GB2336356A

GB2336356A - Stacking pet basket

Info

Publication number: GB2336356A
Application number: GB9808164A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Neil Haydon Francis; Penelope Jane Francis
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1998-04-18
Filing date: 1998-04-18
Publication date: 1999-10-20
Anticipated expiration: 2018-04-18
Also published as: GB9808164D0; GB2336356B

Abstract

A stacking pet basket comprises lower and upper pet baskets (1 and 3, respectively) and a supporting frame comprising at least three upright members (5) interconnected by support members (9). The upright members (5) are adapted to receive the lower pet basket (1) between them and to be received at their upper ends by an upper region of the upper basket (3). Additionally the support members (9) are adapted to pass over the lower basket (1). The support members (9) may be adjustable in length and the baskets (1, 3) are preferably generally oval in plan.

Description

2336356 STACKING PET BASKET This invention relates to a stacking pet

basket which permits, for example two or more pets to be accommodated in the space normally required for one.

According to the present invention there is provided a stacking pet basket comprising lower and upper pet baskets and a supporting frame comprising at least three upright members interconnected by support members, wherein the upright members are adapted to receive the lower pet basket therebetween and to be received at the upper end thereof by an upper region of the upper basket and wherein the support members are adapted to pass over the lower basket.

The support members may additionally support a base of the upper pet basket along at least part of one or more of the support members.

one or more of the support members may be adjustable in length, for example in a telescopic manner.

The baskets may be generally oval in plan. The upper basket may be provided with an outwardly projecting peripheral rim for engaging the upper ends of the upright members. The outer edge-of the rim may be provided with a downwardly extending skirt. Alternatively, the upper basket may be provided in the upper region thereof with 2 receiving means adapted to receive the upper end of each of the upright members. The receiving means may comprise a laterally extending portion for receiving the upper end of the upright member and a downwardly extending skirt for engaging around at least a part of the upper end of the upright member.

Four upright members may be provided. The upright members may be interconnected by support members in the form of an H, a rectangle or a cross.

The upright members may be substantially straight. In such case, the second basket may be larger than the first basket.

Alternatively the upright members may deviate from a straight configuration at least in the region thereof' above the lower basket. The upright members may deviate inwardly (in which case the lower and upper baskets may be of the same size) or may deviate outwardly (in which case the lower basket may be smaller than the upper basket).

The lengths of the upright members may differ.

The upright members may be provided with securing means offset from the centre of the upright member in order to facilitate adaptation of the supporting frame to baskets of different sizes by interchanging the upright members.

For a better understanding of the present invention and to show more clearly how it may be carried into effect reference will now be made, by way of example, to the accompanying drawings in which:

Figure 1 is a front elevational view of one embodiment of a stacking pet basket according to the present invention; Figure 2 is a plan view of the stacking pet basket shown in Figure 1; Figure 3 is a front elevational view of another embodiment of a stacking pet basket according to the present invention; and Figure 4 is a side elevational view of the stacking pet basket shown in Figure 3.

The stacking pet basket shown in Figures 1 and 2 comprises a frame adapted to accommodate a lower pet basket 1 therebeneath and to support an upper pet basket 3 thereon with the upper pet basket being arranged immediately above the lower. The pet baskets 1 and 3 are generally oval in plan.

The frame in the illustrated embodiment comprises four upright members 5 bearing at their lower ends on a support surface, such as a floor, and engaging at their upper ends beneath a receiving element provided in the upper region of the upper basket in the form of an outwardly projecting rim 7 provided around the upper periphery of the upper pet basket 3. For strength and to ensure the upper ends of the upright members are retained beneath the rim 7, the outer edge of the rim has a downwardly extending skirt. Clearly, if desired a specific receiving element can be provided for each of the upright members. Nevertheless, it is desirable that the receiving element should have a laterally extending portion for engaging the upper surface of the upright member and a downwardly extending skirt for engaging around at least part of the upper end of the upright member in order to provide secure retention of the upright member.

The upright members 5 are interconnected in pairs by a laterally extending support member 9 which is secured to the upright members intermediate the upper and lower ends thereof. The support members 9 may be positioned so as to support the base of the upper pet basket 3 along at least part of the length of the support member.

The support members 9 are midway along the length of member 11 which is secured support members 9 (that is, connecting member 11 may be pet basket 3 along at least interconnected substantially each thereof by a connecting at each end to one of the in the form of an H). The adapted to support the upper part of the length thereof.

- 5 The support members 9 and/or the connecting member 11 be adjustable in length, for example in a telescopic manner.

It will be appreciated that the location of the connecting member 11, and indeed the number of connecting members, can be varied. For example, a connecting member can be provided in the region of each end of the support members 9, that is interconnecting each pair of upright members 5 to form a substantially rectangular framework thereby effectively providing four support members. As a further alternative, a support member 9 may extend diagonally between pairs of upright members 5 in the form of an 'X' with the support members 9 being secured together substantially in the middle thereof. In this arrangement the support members 9 also provide the function of the connecting member(s).

The frame can be provided with accessories if desired, such as means for receiving one or more food bowls. The accessories may be made of any convenient material, such as a wire framework or a sheet formed with suitable apertures.

In use of the stacking pet basket shown in Figures 1 and 2, the lower pet basket 1 is somewhat smaller than the upper pet basket 3 and is initially arranged in a desired position on a support surface. The frame is positioned over the lower basket 1 with the upright members 5 positioned adjacent to the outer periphery of the basket. The upper pet basket 3 is then positioned on the frame with the base of the basket optionally being supported by at least part of the support members 9 and/by at least part of the connecting member 11. The upper end of each of the upright members 5 engages beneath the rim 7 of the upper basket and between the downwardly extending skirt and the side wall of the basket. If necessary, the length of the upright members 5 may need to differ in order to provide engagement beneath the rim 7. For example, the rear upright members may need to be longer than the front upright members.

The stacking pet basket shown in Figures 3 and 4 is similar to that shown in Figures 1 and 2 and the same references are used to denote the same or similar parts. The upright members 5 of the stacking basket shown in Figures 3 and 4 are inclined or otherwise bent at least in the upper region thereof and are arranged such that the upper ends of the upright members extend in a direction towards each other. The extent of the deviation is such that the upper basket 3 is of the same size as the lower basket 1 which offers the advantage that it is not necessary to provide baskets of differing sizes. In practice, we have found that the upper end of the upright member 5 ideally deviates inwardly by about 19 mm from a point corresponding substantially to the top of the lower basket 1 in order that the upper basket 3 can be of the same size as the lower basket.

- 7 It is also helpful, where the upright members are generally rectangular in cross-section, for the upright members to be angled relative to the longitudinal direction of the support member 9 with the outermost regions of one pair of upright members being closer to the opposing pair of upright members. This facilitates mounting of the upper ends of the support members beneath the rim 7 of the upper basket 3. We have found an angle in the range of from 20 to 30 degrees, preferably about 25 degrees, to the longitudinal direction to be generally satisfactory.

Where the components of the frame are made of metal or other suitable material, a number of additional options are available. The upright members 5 may be made of hollow tubular material of generally rectangular cross-section and the lower and upper ends of the upright members may be provided with closure plugs (not shown). The upright members may be provided with securing holes (not shown), for example two such holes, positioned one above the other for receiving bolts or the like (not shown) in order to secure the upright members to the support members 9. The securing holes may be offset laterally relative to the midpoint of the upright member in order to permit adjustment of the positions of the upright members relative to the baskets simply by interchanging the upright members thereby permitting adaptation of the frame to a wider range of basket sizes. For example, with the offset securing holes of each pair of upright members on that side of the respective securing member closest to the other member of the pair, the centres of the upright members are relatively further apart than if the securing holes were positioned centrally (permitting adaptation to relatively large baskets), while with the offset securing holes of each pair of upright members on that side of the respective securing member furthest from the other member of the pair, the centres of the upright members are relatively closer together than if the securing holes were positioned centrally (permitting adaptation to relatively small baskets). In this case, it is possible to adapt the frame such that the sizes of both the lower and upper baskets are changed.

It will further be appreciated that the use of securing holes, or other releasable fastening means, enables the upright members 5 to be reversed. Reversal of the upright members can be employed in two ways.

First, reversal of a substantially straight upright member offers the same ability to adapt the frame to baskets of two different sizes. In this case, the sizes of both the lower and upper baskets are changed.

Second, reversal of the inclined or otherwise bent upright member offers, in addition to the possibility of interchanging the upright members to adapt the frame to baskets of different sizes, the possibility to adapt the frame to accommodate a larger upper basket than lower basket as an alternative to baskets of the same size. As will be apparent, with the upright members deviating outwardly, the upper basket can be larger than the lower basket. Thus the use of an inclined or otherwise bent upright member permits four combinations of basket size. Further combinations can be provided where the support members and/or the connecting member are adjustable in length.

Claims

A stacking pet basket comprising lower and upper pet baskets and a supporting frame comprising at least three upright members interconnected by support members, wherein the upright members are adapted to receive the lower pet basket therebetween and to be received at the upper end thereof by an upper region of the upper basket and wherein the support members are adapted to pass over the lower basket.

2. A pet basket as claimed in claim 1, wherein the support members additionally support a base of the upper pet basket along at least part of one or more of the support members.

3. A pet basket as claimed in claim 1 or 2, wherein one or more of the support members are adjustable in length.

4.

5.

A pet basket as claimed in claim 3, wherein the support members are adjustable in a telescopic manner.

A pet basket as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein the baskets are generally oval in plan.

A pet basket as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein the upper basket is provided with an outwardly - 11 projecting peripheral rim for engaging the upper ends of the upright members.

A pet basket as claimed in claim 6, wherein the outer edge of the rim is provided with a downwardly extending skirt.

8. A pet basket as claimed in claim 6, wherein the upper basket is provided in the upper region thereof with receiving means adapted to receive the upper end of each of the upright members.

9. A pet basket as claimed in claim 8, wherein the receiving means comprises a laterally extending portion for receiving the upper end of the upright member and a downwardly extending skirt for engaging around at least a part of the upper end of the upright member.

10. A pet basket as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein four upright members are provided.

11. A pet basket as claimed in claim 10, wherein the upright members are interconnected by support members in the form of an E.

12.

- 12 A pet basket as claimed in claim 10, wherein the upright members are interconnected by support members in the form of a rectangle.

13. A pet basket as claimed in claim 10, wherein the upright members are interconnected by support members in the form of a cross.

is 14. A pet basket as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein the upright members are substantially straight.

15. A pet basket as claimed in claim 14, wherein the second basket is larger than the first basket.

16. A pet basket as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 13, wherein the upright members deviate from a straight configuration at least in the region thereof above the lower basket.

17. A pet basket as claimed in claim 16, wherein the upright members deviate inwardly.

18. A pet basket as claimed in claim 16, wherein the upright members deviate outwardly.

19. A pet basket as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein the lengths of the upright members differ.

13 - 20. A pet basket as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein the upright members are provided with securing means offset from the centre of the upright member in order to facilitate adaptation of the supporting frame to baskets of different sizes by interchanging the upright members.

21. A stacking pet basket substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to, and as shown in, Figures 1 and 2 or Figures 3 and 4 of the accompanying drawings.