Patent Application
20210007321
Embodiments related to animal carriers are disclosed. More particularly, embodiments related to animal carriers having shoulder straps are disclosed.
Pets travel with their owners to a variety of destinations, including groomers, veterinarians, parks, and beaches. Animals, such as pets can be carried to such destinations in animal carriers, which typically include a carrying portion to hold the pet, and one or more handles attached to the carrying portion for the owner to hold. The animal carriers secure the animal to prevent separation from the owner, as well as allow the pet to both feel secure and see outside the carrier, which can provide a more pleasant trip for the animal.
Existing animal carriers have straps that are worn over the back or single straps attached to the front or back of the carrier. The carrying portions of the animal carriers typically enclose the entire pet, and do not allow the pet to see outside of the animal carrier while being carried. Furthermore, existing animal carriers are constructed of non-absorbent materials that may be visually appealing, but which can cause a wet animal to remain wet for prolonged periods of time after, e.g., a beach excursion.
An animal carrier that is multi-functional is provided. More particularly, the animal carrier can be used to carry and dry an animal, such as a pet. In an embodiment, the animal carrier includes a carrying panel having a front edge defining a front opening and rear edge defining a rear opening when the carrying panel is curled around a pet. The front opening is supported by a shoulder strap such that the pet is able to see forward while being carried. Furthermore, a rear panel can cover the rear opening to hold the pet securely and comfortably while being carried. An entirety or a portion of the animal carrier can be constructed from absorbent material. For example, the carrying panel, the shoulder strap, the rear panel, or any other portion of the animal carrier can be fabricated from an absorbent material, e.g., a terry-cloth fabric. The absorbent material can allow the animal carrier to be used as a towel to dry the pet after an excursion, e.g., to the beach, and can continue to wick moisture away from the pet when the pet is being carried home.
The above summary does not include an exhaustive list of all aspects of the present invention. It is contemplated that the invention includes all systems and methods that can be practiced from all suitable combinations of the various aspects summarized above, as well as those disclosed in the Detailed Description below and particularly pointed out in the claims filed with the application. Such combinations have particular advantages not specifically recited in the above summary.
The embodiments of the invention are illustrated by way of example and not by way of limitation in the figures of the accompanying drawings in which like references indicate similar elements. It should be noted that references to “an” or “one” embodiment of the invention in this disclosure are not necessarily to the same embodiment, and such references mean at least one. Also, in the interest of conciseness and reducing the total number of figures, a given figure may be used to illustrate the features of more than one embodiment of the invention, and not all elements in the figure may be required for a given embodiment.
Embodiments describe an animal carrier having an absorbent carrying panel. The animal carrier can be used to transport a dog. The animal carrier may, however, be used in other applications, such as to transport cats or other pets.
In various embodiments, description is made with reference to the figures. However, certain embodiments may be practiced without one or more of these specific details, or in combination with other known methods and configurations. In the following description, numerous specific details are set forth, such as specific configurations, dimensions, and processes, in order to provide a thorough understanding of the embodiments. In other instances, well-known processes and manufacturing techniques have not been described in particular detail in order to not unnecessarily obscure the description. Reference throughout this specification to “one embodiment,” “an embodiment,” or the like, means that a particular feature, structure, configuration, or characteristic described is included in at least one embodiment. Thus, the appearance of the phrase “one embodiment,” “an embodiment,” or the like, in various places throughout this specification are not necessarily referring to the same embodiment. Furthermore, the particular features, structures, configurations, or characteristics may be combined in any suitable manner in one or more embodiments.
The use of relative terms throughout the description may denote a relative position or direction. For example, “distal” may indicate a first direction away from a reference point, e.g., away from a carrying panel. Similarly, “proximal” may indicate a location in a second direction opposite to the first direction. Such terms are provided to establish relative frames of reference, however, and are not intended to limit the use or orientation of an animal carrier to a specific configuration described in the various embodiments below.
In an aspect, an animal carrier is multifunctional. The multifunctional animal carrier can be used to hold a pet during transportation, and can be fabricated at least in part by an absorbent material that allows the animal carrier to also be used as a towel or a blanket.
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The carrying panel 102 is shown as a single layer of fabric, however, it will be appreciated that the carrying panel 102 may have several layers of fabric. For example, the carrying panel 102 can include a second, inner layer of fabric that acts as a water barrier to keep a user dry while carrying a wet animal. The fabric layers may be formed from a same or different material. The fabric layers may be surface treated. For example, an inner surface of the inner layer of material (which may be the only layer of material) can be coated with an antibacterial coating. A portion or an entirety of the animal carrier 100 surfaces can be so treated to reduce a likelihood of bacterial growth on the animal carrier 100.
The front edge 104 and the rear edge 106 of the carrying panel 102 may be interconnected by a pair of lateral edges 112 extending rearward from the front edge 104 to the rear edge 106. Whereas the lateral edges 112 can interconnect the front edge 104 and the rear edge 106, one or more of the front edge 104 or the rear edge 106 can extend between the lateral edges 112. For example, the front edge 104 can extend between the lateral edges 112 to define the front opening 108 when the carrying panel 102 is curled around the pet. Similarly, the rear edge 106 can extend between the pair of lateral edges 112 to define the rear opening 110.
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In an embodiment, the carrying panel 102 is flexible, and a flexibility of the carrying panel 102 can correspond to a size of the animal that is to be carried. For example, an animal carrier 100 sized to carry a medium-sized dog may be less flexible than an animal carrier 100 sized to carry a small-sized dog.
An entirety or a portion of the animal carrier 100 can be constructed from absorbent materials, synthetic fabrics, or recycled fabrics, as described below. For example, the carrying panel 102 (or a shoulder strap, a rear panel, or any other portion of the animal carrier 100, as described below) can be fabricated from an absorbent material. In an embodiment, the carrying panel 102 is at least partially fabricated from an absorbent material. The absorbent material can be cotton, paper, poly(vinyl acetate), or another natural or synthetic material having absorbent properties. For example, the absorbent material can be a nylon or flashspun high-density polyethylene fibers, to name only a few possibilities. The absorbent material can be made from recycled plastics. For example, chips of recycled polyester can be included in and/or used to construct the absorbent material. The absorbent material may also be a blend of materials, such as a polyblend, e.g., a fleece or microfiber blend. In an embodiment, the absorbent material is inexpensive. The carrying panel 102 can form a majority of the animal carrier 100, e.g., may have more exposed surface area than the other components of the animal carrier 100, and thus, the animal carrier 100 can be manufactured inexpensively. Furthermore, a majority of the animal carrier 100 can be absorbent, however, as described below, at least some portion of the animal carrier 100 may be non-absorbent or less absorbent than the carrying panel 102.
The absorbent material can be in a variety of material forms. For example, the absorbent material can be made into an absorbent fabric, and thus, the carrying panel 102, or any other portion of the animal carrier 100, can include an absorbent fabric. Examples of absorbent fabrics include as a terry-cloth material or fabric, cotton flannel, chamois, etc. The absorbent fabric can include and/or be formed from recycled polyester chips. Accordingly, known weaving, knitting, and other textile processes can be used to form the absorbent carrying panel 102. For example, the carrying panel 102 can have a same structure as a beach towel.
The animal carrier 100 can include one or more shoulder straps 120 to allow a user to suspend and support a carrying panel 102 comfortably when transporting pet. The shoulder strap 120 can include an absorbent material or fabric, which may be a same or different absorbent fabric, e.g., a terry-cloth material, used for the carrying panel 102. Alternatively, the shoulder strap 120 may be fabricated from a non-absorbent or less absorbent material than the carrying panel 102.
The shoulder strap 120 can be a continuous length of material having several portions. A front strap portion 122 of the shoulder strap 120 can connect to the outer surface 114 of the carrying panel 102 along the front edge 104. For example, the front strap portion 122 can extend parallel to the front edge 104 from a lateral edge 112 toward a midpoint 125 of the front edge 104. The midpoint 125 is reference geometry, which during transportation of the pet, would be located on the carrying panel 102 below the pet. The front strap portion 122 can be sewed, adhered, or otherwise bonded to the outer surface 114 of the carrying panel 102. Alternatively, the front strap portion 122 can be attached to the inner surface 116 of the carrying panel 102 using similar processes.
A rear strap portion 124 of the shoulder strap 120 can connect to the outer surface 114 of the carrying panel 102 along the rear edge 106. For example, the rear strap portion 124 can extend parallel to the rear edge 106 from a lateral edge 112 toward a midpoint of the rear edge 106 (not shown). The midpoint of the rear edge 106 is reference geometry longitudinally aligned with the midpoint 125 of the front edge 104. The rear strap portion 124 can be sewed, adhered, or otherwise bonded to the outer surface 114 of the carrying panel 102. Alternatively, the rear strap portion 124 can be attached to the inner surface 116 of the carrying panel 102 using similar processes.
The shoulder strap 120 can include one or more handle portions 126 extending from the front strap portion 122 to the rear strap portion 124. More particularly, the handle portions 126 can be segments of the shoulder strap 120 that are held by a user while carrying the pet. The handle portions 126 can have predefined arc shapes, or may be flexible straps that have no predefined shape. In any case, the handle portions 126 can be separated to open the carrying panel 102, drawn toward each other to close the carrying panel 102, and lifted to suspend the carrying panel 102 and the pet.
In an embodiment, the animal carrier 100 can include a rear panel 128 to cover the rear opening 110 that is defined by the rear edge 106. More particularly, the rear panel 128 can be attached to the carrying panel 102 along the rear edge 106, and can extend orthogonal to the longitudinal axis. That is, the longitudinal axis of the enclosed volume within the carrying panel 102 can extend through the rear panel 128 when the pet is being carried. As such, the rear panel 128 provides a backstop to the pet to comfortably press against the pet as it is being carried and to reduce a likelihood that the pet will slide backward and fall from the animal carrier 100. The rear panel 128 is described in more detail below.
It will be appreciated that the animal carrier 100 can include a front panel (not shown) that is similar to the rear panel 128. More particularly, the front panel can cover the front opening 108 to define a front boundary of the enclosed volume within the carrying panel 102. Accordingly, an animal can be placed into the enclosed volume and surrounded by the front panel, the carrying panel 102, and the rear panel 128.
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In an embodiment, the strap portions, e.g., the front strap portion 122, extend continuously along the bottom of the carrying panel 102. For example, there may be no seams or discontinuities between segments of the front strap portion 122 that connect to the handle portions 126. That is, the first strap portion can extend from a first strap end 206 to a second strap end 208. The first strap end 206 can be a transition point between the front strap portion 122 and a first, e.g., a left, handle portion 126. Similarly, the second strap end 208 can be a transition point between the front strap portion 122 and a second, e.g., a right, handle portion 126. Continuous straps along the bottom surface of the carrying panel 102 can evenly and efficiently distributed a weight of the pet. Accordingly, the shoulder strap 120 may be less likely to break when a heavy pet is carried.
In an alternative embodiment, the strap portions (the front strap portion 122 or the rear strap portion 124) may be discontinuous. For example, as shown in
Referring again to
Each tie may be attached to the carrying panel 102 midway between the midpoint 125 and a respective lateral edge 112 of the carrying panel 102. For example, the first tie 210 can be one half of a distance between the midpoint 125 and the first end 214, and the second tie 212 can be one half of a distance between the midpoint 125 and the second end 216. As described above, the ties can be tied together to provide stability to the animal. Placement of the ties at the midway point can also allow the animal to see outside the carrier. That is, the ties positioned in such a manner can join at a knot that is below a line of sight of the pet while resting in the animal carrier 100.
In an embodiment, the ties may be attached to the carrying panel 102 nearer to the midpoint 125 than the respective end. For example, the first tie 210 may be attached to the carrying panel 102 nearer to the midpoint 125 than the first end 214 and the second tie 212 may be attached to the carrying panel 102 nearer to the midpoint 125 than the second end 216. In an embodiment, the first tie 210 is attached to the carrying panel 102 at a distance from the first end 214 that is two-thirds of the distance between the first end 214 and the midpoint 125. Similarly, the second tie 212 can be attached to the carrying panel 102 at a distance from the second end 216 that is two-thirds of the distance between the second end 216 and the midpoint 125. Accordingly, the first and second ties 212 can be tied together to provide stability to the animal and allow the animal to see outside the carrier. As described above, the ties may be absorbent, or alternatively, the ties may be fabricated from a non-absorbent or less absorbent material than the carrying panel 102.
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Other features may be incorporated into the animal carrier 100 by one skilled in the art. For example, the animal carrier 100 can include one or more top ties 304 attached to the carrying panel 102 along the lateral edges 112. The top ties 304 can be used in a manner similar to the first tie 210 and the second tie 212 attached along the front edge 104. More particularly, the top ties 304 can be used to tie a knot above the pet to further secure the pet within the animal carrier 100 during transport. In an embodiment, each top tie 304 is attached to a respective lateral edge 112 at a location that is midway between the front strap portion 122 and the rear strap portion 124. Alternatively, the ties may be located forward or behind such middle location.
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The rear panel 128 can be attached to the carrying panel 102 along the rear edge 106 of the carrying panel 102. The rear panel 128 may be of equal height to the lateral edges 112 of the carrying portion. Alternatively, the rear panel 128 may be shorter than the lateral edges 112. For example, a curved edge can extend downward and rearward from the lateral edges 112 to a top edge of the rear panel 128. Accordingly, the carrying portion can provide additional room to allow the pet to lie comfortably within the animal carrier 100.
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Other modifications are contemplated. For example, the carrying panel 102 may include several holes, e.g., four holes, positioned to receive the legs of an animal when the animal is being carried. In such case, the animal's feet can be inserted through the holes and the carrying panel 102 can be wrapped around the body of the animal such that the feet dangle while the animal is being carried.
In the foregoing specification, the invention has been described with reference to specific exemplary embodiments thereof. It will be evident that various modifications may be made thereto without departing from the broader spirit and scope of the invention as set forth in the following claims. The specification and drawings are, accordingly, to be regarded in an illustrative sense rather than a restrictive sense.
