Package and article carriers – Vehicle attached – Carrier attached cycle
Reexamination Certificate
1999-07-01
2001-01-30
Cronln, Stephen K. (Department: 3727)
Package and article carriers
Vehicle attached
Carrier attached cycle
C119S496000, C119S500000, C224S425000, C224S428000, C224S430000, C224S431000, C224S445000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06179183
ABSTRACT:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The instant invention relates to pet carriers, and more specifically to a pet carrier for use in transporting pets or other small animals on a bicycle.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
Pets play an extremely therapeutic role in the lives of many, providing companionship and relieving stress from an otherwise hectic day. The integration of the family pet into the owner's daily activities, as well as into society as a whole, has increased significantly in recent years. Recognizing the desire of many pet owners to include their pets in their daily routines, many stores now provide access to both owners and their pets, and there are even restaurants, which will provide a gourmet meal for an owner and his or her pet.
In addition to the increased access provided to owners and their pets, an entire industry is devoted to providing products to accommodate the safe transportation of pets so that they may always be with their owner. Products ranging from hand held carriers, to car safety seats (U.S. Pat. No. 5,479,892 for VEHICLE SAFETY SEAT FOR PETS awarded to Edwards on Jan. 2, 1996), to car seat belts for pets (U.S. Pat. No. 4,896,630 for ANIMAL SAFETY SEAT BELT awarded to Luce on Jan. 30, 1990), to various types of pet carriers for bicycles and motorcycles (U.S. Pat. No. 5,577,646 for PET CARRIER FOR BICYCLE awarded to White on Nov. 26, 1996; U.S. Pat. No. 5,810,227 for MOTORCYLE MOUNTED DOG CARRIER awarded to Jorgensen on Sep. 22, 1998; and U.S. Pat. No. 5,832,874 for PET CARRIER awarded to Ravin on Nov. 10, 1998).
While a majority of these products are directed to the cat and small dog segments of the pet population, many of these pets can become nervous and easily agitated when exposed to new environments, strange people, and other animals. This problem is particularly apparent when a pet is taken on a bicycle ride with his owner. Unfortunately, since the pet carriers currently available are all mounted behind the owner over the back wheel of the bicycle, the owner is unable to soothe his or her pet when it becomes agitated during a bicycle ride. Further, while the owner is able to transport the pet on the bicycle ride, the owner receives very little beneficial feedback from the pet since the pet is out of his view and touch while riding. Additionally, and most distressing, is the realization that, with a rear wheel mounted pet carrier, the owner may not be aware if his or her pet falls, jumps, or otherwise gets out of the pet carrier for quite some time until the owner has the opportunity to again turn around and check on the status of the pet.
In addition to the safety and companionship issues discussed above, the current state of the art in bicycle mounted pet carriers also provides limited comfort for the pet. Typically, most bicycle mounted pet carriers provide a flat bottom with raised walls into which the pet is placed for the bicycle ride. Unfortunately, this design requires that the pet remain in a sitting position with weight on the pet's front paws. In an attempt to alleviate the pressure on the front paws, the pet in a rear wheel mounted bicycle carrier may lean on the back of the owner with his head or front paws. This not only presents an uncomfortable position for the rider with the additional weight and heat from the pet pressing on the rider's back, but also raises certain safety concerns if a quick evasive move is required by the rider. Additionally, the pet's position directly behind the rider's back provides a drafting effect for the pet which significantly reduces the amount of air which blows across the pet to keep the pet cool and comfortable. While many pet carriers for bicycles include ventilation holes in the carrier itself, these holes cannot make up for the reduced air flow resulting from the drafting effect of being placed so close behind the rider's back.
As a result of these and other problems existing in the art, the pleasure which may have been derived from bringing an owner's companion along for a ride has been greatly diminished. Further, the comfort and safety of both the pet and the owner has also been reduced. Therefore, the need exists for a pet carrier for a bicycle which overcomes these and other known problems existing in the art.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
In view of the above, it is an object of the instant invention to provide a new and useful pet carrier for bicycles which overcomes the above and other known problems existing in the art. Specifically, it is an object of the instant invention to provide a pet carrier for a bicycle, which allows for continuous owner access to the pet during the bicycle ride. It is a further object of the instant invention to provide a new and improved pet carrier, which increases the comfort level of the pet while riding therein. Additionally, it is an object of the instant invention to provide a pet carrier that increases the amount of cooling air supplied to the pet during the ride. It is a further object of the instant invention to provide a pet carrier which may mount on either a man's or a woman's bicycle.
In view of these objects, it is a feature of the instant invention that the carrier may be mounted in front of the rider on the bicycle. It is a further feature of the instant invention to provide a plateaued bottom surface to accommodate the comfort of the pet during extended bicycle rides. Additionally, it is a feature of the instant invention to provide increased ventilation to the pet to maintain its comfort during hot days.
In view of the above objects and features of the invention, it is an aspect of the instant invention to provide a unitary molded plastic assembly which securely mounts to the center bar of a bicycle in front of the rider. It is a further aspect of the instant invention that the plateaued bottom surface providing additional comfort for the pet extend up and over the handle bars in a manner which does not interfere with the safe operation and control of the bicycle. It is a further aspect of the instant invention to provide a mounting adapter which accommodates male or female configured bicycles to maintain the pet carrier bottom surface in a comfortable and safe approximately horizontal position for the pet. It is an additional aspect of the instant invention to provide drainage from the bottom of the lower tier of the pet carrier of the instant invention to eliminate the accumulation of moisture.
In a preferred embodiment of the instant invention, a pet carrier for use on a bicycle comprises a structure having a plateaued bottom surface and vertical front, side, and rear walls. The plateaued bottom surface defines a raised forward resting surface, an intermediate sloped surface, and a lower rearward support surface. Preferably, the support surface defines at least one drainage hole therein, and the side walls define air passages therethrough. In a highly preferred embodiment, the air passages are configured to form forward embossed louvers. For the pet's comfort, a preferred embodiment includes the front wall defining a reduced height region therein to accommodate a pet's head. Further, the side and rear walls are profiled to maintain an essentially constant height from the plateaued bottom.
In a preferred embodiment, the pet carrier further comprises a mounting adapter operably coupled to the support surface and configured to mount on a center bar of a bicycle. The support surface includes a mounting flange on an exterior thereof, and is removably attached thereto to provide the operable coupling. Alternatively, the mounting adapter includes a bracket portion, and a base portion having a lower surface and an upper mounting surface. The base portion defines a mounting groove in a lower surface which is adapted to accommodate a center bar of a bicycle, and which is positioned in a spaced parallel relationship to the upper mounting surface. The bracket portion is preferably operably coupled to the lower surface to securely attach the mounting adapter to the center bar of a man's bicycle.
In an alte
Brevard Maerena W.
Cronln Stephen K.
Leydig , Voit & Mayer, Ltd.
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