Animal husbandry – Confining or housing – Often portable – small capacity – roofed housing structure
Reexamination Certificate
1999-06-14
2001-05-15
Jordan, Charles T. (Department: 3644)
Animal husbandry
Confining or housing
Often portable, small capacity, roofed housing structure
C119S453000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06230656
ABSTRACT:
TECHNICAL FIELD
The present invention pertains generally to devices for transporting pets, and in particular to a pet carrier that can be rolled.
BACKGROUND ART
Portable pet carriers are well known in the art. These devices are used to transport a pet, such as a dog or cat, from one place to another. Pet carriers provide a safe shelter for the pet during an airplane flight, on a trip to the veterinarian, on a trip to the groomers, going to pet shows, or in any other instance where it may not be practical to hold the pet on a leash or let the pet run free. For example, U.S. Pat. No. 4,171,683 shows an integrated modular assembly facilitating cohabitation with house pets, particularly cats and dogs, who normally live under conditions of semi-freedom in the lodgings of their masters. The assembly includes a movable support which may even be transportable, and a collection of interchangeable modules carried by the support and fulfilling a number of useful functions for the pet, such as exercise, territorial refuge, vital comforts, etc. U.S. Pat. No. 4,852,520 illustrates a portable pet carrier having a lower section and a removable upper section. The lower section has a bottom wall, spaced side walls, a rear wall, and a front wall with an access opening. The upper section has a top wall, spaced side walls, a rear wall, and a front wall with an access opening. A plurality of rollers are carried on the exterior of the bottom wall of the lower section. U.S. Pat. No. 5,113,793 shows a mobile pet carrier having a cage like enclosure mounted on a specially designed carriage with wheels for holding and transporting the enclosure. The carriage has a handle to make pushing easy for the pet owner. U.S. Pat. No. 5,283,962 discloses a portable calf dryer apparatus comprising a wheeled container having two compartments: a calf receiving compartment for drying and warming a calf, and a heater unit storing compartment for housing either a battery operated or electrically powered heater unit which generates heated air. U.S. Pat. No. 5,701,843 illustrates a pet mobile. The device comprises a pet carrier with adequate ventilation for even a large animal. The carrier has a handle which can be folded to conserve space and four retractable wheels which can be placed in a down position when moving the carrier with the pet inside. U.S. Pat. Des. 334,087 shows a pet carrier with five wheels and Des. 367,733 shows a pet carrier without wheels.
DISCLOSURE OF INVENTION
The present invention is directed to a portable pet carrier which can be rolled along a support surface, rather than having to be lifted and carried. The pet carrier comprises a cage like structure of similar construction to conventional pet carriers. Two wheels are located near the bottom rear of the pet carrier, so that when the front mounted handle of the pet carrier is lifted slightly, the pet carrier may be conveniently rolled in a forwardly direction. The wheels are flush mounted with the rear and sides of the pet carrier. It is noted that it would be inappropriate to lift the front of the pet carrier too much, since the pet would then reside on a significantly sloping surface. The handle is pivotally located near the top front of the pet carrier, and is lockable in various angular positions. By adjusting the angular position of the handle, the height of the handle above the floor or other support surface is resultantly adjusted. This height adjustment feature allows the handle to be positioned so that it can be comfortably grasped by the downwardly extending hand of any user. It may be appreciated that in a normal standing position with the arms fully downwardly extended, the hands of different individuals are at different heights above the floor (shorter people generally nearer to the floor, and taller people generally further from the floor). Therefore, the angular adjustment feature of the present invention accommodates a range of users, so that the user can roll the pet carrier in comfort while maintaining a fully extended arm. In other words, the user neither has to bend over, nor hold the arm in an awkward bent position. In a preferred embodiment, the angular position of the handle is adjusted so that the handle is about one-half to two inches below the normal grasp of the hand with the user standing and the arm fully downwardly extended. Therefore, when the user reaches downward and grasps the handle, and then straightens, the front of the pet carrier will be about one-half to two inches off of the floor.
The present invention also includes two spaced feet disposed on the bottom near the front end, the feet each having a forward facing bevel. When the pet carrier is rolling, the bevels serve to mitigate any inadvertent contact with obstructions such as door thresholds, floor or pavement irregularities, and the like. The feet and the wheels extend the same distance downward from the bottom, so that when stationary, the pet carrier will sit level on the support surface. When not being used to transport a pet, the pet carrier can also be utilized as sleeping quarters, a dog house, or an outdoor pet shelter. The pet carrier may also come in a plurality of different sizes to accommodate different size pets.
In accordance with a preferred embodiment of the invention, a pet carrier includes a cage like enclosure having a top, a bottom, sides, a front end, and a rear end. Two wheels are located at the bottom rear end, so that the pet carrier can be rolled in the direction of the front end. A handle is pivotally connected to the enclosure at the top front end. The handle is selectively lockable in a plurality of angular positions.
In accordance with an important aspect of the invention, the handle can be locked in positions ranging from about vertical to about 60° forward of vertical.
In accordance with an important feature of the invention, the handle is lockable in angular increments, such as every 15°.
In accordance with another important aspect of the invention, two spaced feet are disposed on the bottom near the front end, each of the feet having a forward facing bevel. In the at rest position, the pet carrier rests on the two feet and the two wheels, which extend an equal distance down from the bottom.
In accordance with another important feature of the invention, at least one attachment device, such as a cargo ring, is disposed on the cage like enclosure for securing the pet carrier to a support structure, for example, to keep the pet carrier from moving about in the cargo compartment of an airplane.
Other features and advantages of the present invention will become apparent from the following detailed description, taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, which illustrate, by way of example, the principles of the invention.
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Abbott Yvonne R.
Freilich, Hornbakers& Rosen
Jordan Charles T.
Masters Ted
Tyson Timothy Thut
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