WO2019048717A1 - Pet bed, capable of being compacted and packaged in a small volume, and method for compacting and packaging same - Google Patents

Abstract

The invention relates to a dog bed which can be transported, stored and sold vacuum packed in a box, taking up practically one third of the volume of the bed under normal use, thus avoiding the problem of storage and logistics, in shipping containers as well as in warehouses or shops, and facilitating transport by the end user. The bed consists of only two parts: a cover that can be easily removed and put on, with a zipper that crosses the middle of the cover from the back to the side, and a body made of an irregular layer of viscoelastic material and high-density foam which are glued together, which is manufactured as a single part (unibody), allowing it to be fully compacted and to recover its exact shape when recovering from compaction.

Description

 Title

Bed for pet, capable of being compacted and packed in a small volume, and compaction and packing method

OBJECT

[0001] The present invention relates to a bed for domestic animals (dogs, cats, pets in general) and, more particularly, refers to a bed whose characteristics and whose system of compaction and packaging allow it to be transported, stored and marketed with dimensions much lower than the current folding beds.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

[0002] Patent EP2709444 discloses a folding pet bed, which includes: a frame with an upper face and a lower face and includes: a spine; a first and second frame plate coupled to the spine to form rotary joints; the first and second frame plates including flexible arms, wherein each of the flexible arms includes a first end fixedly attached to the corresponding frame plate and a second end not fixedly attached to the corresponding frame plate; and a plurality of wheels coupled to the second ends of the flexible arms on the underside of the frame. The pet bed also includes trays attached to the frame plates on the upper face of the frame on which a pet can rest. The trays can be turned towards each other to place the pet's bed in a folded position to facilitate movement and storage. The main drawbacks of this model are two mainly: the first, which is composed of a large number of parts, which provides complexity to complete the assembly of the same, the second, the material is rigid, providing reduced folding, resulting little compact.

[0003] Another bed according to the prior art is described in patent document US200521,175 which comprises: a generally laminar panel, at least partially covered on one side with material adapted to be comfortable for a pet located on the laminar panel; a hinge formed in the laminar panel and dividing the panel into a first and a second portions on each side of the hinge, wherein the first and second portions can be folded toward each other in a closed position; a vertical wall extending along a periphery of one of the portions of the laminar and proximal panel of the hinge, wherein, in an open position, the vertical wall encloses only that portion of the panel from which it extends and , in the closed position, a first and second portions of the panel and the vertical wall define an enclosure in which articles can be transported; at least one closure for securing the first and second parts of the panel in the closed position; and a handle for transporting the pet bed with the panels in the closed position. [0004] The main drawback of this bed is that in order to be comfortable, a central structure should be added for the comfort of the pet, thus preventing the easy transportation of all the parts. [0005] The problems encountered in the prior art, which are common to those found in other documents, can be solved by providing a pet bed adapted to be compacted and packed so that it can be transported, stored and marketed compacted vacuum in a box occupying practically a quarter of its volume, facilitating its storage and marketing from source to final customer.

[0006] A pet bed having the indicated characteristics is claimed in claim 1 and dependent claims.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0007] The bed of the invention, intended for a pet, in particular a dog or pet of medium or small size, is formed by two main parts: a removable cover since it has a zipper that runs through the middle part of the cover from a back to a side part;

 an inner part composed of a high-density foam and a layer of visco-elastic material.

[0008] The cover is composed of three materials, the upper part is scratch-resistant microfiber of the dogs that scratch before sleeping; The side part of the cover is made of a decorative fabric and the lower part is composed of a non-slip material composed of rubber points to increase friction and prevent the bed from sliding when the dog is raised. The zipper is far from the floor so as not to scratch it, and the zipper head is hidden so that the dog does not bite, break or remove it. The cover is removable and machine washable, and therefore replaceable

[0009] The inner part is a body formed by a high density foam (sides and bottom structure) and a layer of irregular visco elastic material in upper central position, with respect to the high density foam part, with protrusions of pyramidal design for maximum comfort and to facilitate ventilation in the central area and control the temperature. The high density foam is constructed in such a way that it leaves the factory as a single piece (unibody). All the parts (lower part, edges, and visco elastic central area) are glued forming a single piece, thus avoiding a client performing any operation of assembling the bed.

[0010] The materials and the shape of the bed are adapted to be folded, packed and compacted in a much lower volume than the bed deployed. These materials are suitable for pressing, folding and rolling operations that are necessary to reduce the size and volume of the object. So that the client does not have to do any type of assembly of the bed, its Compaction is total during the compaction phase, and when recovering from the compaction, the shape of the bed is recovered exactly.

[0011] On the other hand, the method of compaction and packaging of the bed of the invention includes a set of steps:

 a first during which the bed (composed of foam with cover) is placed in a plastic bag with a single side opening;

 then, the bed included in the plastic bag is compressed using a high-tonnage machine to reduce the bed height to less than 1 cm;

- then the opening of the bag is sealed and the bed compacted under vacuum is maintained; then the excess plastic is folded into the compacted bed;

 then the bed is folded in half by its longest side;

 The next step is to roll up the compacted and folded bed in half and proceed with the placement of a second cylindrical plastic with double opening as a sheath to hold the bed compacted and rolled up;

 The last step consists of the introduction of the compacted bed, rolled up and contained in its cylindrical plastic cover in the corresponding box and the subsequent closure of the box.

[0012] The bed of the invention can be presented in several sizes, all with the same characteristics of optimum packaging, providing a volume reduction of at least 66% with respect to its original volume, that is, in its deployed mode for use by the domestic animal

[0013] A novel feature of the bed other than those mentioned above, is that the packed bed is always assembled, that is, only the unpacking will have to be carried out to proceed with its use.

[0014] The bed box comprises a handle to facilitate transport thereof.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0015] Other features and advantages of the present invention will become more apparent from the following detailed description of a preferred, though not exclusive, embodiment of the invention, which is illustrated by way of example indicative, but not limiting, in the drawings. which are accompanied: Figs. 1-2 show four illustrations of beds for domestic animals of the prior art;

 Fig. 3 is a perspective view of a preferred embodiment of the body of a pet bed of the invention;

Fig. 4 is a perspective view of the bed of the invention partially sectioned where its two main parts can be seen, the sheath and the inner part or body comprising the high density foam and the layer of viscoelastic material; Fig. 5 is a perspective view of the different states through which the bed of the invention passes in a compaction and packing process:

 a) Bed assembled ready for use;

 b) Vacuum compacted bed;

 c) Mounted and compacted bed folded in half;

 d) Bed rolled and placed in a cylindrical shape;

 e) Box that receives the packed bed

 Fig. 6 is a schematic plan view of the bed in two preferred embodiments that differ in the sizes of the bed and its corresponding box;

 Fig. 7 is a perspective view of beds of the invention in the two optional sizes of Fig. 6 with their respective boxes;

DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS OF THE INVENTION [0016] Fig. 3 is a perspective view of the body of the bed and Fig. 4 is a perspective view of the partially sectioned bed where its two main parts can be seen.

• the cover 3, which can be easily removed and fitted with a zipper (not shown) that runs through the middle part of the cover 3 from the back to the side, and which is composed of three materials

 an upper microfiber element (easy to wash),

 a decorative fabric side element (also washable in the washing machine)

 A lower floor element made of rubber stitches to prevent the bed from sliding.

 In addition, the head of the zipper is hidden behind a label to prevent the pet from manipulating with it, being able to get the opening or break of it

 • the body 2, formed by a part of high density foam comprising the sides and the lower structure and a layer 1 of irregular visco elastic material where pyramidal protuberances are observed (Figs 3 and 4) to facilitate ventilation in the central zone. Unlike the current market beds, the high density foam is built in such a way that it leaves the factory as a single piece (unibody). These three parts (sides or edges, lower structure, and central viscoelastic zone 1) are glued together forming a single piece or body 2, avoiding that any assembly activity is necessary to be able to use the bed. Both in the compacting phase and in the recovery phase of the compaction the procedure is carried out with a single piece;

 · In use, said body 2 is included inside said sheath 3.

[0017] The compacting and packaging process is carried out in the following phases, shown with references a) to e) in Fig. 5:

in stage a) the bed is shown in its state of use, before proceeding to the packing procedure; in phase b) the bed is placed in a plastic bag with a single side opening, it is compressed with a high tonnage machine, compacting the bed under vacuum and reducing its height to less than 1 cm, to later seal the opening of the bed. the bag, keeping the bed compacted under vacuum;

- in stage c), the excess plastic is folded into the bed, then the bed is folded in half on its longest side;

 in step d) the compacted bed is rolled up and folded in half, placing it in a second cylindrical plastic bag with double opening as a sheath to hold the bed compacted and rolled up;

- finally, in phase e), the bed bagged, compacted, folded and placed in a bag

 Cylindrical is introduced in a packing box with which it will be transported and sold at the place of sale.

[0018] FIG. 6 is a schematic plan view of the bed of the invention in two preferred embodiments of the bed and its corresponding box. To the left of the Figure is represented a first preferred embodiment of a bed 4 of small size, with dimensions of the bed of 63cm x 53cm x 12 cm, with its respective box of 33cm x 24cm x 18cm. To the right of the Figure a second preferred embodiment of a large size bed 5 is represented, with dimensions of the bed of 81 cm x 71 cm x 14 cm, with its respective box of 40cm x 26cm x 24cm. As indicated above, in both cases indicated a volume reduction of the order of 66% of the packed bed is obtained with respect to the original volume of the bed, that is, in its deployed mode for use by the pet.

[0019] FIG. 7 is a perspective view of the bed in its two sizes with their respective boxes, according to the two preferred embodiments cited, where indicated by 7 a deployed bed assembly and its corresponding box (first embodiment) preferred), and with 6 an unfolded bed assembly and its corresponding box (second preferred embodiment)

[0020] The configuration of the bed of the invention and the method for its compacting and packaging advantageously allow a customer who acquires a bed packed in its box according to the invention, to use the bed without further operations than the inverse ones. to those described above and shown in Fig. 5, that is, remove the compacted bed from the box, rolled and bagged, remove the compacted and rolled bed from the cylindrical plastic bag, unroll the compacted bed, unfold the folded bed by its half, open the plastic bag containing the vacuum compacted bed, and remove the bed, which will immediately adopt its normal form and volume of use.

[0021] Once the invention has been sufficiently described, as well as two preferred embodiments thereof, it only remains to add that it is possible to make modifications of arrangement, characteristics and dimensions without departing from the scope of the following claims. unpacked in its normal state of use.

Claims

Bed (4, 5) for pet characterized in that it comprises: - a sheath (3), and a body (2) formed by a part of high density foam and a layer (1) of irregular viscoelastic material, said body (2) included inside said sheath (3),  wherein: said sheath (3) is composed of three elements of different materials: a first  microfiber upper element, a second decorative fabric side element and a third lower floor element made of rubber stitches to prevent the bed (4, 5) from sliding, said cover (3) being removable by means of a zipper running through a part half of the sheath (3) from a back part to a side part thereof;  · Said body (2), formed by a part of high density foam comprising laterals and a lower structure thereof and by a layer of irregular viscoelastic material (1) in a central upper area of said high density foam part , said layer (1) being provided with protrusions of pyramidal design, said body (2) being constructed so that said part of high density foam and said layer of viscoelastic material (1) are glued forming a single piece, preventing it from being no assembly activity is necessary to be able to use the bed. 2. A compacting and packing process for a pet bed (4, 5) as claimed in claim 1, characterized in that it comprises the following phases: phase b), in which starting from an original position of the bed (4) , 5) formed by the sheath (3) and the body (2) in its state of use, said bed (4, 5) is placed in a first plastic bag with a single side opening, is compressed with a high machine tonnage that compacts the bed (4, 5) under vacuum and reduces its height to less than 1 cm, to later seal the opening of said first plastic bag, keeping the bed (4, 5) compacted under vacuum;  step c), in which the excess plastic of said first plastic bag is folded into the bed (4, 5), then fold the bed (4, 5) in half by its longer side ;  step d), in which the bed (4, 5) is rolled and compacted and folded in half, placing it in a second cylindrical plastic bag with double opening as a cover to hold the bed (4, 5) compacted and rolled ;  step e), in which the bed (4, 5) bagged in said first plastic bag, compacted, folded, rolled and placed in said second cylindrical plastic bag is introduced in a packing box with which it will be transported up to and marketed at the place of sale. A compacting and packing process for a pet bed (4, 5) according to claim 2, wherein the unpacking of the bed (4, 5) is carried out by removing the bed placed in said second cylindrical plastic bag of said packing box, then removing the bed (4, 5) compacted, folded and rolled up from said second cylindrical plastic bag, the folded bed is unfolded and removed from said first plastic bag, whereby the bed (4, 5) will immediately adopt its normal use form and volume list for its use. 4. A compacting and packing process for a bed (4, 5) for pet according to claim 2, wherein the volume occupied by said packing box containing said bed (4, 5) compacted and packed is approximately 66% lower than the volume occupied by the bed (4, 5) unpacked in its normal state of use.