GB2529198A

GB2529198A - A configurable pet bed

Info

Publication number: GB2529198A
Application number: GB1414316.8A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Darren Dutton
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2014-08-13
Filing date: 2014-08-13
Publication date: 2016-02-17
Also published as: GB201414316D0

Abstract

A device to accommodate a pet comprising: a base having an upper surface 12 and left, right, front and rear sides. The device further comprises a left 22 and a right 24 side walls attached to the left and right sides of the base, and a rear wall (26 figure 4) attached to the rear side of the base. The device further comprises a front wall (28 figure 3) flexibly attached to the front side of the base and movable between a first configuration in which the front wall lies on top of the base between the side and rear walls, a second configuration in which the front wall is substantially vertical and its sides lie adjacent to the sides of the left and right walls, and a third configuration in which the front wall lies approximately level with and in front of the base. The device further comprises attachment features to fix the front wall to the left and right side walls in the second configuration. The rear and side walls may comprise lower wall portions (30, 32, 34 figure 2) and upper wall portions (36, 38, 40 figure 2) that are flexibly attached to the lower wall portions.

Description

A configurable pet bed

Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to beds or couches for pets such as dogs or cats, in particular adapted for carrying a dog or a cat in a vehicle.

Background

Pet beds and travel enclosures are known to provide a comfortable surface to lie on, for pets such as dogs and cats. In general such devices are designed to have one configuration, such as a bed, a couch or an enclosure, though some devices are known that may be folded or otherwise adapted for more than one use. In general though such devices lack features that give convenience to use such as the ability to vary the dimensions of the bed or couch surface and the height of the walls of the enclosure. This means that a pet owner is obliged to use two or more different devices for say static use in the home and travel in a vehicle. The present invention aims to provide a reconfigurable device able to function both as a pet bed and as a travel enclosure that overcomes the deficiencies of the prior art.

Prior Art

Accordingly a number of patent applications have been filed in an attempt to resolve the problem or similar, including the following: US200BO1 73627 discloses a pet pad that can be configured to fit in a variety of different vehicle cargo spaces. The pet pad has a main portion and a plurality of extending portions coupled to the main portion. The extending portions have a first position in which they are drawn into the main portion and a second position in which the extending portions increase a surface area of the pet pad. The pet pad can include a heating and/or cooling device.

This device provides a set of low sides to a couch that may be folded down flat with the base. It is not adapted to function as a travel enclosure.

U37478858 discloses: An animal traveler/animal comfort assembly is provided for use in a passenger vehicle. The assembly generally includes a compressible base having a front side, a substantially opposing rear side, a left side and a right side located between the front side and rear side. The base is conveniently sized to fit within and closely conform to a cargo space, or other interior space, of a vehicle, for example, a sport utility vehicle. The base may include a lower layer of support foam and an upper layer of memory foam, the layers being encased by a substantially puncture resistant covering. Upstanding front and rear panels are connected to the front side and rear side of the base. The front and rear panels may be hingedly connected to the base to facilitate ingress and egress of the animal. The assembly further includes opposing, upstanding side panels which may be removably connected to the left side and right side of the base.

This device comprises a set of panels that may be assembled onto a base to provide a travel enclosure suitable for use in a vehicle. It does not provide capability to adjust the configuration of the panels to provide variable degrees of space or enclosure for the pet.

US20050211175 discloses: An improved portable or traveling pet bed has a generally laminar panel that is at least partially covered on one side with material adapted to be comfortable to a pet lying on the panel. At least one hinge member is formed in the panel and divides it into first and second portions on each side of the hinge member. The first and second portions of the panel can be folded toward one another into a closed position.

This device has a folding bed base that folds up into a case. It does not provide a travelling enclosure as well as a bed or couch.

Sum mary of the Invention According to the present invention there is provided a device to accommodate a pet comprising: abase having an upper surface and left, right front and rear sides; a left and a right side walls attached to the left and right sides of the base; a rear wall attached to the rear side of the base; a front wall flexibly attached to the front side of the base and movable between a first configuration in which the front wall lies on top of the base between the side and rear walls, a second configuration in which the front wall is substantially vertical and its sides lie adjacent to the sides of the left and right walls, and a third configuration in which the front wall lies approximately level with and in front of the base; and attachment features to fix the front wall to the left and right side walls in the second configuration.

In some embodiments the base comprises a compliant major surface.

In some embodiments the front wall comprises a compliant major surface.

In some embodiments the front wall comprises a first major surface and a second, opposing major surface, both major surfaces being compliant.

A compliant surface is one that will partially deform in use in response to the pet's weight. A compliant surface may comprise a cushioned layer overlying a further, more rigid layer. A cushioned layer may comprise a cushioning material such as padding, a fibrous material, a particulate material or a foam material, such as a closed cell foam, a memory foam or a moulded shaped material having a compressibility such that the weight of a pet will cause it to deform. The base may comprise two or more layers, such as a substantially rigid first layer and a more compliant upper layer disposed on the first to provide the said cushioned surface.

In some embodiments the side and rear walls each comprise a lower wall portion and an upper wall portion flexibly attached to the lower wall portion, the lower wall portion of the rear wall being attached to the adjacent lower wall portions of the left and right side walls.

In this way the device provides a pet bed that may be configured as an open-fronted couch when the front wall is in the first configuration, wherein the couch has a double thickness of base, comprising the base of the device and the front wall lying on top of it. The upper portion of the side walls and the rear walls may be folded up when in this configuration. The device may instead be configured as a travel enclosure when the front wall in the second configuration, for example for use in a vehicle, and the upper portions of the walls may be folded down in this configuration to allow the device to fit within the vehicle, or as an extended couch when the front wall is in the third configuration, wherein the front wall lies on the ground substantially level with the base.

The lower portions of the left and right side walls may comprise reversible attachment devices to attach them to the sides of the lower portion of the rear wall.

The upper portions of the left and right side walls may comprise reversible attachment devices to attach them to the sides of the upper portion of the rear wall.

In this way they may be detached to allow them to fold with respect to each other.

In some embodiments the walls and the base each comprise reversible attachment devices to attach them to each other. In this way the device may be disassembled into a series of essentially flat components to allow it to be stored.

The upper portions of the left and right side wall and the rear wall may comprise one or more substantially rigid portions foldably attached to the upper edge of the corresponding lower portion.

The base and walls may comprise one or more semi-rigid panels such as a foam panel and may be covered with a flexible material such as a fabric or a polymer film.

A substantially rigid portion may comprise a semi-flexible body such as a foam panel and a foldable attachment may comprise a region of a flexible material such as a fabric joined to the substantially rigid portion.

A reversible aftachment device may be a hook and loop attachment device such as VELCROTM, a zip fastener, a toggle and loop arrangement, or a series of magnetic fasteners.

In some embodiments the front wall comprises a first major surface that faces upwards when the front wall is in the first configuration and a second major surface opposing the first that faces downwards when in the first configuration and upwards when in the third configuration. In some embodiments both the first and the second major surfaces are adapted for a pet to lie on them. In this way the device provides a comfortable surface for the pet to lie on when the front wall is folded down onto the base in the first configuration and when the front wall is folded flat outwards to provide an extended couch for the pet.

In some embodiments the device is sized to fit within a vehicle such as a car.

In some embodiments the device comprises means to attach it to a standard seatbelt as fitted to a vehicle. In some embodiments the device comprises one or more of the following features: slots to receive a seatbelt; buckles to interfit with a seatbelt; belts attached to the device to allow it to be secured within a vehicle.

The device may be provided in sizes to suit the size of pet, for example a small, medium and a large size for a small, medium or large sized dog.

In this way in some embodiments the device provides a hard wearing product for dogs which incorporates three different functions, the first being a sofa. This is appropriate for users who don't necessarily have enough space for a full size dog bed or have a smaller dog. The second function is a dog bed in which the front wall folds out and down to provide more space for a larger dog. The last function is a travel basket for the inside of vehicles, in which the back and sides will fold up and join down the edges using tough zips. The fold out bed cushion also rotates around to become the front face of the basket and is again joined to the sides via zips.

The walls and the base may be in the form of cushions comprising an insert and a cover. The insert may be a foam panel, for example a semi-rigid foam panel, such that the foam panel is self-supporting when used as a wall of the device. The cover may comprise a washable woven fabric. The cover may be removable from the insert and may comprise an opening having a closure. The closure may be for example a zip or a hook and loop fastener such as VelcroTM.

Brief Description of Figures

Figure 1 shows an isometric view of an embodiment of the invention in the first configuration with the front wall folded down on top of the base.

Figure 2 shows an isometric view of the embodiment shown in figure 1 in the second configuration with the front wall folded up and joined to the side walls to form a travel enclosure, with the upper wall portions folded up to give extra height.

Figure 3 shows an isometric view of the embodiment shown in figure 1 in the third configuration with the front wall folded down to form an extended couch.

Figure 4 shows a front view of the embodiment in shown in figure 1 in the first configuration.

Figure 5 shows a front view of the embodiment as shown in figure 2 in the second configuration.

Figure 6 shows a front view of the embodiment shown in figure 3 in the third configuration.

Detailed Description of Figures

Referring to figures 1 to 6, an embodiment of a device according to the invention comprises: A cushioned base 10 having an upper surface 12 and a left side 14, a right side 16, a front side 18 and a rear side 20, A left side wall 22 and a right side wall 24 attached to the left 14 and right 16 sides of thebaselo, A rear wall 26 attached to the rear side 20 of the base, A front wall 28 flexibly attached to the front side 18 of the base and movable between a first configuration as shown in figures 1 and 4 in which the front wall lies on top of the base between the side and rear walls, a second configuration as shown in figures 2 and 5 in which the front wall is substantially vertical and its sides lie adjacent to the sides of the left and right walls, and a third configuration as shown in figures 3 and 6 in which the front wall lies approximately level with and in front of the base, And the device comprises attachment devices to fix the front wall to the left and right side walls in the second configuration.

In this embodiment the base 10 comprises a first cushioned major surface 12 and a second, opposing major surface 58, both major surfaces being cushioned.

In this embodiment the side 22, 24 and rear 26 walls each comprise a lower wall portion 30, 32, 34 and an upper wall portion 36, 38, 40 flexibly attached to the lower wall portion, the lower wall portion of the rear wall being attached to the adjacent lower wall portions of the left and right side walls.

In this way the device provides a pet bed that may be configured as an open-fronted couch when the front wall is in the first configuration as shown in figures 1 and 4, wherein the couch has a double thickness of base, comprising the base of the device and the front wall lying on top of it. The upper portion of the side walls and the rear walls may be folded down or folded up when in this configuration. The device may instead be configured as a travel enclosure as shown in figures 2 and 5 when the front wall in the second configuration, for example for use in a vehicle, and the upper portions of the walls may be folded up in this configuration to give an extra height to the enclosure or folded down to allow the device to fit within the vehicle. Finally the device may be configured as an extended couch as shown in figures 3 and 6, when the front wall is in the third configuration, wherein the front wall lies on the ground substantially level with the base.

In this embodiment the upper portions of the left and right side walls comprise reversible attachment devices provided at their rear edges 42, 44 to attach them to the sides 46, 48 of the upper portion of the rear wall.

In this embodiment the upper portions of the left and right side wall and the rear wall comprise two substantially rigid portions 50, 52 foldably attached to the upper edge 54 of the corresponding lower portion.

In this embodiment the base and walls comprise semi-rigid panels such as a foam panel and are covered with a flexible material such as a fabric or a polymer film.

In this embodiment the reversible attachments are zip fasteners.

In this embodiment the base 10 comprises an upper surface 12 adapted for a pet to lie on it, comprising a foam insert that provides a cushioned layer, and a fabric cover adapted to be suitable for a pet, for example being soft, washable and tough enough to withstand scratching.

In this embodiment the front wall 28 comprises a first major surface 12 that faces upwards when the front wall is in the first configuration and a second major surface 58 opposing the first that faces downwards when in the first configuration and upwards when in the third configuration.

In this embodiment both the first 12 and the second 58 major surfaces are adapted for a pet to lie on them, such as comprising one or more of a cushioned layer, a fabric cover adapted to be suitable for a pet, for example being soft, washable and tough enough to withstand scratching.

Examples of fabrics suitable for use on a surface to be laid on by a pet will be known to the skilled person.

In this embodiment the device is sized to fit within a vehicle such as a car.

The embodiment may be provided in sizes to suit the size of pet, for example a small, medium and a large size for a small, medium or large sized dog.

The walls and the base are in the form of cushions comprising an insert and a cover.

The insert comprises a foam panel, for example a semi-rigid foam panel, such that the foam panel is self-supporting when used as a wall of the device. The cover comprises a woven fabric. The cover is removable from the insert and comprises an opening having a closure in the form of a zip or a hook and loop fastener such as VelcroTM.

The invention has been described by way of examples only and it will be appreciated that variation may be made to the above-mentioned embodiments without departing from the scope of invention. Firstly it will be understood that any features described in relation to any particular embodiment may be featured in combinations with other embodiments.

With respect to the specification therefore, it is to be realised that the optimum dimensional relationships for the parts of the invention, to include variations in size, materials, shape, form, function and manner of operation, assembly and use, are deemed readily apparent and obvious to one skilled in the art, and all equivalent relationships to those illustrated in the drawings and described in the specification are intended to be encompassed by the present invention.

Therefore, the foregoing is considered as illustrative only of the principles of the invention, with variation and implementation obvious and clear on the basis of either common general knowledge or of expert knowledge in the field concerned. Further, since numerous modifications and changes will readily occur to those skilled in the art, it is not desired to limit the invention to the exact construction and operation shown and described, and accordingly, all suitable modifications and equivalents may be resorted to, falling within the scope of the invention as set out in the accompanying claims.

Claims

Claims 1. A device to accommodate a pet comprising: a base having an upper surface and left, right front and rear sides; a left and a right side walls attached to the left and right sides of the base; a rear wall attached to the rear side of the base; a front wall flexibly attached to the front side of the base and movable between a first configuration in which the front wall lies on top of the base between the side and rear walls, a second configuration in which the front wall is substantially vertical and its sides lie adjacent to the sides of the left and right walls, and a third configuration in which the front wall lies approximately level with and in front of the base; and attachment features to fix the front wall to the left and right side walls in the second configuration.
2. A device according to claim 1 wherein the base comprises a compliant major surface.
3. A device according to claim 1 or claim 2 wherein the front wall comprises a compliant major surface.
4. A device according to claim 3 wherein the front wall comprises a first major surface and a second, opposing major surface, both major surfaces being compliant.
5. A device according to any of claims 2 to 4 wherein the compliant surface comprises a foam insert and a fabric covering.
6. A device according to any preceding claim wherein the side and rear walls each comprise a lower wall portion and an upper wall portion flexibly attached to the lower wall portion.
7. A device according to claim 6 wherein the upper portions of the left and right side walls comprise reversible attachment devices to attach them to the sides of the upper portion of the rear wall.
8. A device according to claim 7 whelein the upper portions of the left and right side wall and the rear wall comprise one or more substantially rigid portions foldably attached to the upper edge of the corresponding lower portion.
9. A device according to any preceding claim wherein the base and walls comprise a foam panel covered with a flexible fabric material.
10. A device according to any preceding claim sized to fit within a vehicle.
11. A device according to claim 10 comprising one or more attachment features to fix it in place within a vehicle, the features being selected from one of: a slot or aperture to receive a seat belt, a buckle to inteifit with a seat belt and one a belt attached to the device to interfit with a fixing means attached to the vehicle.