Mobility impaired animal potty and bladder expression station
A mobility impaired animal potty and bladder expression station for dogs and other suitable animals. The station and its variation devices provide structural support for the dog's weight, are quick and easy to use and clean, allow a natural position for the dog to go potty, allow one person to easily express the dog's bladder with the dog standing, and aid with mobility, exercise, and rehab. The stations can be either stationary or mobile. Pet owners can either place their dog in the device or walk them into the device with a sling, harness, or hammock. The devices are adjustable to fit dogs of all sizes, the sling, harness, and hammock are removable and washable, and they maintain the dog in a stable and comfortable position. The devices are collapsible and easily storable, they are light weight, and they allow both male and female dog postures for potty.
1 . A device for assisting animal waste evacuation or bladder expression, the device comprising:
a frame configured and dimensioned so that at least a portion of the animal is positionable in the frame; and
a support device operatively associated with the frame for supporting at least part of the animal's weight during waste evacuation or bladder expression,
wherein the support device is a sling, harness, or hammock; and
wherein the frame has a length, width, and height, and each of the length, the width, and the height is adjustable to accommodate animals of different size and to adjust support of the animal provided by the support device;
wherein the frame comprises a base with first and second legs connected to each other at one end by a crossbar such that an open area at the end of the base opposite the crossbar is configured and dimensioned so that at least a portion of the animal is positionable in the open area;
wherein the first and second legs are adjustable in length to provide the frame length adjustability and wherein at least one of the first and second legs is movable laterally relative to the crossbar to provide the frame width adjustability;
wherein the base further comprises at least one support post extending from the first leg and at least one support post extending from the second leg for coupling the support device to the frame, wherein the at least one support post extending from the first leg and the at least one support post extending from the second leg each is adjustable in length to provide the frame height adjustability;
wherein the at least one support post extending from the first leg comprises a first front support post and a first rear support post, and the at least one support post extending from the second leg comprises a second front support post and a second rear support post;
wherein a first front lateral extension extends from the first front support post, a first rear lateral extension extends from the first rear support post, a second front lateral extension extends from the second front support post, and a second rear lateral extension extends from the second rear support post;
wherein an end of each of the first front lateral extension, first rear lateral extension, second front lateral extension, and second rear lateral extension includes an attachment member for removably coupling the support device to the frame; and
further comprising a first squat extension strap with first and second ends removably attachable to the frame in a rear area of the frame and a second squat extension strap with first and second ends removably attachable to the frame in the rear area of the frame.
2 . The device of claim 1 , wherein at least one of the attachment members is a carabiner.
3 . The device of claim 1 , wherein each attachment member is a carabiner.
4 . The device of claim 1 , wherein the first front support post and the second front support post are located at approximately the same distance from the crossbar and the first rear support post and the second rear support post are located at approximately the same distance from the crossbar.
5 . The device of claim 4 , wherein the support device is a harness or hammock; and wherein the attachment members removably couple the harness or hammock to the frame.
6 . The device of claim 5 , wherein each attachment member is a carabiner.
7 . The device of claim 1 , wherein each of the first front and second front lateral extensions is adjustable in length so that a distance between the first front and second front lateral extensions is adjustable; and wherein each of the first rear and second rear lateral extensions is adjustable in length so that a distance between the first rear and second rear lateral extensions is adjustable to alter support of the support device.
8 . The device of claim 7 , wherein the support device is a harness or hammock; and wherein the attachment members removably couple the harness or hammock to the frame.
9 . The device of claim 8 , wherein each attachment member is a carabiner.
10 . The device of claim 9 , wherein height of the first front support post and the second front support post is adjusted to be greater than height of the first rear support post and the second rear support post to position an animal in the frame in a squatting posture.
11 . The device of claim 1 , wherein each of the first front support post, first rear support post, second front support post, and second rear support post is adjustable in length to provide the frame height adjustability.
12 . The device of claim 11 , further comprising a plurality of wheels to provide mobility of the device.
13 . The device of claim 1 , wherein each squat extension strap includes a first clip at a first end and a second clip at a second end, wherein the first and second clips are configured to be coupled to the frame, and wherein one of the first and second clips is configured to be uncoupled from the frame and coupled to a strap, handle, or D ring on the harness or hammock for positioning the animal in a squatting posture.
14 . The device of claim 13 , wherein each squat extension strap is extendable in length.
15 . The device of claim 12 , wherein at least one of the plurality of wheels has a locking mechanism to prevent or hinder rotation.
16 . The device of claim 1 , further comprising a handle integral to, permanently attached to, or removably attached to the crossbar.
17 . The device of claim 1 , wherein at least one of the first front support post, first rear support post, second front support post, and second rear support post is removably attached to the first leg or the second leg to facilitate transport by making the frame collapsible.
18 . The device of claim 1 , further comprising a first motorized lift for changing height of the first front support post and the second front support post and a second motorized lift for changing height of the first rear support post and the second rear support post, wherein the first and second motorized lifts operate independently of one another.
19 . The device of claim 1 , wherein the harness or hammock includes at least one D ring on a handle or strap of the harness or hammock for coupling to the attachment member.
20 . A device for assisting animal waste evacuation or bladder expression, the device comprising:
a frame configured and dimensioned so that at least a portion of the animal is positionable in the frame; and
a support device operatively associated with the frame for supporting at least part of the animal's weight during waste evacuation or bladder expression,
wherein the support device is a harness or hammock; and
wherein the frame has a length, width, and height, and each of the length, the width, and the height is adjustable to accommodate animals of different size and to adjust support of the animal provided by the support device;
wherein the frame comprises a base with first and second legs connected to each other at one end by a crossbar such that an open area at the end of the base opposite the crossbar is configured and dimensioned so that at least a portion of the animal is positionable in the open area;
wherein the first and second legs are adjustable in length to provide the frame length adjustability and wherein at least one of the first and second legs is movable laterally relative to the crossbar to provide the frame width adjustability;
wherein the base further comprises at least one support post extending from the first leg and at least one support post extending from the second leg for coupling the support device to the frame;
wherein the at least one support post extending from the first leg and the at least one support post extending from the second leg each is adjustable in length to provide the frame height adjustability;
wherein the at least one support post extending from the first leg comprises a first front support post and a first rear support post; wherein the at least one support post extending from the second leg comprises a second front support post and a second rear support post; and wherein the first front support post and the second front support post are located at approximately the same distance from the crossbar and the first rear support post and the second rear support post are located at approximately the same distance from the crossbar;
wherein a first front lateral extension extends from the first front support post, a first rear lateral extension extends from the first rear support post, a second front lateral extension extends from the second front support post, and a second rear lateral extension extends from the second rear support post; wherein each of the first front and second front lateral extensions is adjustable in length so that a distance between the first front and second front lateral extensions is adjustable; and wherein each of the first rear and second rear lateral extensions is adjustable in length so that a distance between the first rear and second rear lateral extensions is adjustable to alter support of the support device;
and wherein an end of each of the first front lateral extension, first rear lateral extension, second front lateral extension, and second rear lateral extension includes an attachment member for removably coupling the harness or hammock to the frame; and
a first squat extension strap with first and second ends removably attachable to the frame in a rear area of the frame and a second squat extension strap with first and second ends removably attachable to the frame in the rear area of the frame.