Animal play and exercise structure

• US 4,497,279 A
• Filed: 02/28/1983
• Issued: 02/05/1985
• Est. Priority Date: 02/28/1983
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Audrey R. Bell
• Original Assignee: Audrey R. Bell
• Inventors: Bell, Audrey R.
• Primary Examiner(s): Mancene, Gene
• Assistant Examiner(s): Schulze, Kris R.
• Application Number:
  US06/470,051
• Time in Patent Office: 708 Days
• Field of Search: 119/1, 119/17, 119/19, 119/29, 272/113, 272/1 R, 46/16, 46/27, 46/29, D30/41, D30/42, 182/178, 182/179, 52/638, 52/645, 52/657
• US Class Current: 119/706
• CPC Class Codes: A01K 1/035 Devices for use in keeping domestic animals, e.g. fittings in housings or dog beds
• CPC Class Codes: A01K 15/024 Scratching devices, e.g. for cats
• CPC Class Codes: A01K 15/027 Exercising equipment, e.g. tread mills, carousels equipment for racing or riding sports events A63K

Abstract

An animal play and exercise structure designed to provide exercise, activity, and enjoyment indoors, particularly for a cat, while occupying a minimum amount of space. The structure includes two rigid vertically aligned frames. Each frame has four vertical supports and the supports have apertures therethrough. Side rods and ladder rods are inserted into the apertures interconnecting the supports to form each of the frames. Ramps are tied to the rods in an inclined manner by leather thongs. Platforms are also secured to the rods and the ramps provide the cat with access to the platforms. In the preferred embodiment, a decorative roof is attached onto the top frame.

Claims

1. An animal play and exercise apparatus, especially for cats, comprising:

a first and a second rigid frame, each frame having a plurality of vertical support members with bores in the ends thereof and a plurality of horizontal rod members;

said support members each having a plurality of apertures, along its length;

said rod members insertable into said apertures interconnecting said support members to form said first and said second frames;

a plurality of recesses adjacent the ends of each of said rod members;

a plurality of plugs insertable into said recesses, said plugs abutting said support members for maintaining said rod members in said apertures;

a plurality of peg and ring-like spacer assemblies, with a spacer slidably disposed along each of said pegs;

said pegs insertable into said bores in said first frame vertical support members and into bores in said second frame vertical support members interconnecting said first frame and said second frame in vertical alignment with said spacers separating said frames;

a plurality of lateral ramp members and at least one horizontal bed member;

a plurality of leather thongs connecting said ramp members to more than one of said rod members on an incline relative to said horizontal rod members; and

a plurality of leather thongs connecting said bed members to more than one of said rod members horizontally relative to said rod members.

2. The apparatus of claim 1 further comprising a decorative lock-on roof;

said roof locked onto said second frame top by a plurality of locking pegs;

said locking pegs insertable through orifices in said roof and into said bores in the vertical support members of said second frame.

3. An animal play and exercise apparatus comprising:

a plurality of elongated vertical support members, each support member having a plurality of spaced-apart apertures therethrough, the apertures oriented perpendicular to the elongated axes of said vertical support members;

a plurality of horizontal rod members, said rod members insertable into said apertures for interconnecting said support members to form a first rigid four-cornered frame;

means for maintaining said rod members in said apertures for maintaining said frame relatively rigid;

a plurality of lateral ramp members;

first means for fastening each of said ramp members to more than one of said rod members on an incline relative said horizontal rod members;

a horizontal bed member; and

second means for fastening said bed member to more than one of said rod members, horizontally oriented relative to said rod members;

additional vertical support members and horizontal rod members interconnected to form a second rigid frame;

at least one of said ramp members fastened by said first fastening means to one rod member associated with said first frame and to one of said rod members associated with said second frame; and

means for connecting said second frame to said first frame with the vertical support members of said second frame in vertical alignment with the vertical support members of said first frame.

4. The apparatus of claim 3 wherein each of said first and said second fastening means includes a plurality of leather thongs.

5. The apparatus of claim 4 wherein said connecting means includes a plurality of pegs and ring-like spacers;

and wherein said top of said first frame vertical support members and said bottom of said second frame vertical support members each have a plurality of bores therein;

each spacer slidably disposed along one of said pegs;

each of said pegs inserted into said corresponding bores in said first frame and inserted into said corresponding bore in said second frame with said spacers separating said frames.

6. The apparatus of claim 3 wherein said maintaining means includes at least two plugs;

at least one of said rod members having a plurality of recesses adjacent each rod member end; and

each of said plugs disposed in one corresponding recess adjacent to said vertical support member and each said plug abutting said support member for maintaining said rod member within said aperture.

7. The apparatus of claim 3 and further comprising a decorative lock on roof;

and

means for locking said roof to the top of said second frame.

8. The apparatus of claim 7 wherein said locking means includes a plurality of locking pegs;

said roof has a plurality of orifices;

said top of said second frame vertical support members each have a bore;

said roof being locked to said second frame by said locking pegs disposed through said orifices and into said corresponding bores.

9. The apparatus of claim 3 wherein at least one of said ramp members has a carpet-like surface.

10. The apparatus of claim 3 wherein at least one of said bed members has a carpet-like surface;

and

means for securing said carpet-like surface to said bed.

11. An animal play and exercise apparatus, especially for cats, comprising:

a first and a second rigid frame, each frame having a plurality of vertical support members with bores in the ends thereof and a plurality of horizontal rod members;

said support members each having a plurality of apertures, along its length;

said rod members insertable into said apertures for interconnecting said support members to form said first and said second frames;

means adjacent the ends of each of said rod members for maintaining said rod members in said apertures;

pegs insertable into said bores in said first frame vertical support members and into bores in said second frame vertical support members for interconnecting said first frame and said second frame in vertical alignment with spacers slidably received along each peg separating said frames;

a plurality of lateral ramp members and at least one horizontal bed member;

said ramp members being connected to more than one of said rod members on an incline relative to said horizontal rod members; and

said bed member being connected to more than one of said rod members horizontally relative to said rod members.