Patent Application
20210392852
Not Applicable.
Dogs are owned by numerous people most of whom keep their pets inside their home at least part, if not most, of the time. While dogs may be sedentary and tend to remain in one area of a home most of the time they are indoors, many, if allowed to, will wander about the premises where they are kept. While most of this wandering is benign, dogs do sometimes get into areas where they are not supposed to be and cause damage or create turmoil for their owner.
One way of preventing such occurrences is to cage the animal when it is indoors, or erect a barrier of some sort which, while allowing the dog some freedom of movement, confines it within a defined area. Most pet owners are uncomfortable with caging their pet for a prolonged period of time or confining their dog in a very restricted space. Caged dogs tend to whine or bark in trying to attract the attention of someone who might let them out of their cage, and confining the dog within a restricted area often does not work because the animal will find a way to escape from its confinement. Further, creating some type of confined space barrier raises issues as to how large a space can be accommodated within the confines of a home even if the dog will stay within the area and not escape from it.
Another way of controlling a dog's movements indoors is to place it on a leash having one end that is secured to a dog collar with the other end attached to, for example, a piece of furniture such as the leg of a chair, sofa, or table. Doing so allows the dog a certain freedom of movement with someone keeping an eye on it. However, this solution creates the possibility of the furniture being damaged by actions of the dog and/or the dog gets tangled with the furniture.
What is needed is a device that a dog owner can easily move about their home and set up in different convenient areas as appropriate. When leashed to the device, the dog will have enough room to move comfortably about; for example, more than 360° while remaining tangle free, and without being able to get into any trouble or cause problems for their owner.
The present invention is directed to a dog recreation device for indoor and outdoor use by pet owners. The device is a portable device the owner can readily move about within their premises to a desired location with the dog then being leashed to the device so as to be able to comfortably move about but without creating problems for its owner.
The device first has a base which is a hollow base that is filled with water, sand, or other material so its weight is such the device cannot be moved about by the movement of a dog, or dogs, tethered to it. The weight, however, is such that a person can readily move the device from one location to another, as desired.
The device next has a rigid, one-piece post, attached to and extending from the top of the base a desired distance. The post can be integrally formed with the base or may be a separate piece that is rigidly affixed to the top of the base. The post has a generally uniform outer diameter throughout its length, this diameter being such that one end of a leash, the other end of which is attached to a dog's collar or harness, can be slipped over or tied about the post to tether the dog to the device.
A handle is connected to the top of the post for grasping by a person wanting to move the device from one location to another.
The device and its components can be of a molded plastic or metal construction, or a combination of both. The size of the device is such that, when not in use, it is easily moved to an out-of-the-way storage location so to not clutter up the area where it is typically placed.
The device is relatively low cost and is available in a variety of colors.
Other objects and features will be in part apparent and in part pointed out hereinafter.
Corresponding reference numerals will be used throughout the several figures of the drawings.
The following detailed description illustrates the claimed invention by way of example and not by way of limitation. This description will clearly enable one skilled in the art to make and use the claimed invention, and describes several embodiments, adaptations, variations, alternatives and uses of the claimed invention, including what I presently believe is the best mode of carrying out the claimed invention. Additionally, it is to be understood that the claimed invention is not limited in its application to the details of construction and the arrangements of components set forth in the following description or illustrated in the drawings. The claimed invention is capable of other embodiments and of being practiced or being carried out in various ways. Also, it is to be understood that the phraseology and terminology used herein is for the purpose of description and should not be regarded as limiting.
Referring to the drawings, a recreational device 10 is for use with a dog D. Device 10 allows the dog D, or dogs, tethered to the device to have a limited freedom of movement within a defined area A inside a premises so the dog can freely move about within the defined area 360° tangled free. See
Device 10 first includes a base 12 having a flat bottom surface 14 that rests upon a floor or carpet, a sidewall 16, and a top surface 18. As best shown in the top plan view of
Base 12 is of a molded plastic material and the interior of the base is hollow. As shown in
Post 26 is a one-piece, rigid post that extends vertically from top surface 18 of device 10 a predetermined height above the top surface. The outer diameter of post 26, which is uniform throughout the length of the post, is such that one end E1 of a dog leash L readily fits over or otherwise attaches to the post with the other end E2 of the leash being fastened to a dog's collar or harness C so to tether the dog to device 10.
Base 12 and post 26 of device 10 can, in one embodiment of the invention, be molded or cast together so to have a unitary one-piece construction. In other embodiments, post 26 is a separate piece the lower end of which is threaded or otherwise formed for connection or engagement with a corresponding central opening, not shown, in top surface 18 of device 10.
A handle 28 is affixed to the top of post 26 for grasping by the person wanting to move device 10 from one place to another. As shown in the drawings, handle 28 is shaped like a bone which is inserted in the top of handle 26 so to extend horizontally. This makes it easy for the person to grasp the handle and move the device. In one embodiment of the invention, bone shaped handle 28 is molded together with post 24 so to form a unitary one-piece construction. In another embodiment, post 26 has a generally rounded opening in its upper end with a middle portion of bone shaped handle 28 sized to snuggly fit within this opening to attach the handle to the post.
Those skilled in the art will understand that device 10 can be of a plastic or a metal construction. Also, while not shown in the drawings, the device can be of a variety of other sizes and shapes without departing from the scope of the invention. The device can be of one color, or the base, post, and handle can be of different colors. Also, the outside of the device can be finished in a decorative motif.
The separate parts of device 10 are readily assembled for use; and, once assembled, the device is easily moved about the inside or outside of a premises to any convenient location. When not being used, the device is readily movable to an out-of-the-way location.
In view of the above, it will be seen that the several objects and advantages of the present invention have been achieved and other advantageous results have been obtained.
As various changes could be made in the above constructions without departing from the scope of the invention, it is intended that all matter contained in the above description or shown in the accompanying drawings shall be interpreted as illustrative and not in a limiting sense.
U.S. design patent application Ser. No. 29/736,138 filed May 28, 2020.
