Portable stair assembly for pets

Abstract

A portable set of stairs for use by a domesticated animal, a small child, or a disabled or aged individual. The stairs have an L-shaped inner core with a lower platform portion and an upper platform portion. A form-fitting, removable cover surrounds the L-shaped inner core for protecting it from soiling and condensation and for providing means for transporting and storing the portable set of stairs. The lower platform portion and the upper platform portion are horizontal with respect to the ground or floor. Both of the platform portions having respective upper surface areas, the upper platform portion upper surface area being greater than the lower platform portion upper surface area. Also provided is a rope or string for dragging or carrying the set of stairs. The rope or string is connected to the form-fitting cover. The inner core consists of deformable material, such as foam. The portable set of stairs in another embodiment has an intermediate platform portion disposed between the upper platform portion and the lower platform portion, forming a third step.

Description

RELATED PATENT APPLICATION

The present application is a continuation-in-part of provisional patent application Ser. No. 60/358,584, filed Feb. 22, 2002 and is related to copending design patent application Serial No. 29/157,895, filed Mar. 28, 2002.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to stairs or steps and, more particularly, to a portable stair assembly for use by pets, small children, disabled individuals or elderly persons.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Domestic pets often have difficulty moving safely and comfortably between various elevations. In particular, entering or leaving vehicles or moving up, down, and off of furniture can by problematical for small animals. Pets, however, are not the only ones who may have difficulty changing elevations. The elderly, smaller children or disabled persons can also find themselves in situations that require assistance.

There are special advantages to older people having pets as companions. These benefits have become well known through recent years. In addition, advances in veterinary science have enabled many pets to live longer, suffering only such common ailments as arthritis or hip dysplasia for which there are new medications.

These facts have combined to result in many older people caring for older pets. Various pet care tasks which might be easily undertaken by young people may be quite difficult for an older person who, for example, might want to ride to a park and take the dog for a walk. It may be difficult for an older person to get an animal in and out of a car. Even a young person may have trouble lifting an older, larger dog in and out of a vehicle. Many animals do not like to be carried or held from behind; there is a danger of causing stress and pain to the animal. While medical advances may make it possible for pets to live longer, pets are normally not offered such aids as wheelchairs, canes or walkers.

Regrettably, some pet owners stop taking their rides because of the difficulty the animal may have entering or exiting a vehicle. The problem of traveling with a pet often involves numerous challenges in addition to those of ingress into and egress from vehicles themselves. For example, the owner may need to aid the pet at different buildings or at other structures encountered during a trip. A pet owner may also often wish to provide assistance to a pet to enable the pet to climb in and out of a favorite chair, or up and down from a bed, for example.

At some bus terminals, it is common to provide short, one or two step metal stepladder structures to aid persons to make the one “extra high” step which may be required to either board a bus or descend from same. Various benches of wood or metal in all shapes and sizes are designed for humans. Such devices are far afield from anything specifically designed for pets. For example, these other devices are not made of lightweight material, nor are they provided in a width suitable for a pet. Nor are such devices encased in a form-fitting outer covering.

A device commercially known as the “Pet Step” or “Pet Ramp” is a lengthy pet ramp designed to be attached to the back of SUVs, stations wagons, or trucks extending between the rear bumper and ground. The device resembles a metal ramp of the type widely used by auto mechanics to support one end of an automobile. While the device might be folded in half, it is heavy and intended for storing in a garage or back of a truck, not adapted to be carried from room to room in a house or taken to the hairdresser's shop.

It is an object of the present invention to provide a portable stair assembly which may be easily carried and manipulated by a pet owner to provide easy movement by a pet onto and down from a variety of heights and objects.

It is another object of the invention to provide a stair assembly which is lightweight, easy to carry, and attractive.

It is yet another object of the invention to provide a carry bag to hold the assembly and provide a cover that is easy to install and uninstall for cleaning.

Another object of the invention is to maintain the stair assembly without the appearance of a disability device, but rather to resemble a piece of baggage having a color to tastefully fit in with an owner's luggage, car seat material, or with furniture or other decorations within an owner's house.

Another object of the invention is to provide a rope strap handle for easy pick up and carry.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

In accordance with the present invention, there is provided a portable set of stairs for use by a domesticated animal, a small child, or a disabled or aged individual. The stairs have an L-shaped inner core with a lower platform portion and an upper platform portion. A form-fitting, removable cover surrounds the L-shaped inner core for protecting it from soiling and condensation and for providing means for transporting and storing the portable set of stairs. The lower platform portion and the upper platform portion are horizontal with respect to the ground or floor. Both of the platform portions having respective upper surface areas, the upper platform portion upper surface area being greater than the lower platform portion upper surface area. Also provided is a rope or string for dragging or carrying the set of stairs. The rope or string is connected to the form-fitting cover. The inner core consists of deformable material, such as foam. The portable set of stairs in another embodiment has an intermediate platform portion disposed between the upper platform portion and the lower platform portion, forming a third step.

This stair assembly allows for a person to rapidly put a pet in a vehicle or assure he is placed on the ground. This stair assembly is of such a material as to offer a soft but firm surface with some give so that the pet's feet are secure from slipping. Wood or metal objects do not offer an animal any security from slipping off the sides or back. It is wide enough and lengthy enough to account for length of a pet's body as opposed to the width and length of step needed for an upright human.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

A complete understanding of the present invention may be obtained by reference to the accompanying drawings, when considered in conjunction with the subsequent detailed description, in which:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the invention in which a plastic foam inner-core portion is shown;

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the inner-core portion installed with a cloth cover and tie string being carried by a girl;

FIG. 3 is view of the invention being used by a dog;

FIG. 4 is a back elevation view of the inner-core portion within the cover, showing a handle tie gathered for use in carrying the step assembly;

FIG. 5 is the perspective view of an alternate embodiment of the invention showing three steps; and

FIG. 6 is a perspective view of the inner-core portion of the present invention. Depicted in this figure is the relative dimensions and configuration of the inner-core and its constituents.

For purposes of brevity and clarity, like components and elements of the apparatus of this invention will bear the same designations or numbering throughout the figures.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

The invention is a portable set of stairs for use by a domesticated animal, a small child, or a disabled or aged individual. The stairs have an L-shaped inner core with a lower platform portion and an upper platform portion. A form-fitting, removable cover surrounds the L-shaped inner core for protecting it from soiling and condensation and for providing means for transporting and storing the portable set of stairs. The lower platform portion and the upper platform portion are horizontal with respect to the ground or floor. Both of the platform portions having respective upper surface areas, the upper platform portion upper surface area being greater than the lower platform portion upper surface area. Also provided is a rope or string for dragging or carrying the set of stairs. The rope or string is connected to the form-fitting cover. The inner core consists of deformable material, such as foam. The portable set of stairs in another embodiment has an intermediate platform portion disposed between the upper platform portion and the lower platform portion, forming a third step.

This stair assembly allows for a person to rapidly put a pet in a vehicle or assure he is placed on the ground. This stair assembly is of such a material as to offer a soft but firm surface with some give so that the pet's feet are secure from slipping. Wood or metal objects do not offer an animal any security from slipping off the sides or back. It is wide enough and lengthy enough to account for length of a pet's body as opposed to the width and length of step needed for an upright human.

Referring now to the Figures, stair assembly 10 has an inner, L-shaped core 12 made of an integral stack of sheets 14a-14d of polylam foam. The foam sheets 14a-14d are sold by Sealed Air of Saddlebrook, N.J. and Scotia, N.Y. and the PacTiv Corp. of Glen Falls, N.Y. The foam inner core sheets 14a-14d are custom cut from sheets of foam 48″×3″×18″, not shown. Sheets 14a-14d are reprocessed foam ½″ thick, fabricated together to make 3″ high pieces of sheets 14a-14d, bonded and heat fabricated with three adhesives, as is well known in the art. The seams are heat fabricated.

Four 3″ thick sheets 14a-14d make up 12″ in height H. A lower step 16 has a height h of 6″, comprising two 3″ sections, 14a, and 14b. The upper step 18, like the top step of most stairways which terminate with some platform space, has upper stepping surface area 20 of 18″ by 15″, as opposed to the lower step 16, which has a stepping surface area 22 of 18″ by 9″. Step assembly 10 is 12″ high with a lower step 16 raising 6″ from the ground and an upper step 18 rising 6″ from the stepping surface area 22 of the lower step 16. The provision of the larger stepping surface area 20 on upper step 18 makes traversal of the steps 16, 18 considerably less frightful for pets, probably imparting a feeling of climbing a familiar stairway. Conversely, forcing a pet up a metal machine-like ramp would impart an element of fear.

The elimination of metal from the stair assembly 10 of the present invention advantageously eliminates situations wherein the feet of a pet might touch a metal area which could get hot from the sun or cold from winter or wet and slippery regardless of the season. A cloth, form-fitting cover or bag 26 is provided to further protect the stair assembly 10 from the elements and keeps condensation from forming regardless of location. Cover 26 is equipped with a rope handle 28 for carrying or dragging stair assembly 10 into position or for storing it.

In an alternate embodiment of the invention 10′ (FIG. 5), a third step 30 is provided in a manner similar to upper and lower steps 18, 16, respectively, and disposed intermediate thereto, as shown. The addition of this middle step is to further aid those pets or senior citizens that cannot take large steps. As such in this embodiment the individual steps would have lower elevation heights than previously mentioned 6″ in the previous embodiment. Alternatively, three-step assembly 10′ of 6″ high steps can be used for a total difference in elevation of 18″.

Since other modifications and changes varied to fit particular operating requirements and environments will be apparent to those skilled in the art, the invention is not considered limited to the example chosen for purposes of disclosure and covers all changes and modifications which do not constitute departures from the true spirit and scope of this invention.

Claims

1. A portable set of stairs for use by a pet, comprising:

a) an L-shaped inner core comprising deformable foam material and having a lower platform portion and an upper platform portion connected thereto, said lower platform portion and said upper platform portion are substantially horizontal with respect to the ground or floor, both of said platform portions having respective upper surface areas, said upper platform portion upper surface area being greater than said lower platform portion upper surface area, the platforms being wide enough and lengthy enough to accommodate a length of a pet's body; and

b) a removable form-fitting cover substantially surrounding said L-shaped inner core for protecting said inner core from soiling and condensation and for providing means for transporting and storing the portable set of stairs.

2. (canceled)

3. The portable set of stairs in accordance with claim 1, further comprising a string or rope for dragging or carrying said set of stairs operatively connected to said form-fitting cover.

4-6. (canceled)

7. The portable set of stairs in accordance with claim 1, wherein said deformable foam material comprises a plurality of sheets attached to one another.

8. (canceled)

9. The portable set of stairs in accordance with claim 1, further comprising an intermediate platform portion disposed between said upper platform portion and said lower platform portion, forming three steps, said lower platform portion and said intermediate platform portion having substantially equal upper surface areas.

10. A portable set of steps for use by a pet, comprising:

a) an inner core comprising resilient foam material, and having a lower platform portion and an upper platform portion connected thereto, wherein said lower platform portion and said upper platform portion are substantially horizontal with respect to the ground or floor, both of said platform portions having respective upper surface areas, said upper platform portion upper surface area being greater than said lower platform portion upper surface area, the platforms being wide enough and lengthy enough to accommodate a length of a pet's body; and

b) a removable form-fitting cover substantially completely surrounding said inner core for protecting said inner core from soiling and condensation and for providing means for transporting and storing the portable set of stairs.

11. The portable set of steps in accordance with claim 10, further comprising means for dragging or carrying said set of steps operatively connected to said removable form-fitting cover.

12. The portable set of steps in accordance with claim 11, wherein said means for dragging or carrying said set of steps comprises a string or rope.

13-15. (canceled)

16. The portable set of steps in accordance with claim 10 wherein said resilient foam material comprises a plurality of sheets attached to one another.

17. (canceled)

18. The portable set of steps in accordance with claim 10, further comprising an intermediate platform portion disposed between said upper platform portion and said lower platform portion, forming three steps, said lower platform portion and said intermediate platform portion having substantially equal upper surface areas.

19. A lightweight portable pet stair comprising:

a) a lightweight foam core in the shape of a plurality of steps having horizontal upper surfaces vertically spaced apart by a height, the steps being wide enough and lengthy enough to accommodate a length of a pet's body, and

b) a form-fitting, flexible cloth cover surrounding the lightweight foam core, for protection of the lightweight foam core and keeping condensation from forming;

the foam core and flexible cloth cover together forming a stair assembly having soft but firm surface so that the pet's feet are secure from slipping.

20. The pet stair of claim 19, in which there are two steps.

21. The pet stair of claim 19, in which there are three steps.

22. The pet stair of claim 19, in which the plurality of steps comprise at least a bottom step and an upper stepping surface area, the upper stepping surface area being larger than the bottom step, making traversal of the steps less frightful for pets.

23. The pet stair of claim 19, in which a height of each of the plurality of steps is chosen to accommodate short-legged pets.

24. The pet stair of claim 19, in which a total height of the plurality of stairs is chosen to allow the pet easy access to a piece of furniture or a vehicle.

25. The pet stair of claim 19, further comprising a rope or string attached to the cover, for dragging or carrying the stairs.

26. The pet stair of claim 19, in which the cover is removable.