AU784342B2 - Door or window panel with pet opening - Google Patents

Description

Our Ref:7577620 P/00/OII Regulation 3:2

AUSTRALIA

Patents Act 1990

ORIGINAL

COMPLETE SPECIFICATION STANDARD PATENT Applicant(s): Address for Service: Jason Pohutuhutu 31 1Linf-d e R o ad 61 C -1trc' S4-deAA) 4't1, Glcndenning New; South Wales 2761 tMeAc AD &cW 3Z Australia DAVIES COLLISON CAVE Patent Trade Mark Attorneys Level 10, 10 Barrack Street SYDNEY NSW 2000 Invention Title: Door or window panel with pet opening The following statement is a full description of this invention, including the best method of performning it known to me:- 5020 P.\WPDOCS\AMD\SPECIF\746453IPOH- 15/2/01 DOOR OR WINDOW PANEL WITH PET OPENING Background of the Invention The present invention relates to a sliding door or window which is provided with a hinged opening or flap to permit the entry of dogs, cats, or other pets therethrough. The present invention also relates to a separately formed panel which is adapted to fit within a sliding door or window frame, in which the panel is provided with a hinged opening or flap therein.

Description of the Prior Art The reference to any prior art in this specification is not, and should not be taken as, an acknowledgement or any form of suggestion that that prior art forms part of the common general knowledge in Australia.

At present, it is possible to purchase a device in the form of a hinged flap or door, which can .i 15 be applied to a door of a house or other building, to permit the entry and exit of a dog, cat, :or other domestic animal to and from the house whilst the door is in the closed position.

The devices which are presently commercially available are typically formed of molded oooo• plastics or like material. The purchaser of such a device has to make his or her own arrangements to cut an appropriately sized hole in the door panel, and then insert the molded .i plastic device into the appropriate position in the door.

Whilst this type of known device ultimately achieves a function which is similar to the purpose of the device of the present invention, it will be appreciated that it is often undesirable, inconvenient and/or difficult to cut out a portion of the door panel. For example, the purchaser may not have the appropriate tools, may want to cause permanent alteration to the door, or may not have the appropriate skills within which to form the cutout in an aesthetically pleasing manner.

Furthermore, no such device is presently known to be particularly designed to fit a sliding door or window.

F\WPDOCS\AMDSPECJ\7464551POH 15/2/01 -2- This therefore identifies a need for a device which overcomes the disadvantages of the prior art.

Summary of the Invention The present invention seeks to provide a panel which is adapted to be inserted in place of an existing door or window panel, and which is already formed having a hinged opening or flap in at least part of the panel, to permit the entry of dogs, cats or other pets therethrough.

The present invention also seeks to provide a door or window panel which may be purchased separately and which is already formed with such a hinged flap or opening therein.

In one broad form, a panel adapted to fit within a sliding door or window frame having upper and/or lower tracks with a door or window slidable therein, said panel including: 15 upper and/or lower track cooperating edges adapted to slide within said track(s); o a first side edged adapted to be attached to the door or window for slidable movement S•therewith; a second side edge adapted to cooperate with said frame; and, ooooo a hinged opening or flap in at least part of said panel to permit the entry of dogs, cats or other pets therethrough.

Preferably, said panel is formed of glass, plastics, insect screen mesh, or any other material typically used on doors and/or windows and/or openings therefor.

Also preferably, one or both of said side edge(s) includes a latch or like locking device for releasable securement of said panel.

Also preferably, said panel further includes security bolts positioned about said edges of said panel.

In a further broad form, the present invention provides a door or window panel adapted to P:\WPDOCS\AMDSPECI\7464551POH 15/2/01 -3fit within a frame for slidable movement within upper and/or lower tracks, characterised in that said panel includes a hinged opening or flap at at least part of said panel to permit the entry of dogs, cats or other pets therethrough.

In this form, preferably, said panel is formed of any one or combination of glass, plastics, insect screen mesh, or any other material typically used on doors and/or windows and/or openings therefor.

In a preferred form, said panel is of adjustable size, either in height or width, whereby, it may be adjusted to fit within said frame.

In that preferred form, said panel is adjustable by means of an extendable panel section, the attachment of an extension panel, or by other adjustable means.

S. 15 Also preferably, said panel is formed and sold separately from said frame.

Alternatively, but also preferably, said panel is formed and sold together with said frame.

Brief Description of the Drawings The present invention will become more fully understood from the following detailed description of a preferred but non-limiting embodiment thereof, described in connection with the accompanying drawings, wherein: Fig. 1 illustrates a first preferred embodiment of the present invention, wherein a door or window panel is provided with a hinged opening or flap in at least part thereof, to allow the entry of dogs, cats or other pets therethrough; and Fig. 2 illustrates an alternatively preferred embodiment of the present invention, wherein a separate panel is adapted to fit within a sliding door or window frame, and the panel is included with a hinged opening or flap in at least part thereof to permit the entry of pets therethrough.

P\WPDOCS\AMD\iPECI\74645.I POH 15/2/61 -4- Detailed Description of Preferred Embodiments Throughout the drawings, like numerals will be used to identify similar features, except where expressly otherwise indicated.

As illustrated in the drawings, a door or window frame, generally designated by the numeral 1, of the type which is for a sliding door or window, is provided with a fixed panel 2 and a sliding panel 3. The frame 1 is provided with upper and lower tracks 4 and 5 into which the sliding panel 3 is adapted to fit for slidable movement therealong, between open and closed positions. Such slidable panels 3 are typically provided with some form of locking device, such as generally designated by the numeral 6, typically including a latch and catch combination.

Fig. 1 illustrates a first preferred embodiment of the invention, wherein a slidable panel 3, which may be formed and sold either separately or together with the frame 1, is adapted to 15 slide within tracks 4 and 5 between the open and closed positions. The difference between the slidable panel 3 of the present invention, and those which are presently commercially available, is that the slidable panel 3 is provided with a hinged opening or flap 7 in at least part of the panel 3, and preferably within a lower portion of the panel 3, to permit the entry of dogs, cats or other pets therethrough.

.i The panel 3 may be formed of any one or combination of glass, plastics, insect screen mesh or any other material typically used on doors and/or windows and/or openings therefor.

For example, in use, the panel 3 may be formed of mesh material to prevent the ingress of insects, such as flies and mosquitos. The hinged opening or flap 7 may also be formed of such insect screen material, or any other desirable material, such that, when the insect screen panel 3 is in the closed position, dogs, cats or other pets can still pass therethrough.

Such a sliding door arrangement allowing the ingress and egress of dogs, cats and other animals, through a screen door is not presently known.

11 \WPDOCS\AMD'WPEC1\7464S51.POH -15/2/01 In an alternative example, the slidable panel 3 in Fig. 1 may be formed of glass material, but the panel 3 may be purchased separately already formed with the hinged opening or flap 7 therein. The purchaser can then purchase the panel 3, and replace the panel 3 with the original door or window panel. This has advantage the that, when the purchaser relocates to another house, or wants to move the panel to a different window or door in the same house, this is readily performed, and the original panel can be replaced.

An alternatively but also preferred embodiment of the invention is shown in Fig. 2, wherein the existing panel 3 is still retained for use in the frame 1, but a customised panel, identified by the numeral 8, is inserted into the tracks 4 and 5, and positioned adjacent the existing panel 3. The additional panel 8 may, in a preferred embodiment, be secured to the existing panel 3 by means of a latch 9 or cooperating edges, which cooperates with the existing latch or edge of panel 3. Likewise, the other side of the panel 8 may be provided with an appropriate latch or cooperating edge to connect to the existing frame locking mechanism S: 15 In use, the embodiment of Fig. 2, including the panel 3 and panel 8, may be slid within the tracks 4 and 5 when a person wishes to ingress or egress the house in which the door is installed.

An alternatively preferred arrangement would be for the panel 8 to incorporate an edge 12 which may be a shaped connector to effectively allow both the glass door and a flyscreen door to shut on to panel 8 such that there is no 'gap' therebetween. This may, for example, be achieved by forming the edge 12 as a C-shaped extension piece attached to panel 8 allowing panel 3 and a flyscreen door to both close on to panel 8. The C-shaped extension piece would be connected by screws or pot rivets or may even clip on to panel 8. Alternatively, the C-shaped edge may be formed integrally with the panel.

In use, it will be appreciated that the panel illustrated in Fig. 2 has significant advantages over previous pet doors known to be able to be commercially obtained. For example, the additional panel 8 may be selectively installed in one of many sliding doors provided within a single household, as desired by the owner. The panel may be easily inserted into position within the existing tracks. In a preferred additional embodiment, appropriate locking bolts P:\WPDOCS\AMDi6PECI\7464551.POH- 15/2/01 -6- 11 may be provided such that a higher level of security than otherwise would be obtained.

In yet a further alternatively preferred arrangement, the panel may be adjustable in size, that is, either in height or width. For example, in order to account for variations in frame heights of conventional sliding doors, an adjustable height panel, either by way of an extendable panel, or an extension cap or panel to be fitted to the panel, may be embodied.

It will be appreciated that the present invention provides significant advantages over pet doors presently commercially available.

It will also be appreciated that the panels and pet doors of the present invention may be embodied in a variety of materials, shapes and sizes. It may be installed using any conventional attachment means, for example screws, pot rivets, etc., as appropriate, the panel and its components may be supplied with rubber or other appropriate surrounding material 15 to facilitate installation of the device.

S. It will also be appreciated that numerous other variations and modifications will be envisaged to the panel and the pet door.

All such variations and modifications should be considered to fall within the scope of the invention as broadly hereinbefore described and as hereinafter claimed.

Claims (11)

1. A panel adapted to fit within a sliding door or window frame having upper and/or lower tracks with a door or window slidable therein, said panel including: upper and/or lower track cooperating edges adapted to slide within said track(s); a first side edged adapted to be attached to the door or window for slidable movement therewith; a second side edge adapted to cooperate with said frame; and, a hinged opening or flap in at least part of said panel to permit the entry of dogs, cats or other pets therethrough; characterised in that said panel is of adjustable size, either in height or width, whereby, it may be adjusted to fit within said frame.

2. A panel as claimed in claim 1, wherein said panel is adjusted by means of an extendable panel section, the attachment of an extension panel, or by other adjustable means.

3. A panel as claimed in claim 1 or 2, wherein said panel is formed of glass, plastics, insect screen mesh, or any other material typically used on doors and/or windows and/or openings therefor. oO o 20

4. A panel as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein one or both of said side edge(s) includes a latch or like locking device for releasable securement of said panel.

5. A panel as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein said panel further includes security bolts positioned about said edges of said panel.

6. A door or window panel adapted to fit within a frame for slidable movement within upper and/or lower tracks, said panel including a hinged opening or flap at at least part of said panel to permit the entry of dogs, cats or other pets there through, and being characterised in that said panel is of adjustable size, either in height or width, whereby, it may be adjusted to fit within said frame. P:\WPDOCS\AMDSPECIFCATIONS\2000-2001 SPECIFICATIONS\746455 I. DOC 15/12/05 -8-

7. A panel as claimed in claim 6, wherein said panel is formed of any one or combination of glass, plastics, insect screen mesh, or any other material typically used on doors and/or windows and/or openings therefor.

8. A panel as claimed in claims 6 or 7, wherein said panel is formed and sold separately from said frame.

9. A panel as claimed in any one of claims 6 to 8, wherein said panel is formed and sold together with said frame.

A panel adapted to fit within a sliding door or window frame, substantially as herein described with reference to the accompanying drawings.

11. A slidable door or window panel including a hinged opening or flap therein to permit S 15 the animals to pass therethrough, substantially as herein described with reference to the accompanying drawings. DATED this 15 day of December, 2005 20 JASON POHUTUHUTU :By His Patent Attorneys DAVIES COLLISON CAVE o *o* *ooooo*