MXPA99006296A - Carter of masco - Google Patents

Abstract

A collapsible pet carrier of light construction is described. The end walls are foldable on the bottom, the side walls are foldable around the end walls to allow the strips to retain the bundle together when they are not in use. The carrier can be quickly assembled by rotating or articulating the end walls upwards and securing them to the side walls and securing the handles to each other. An optional storage bag or bag can be incorporated into the handle system and several windows on the side or end walls can be provided to facilitate ventilation.

Description

CARRIERS OF PETS Field of the invention The field of this invention is concerned with the carriers of light pets that have the ability to fold for storage.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION Pet carriers have been in use for some time. There are several significant design criteria for an effective pet carrier. The carrier must be structurally strong enough to contain the pet, while at the same time it must be light enough in such a way that the carrier and pet combination can be easily manipulated by the owner. Other design criteria are the ability to fold the carrier when it is not in use, so that it takes up very little storage space. Pet carriers in the past have met some of these criteria but have failed to provide a design that effectively meets all. U.S. Patent 5,669,331 shows a rigid pet carrier with foldable side walls that has the appearance of a suitcase when folded. In addition to the disadvantage of the weight such a design also suffers from the unnecessary complexity that, over time, will ensure operational difficulties with the collapsible side walls due to the numerous fold sites and REF .: 30140 turns or turns required to effectively fold the side wall. US Pat. No. 5,672,697 illustrates a rigid pet carrier having two sections, which are plugged together, so that the volume of the pet carrier can be enlarged or reduced to contain animals of different sizes. U.S. Patent 5,671,698 illustrates a pet carrier with mesh side walls that is not collapsible. U.S. Patent 5,235,612 illustrates a rigid stackable pet carrier. U.S. Patents 3,280.79; 5,121,710; 5,081,956 and 4,159,593 illustrate portable kennels. US Patent 4,220,119 illustrates a pet carrier which, after opening from an internal frame member, allows the end walls to fold over themselves along a vertical fold. One of the objects of the present invention is to provide a lightweight pet carrier that can be folded to a very small size and easily stored. Another objective of the present invention is to provide a design that can be assembled for use quickly and that provides comfort for the pet when in use. Another objective of the present invention is to provide additional features that allow the accommodation of an attached storage bag to contain products related to the pet or products of the owner, as well as several windows or holes to allow ventilation in the carrier for the convenience of the pet. . These and other objects can be more easily appreciated by an examination of the following detailed description of the preferred embodiment.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION A collapsible pet carrier of light construction is described. The end walls are foldable on the bottom, with the side walls foldable around the end walls, to allow the strips or bands to hold the bundle together when not in use. The carrier can be mounted quickly by rotating the end walls upwards and securing them to the side walls and securing the handles or handles to each other. An optional storage bag can be incorporated into the handle system and several windows on the side or end walls can be provided to facilitate ventilation.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS Figure 1 illustrates a pet carrier, showing a wing of the side wall in the positions rolled down and rolled up. Figure 2 is a bottom view of the carrier extended on a flat surface.

Figure 3 is a perspective view of the carrier with the side walls partially folded on top of the folded end walls. Figure 4 is a perspective view showing the fully folded side walls and the handles that are wrapped to secure the folded side walls to the base. Figure 5 shows the package completely folded with the handles secured around it to hold it together. Figure 6 is a perspective view of the pet carrier, showing the optional bag incorporated into the handle system. Figure 7 is a perspective view of the structural component of one of the end walls. Figure 8 is a perspective view of the internal tray that supports the end walls through a rotating or articulated connection with the structure shown in Figure 7. Figure 9 is a perspective view of the carrier used as a bed.

Detailed description of the preferred embodiment The overall structure of the pet carrier P is shown in figure 1. It comprises side walls 10 and 12 and end walls 14 and 16"(see figure 2). The side walls 10 and 12 are an extension of the bottom 18. Bottom 18 has rings or turns 20 and 22 through which a continuous strip or band 24 extends. A handle 26 is formed of a piece of rectangular material having a plurality of inserts 28, which is secured to end 30 of the strip 24. The opposite end-32, when held adjacent the end 30, can be secured thereto by wrapping the handle 26 around the ends 30 and 32 and holding the inserts 28. This position is illustrated for folded condition of the pet carrier P in figure 5. With reference again to figure 2, the bottom 18 has a plurality of legs 34, distributed at its four corners to keep the bottom 18 away from the ground when the carrier P of Pets is installed. Figure 2 also illustrates that the fabric end walls 14 and 16 form an extension of the bottom 18. Each of the end walls 14 and 16 have a structural component illustrated in perspective view in Figure 7. The U-shaped structure 36 has a pair of opposed pivots 38 and a travel detent 40 associated with each pivot 38. Other shapes of the end wall or end wall are within the scope of the invention. With reference to Figure 8, a tray 42 has receptacles 44, each of which accepts a pivot 38 of the structure 36 shown in Figure 7. With reference to Figure 1, a series of fasteners 46 secure the end walls 14. or 16 to the structural component 36 shown in Fig. 7. By virtue of the fasteners 46 joining the fabric end walls 14 and 16 to the structure 36, the tray 42 remains secured to the bottom 18. The tray 42 can be secured separately bottom 18. The folded position of the structure 36 on the tray 42 is illustrated in Figure 3 when the pet carrier P is folded for storage. In view of Figure 3, the structure 36 is parallel to the tray 42 to facilitate the folding of the side walls 10 and 12 on the folded end walls 14 and 16. With reference again to Figure 7, the structure 36 has a support surface 48 running on its outside. With reference to Figure 3, the edges 50 and 52 of the side walls 10 and 12 are positioned to support or rest on the surface 48 and be fastened thereto, preferably by a known type of fastener such as a hook and loop. , schematically shown as 54. While only one side is shown, the joining of the side walls 10 and 12 to the other structure 36 (not shown) is preferably identical. In this way, when the end walls 14 and 16 are rotated to a vertical position, as determined by the travel stop or obstacle 40, the side walls 10 and 12 can be quickly wrapped and secured to the end walls 14 and 16. by hook and loop union 54. The side walls 10 and 12 are also secured together by a hook and loop arrangement, schematically shown as 56. Hook and loop arrangement 56 is located adjacent ends 58 and 60 of walls 10 and 12 (see Figures 2 and 3). A pull tab 62 is located at the top of each of the end walls 14 and 16 to facilitate rotation of the end walls 14 and 16 from the folded position shown in Figure 3 the upright position shown in Figure 1. A once the end walls 14 and 16 are pulled to the point where the obstacle or stop 40 prevents further rotation, the end walls 14 and 16 are now in position to have the side walls 10 and 12 wrapped around the structure 36 and secured to the structure 36 by hooks and rings 54. After this, the upper part of the pet carrier P is secured by joining the side walls 10 and 12 together by means of the hook and ring 56. After this, the ends 30 and 32 are attached below the handle 26 and the inserts 28 are clamped. Pet carrier P is now ready to transport the pet inside. Firm pull on the tongue 62 with the pet carrier P in the assembled condition will pull an end wall, such as 14, when the fabric is separated from the structure 36. The pet can be introduced or removed in this way, as opposed to to undo the hook and ring 56. With reference to Figure 2, a cloth flap 64 can be retained with inserts 66 or can be rolled and secured by using strips 68 and 70, each of which has an insert 72. Figure 6 illustrates that the strip 24 is sufficiently high to extend around the rims 73 of a carrier bag 74. Then, the strips 24 are secured to each other by the handle 26 when using the inserts 28 in the manner previously described. The rings 73 prevent the bag or pouch 74 from sliding between the ends 14 and 16. A rack 76 provides access to the bags 74. Figure 6 also illustrates the flap 64 in the up-rolled position, which exposes an open mesh 78 that allows ventilation. Also illustrated in Figure 6 is an open area of 80 mesh for additional cross ventilation through the pet carrier P. In the illustrated embodiment each of the end walls 14 and 16 has the open area mesh 80. To further retain the end walls 14 and 16 to the side walls 10 and 12, the fins 82, which extend from the junction of the bottom 18 and the side walls 10 and 12, can be used in conjunction with the insert 84 to insert together the side walls 10 and 12 adjacent to the lower end of the end walls 14 and 16. The insert 84 is inserted to the structure 36. With reference to Figure 8, the inner tray 42 comprises a diamond-shaped grid 86 on top of the which is placed a floor (not shown) for the pet to sit or stand. The tray 42 and the structure 36 are made of lightweight plastic materials and the pet carrier P preferably has fabric components, to allow the entire assembly to be easily washed in a washing machine. Figures 4 and 5 illustrate how the strip 24 can be wrapped around the side walls 10 and 12 after the end walls 14 and 16 have been folded to the tray 42. The handle 26, as shown in Figure 5, can be used to secure the ends 30 and 32 of the strip 24 in such a way that the package is in its minimum volume for easy and convenient storage. Figure 9 illustrates the side wall 12 folded on the bottom 18 to leave an open side in such a way that the pet carrier P can be used as a bed of the pet. A pad 37 can be placed on the tray 42. This pad can be a separable pad or it can incorporate a moisture-absorbing material that can be wetted or absorbed by sweat or urine in an amount in excess or greater than its own weight. materials are commonly used in diapers Those skilled in the art will appreciate that what has been described is a unique pet carrier P that is lightweight and easy to assemble and disassemble in spite of its light weight through the use of fastener of hook and loop 54 and 56, the overall design is robust enough to securely hold the pet inside the carrier P. The pet is easily introduced or removed through an upper opening 86 when using the hook-and-loop attachment 56. The strip 24 can be manufactured long enough to accommodate a bag 74 for carrying provisions concerning the pet or the user's own. Ventilation is provided through openings through the 78 or 80 mesh. The folding capacity of the design allows many units to be displayed for retail sale in a very compact space, with one or two units shown in the position- Figures 1 or 6 for demonstration purposes. Many materials can be used for the end walls and side walls without deviating from the spirit of the invention. A light, resistant material is preferred. Other materials may include natural and / or synthetic fabrics with transpiration capacity that will allow air to flow, but which will exclude precipitation. A fabric as such is sold under the Gortex® trademark.

The above disclosure and description of the invention are illustrative and explanatory thereof and several changes in size, shape and materials, as well as in the details of the illustrated construction can be made without deviating from the spirit of the invention. It is noted that, in relation to this date, the best method known by the applicant to carry out the aforementioned invention, is the conventional one for the manufacture of the objects to which it refers.

Claims (23)

1. Rei indications Having described the invention as above, claimed as property, contained in the following claims: 1. A pet carrier, characterized in that it comprises: a bottom; a pair of end panels movably mounted to the bottom for movement between a folded position where the end panels are aligned with the bottom and an upright position for use in carrying a pet; a pair of side walls selectively insurable to the end panels when the end panels are in the erect position to consummate the wrap for the pet. The pet carrier according to claim 1, characterized in that: the end panels are rotatably mounted to the bottom. The pet carrier according to claim 1, characterized in that: the side walls are foldable on the end panels when the end panels are in the folded position. 4. The pet carrier according to claim 3, characterized in that: the side walls comprise segments of opposed material that do not have structural components, the segments are supported by the end panels when the end panels are in the upright position. The pet carrier according to claim 4, characterized in that: the end panels comprise a structural frame, the segments of material are releasably secured to the frame 6. The carrier in accordance with the claim 5, characterized in that: the segments of material are secured to the frame by means of a hook-and-loop connection. 7. The carrier in accordance with the claim 6, characterized in that: the segments are insurable with each other to form a wrapping for the introduction or removal of the pet. 8. The carrier in accordance with the claim 7, characterized by: the envelope is formed by a hook-and-loop connection. 9. The carrier according to claim 1, characterized in that it further comprises: a strip assembly passing under the bottom for support thereof and having a pair of end areas; a handle to releasably secure the end areas to function as a grid. The carrier according to claim 9, characterized in that: the strip assembly is wrapped around the side walls when the side walls are placed on the end panels when the end panels are in the folded position; The handle secures the strip assembly around the side walls to secure the side walls and the end panel to the bottom for storage of the pet carrier. The carrier according to claim 9, characterized in that: it carries a bag or bag suspended by the side walls, the strip assembly passes through the rings in the bag or bag to keep it secured to the side walls. The carrier according to claim 2, characterized in that it further comprises: a tray mounted to the bottom; the end panels comprise a structure rotatably mounted to the tray to allow the end panels to rotate downward toward the tray. The carrier according to claim 12, characterized in that: the end panels comprise a fabric supported on the structure having a mesh opening; and at least one mesh opening in the side walls and a flap for selectively opening and closing the mesh opening on the side walls. The carrier according to claim 6, characterized in that: the hook and loop extend over the edges of the segments of material and the frame to engage with the structural frame substantially along the edges of the segments of material. The carrier according to claim 8, characterized in that it further comprises: a strip assembly that passes under the bottom for support thereof and that has a pair of end areas; a handle to releasably secure the end areas to function as a grid. The carrier according to claim 15, characterized in that: the strip assembly is wrapped around the side walls when the side walls are placed on the end panels when the end panels are in the folded position; The handle secures the strip assembly around the side walls to secure the side walls and the end panel to the bottom for storage of the pet carrier. 17. The carrier according to claim 16, characterized in that it further comprises: a tray mounted to the bottom; the end panels comprise a structure rotatably mounted to the tray to allow the end panels to rotate downward toward the tray. 18. The carrier according to claim 17, characterized in that: the hook and loop extend over the edges of the material segments to engage with the structural frame along substantially the edges of the segments of material. 19. The carrier according to claim 18, characterized in that: the end panels comprise a fabric supported on the structure having a mesh opening; and at least one "mesh opening on the side walls and a flap for selectively opening or closing the mesh opening in the side walls 20. The carrier according to claim 19, characterized in that it comprises: a carrier bag supported by the side walls, the strip assembly passes through the rings that are in the bag 'to keep it secured to the side walls 21. The carrier according to claim 4, characterized in that: one of the segments of material can 22. The carrier according to claim 12, characterized in that it further comprises: a pad mounted on the end panels, while the other is folded to leave a lateral entrance to the carrier for use as a bed of the pet. the tray that incorporates a material that absorbs fluids in a greater amount or in excess of its own weight 23. The carrier in accordance with the to claim 12, characterized in that: the end panels comprise a component of material selectively releasable from the structure to facilitate the entry or exit of a pet.