Patent Application
20140150729
The present invention involves a nesting cat scratcher for introducing cat scratching surfaces to a domestic cat. A feature of the present invention is to provide a cat scratcher which can expose, in its preferred embodiment, multiple and diverse scratching surfaces to a cat while being configured to enhance nesting of individual scratchers to maximize shipping and display efficiencies.
It is well recognized that domestic cats crave scratching as part of their natural instinctive character. If a dedicated scratching surface is not provided, domestic cats will generally satisfy their need to scratch by turning to furniture, curtains and other articles which can be substantially damaged as a consequence. Oftentimes, pet cats will not only climb over furniture, especially upholstered chairs and sofas, but will use such furniture and carpeting to condition their claws through deliberate repeated clawing, pulling and tearing actions specifically with their forepaws. As noted, this clawing activity appears to be a natural impulse for cats and can be the source of great aggravation to the pet owner.
There are a number of commercially available items that are sold as cat scratchers. These include posts, pads and columns in a variety of diverse shapes all designed to encourage cat scratching and to maintain a cat's interest as an alternative to the destructive scratching of furniture, curtains and other household goods. Many of such products, although being successful in carrying out their intended mission, are difficult for retailers to stock and display for sale. Such items take up an inordinate amount of in-store shelf space resulting in the profitability of such items being less attractive.
In addition, as manufacturing has shifted to remote locations where labor costs are less than those in this country, the delivery of relatively low cost items, usually by containers shipped from Asia, has become a larger component of product pricing. This is particularly true as it pertains to the manufacture of non-technical, relatively low end products which rely upon unskilled labor-intensive operations. Further, retailers have become increasingly cost conscious necessitating the need to maximize shelf space. Products which assume a significant footprint at retail are at a competitive disadvantage.
Applicant had previously developed a cat scratcher as shown in
Because of the nonlinear shape of scratcher 10, it has proven to be quite popular with pet owners and their cats. However, shipment and display of such products is less than ideal. In this regard, reference is made to
In turning to
It is thus an object of the present invention to provide a nesting cat scratcher which, due to its geometry, creates all of the advantages of the prior art while improving shipping and display efficiencies enhancing the profitability of such items.
These and further objects will be more readily apparent when considering the following disclosure and appended claims.
A cat scratcher in the form of a support having first and second sides and scratching media affixed to at least the first side thereof. The support has a first ramp, a first arc of curvature, a second ramp, a second arc of curvature and a third ramp, the first and second arcs of curvature having centers of curvature on opposite sides of the support, the arcs of curvature being less than 180 degrees.
Novel features which are characteristic of the invention, as to organization and method of operation, together with further objects and advantages thereof will be better understood from the following description considered in connection with the accompanying drawings, in which preferred embodiments of the invention are illustrated by way of example. It is to be expressly understood, however, that the drawings are for illustration description only and are not intended as definitions of the limits of the invention. The various features of novelty which characterize the invention are recited with particularity in the claims.
There has been broadly outlined more important features of the invention in the summary above and in order that the detailed description which follows may be better understood, and in order that the present contribution to the art may be appreciated. There are, of course, additional features of the invention that will be described hereinafter and which will form additional subject matter of the claims appended hereto. Those skilled in the art will appreciate that the conception upon which this disclosure is based readily may be utilized as a basis for the designing of other structures, methods and systems for carrying out the several purposes of the present invention. It is important therefore, that claims be regarded as including such equivalent constructions insofar as they do not depart from the spirit and scope of the present invention.
Certain terminology and the derivations thereof may be used in the following description for convenience and reference only, and will not be limiting. For example, words such as “upward,” “downward,” “left,” and “right” refer to directions in the drawings to which reference is made unless otherwise stated. Similar words such as “inward” and “outward” refer to directions toward and away from, respectively, the geometric center of a device or area and designated parts thereof. Reference in the singular tense include the plural and vice versa, unless otherwise noted.
As noted previously, the cat scratcher of the prior art as depicted in
The contrast between the present invention and the prior art can be most readily appreciated when considering
By comparison, as noted in
In reference to
The above disclosure is sufficient to enable one of ordinary skill in the art to practice the invention, and provides the best mode of practicing the invention presently contemplated by the inventor. While there is provided herein a full and complete disclosure of the preferred embodiments of the invention, it is not desired to limit the invention to the exact construction, dimensions, relationships, or operations as described. Various modifications, alternative constructions, changes and equivalents will readily occur to those skilled in the art and may be employed as suitable without departing from the true spirit and scope of the invention. Such changes might involve alternative materials, components, structural arrangements, sizes, shapes, forms, functions, operational features or the like. Therefore, the above description and illustration should not be considered as limiting the scope of the invention, which is defined by the appended claims.
