초록 ▼

A system for housetraining pets through the use of separated sleeping and waste areas contained within a pet cage. The cage encloses a waste tray section that runs along the floor of the cage, which holds an absorbent pad, secured by improved retention clips, for collecting pet waste that can be rem

A system for housetraining pets through the use of separated sleeping and waste areas contained within a pet cage. The cage encloses a waste tray section that runs along the floor of the cage, which holds an absorbent pad, secured by improved retention clips, for collecting pet waste that can be removed and replaced when soiled. A bedding area made of up a rectilinear frame covered in bedding material is raised above the floor of the cage by engaging frame extensions with perforations in the exterior of the cage. The system and associated method serve to aid in conditioning a pet for proper housetraining while the pet is confined to a cage.

대표청구항 ▼

1. A system for conditioning dogs comprising a) an enclosure comprising a cage frame, a door, generally vertical side panels and a bottom, said side panels providing perforations;b) a platform bed comprising a rectilinear frame, a bedding panel supported by the frame, and frame projections for posit

1. A system for conditioning dogs comprising a) an enclosure comprising a cage frame, a door, generally vertical side panels and a bottom, said side panels providing perforations;b) a platform bed comprising a rectilinear frame, a bedding panel supported by the frame, and frame projections for positioning the platform bed within the enclosure, said platform bed forming a sleep and play area; andc) a training tray of generally planar conformation, with a bottom and upraised perimeter edges, and an absorbent elimination pad covering the bottom and extending to the perimeter edges, said absorbent pad secured to the tray by a plurality of pad clips, said training tray covered by the elimination pad forming an elimination area; whereby, the platform bed is positioned inside the enclosure, and installed so that the platform bed is raised above the upper surface of the elimination pad arrayed upon the surface of the training tray and allowing confinement of a dog inside the enclosure and thereby providing a sleep and play area physically distinct from an elimination area that allows the dog to be more effectively conditioned for house training. 2. The system of claim 1 further comprising a bed wherein the rectilinear frame is formed of tubing, and side frame members and end frame members of the rectilinear frame are joined by corner connectors, and a support frame portion projects from the corner connector to pass through perforations in the side panel, the bedding panel further comprises bedding panel corner cuts, whereby the bed is supported as a platform within the cage by support frame portions lodging in the cage side panel perforations, and supporting the bedding panel within the cage enclosure. 3. The system of claim 2 wherein the tubing forming the frame is formed from one or more of metal, plastic, steel, aluminum, composite material, polyvinyl chloride polymer, PVC pipe, and conduit. 4. The system of claim 3 wherein the tubing forming the frame is formed from PVC pipe. 5. The system of claim 1 wherein the bedding panel is formed of fabric that wraps around the frame, provides corner cuts and is secured to the frame. 6. The system of claim 5 wherein the bedding panel is secured to the frame by one or more of sewed seams, hook-loop fasteners, zippers, snaps or ties. 7. The system of claim 5 wherein the bedding panel is formed of fabric that wraps around the rectilinear frame and is secured to the rectilinear frame by hook-loop fasteners. 8. The system of claim 1 further comprising a platform bed wherein the rectilinear frame is formed of tubing, and side frame members and end frame members of the rectilinear frame are joined by corner connectors, and a detachable leg projects from the corner connector to rest on the tray, the bedding panel further comprises bedding panel corner cuts, whereby the bed is supported as a platform within the cage by legs resting on the tray in the cage bottom, and supporting the bedding panel within the cage enclosure. 9. The system of claim 8 further comprising a platform bed that can be removed from a cage enclosure and placed outside the cage enclosure to form a lofted platform bed for use by a dog. 10. The system of claim 1 further comprising a kit for providing the outfitting of an animal cage for use with a training system comprising a bed with a rectilinear frame, said frame further comprising side rails, end rails, frame projections and corner connectors, a fabric bedding panel, at least one absorbent pad, a plurality of pad clips, a graphic assembly instruction set, and an instructional media describing use of the kit in training a dog. 11. The kit of claim 10 further comprising a fabric bedding panel securable to the frame with one or more of sewed seams, hook-loop fasteners, zippers, snaps or ties. 12. The kit of claim 10 further comprising leg pieces compatible with the corner connectors. 13. The kit of claim 12 further comprising leg pieces inserted into the corner connectors, and placing the platform bed outside the cage enclosure on the absorbent pad to form a lofted platform bed for use by a dog. 14. The system of claim 1 further comprising a bed wherein the rectilinear frame is formed of tubing, and side frame members and end frame members of the rectilinear frame are joined by corner connectors, and a support frame portion projects from the corner connector to pass through perforations in the side panel, the bedding panel further comprises a fabric bedding panel wrapped around the frame members, secured to the frame by hook loop fasteners and bedding panel corner cuts, whereby the bed is supported as a platform within the cage by support frame portions lodging in the cage side panel perforations, and supporting the bedding panel within the cage enclosure. 15. The system of claim 1 wherein the clip for retaining the absorbent pad to the tray further comprises a clip body with a gradual radius tension bend extending from an elimination pad holder said tension bend transitioning into a tighter radius tray retention bend, a tray clip extending beyond the retention bend and conforming to the shape of the edge of the training tray, and a clip portion providing spring tension to force the tray clip portion into friction apposition with an outside edge of the training tray, and following urging the clip body towards the bottom of the training tray, the elimination pad holder bears against an elimination pad arrayed on the training tray such that said elimination pad extends over the entire upper surface of the training tray and across the upper outside edge of the training tray, whereby pressing the tray clip against the outside edge of the training tray and urging the elimination pad holder towards the interior bottom of the training tray retains the absorbent pad arrayed upon the training tray. 16. A method of training a dog comprising a) instructional media describing for the use of the method with a user dog in need of house training;b) an enclosure comprising a cage frame, a door, generally vertical side panels and a bottom, said side panels providing perforations, said enclosure providing a cage interior with restricted access;c) a platform bed comprising a rectilinear frame, a bedding panel supported by the frame, and frame projections for positioning the platform bed within the enclosure, said platform bed forming a sleep and play area;d) a training tray of generally planar conformation, with a bottom and upraised perimeter edges, and an absorbent elimination pad covering the bottom and extending to the perimeter edges, said absorbent pad secured to the tray by a plurality of pad clips, said training tray covered by the elimination pad forming an elimination area;e) allowing the dog to access the cage interior with the platform;f) restricting the dog's movements to the cage interior when access to an acceptable elimination location is not available;g) allowing the dog to eliminate in an acceptable elimination location;h) removing and replacing the elimination pad when the elimination pad becomes soiled by elimination products of the dog; andi) as the dog becomes conditioned to restrict elimination to the outdoors, or to the cage interior, allowing the dog to leave the cage interior, and return to the cage interior when the dog has an urge to eliminate, whereby, the platform bed is positioned inside the enclosure, and installed so that the platform bed is raised above the upper surface of the elimination pad arrayed upon the surface of the training tray and allowing confinement of a dog inside the enclosure and thereby providing a sleep and play area physically distinct from an elimination area that allows the dog to be more effectively conditioned for house training. 17. The method of claim 16 further comprising a kit for outfitting an existing animal cage. 18. The method of claim 16 further comprising the step j) as the dog becomes conditioned to restrict elimination to the outdoors, instead of leaving the platform bed inside the cage, removing the platform bed from the cage, and positioning the platform bed on top of the absorbent pad, and as the dog becomes further conditioned, removing the absorbent pad to the outdoors, to further encourage the dog to be conditioned to eliminate outdoors. 19. A clip for retaining an absorbent pad on a tray comprising a clip body with a gradual radius tension bend extending from an elimination pad holder said tension bend transitioning into a tighter radius tray retention bend, a tray clip extending beyond the retention bend and conforming to the shape of the edge of a base tray, and a clip portion providing spring tension to force the tray clip portion into friction apposition with an outside edge of the waste tray, and following urging the clip body towards the bottom of the waste tray, the elimination pad holder bears against an elimination pad arrayed on the waste tray, whereby pressing the tray clip against the waste tray and urging the elimination pad holder towards the interior bottom of the waste tray retains the absorbent pad arrayed upon the waste tray. 20. The clip of claim 19 further comprising an elimination pad holder with a pad grip formed of one or more of upraised teeth, marginal teeth, a non-slip resilient surface, and a non skid rough surface.