Patent Application
20220217939
The present disclosure relates to an animal enclosure, and, in particular, to an animal enclosure including at least one platform.
The use of animal cages or crate is well known. Many conventional cages have been developed over the years for housing animals of different shapes and sizes. For instance, animal cages typically house dogs and cats. Rabbits, hamsters, gerbils, mice, guinea pigs, and other small animals have also been known to be housed by such cages and are quite common. In fact, such cages are also used for farm animals when needed, including ducks and chickens. As cages have been further developed, the portability and ease of use have become points of emphasis. Some conventional cages, for example, have been designed to collapse to a compact structure for portability. Others have been designed to be of light weight and from durable materials. Conventional cages have been designed for ease of transporting an animal. Some conventional cages are designed as exercise pens that provide an interior space that the animal can move about, particularly outdoors.
In one embodiment of the present disclosure, an animal enclosure assembly includes a top member, a bottom member, a front member, a rear member, a first side member, and a second side member; an interior formed between the top member, the bottom member, the front member, the rear member, the first side member, and the second side member, the interior being defined by at least a first level and a second level; a platform located in the interior and coupled to at least one of the front member, rear member, first side member, and second side member, the platform including a top surface; and a ramp coupled to the platform to allow travel to and from a location above, below or adjacent the platform; wherein, the platform comprises a concave-shaped recess formed in the top surface.
In one aspect of this embodiment, the recess is filled with dirt and a natural plant. In a second aspect, the top surface is generally flat and surrounds the recess. In a third aspect, the platform is positioned in the first level closest to the bottom member. In a fourth aspect, at least one of the front member, rear member, first side member, and second side member comprises a semi-transparent or transparent material. In a fifth aspect, at least one of the front member, rear member, first side member, and second side member comprises a mesh material.
In another aspect, at least one of the front member, rear member, first side member, and second side member comprises a plurality of interconnecting horizontal and vertical wires. In a further aspect, the platform comprises a generally four-sided structure. In an alternative aspect, the platform comprises a generally L-shaped structure. In yet another aspect, the platform is positioned in the second level closest to the top member.
In a further aspect, a second platform is located in the interior and coupled to at least one of the front member, rear member, first side member, and second side member, wherein the ramp is coupled between the platform and the second platform. In yet a further aspect, the second platform comprises a concave-shaped recess formed in the top surface. Further, in a different aspect, the recess of the second platform is filled with dirt and a natural plant. In yet a further aspect, at least one tube port is formed in the front member, rear member, first side member or second side member.
In another embodiment of the present disclosure, an animal enclosure assembly includes a top member, a bottom member, a front member, a rear member, a first side member, and a second side member; an interior formed between the top member, the bottom member, the front member, the rear member, the first side member, and the second side member, the interior being defined by at least a first level and a second level; a first platform located in the interior and coupled to at least one of the front member, rear member, first side member, and second side member, the platform including a top surface; a second platform located in the interior and coupled to another of the front member, rear member, first side member, and second side member, the second platform including a top surface; a ramp coupled between the first platform and the second platform; wherein, the first platform comprises a first concave-shaped recess formed in the top surface thereof and the second platform comprises a second concave-shaped recess formed in the top surface thereof; wherein, the first platform is arranged within the interior at a different level than the second platform.
In one aspect of this embodiment, either the first recess or second recess is filled with dirt and a natural plant. In another aspect, the first platform is positioned in the first level closest to the bottom member and the second platform is positioned in the second level closest to the top member. In a further aspect, at least one tube port formed in the front member, rear member, first side member or second side member. In yet another aspect, at least one of the front member, rear member, first side member, and second side member comprises a semi-transparent or transparent material.
In a further embodiment of the present disclosure, a multi-animal enclosure assembly includes a first animal enclosure assembly and a second animal enclosure assembly, wherein the first animal enclosure assembly comprises at least one side member and a first tube port formed in the at least one side member; and the second animal enclosure assembly comprises a top member, a bottom member, a front member, a rear member, a first side member, and a second side member; an interior formed between the top member, the bottom member, the front member, the rear member, the first side member, and the second side member, the interior being defined by at least a first level and a second level; a platform located in the interior and coupled to at least one of the front member, rear member, first side member, and second side member, the platform including a top surface; a ramp coupled to the platform to allow travel to and from a location above, below or adjacent the platform; and a second tube port formed in the front member, rear member, first side member or second side member; wherein, the platform comprises a concave-shaped recess formed in the top surface; wherein, the first tube port and second tube port are aligned with one another such that a tube is coupled therebetween to provide access between an interior of the first animal enclosure and the interior of the second animal enclosure.
The above-mentioned aspects of the present disclosure and the manner of obtaining them will become more apparent and the disclosure itself will be better understood by reference to the following description of the embodiments of the disclosure, taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, wherein:
Corresponding reference numerals are used to indicate corresponding parts throughout the several views.
The embodiments of the present disclosure described herein are not intended to be exhaustive or to limit the disclosure to the precise forms disclosed in the following detailed description. Rather, the embodiments are chosen and described so that others skilled in the art appreciate and understand the principles and practices of the present disclosure.
The present disclosure relates to an animal enclosure. The animal enclosure can be used for multiple purposes, such as to contain one or more animals or objects. The enclosure can be made of any size for accommodating an animal or object of any size. In addition, the enclosure can be made of different materials including aluminum, plastic, and steel. The enclosure can be designed as an animal cage to define an interior that is surrounded at all sides, or it can be designed as an exercise pen in which at least one side is not present, for instance a top side.
Referring to
While the door assembly 116 may be on the front of the enclosure 100, it is also possible for it to be integrated into either side member or rear member thereof. Moreover, the top member 102 may be removable in order to allow better access to the interior of the enclosure 100.
In some embodiments, the enclosure 100 may include a frame 114 which borders the different members. The frame 114 may be formed of a treated wood material, plastic, or other known material. The frame 114 may include a cross-member 126 that partially divides the enclosure 100 between a lower level 122 and an upper level 124. Upon removing the top member 102, a user may have direct access to the upper level 124.
The frame or border 114 may include slots or grooves (not shown) to which a member may be slidingly coupled. For example, the front member 106 may be coupled to the enclosure 100 by sliding it downwardly along slots or grooves formed in the frame or border 114. The cross-member 126 may include a slot (not shown) in which the front member 106 may pass through.
A portion of the enclosure 100 may include mesh and/or other portions may be transparent. In
The transparent portions 120 of the enclosure 110 may be formed as part of the front member 106 and the first side member 110 and/or second side member 112. In
The bottom 104 of the enclosure 100 may be removable therefrom for ease in cleaning. Further, one or more legs 128 of a base structure may support the enclosure 100 on a ground or floor surface. The one or more legs 128 may be at least partly coupled to the bottom member 104.
The enclosure 100 of
A first ramp 130 is shown leading between the bottom member 104 and the first platform 134. A second ramp 132 extends from the first platform 134 to the second platform 136. Thus, an animal such as a hamster, guinea pig, gerbil, or the like may easily traverse from the bottom member 104 to the second platform 136 via the ramps and first platform 134.
In the enclosure of
Referring to
The platform 300 may include a recess 304 defined in a portion of the top surface 302. The recess 304 may form a bowl or cup-like structure 402 as shown in
In one embodiment, at least one of the top member 102, front member 106, rear member 108, first side member 110, and second side member 112 may be formed of a transparent or sem-transparent material to allow sunlight, for example, to reach the natural plant 400 to help with growth. In another embodiment, one or more of these members may be formed of mesh material which may allow sunlight to penetrate through and reach the platform. In other embodiments, one or more of the members may be partially transparent or semi-transparent and partially mesh.
Turning now to
While the door assembly 216 may be on the front of the enclosure 200, it is also possible for it to be integrated into either side member or rear member thereof. Moreover, the top member 202 may be removable in order to allow better access to the interior of the enclosure 200.
In some embodiments, the enclosure 200 may include a frame 214 which borders the different members. The frame 214 may be formed of a treated wood material, plastic, or other known material.
The enclosure 200 may include a built-in drawer 220 that may pull out to allow a user access to a bottom portion or lower level 222 of the enclosure 200. The lower level 222 may include a pan (not shown), as known in the art. An area above the lower level 222 (i.e., above the drawer 220) may be referred to as an upper level 224.
The frame 214 may include a cross-member 126 that partially divides the enclosure 200 between a lower level 222 and an upper level 224. Upon removing the top member 202, a user may have direct access to the upper level 224.
The border 214 may include slots or grooves (not shown) to which a member may be slidingly coupled. For example, the front member 206 may be coupled to the enclosure 200 by sliding it downwardly along slots or grooves formed in the border 214.
A portion of the enclosure 200 may include mesh and other portions may be transparent. In
The transparent portions 120 of the enclosure 210 may be formed as part of the front member 206. In
The bottom 204 of the enclosure 200 may be removable therefrom for ease in cleaning. Further, one or more legs 228 of a base structure may support the enclosure 200 on a ground or floor surface. The one or more legs 228 may be at least partly coupled to the bottom member 204.
The enclosure 200 of
A first ramp 226 is shown leading between the bottom member 204 and the first platform 234. A second ramp 230 extends from the first platform 234 to the second platform 236, and a third ramp 232 extends from the second platform 236 to the third platform 238. Thus, an animal such as a hamster, guinea pig, gerbil, or the like may easily traverse from the bottom member 204 to the third platform 238 via the ramps and intermediate platforms.
In the enclosure of
Referring to
The platform 500 may include a recess 504 defined in a portion of the top surface 502. The recess 504 may form a concave (e.g., a bowl or cup-like) structure 602 as shown in
The aforementioned enclosures of
In another embodiment of the present disclosure, two or more animal enclosures may be provided to form an assembly such that each enclosure has one or more side members which form an interior. A tube port may be formed in a corresponding side member of each of the first and second enclosures. In order to allow an animal access between the interiors of both enclosures, a tube may be coupled to each tube port. The hollow tube may be accessed in each enclosure. Each animal enclosure may comprise the features of either
While exemplary embodiments incorporating the principles of the present disclosure have been disclosed herein, the present disclosure is not limited to the disclosed embodiments. Instead, this disclosure is intended to cover any variations, uses, or adaptations of the disclosure using its general principles. Further, this application is intended to cover such departures from the present disclosure as come within known or customary practice in the art to which this disclosure pertains and which fall within the limits of the appended claims.
This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Patent Application Ser. No. 63/136,780, filed Jan. 13, 2021, the disclosure of which is hereby incorporated by reference in its entirety.
| Number | Date | Country | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 63136780 | Jan 2021 | US |
