Horizontally supported planar surfaces – With structural installation
Reexamination Certificate
1999-08-26
2001-03-06
Chen, Jose V. (Department: 3624)
Horizontally supported planar surfaces
With structural installation
Reexamination Certificate
active
06196139
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to apparatus which provides shelves or ledges enabling a cat to perch at the side of a wall of a building, for exercise, amusement, and to obtain superior vantage points for viewing. The invention provides a kit or plurality of shelves readily attached to finished walls and partitions of residences and similar buildings, so that a pet cat or other animal inclined to climb can indulge itself in climbing and sitting on the perch afforded by a given shelf. Owners of pets and those desiring to display animals, such as pet store owners, zoo operators, experimenters, and those establishing educational displays can employ the novel kit to build perches usable by cats and other animals.
2. Description of the Prior Art
Cats and other domesticated animals given the run of the residence of their owner frequently enjoy climbing to a vantage point high in the residence or other building where they are kept, for exercise, amusement, and to obtain superior vantage points for viewing. Normally, ordinary furniture, drapes, and other commonplace household objects meet this need. However, such objects are not designed for this type of use, and may become damaged when a pet climbs thereon. Shelves dedicated to pets would answer this need.
Shelves attachable to walls and partitions are known. Shelves adapted for flush mounting on a wall are seen in U.S. Pat. No. 5,706,737, issued to Stephen P. Whitehead et al. on Jan. 13, 1998, and U.S. Pat. No. 5,755,343, issued to Louis A. Harvey, Sr., on May 26, 1998. In each case, the subject patent does not suggest providing a kit of a plurality of related although differently configured shelves, and also does not provide shelves configured in the manner of the present invention.
U.S. Pat. No. 1,984,610, issued to Harlow Warren on Dec. 18, 1934, shows an object suspended from the underside of a shelf. However, the shelf itself lacks a fastener which would cooperate with a corresponding fastener formed in the suspended object. By contrast with Warren, shelves of the present invention have fastening elements for suspending other objects from their undersides.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,588,370, issued to Jonathan T. Longley on Dec. 31, 1996, shows a shelf designed to fit flush against intersecting walls. Longley's shelf is not configured in the manner of a corner shelf of the present invention, lacking a dependent flange, screw holes, and threaded blind holes for suspending an object from the underside of the shelf.
The prior art fails to show a kit or plurality of similarly configured yet different shelves which would be suitable for forming a succession of shelves attachable to a wall or walls to form a staircase for climbing pets.
None of the above inventions and patents, taken either singly or in combination, is seen to describe the instant invention as claimed.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The present invention sets forth a kit of shelves which are readily installed on one or more walls of a typical residential building, for the purpose of providing recreational facilities for cats and other climbing pets. Three varieties of shelves are provided. One is configured to fit square corners of intersecting walls. Two are configured for flush mounting to a flat wall. The latter two differ in shelf length.
Each shelf has a horizontal support surface and a vertical depending flange for stabilizing the shelf. Mounting holes are formed in the vertical flange. Threaded blind holes are provided in the underside of the horizontal member so that hooks can be removably fixed thereto, for supporting objects such as hanging plant holders.
Preferably, a plurality of shelves are mounted on one or more walls such that they collectively form a stairway. Individual shelves can be spaced apart from one another sufficiently to require that a pet ascend to the highest shelf by jumping from shelf to shelf. Pets, particularly cats, will thus be able to enjoy a modicum of exercise, while also having a vantage point located high in a room so that the pet will be able to view the entire room. A particularly advantageous location for the highest shelf is adjacent a window, so that the pet can observe the outdoors. One shelf is relatively wide or large so that an animal can turn around to descend.
Of course, the same shelves may be employed for storage and display of objects as well as for exercise and amusement of animals. The shelves are configured to have flat surfaces for supporting objects, if desired.
Accordingly, it is one object of the invention to provide indoor climbing apparatus for pets inclined to climb.
It is another object of the invention to provide apparatus for a climbing pet to exercise and to have perches from which it may view the interior of a building.
It is a further object of the invention that the climbing apparatus be readily installed on walls of a building.
Still another object of the invention is to provide a suitable support for removably suspending objects in a room from a wall.
An additional object of the invention is that each shelf be stable after being mounted on a wall or walls.
It is an object of the invention to provide improved elements and arrangements thereof in an apparatus for the purposes described which is inexpensive, dependable and fully effective in accomplishing its intended purposes.
These and other objects of the present invention will become readily apparent upon further review of the following specification and drawings.
REFERENCES:
patent: 483069 (1892-09-01), Legg
patent: 1984610 (1934-12-01), Warren
patent: 2260915 (1941-10-01), Mummery
patent: 2465635 (1949-03-01), Conterio
patent: 2472004 (1949-05-01), Czerniewicz
patent: 2582557 (1952-01-01), Palkman
patent: 3165368 (1965-01-01), Hughes et al.
patent: 5375802 (1994-12-01), Branham, II
patent: 5513575 (1996-05-01), Slade
patent: 5588370 (1996-12-01), Longley
patent: 5622010 (1997-04-01), Weber
patent: 5655740 (1997-08-01), Lazarus
patent: 5706737 (1998-01-01), Whitehead et al.
patent: 5711115 (1998-01-01), Wirt
patent: 5755343 (1998-05-01), Harvey, Sr.
Jensen Stan
Wimbush Jensen Lynda Janet Marie
Chen José V.
Siemens Patent Services LC
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