EP-4739103-A2 - LOAD LEG FOR AN ANIMAL CONTAINMENT DEVICE

Abstract

An animal containment system for a cargo area of a vehicle is disclosed. The animal containment system includes an animal containment device having a body defining a cavity within which an animal is receivable. The animal containment system further includes a load leg assembly coupled to the animal containment device and comprising a load leg extendable from the animal containment device toward a surface of the vehicle. The load leg is configured to reduce a magnitude of an impact force transferred from the surface of the vehicle to the animal containment device during an impact event.

Inventors

• HARTENSTINE, CURTIS M.
• EGGERT-CROWE, COLIN F.
• CHENG, CHINMING
• Clemmer, Lance J.

Assignees

• Jani International Pte. Ltd.

Dates

Publication Date

20260513

Application Date

20240708

Claims (20)

1. 1. A storage system for a cargo area of a vehicle, comprising: a storage device having a body defining a cavity within which an animal is receivable; and a load leg coupled to the storage device and extendable from the body of the storage device toward a surface of the vehicle, wherein the load leg is configured to reduce a magnitude of an impact force transferred from the surface of the vehicle to the storage device during an impact event.
2. 2. The storage system of claim 1, further comprising a buffering mechanism configured to reduce the magnitude of the impact force, the buffering mechanism comprising: an elongated channel mounted on a lower portion of the body of the storage device and configured to receive a distal end of the load leg; and a receiver disposed within the elongated channel and having a proximal end configured to contact the distal end of the load leg, wherein the load leg is slidably movable within the elongated channel along an axis between a retracted position and an extended position.
3. 3. The storage system of claim 2, the receiver comprising: a longitudinal member comprising a hinge-coupled portion having a fixed distal end mounted to a distal end of the elongated channel; and an engagement member disposed at a proximal end of the longitudinal member and comprising an inner surface defining a groove configured to mate with a portion of the distal end of the load leg during the impact event.
4. 4. The storage system of claim 3, wherein the hinge-coupled portion is curved.
5. 5. The storage system of claim 3, the load leg comprising a spherical end disposed at the distal end of the load leg, wherein a portion of the spherical end is configured to move slidably into the groove of the engagement member and become securely engaged within the groove during the impact event.
6. 6. The storage system of claim 5, the load leg further comprising a rod extending from the spherical end, wherein a diameter of the spherical end is greater than a diameter of the rod.
7. 7. The storage system of claim 2, the receiver comprising: a longitudinal member comprising a plurality of connected chambers having a fixed distal end mounted to a distal end of the elongated channel; and an engagement member disposed at a proximal end of the longitudinal member and comprising an open end member formed at a proximal end of the plurality of connected chambers and configured to mate with a portion of the distal end of the load leg during the impact event.
8. 8. The storage system of claim 7, the load leg comprising a rounded tip disposed at the distal end of the load leg, wherein a portion of the rounded tip is configured to move slidably into the open end member of the engagement member and become securely engaged within one of the plurality of connected chambers during the impact event.
9. 9. The storage system of claim 8, the load leg further comprising a rod extending from the rounded tip, wherein a diameter of the rounded tip is greater than a diameter of the rod.
10. 10. The storage system of claim 2, the elongated channel further comprising an inner shell, and the receiver comprising: a longitudinal member comprising a plurality of intersecting planar elements disposed within the inner shell of the elongated channel at a distal end of the elongated channel; and an engagement member disposed at a proximal end of the longitudinal member and comprising a recess member formed at a proximal end of the plurality of intersecting planar elements and configured to receive a portion of the distal end of the load leg during the impact event.
11. 11. The storage system of claim 10, the load leg comprising a rounded tip disposed at the distal end of the load leg, wherein a portion of the rounded tip is configured to move slidably into the recess member of the engagement member and contact at least one of the plurality of intersecting planar elements during the impact event.
12. 12. The storage system of claim 2, the receiver comprising: a longitudinal member comprising a plurality of layers of honeycomb structure in a horizontal plane extending from a distal end of the elongated channel; and an engagement member disposed at a proximal end of the longitudinal member and comprising an engagement surface formed at a proximal end of the plurality of layers of honeycomb structure in the horizontal plane and configured to contact with the distal end of the load leg during the impact event.
13. 13. The storage system of claim 12, the load leg comprising a flat tip disposed at the distal end of the load leg, wherein a portion of the flat tip is configured to move slidably within the elongated channel and contact the engagement surface during the impact event.
14. 14. The storage system of claim 2, the receiver comprising: a longitudinal member comprising a plurality of layers of honeycomb structure in a vertical plane extending from a distal end of the elongated channel; and an engagement member disposed at a proximal end of the longitudinal member and comprising an engagement surface formed at a proximal end of the plurality of layers of honeycomb structure in the vertical plane and configured to contact with the distal end of the load leg during the impact event.
15. 15. The storage system of claim 14, the load leg comprising a flat tip disposed at the distal end of the load leg, wherein a portion of the flat tip is configured to move slidably within the elongated channel and contact the engagement surface during the impact event.
16. 16. The storage system of claim 2, the receiver comprising: a longitudinal member comprising an inner surface defining a plurality of apertures and having a fixed distal end mounted to a distal end of the elongated channel; and a plurality of engagement members disposed across the inner surface of the longitudinal member and defined by the plurality of apertures, wherein at least one of the plurality of engagement members is configured to mate with at least one of a plurality of protrusions disposed on the distal end of the load leg during the impact event.
17. 17. The storage system of claim 16, the load leg comprising a flat tip disposed at the distal end of the load leg, the plurality of protrusions being disposed along a circumference of the flat tip, wherein a portion of the flat tip is configured to move slidably within the elongated channel and become securely engaged within at least one of the plurality of engagement members during the impact event.
18. 18. The storage system of claim 2, the receiver comprising: a longitudinal member comprising a plurality of longitudinal ridges and having a fixed distal end mounted to a distal end of the elongated channel; and an engagement member disposed at a proximal end of the longitudinal member and comprising an open end member formed at a proximal end of the plurality of longitudinal ridges and configured to mate with a portion of the distal end of the load leg during the impact event.
19. 19. The storage system of claim 18, the load leg comprising a flat tip disposed at the distal end of the load leg, wherein a portion of the flat tip is configured to move slidably into the open end member of the engagement member and become securely engaged within at least a proximal region of the plurality of longitudinal ridges during the impact event.
20. 20. The storage system of claim 2, the receiver comprising: a longitudinal member comprising an inner surface having a plurality of protrusions and having a fixed distal end mounted to a distal end of the elongated channel; and a plurality of engagement members defined by the plurality of protrusions and configured to contact the distal end of the load leg during the impact event, wherein each of the plurality of engagement members comprises a respective subset of the plurality of protrusions.

Description

LOAD LEG FOR AN ANIMAL CONTAINMENT DEVICE CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS [0001] This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Patent Application Nos. 63/512,448, filed July 7, 2023; 63/512,670, filed July 10, 2023; 63/520,282, filed August 17, 2023; 63/586,908, filed September 29, 2023; 63/591,640, filed October 19, 2023; 63/605,254, filed December 1, 2023; 63/605,273, filed December 1, 2023; 63/607,371, filed December 7, 2023; 63/607,375, filed December 7, 2023; 63/607,382, filed December 7, 2023; 63/613,453, filed December 21, 2023; 63/568,211, filed March 21, 2024; 63/575,902, filed April 8, 2024; 63/631,007, filed April 8, 2024; 63/631,070, filed April 8, 2024; 63/648,750, filed May 17, 2024; 63/636,399, filed June 10, 2024; and 63/666,497, filed July 1, 2024; which are incorporated by reference as if fully set forth. TECHNICAL FIELD [0002] The present disclosure relates generally to animal containment devices. In particular, the present disclosure relates to various load legs for an animal containment device for securing a pet or an animal in a vehicle. BACKGROUND [0003] Many pet owners utilize a crate, cage, or other type of traveling carrier to transport animals in a vehicle, such as an automobile, airplane, train, bicycle, or the like. Pet traveling carriers are available that cooperate with safety belts or other anchor points of a vehicle to prevent a pet from roaming within and/or escaping from a vehicle. However, these carriers often do not adequately secure a pet in the case of a sudden change in vehicle speed or direction, and can be difficult to install in a vehicle. An improperly restrained pet is more likely to be injured and to injure occupants of a vehicle during a crash. [0004] Additionally, many existing pet traveling carriers suffer from various other deficiencies. For example, some pet traveling carriers lack safety features and the ability to securely attach them to a vehicle, and carriers that do attach to the vehicle often take up considerable room in the cargo area when not in use and can be difficult to install and remove. In another example, some pet traveling carriers are insufficiently anchored to contain and protect the animal in the event of a vehicle crash. In yet another example, some pet traveling carriers lack safety features relevant to crash performance when installed in the rear cargo area of a vehicle. SUMMARY [0005] Aspects of this disclosure relate to load legs for an animal containment device for a vehicle. In accordance with one aspect, a storage system for a cargo area of a vehicle is disclosed. The storage system may include a storage device having a body defining a cavity within which an animal is receivable. The storage system may further include a load leg coupled to the storage device and extendable from the body of the storage device toward a surface of the vehicle. The load leg may be configured to reduce a magnitude of an impact force transferred from the surface of the vehicle to the storage device during an impact event. [0006] In accordance with another aspect, an animal containment system for a cargo area of a vehicle is disclosed. The animal containment system may include an animal containment device having a body defining a cavity within which an animal is receivable. The animal containment system may further include a load leg assembly coupled to the animal containment device and comprising a load leg extendable from the animal containment device toward a surface of the vehicle. The load leg may be configured to reduce a magnitude of an impact force transferred from the surface of the vehicle to the animal containment device during an impact event. [0007] In accordance with another aspect, a method of forming an animal containment system for a cargo area of a vehicle is disclosed. The method may include forming an animal containment device having a body defining a cavity within which an animal is receivable. The method may further include forming a load leg assembly that includes a load leg. The method may further include mounting the load leg assembly to the animal containment device (e.g., within a base of the animal containment device). The load leg may be extendable from the animal containment device toward a surface of the vehicle. The load leg may be configured to reduce a magnitude of an impact force transferred from a surface of a vehicle to the animal containment device during an impact event. [0008] In accordance with another aspect, a storage system for a cargo area of a vehicle is disclosed. The storage system may include a storage device having a body defining a cavity within which an animal is receivable. The storage system may further include a load leg coupled to the storage device and extendable from the body of the storage device toward a surface of the vehicle. The storage system may include a buffering mechanism configured to be activated in response to the load leg being compressed by impact forces transf