Cover for scratching posts

Abstract

Sheathing (1, 1') for scratching posts, comprising a casing surface (2, 2') which is formed from or coated with a material which is abrasive for cat claws, and at least one means for the releasable physical connection of edge sections (4a, 4a', 4b, 4b') of the casing surface (2, 2') to one another, characterized in that form-fitting elements are arranged on two opposite edge sections (4a, 4a', 4b, 4b') of the casing surface (2, 2'), which form-fitting elements can be brought into mutual physical engagement with one another by a closure means (6, 6') which can be displaced in a longitudinal direction of the casing surface (2, 2') and can be released from one another in the opposite direction.

Description

Technical area

[0001] The invention relates to a covering for a scratching post. State of the art

[0002] Domestic cats (Felis catus), like their wild relatives, regularly have the need to sharpen their claws, especially those of their front paws. Scratching objects is therefore part of their behavioral inventory. The function of this scratching is to exfoliate old, excess claw material, combined with marking their territory with scent (scent glands are located on the front paws) and by leaving visual marks (scratch marks). In cats that live exclusively indoors, this can lead to unwanted damage to the home's furnishings. To prevent such damage, it is well known that scratching posts are used, which offer indoor domestic cats a targeted opportunity to satisfy their needs without causing damage to the home's furnishings.

[0003] Cat trees are generally available as upright pieces of furniture that include at least one vertical component, such as a column or trunk, with a surface that is abrasive to cat claws. These can be natural wood components with natural bark, for example, or covered components, e.g., with rope made of a synthetic fiber or a natural fiber such as hemp or sisal. The disadvantage of such cat trees is that they are subject to relatively high levels of wear and tear due to claw sharpening during their intended use, and must be replaced frequently if the aesthetics of the home are high. This is relatively expensive, especially for high-quality cat trees made of natural materials.

[0004] DE 20 2012 008 561 U1 discloses a scratching post with several textile-covered elements, each covered with at least one removable cover. DE 20 2012 008 561 U1 does not provide any details regarding the specific properties, particularly the possible spatial shape of such a removable cover. Disclosure of the invention

[0005] The invention is based on the object of avoiding the disadvantages of the prior art described above. In particular, it is intended to provide an aesthetically pleasing scratching surface for domestic cats that is relatively inexpensive.

[0006] The object is achieved according to the invention by a scratching post according to claim 1. Advantageous developments of the invention are specified in the subclaims.

[0007] The core of the invention is a casing for scratching posts, comprising a casing surface formed from or coated with a material abrasive to cat claws, and at least one means for releasably physically connecting edge portions of the casing surface to one another. Form-locking elements are arranged on two opposing edge portions of the casing surface, which elements can be brought into mutual physical engagement with one another by a closure means displaceable in a longitudinal direction of the casing surface and can be released from one another in the opposite direction. This construction provides a casing for vertical components of scratching posts that is both stable and easily replaceable, making it relatively easy to provide an aesthetically pleasing scratching opportunity for domestic cats.Thanks to the detachable connection of the opposite edges, the casing can be replaced separately when it is worn out, without having to purchase a new scratching post.

[0008] To ensure a compatible fit, the cover surface has a rectangular shape. This allows the cover to be used on any cylindrical or hollow-cylindrical element of a cat tree, such as a trunk, a column, or a pipe.

[0009] To further increase compatibility, the sheathing surface is made of a flexible material or carrier material, and its surface is coated with abrasive agents. This allows the sheathing to be attached, for example, to truncated cone-shaped elements or elements with an irregular shape. Abrasive elements can be any elements that can be attached to the sheathing surface or embedded in it during production or in a subsequent step. These can be, for example, grains or granules made of sand, glass, ceramic, or a mixture. It is also possible to equip the sheathing with rope elements, i.e., sections of rope made of hemp, sisal, or other relatively durable fibers, preferably natural fibers.

[0010] In a stable and well-tolerated design, the outer surface is made of a weave of sisal fibers. Sisal fibers are relatively resistant to mechanical stress and can be available with a relatively high degree of roughness. They therefore offer good resistance to the sharpening action of claws and allow for the efficient shedding of old claw material. At the same time, they are beneficial to animal and indoor health, as pesticides and fertilizers are generally not used in sisal cultivation.

[0011] In an alternative, equally stable and well-tolerated design, the outer surface is made of a fabric made of hemp fibers. Hemp fibers are also relatively durable and rough fibers. At the same time, hemp fibers are relatively readily available and inexpensive.

[0012] The abrasive effect of the outer surface is increased by the fabric having a rib structure formed by longitudinal ribs aligned parallel to one another, which runs transversely to the longitudinal direction.

[0013] The stability of the lateral surface at its edge is increased by providing it with edge protection, consisting of a strip of material that surrounds individual edge sections or the entire edge from the outside. When the lateral surface is designed as a fabric, fraying of the fabric at the edge sections is thus prevented or at least delayed.

[0014] Further advantages of the invention are described in more detail below, together with the description of preferred embodiments of the invention, with reference to the figures. They show: Fig. 1 a plan view of an embodiment of a casing, Fig. 2 the sheathing according to Fig. 1 in a perspective view of a pipe section, Fig. 3 an enlargement of section A according to Fig. 2, Fig. 4 a plan view of another embodiment of the casing.

[0015] The Fig. 1 shows the casing 1 in a top view. The casing 1 comprises a casing surface 2, which is made of a material that is abrasive for cat claws. For this purpose, the casing surface 2 has a rough surface structure. At its edge, the casing surface 1 has a circumferential edge protection 3, which surrounds the circumferential edge of the casing surface 2 from the outside and is firmly connected to the casing surface 2. At the opposite edge sections 4a and 4b, the casing surface 2 is each formed with a row of form-locking elements 5a and 5b. At the edge section 4b, the row of form-locking elements 5b is formed with the closure 6.

[0016] The Fig. Figure 2 also shows the casing 1, which is approximately half-stretched onto the tube section 7. Accordingly, the casing 1 can be stretched onto any cylindrical section of a trunk or column of a commercially available scratching post. Fig. 3 shows section A according to Fig. 2 in an enlarged view. The form-locking element rows 5a and 5b comprise several teeth 8, of which in the Fig. 2 and Fig. 3 For the sake of clarity, only one tooth 7 of the form-locking element rows 5a and 5 is numbered as an example. When the closure 6 is moved in the direction of arrow B according to Fig. 3 along the edge sections 4a and 4b, the teeth 8 of the form-locking element rows 5a and 5 mutually engage physically with each other, so that the form-locking element rows 5a and 5 are brought into a form-locking connection with each other, as shown in the illustrations of the Fig. 2 and Fig. 3 along the path of the form-locking element rows 5a and 5 below the closure 6 is already the case. If the closure 6 is moved to the upper end of the form-locking element rows 5a and 5, the casing 1 is completely pulled onto the pipe section 7. If the closure 6 is moved in the opposite direction to arrow B, the mutual physical engagement of the teeth 8 of the form-locking element rows 5a and 5 is released again, so that the casing 1 can be released and removed from the pipe section 7 again.

[0017] Fig. Fig. 4 shows the casing 1' in a top view. The casing 1' is an alternative embodiment in which the casing surface 2' is formed from a fabric with a rib structure, wherein the rib structure runs transversely to the longitudinal direction of the edge sections 4a' and 4b'. The rib structure comprises a plurality of longitudinal ribs 9 aligned parallel to one another, of which Fig.4, for the sake of clarity, only two longitudinal ribs 9 are numbered by way of example. The rib structure formed by the longitudinal ribs 9 runs transversely to the longitudinal direction of the edge sections 4a' and 4b'. The rib structure increases the abrasive effect of the casing surface 1' because the longitudinal ribs 8 are each elevations on the surface of the casing surface 1', which cause old, excess claw material to be peeled off when the claws are moved along the casing perpendicular to the longitudinal ribs 9 with contact with the surface of the casing surface 1'. List of reference symbols 1, 1' sheathing 2.2' lateral surface 3, 3' edge protection 4a, 4a', 4b, 4b' edge section 5a, 5a', 5b, 5b' Form-locking link row 6, 6' closure 7 Pipe section 8 tooth 9 longitudinal ribs QUOTES CONTAINED IN THE DESCRIPTION

[0000] This list of documents submitted by the applicant was generated automatically and is included solely for the convenience of the reader. This list is not part of the German patent or utility model application. The DPMA assumes no liability for any errors or omissions. Cited patent literature

[0000] DE 20 2012 008 561 U1

[0004]

Claims

[1] Sheath (1, 1') for scratching posts, comprising a lateral surface (2, 2') formed from or coated with a material abrasive for cat claws, and at least one means for the detachable physical connection of edge sections (4a, 4a', 4b, 4b') of the lateral surface (2, 2') to one another, characterized by that form-locking elements are arranged on two mutually opposite edge sections (4a, 4a', 4b, 4b') of the lateral surface (2, 2'), which can be brought into mutual physical engagement with one another by a closure means (6, 6') displaceable in a longitudinal direction of the lateral surface (2, 2') and can be released from one another in the opposite direction. [2] Sheath (1) according to claim 1, characterized by that the lateral surface (2, 2') has a rectangular shape. [3] Sheath (1) according to claim 1 or 2, characterized bythat the lateral surface (2, 2') is formed from a flexible material or carrier material and its surface is equipped with abrasive elements. [4] Sheath (1) according to claim 1 or 2, characterized by that the lateral surface (2, 2') is formed from a fabric of sisal fibres. [5] Sheath (1) according to claim 1 or 2, characterized by that the lateral surface (2, 2') is formed from a fabric made of hemp fibres. [6] Sheath (1) according to claim 4 or 5, characterized by that the fabric has a rib structure formed from longitudinal ribs (9) aligned parallel to one another, which runs transversely to the longitudinal direction. [7] Sheath (1) according to one of claims 1 to 6, characterized by that the lateral surface (2, 2') is formed with an edge protection (3, 3') which is formed from a strip of material encompassing the edges of the lateral surface (2, 2').

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