Patent Application
20170159353
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This section is intended to introduce various aspects of the art, which may be associated with exemplary embodiments of the present disclosure. This discussion is believed to assist in providing a framework to facilitate a better understanding of particular aspects of the present disclosure. Accordingly, it should be understood that this section should be read in this light, and not necessarily as admissions of prior art.
The present inventive concept relates to the field of pet doors. More particularly, the invention relates to a “one size fits all” pet door system, wherein the size of a pet door may be adjusted after purchase to meet the needs of an owner's pet as the pet grows.
Conventional pet doors are typically installed at a structure, such as a residential door or wall, to enable a domestic pet to traverse through the structure by way of the pet door. These pet doors typically include a frame and flap, or a frame and a pocket door. The frame defines a passageway sufficient for a pet to pass through and is typically installed by first cutting a through-opening in the structure. The frame cooperates with the structure at the through-opening such that, when the frame is installed, the passageway is defined at the through-opening to the extent that the passageway provides a passage through the structure.
The flap is disposed proximate the passageway and is movable between a closed position and an open position. When at the closed position, the flap substantially covers the passageway such that environmental elements do not pass there through. When at the open position, the flap permits the pet to pass through the passageway. The flexible flap member allows the pet to freely pass in and out as needed or desired.
In known pet doors, the through-opening is often cut according to the location of a pre-existing panel. Where no pre-existing panel exists, the owner may cut the through-opening at a location such that when the conventional pet door is installed, the height of the passageway is appropriate for the specific pet using the pet door. For example, the pet door may be installed at a height that permits the pet to access the pet door without having to jump or to uncomfortably crouch.
Patents for pet doors have been issued since at least the 1950's. U.S. Pat. No. 2,748,854, entitled “Dog Door” and issued in 1950, discloses a door frame having upper and lower frame members and opposing side members. The frame supports a pair of “flexible and resilient sheets which overlap along the center line of the frame.” The frame members are connected at their corners by mitered joint members having mounting flanges secured by the use of bolts. Of interest, the location of the flaps can be moved during installation so that the amount of overlap can be adjusted as desired, but the frames themselves are of fixed dimensions.
Conventional pet doors are limited in that the height of the passageway is not adjustable to account for a growing pet or for a subsequent pet. For example, when a conventional pet door is installed to be used by a puppy, the height of the passageway becomes inappropriately low as the dog matures and increases in size. As another example, when a conventional pet door is installed to be used by a taller pet, the height of the passageway becomes inappropriately high when a subsequent shorter pet is acquired.
In circumstances such as these, a conventional pet door must be uninstalled and the through-opening must be modified such that the pet door can be reinstalled at the more appropriate height. More specifically, to adjust the height of a conventional pet door, additional cuts must be made in the structure to provide a though-opening at an appropriate height or location for proper installation of the pet door. This means that an entirely new pet door system must be purchased.
U.S. Pat. No. 8,434,264, entitled “Animal Door Having An Adjustable Height,” offered a pet door that provides a passageway having an adjustable height. More specifically, the animal door is capable of being installed at the structure at one of two orientations, whereby the orientation at which the animal door is installed governs the height of the door. Additionally, the animal door is removably installed at the structure such that the orientation, and thus the height, of the door is reversible.
While the '264 patent presents a clever way for providing a height-adjustable pet door, it is observed that the owner must still remove the frame, rotate the frame by 90°, and then reinstall the frame. A “flap unit” secured within the perimeters of the frame is also provided. The flap unit includes a flap, and opposing flap receptors. When the frame is rotated, the flap must be re-secured.
It is further observed that while the '264 patent enables an owner to adjust the relative location of the through-way within an animal door, the door frame itself has a fixed size. Thus, if the pet owner desires an animal door having larger or smaller overall dimensions for either the frame or the flap, then a different sized product must be purchased. The result is that a store seeking to offer an animal door of different sizes must still stock multiple-sized animal door products.
A need exists for an improved animal door wherein the size of the frame for the animal door may be adjusted by the pet owner after purchase to accommodate the changing size of a through-opening placed through a door. Further, a need exists for a “one size fits all” animal door, wherein a retailer need not stock multiple animal doors having different frame sizes, but need only stock replacement flap units.
A size-adjustable pet door is first provided herein. In one embodiment, the pet door comprises a first frame unit and a second opposing frame unit. The two frame units are designed to be placed on opposing surfaces of a structural barrier such as a wall or a door. The frame units are preferably configured to be secured to the wall or door by means of a mechanical fastener such as a bolt.
Each frame unit is configured to form a four-sided polygon, meaning a rectangle or a square. In one embodiment, each frame unit comprises four floating corner pieces, with each corner piece forming a right angle. In addition, each frame unit comprises at least one pair of opposing bars. The bars are configured to slidably mate with right angle ends of corresponding corner pieces. In one aspect, the sliding bars have extensions (or tenons) that are configured to slide into openings (or mortises) at the right angle end of a corresponding corner piece. Alternatively, the sliding bars have openings (or mortises) that are configured to receive extensions (or tenons) at the right angle end of a corresponding corner piece.
Preferably, each frame unit comprises two pairs of opposing, slidable bars, permitting the pet owner to adjust both the height and the width of the frame units. The four floating corner pieces and the slidably mating bars together form an opening for the two frame units. The opening aligns with a pre-cut through-opening in a structural barrier, forming a passageway for an animal.
The pet door also has a flap unit. In one embodiment, the flap unit is pivotally secured to a horizontally-oriented bar placed at the top of one of the frame units. In another embodiment, a door panel drops down into channels placed along an external face of one of the frame units. The door panel may be used in addition to or instead of the pivoting flap unit. In either arrangement, the flap unit is fabricated from a polymeric (or other flexible) material that may be cut-to-size by the pet owner. Corrugations are optionally provided along opposing left and right panels to facilitate flexing and/or cutting. In one aspect, the flap unit also includes a bottom panel having a corrugated profile. Creases in the corrugated profiles provide ready cutting guides for the pet owner, allowing the pet owner to adjust the height and/or width of the flap unit to match the size of the opening.
A method for installing a pet door is also provided herein. In one aspect, the method includes cutting a through-opening through a barrier, such as a wall or a door. The through-opening is preferably sized to accommodate a pet dog of a particular size. Thus, the method may also include the step of determining a first size of a pet, wherein the through-opening accommodates the first size of the pet.
The method next includes providing a size-adjustable pet door. The pet door may be in accordance with the pet door as described above in its various embodiments. The pet door will have a first frame unit and a second frame unit, with each frame unit forming a four-sided polygon. Each frame unit comprises slidably mating components that permit each frame unit to have (i) an adjustable height, (ii) an adjustable length, or (iii) both. The pet door will also have a first flap unit fabricated from a polymeric (or other flexible) material.
The method further includes connecting the slidable components of each frame unit to form a first opening. The first opening generally aligns with the through-opening of the door.
The method also includes cutting the first flap unit along the cutting guides to match the first opening, and then connecting the first flap unit to the first frame unit. Preferably, the connection is across an upper horizontal bar of the first frame unit. Because of the flexible or compliant nature of the flap unit, the connection becomes a pivoting connection even though the hardware associated with the frame unit is fixed. Alternatively, connecting the first flap unit to the first frame unit may comprise gravitationally releasing the first flap unit into two or more u-shaped channels disposed along an outer surface of the first frame unit.
The method additionally includes placing the first frame unit along a first surface of the door (or other barrier), and placing the second frame unit along a second opposing surface of the door (or other barrier). Using a mechanical fastener, the first frame unit is secured to the second frame unit in fixed relation to the door. In this way, a passageway for an animal is formed.
In one embodiment, the method further comprises:
In this way, the same frame units may be used as a pet grows. Of course, these additional steps can be repeated to expand the through-opening to accommodate a third determined size of the pet, or to accommodate a separate larger pet. The only change in hardware that is needed with each increased size adjustment is a new flap unit, ready to be cut to size.
So that the manner in which the present inventions can be better understood, certain illustrations, charts and/or flow charts are appended hereto. It is to be noted, however, that the drawings illustrate only selected embodiments of the inventions and are therefore not to be considered limiting of scope, for the inventions may admit to other equally effective embodiments and applications.
As used herein, the term “corrugated” refers to any sinusoidal contour, or a ridges-and-trough contour.
As used herein, the term “crease” refers to any linearly indented feature or trough along a profile. The crease may or may not be perforated.
As used herein, the term “slidably mating” includes any telescoping configuration, or mortise-and-tenon configuration wherein one member receives at least a portion of another member.
As used herein, the term “pivoting” includes the use of a flexible or compliant member attached to a fixed member using fixed hardware.
For purposes of the present disclosure, it is noted that spatially relative terms, such as “up,” “down,” “right,” “left,” “beneath,” “below,” “lower,” “above,” “upper” and the like, may be used herein for ease of description to describe one element or feature's relationship to another element(s) or feature(s) as illustrated in the figures. It will be understood that the spatially relative terms are intended to encompass different orientations of the device in use or operation in addition to the orientation depicted in the figures. For example, if the device in the figures is turned over or rotated, elements described as “below” or “beneath” other elements or features would then be oriented “above” the other elements or features. Thus, the exemplary term “below” can encompass both an orientation of above and below. The device may be otherwise oriented (rotated 90 degrees or at other orientations) and the spatially relative descriptors used herein interpreted accordingly.
Referring specifically to the first frame unit 200B, the first frame unit 200B comprises four separate floating corner pieces. The corner pieces include two upper floating corner pieces 110B and two lower floating corner pieces 115B. Each corner piece 110B, 115B defines a body forming a right angle, with each body having opposing right angle ends.
The first frame unit 200B also includes four bars. The bars include left and right opposing side bars 125B, and top and bottom bars 120B. The left and right side bars 125B are of the same length, and the top and bottom bars 120B are of the same length. In one aspect, the left and right side bars 125B and the top and bottom bars 120B are all of the same length. The top bar includes a flap mounting flange 325 having flap mounting holes 328 there through.
The left, right, top and bottom bars 125B and 120B, respectively, connect to corresponding generally right angle ends of the corner pieces 110B, 115B through slidable or telescopic connections, shown in the drawings as mortise-and-tendon type connections, to form right and left length adjustable bar members, and top and bottom length adjustable bar members. In the illustrative arrangement of
It is understood that the mortise-and-tenon arrangement may be reversed. In this respect, the tenons may reside at the right angle ends of the corner pieces 110B, 115B, while the mortise openings may reside at opposing ends of the side bars 120B and 125B. This is demonstrated in connection with animal door 600, shown in
It is observed here that the second frame unit 200A is formed generally of the same slidable or telescopic components. Thus, floating corner pieces 110A, 115A correspond to floating corner pieces 110B, 115B; left and right side bars 125A correspond to left and right side bars 125B, and top and bottom bars 120A correspond to top and bottom bars 120B, thereby forming right and left bar members as well as top and bottom bar members.
The first 200B and second 200A frame units are designed to be coupled to each other so as to be fixedly attached to a structure, such as a residential door or wall.
In order to secure the first 200B and second 200A frame units to the residential door 250, one or more mechanical connectors 117 is provided, which are shown in the drawings in the form of bolts 117. In the arrangement of
The animal door 100 also includes a flap unit 350 coupled to the first and second frame units 200B and 200A. The flap unit 350 is pivotally secured to the first frame unit 200B. Of course, it is understood that the flap unit 350 may alternatively be attached to the second frame unit 200A inasmuch as the first 200B and second 200A frame units are essentially interchangeable.
The flap unit 350 defines a flexible, planar surface fabricated from a pliable material such as polyethylene, natural rubber, polypropylene, iso-propylene or other elastomeric material.
The flap unit 350 includes a central panel 310 and two oppositely disposed side panels 320 extending laterally from the central panel 310. The central panel 310 has a top edge with three mounting holes 312 there through which are configured to align with flap mounting holes 328 within the flap mounting flange 325. (The flap mounting flange 325 extends down from upper bar 120B.) Each of the side panels 320 has a corrugated profile, forming a series of vertical creases 322. The corrugated profile of the side panels 320 allows the flap unit 350 to maintain an inherent spring property, biasing the central panel 310 outwardly when compressed.
The flap unit 350 further includes a bottom panel 330 extending downwardly from the central panel 310. The bottom panel 330 likewise includes a corrugated, or ridged, profile forming horizontal creases 332. Of interest, the left and right side panels 320 bound opposing ends of the bottom panel 330.
The creases in the left, right panels 320 and the bottom panel 330 form vertical and horizontal cutting guides, respectively, for the pet owner, or the pet door installer. In this way, the flap unit 350 may be cut to conform to the selected size of the opening 150 provided by the positioning of frame units 200B, 200A. It is understood that if the dimensions of the opening 150 are changed after installation, such as when a pet grows to a larger size or when a new pet is acquired, a new flap unit 350 will need to be cut and installed should the new opening 150 be longer and/or wider than the size of the original opening.
The flap unit 350 also includes a connection bar 316 having three mounting holes 318 therein. The mounting holes 318 are configured to align with central flap mounting holes 312. As such, mechanical fasteners, such as mounting bolts or screws 314 are passed through the flap mounting holes 328 of the flap mounting flange 325, through the mounting holes 312 of central panel 310, and threaded into mounting holes 318 of the central bar 316 to pivotally secure the flap unit 350 to the first frame unit 200B.
Lastly, the flap unit 350 includes a magnetic element 335 that engages the bottommost ridge of the bottom panel 330. The magnetic element 335 is magnetically drawn to a ferro-magnetic element 336 disposed in bottom bar 120B to bias the flap unit 350 to a flap closed position.
Each frame unit 700A, 700B offers two upper floating corner pieces 610A, 610B and two lower floating corner pieces 615A, 615B. In addition, each frame unit 700A, 700B offers opposing horizontal (or upper and lower) bars 620A, 620B. Each frame unit 700A, 700B also offers opposing vertical (or side) bars 625A, 625B. As with door 100 of
The left and right (625) and the top and bottom (620) bars, respectively, connect to corresponding generally right angle ends of the corner pieces 610B, 615B through slidable or telescopic connections, shown in the drawings as mortise-and-tenon type connections. This forms right and left length adjustable bar members, and top and bottom length adjustable bar members. In the illustrative arrangement of
The horizontal tenons of the corner pieces 610, 615 are shown at 623A, 623B, while the vertical tenons of the corner pieces 610, 615 are shown at 627A, 627B.
As noted, the animal door 600 of
The first 700B and second 700A frame units are designed to be coupled to each other so as to be fixedly attached to a structure, such as a residential wall.
In order to secure the first 700B and second 700A frame units to the residential wall 750, one or more mechanical connectors 617 is provided, which are shown in the drawings in the form of bolts 617. In the arrangement of
In any of these arrangements 800B, 800C and 800D, the panel unit 900 will need to be cut-to-size by the owner. This may be done by cutting along pre-fabricated corrugations or creases, or by following cutting lines.
Based on the above description of the pet doors 100, 600 and their components, a method for installing a pet door is also provided herein. In one aspect, the method includes cutting a through-opening through a door. The through-opening is preferably sized to accommodate a pet dog of a particular size. Thus, the method may also include the step of determining a first size of a pet, wherein the through-opening accommodates the first size of the pet.
The method next includes providing a size-adjustable pet door. The pet door may be in accordance with the pet door as described above in its various embodiments. The pet door will have a first frame unit and a second frame unit, with each frame unit forming a four-sided polygon. Each frame unit comprises slidably mating components that permit each frame unit to have (i) an adjustable height, (ii) an adjustable length, or (iii) both. The pet door will also have a first flap unit fabricated from a polymeric material.
The method further includes sliding the slidable components of each frame unit to form a first opening. The first opening generally aligns with the through-opening of the door.
The method also includes cutting the first flap unit along the cutting guides to generally match the first opening, and then pivotally connecting the first flap unit to the first frame unit. Preferably, the pivoting connection is across an upper side bar of the first frame unit.
The method additionally includes placing the first frame unit along a first surface of the door, and placing the second frame unit along an oppositely disposed second surface of the door. Using a mechanical fastener, the first frame unit is secured to the second frame unit in fixed relation to the door. In this way, a passageway for an animal is formed.
In one embodiment, the method further comprises:
In this way, the same frame units may be used as a pet grows. Of course, these additional steps can be repeated to expand the through-opening to accommodate a third determined size of the pet. The only change in hardware that is needed is a new flap unit and, alternatively or in addition, a new panel unit.
Variations of the pet door and the method of installing such may fall within the spirit of the claims, below. It will be appreciated that the inventions are susceptible to modification, variation and change without departing from the spirit thereof.
