Compact pet spa

[0001] This patent claims the benefit of provisional patent application No. 61/650,944

[0002] This invention relates to the field of portable apparatus used for the washing and grooming of pets. More specifically this invention relates to a device for efficiently handling the bathing of different pets.

[0003] All pets in general require periodic bathing and grooming to keep them in good health. Dogs in particular are more difficult because of their often-larger sizes and physical strength. Generally, in the home the pets are washed in a shower, bathtub, and laundry tub or just out on a lawn. This can be an difficult task with a great deal of bending over; kneeling and lifting even with small pets. Often the person doing the bathing gets just as wet as the pet being bathed. Small pets present the difficulty of just holding them in one position to bathe them. Most conventional indoor facilities, i.e. home bathtubs, that can be used for washing pets are often very slippery to stand on, making the job even more difficult and producing more trauma on the pet. Some pets that become very upset when being bathed will often urinate or worse which can increase the problems when the pets are bathed in the house. When pets are washed and groomed, especially in the summer, they are loosing a great deal of hair that can clog drains and cause expensive plumbing problems in the house.

[0004] There is a continuing need for improved, inexpensive pet spading and grooming apparatus that comes in a variety of sizes and heights, is convenient and comfortable to use for both the pet and the individual bathing the pet along with being light weight, portable and compact for shipping and storage.

[0005] The principal object of the pet spa of the present invention is to supply an improved portable inexpensive pet spa that will come in a variety of sizes. Another object of the pet spa of the present invention is to supply a device that can be stored and shipped in a relatively small container. Another object of the pet spa is to supply a device that can quickly be easily assembled and disassembled.

[0006] Another object of the pet spa is to supply a pet spa that is lightweight and portable either assembled or disassembled.

[0007] Another object of the pet spa is to supply a device with stabilizing leg members that can adjust in height. Another object of the pet spa is to provide a tray to allow the pet to be raised to a particular height.

[0008] The present invention is directed to a light weight pet spa that will consist of an upper section suspended above a lower tub section. Adjustable stabilizing leg members secured and operationally engaged underneath the upper section and within the lower tub section wherein the upper section can be adjusted to support the height of the sues while bathing a pet thereby decreasing the required bending and lifting when bathing a pet in a conventional bath tub.

[0022] For a fuller understanding of the nature and objects of the invention, reference should be had to the following detailed description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings which are incorporated in and form a part of this specification, illustrate embodiments of the invention and together with the description, serve to explain the principles of this invention.

[0023] Referring now to the drawings, wherein similar parts of the pet spa 10 are identified by like reference numerals, there is seen in FIG. 1 an opened perspective view of the pet spa (10) with the tray top section (12) raised above the tub bottom section (14). Adjustable leg stabilizing members (16) allows the tray top section (12) to be suspended above bottom tub section (14) within a conventional tub (21) as shown in FIG. 1.

[0024] As illustrated in FIG. 2 in the preferred embodiment, tray top section (12) has a polygonal shape having a flat base platform section (18) with a side wall circumferentially surrounding the perimeter the base platform section (18). The surrounding sidewall is defined by a top section front wall (19), a top section right side wall (20), a top section left sidewall (22) and a top section back wall (26). As depicted the surrounding side wall extends downward from flat base platform section (18). As shown in the embodiment in FIGS. 1 and 2 drain holes (53) surrounds the outer peripheral edge of the top tray section (12). However, additional drain holes may be located within the mid section of top tray section (12).

[0025] As illustrated in FIGS. 1 and 5, the present invention further comprises mat (16) which is configured to lay upon topside of top tray section (12). Mat (16) is preferably made of non-skid surface for the pet to stand or lay without slipping as shown in FIG. 1. The Mat (16) top surface can be made of permeable or semi-permeable material such as plastic or another suitable waterproof material. As shown in FIG. 2a the present invention further comprising a top housing that is removable from the top tray section (12). The top housing (101) has a bottom panel with connecting surrounding walls extending upward to a rim and forming a chamber for received a pet therein. The bottom panel (102) can be configured with openings (27) disposed on opposing sides for drainage of water therethrough. Mat (16) in FIG. 5 can be removable placed upon bottom panel (102) within top housing (101) not shown.

[0026] As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, opposing connecting members configured as loop (21) can be used for connection of pet restraints. As depicted in FIGS. 1 and 2, loop 21 are fixably mounted on opposing left (22) and right top side (20) of top tray section (12) for connection with pet restraints (104).

[0027] As depicted in FIG. 1, in alternative embodiments a holding container (15) having an opening for receiving a cleansing agent can be removably mounted to the top wall (19) or back wall (26) utilizing fasteners (17) which securely engage within drain holes (53). Dispenser (40) can be operationally mounted to holding container (15) to disperse cleaning agent from the holding container (15).

[0028] As shown in FIGS. 1, 7, and 8, handle (25) is mounted upon opposing sides (20,22) of top tray section (12) and can be configured to operationally engage with the actuator (57) operationally coupled to retaining members (50, 52) to provide the capability of raising and lowering the top tray into a suspended position. As illustrated in FIG. 5 in the preferred embodiment, tub bottom section (14) has a polygonal shape having a flat bottom wall (24) with a side wall (34) circumferentially surrounding the perimeter of bottom wall (24) and extending upward therefrom to top edge (35). The surrounding sidewall is defined by a bottom front wall (28), a bottom right side wall 30, a bottom section left sidewall 32 and a bottom back wall (34). As depicted the surrounding side wall (34) extends upward from the flat bottom wall (24) to top edge (35) to form a cavity for receiving top tray (12) therein. Both flat bottom wall (24) and base platform section (18) have the same polygonal shape but base platform (18) has slightly smaller dimensions that allow it to be received within tub section (14). However, the pet spa is not limited to the depicted polygonal shape. The bottom wall (24) has a plurality of drain holes incorporated therein for draining into the convention tub while in use as depicted in FIG. 1.

[0029] As illustrated in FIG. 1 in the preferred embodiment, when opened stabilizing adjustable leg members (42) extend upward allowing tray top section 12 to suspend above bottom tub section (14) within in a conventional tub. As depicted in FIG. 2, stabilizing leg members (42) collapses within tub bottom section (14) for easy storage.

[0030] FIG. 3 provides a side view of the top tray (12) collapsed within the bottom tub section (14). FIG. 4 shows a side view of the top tray section (12) suspended above the bottom tub section (14). FIG. 5 shows an exploded view of the pet spa (10). FIG. 6 shows extended view of leg member (43) stabilizing leg member (42) is fabricated with top section (45) and a bottom section (46) supported by an elongated section (44) therebetween. In the depicted embodiment in FIGS. 6, 7, 71, 8, 8a and 8b, the opposing retaining members (50, 52) are operationally engaged underneath top tray section (12). Actuator (57) comprises a locking pin configured to engage within recessed portions (55) disposed within the underside of retaining members (50, 52).

[0031] As shown in FIG. 1 the elongated section (44) of each stabilizing leg member (43) is operationally connected in a criss-cross arrangement at mid-section (49). Top section (45) of each stabilizing leg member comprises opposing flap members (50, 52) in a parallel arrangement and hingedly connected thereto. Disposed within the underside of each flap member (50, 52) is a plurality of recessed members (55) which correspond to a desired operational height of the top tray section (12) suspended above the tub section (14). In the depicted embodiment, when handle (25) is pulled upward locking pin (57) is released from a recessed portion (55) within the flap members (50, 52) and leg members (43) can be extended upward or downward to a desired height.

[0032] As shown in FIG. 1, opposing receiving channels (36) are disposed within the lower portion of the inner surrounding wall of tub section (14). In use, simultaneously when handle (25) is lifted, the bottom section (46) of leg members (42) is slid inward within receiving channels (36) to adjust the height of leg members (42) upward or slid outward within receiving channels (36) to adjust the height of leg members (42) downward for collapsing as shown in FIG. 2. In other embodiments, leg members can be operationally suspended with other locking mechanisms.

[0033] With respect to the above description then, it is to be realized that the optimum dimensional relationships for the parts of the invention, to include variations in size, materials, shape, form, function and manner of operation, assembly and use, are deemed readily apparent and obvious to one skilled in the art, and all equivalent relationships to those illustrated in the drawings and described in the specification are intended to be encompassed by the present invention. Therefore, the foregoing is considered as illustrative only of the principles of the invention. Further, since numerous modifications and changes will readily occur to those skilled in the art, it is not desired to limit the invention to the exact construction and operation shown and described, and accordingly, all suitable modifications and equivalents may be resorted to, falling within the scope of the invention.