be applied thereto.

The article of seating furniture in which the receptacle is incorporated may be of any suitable format as desired. Thus, such seating furniture may be of a box-body backless construction having the general format of a pouffe or ottoman or the like, or alternatively a backed construction for example having the format of an armchair or couch or the like may be adopted.

The invention will now be described further by way of example only and with reference to the accompanying drawing Figs. 1 to 3 which are diagrammatic perspective views of different forms of pet accommodation according to the invention.

Fig. 1 shows pet accommodation having the general format of a pouffe, such accommodation comprising a hollow drum-shaped body structure 1 with a cylindrical side wall 2, a flat disc-shaped bottom wall 3 and a flat disc-shaped top wall 4.

The walls 2, 3, 4 may be fabricated from wooden panels or from plastics sheeting material or from any other suitable material or combination of materials.

A circular hole 5 is provided in the cylindrical side wall 2, such hole being approximately centrally located and extending over a major part of the height of the structure 1 and terminating at its bottom periphery level with or slightly above the bottom wall 3.

Feet or castors 6 are fixed, at spaced peripheral locations beneath the bottom wall 3.

The top wall 4 has fixed to the outer surface thereof a seating cushion 7 defined by a pad of soft or resilient material such as a foam plastics pad enclosed within an outer fabric or leather or leather-cloth cover.

The outer surface of the cylindrical side wall 2 is painted, varnished, upholstered or otherwise attractively finished. The inside of the box structure 1 may have bare surfaces thereto although if desired carpeting or other material may be disposed on top of the bottom wall 3.

The bottom wall 3 is permanently fixed to the side wall 2. The top wall 4 may also be permanently fixed in position although if desired the top wall 4 may be detachably mounted (e.g.

hinged) on the side wall 2 to provide top access to the interior of the structure 1.

The construction so far described can be used to provide comfortable and convenient accommodation for a pet such as a cat or dog in that such pet can enter the body structure 1 through the aperture 5 and rest or sleep within such structure 1 on the bottom wall 3.

At the same time, the construction has the format of an article of seating furniture which in the manner of a pouffe can be sat upon or used as a foot rest in conventional manner, and which has a presentable even attractive appearance.

Accordingly, with the construction, a pet can be accommodated in the domestic environment in an unobtrusive and aesthetically acceptable manner, and advantageously, such construction may be presentable and still of use, whereby it need not be disposed of or removed, in the event that pet accommodation is no longer required due for example to death or loss of the pet.

The construction of Fig. 2 is similar to that of Fig. 1 except that a segmental shape is adopted suited to use in the corner of a room. In so far as the space available within the body structure 8 of this construction is smaller than that of the construction of Fig. 1, such construction may be best suited to the accommodation of cats and small dogs.

The construction of Fig. 3 has the general format of an ottoman or blanket box and is suitable for accommodating a larger dog or a number of small pets simultaneously.

It is of course to be understood that the invention is not intended to be restricted to the details of the above embodiment which are described by way of example only.

Claims

1. Pet accommodation comprising a receptacle in which a domestic pet such as a cat or dog can rest or sleep and which has an opening thereto through which the pet can enter and leave the receptacle, characterised in that the said receptacle forms at least part of a body structure of an article of domestic seating furniture.

2. Pet accommodation according to claim 1, wherein the said body structure comprises a box having top, side and bottom walls thereto, and the said access opening is defined by a missing or apertured said side wall or a door formed by or provided in one said side wall.

3. Pet accommodation according to claim 2, wherein a seat is applied to the said top wall.

4. Pet accommodation according to claim 3, wherein said seat comprises an upholstered cushion.

5. Pet accommodation according to any one of claims 2 to 4, wherein said top wall is removable or openable to provide access to the interior of the box structure.

6. Pet accommodation according to any one of claims 2 to 5, wherein the said bottom wall is provided with a soft surface cover.

7. Pet accommodation according to any one of claims 2 to 6, wherein the said bottom wall is provided with a protective surface cover.

8. Pet accommodation according to any one of claims 2 to 7, wherein said body structure is formed as a moulded plastics structure.

9. Pet accommodation according to any one of claims 2 to 8, wherein said body structure is formed as a fabricated wooden structure.

10. Pet accommodation according to any one of claims 1 to 9, wherein said seating furniture is of a box body backless construction.

11. Pet accommodation according to any one of claims 1 to 10, wherein said seating furniture is of a backed construction.

12. Pet accommodation substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to and as illustrated in Fig. 1 of the accompanying drawings.

13. Pet accommodation substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to and as illustrated in Fig. 2 of the accompanying drawings.

14. Pet accommodation substantially as herein before described with reference to and as illustrated in Fig. 3 of the accompanying drawings.