The following relates to padding, and more particularly, portable pet pads for use in automobiles or other confined spaces.
Portable pads are commonly used with domesticated pets. For example, small, cushion-like pads are often used to provide a comfortable (e.g., cushioned) place to rest or sleep, for pets such as cats and dogs, whether on the floor, a window sill, or at another location. Typically, pet cushions are used to provide cushioning for a pet lying on a hard (sometimes cold) floor in a room of a home.
It is also known to provide a pet crate, cage, or other type of containment mechanism in a vehicle to contain an animal in an automobile while in transit. In sport utility vehicles (“SUVs”), station wagons, hatchbacks, or mini-vans, fencing may be provided to contain the animal in the cargo space behind the passenger seating area in the vehicle. This is particularly useful for when small children are seated in the second row passenger compartment so as to prevent the animal from leaping over the back of the seat and possibly harming the children or the animal itself.
When an animal is contained in the rear cargo space of a vehicle, the pet typically stands, sits, or rests directly on the carpeting installed in the cargo space. Since the cargo space may be used for other purposes, this flooring may be dirty and unsanitary for the pet. Conversely, the pet may cause the carpeting to become dirty, soiled, covered with pet hair and dander, or otherwise undesirable. Furthermore, during winter months, the cargo space may become cold. Since the cargo space is not intended for passengers, it would be atypical to include heating vents to warm the area. As a result, pets traveling in the rear of a vehicle such as an SUV, station wagon, hatchback, or mini-van can become cold and uncomfortable while in transit.
Accordingly, it is desirable to provide improved portable pet padding for pets.
Portable pet pads are disclosed that are easily re-configurable and transportable, and are provided with cushion material to compensate for harsh (e.g., hard) resting or sleeping conditions that would otherwise be faced by a pet. While the pet pads can be used anywhere electricity is or is not available, indoors or outdoors, it is contemplated that the pet pad can be used in the cargo space of a vehicle, such as an SUV, station wagon, hatchback, or mini-van. The extending portions of the pet pad can be extended to expand the surface area of the pad, to cover a greater portion of the cargo space, depending upon its surface area.
Additional embodiments will be more apparent upon consideration of the following detailed description, taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which like reference characters refer to like parts throughout, and in which:
The following describes configurable heating and/or cooling pads for pets, and methods and systems for using the same. The details included herein are for the purpose of illustration only and should not be understood to limit the scope of the disclosure. Moreover, certain features that are well known in the art are not described in detail in order to avoid complication of the subject matter described herein.
A portable heating and/or cooling pad is disclosed that includes at least one temperature regulation element for altering the temperature of the pad. The pad is configurable to fit a variety of spaces.
Two surfaces 14, 21 of extending portion 13a are covered by either hook or loop fasteners, e.g. VELCRO. Surfaces 15,16 of extending portion 13b and surfaces 17, 18 of extending portion 13c are also covered by either hook or loop fasteners. When extending portions 13a and 13b are folded on top of main portion 12, surfaces 14, 15 are adjacent one another. Since surface 14 is covered by loop fasteners, when surface 15 is covered by hook fasteners, and vice versa, their hook and loop fasteners will mate upon contact. Once extending portions 13a and 13b are folded, the user may push surfaces 14, 15 together to ensure that they their hook and loop fasteners connect securely. The hook and loop fasteners facilitate holding extending portions 13a and 13b together in the folded position. The relationship between surfaces 16, 17 is the same as the relationship between surfaces 14, 15. When extending portions 13b, 13c are folded on top of main portion 12, surfaces 16, 17 are adjacent one another and their hook and loop fasteners connect. In an alternative embodiment, the hook and loop fasteners may be replaced by any other type of fastener, including but not limited to snaps, magnets, or latches.
Two flaps 19, 20 extend from the front surface 15 of main portion 12 in a hanging manner, as shown in
Pet pad, including main portion and extending portions, may be made from or include any suitable material. According to various embodiments, these may be made from and/or include foam and/or ballistic nylon. Such materials and those similar that are known in the art, may be used when the ambient air temperature is relatively high (e.g., during the summer time). Alternatively, for example, pet pad may be made from and/or include fleece, imitation sheep skin, or suede material. Such material may be used, for example, when the ambient air temperature is relatively low (e.g., in the winter time). Thus, different materials may be used in order to enhance the comfort level of a pet using pet pad (e.g., when external temperature changes make different types of surfaces desirable to the pet, or when a different pet that prefers a different type of material is to use pet pad).
Although not shown, pet pad may also include cushion material (e.g., made from polyurethane foam or elastomer foam) or other suitable material for enhancing the comfort experience of a pet. For example, cushion material and/or other suitable material may be located below and/or the one or more heating and/or cooling elements located in pet pad. Alternatively, the one or more elements may be positioned within, but near the upper surface of, the cushion material. It is noted that the one or more heating and/or cooling elements may be separately controlled. It is also noted that placement of cushion material or other suitable material above the one or more heating elements may, in addition to making pet pad more comfortable, serve to reduce the transfer of heat from pet pad to the object on which pet pad is situated during operation. In one embodiment, the cushion material is made of orthopedic foam, of a consistency designed to protect joints and provide appropriate support to the skeletal system of a domesticated animal and facilitate a comfortable experience for a pet resting on the pad. Moreover, when pet pad includes cushion material, according to various embodiments, the cushion material may be removable. In other embodiments, instead of foam, the pet pad may include a soft, pliable, and re-maneuverable stuffing material to provide cushioning. Such cushioning material may include synthetic pillow stuffing such as polyester filling, or may include feathers such as goose or duck down. As a further alternative, the pet pad may include a combination of dense foam and softer pillow stuffing. It is contemplated that different types of cushioning may be utilized for different types of animals.
According to various embodiments, the battery pack being used for providing power to the one or more heating or cooling elements may be rechargeable or replaceable with a new battery pack. For example, when the battery pack is partially or completely discharged (drained of power), the battery pack may be recharged by removing it from the pet pad and placing it in a stand alone charging device that charges the battery pack using power from, e.g., an AC power outlet. In this case, a different, pre-charged battery pack may be connected to (and used to provide power to) circuitry of pet pad while the original battery pack is charging, thereby substantially reducing the amount of time that pet pad will go without power when the original battery pack is discharged. It is noted that, when a removable battery pack is used in connection with pet pad, this battery pack will be electrically connected to control panel. As described below in further detail, the battery pack can be disconnected from the control panel when it is removed from pet pad for recharging. Alternatively, the battery pack may be attached to the control panel in a manner such that the control panel is removed as well with the battery pack. The disclosure is not, however, limited in this manner.
It is noted that, a pad cover (not shown) may be used, and it may serve to additionally protect the control panel and/or a power source, even when one or both are situated in an external manner. When a pad cover is used, according to various embodiments, it may be made from vinyl or another suitable material that is able to withstand low and high temperatures, rain, moisture, and the like. Such a pad cover may also include one or more logos (e.g., advertisements) on the surface of the pad cover. It is also contemplated that the exterior of the control panel and/or a power source may be rigid and environmentally robust, such that either or both of these elements remain adequately protected even when the optional cover is not designed to cover these elements. Additionally, according to various embodiments, any cover that is being used may be removable (e.g., using a zipper or buttons), and may be machine or hand washable. Moreover, the bottom of such a cover (or main portion itself) may include a nonslip surface formed by gripping elements (not shown) that may be used to prevent sliding when pet pad is being used, e.g., on a slippery surface.
When a pad cover is used with the embodiment of
As shown in
As shown in
In alternative embodiments, main portion 12 houses a heater element (not shown). The heater element may be Nichrome wire, a mix of carbon and silver paste, or a semiconductive material, such as a flexible carbon material or a flexible graphite material such as graphite foil, fabric, or felt. Those skilled in the art will recognize various means of generating heat through the application of voltage to suitable materials.
In other embodiments, as illustrated in
As shown in
In alternative embodiments, additional features may be added to the pet pad that may work in conjunction with control panel 63. For example, a sensor 141 may be included that will determine if the pad is in use or about to be used and cause the control panel, connected by wire 142, to begin heating or cooling the pet pad as selected by switch 67. Examples of sensors include but are not limited to one or more motion sensors or infrared sensors, which could detect an animal before it has even entered the pet pad allowing the pad to be more comfortable when the animal actually arrives because of the early start; one or more pressure sensors, which would register the weight of an animal on part of the pad; one or more thermal sensors, which could both indicate the presence of an animal and be used to regulate the temperature of the pet pad; one or more vibration sensors to detect entry by an animal; one or more angular (e.g., non-horizontal) positioning sensors through any suitable means of detection, including, for example, a level detector or a gyroscope, which may be used to detect when the pad is being transported and de-energize and heating or cooling elements; and combinations thereof. Multiple sensors could be used in parallel such that a pet is more likely to activate at least one when using the pet bad. Alternatively multiple sensors could be used in series to reduce the likelihood that the pad is accidentally activated.
In some embodiments, indicator 68 will notify an owner when a battery needs to be recharged or replaced. Instead of or in addition to indicator 68, an audible indication may also be provided.
Additional embodiments may also include other features for safety purposes such as fuses or flame retardant materials in the construction of the pet pad. A fuse circuit may be any suitable type of fuse circuit that is capable of providing over current protection. For example, a fuse may be designed to melt and open the circuit under abnormally high electric loads. Alternatively, according to various preferred embodiments, a fuse will operate to only temporarily open a circuit. In this manner, the triggering of fuse circuit may not require servicing of the pet pad.
According to
An alternative to the folding configuration of
Extending portion 201 may be large and rectangular in shape, since there is no complication of other extending portions overlapping with it. A flap 202 is located on a side 204. A surface 205 of flap 202 is covered by either hook or loop fasteners. When surface 205 is covered by loop fasteners, surface 206 of extending portion 201 is covered by hook fasteners, and vice versa. Upon folding extending portion 201 on top of main portion 203, the user may lift flap 205 so that its hook or loop fasteners mate with the hook or loop fasteners of surface 206. When attached to surface 206 flap 202 further secures extending portion 201 in the folded position. An identical flap (not shown) is located on the side opposite flap 202. This other flap attaches to a surface opposite surface 206 in the same manner that flap 202 attaches to surface 206. In an alternative embodiment, the hook and loop fasteners of extending portion 201 and flap 202 may be replaced by any other type of fastener, including but not limited to snaps, magnets, buckles, ties, or latches.
According to various other embodiments exemplified by pet pad 800 of
Although the invention has been described and illustrated in the foregoing illustrative embodiments, it is understood that the present disclosure has been made only by way of example, and that numerous changes in the details of implementation of the invention can be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention. For example, it will be understood that features in one embodiment may be combined with features in other embodiments.
Moreover, it will be understood that, although the invention is described with particular attention to configurable heated pads for use with pets, the invention is not limited in this manner. For example, heated pads may also be used with young children or infants, e.g., in a crib. Moreover, the concepts described herein can be extended, for example, to couches or padding, whether portable or otherwise. Additionally, the configurable concept of the pads disclosed may also be used for pads that do not include any temperature control.
Other embodiments, extensions, and modifications of the ideas presented above are comprehended and should be within the reach of one versed in the art upon reviewing the present disclosure. For example, timer circuitry may also be used in connection with some or all of the embodiments described above. In this case, the timer circuitry may, for example, automatically deactivate (e.g., open) a circuit (regardless of the other conditions) during certain times of the day. According to various other embodiments, timer circuitry may also be used to automatically activate the circuit, regardless of the other conditions (e.g., to attract a pet by the resulting heating or cooling). Accordingly, the scope of the present invention in its various aspects should not be limited by the examples presented above. The individual aspects of the present invention and the entirety of the invention should be regarded so as to allow for such design modifications and future developments within the scope of the present disclosure.