IP Library Granted Patent US 11,399,509
Granted Patent B2
US 11,399,509 · App. 16/567,958 · Granted Aug 2, 2022

Stackable maze for a small animal

Inventors: Jeffrey Stocker Watson (Phoenix, AZ); Paul Tamulewicz (Glendale, AZ)
Assignee: PETSMART HOME OFFICE, INC.
A01K15/02
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 11,399,509
App. No.
16/567,958
Granted
Aug 2, 2022
Kind
B2
Abstract

A maze for a small animal habitat is provided. The maze includes a base having a floor and a plurality of sidewalls. The floor includes a plurality of slots therein. In another aspect, a plurality of dividers have a notched area on a bottom portion that are configured to be inserted into the slots. The bottom surface of the floor includes one or more feet positioned at the corner of adjoining sidewalls. Each of said feet are configured to be received in a nesting relationship into an upper portion of a lower maze at the corner of two adjoining sidewalls such that an outer face of each leg is coincident with an inner surface of each adjoining sidewall.

Claims (15)

1. A maze for a small animal habitat, comprising:

a base having a floor and a plurality of sidewalls, the floor including an upper surface having a plurality of slots therein, and a bottom surface;

a plurality of dividers configured to be inserted into said slots;

a lid configured to be removably coupled to the sidewalls; and

a plurality substantially L-shaped ribs projecting respectively from each corner of the lid; wherein:

each of the slots is parallel to, and spaced apart from at least one other of the slots so that the dividers are configured to be positioned in a spaced apart, face to face relationship defining a maze pathway;

some of the slots extend in a first direction, and a remainder of the slots extend in a second direction so that each of the dividers is configured to be positioned in either of a first orientation and a second orientation in relation to the upper surface of the floor and the maze pathway is configurable with at least one turn;

each of the dividers has a notched bottom portion configured to be removably secured in a respective one of said slots by a press or snap fit so that the maze pathway can be changed and reconfigured;

the bottom surface of the floor comprises a plurality of substantially L-shaped feet projecting therefrom, said substantially L-shaped feet positioned on a corner of two adjoining sidewalls and each comprising two substantially perpendicular legs; and

the maze is a first maze and said feet and said ribs are configured so that each of the feet of the first maze is received in a nesting relationship within the confines of a rib of a substantially identical second maze when the first maze is stacked on the second maze, so that the first maze is supported by the second maze by way of the lid and the ribs of the second maze.

2. The maze of claim 1 wherein said sidewalls include a plurality of grooves for receiving an edge of the plurality of dividers.

3. The maze of claim 1 wherein each substantially perpendicular leg has a substantially equal length.

4. The maze of claim 1 wherein an outer face of each substantially perpendicular leg of the first maze is coincident with an inner surface of the each rib of the lid of the second maze when the first maze is stacked on the second maze.

5. The maze of claim 4 wherein the first maze is configured to fully seat on the second maze as the bottom surface of the floor of the first maze comes to matingly rest within the confines of the ribs on the lid of the first maze when the first maze is stacked on the second maze.

6. The maze of claim 1 , wherein the second direction is perpendicular to the first direction.

Assignments (7)
SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Oct 23, 2025
From: PETSMART HOME OFFICE LLC
To: U.S. BANK TRUST COMPANY, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION
Reel/Frame 073598/0742 →
RELEASE OF SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Aug 20, 2025
From: U.S. BANK TRUST COMPANY, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION
To: PETSMART HOME OFFICE LLC (F/K/A PETSMART HOME OFFICE, INC.); PET360, LLC; PETSMART LLC
Reel/Frame 072556/0199 →
SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Aug 20, 2025
From: PETSMART HOME OFFICE LLC
To: JPMORGAN CHASE BANK, N.A.
Reel/Frame 072549/0744 →
PATENT SECURITY AGREEMENT - TL Recorded Feb 12, 2021
From: PETSMART HOME OFFICE, INC.
To: JPMORGAN CHASE BANK, N.A., AS COLLATERAL AGENT
Reel/Frame 055292/0547 →
PATENT SECURITY AGREEMENT - ABL Recorded Feb 12, 2021
From: PETSMART HOME OFFICE, INC.
To: JPMORGAN CHASE BANK, N.A., AS COLLATERAL AGENT
Reel/Frame 055292/0001 →
PATENT SECURITY AGREEMENT - NOTES Recorded Feb 12, 2021
From: PETSMART HOME OFFICE, INC.
To: U.S. BANK NATIONAL ASSOCIATION, AS FIRST LIEN NOTES COLLATERAL AGENT
Reel/Frame 055292/0510 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Sep 11, 2019
From: WATSON, JEFFREY STOCKER; TAMULEWICZ, PAUL
To: PETSMART HOME OFFICE, INC.
Reel/Frame 050346/0287 →
Continuity (2)
Provisional Application 62739929 · Oct 2, 2018
Related Publication 20200100467A1 · Apr 2, 2020