GB2365747A

GB2365747A - Outdoor pet enclosure

Info

Publication number: GB2365747A
Application number: GB0117884A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Colin Edward Couch
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2000-08-19
Filing date: 2001-07-23
Publication date: 2002-02-27
Anticipated expiration: 2021-07-23
Also published as: GB2365747B; GB0020435D0; GB0117884D0

Abstract

An outdoor, ground level animal accommodation unit designed to be associated with the wall 5 of a domestic dwelling which can be accessed by an animal (typically a cat) though a sleeved opening 4 in the wall, and though an additional external opening 2 which serves to allow access to the interior for cleaning or to allow the animal access to the outside. Ventilation, blinded windows 3 and heating/cooling means may be incorporated to maintain a comfortable environment with in the unit. Additionally an integral storage bin may also be provided for storage of cat litter or the like.

Description

<Desc/Clms Page number 1> Title: Small Animal accommodation unit Field of Invention This invention relates to an animal accommodation unit primarily intended for use by domestic pets such as cats or dogs which is attached directly or indirectly to the outside wall of a dwelling or an associated building and has two access points leading into it.

Back2round to the invention Animals that are required to be confined indoors can present several problems for their owners, such as, for example, cleaning out and replenishing cat litter trays which have to be kept in the house. These are unpleasant, unhygienic and can be unsightly.

Dogs are normally trained to defecate and urinate when outside a house, and become confused if expected to use a litter tray or square of sacrificial material such as pieces of old carpet or the like, indoors.

The object of this invention is to provide a means by which animals can be housed externally of a dwelling yet have access to the latter.

Summary of the invention According to one aspect of the present invention an animal accommodation unit is provided which is adapted to be located adjacent a low level access point for gaining entry to or exit from a domestic dwelling, the unit having at least one closeable access for gaining access

to the interior thereof for cleaning or feeding purposes, through a wall thereof which does not abut the dwelling.

Accordingly the invention also lies in the combination of a domestic dwelling and an external self-contained weatherproofed, ventilated unit which is attached to the outside wall of the dwelling with a closeable animal access through the wall of the dwelling to permit communication therebetween.

An outside door in a wall of the unit facilitates cleaning and changing the items it contains. Alternatively or in addition some or all of the roof may be hinged to allow it to be lifted to give access, or is adapted to be slid relative to the unit, for access purposes.

If the access from the dwelling is to be sealed when it is not in use a hinged flap or similar device can be fitted in the communication between the dwelling and the unit.

The hinged flap may be such as to swing in either sense to allow entry and egress.

It may be lockable to prevent passage or lockable in one sense or the other to allow passage in only one direction or the other.

Preferably the flap should contain a window to permit light to enter the unit from the dwelling.

The unit may also or instead contain a window in a wall or roof thereof to permit natural light to enter the unit during daylight hours.

Any external door to the unit may contain a lock or bolt or both to prevent unauthorised access from outside.

Preferably, the unit will be constructed from wood, and comprise a simple wooden frame and weatherproofed boarding, with a solid wooden weatherproofed roof.

The unit can be of any size or shape with either a mono-pitched, multi-pitched, or flat roof.

The unit could also be constructed from glass reinforced plastics material, or rigid plastics sheeting or metal or any combination thereof.

The floor of the unit could be of cast concrete, or pre-cast concrete slabs, with or without a damp proof membrane.

The floor could be extended outwardly to form an apron if required. Domestic flooring could be laid over some or all of the floor area of the unit.

The unit can be used for general accommodation for a pet or for a specific use associated with a pet's health, care, comfort, breeding or hygiene.

A particularly preferred use of a unit embodying the invention is to house a cat litter tray or trays.

A second access may be provided between the dwelling and the interior of the unit, through the wall of the dwelling, and conveyor means provided for moving foodstuff into the unit and retrieving empty food containers or uneaten food.

A preferred embodiment of the invention will now be described with reference to the accompanying drawings in which Fig 1 is a plan view of a unit embodying the invention attached to the external wall of a dwelling,

Fig 2 is a side elevation of the unit of Fig 1, Fig 3 is a front elevation of the unit of Fig 1, Fig 4 is a plan view showing certain modifications and refinements to the basic idea, Fig 5 is a plan view to an enlarged scale of the communication link, and Fig 6 is a plan view of an improved unit, which incorporates a storage bin at one end. Overview of the Finres In Fig I the unit is shown attached to the outside wall of a dwelling, with an external door shown in the open position.

In the side elevation of Fig 2 the external door is shown in the closed position and a window has been indicated.

The external door is shown closed in the embodiment shown in Fig 3.

The plan section of Fig 4 indicates how the unit can be modified to include refinements that are additional to the basic unit specification. Electrically operated features can derive power from the electricity supply associated with the dwelling, and should be adequately protected in accordance with the appropriate regulations.

The enlarged scale plan of Fig 5 shows a preferred method of construction of an access between a dwelling and the unit, in accordance with the current UK Building Regulations. Fig 6 shows how a storage bin can be included.

Referring partly to Figs 1 to 3, the outside of the unit is weatherproofed by boarding 1 and over a supporting main frame la. An external door 2 allows access into the unit in order to clean and change the facilities it may contain.

Daylight enters the unit via a window 3. Animals can gain access to the unit from the dwelling through a flap 4, which is fixed onto the inside surface of the wall 5 of the dwelling. The flap 4 may be mounted within a decorative frame to form a surround, typically of wood (not shown), so as to present a pleasing appearance within the dwelling and hide any construction work associated with the access channel, The external door 2 is in this example secured by two bolts 7 and is supported by two hinges 8. The extent of the roof beyond the dwelling is indicated 9. In this example a concrete or concrete slab base 11 is extended beyond the unit to form a hard standing apron.

As shown in Fig 2 the unit can be supported on battens 25 resting on the concrete or concrete slab base 11.

As shown in Fig 4 a layer 10 of thermal non-toxic insulation is sandwiched in or attached to the walls of the unit, and may be incorporated in the roof and if required in the floor.

A heating unit 12 is provided with a suitable animal guard (not shown).

A fan is located either in a wall as at 13 or in the roof as at 14. This is also provided with a suitable guard (not shown).

The air temperature and humidity can be reduced by a small air-conditioning unit 15. Ventilation and insulation can be further enhanced by providing an opening, double glazed window 3, with an opening and closing blind 16.

All temperature and ventilation facilities and system(s) can be manually or automatically controlled either in total or in part.

Control is conveniently channelled through a central control unit 17 which is conveniently located within the dwelling, and may be programmable so as to be capable of being left to operate automatically in response to time and/or signals from sensors such as temperature sensors (not shown). By using temperature sensors priority can be given to natural methods of control as by ventilation, reducing heat loss by a blind etc., before activating powered appliances, and therefore provide maximum efficiency with minimum intervention. The central control unit 17 can also contain an alarm system, which would be activated if the central control unit failed to function or if the system and the facilities it controlled were unable to provide acceptable temperature levels, such as may occur during adverse weather conditions.

The alarm system could also be connected to actuators for opening the door bolts 7 (or other locking mechanism used for security purposes), to allow the animal to push open the door if necessary, to gain access to a yard associated with the apron in the event of overheating.

A low wattage lighting system 18 is provided at an elevated point within the unit.

A conveyor 19 allows feeding bowls to be moved into and out of the unit through a service access.

Plumbing into the unit from the dwelling provides water to a bowl 20, and the level can be controlled manually or automatically via a level activated flow valve. This facility could also be connected into the centrally controlled alarm system, which would be activated if the system failed to operate and/or the water level in the bowl dropped below a predetermined level.

In order to provide a secure outside area for the animal an enclosed animal run or yard 21 is attached to the unit. Where appropriate this can extend above door height and be roofed. This would preferably be constructed using a simple wooden frame covered by wire mesh or other suitable material.

The concrete or concrete slab apron I I can (as shown in Fig 4) be extended to provide a dry cleanable surface over the whole area of the run/yard. The run/yard frame could be hinged on one side so that it can be lifted up to facilitate cleaning.

As shown in Fig 5 the access points through the outside wall 5 of the dwelling are sleeved. A plastics or reinforced plastics pipe or a salt glazed pipe 22 which is cemented in, may be used for this purpose. This not only lines the access but also provides an adequate darnp proof support for the wall thereabove.

As shown in Figs 3 and 6, an elongate stay 28 (shown hanging down form its hinge point in Fig 3) may be fitted to enable the door 2 to be secured in a partially open position, to allow an animal access outside or into a run. The stay is in the form of an elongated hook and a bracket 29 is provided on the edge of the door 2 to receive the hook.

As shown in Fig 6, the unit may be provided with a separate floor 27 which rests on timber joists 24 and on a ledge around the internal lower edge of the walls of the unit.

Also as shown in Fig 6, a smaller lean-to housing may be secured to and/or integrally constructed with the unit with the end wall of the main unit common to the two. The roof of the housing may be hinged to allow access, but more preferably, as shown in Fig 6, a hinged door similar to door 2 is provided to give access. The housing also includes a floor 27 similar to and similarly supported as the floor 27 of the main unit. The smaller housing may for example be used to store bedding or cat litter.

The door 2 of the storage unit shown at the right-hand end of the main unit in Fig 6 is shown in its closed position. It is hinged at 8 and latched at 7 in the same way as the similar, but larger, door 2 in the main unit.

Floor joists are shown at 24 in hidden detail and likewise (also in hidden detail) are the supporting battens 25.

Vertical frame corner members shown at 26 may be extended below the unit so as to provide legs as an alternative means of supporting the unit (and the storage unit/bin if provided). If this form of support is employed, the gap between the floor and the concrete or concrete slab base needs to be closed by means of a board or the like nailed or screwed to the legs.

Depending on design choice and convenience, where a storage unit/bin is provided the suspended floor in each of the main and storage units may be formed from a single panel - but more preferably two panels as shown (each labelled 27) may be employed.

Claims

CLAIMS 1. An animal accommodation unit adapted to be located adjacent a low level access point for gaining entry to or exit from a domestic dwelling, the unit having at least one closeable access for gaining access to the interior thereof for cleaning or feeding purposes, through a wall thereof which does not abut the dwelling.
2. A self-contained weatherproofed, ventilated unit attached to the outside wall of a dwelling with a closeable animal access through the wall of the dwelling to permit communication by an animal between the unit and the dwelling.
3. A unit as claimed in claim 1 or 2 wherein there is provided a door in a wall of the unit to facilitate cleaning and changing the items it contains, or to provide an animal with access to the outside.
4. A unit as claimed in. claim I or 2 wherein some or all of the roof is hinged to a wall of the unit to allow it to be lifted to give access, or is adapted to be slid relative to the unit, for access purposes.
5. A unit as claimed in any of claims I to 4 wherein a closure device such as a hinged flap is fitted in the communication between the dwelling and the unit.
6. A unit as claimed in claim 5 wherein the closure device can be pushed open from either direction to allow entry and egress.
7. A unit as claimed in claim 5 or 6 wherein the closure device is lockable to prevent passage or lockable in one sense or the other to allow an animal passage in only one direction or the other.

<Desc/Clms Page number 10>
8. A unit as claimed in claim 5, 6 or 7 wherein the closure contains a window to permit light to enter the unit from the dwelling.
9. A unit as claimed in any of claims I to 8 wherein there is provided a window in a wall or the roof thereof.
10. A unit as claimed in any of claims 1 to 9 wherein access to the interior thereof is gained through a doorway closed by a door, which is adapted to be locked and/or bolted to prevent unauthorised access from outside.
11. A unit as claimed in any of claims 1 to 10 constructed from wood, and comprising a simple wooden frame and weatherproofed boarding, with a solid wooden weatherproofed roof.
12. A unit as claimed in any of claims 1 to 11 wherein the roof is mono-pitched, multi- pitched, or flat,
13. A unit as claimed in any of claims I to 10 or 12 constructed from glass reinforced plastics material, or rigid plastics sheeting or metal or any combination thereof, or any other suitable material.
14. A unit as claimed in any of claims 1 to 13 further comprising a floor of cast concrete, or pre-cast concrete slabs, or GRP, or plastics sheeting, or timber, or any combination thereof, with or without a damp proof membrane.
15. A unit as claimed in claim 14 wherein the floor extends outwardly to form an apron.
16. A unit as claimed in claim 14 or 15 wherein a domestic floor covering such as vinyl, or tiles, or carpet, or carpet tiles is laid over some or all of the floor of the unit.

<Desc/Clms Page number 11>
17. A unit as claimed in any of claims 1 to 16 when used for acconunodation for a pet.
18. A unit as claimed in claim 17 wherein the unit is used to separate a pet from the domestic dwelling on grounds of health, care, comfort, breeding or hygiene.
19. A unit as claimed in any of claims 1 to 18 which includes a cat litter tray or trays.
20. A unit as claimed in any of claims 1 to 19 wherein a second access is provided between the dwelling and the interior of the unit, through the wall of the dwelling, and conveyor means provided for moving foodstuff into the unit and retrieving therefrom empty food containers or uneaten food.
21. A unit as claimed in any of claims 3 to 20 wherein external catch means is provided for securing the door in an open or partially open position.
22. A unit as claimed in any of claims 1 to 21 further comprising a second smaller housing adjacent and joined to the unit having a closeable opening to give access to the second housing, to enable items to be used in the main unit to be stored under cover for later use.
23. A unit as claimed in claim 22 wherein the second smaller housing is constructed with one wall in common with a wall in the main unit.
24. A unit as claimed in claim 22 or 23 when used to store cat litter.
25. A unit as claimed in claim 1 or 2 constructed and arranged substantially as herein described by way of example with reference to the accompanying drawings.