IP Library Granted Patent US 12685294
Granted Patent B2
US 12685294 · App. 18/725,339 · Granted Jul 21, 2026

Systems and methods for restraint-free animal positioner

Inventors: Kathryn June Morris (Melton, GB); Debra Samuels (Colsterworth, GB)
Assignee: Mars, Incorporated
A01K13/001A01K15/04A61D3/00
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 12685294
App. No.
18/725,339
Granted
Jul 21, 2026
Kind
B2
Abstract

Systems, methods, and devices for confining pet movement without physical restraint are disclosed herein. The systems and devices may include a first stand including an adjustable body support, a first middle portion, and a first base portion, the first middle portion configured to move the adjustable body support vertically based on a height of a pet; a second stand including an adjustable platform, a second middle portion, and a second base portion, the second middle portion configured to move the adjustable platform vertically based on the height of the pet, the adjustable platform configured to retain an item that is placed on a first surface of the adjustable platform; and a base onto which the first stand and the second stand are mounted.

Claims (32)

1 . A system for confining pet movement, the system comprising:

a first stand comprising an adjustable body support, a first middle portion, and a first base portion, the first middle portion configured to move the adjustable body support vertically based on a height of a pet;

a second stand comprising an adjustable platform, a second middle portion, and a second base portion, the second middle portion configured to move the adjustable platform vertically based on the height of the pet, the adjustable platform configured to retain an item that is placed on a first surface of the adjustable platform; and

a base onto which the first stand and the second stand are mounted,

wherein the system comprising the first stand, the second stand, and the base confines the pet movement without any physical restraint.

2 . The system of claim 1 , wherein the item is a toy, an electronic device, food, a feeding substrate, or a combination thereof.

3 . The system of claim 2 , wherein the feeding substrate comprises a mat configured to retain food.

4 . The system of claim 1 , wherein the adjustable platform comprises an item support portion configured to support an item placed on the first surface of the adjustable platform.

5 . The system of claim 4 , wherein a planar surface of the item support portion is oriented transversely to a planar surface of a remaining portion of the adjustable platform.

6 . The system of claim 4 , wherein the item support portion is formed at a bottom edge of the adjustable platform at an angle relative to a remaining portion of the adjustable platform.

7 . The system of claim 1 , wherein the first surface of the adjustable platform is textured.

8 . The system of claim 1 , wherein the first surface of the adjustable platform comprises at least one retaining agent disposed on said first surface, the at least one retaining agent configured to retain an item placed on the first surface of the adjustable platform.

9 . The system of claim 8 , wherein the at least one retaining agent comprises one or more magnetic elements, one or more adhesives, one or more straps, one or more prongs, or one or more gripping elements.

10 . The system of claim 1 , wherein the first stand, the second stand, and the base form a unitary device.

11 . The system of claim 1 , wherein the adjustable platform is configured to rotate or tilt about a point at which the adjustable platform and second middle portion meet.

12 . The system of claim 11 , wherein the adjustable platform is configured to rotate or tilt using a hinge mechanism.

13 . The system of claim 1 , wherein the first middle portion is coupled to the first base portion and configured to move vertically relative to the first base portion using a sliding configuration for height adjustment of the adjustable body support and wherein the second middle portion is coupled to the second base portion and configured to move vertically relative to the second base portion using a sliding configuration for height adjustment of the adjustable platform.

14 . The system of claim 1 , wherein the adjustable body support is configured to be placed underneath a pet in a standing position and to maintain said standing position of the pet while a health related procedure or a grooming procedure is performed on the pet.

15 . A device for confining pet movement, the device comprising:

a base;

a first stand connected to the base; and

a second stand connected to the base;

wherein the first stand comprises a first base portion that connects the first stand to the base and a body support portion configured to be positioned between fore and hind legs of a pet in a standing position;

wherein the second stand comprises a second base portion that connects the second stand to the base and a platform configured to hold an item that engages attention of the pet, and

wherein the device comprising the base, the first stand, and the second stand confines the pet movement without any physical restraint.

16 . The device of claim 15 , wherein the first stand further comprises a first middle portion located between the body support portion and the first base portion, wherein the first middle portion of the first stand is movable in a vertical direction and configured to adjust a height of the body support;

wherein the first base portion of the first stand is configured to move along a longitudinal axis of the base in a horizontal direction; and

wherein the second stand further comprises a second middle portion located between the platform and the second base portion, wherein the second middle portion of the second stand is movable in a vertical direction and configured to adjust a height of the platform.

17 . The device of claim 16 , wherein the second base portion of the second stand is configured to move along a longitudinal axis of the base in a horizontal direction.

18 . The device of claim 16 , wherein a connection between the second middle portion and the platform of the second stand is configured for angle adjustment of the platform and wherein the platform has a textured surface configured to retain food.

19 . The device of claim 16 , wherein the body support is configured to move in a direction that is orthogonal to a longitudinal axis of the first middle portion or in a direction that is parallel to a longitudinal axis of the base.

20 . The device of claim 15 , wherein the base comprises a base track extending along at least a portion of a longitudinal axis of the base, wherein each of the first base portion of the first stand and the second base portion of the second stand is configured to interface with the base track, and wherein each of the first base portion of the first stand and the second base portion of the second stand is configured to move along the base track to adjust a distance between the first stand and the second stand.