Pet booster seats and methods for making and using the same

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-12342789-B2
Application number	US-202217884438-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Aug 9, 2022
Priority date	Aug 9, 2022
Publication date	Jul 1, 2025
Grant date	Jul 1, 2025

Abstract

A pet booster seat comprising a base and an attachment member configured to detachably couple the base to a car seat of a vehicle. The base can include a shell, a liner removably coupled to the shell and configured to cover an interior of the shell, and a frame configured to maintain at least a shape of an upper portion of the base. The pet booster seat can be further configured to transition from an expanded configuration to a collapsed configuration automatically when no upward pulling force is exerted at or near the upper portion of the base. Other embodiments are disclosed.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A pet booster seat comprising:
a base comprising:
a shell comprising a first portion of a fastener;
a liner comprising a second portion of the fastener and removably coupled to the shell by the fastener when the first and second portions of the fastener are removably coupled together, wherein the liner is configured to cover an interior of the shell and wherein the fastener is located in the interior of the shell;
a top cover configured such that, when at least a portion of the top cover is removably secured to an upper portion of the base, the liner and the fastener are not accessible from an exterior of the shell; and
a frame configured to maintain at least a shape of the upper portion of the base, wherein the frame comprises:
a first bar member; and
a second bar member configured to maintain a shape of a cutout in an upper edge of a front wall of the base; and

an attachment member configured to detachably couple the base to a car seat of a vehicle,
wherein:
the pet booster seat is further configured to transition from a use configuration to a collapsed configuration automatically when no upward pulling force is exerted at or near the upper portion of the base;
when the pet booster seat is in the use configuration, a first plane defined by the first bar member is substantially vertical to a second plane defined by the second bar member; and
when the pet booster seat is in the collapsed configuration, the first plane is substantially parallel to the second plane.

2. The pet booster seat of claim 1 , wherein:
the first bar member and the second bar member are configured to maintain a shape of a top opening of the base.

3. The pet booster seat of claim 2 , wherein the first bar member is configured to circumscribe at least a portion of the top opening of the base.

4. The pet booster seat of claim 1 , wherein
the first bar member and the second bar member are not coupled together via a mechanical joint.

5. The pet booster seat of claim 1 , wherein one or more of:
a. the pet booster seat is further configured to transition from the collapsed configuration to the use configuration when the base receives an upward pulling force exerted through the attachment member located at or near the upper portion of the base;
b. the base further comprises one or more storage pockets coupled to an exterior surface of the shell;
c. the frame is located inside a channel formed at or near an upper rim of the shell, and the upper portion of the base comprises the upper rim of the shell;
d. the attachment member further comprises one or more of:
a top strap configured to extend around a headrest of the car seat;
a back strap configured to extend around a backrest of the car seat; or
a back loop configured to allow a seatbelt of the vehicle to pass therethrough;

e. the liner is removably coupled to the shell at or near the upper rim of the shell, and the upper portion of the base comprises the upper rim of the shell;
f. the liner comprises a waterproof material;
g. the fastener comprises a zipper; or
h. the shell and the liner each comprise a flexible material.

6. The pet booster seat of claim 1 , wherein the attachment member further comprises one or more of:
a top strap configured to extend around a headrest of the car seat, wherein at least one of:
the top strap is detachably coupled to the base; or
a length of the top strap is adjustable;

a back strap configured to extend around a backrest of the car seat, wherein a length of the back strap is adjustable; or
a back loop configured to allow a seatbelt of the vehicle to pass therethrough.

7. The pet booster seat of claim 1 , wherein:
the pet booster seat further comprises one or more of:
(a) a cushion removably received in a pocket of the liner;
(b) a harness attachment configured to be detachably coupled to a pet harness or a pet collar;
(c) a bottom board configured to maintain a shape of a bottom of the base; or
(d) the top cover is configured to open or close a top opening of the base.

8. The pet booster seat of claim 1 , further comprising one or more of:
(a) a cushion removably received in a pocket of the liner, wherein the pocket of the liner comprises an opening at a bottom surface of the liner;
(b) a harness attachment configured to be detachably coupled to a pet harness or a pet collar, wherein the harness attachment comprises a trigger click tether;
(c) the top cover comprises a mesh material; or
(d) a bottom board configured to maintain a shape of a bottom of the base, wherein the bottom board is located between the shell and the liner.

9. A method for providing a pet booster seat, the method comprising:
providing a shell for a base, wherein the shell comprises a first portion of a fastener;
removably coupling a liner for the base to the shell by the fastener, wherein the liner comprises a second portion of the fastener, wherein the liner is removably coupled to the shell when the first and second portions of the fastener are removably coupled together, wherein the liner is configured to cover an interior of the shell and wherein the fastener is located in the interior of the shell;
providing for a top cover configured such that, when at least a portion of the top cover is removably secured to an upper portion of the base, the liner and the fastener are not accessible from an exterior of the shell;
providing a frame for the base to maintain at least a shape of the upper portion of the base, wherein the frame comprises:
a first bar member; and
a second bar member configured to maintain a shape of a cutout in an upper edge of a front wall of the base; and

providing an attachment member configured to detachably couple the base at or near the upper portion of the base to a car seat of a vehicle,
wherein:
the pet booster seat is configured to transition from a use configuration to a collapsed configuration automatically when no upward pulling force is exerted at or near the upper portion of the base;
when the pet booster seat is in the use configuration, a first plane defined by the first bar member is substantially vertical to a second plane defined by the second bar member; and
when the pet booster seat is in the collapsed configuration, the first plane is substantially parallel to the second plane.

10. The method of claim 9 , wherein one or more of:
(a) providing the frame for the base further comprises configuring the first bar member and the second bar member to maintain a shape of a top opening of the base;
(b) providing the frame for the base further comprises providing:
the first bar member of the frame is configured to circumscribe at least a portion of the top opening of the base;

(c) the pet booster seat is further configured to transition from the collapsed configuration to the use configuration when the base receives an upward pulling force exerted through the attachment member located at or near the upper portion of the base;
(d) the base further comprises one or more storage pockets coupled to an exterior surface of the shell;
(e) the front wall of the base comprises the cutout in the upper edge of the front wall;
(f) providing the frame further comprises placing the frame inside a channel formed at or near an upper rim of the shell, wherein the upper portion of the base comprises the upper rim of the shell;
(g) providing the attachment member further comprises providing one or more of:
a top strap configured to extend around a headrest of the car seat;
a back strap configured to extend around a backrest of the car seat; or
a back loop configured to allow a seatbelt of the vehicle to pass therethrough;

(h) removably coupling the liner to t

Assignees

• Petsmart Home Office Inc

Inventors

• Ferrara Casey
• Watson Jeffrey Stocker
• Shen Xue Hai

Classifications

• B60N2/90

  Details or parts not otherwise provided for · CPC title

• A01K1/0236

  Transport boxes, bags, cages, baskets, harnesses for animals; Fittings therefor (for poultry A01K31/002; Transportable cages, e.g. for pigeons A01K31/07) · CPC title

• A01K1/0254

  Bags or baskets · CPC title

• A01K1/0272 Primary

  Boxes, bags, cages, baskets, harnesses especially adapted for transport in or on automobiles · CPC title

• A01K1/0281 Primary

  Boxes, bags, cages, baskets, harnesses especially adapted for transport in or on bicycles or motorcycles · CPC title