GB2241144A - Improved dog kennel - Google Patents

Abstract

The invention provides an improved dog kennel formed from a floor 12, four upstanding walls 14, 16, 18, 20 and a roof structure 28 comprising two roof panels 22, 24. The four walls 14, 16, 18, 20 are each provided with a substantially horizontal groove operative to engage with edges of the floor 12 and at least one pair of walls 18, 20 is provided with at least one substantially vertical groove operative to engage with vertical edges of adjacent end walls 14, 16 and form same in a box-like configuration around the floor 12. The roof structure 28 is also provided on its underside with a plurality of grooves operative to engage with the upper edges of the four walls 14, 16, 18, 20 and engage and retain same in a box-like configuration. <IMAGE>

Description

IMPROVED DOG KENNEL This invention relates to an improved dog kennel especially a dog kennel capable of quick and easy assembly and disassembly.

Traditionally dog kennels have been constructed of slatted wood in the manner of a small shed. Such a construction is of a permanent nature in that the wooden slats are nailed or otherwise rigidly fixed to a shaped framework to form the finished kennel.

Such a configuration presents several problems.

Firstly, the kennel is relatively immobile and cannot easily be moved from one location to another. This is particularly important where the dog owners are intending to move house and in order to ease any sense of disorientation experienced by the dog it would be preferable for him to retain his own previous kennel.

Secondly, with the rigid construction already known it is difficult to clean the interior of the kennel in order to present the dog with a clean living environment. The requirement for cleaning the interior of the kennel is made more difficult by the material of which the dog's kennel is made i.e. wood, which is difficult to make hygienically clean even if the kennel in question could be disassembled to allow easy access to its interior.

It is an object of the present invention therefore to provide an improved dog kennel which will allow quick and easy disassembly to permit easy cleaning of the kennel's interior.

With this object in view the present invention provides an improved dog kennel comprising a floor, four walls, and a roof, the walls each being provided with a substantial horizontal goove operative to engage with edges of the floor at least one pair of walls being provided with at least one substantially vertical groove operative to engage with vertical edges of adjacent walls and the roof being provided with means operative to engage with the wall's upper edges and retain same in a box-like configuration.

In a preferred embodiment of the invention a first pair of walls provided with horizontal grooves only and a second pair of walls provided with a horizontal groove and respective pairs of vertical grooves. It will be appreciated that the first pair of walls respective edges engage with the vertical grooves on the second pair of walls to form the required boxlike configuration.

In a second embodiment of the invention each wall is provided with one horizontal groove and one vertical groove. In this arrangement each wall is alternately engages in and receives an adjacent wall to form a rigid box-like configuration around the floor.

Advantageously the wall is formed in two sections and one pair of walls are each provided with a pointed apex such that two sloping surfaces are provided to support the roof.

In the construction described above the two roof panels are provided with respective grooves which engage with the upper edges of the box-like configuration so as to close same and rigidly lock the walls together.

In an alternative embodiment the roof is formed as a single panel only and one side wall of the kennel is formed so as to be taller than its corresponding operative wall, end walls of the configuration are formed having an apex at one edge of the wall so as to provide a single sloping surface. This arrangement is especially advantageous where the kennel is intended to be placed upright against a wall or fence.

The invention will now be described further by way of example with reference to the accompanying drawing in which the single figure is an exploded view of a preferred embodiment according to one aspect of the invention.

In the single figure an improved dog kennel 10 includes a substantially rectangular floor 12, four walls 14, 16, 18, 20 and two roof panels 22, 24.

A first pair of walls 14, 16 are provided as end walls of the box-like configuration and accordingly have a substantially similar appearance. Each wall 14, 16 is shaped as a rectangular section having a triangular upper section creating an apex substantially central of each wall 14, 16. In addition one of said walls 14 is designated as the front of the kennel structure and is provided with an opening 26 to permit a dog to enter or leave the kennel as desired. A second pair of walls 18, 20 are of substantially rectangular configuration and are arranged between the two end walls so as to form a box-like configuration about the floor 12.

In order to anchor the floor 12 securely within the side panels a horizontal groove is provided at the lower edge of each of said walls 14, 16, 18, 20 so as to engage with and hold the floor panel at a set distance above the ground on which the kennel is to rest. In the preferred embodiment the two side walls 18, 20 are each provided with two additional substantially vertical grooves close to the walls respective vertical edges.

These grooves are operative to receive and hold vertical edges of the end walls 14, 16 and thus create a cohesive and rigid structure around the rectangular floor 12.

It will be appreciated that the grooves are a tight fit both around the edges of the floor 12 and the vertical edges of the end walls 14, 16 so that the structure has the required rigidity. If necessary metal corner brackets or similar may be provided to fasten the corners of the walls 14, 16, 18, 20 together below the level of the floor panel 12. Such brackets are preferably easily removable such that the object of the improvement is maintained and the kennel is easily disassembled.

In order to finally anchor the improved kennel together and to cover the structure to ensure protection from weather a roof structure 28 is supplied comprising two roof panels 22, 24 arranged at substantially right angles to each other. These roof panels are supported by the inclined upper edges of the end walls 14, 16 so as to provide two sloping surfaces to permit drainage of water etc.

In the preferred embodiment each roof panel 22, 24 is provided on one face with grooves operative to engage with the upper edges of the walls 14, 16, 18, 20 and on one of the roof panels a further groove operative to engage with an upper edge of the adjacently placed roof panel. As with the walls metal retaining brackets or similar may be provided to anchor the roof panels together or to firmly affix said panels to the walls.

As an alternative to grooves a series of walls or blocks may be affixed to the roof panels respective inner faces such walls locating inside or outside (as desired) of the walls upper edges so as to hold same together and form the improved dog kennel according to the invention.

It will be appreciated that the improved dog kennel according to the invention may be easily disassembled both for movement and for cleaning purposes. Furthermore the walls, floor and roof panels are preferably formed from plastic, fibreglass, bakelite or a similar material thus providing easily cleanable surfaces and making it relatively simple to maintain a hygienic living environment within the kennel.

Furthermore, use of such materials makes the formation of grooves within the panels relatively simple and permits a light and easily transportable structure.

In an alternative embodiment of the invention a single roof panel is provided and the upper triangular section of the two end walls 14, 16 is disposed such that the apex is immediately above one vertical edge.

Such an arrangement is especially advantageous when the kennel is intended to be placed against a wall, fence or similar structure.

The invention is not confined to the foregoing details and variations may be made thereto. For example, although the two end walls are each provided with two vertical grooves an alternative embodiment could have each wall with only a single vertical groove such that walls alternatively engage and receive immediately adjacent walls. Although such a structure would not be entirely symmetrical it would have an increased rigidity when compared to the illustrated embodiments. Other variations are also possible.

Claims (7)

1. An improved dog kennel comprising a floor, four walls and a roof, the walls each being provided with a substantially horizontal groove operative to engage with edges of the floor, at least one pair or walls being provided with at least one substantially vertical groove operative to engage with vertical edges of adjacent walls and the roof being provided with means operative to engage with the walls upper edges and retain same in a box-like configuration.

2. An improved dog kennel as claimed in claim 1 wherein the first pair of walls provided with a horizontal groove only and the second pair or walls are each provided with a horizontal and two vertical grooves.

3. An improved dog kennel as claimed in claim 1 in which each wall is provided with one horizontal and one vertical groove.

4. An improved dog kennel as claimed in claims 1, 2 or 3 in which the roof is formed from two separate panels, and one pair of end walls is provided with a centrally located triangular apex to support said panels in a sloping configuration.

5. An improved dog kennel as claimed in claims 1, 2 or 3 in which the roof is formed of a single panel.

6. An improved dog kennel as claimed in claim 5 wherein one pair of end walls are each provided with a triangular apex located substantially over one vertical edge of said wall.

7. An improved dog kennel substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to and as illustrated in the accompanying drawings.