GB2231543A

GB2231543A - Transporting animals

Info

Publication number: GB2231543A
Application number: GB8911314A
Authority: GB
Inventors: David William Smith
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1989-05-17
Filing date: 1989-05-17
Publication date: 1990-11-21
Anticipated expiration: 2009-05-17
Also published as: GB8911314D0; GB2231543B

Abstract

An accessory for a motor vehicle, comprises an open-topped box-like receptacle 12 for a pet animal and having at least one wall 13 extending upwardly from a side 14 of the receptacle, the whole being so dimensioned and shaped that when in use and positioned within the vehicle it forms with adjacent parts of the vehicle, an enclosure for the pet animal. <IMAGE>

Description

MOTOR VEHICLE ACCESSORY This invention relates to motor vehicle accessories.

Constraining an animal in some way during its transport by car, is a desirable objective for a number of reasons, which include, amongst others, safety, comfort for both the passengers and the animal, and hygiene.

Devices are available which comprise a metallic railing which when fitted into the rear portion of a large estate car, for example, defines a kennel region for a pet dog. Such animal constraining devices are expensive, generally involve relatively considerable effort in locating them in the car, are relatively permanent and often only available for the larger cars such as the estate versions of large saloon cars. Even with such a device the floor of the kennel area becomes soiled principally by hair shed by pet animals.

It is against this background of previously existing disadvantages and problems associated with constraining devices for use in transporting animals by car that the advantages and benefits of the present invention can be better appreciated.

According to the invention there is provided an accessory for a motor vehicle comprising an open-topped box-like receptacle for a pet animal and having at least one wall extending upwardly from a side of the receptacle, the whole being so dimensioned and shaped that when in use and positioned within the vehicle it forms with adjacent parts of the vehicle an enclosure for the pet animal.

The wall may be provided with apertures therein for ventilation purposes and to allow the driver rear vision.

The wall may be straight or cranked to permit the receptacle to be positioned partly beneath an overlying part.

The receptacle and wall may be formed as a one piece plastics moulding.

The wall may carry markings to permit a user to trim it to fit his particular vehicle.

The inner surface of the base of the receptacle may be formed or treated so as to be of a non-slip character.

The receptacle may be of generally trapezoidal plan to fit the floor behind the rear seat of a hatch back vehicle.

The receptacle may otherwise be of generally rectangular plan to fit onto the rear seat of a vehicle and may have both front and rear walls.

Means may be provided for securing the accessory in position and such will be essential if the accessory does not closely fit the space in which it is installed.

Pads may be provided to decrease the size of the receptacle to better accommodate pets of smaller size.

Accessories, according to the invention will now be described by way of examples only and with reference to the various figures of the accompanying drawing in which: Figure 1 illustrates a motor vehicle accessory according to the invention; Figure 2 illustrates a side view of the accessory shown in Figure 1; Figure 3 illustrates a side view of an alternative embodiment of an accessory showing the upwardly extending side wall cranked forward to accommodate a rear car seat; Figure 4 illustrates a further embodiment of an accessory detailing embossed markings on its upwardly extending wall; Figure 5 illustrates a still further embodiment of an accessory adapted for positioning on a rear car seat; and Figure 6 illustrates attachment means which enable the accessory to be secured to the interior of the vehicle.

The figures show a motor vehicle accessory 11 comprising an open-topped box-like receptacle 12 for a pet animal and having at least one wall 13 extending upwardly from a side 14 of the receptacle 12, the whole being so dimensioned and shaped that when in use and positioned within the vehicle it forms with adjacent parts of the vehicle an enclosure for the pet animal.

The wall 13 is provided with a plurality of apertures 15 therein for ventilation and vision purposes.

The wall 13 can be straight. Alternatively the wall 13 is cranked (Figure 3) to permit the receptacle 12 to be positioned partly beneath an overlying part, such as a rear seat in a car (indicated in broken line in Figure 3).

The receptacle 12 and wall 13 are formed as a one piece nontoxic plastics moulding. In the embodiment shown in Figure 4 the wall 13 of the accessory 11 has markings 17 which may indicate the internal dimensions of various hatch back cars.

The markings 17 may be embossed in the wall to facilitate easy trimming of the wall 13 by the owner as and if necessary.

Preferably the inner surface 18 of the base 19 of the receptacle 12 is moulded or treated so as to be of a non-slip nature which helps reduce the risk of injury to the pet housed in the receptacle 12.

The preferred shape of the base 18 of the receptacle 12 is trapezoidal, which provides the most convenient fit for the floor behind the rear seat of a hatch back vehicle.

In the embodiment of the accessory shown in Figure 5, the receptacle base 19 is rectangular which enables the receptacle 12 to fit onto the rear seat of a vehicle. In this embodiment there is provided an additional wall 23 extending upwardly from the side of the receptacle opposite the wall 13.

Wall 23 may form the back of the enclosure and may have either no apertures, or a reduced number of apertures relative to the wall 13. If the wall 23 had a plurality of large apertures, the pet could contact and soil the rear seat through same.

Figure 6 shows hooks 23 located on the sides of the receptacle 12. The hooks 23 may engage with resilient bands which attach for example, to the rear car door handles (not shown), which therefore serves to secure a form of accessory 11 which does not closely fit the space in which it is installed in the vehicle.

It will be appreciated that it is not intended to limit the invention to the above examples only, many further variations being possible to one skilled in the art, without departing from the scope thereof.

For example1 pads may be provided to decrease the internal size of the receptacle to better accommodate pets of smaller size.

Claims

1. An accessory for a motor vehicle, comprising an open-topped box-like receptacle for a pet animal and having at least one wall extending upwardly from a side of the receptacle, the whole being so dimensioned and shaped that when in use and positioned within the vehicle it forms with adjacent parts of the vehicle, an enclosure for the pet animal.

2. An accessory according to claim 1, characterised in that the wall comprises apertures therein for ventillation purposes and to allow the driver of the vehicle rear vision.

3. An accessory according to either of claims 1 or 2, characterised in that the wall is straight or cranked to permit the receptacle to be positioned partly beneath an overlying part of the vehicle interior.

4. An accessory according to claim 1, characterised in that the receptacle is formed as a one piece plastics moulding.

5. An accessory according to any preceding claim, characterised in that the wall carries markings to permit a user to trim it to fit his particular vehicle.

6. An accessory according to any preceding claim, characterised in that the base of the receptacle is formed or treated so as to be of a non-slip character.

7. An accessory according to any preceding claim, characterised in that the receptacle is of generally trapezoidal plan to fit the floor behind the rear seat of a hatch back vehicle.

8. An accessory according to any one of claims 1 to 6, characterised in that the receptacle is of generally rectangular plan to fit onto the rear seat of a vehicle and has both front and rear walls.

9. An accessory according to any preceding claim, further comprising means for securing same in position within a vehicle.

10. An accessory according to any preceding claim, further comprising pads by which the size of the receptacle may be decreased to accommodate better pets of small size.