Collapsible Animal Run
An animal run having a plurality of side panels operable to be pivotally mounted along a central plane. Corresponding front panels are each pivotally coupled with one of the side panels and operable to be detachably coupled to an adjacent side panel. The side panels are moveable between a stored position, in which each side panel is positioned parallel the central plane, and an operational position, in which they extend outward at an angle from the central plane. Each front panel is moveable between a stored position, in which it is positioned parallel the central plane, and an operational position, in which it is positioned at an angle from the side panel to which it is coupled and is detachably coupled with the other side panel. The side panels and front panel are configured to contain a dog or cat when in their operational position.
This application is a Continuation of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 12/910,307 filed on Oct. 22, 2010 which is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety.
STATEMENT REGARDING FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH OR DEVELOPMENTNot applicable.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates generally to an animal housing device commonly referred to as a run, and more particularly, to a foldable or collapsible run.
2. Description of Related Art
A variety of different devices, such as kennels, pens and runs, are used by animal care professionals to safely house and contain companion animals such as dogs and cats. The devices come in many different shapes and sizes and are constructed out of various materials. Typically, they include a plurality of walls that enclose an interior space and a door to provide access to that space. Some of the devices also have floors and/or top walls.
The type of housing device that is best suited for a particular application is determined by the number, nature, and size of the animals to be housed within the device, and the kind of care provided to the animal. For example, a larger containment area is desired for housing larger animals or when an animal needs to be housed for an extended period of time. When a larger containment area is desired, runs often are favored over traditional cages because runs are typically wider and longer. While typical runs are approximately three to four feet wide and six to eight feet deep, cages for companion animals are typically no more than six feet wide and approximately two feet deep.
A typical run is rectangular in shape and has two side panels, a back panel, and a front gate panel. Runs also typically have a floor and sometimes a top panel. The panels are welded or bolted together to create a fixed unit. It is normal for several runs to be deployed side by side and front to back to create a bank. In these situations, the individual runs will share a common side or back panel. In addition, runs are often equipped with internal drain mechanisms or they are positioned to use the drainage system of the facility where they are installed.
The relative advantages of roominess and comfort offered by runs as compared to other housing alternatives dictate that they have certain characteristics. By their very nature, they tend to be large and occupy a lot of floor space. A single three by six foot run covers approximately eighteen square feet and a bank of five runs nearly 100 square feet. In addition, runs are typically static. Once the various run panels are assembled, there is little opportunity to modify the shape or size of the run. Finally, runs (especially in bank form) are generally stationary. After installation, the space dedicated to a run is permanently allocated to that usage.
In many applications, the size and structural characteristics of runs are anticipated. Boarding kennels, animal control facilities, and humane societies are often purpose built facilities designed for the use of runs. But for various other professionals, it can be challenging to incorporate runs into their practice due to insufficient available space or the high cost of permanently devoting floor space to occasionally used runs. These situations are common with professionals that provide services for larger animals (such as veterinarians that do not board and groomers) but do not keep animals at their facilities for extended periods.
Animal care professionals that do not have the facilities to house large animals clearly face a quandary. They can either decline to provide services or choose to house an animal in a less than optimal manner, such as housing an animal in a smaller cage than needed or using a physical restraint such as a leash or tether. Similar concerns are shared by professionals that have runs for housing large animals but are occasionally faced with excess demand for space such as during holidays and heavy travel periods. In these situations, the professionals must house animals in temporary kenneling that is not designed for long stays, which means that more staff involvement is necessary to exercise and otherwise handle the animals.
BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTIONThe present invention is directed toward a collapsible animal run or cage that can be folded and stored when not in use. When deployed, the invention is similar in form and function to a traditional run in that it provides a fixed area to house animals. The collapsible run has panels that are attached to one another in a manner that allows an unoccupied run to be collapsed into a closed position. The collapsible run benefits animal care professionals that face space constraints, have only intermittent needs for larger housing units, or occasionally face excess demand for such housing units.
A collapsible animal run according to one embodiment of the present invention includes first and second side panels that each pivot relative to a fixed pivot point such that each side panel is pivotable between a stored position and an operational position. A front panel is pivotally coupled with one of the side panels and configured to be detachably coupled to the other side panel when in the operational position. The pivot points for the side panels are aligned along a central plane. When in the stored position, the front panel is positioned parallel the side panel to which it is pivotally coupled and is detached from the other side panel. In addition, the side and front panels are all positioned substantially parallel the central plane. When in the operational position, the side panels are pivoted outward and positioned at an angle from the central plane, preferably at a right angle. The front panel is also pivoted outward and positioned at an angle, preferably at a right angle, from the side panel to which it is pivotally coupled and is detachably coupled with the other side panel. The side panels and front panel together define an interior space for receiving an animal when the panels are in their operational position.
In a preferred embodiment, the first and second side panels are pivotally mounted to a support structure wherein the support structure extends within a central plane. The support structure preferably comprises a vertically extending wall that can also serve to enclose the interior space. The side panels are mounted a distance apart along the length of the wall and the panels are collapsible against and parallel the wall to free up floor space when in the stored position. Alternatively, the side panels are mounted to a floor at pivot points positioned along the central plane adjacent a vertically extending wall that serves to enclose the interior space. In another embodiment, the support structure comprises two or more vertically extending posts that are aligned in a central plane with the first and second side panels mounted to the first and second posts respectively. In yet another embodiment, the support structure can comprise a rear panel that serves to enclose the interior space when each of the side panels and the front panel is in its operational position. The side panels may be directly pivotally mounted to the support structure or indirectly pivotally mounted using mounts that are preferably fixedly attached to the support structure and may be integrally formed with the side panels.
The animal run may additionally include a floor that pivots relative to one or more fixed pivot points along the central plane. The floor is moveable between a stored position in which the upper surface of the floor is aligned substantially parallel the central plane, and an operational position in which a front edge of the floor is positioned adjacent a bottom edge of the front panel.
The animal run may comprise a single interior space for housing one or more animals together within that single space, or may comprise a plurality of interior spaces positioned adjacent one another in a row so as to separately house one or more animals in each space. For a run having a plurality of interior spaces, additional side panels, front panels and optionally rear panels and/or floors are included in series, with each of the side panels pivoting relative to a fixed pivot point aligned along the central plane.
Additional aspects of the invention, together with the advantages and novel features appurtenant thereto, will be set forth in part in the description which follows, and in part will become apparent to those skilled in the art upon examination of the following, or may be learned from the practice of the invention. The objects and advantages of the invention may be realized and attained by means of the instrumentalities and combinations particularly pointed out in the appended claims.
Referring now to
As shown in
Side panel 14a is described in detail herein with reference to
Rectangular opening 48 receives an upper portion of mounting post 19a and is joined to the mounting post 19a preferably by welding. An opening 56 in the top frame member 20 of side panel 14a receives the bottom of pin 52 to pivotably connect the top of side panel 14a to bracket 40 and mounting post 19a. There is also a washer 58 joined to top frame member 20 that is aligned with opening 56 for receiving pin 52.
Rectangular opening 68 receives a lower portion of mounting post 19a and is joined to the mounting post 19a preferably by welding. An opening 74 in the bottom frame member 36 of side panel 14a receives the top of pin 72 to pivotably connect the bottom of side panel 14a to bracket 60 and mounting post 19a. A spacer 76 is positioned around pin 72 between bottom frame member 36 and horizontal section 60c. A washer 78 is joined to bottom frame member 36. Washer 78 has an opening that is aligned with opening 74 for receiving pin 72.
Each of posts 19b-d has upper and lower mounting brackets for mounting side panels 14b-d to wall 12 in the same manner as described above with respect to side panel 14a. Accordingly, the pivotal mounting connections between side panels 14b-d and posts 19b-d are not described in detail herein.
Front panel 16a is described herein with reference to
A wire grid 94 consisting of a plurality of interconnected vertical rods 96 and horizontal rods 98 encloses the area between upper frame bar 80, side frame bar 86, intermediate frame bar 88, and frame bar 90. Vertical rods 96 are joined with and extend between frame bars 80 and 90, and horizontal rods 98 are joined with and extend between frame bars 86 and 88.
A door 100 is pivotably mounted to upper and lower frame bars 80 and 82 for selectively allowing entrance into the space shown in
The pivotal connection between door 100 and upper frame bar 80 of front panel 16a is described herein with reference to
Referring now to
Side panel 14b is pivotally connected to front panel 16a with an upper mounting bracket 124. Mounting bracket 124 is a flat plate with a shape that is defined by four linear side edges 126a-d (
Referring now to
There is a bracket identical to bracket 138 that is joined to the bottom of each vertical frame post 22b, 22c, and 22d (
Referring to
The detachable connection between front panel 16a and side panel 14a is shown in detail in
There is another pin and slot on front panel 16a and side panel 14a, respectively, that are vertically spaced downward from pin 158 and slot 164 for detachably joining front panel 16a and side panel 14a. There are also a pair of pins on front panel 16b for reception by a pair of slots on side panel 14b and a pair of pins on front panel 16c for reception by a pair of slots on side panel 14c.
Referring to
Referring now to
Floor panel 18a is moveable between the stored position shown in
Although not shown in the drawings, it is within the scope of the invention for the run bank 10 to have a rear panel that extends between side panels 14a and 14b. Preferably, a rear panel is included with run bank 10 when it is desirable to protect wall 12 from damage. The optional rear panel is adjacent to wall 12 and perpendicular to side panels 14a and 14b. The rear panel could be mounted to posts 19a and b, or the rear panel could be mounted directly to wall 12. The rear panel could be permanently joined with posts 19a and b or it could be detachably joined to the posts for easy installation and removal. The rear panel could be similar in construction to side panel 14a with a frame that mounts a planar sheet and a wire grid, or the rear panel could comprise a frame that mounts either a planar sheet or a wire grid. It is also within the scope of the invention for the run bank 10 to have similar optional rear panels that extend between side panels 14b and 14c and side panels 14c and 14d adjacent to wall 12.
It is also within the scope of the invention for the run bank to have a top panel (not shown) that extends outward from wall 12 and encloses the top of the volume defined by wall 12, side panels 14a and 14b, front panel 16a, and floor panel 18a. Preferably, the optional top panel is parallel to floor panel 18a and has an underside that is supported by one or more of side panels 14a and 14b, front panel 16a, or a support extending from wall 12. The optional top panel could be pivotably mounted to wall 12 via mounts that are attached to wall 12, or the top panel could be pivotably mounted to one of side panels 14a and 14b and front panel 16a. If mounted to wall 12, the top panel is preferably pivotable between a stored position, in which it is adjacent and parallel to wall 12, and an extended position, in which it extends outward from wall 12 and is supported by the upper edge of front panel 16a. If mounted to one of side panels 14a and 14b, the top panel is preferably pivotable between a stored position, in which it is adjacent and parallel to the side panel 14a or 14b to which it is mounted, and an extended position, in which it extends outward from the side panel 14a or 14b to which it is mounted and is supported by the upper edge of the other side panel 14a or 14b. If mounted to front panel 16a, the top panel is preferably pivotable between a stored position, in which it is adjacent and parallel to front panel 16a, and an extended position, in which it extends outward from front panel 16a and is supported by the top edge of either of side panels 14a and 14b or a support structure extending outward from wall 12. The top panel could also be placed on top of side panels 14a and 14b and front panel 16a after those panels are connected in the manner shown in
In operation, the mounting posts 19a-d of run bank 10 are mounted to wall 12 with brackets 40 and 60 and the side panels 14a-d, front panels 16a-c, and floor panels 18a-c are assembled in the manner shown in
Run bank 10 can be folded against wall 12 if the operator of the run bank 10 does not need it to house animals in order to decrease the space that the run bank 10 occupies. To fold the run bank 10 against wall 12, first, floor panels 18a, 18b, and 18c are pivoted from the position shown in
Next, front panel 16a is detached from side panel 14a by raising the side of front panel 16a adjacent side panel 14a upward so that disc 162, shown in
As shown in
From the foregoing it will be seen that this invention is one well adapted to attain all ends and objectives herein-above set forth, together with the other advantages which are obvious and which are inherent to the invention.
Since many possible embodiments may be made of the invention without departing from the scope thereof, it is to be understood that all matters herein set forth or shown in the accompanying drawings are to be interpreted as illustrative, and not in a limiting sense.
While specific embodiments have been shown and discussed, various modifications may of course be made, and the invention is not limited to the specific forms or arrangement of parts and steps described herein, except insofar as such limitations are included in the following claims. Further, it will be understood that certain features and subcombinations are of utility and may be employed without reference to other features and subcombinations. This is contemplated by and is within the scope of the claims.
Claims
1. An animal run, comprising:
- a plurality of side panels mounted in series along the length of a non-movable support structure, wherein each said side panel extends vertically from a bottom edge positioned adjacent the ground or floor on which said animal run is supported to a top edge positioned a distance above said ground or floor, and wherein each said side panel is moveable between a stored position in which said side panel is positioned substantially parallel said support structure and an operational position in which said side panel extends outward at an angle substantially perpendicular from said support structure; and
- a plurality of front panels, wherein each said front panel extends vertically from a bottom edge positioned adjacent the ground or floor on which said animal run is supported to a top edge positioned a distance above said ground or floor, wherein each said front panel is pivotally coupled with one of said side panels and operable to be detachably coupled with an adjacent one of said side panels, each said front panel being moveable between a stored position in which it is substantially parallel said side panels and an operational position in which it is detachably coupled with said adjacent one of said side panels, wherein each said front panel and the adjacent side panels to which it is coupled define an interior space and are configured to contain a dog or cat within said interior space when the panels are in the operational position.
2. The animal run of claim 1, wherein said non-movable support structure comprises a vertically extending wall and said side panels are mounted a distance apart one another along the length of said wall.
3. The animal run of claim 2, wherein said vertically extending wall serves to enclose said interior space when each of said side panels and said front panel is in its operational position.
4. The animal run of claim 1, wherein said non-movable support structure comprises a plurality of vertically extending posts wherein the posts are aligned in said first plane and wherein the side panels are mounted to a corresponding post.
5. The animal run of claim 4, wherein said animal run additionally comprises one or more rear panels that serve to enclose said interior space when each of said side panels and said front panel is in its operational position.
6. The animal run of claim 1, wherein said non-movable support structure comprises one or more rear panels, wherein said one or more rear panels serve to enclose said interior space when each of said side panels and said front panel is in its operational position.
7. The animal run of claim 1, wherein said side panels are directly pivotally mounted to said support structure.
8. The animal run of claim 1 wherein said first and second side panels are indirectly pivotally mounted to said support structure via first and second mounts respectively.
9. The animal run of claim 8, wherein said mounts are fixedly attached to said support structure.
10. The animal run of claim 9, wherein said mounts are integrally formed with said side panels.
11. The animal run of claim 1, wherein each said front panel comprises a frame that is pivotally coupled with one of said side panels and operable to be detachably coupled with the other one of said side panels, said frame mounting a door moveable between a closed position in which it is positioned within said frame and an open position to provide access to said interior space when said side panels and said front panel are in the operational position.
12. The animal run of claim 1, further comprising wheels mounted to the bottom edge of one or more side panels.
13. The animal run of claim 1, wherein said side panels are positioned substantially parallel one another when in the operational position and said front panels are positioned substantially parallel said support structure when in the operational position.
14. The animal run of claim 13, wherein said side panels are positioned at a substantially right angle from said first plane when in the operational position.
15. An animal run of claim 1, wherein each said front panel has an inner surface that is positioned in abutting engagement facing a surface of the side panel to which is it pivotally coupled when in the stored position.
16. An animal run comprising:
- a plurality of side panels that extend vertically from a bottom edge positioned adjacent the ground or floor on which said animal run is supported to a top edge positioned a distance above said ground or floor, wherein each said side panel pivots relative to a fixed pivot point between a stored position and an operational position, wherein each said pivot point is non-movably aligned along a first plane and wherein said side panels are positioned substantially parallel the first plane in the stored position and are positioned at an angle from the first plane in the operational position;
- a plurality of front panels pivotally coupled with one of said side panels wherein each said front panel extends vertically from a bottom edge positioned adjacent the ground or floor on which said animal run is supported to a top edge positioned a distance above said ground or floor, wherein each said front panel is configured to be detachably coupled to the other said side panel when in the operational position, wherein the front panel is positioned parallel the side panel to which it is pivotally coupled and is detached from the other side panel in the stored position, and wherein the front panel is positioned at an angle from the side panel to which it is pivotally coupled and is detachably coupled with the other side panel in the operational position, the side panels and front panels are configured to define an interior space for containing a dog or a cat when the panels are in their operational position.
17. The animal run of claim 16, wherein each said front panel comprises a frame that is pivotally coupled with one of said side panels and operable to be detachably coupled with the other one of said side panels, said frame mounting a door moveable between a closed position in which it is positioned within said frame and an open position to provide access to said interior space when said side panels and said front panel are in the operational position.
18. The animal run of claim 16, further comprising wheels mounted to the bottom edge of one or more side panels.
19. The animal run of claim 16, wherein each said side panel is mounted to the ground or floor at said fixed pivot points.
20. The animal run of claim 16, wherein each said side panel is mounted adjacent a vertically extending wall, wherein said wall encloses said interior space.
Type: Application
Filed: Apr 15, 2013
Publication Date: Oct 3, 2013
Inventors: KARL J. DONAHUE (Overland Park, KS), LARRY A. MATTHES (Sibley, MO)
Application Number: 13/862,557
International Classification: A01K 1/00 (20060101);