Animal husbandry – Confining or housing – Often portable – small capacity – roofed housing structure
Reexamination Certificate
2000-03-23
2001-11-20
Jordan, Charles T. (Department: 3644)
Animal husbandry
Confining or housing
Often portable, small capacity, roofed housing structure
C119S479000, C119S421000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06318295
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to kennel structures or enclosures and, more particularly, to multi-level kennel enclosures for humane and sanitary confinement of animals including domestic animals or pets such as cats.
2. Discussion of the Prior Art
In the past, it has been difficult to provide adequate kennel space for cats. Kenneling, keeping or confining feline pets in traditional plastic box-shaped kennels has been undesirable since cats have an innate need to climb or jump, and since the sanitary habits of cats are different than those for dogs and other domestic animals.
Cages are not desirable for keeping cats, since the structure of feline paws is not suited to walking on spaced wire surfaces. Cages are also not suitable when stacked or arranged in close proximity to one another, as often occurs in a commercial kennel or retail store, because cats, being naturally social, curious and capable of aggression, can reach through the walls of the cages and possibly do harm to the cats or other animals kept in neighboring cages.
Cats typically are house-trained to use a litter box and will keep themselves sanitary and clean if given the opportunity or environment to do so. It has been difficult to maintain the sanitary conditions needed for cats in a boarding kennel or a retail store, since keeping a litter box and a cat in the same small space requires that the cat be disturbed whenever the litter box is removed or cleaned. Also, cats prefer not to be restricted to the area of their litter box, as is the case where the cat and its litter box are confined in the same small space. Many cat owners own more than one cat and would prefer that their cats be housed together when boarded. Such an accommodation would be detrimental to the cats in the case of small space plastic box-shaped kennels and wire cages.
Cat owners are particularly devoted to their pets and, given a choice, would prefer that their cats be kept in a large space where a sleeping area, eating area and an area for a litter box are widely separated. Cat owners would also prefer that their cats be free to move about and provided with structure on which to jump and climb, as opposed to being cooped up in a box-shaped plastic kennel or wire cage. While large, unrestricted kennel spaces or areas are desirable, it is impractical in a commercial establishment to provide a large kennel space for each cat. It is also not feasible to provide a large, unrestricted kennel space or area for even a small number of cats that are unfamiliar to one another, since the cats freely roaming around the kennel space or area could create a situation in which the cats might harm one another. Cat owners often are forced to hire in-house pet sitters when on travel, since boarding kennels have proven so unsatisfactory.
Those seeking to provide kennel or boarding services for domesticated cats are thus confronted with the problem of safely keeping a large number of cats in a commercial space of practical size while meeting the hygiene requirements of the cats and the preferences of cat owners. There has been a long felt need, therefore, for a practical solution to the problem of safely boarding a number of cats or other animals in a sanitary manner while allowing the cats or other animals to engage in their normal activities.
OBJECTS AND SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
Accordingly, it is a primary object of the present invention to overcome the above mentioned difficulties by providing a multi-level kennel enclosure with adequately arranged space and forced ventilation.
Another object of the present invention is to safely keep a cat in a kennel enclosure occupying a relative small amount of floor space while avoiding sanitation related problems.
A further object of the present invention is to confine a cat in a kennel enclosure occupying a relatively small amount of floor space while providing the cat sufficient space to freely move about.
An additional object of the present invention is to confine a cat in a kennel enclosure occupying a relatively small amount of floor space while providing the cat with structure conducive to climbing and/or jumping.
It is another object of the present invention to actively ventilate or evacuate the objectionable odors emanating from a soiled cat litter box provided in a confined kennel space.
The present invention also has as an object to provide a multi-level kennel enclosure formed of a plurality of flat panels capable of being assembled, disassembled and/or reassembled with relative ease.
Yet a further object of the present invention is to provide a multi-level kennel enclosure having a living section and a separate toilet section accessed, respectively, by separate doors.
Some of the advantages of the present invention are that a desired plurality of multi-level kennel enclosures can be arranged side by side, each multi-level kennel enclosure has sufficient room to accommodate more than one cat if so desired, separation anxiety is reduced for cats that normally live together since they can be safely and comfortably accommodated in the same kennel enclosure, the kennel enclosure includes a large expanse of window allowing the cat to view its surroundings and allowing a caretaker to visually but unobtrusively evaluate and monitor the cat as well as its supply of food and water, the doors can be provided with suitable latches to prevent inadvertent opening thereof and unplanned release of a cat from the enclosure, the enclosure is designed to promote movement of a cat between adjacent interior levels, plural multi-level kennel enclosures arranged side by side in close relation allow many cats to be kenneled while occupying a relative small amount of floor space, access by the cats to cats in neighboring or adjacent kennel enclosures is normally prevented but can be allowed via selectively openable access panels on the sides of adjacent enclosures, odors emanating from the toilet section can be vented to the outside, the ventilation passages of adjacent enclosures are connectible in series, cat beds or other sleeping structures can be placed on desired shelves of the living section while the litter box is contained in the toilet section separate from the living section, eating and/or drinking dishes or bowls can be placed on desired shelves in the living section and, if desired, can be placed at different levels than those allocated for sleep and/or play, a lower section of the interior of the enclosure contains the toilet section as well as a storage compartment, the enclosure can be faced in hardwood, such as cabinet grade oak, cherry, maple, walnut or other fine hardwood, giving the enclosure the attractive appearance of a fine china cabinet, interior surfaces are capable of being easily cleaned and sanitized, the enclosure in an unassembled condition is amenable to packaging in conventional boxes or containers for shipment to an installation site, and cat owners are able to readily appreciate the superiority of the multi-level kennel enclosure to box-shaped plastic kennels and/or wire cages.
These and other objects, advantages and benefits are realized with the present invention as generally characterized in a multi-level kennel enclosure comprising a cabinet or townhouse-like structure or enclosure having multiple levels or floors vertically arranged within the interior of the enclosure. A plurality of the multi-level kennel enclosures may be arranged or installed side by side to form an array of multi-level kennel enclosures occupying a relatively small amount of floor space. Each kennel enclosure is capable of accommodating one or more cats. Typically, each kennel enclosure will house a single cat for maximum personal space and sanitation. However, a single kennel enclosure can comfortably and safely accommodate more than one cat as may be desirable, for example, when it is in the best interest of particular cats to be kept together and not separated. The multi-level kennel enclosure includes left and right side walls, top and bottom walls, a back wall,
Abbott Yvonne R.
Jordan Charles T.
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