Stack of nested shelter components

• US 20030213438A1
• Filed: 05/28/2003
• Published: 11/20/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 09/06/2001
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: United Pet Group Incorporated (Spectrum Brands Holdings, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: United Pet Group Incorporated (Spectrum Brands Holdings, Inc.)
• Inventors: Saxe, Lucas, Farmer, Michael, Douglas, Patrick
• Application Number:
  US10/447,660
• Publication Number:
  US 20030213438A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 119/482
• CPC Class Codes: A01K 1/033 Cat or dog houses

Abstract

A pet shelter that enables efficient stacking of multiple. The shelter comprises a bottom section and a top section which nest together when stacked.

Claims

1. A stack of nested shelter components stacked on a stacking surface, wherein acquisition of a shelter from the stack comprises selection of components from one end of the stack, the stack comprising:

a first shelter including;

a roof section having a first cross section and including a plurality of differently sloped surfaces, and

a base section having a second cross section different from the first cross section and including a floor and sloped side walls, wherein the roof section and the base section are nested together within the stack and one of the roof section and the base section is supported by a stacking surface; and

a second shelter including;

a roof section including a plurality of differently sloped surfaces, and

a base section including a floor and sloped side walls, wherein the roof section and the base section are nested together within the stack and one of the roof section and the base section of the second shelter nests together with the other of the roof section and the base section of the first shelter.

2. The stack of nested shelter components of claim 1, wherein the base section of the first shelter is inverted and is supported by the stacking surface, the roof section of the first shelter nests over the inverted base section, and the base section of the second shelter is inverted and nests over the roof section of the first shelter.

3. The stack of nested shelter components of claim 1, wherein the base section of the first shelter is supported by the stacking surface, the roof section of the first shelter is inverted and nests within the base section, and the base section of the second shelter nests within the inverted roof section of the first shelter.

4. The stack of nested shelter components of claim 1, wherein the roof section of the first shelter is inverted and is supported by stacking blocks supported by the stacking surface, the base section of the first shelter nests within the inverted roof section, and the roof section of the second shelter is inverted and nests within the base section of the first shelter.

5. The stack of nested shelter components of claim 1, wherein the roof section of the first shelter is supported by the stacking surface, the base section of the first shelter is inverted and nests over the roof section, and the roof section of the second shelter nests over inverted base section of the first shelter.

6. The stack of nested shelter components of claim 1, wherein separating material separates at least one of the roof sections from at least one of the base sections.

7. The stack of nested shelter components of claim 6, wherein the separating material comprises at least one sheet of paper.

8. The stack of nested shelter components of claim 6, wherein the separating material comprises at least one stacking block.

9. The stack of nested shelter components of claim 6, wherein the separating material is wood or Styrofoam.

10. The stack of nested shelter components of claim 6, wherein the separating material prevents direct contact between at least portions of the at least one of the roof sections and the at least one of the base sections.

11. The stack of nested shelter components of claim 1, wherein one or more stacking blocks add stability to the stack.

12. The stack of nested shelter components of claim 11, wherein the one or more stacking blocks comprise at least one of ventilation structures and chimney structures.

13. The stack of nested shelter components of claim 11, wherein at least one of the roof sections and bottom sections comprise the one or more stacking blocks.

14. The stack of nested shelter components of claim 1, wherein the floor of the second shelter comprises a moat around at least a portion of a periphery thereof.

15. The stack of nested shelter components of claim 1, wherein the floor of the second shelter comprises one or more drain holes.

16. The stack of nested shelter components of claim 1, further comprising at least one accessory item associated the second shelter.

17. The stack of nested shelter components of claim 16, wherein the at least one accessory item is grouped such that acquisition of the second shelter from the stack automatically includes acquisition of the at least one accessory item.

18. The stack of nested shelter components of claim 16, wherein the at least one accessory item comprises a promotional offer or brochure.

19. The stack of nested shelter components of claim 16, wherein the at least one accessory item is attached to one of the roof section and base section via a cord.

20. The stack of nested shelter components of claim 16, wherein the at least one accessory item comprises one of floor pads and a door.

21. The stack of nested shelter components of claim 1, wherein the roof section of the first shelter comprises a center peak ridge.

22. The stack of nested shelter components of claim 1, wherein the first shelter further comprises one or more ventilation slots.

23. The stack of nested shelter components of claim 22, wherein one or more ventilation slots are part of the roof section of the first shelter.

24. The stack of nested shelter components of claim 1, wherein the first shelter further comprises a ventilation fan.

25. A stack of shelters comprising:

an inverted first bottom including side walls;

a first top nested over the inverted first bottom, the first top including a first center ridge, first sloped side walls, and second steeper sloped side walls sloped similar to the side walls of the inverted first bottom;

an inverted second bottom nested over the first top and including side walls; and

a second top nested over the inverted second bottom, wherein the second top includes a second center ridge, third sloped side walls, and fourth steeper sloped side walls sloped similar to the side walls of the inverted second bottom,

wherein a first shelter comprises the first top and the inverted first bottom and a second shelter comprises the second top and the inverted second bottom.

26. The stack of shelters of claim 25, further comprising at least one accessory item.

27. The stack of shelters of claim 26, wherein the at least one accessory item is grouped such that acquisition of the second shelter from the stack automatically includes acquisition of the at least one accessory item.

28. The stack of shelters of claim 25, wherein at least a portion of the center ridge of the first top contacts a floor of the inverted second bottom.

29. The stack of shelters of claim 25, wherein the first and second shelters each comprise a durable plastic material.

30. The stack of shelters of claim 25, wherein the first sloped side walls and the third sloped side walls each includes shingle-like surfaces.

31. The stack of shelters of claim 25, wherein the second steeper sloped side walls and the fourth steeper sloped side walls each includes shingle-like surfaces.

32. A stack of pet shelters comprising:

a first top including a first center ridge, first sloped side walls, and second steeper sloped side walls;

an inverted first bottom nested over the first top, the first bottom including side walls sloped similar to the second steeper sloped side walls of the first top,

a second top nested over the inverted first bottom, wherein the second top includes a second center ridge, third sloped side walls and fourth steeper sloped side walls; and

an inverted second bottom nested over the second top and including side walls sloped similar to the fourth steeper sloped side walls of the second top, wherein a first pet shelter comprises the first top and the inverted first bottom and a second pet shelter comprises the second top and the inverted second bottom.

33. A stack of pet shelters comprising:

an inverted first top including a first center ridge, first sloped side walls, and second steeper sloped side walls;

a first bottom nested within the inverted first top, the first bottom including side walls sloped similar to the second steeper sloped side walls of the inverted first top,

an inverted second top nested within the first bottom, wherein the inverted second top includes a second center ridge, third sloped side walls and fourth steeper sloped side walls; and

a second bottom nested within the inverted second top and including side walls sloped similar to the fourth steeper sloped side walls of the second inverted top, wherein a first pet shelter comprises the inverted first top and the first bottom and a second pet shelter comprises the inverted second top and the second bottom.

34. A stack of pet shelters comprising:

a first top comprising sloped side walls;

a first bottom comprising sloped side walls sloped similar to the sloped side walls of the first top, wherein the first top nests with the first bottom;

a second top comprising sloped side walls sloped similar to the sloped sidewalls of the first bottom; and

a second bottom comprising sloped side walls sloped similar to the sloped side walls of the second top, wherein the second top nests with the second bottom and wherein the first bottom nests with the second top to form a stack.

35. The stack of pet shelters of claim 34, wherein the first and second bottoms are upright, and wherein the first and second tops are inverted, wherein the first bottom rests on a stacking surface.

36. The stack of pet shelters of claim 34, wherein the first and second bottoms are inverted, and wherein the first and second tops are upright, wherein the first bottom rests on a stacking surface.

37. The stack of pet shelters of claim 34, wherein the first and second bottoms are upright, and wherein the first and second tops are inverted, wherein the first top rests on at least one of stacking blocks or a stacking surface.

38. The stack of pet shelters of claim 34, wherein the first and second bottoms are inverted, and wherein the first and second tops are upright, wherein the first top rests on a stacking surface.

39. A stack of pet shelters including nested pet shelter components, the stack comprising:

a first top having a first cross section and including a roof, side walls, a door-side, and a back side opposite the door-side;

a first bottom having a second cross section different from the first cross section and including a floor, side walls, a door-side, and a back side opposite the door-side, wherein the first top is nested with the first bottom in a stack of pet shelter components including at least one of the door-side and the back side of the first top facing a stacking surface;

a second top including a roof, side walls, a door-side, and a back side opposite the door-side; and

a second bottom including a floor, side walls, a door-side, and a back side opposite the door-side, wherein the second top is nested with the second bottom in a stack of pet shelter components including at least one of the door-side and the back side of the second top facing a stacking surface, and wherein one of the second top and the second bottom is nested with the other of the first top and the first bottom.

40. The stack of pet shelters of claim 39, wherein the door-sides of the first and second tops face a stacking surface.

41. The stack of pet shelters of claim 39, wherein the back sides of the first and second tops face a stacking surface.

42. The stack of pet shelters of claim 39, further comprising at least one accessory item associated a shelter.

43. The stack of pet shelters of claim 42, wherein the at least one accessory item is grouped such that acquisition of the shelter from the stack automatically includes acquisition of the at least one accessory item.

44. The stack of pet shelters of claim 42, wherein the at least one accessory item comprises a promotional offer or brochure.

45. The stack of pet shelters of claim 42, wherein the at least one accessory item is attached to one of the roof section and base section via a cord.

46. The stack of pet shelters of claim 42, wherein the at least one accessory item comprises one of floor pads and a door.