Pet step and method

• US 6,964,246 B2
• Filed: 10/14/2003
• Issued: 11/15/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 10/18/2002
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Store Chain, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Jeanne Rae Wolfington, Karen Kristen Hanson
• Inventors: Wolfington, Jeanne Rae, Hanson, Karen Kristen
• Primary Examiner(s): Carone, Michael J.
• Assistant Examiner(s): BERONA, KIMBERLY SUE
• Application Number:
  US10/684,782
• Publication Number:
  US 20040079297A1
• Time in Patent Office: 763 Days
• Field of Search: 119/847, 119/849, 52182-183, 182 34- 35
• US Class Current: 119/849
• CPC Class Codes: A01K 1/035 Devices for use in keeping domestic animals, e.g. fittings in housings or dog beds

Abstract

A pet step is a modular foam core item which can be used alone or in an arrangement with other pet steps—referred to as cubes—to form a stair and offers a comfortable way for a pet that has been debilitated by age, surgery, illness, or injury to climb, e.g., from the floor to the couch and down, eliminating the impact of jumping. Each step is formed of a washable fabric cover stretched across a high-density foam core, the core being usually of regular block shape, but alternatively in the shape of a trapezoidal block, right wedge, or other. The cover may be made from various fabrics with different textures, colors, and designs, and is secured around the foam core using a band of elastic. Thus, the cover is easily removable and washable. The pet steps are intended to be used in a stair, formed by placing the steps adjacent one another with the elasticized opening of the cover on the bottom sides of the steps and mating and engaging the optional fasteners, such as hook-and-loop fasteners, which are mounted between the adjacent step surfaces.

Claims

1. An article of furniture for pets comprising:

a first pet step comprising a high-density foam core of three-dimensional shape, said high-density foam having a relatively high coefficient of friction, and defining a bottom, a cover removably mounted to said core, said cover being constructed from a fabric having a relatively high coefficient of friction and having a plurality of seams arranged therein so as to define a bag shape with an opening therein, an elastic band mounted to the cover at said opening, said cover being fitted around said core such that the band locates entirely within the perimeter of the bottom of the core leaving a substantial area of the bottom of the core uncovered and exposed, and a plurality of fasteners systematically and strategically mounted to specific locations on the cover,

a second pet step comprising a high-density foam core of three-dimensional shape, said high-density foam having a relatively high coefficient of friction, and defining a bottom, a cover removably mounted to said core, said cover being constructed from a fabric having a relatively high coefficient of friction and having a plurality of seams arranged therein so as to define a bag shape with an opening therein, an elastic band mounted to the cover at said opening, said cover being fitted around said core such that the band locates entirely within the perimeter of the bottom of the core leaving a substantial area of the bottom of the core uncovered and exposed, and a plurality of fasteners systematically and strategically mounted to specific locations on the cover, and

said second pet step being removably mounted to the first pet step such that the bottom of the second step, including the exposed area of the core, mates with and is adjacent the cover of the first step and the fasteners therebetween are engaged.

2. The article of furniture of claim 1 wherein the fasteners comprise hook-and-loop fasteners and are systematically and strategically mounted in specific, corresponding locations to the mating surfaces of the adjoining blocks.

3. The article of furniture of claim 2 wherein each hook-and-loop fastener comprises a hook portion and a loop portion and the hook portion is mounted to the cover of the first block and the loop portion is mounted to the cover of the second block such that the portions will mate upon assembly.

4. The article of furniture of claim 3 further comprising a third pet step, said third pet step comprising a high-density foam core of three-dimensional shape, said high-density foam having a relatively high coefficient of friction, and defining a bottom, a cover removably mounted to said core, said cover being constructed from a fabric having a relatively high coefficient of friction and having a plurality of seams arranged therein so as to define a bag shape with an opening therein, an elastic band mounted to the cover at said opening, said cover being fitted around said core such that the band locates entirely within the perimeter of the bottom of the core leaving a substantial area of the bottom of the core uncovered and exposed, and a plurality of hook-and-loop fasteners systematically and strategically mounted to specific locations on the cover, and the steps being removably mounted adjacent each other and arranged into a stair such that the hook-and-loop fasteners, having a hook portion and a loop portion, are mated and engaged.

5. A method for constructing a pet stair from a plurality of pet steps, each such step comprising a high-density foam core of three-dimensional shape, said high-density foam having a relatively high coefficient of friction, and each core defining a bottom, a cover removably mounted to said core, said cover being constructed from a fabric having a relatively high coefficient of friction and having a plurality of seams arranged therein so as to define a bag shape with an opening therein, and an elastic band mounted to the cover at said opening, said cover being fitted around said core such that the band locates entirely within the perimeter of the bottom of the core leaving a substantial area of the bottom of the core uncovered and exposed wherein the steps further comprise hook-and-loop fasteners systematically and strategically mounted to specific locations on the cover, each fastener having a hook portion and a loop portion, comprising the steps of:

assembling the individual pet steps to be used by fitting the covers on the cores so that the seams generally locate on the corners of the cores and the bands locate entirely within the perimeters of the bottoms of the cores leaving a substantial area of the bottom of the core uncovered and exposed,

arranging the pet steps adjacent each other in a stair configuration as desirable so that the bottom of at least one step including the exposed portion of the core, is adjacent the cover of at least one step, and

fastening the pet steps to each other by securing the hook portion of a hook-and-loop fastener to the corresponding loop portion of a mating hook-and-loop fastener, thereby engaging the fasteners.

6. The method of claim 5 wherein the foam cores are of regular six-sided block shape and the steps are arranged in a three-step stair.

7. The method of claim 5 wherein the foam cores are of regular six-sided block shape and the steps are arranged in a four-step stair.