Patent Application
20160309678
The present invention involves a cushion support product which is ideally suited for use as a pet bed and, more particularly but without limitation, to a domestic household animal bed.
Pet beds are popular in households for a variety of domestic animals. They provide a place for the animal to rest. Dogs in particular exhibit a behavior I will name a “nesting response” when readying to lay down. This nesting response occurs on dirt, flush upholstered furniture and on conventional pet bedding. This nesting response is a repeated pawing, nuzzling or circling by the dog prior to laying down. However, on upholstered furniture or conventional pet bedding, the pillow-like or cushion construction, is inflexible and lacking malleability. This rigid nature does not allow the animal to create it's own hollow and fulfill the “need to nest.”
Many sources relate this behavior as instinctual and hereditary in origin. According to the online source, the nest, “Scratching at the bed is instinctual; its what your dogs' wild kin have done for ages to soften the ground.” In addition to the instinct of den building experts believe this behavior is also a matter of comfort seeking by the dog. Vet Street online blog claims, circling before laying is an ancestral expression, “dog's ancestors had to sleep outside, in the elements, without much warmth or safety. Walking around a spot was a way to stamp down grass, leaves or snow and create a soft surface—something akin to carving out a nest.” The nest, further states “Your dog is behaving as he would while gathering moss or leaves to make a relatively comfy bed outside.” A feeling of comfort and safety may go hand in hand, “after she circles, does your dog scratch at the bedding or carpeting before curling up? Just like circling, the digging action is probably an ancestral behavior related to staying safe and comfortable.” Dogs are territorial and like to claim what is theirs. House trained dogs will refrain from marking with urine and use their paws instead. The nest, goes on to explain, “Dogs have sweat glands in their paws, which leave a scent on bedding when they scratch at it.”
Hence, in the interest of making the dogs feel empowered and able to satisfy these ingrained hereditary behaviors, there is a need for pet bedding that will maintain a dense base, providing firm support and also a transformative malleable top, which would physically respond to these nuzzling, pawing or circling actions. The invention which will follow in its completeness was prototype tested by 32 pets in 5 household's. During the testing phase, it was found that the nestable pet bed attracted other domestic animals and also adults and children. Therefore, although the idea was born to satisfy a dog's “need to nest,” the nestable pet bed serves a broader population in its fruition, function and actual application. Therefore broadly stated, this invention is a cushion support product intended for resting while sleeping or awake by a variety of species.
In one embodiment of the invention a nestable pet bed, a cushion support product is provided comprising, an outer woven fabric cover which holds two inserts. The outer woven fabric cover creates two inner zones and is designed to keep each insert within its intended zone. The zones are stacked vertically with an upper zone and a lower zone. The two inserts are independent and not similar in their function, design, shape or stuffing materials. The top pouch insert is designated to the upper zone and the base insert is designated to the lower zone.
The top pouch insert is encased in woven fabric and in the present embodiment contains stuffing material. The stuffing material of choice in our present embodiment is shredded polyurethane foam, thumbnail sized chunks. However, any material that could be pieced into parts while remaining soft and resilient would work. The stuffing material utilized should enhance the comfort of the nestable pet bed and must also be shiftable by the animal by way of nuzzling, pawing or circling. The woven fabric encasement of the top pouch insert, in the present embodiment, is the exact same size and dimension of the base insert. The shape of the top pouch insert is transformative due to the loose chunked stuffing material. The chunked pieces do not entirely fill the woven fabric encasement and therefore the top pouch insert can take on a variety of shapes contained within its upper zone of the outer woven fabric cover.
The base insert is encased in woven fabric and in the present embodiment contains stuffing material. The stuffing material of choice in the present embodiment is polyester fiber. Polyester fiber is widely used in the making of cushions, pillows and pet bedding. There exist a multitude of fiber varieties, in the present embodiment a siliconized variant is utilized. However, any material that could be densely packed inside the encasement providing a uniform shape with resilience, firm support and also comfort would work. The woven fabric encasement of the base insert in the present embodiment is the exact same size and dimension of the top pouch insert. The densely packed stuffing material in the base insert keeps it a uniform shape. Additionally, in the present embodiment, a baffle is sewn in the center region of the base insert. The baffle technique is utilized in the industry to keep the densely packed fiber from shifting, helping the object remain a uniform shape, as governed by its woven fabric encasement.
The outer woven fabric cover, provides an upper and lower zone in the present embodiment. The upper zone is the area which would be closest to the resting animal. Within the constraint of the outer woven fabric cover the top pouch insert transforms its shape in reaction to nuzzling, pawing or circling actions. This creates a supple hollow for the animal. Even without nuzzling, pawing or circling the shear weight of the animal on top of the nestable pet bed will create a depression mimicking a nest. The lower zone holding the base insert is underneath the hollow and provides a firm and comfortable support preventing the animal from sinking to the hard floor, for instance. With each use the shape of the nestable pet bed will change within the constraint of the outer woven fabric cover. In the present embodiment, the distribution of the weight of the animal is shared by both upper and lower zones.
At present I believe that this embodiment operates most efficiently, but the other embodiments are also satisfactory. It is expressly understood, that the drawings are for illustrative description only and are not intended as definitions of the limits of the invention. Those skilled in the art will appreciate the conception upon which this disclosure is based may readily be utilized as a basis for other structures. It is therefore important, that claims be regarded as including such equivalent constructions insofar as they do not depart from the spirit and scope of the present invention.
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Alternative embodiments which have an upper and lower zone could be utilized. Common woven fabrics could be replaced with more advanced synthetic alternatives such as those made by polymerization, so long as the the vertically stacked zones could be accomplished and the supple nature of the upper zone was achieved. Such synthetic materials exist, and may be stronger and may stand up to animal chewing or damage, yet they may be proprietary and cost prohibitive.
Another alternative embodiment would be a multiple piece cover, where less sophisticated sewing would be necessary this may save in manufacturing expense. Although the product, from a consumer point of view, may appear more crude and less aesthetic. As an example, an independent cover for the lower zone combined with an independent cover for the upper zone. Because these covers are independent they may or may not utilize inserts. If no inserts were used, from the manufacturing point of view it is cheaper and faster to produce, yet from a consumer point of view is less advantageous because the outer cover will not be removable for washing. The independent upper zone and lower zones could for example utilized hook and loop attachments, or a system of snaps, to connect the vertically stacked zones.
Regardless of single or multiple covers, in addition to the invention as described, an alternative embodiment would add one or more bolster to the outer edge. The bolster could be fixed permanently or removable. Bolsters are a common addition to pet bedding. So while it may seem desirable, the open nature of the embodiment described presently allows the animal easy access to a bedding product, which due to its upper and lower zones is taller than average. It is important and advantageous to have the design where animals of a wide age group and physical ability could enter and exit without difficulty. Therefore adding bolsters would not be a sound choice. Similarly, due to the height of the two combined zones it would be a disadvantage to have more than two vertically stacked zones, although it would be possible from a manufacturing point of view.
The upper zone as mentioned, could alternatively be filled with, other chunked materials such as but not limited to, shredded memory foam/latex or even polystyrene beads. However, those options may pose toxic health risks to an animal if ingested. Not only was polyurethane foam preferred by the animals in our testing phase, because it is commonly used in household furniture it is considered safe for the animals. Polyester fiber for the lower zone is preferred because is is commonly utilized in pet toys and bedding and is thus far not proved toxic to animals. Additionally, the lower zone does not inherently need to be firmly packed with material. The lower zone could be filled with a variety of polyester fibers including but not limited to those made from recycled bottles. The lower zone could also for instance be filled with materials such as but not limited to, chunked material or a solid piece of memory foam/polyurethane foam cut to fit. It is however, preferred that the lower zone be firm and supportive so using chunked material is not as desirable in the lower zone. Solid foam cut to size and shape requires additional skill and tools and may increase production costs.
What should be most expressly understood is the cushion support product, while primarily intended for use by domestic animals, has alternative applications as discovered in the testing phase and therefore other user groups would not limit the invention. The above aforementioned alternative embodiments, while possible do not operate most efficiently or effectively, but they may be satisfactory. While it is possible to manipulate the invention, by way of alternating the type of fabric, or by changing a single cover to a multiple piece cover or by alternating the material compounds within the cover, or by forgoing the encased inserts, or by forgoing or alternating the use of zippers at the opening, or by adding more than 2 zones, or by altering the size or shape of the zones; therefore it is important, that claims be regarded as including such equivalent constructions insofar as they do not depart from the spirit and scope of the present invention.
| Number | Date | Country | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 62149387 | Apr 2015 | US |
