Reconfigurable modular play and exercise structure for animals
A reconfigurable modular play structure for animals including a base, a plurality of cylindrical support members, and one or more platforms to support an animal. The cylindrical support members are helically wrapped with a plurality of flexible line wrappings, allowing different colors and types of wrappings to be used in combination. Special access apertures and holes facilitate locking the line wrappings to the support members. One or more of the platforms or an upper portion of the structure may be rotated on a rotating connection. The structure may also include one or more play members held by an open spring or a soft flexible material playhouse for the entertainment of an animal.
This application is a continuation of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 10/420,484 filed Apr. 21, 2003, which is a continuation-in-part of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 09/872,231, filed May 31, 2001.
FIELD OF THE INVENTIONThis invention relates generally to play and exercise structures for animals.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTIONCats and other pets enjoy climbing and elevated places where they can rest and observe goings on in their surroundings. Cats and other pets also enjoy and benefit from exercise involving movable objects and spaces that spark their natural curiosity and stalking and pouncing instincts, as well as provide them an opportunity to sharpen their claws.
A variety of structures and devices has been made for cats and other pets to satisfy these needs and instincts. Typical pet structures and devices for this purpose, however, are either very large and cumbersome, or limited to small scratching devices. Large freestanding animal structures, often constructed of wood with carpet covering, consist of long and heavy sidepieces. These large structures are cumbersome both for the pet owner to assemble and maintain, as well as for the retailer to acquire and stock for sale, especially given commercial limitations in the display space available in typical retail stores and outlets. Scratching and climbing structures and devices for pets have also been designed to attach to walls. Again, however, such devices are often large and cumbersome, and increase assembly complexity by requiring the pet owner to install wall fasteners and attach the device to a wall.
Attempts at workable animal structures have also suffered from a lack of flexibility in their configuration. Various attempts have been made to increase the flexibility and ease of use of such structures using detachable elements. Such attempts have been largely unsuccessful, however, due to manufacturing costs and design deficiencies.
Cats and other animals also enjoy and benefit from playing with paper bags and other flexible containers. Pet toys or attractive small objects or assemblages have often been hung by cord from pet structures and scratching devices. These accessories suffer from failure from use of the support cord, and shredding of the pet toy, often a toy mouse, with use. A more durably attached and durable in use accessory to an animal structure and scratching device would be desirable and useful. In addition, attractive assemblages that could function both as toys and yet be sufficiently rigid and durable to support an animal's weight for climbing purposes would be beneficial.
Current play structures and perches provide only rigid structures and areas, rather than flexible ones that can be pushed through by the animal.
There is a need for a modular, reconfigurable structure that is attractive to and usable by cats and other small animals, while providing ease of assembly, storage and maintenance both to pet owners and retailers.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTIONIn accordance with the present invention, a modular, reconfigurable animal play and scratching structure is described. The present invention comprises a base member that rests upon a supporting surface and one or more cylindrical support members supporting one or more stationary or rotating platforms.
In accordance with further aspects of the invention, one or more of the platforms may be rotated after assembly through the use of swivel bearings above and below the platform. In a varied aspect of the invention, a rotating connector is used only below a platform to allow the entire portion of the play structure above the rotating connector to be rotated after assembly.
In accordance with other aspects of the invention, the cylindrical support members are multiple spirally wrapped with flexible line wrappings for animal scratching and climbing.
In accordance with still further aspects of the invention, both ends of the cylindrical support member have holes to anchor the ends of the multiple flexible line wrappings, which are spirally wrapped in parallel to cover the cylindrical structure member, as well as to provide color flexibility and a barber pole effect.
In accordance with still another aspect of the invention, the cylindrical support members at one or both ends are fitted with disk-shaped cheek plates that retain the flexible line wrappings close-wound around the cylindrical support member. In an alternative embodiment, the cylindrical support member cheek plates have one or more access apertures that permit access to the ends of the flexible line wrappings anchored through the holes at the ends of the cylindrical support members, facilitating locking the flexible line in place to prevent the ends from coming out of the holes through the support cylinders. In varying embodiments, locking the flexible line in place is done with knots, clamps or clips.
In accordance with yet another aspect of the invention, one or more of the supporting platforms is specially shaped, such as scalloped disc shaped, paddle-shaped, fish-shaped, or dog bone-shaped.
In accordance with yet another aspect of the invention, two platforms are assembled with a cylindrical support member, one above another, and an enclosed area defining a playhouse is created by hanging a soft flexible material from the upper platform toward the lower platform. In varying embodiments, the soft flexible material may be plastic or fabric pieces or strips. In accordance with yet a further aspect of the invention, the fabric playhouse is configured to have one or more door-shaped openings. In an alternative embodiment, the playhouse materials are hung from a platform situated immediately above the base, and the enclosed area is between the platform and the base.
In accordance with a further aspect of the invention, a shaped play member is attached to one of the cylindrical support members or platforms via a spring. The spring and play member projects outward from the support members or down from the platforms. The play member will then bounce when the cat or other small animal bats at it. In other aspects of the invention, the play member is a ball and is covered with a shaggy carpet material. In yet an alternative embodiment, the spring holding the shaped play member supports the play member outward and up from the side of the support members and is sufficiently rigid and durable to support a small animal's weight for climbing purposes.
As will be readily appreciated from the foregoing summary, the invention includes small modular sections for an animal play structure that provides durability and flexibility in configuration after assembly. It further provides optional elements including rotating platforms, specially shaped platforms, multiple color choices and color combinations for spiral wrapping of the scratching and support members, an animal playhouse, and shaped play members.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGSThe many features and advantages of this invention are better understood with reference to the following detailed description, along with the following drawings.
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During assembly, for example of the embodiment shown in
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As shown more particularly with reference to
In the preferred embodiment, the diameter of end pieces 32 and 36 are equal to the diameter of the support member wall 40, plus the diameter of the flexible line wrappings spirally close-wound around the support member wall. In alternative embodiments, the diameter of the end pieces may vary and be less than or greater than the diameter of the support member wall. Increasing the size of the end pieces provides greater support to sandwiched platform 60.
In assembly, to permit rotatable reconfiguration of the support members and platforms located above this point of the structure, rotating connector 100 is placed between platform 64 and support member 30. More specifically, assembly hole 68 of platform 64 is aligned with female threaded connector 106 of upper swiveling member 102. Male threaded connector 34 of a first supporting member is then passed through assembly hole 68 of platform 64 and threadably connected to female threaded connector 106. Male threaded connector 108 of lower swiveling member 104 is threadably connected to female threaded connector 38 of a second support member. In an alternative embodiment, two multiple spiral wrapped cylindrical support members 30 are attached directly to rotating connector 100 without platform 64 sandwiched in between. In yet an alternative embodiment (not shown), two rotating connectors 100 are used, one adjacent to the top and bottom surfaces of a platform, respectively. In this configuration, the individual platform surrounded by adjacent rotating connectors is rotatable independent of the balance of the structure, and the upper portion of the structure is rotatable independent of the lower portion of the structure.
In assembly, first and second swivel bearings 112 are placed above and below platform 60 and between first and second support members 30. In this embodiment, assembly hole 68 of platform 60 is aligned with center aperture 118 of both swivel bearings 112. Male threaded connector 34 of a first supporting member is then passed through center aperture 118 of the first swivel bearing, through assembly hole 68 of platform 60 and through center aperture 118 of a the second swivel bearing, to be threadably connected to female threaded connector 38 of the second support member. Inclusion of two swivel bearings, each have independently movable bearings, permits a single platform 60 to be rotationally reconfigured relative to the balance of the animal play structure.
In an alternative embodiment shown with reference to
Play member 120 may be fastened to the play structure in a wide variety of ways, either to support members or platforms, as well as at various angles relative to the vertical support members, dependent on the resiliency of spring 124 and the size and weight of ball 122. In an alternative embodiment, the spring 124 holding the ball 122 supports the ball outward and at or above perpendicular from the side of the support members. In this embodiment, the spring is sufficiently rigid and durable to support the weight of a ball of substantial size and bulk. For example, in the preferred embodiment, the ball used has a diameter of six inches and weighs 0.6 pounds. In this embodiment, the spring used to support the ball outward and up from the side of the support members is a heavy duty spring having a lateral spring constant (tested at 20 cm from the end of the spring) of not less than 12 newtons. The spring holding the ball is sufficiently rigid and durable to support an animal's weight for climbing purposes from the base to a platform or between platforms. Different types of springs having different lateral spring constants can be used to support balls of different size and bulk.
In yet alternative embodiments, different enclosed areas could be defined by either flexible or rigid coverings positioned on or supported by the supporting members, platforms, or the base. The playhouse may also be made with wire or framed with wire, further enclosed by a covering material. For example, a playhouse may be framed above and below by one or more platforms or the base and molded wire spanning between the platform and base. This structure could be enclosed by flexible or semi-rigid materials draped or molded around part or the entire wire frame to create a play enclosure. Ingress and egress paths could be added to this structure.
While the preferred embodiment of the invention has been illustrated and described, as noted above, many changes can be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention. For example, the orientation of male and female threaded connectors on the end pieces of the support members may be reversed, the base female threaded connector converted to a male threaded connector, and the securing fastener modified to receive a male threaded connector. This would allow assembly of a comparable structure within the scope of the present invention. Alternately, locking peg and socket connectors could be substituted for threaded connectors. The supporting columns, cylinders in the preferred embodiment herein may also be other shapes in cross section, including square, oval, or rectangular. Materials other than metal may be utilized for the cylindrical support members and platforms, such as wood, plastic, etc. Accordingly, the scope of the invention is not limited by the disclosure of the preferred embodiment.
Claims
1. A play structure for animals, positionable upon a support surface, comprising:
- a first elongated support member extending upwardly from the support surface, the first elongated support member having an upper end and a lower end;
- a first platform positionable on the first elongated support member so as to be elevated above the support surface;
- a second elongated support member having a lower end secured to the first platform and an upper end extending above the first platform;
- a second platform secured to the upper end of the second elongated support member; and
- an enclosure comprising at least one piece of soft flexible material having upper and lower edges, the upper edges being attached to the second platform, the material substantially freely hanging from the second platform, extending downward towards the first platform, forming an enclosed area substantially surrounded by the soft flexible material under lower edges of which the animal can move.
2. The play structure of claim 1, wherein the at least one piece of soft flexible material is removably attached to the second platform.
3. The play structure of claim 1, wherein the at least one piece of soft flexible material includes an opening therein sized for the animals to pass through.
4. The play structure of claim 1, wherein the enclosure includes a rigid portion extending from the second platform to the first platform.
5. The play structure of claim 4, wherein the enclosure further comprises a semi-rigid material molded to the rigid portion.
6. The play structure of claim 4, wherein the enclosure further comprises a flexible material secured to the rigid portion.
7. The play structure of claim 1, further comprising a third elongated support member extending upwardly from the top of the second platform.
8. The play structure of claim 7, wherein the third elongated support member is formed integrally with the second elongated support member.
9. A play structure for animals, positionable upon a support surface, comprising:
- a base engageable with the support surface;
- at least one elongated support member having an upper end and a lower end and a vertical side extending there between, the upper end of the support member extending above the base;
- a spring member having an inward end and an outward end, the inward end being attached at one end to the elongated support member, the spring member extending outwardly at least somewhat transverse thereto; and
- a material covered member fixed to the outward end of the spring member.
10. The modular play structure of claim 9, wherein the spring member is of sufficient rigidity to support the weight of an animal using the structure on the material covered member.
11. A modular play structure for animals, positionable upon a support surface, comprising:
- a base engageable with the support surface;
- at least one freestanding elongated support member having an upper end and a lower end and a vertical side extending therebetween, the support member helically wrapped with at least one flexible line wrapping close-wound around the support member between its upper and lower ends, the lower end of the support member being removably attached to the base;
- at least one platform removably attached to the upper end of the at least one support member;
- a spring having a first end attached to the vertical side of the elongated support member and a second end extending outwardly from the elongated support member; and
- a material-covered member fastened directly to the second end of the spring.
12. The modular play structure of claim 11, wherein the spring is a coil spring.
13. The modular play structure of claim 12, wherein the material-covered member includes a spherical shaped member.
14. The modular play structure of claim 12, wherein the material-covered member is removably attached to the spring.
Type: Application
Filed: Apr 29, 2005
Publication Date: Dec 29, 2005
Inventors: Monica DeRaspe-Bolles (Sammamish, WA), Barry Moore (Sammamish, WA)
Application Number: 11/118,750