Gastropod Pet Shelter

Abstract

A pet shelter providing a naturalized habitat for exploiting the instinctual behavior of animals such as dogs, cats and rabbits is disclosed. The pet shelter includes a structure having exterior and interior features of a gastropod shell. The features include an opening defining an entryway configured to receive an animal, a spiral-shaped corridor traversing an interior space of the structure, and a den within the interior space of the structure providing a resting area for an animal. The pet shelter also provides a user the ability to control interior airflow and lighting, and manage pet house training and whelping.

Claims

1. A pet shelter for exploiting the instinctual behavior of animals, the pet shelter comprising: a structure having generally exterior and interior features of a gastropod shell, wherein the features comprises an opening at an end of said structure defining an entryway configured to receive a pet; a spiral-shaped corridor traversing an interior space of the structure; and a den disposed within the interior space of the structure at the termination of the corridor.

2. The pet shelter of claim 1 wherein said structure comprises: a top section and a bottom section, each removably coupled to the other, and forming a structure having exterior and interior features of a gastropod shell, wherein the features comprises an opening defining an entryway configured to receive an animal; a spiral-shaped corridor traversing an interior space of the structure; and a den disposed within the interior space of the structure, the den connected to the end of the corridor.

3. The pet shelter of claim 1 wherein the structure includes one or more doors and/or gates configured within the interior and/or exterior of the structure.

4. The pet shelter of claim 2 wherein the top section and the bottom section are constructed as a one-piece contiguous structure.

5. The pet shelter of claim 2 wherein the top section and/or the bottom section include one or more air vents and/or lighting doors.

6. The pet shelter of claim 1 wherein the structure comprises: a fabric material comprising one or a plurality of fabric sections; a framing structure having generally exterior and interior skeletal features of a gastropod shell, wherein the features comprises an opening at an end of said structure defining an entryway configured to receive a pet; a framing structure defining a spiral-shaped corridor forming and traversing an interior space of the structure; and a den disposed within the framed interior space of the structure at the termination of the corridor.

7. The pet shelter of claim 2 wherein means for opening said top section with respect to said bottom section comprises one or more hinges each of which is configured on said top and bottom sections, respectively.

8. The pet shelter of claim 2 wherein means for attaching the top section to a bottom section comprises one or more attachment means configured integral with the periphery of the structure.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0015] While the specification concludes with claims particularly pointing out and distinctly claiming particular embodiments of the present disclosure, various embodiments of the present disclosure can be more readily understood and appreciated from the following descriptions of various embodiments of the present disclosure when read in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which:

[0016] FIG. 1A is a perspective view of a gastropod shell.

[0017] FIG. 1B is a planar view of the underside of a gastropod shell.

[0018] FIG. 2A is a perspective view of a gastropod pet shelter showing the entryway, exterior profile, spiral-shaped corridor (hidden line), and den space (hidden line), according to an embodiment of the present disclosure;

[0019] FIG. 2B is a perspective view of a gastropod pet shelter of FIG. 2A showing the top section opened and hingeably connected to the bottom section, further revealing the entryway, a den space, and a spiral-shaped corridor traversing from the entryway to the den space, according to an embodiment of the present disclosure;

[0020] FIG. 3 is a top view of the bottom section of a gastropod pet shelter showing the entryway, spiral-shaped corridor, and den space, including hinges and clips configured on the periphery of the bottom section, according to an embodiment of the present disclosure;

[0021] FIG. 4 are perspective views showing the top and bottom sections, including periphery, of a gastropod pet shelter further illustrating the interior of the gastropod pet shelter and further showing pet bedding and other items situated therein, according to an embodiment of the present disclosure;

[0022] FIGS. 5A and 5B are perspective views of prior art pet shelters; and

[0023] FIG. 6 is a perspective view of a gastropod pet shelter having a top section with a flat roof, according to an embodiment of the present disclosure.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0024] Reference will now be made in detail to specific embodiments or features, examples of which are illustrated in the accompanying drawings. Wherever possible, corresponding or similar reference numbers will be used throughout the drawings to refer to the same or corresponding parts. Moreover, references to various elements described herein, are made collectively or individually when there may be more than one element of the same type. However, such references are merely exemplary in nature. It may be noted that any reference to elements in the singular may also be construed to relate to the plural and vice-versa without limiting the scope of the disclosure to the exact number or type of such elements unless set forth explicitly in the appended claims.

[0025] FIGS. 1A and 1B illustrates a typical shell shape of any of a large class (Gastropoda) of mollusks (such as snails and slugs) usually with a univalve coiled (i.e., spiral-shaped) shell. According to experts, the shell is an exoskeleton which provides protection from predators and mechanical damage to the interior of the shell. In accordance with various embodiments of the present disclosure, exterior and interior features of gastropod shells, as illustrated, offer advantages for sheltering animals that are instinctually driven to seek refuge in cave-like dwellings.

[0026] FIGS. 2A and 2B illustrate a pet shelter 100 constructed in the shape of a gastropod-like spiral-shaped shell including a top section 110, a bottom section 120, an entryway 130, a spiral-shaped corridor 140, and a den area 150, according to an embodiment of the present disclosure. The pet shelter 100 includes one or more fasteners and/or hinges 200 along the periphery P to facilitate attaching, closing, and/or opening, respectively, the top section 110 relative to/from the bottom section 120. The pet shelter 100 may be placed on a surface 400, such as a floor or table top.

[0027] The pet shelter 100 is used to provide a cave-like dwelling for a pet, such as a dog, cat, rabbit, etc. that compliments their natural instinct to generally seek shelter in small, dark, draft-free nooks for denning. Pet shelter 100 simulates a cave-like structure for a pet habitat by providing an entryway 130 which traverses a generally narrow spiral-shaped corridor 140 which leads to a den area 150. Den area 150 may include, for example, bedding 160, blanket(s), toy(s), or other items 170 for a pet or user. In an aspect of the present disclosure, a pet shelter 100 allows a user the ability to provide removable bedding 160 and toys or other items, such as a blanket, 170 to a pet shelter 100.

[0028] By reference to FIGS. 2B and 4, the pet shelter 100, according to an exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure, is constructed of two piecesa top section 110 and a bottom section 120hinged together by fastener 200 to allow opening/closing of the top section 110 or bottom section 120, relative to each other. It is contemplated that the function of hinge 200 may be accomplished, alternatively, by other attachment means such as a strap and buckle (not shown) configured onto the top section 110 and the bottom section 120, respectively. In accordance with an embodiment of the present disclosure, a pet shelter 100 is not limited to a two-piece construction comprised of a top section 110 and a bottom section 120. Construction of a pet shelter 100 may, alternatively, be constructed of multiple pieces attached or otherwise bonded together that results in a gastropod-like spiral-shaped shell including an entryway 130 which traverses a generally narrow spiral-shaped corridor 140 leading to a den area 150. Likewise, a pet shelter 100, according to an embodiment of the present disclosure, may be a one-piece construction using manufacturing techniques such as blow molding a thermoplastic preform or parison inside a closed mold so its shape conforms to that of pet shelter 100.

[0029] FIG. 3 is a top view of a bottom section 120 of a pet shelter 100, according to an embodiment of the present disclosure, and illustrates entryway 130, corridor 140, and den 150. FIG. 3 also shows exemplary placement of gates or doors 300 and vents or lighting doors 310 situated thereon. Gates or doors 300 may be situated anywhere within the interior of the pet shelter 100 to provide, for example, closed off passages within the interior of the pet shelter 100 and/or to provide access to the interior of the pet shelter 100 from the outside. In an aspect of the exemplary embodiment, gate/door 300A moves along arc A to contact surface S to close off access to pet shelter 100.

[0030] Vents or lighting doors 310 may be situated anywhere on the interior or exterior surface (including top section 110 and bottom section 120) of a pet shelter 100 to provide a user the ability to control light and/or airflow into the interior of a pet shelter 100. Gates or doors 300 may be formed and removably attached to the interior of the pet shelter 100 or entryway 130 on hinges (not shown) or as pocket doors (not shown), respectively. Gates or doors 300, 300A and vents or lighting doors 310 may be integrally formed with the top section 110 and bottom section 120 of a pet shelter 100.

[0031] FIGS. 5A and 5B illustrate pet shelters of the prior art. The prior art pet shelter as illustrated in FIG. 5A leaves a pet exposed to outside elements such as drafts and light without further refuge to a nooked den. Likewise, the prior art pet shelter, as shown in FIG. 5B, provides an entryway; however, the entryway is of a construction that is difficult to clean and not formed integrally with the animal's den space. In addition, the entryway, not being integral adds to the number of pieces and cost of the pet shelter.

[0032] FIG. 6 illustrates an alternative embodiment of a pet shelter 600, where a pet shelter 600 (otherwise including the exemplary features of pet shelter 100) may be constructed using a flat roof 610. In an aspect of the present disclosure, flat roof 600 aids a user's ability to stack multiple pet shelters 600 atop each other.

[0033] A pet shelter 100, according to an embodiment of the present disclosure, provides a user the ability to adjust its size for a growing pet by replacing a top section 110 with a top section 110 of greater height. In addition, experts cite that household pets, and dogs in particular, accept enclosed boxes for sanctuary and generally will not soil this bedding area. A user may simulate the habitat of a dog in its wild state using a pet shelter 100 to aid in house training as den 150 provides a pet sanctuary. Furthermore, a pet shelter 100 may be used as a whelping box to provide a pet means for protecting puppies during birth, assuring safe containment of puppies (e.g., in den area 150), while also protecting puppies from adverse weather and temperatures.

[0034] While there is shown and described herein certain specific structures embodying various embodiments of the invention, it will be manifest to those skilled in the art that various modifications and rearrangements of the parts may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the underlying inventive concept and that the same is not limited to the particular forms herein shown and described except insofar as indicated by the scope of the appended claims. It is also understood by those of skill in the art that terms pet and animal may be used interchangeably, and that holes are defined by opening structures (e.g., doors) without departing from the scope of the invention. [0035] 100 Pet shelter [0036] 110 Top section [0037] 120 Bottom section [0038] 130 Entryway [0039] 140 Spiral-shaped corridor [0040] 150 Den area [0041] 160 Bedding [0042] 170 Blankets, toys, etc. [0043] 200 Fastener or hinges [0044] 300 Gates or doors [0045] 300A Gate or door [0046] 310 Vents or lighting doors [0047] 400 Surface (e.g., floor) [0048] 500 Prior art pet shelter [0049] 510 Prior art shelter [0050] 600 Pet shelter, flat roof [0051] 610 Flat roof [0052] P Periphery [0053] S Closure surface