Pet impact protector
View Patent ↗A pet impact protector is disclosed. This device is directed to a cleanable, removable device for a vehicle car seat comprising a contiguous pliable material having a pet seating area and a pet capture area. The pet impact protector is designed such that the force of the pet impact protector plus the pet, upon impact with the vehicle during a stop or slowing of the vehicle, causes the pet impact protector to partially collapse and form a protective impact area around the pet. This device is directed to the reduction of injury to a pet riding in a vehicle during an accident, stop or slowdown of the vehicle.
1. A pet impact protector for protecting a pet travelling in a motor vehicle, comprising
a seating bed formed of a flexible, cushioned material and including an upwardly facing seating surface for supporting a pet upon said surface,
a capture area formed of a flexible, cushioned material, having a front side facing generally toward said seating bed and a back side facing away from said seating bed, and connected to and extending upwardly from said seating bed, wherein said seating bed and said capture area are configured to form a protective impact area around a pet occupying said seating bed when folded toward one another, and wherein said seating bed and said capture area are connected such that a force applied to said back side of said capture area causes said capture area to fold toward said seating bed to form a protective impact area, and a tether attached within said seating bed and extending upwardly from said seating surface for attaching to a restraint for a pet within said seating bed, whereby the pet may be restrained generally within the seating bed.
2. The pet impact protector of claim 1 wherein said seating bed comprises a front portion facing generally away from said capture area and a rear portion connected to said capture area.
3. The pet impact protector of claim 2 wherein said tether is attached to said seating bed intermediate said front portion and said rear portion of said seating bed.
4. The pet impact protector of claim 2 wherein said capture area comprises a plurality of cushioned capture elements.
5. The pet impact protector of claim 4 wherein at least one said capture element has a lower portion positioned generally adjacent and facing toward said seating surface and an upper portion facing generally away from said seating bed surface.
6. The pet impact protector of claim 5 further comprising a plurality of additional capture elements, with one such additional capture element having a lower portion adjacent said one capture element upper portion.
7. The pet protector of claim 2 wherein at least a portion of each of said cushioned capture elements extends generally parallel to the upper surface of said seating bed.
8. The pet impact protector of claim 1 wherein said flexible cushioned material comprises polyurethane foam.