Patent Application
20220330519
Not Applicable
Not Applicable
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The disclosure relates to platform assemblies and more particularly pertains to a new platform assembly for elevating a pet bed to mattress level. The present invention discloses a platform assembly comprising a selectively extendible platform having an integral set of foldable steps, wherein the platform and the steps are configured to be stowed underneath a bed.
The prior art relates to platform assemblies. Prior art platform assemblies comprise module and fixed height platforms, which may have stairs for allowing pets access to the platforms. What is lacking in the prior art is a platform assembly comprising a selectively extendible platform having an integral set of foldable steps, wherein the platform and the steps are configured to be stowed underneath a bed.
An embodiment of the disclosure meets the needs presented above by generally comprising a box, which has a top that is open. A lid is selectively positionable on the box to close the top. A lift module is positioned in the box and is operationally engaged to the box and the lid so that the lift module is positioned to selectively elevate the lid. A fastener is engaged to an upper face of the lid and is configured to selectively engage a pet bed so that the pet bed is removably engaged to the lid. A set of steps is hingedly engaged to the lid. The steps of the set of steps are mutually hingedly engaged so that the set of steps is selectively positionable in an extended configuration and a stowed configuration. In the extended configuration, the steps extend stepwise from the lid to a surface upon which the box is positioned. In the stowed configuration, the steps of the set of steps are substantially parallel and abutting. The lift module is configured to selectively elevate the lid, positioning the steps to be extended from the lid to the surface. The steps thus are configured to be traversed by a pet to access the pet bed.
There has thus been outlined, rather broadly, the more important features of the disclosure in order that the detailed description thereof that follows may be better understood, and in order that the present contribution to the art may be better appreciated. There are additional features of the disclosure that will be described hereinafter and which will form the subject matter of the claims appended hereto.
The objects of the disclosure, along with the various features of novelty which characterize the disclosure, are pointed out with particularity in the claims annexed to and forming a part of this disclosure.
The disclosure will be better understood and objects other than those set forth above will become apparent when consideration is given to the following detailed description thereof. Such description makes reference to the annexed drawings wherein:
With reference now to the drawings, and in particular to
As best illustrated in
A set of handles 28 is engaged to the lip 18. A respective handle 28 is configured to be grasped in a hand of a user, positioning the user to lift or to position the box 12 and the lid 16. The set of handles 28 may comprise five handles 28 positioned two apiece proximate to each opposed side 20 and singly proximate to the back 22 of the lid 16. The present invention also anticipates the handles 28 being engaged to the box 12, and the set of handles 28 comprising one, two, three, or four handles 28.
The elevatable pet bed platform assembly 10 also may comprise a strap 30 having a pair of connectors 32 engaged singly to its opposed ends 34. Each connector 32 is configured to selectively engage a respective handle 28, so that the strap 30 is loopedly engaged to the lip 18, as shown in
A lift module 36 is positioned in the box 12 and is operationally engaged to the box 12 and the lid 16 so that the lift module 36 is positioned to selectively elevate the lid 16. The lift module 36 may comprise a pair of scissor lifts 38 positioned singly proximate the opposed sides 20 of the lid 16, or other lifting means, such as, but not limited to, screw jacks, hydraulic cylinders, and the like. The present invention also anticipates the pair of scissor lifts 38 being operationally engaged to and actuated by motors, linear actuators, and the like.
A fastener 40 is engaged to an upper face 42 of the lid 16 and is configured to selectively engage a pet bed 44 so that the pet bed 44 is removably engaged to the lid 16. The fastener 40 may comprise one or both of a set of pads 46, as shown in
A set of steps 50 is hingedly engaged to the lid 16. The steps 50 of the set of steps 50 are mutually hingedly engaged so that the set of steps 50 is selectively positionable in an extended configuration, as shown in
The present invention is anticipated to be useful to a user who wants their pet near them when the user is in bed, without having the pet in bed with them. The elevatable pet bed platform assembly 10 can be stowed underneath the bed when not in use and is readily transportable for use in alternate locations.
The set of steps 50 may be engaged to a front 52 of the lid 16, as shown in
An uppermost step 58 may be substantially coplanar with the lid 16, as shown in
In use, the box 12 is positioned proximate to a side of a bed and the lid 16 is extended upon the pair of scissor jacks 38 to a desired height. The steps 50 then are extended from the lid 16 to the surface. The pet bed 44 is positioned on the upper face 42 of the lid 16 and is held in place by the pads 46. The pet then can traverse the steps to access the pet bed 44.
With respect to the above description then, it is to be realized that the optimum dimensional relationships for the parts of an embodiment enabled by the disclosure, to include variations in size, materials, shape, form, function and manner of operation, assembly and use, are deemed readily apparent and obvious to one skilled in the art, and all equivalent relationships to those illustrated in the drawings and described in the specification are intended to be encompassed by an embodiment of the disclosure.
Therefore, the foregoing is considered as illustrative only of the principles of the disclosure. Further, since numerous modifications and changes will readily occur to those skilled in the art, it is not desired to limit the disclosure to the exact construction and operation shown and described, and accordingly, all suitable modifications and equivalents may be resorted to, falling within the scope of the disclosure. In this patent document, the word “comprising” is used in its non-limiting sense to mean that items following the word are included, but items not specifically mentioned are not excluded. A reference to an element by the indefinite article “a” does not exclude the possibility that more than one of the element is present, unless the context clearly requires that there be only one of the elements.
