Pet housing with zippered closure

• US 9,635,831 B2
• Filed: 01/08/2009
• Issued: 05/02/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 01/08/2009
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Pluto OPCO LLC
• Original Assignee: Doskocil Manufacturing Company Incorporated (Petmate Holdings Co.)
• Inventors: Northrop, Melaney, Lin, Alex
• Primary Examiner(s): WILLIAMS, MONICA L
• Application Number:
  US12/350,285
• Publication Number:
  US 20110017145A1
• Time in Patent Office: 3,036 Days
• Field of Search: 119496, 119497, 119498, 190903, 190107, 190103, 220 428, 220 6, 220 7, 220 91, 220 92, 220 93, 220666, 220676, 220752, 220755, 220 408, 220916, 220 407, 220 426, 220 433
• CPC Class Codes: A01K 1/0254 Bags or baskets

Abstract

A pet housing includes a top portion having a continuous edge and a bottom portion having a continuous edge. A middle portion is disposed between the top and bottom portions. The middle portion includes a continuous top edge and a continuous bottom edge. A first zipper is operable between an open and closed position to selectively interconnect the top portion continuous edge to the middle portion continuous top edge. A second zipper is operable between an open and closed position to selectively interconnect the bottom portion continuous edge to the middle portion continuous bottom edge. When the zippers are in the closed position, the top, bottom and middle portions form an enclosed area. When the zippers are in the open position, the top and bottom portions are completely detachable from the middle portion to allow the portions to nest.

Claims

1. A pet housing comprising:

a top portion comprising a handle and having a first edge, the handle being disposed on a top surface of the ton portion;

a bottom portion having a second edge, the first edge being a downwardly extending edge and the second edge being an upwardly extending edge when the pet housing is in an upright and assembled state;

a middle portion structured to be disposed between the top and bottom portions to form an enclosed area, the middle portion having a top edge and a bottom edge, the middle portion being detachable from the top and bottom portions, the top portion being configured to be inverted so that the top surface of the top portion faces and is nested with the bottom portion when the middle portion is detached from the top and bottom portions;

a first zipper operable between an open position and a closed position, the first edge of the top portion and the top edge of the middle portion being interconnected in the closed position of the first zipper and being detached from one another in the open position of the first zipper; and

a second zipper operable between an open position and a closed position, the second edge of the bottom portion and the bottom edge of the middle portion being interconnected in the closed position of the second zipper and being detached from one another in the open position of the second zipper.

2. The pet housing of claim 1, wherein

the middle portion comprises a doorway and a door flap, the door flap being structured to be situated in the doorway and to be closable by a zipper.

3. The pet housing of claim 1, wherein

the top and bottom portions have substantially the same size and shape to accommodate nesting of the top and bottom portions.

4. The pet housing of claim 3, wherein

the middle portion is structured to be nestable between the top and bottom portions.

5. The pet toy of claim 3, wherein

the top and bottom portions have shapes that are substantially mirror images such that the top portion is substantially entirely nestable with the bottom portion.

6. The pet housing of claim 1, wherein

the middle portion has a pair of edges and is structured to be disposable between the first and second portions to form an enclosed area.

7. The pet housing of claim 1, wherein

the top, bottom and middle portions comprise plastic sheet material.

8. The pet housing of claim 1, wherein the first zipper includes teeth extending completely around the first edge of the top portion and the top edge of the middle portion, and the second zipper includes teeth extending completely around the second edge of the bottom portion and the bottom edge of the middle portion.

9. The pet toy of claim 1, wherein

the middle portion includes a plurality of ventilation openings.

10. The pet toy of claim 1, wherein

the middle portion is configured to be folded and inserted between the top and bottom portions when the top and bottom portion are nested.

11. The pet toy of claim 1, wherein

the top surface of the top portion contacts an inner surface of the bottom portion when the top and bottom portions are nested.