Adjustable Animal Support Cradle for Preventing Sitting
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing dog grooming and veterinary examination tables face challenges in preventing dogs from sitting down during procedures, leading to increased fatigue for groomers and veterinarians, and existing support devices are often cumbersome, costly, and difficult to use in bathing environments or with animals that have sloped abdomens.
Innovation Solution
A portable, adjustable supporting stand with a curved surface elevated above a base, allowing for easy placement and removal, and accommodating various animal sizes and shapes, including sloped abdomens, without the need for straps, and designed for use on multiple surfaces.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If a tethered loop is used to restrict the dog's movement, then the dog's movement is limited to some degree, but it does nothing to prevent the dog from sitting down and requires physical support from the caregiver
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces a cradle as an intermediary device between the tethered loop and the animal's body. The cradle physically supports the animal's abdomen and chest, preventing it from sitting down while the tethered loop continues to restrict movement. This mediator resolves the contradiction by adding a new element that performs the function of preventing sitting without eliminating the existing tethered loop system.
2Reliability
If physical support is provided by hand, then the animal can be supported, but hand, wrist, and arm fatigue increases and can cause long-term health issues
Solution Approach 1:
The cradle is designed to support the animal's weight independently without requiring continuous physical support from the caregiver's hands. The cradle structure, with its curved surface and positioning mechanisms, allows the animal to be supported passively while the caregiver performs grooming or treatment tasks. This transfers the support function from the caregiver's body to the device itself, eliminating the harmful fatigue effect.
3Reliability
If existing support devices are used, then animals can be supported, but the devices are cumbersome, costly, and difficult to use in bathing environments
Solution Approach 1:
The patent divides the support system into separate functional components: a cradle for supporting the animal's body, a base for stability, and a tethered loop for movement restriction. These segmented components can be independently adjusted, cleaned, and positioned. The cradle can be removed from the base for bathing applications, and the tethered loop can be independently attached to the animal. This segmentation reduces overall device complexity while maintaining support effectiveness.
Solution Approach 2:
The cradle is designed with universal applicability across different grooming and veterinary contexts. It can be used on grooming tables, veterinary examination tables, and bathing surfaces. The curved surface accommodates various animal sizes and shapes, and the device can be positioned in different locations on the table. This multi-functionality eliminates the need for separate devices for different purposes, reducing overall complexity and cost.
4Adaptability or versatility
If existing cradles are used, then animals can be supported, but they do not accommodate animals with sloped abdomens
Solution Approach 1:
The cradle incorporates adjustable positioning mechanisms that allow the curved surface to be moved to different locations and orientations. This dynamic adjustment capability enables the cradle to accommodate various animal body shapes, including those with sloped abdomens. The curved surface can be positioned to match the animal's natural posture, and the height and angle can be modified to suit different species and individual variations. This dynamic adaptability resolves the contradiction without requiring complex manufacturing precision for multiple fixed configurations.
Data Source
AI summary
A supporting device having a curved support surface elevated above a base and angled with respect to the base, such as for the support of an animal. The support surface may be elevated above the base by an adjustable stanchion so that it can accommodate animals of different sizes. The angled support surface may be fixedly or pivotally attached to the stanchion so that it may accommodate the sloped abdomen of the animal. The support surface may be designed to have a small sagitta so that it provides unobstructed access to the sides of the animal being supported. The base may be designed and configured to have a dog-bone shaped outline. Other embodiments are described and shown.