Pet transporter construction defining interior space for pet

• US 7,261,060 B1
• Filed: 03/26/2006
• Issued: 08/28/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 03/26/2006
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Diane Garofola
• Original Assignee: Diane Garofola
• Inventors: Bizzell, Daniel Lee, Kovacevich, Ian, Dahlquist, Kevin, Garofola, Pete, Eudy, Brad, Garofola, Diane
• Primary Examiner(s): Poon; Peter M.
• Assistant Examiner(s): BERRY JR, WILLIE WENDELL
• Application Number:
  US11/277,517
• Time in Patent Office: 520 Days
• Field of Search: 119/482, 119/496, 280/37, 280/644, 280/647, 280/651, 280/79.11, 280/47.34, 280/47.371, 280/47.38
• US Class Current: 119/496
• CPC Class Codes: A01K 1/0236 Transport boxes, bags, cages, baskets, harnesses for animals; Fittings therefor for poultry A01K31/002; for pigeons A01K31/07
• CPC Class Codes: A01K 1/0245 Boxes or cages

Abstract

A container of a pet transporter defines an interior space for a pet. An interior space of the container is defined by a rigid chassis including a platform bounding a bottom of said interior space, a rear panel attached to said chassis and bounding a rear of said interior space, side panels respectively attached to opposite lateral sides of said chassis and bounding sides of said interior space, and a flexible top covering that is releasably fastened, directly or indirectly, to said chassis and which, when fastened thereto, extends in a closed covering position from the rear panel to a front of said chassis thereby bounding a top of said interior space. The chassis further includes a rear support frame and two pairs of side support frames. The platform, rear support frame, and two pair of side support frames comprise a single, inseparable structure.

Claims

1. A pet transporter, comprising:

(a) a container defining an interior space dimensioned to receive a pet therein; and

(b) wheel assemblies attached to said container, each said wheel assembly including a wheel for vehicular rolling of the container over a surface;

(c) wherein said container comprises a chassis that includes;

(i) a platform,

(ii) a rear support frame extending upwardly from said platform, and

(iii) two pairs of side support frames, each said pair located on a respective lateral side of said chassis, each said side support frame extending from said rear support frame of said chassis to a front portion of said platform,

(iv) wherein said platform, said rear support frame, and said two pairs of side support frames comprise a single, inseparable structure;

(d) wherein said interior space of said container is partially defined by a pair of side panels each attached to a respective lateral side of said chassis to enclose sides of said interior space, said interior space of said container being further partially defined by a flexible top covering when in a closed covering position, at least a portion of said flexible top covering sloping downwardly in extending from said rear support frame to proximate said, front portion of said platform; and

(e) wherein said chassis including said respective pairs of said side support frames define openings that are covered by said side panels.

2. The pet transporter of claim 1, wherein a said side panel comprise apertures for ventilation and air circulation of said interior space of said container.

3. The pet transporter of claim 1, wherein a said side panel is stamped to include apertures therein for ventilation and air circulation of said interior space of said container.

4. The pet transporter of claim 1, wherein a said side panel comprises a mesh material and another said side panel comprises a lattice, wherein apertures of said lattice permit a pet to be viewed within the pet transporter and wherein apertures of said mesh material permit the pet to view the area outside of the pet transporter but do not permit the pet to be viewed within the pet transporter.

5. The pet transporter of claim 1, further comprising a loading ramp that is configured for pivotal movement between a raised position for enclosing a pet and a lowered position for entrance into and exit from said container by a pet, and wherein said loading ramp, when disposed in said lowered position, is disposed level with a floor of said container or below, and oriented at an incline to, said floor of said container.

6. The pet transporter of claim 1, wherein said loading ramp includes a handle for lifting of the pet transporter.

7. The pet transporter of claim 1, wherein said flexible top covering is releasably fastened to said chassis and which, when unfastened therefrom, is configured to be rolled-up into itself.

8. The pet transporter of claim 7, further comprising a fastener for securing said top covering in a rolled configuration on top of, and near the back of, said container.

9. The pet transporter of claim 7, wherein a side support frame on each side of the pet transporter includes a first zipper element;

wherein said top covering includes correspondingly-located second zipper elements that mate with said first zipper elements; and

wherein said top covering is configured, when unzipped, to be rolled-up into itself.

10. The pet transporter of claim 7, wherein said top covering includes elastic elements urging said flexible top covering to roll-up into itself.

11. The pet transporter of claim 7, wherein said top covering comprises a woven screen mesh material.

12. The pet transporter of claim 7, wherein said top covering comprises apertures for ventilation and air circulation of said interior space of said container.

13. The pet transporter of claim 1, wherein the pet transporter further comprises a telescoping handle that is attached to said container and, when extended, is configured to bow away from said container.

14. The pet transporter of claim 1, wherein each said wheel assembly is selectively detachable from said container independent of the detachment of any of the other said wheel assemblies;

wherein each said wheel assembly includes a respective wheel and an axle, said wheel being rotatable about an axis of said axle, and said axle longitudinally extending through an opening of said container when said wheel assembly is attached to said container; and

wherein each said wheel assembly further includes a spring component that urges said axle longitudinally through the opening of said container when said wheel assembly is attached to said container.

15. The pet transporter of claim 1, wherein each said wheel assembly comprises a self-contained assembly that includes a wheel and an axle.

16. The pet transporter of claim 1, wherein each said wheel assembly is configured to be selectively detached and reattached to said container between a retracted position, in which said wheel of said wheel assembly is not configured to engage the surface for vehicular rolling of said container, and an extended position, in which said wheel of said wheel assembly is configured to engage said surface for vehicular rolling of said container.

17. The pet transporter of claim 1, wherein a pair of said wheel assemblies respectively extend outwardly from opposite lateral sides of said container such that said container is disposed laterally between said wheels of said wheel assemblies.

18. A pet transporter, comprising:

(a) a container; and

(b) wheel assemblies attached to said container, each said wheel assembly including a wheel for vehicular rolling of the container over a surface;

(c) wherein said container comprises a chassis that includes;

(i) a platform,

(ii) a rear support frame extending upwardly from said platform, and

(iii) two pairs of side support frames, each said pair located on a respective lateral side of said chassis, each said side support frame extending from said rear support frame of said chassis to a front portion of said platform,

(iv) wherein said platform, said rear support frame, and said two pairs of side support frames comprise a single, inseparable structure and are integrally formed in one or more molding processes; and

(d) wherein said container further includes side panels that are integrally formed with said platform, said rear support frame, and said two pairs of side support frames in one or more molding processes, said container defining an interior space dimensioned to receive a pet therein, said interior space being partially defined by a flexible top covering when in a closed covering position, at least a portion of said flexible top covering sloping downwardly in extending from said rear support frame to proximate said front portion of said platform.

19. The pet transporter of claim 18, wherein each said wheel assembly is configured to be selectively detached and reattached to said container between a retracted position, in which said wheel of said wheel assembly is not configured to engage the surface for vehicular rolling of said container, and an extended position, in which said wheel of said wheel assembly is configured to engage said surface for vehicular rolling of said container;

and wherein a pair of said wheel assemblies respectively extend outwardly from opposite lateral sides of said container such that said container is disposed laterally between said wheels of said wheel assemblies.

20. A pet transporter, comprising:

(a) a container defining an interior space dimensioned to receive a pet therein; and

(b) wheel assemblies attached to said container, each said wheel assembly including a wheel for vehicular rolling of the container over a surface;

(c) wherein said container comprises a chassis that includes;

(i) a platform,

(ii) a rear support frame extending upwardly from said platform, and

(iii) two pairs of side support frames, each said pair located on a respective lateral side of said chassis, each said side support frame extending from said rear support frame of said chassis to a front portion of said platform,

(iv) wherein said platform, said rear support frame, and said two pairs of side support frames comprise a single, inseparable structure and are integrally formed in one or more molding processes; and

(d) wherein said interior space of said container is partially defined by a pair of side panels each attached to a respective lateral side of said chassis to enclose sides of said interior space, said side panels being integrally formed with said chassis in one or more molding processes, and said interior space of said container is further partially defined by a flexible top covering when in a closed covering position, at least a portion said flexible top covering sloping downwardly in extending from said rear support frame to proximate said front portion of said platform; and

(e) wherein said chassis including said respective pairs of said side support frames define openings that are covered by said side panels.