Modular Transparent Animal Pen With Movable Top Access
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional dog pens lack versatility and safety features, such as transparent or translucent walls for visibility and easy access, and do not easily accommodate expansion or customization to suit different animal sizes and spaces.
Innovation Solution
The design includes a modular animal pen with vertically extending walls made of transparent or highly translucent materials, a tubular frame with interconnected members, and a movable top frame member for easy access, along with expansion kits and bump-out options to customize the pen's size and configuration.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Illumination intensity
If conventional dog pens are used, then the pen provides basic containment, but the pen lacks visibility and aesthetic appeal
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies transparent or translucent materials for wall panels, which optically change the appearance of the pen from opaque to transparent/translucent, enabling visibility while maintaining structural containment. This resolves the contradiction by transforming the optical properties of the wall material to achieve both visibility and aesthetic appeal without fundamentally changing the pen's containment function.
2Ease of operation
If conventional dog pens are used, then the pen provides basic containment, but the pen lacks easy access for the owner
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements a movable top frame member that can be selectively repositioned between a closed position (providing full containment) and an open position (providing easy access). This dynamic element allows the pen to adapt its configuration based on operational needs, resolving the contradiction between maintaining containment security and providing easy owner access without requiring permanent structural modifications.
3Adaptability or versatility
If conventional dog pens are used, then the pen provides basic containment, but the pen cannot easily accommodate expansion or customization
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs modular wall panels and frame members that can be independently assembled, removed, and reconfigured. This segmentation allows the pen to be easily expanded, contracted, or customized to accommodate different animal sizes and space requirements. The modular design resolves the contradiction by enabling high adaptability through standardized, interchangeable components without creating excessive structural complexity.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent designs frame members with universal connection features (such as slots and connectors) that can accommodate multiple configurations and expansions. These universal components serve multiple functions: providing structural support, enabling easy assembly/disassembly, and facilitating future expansions. This multi-functionality resolves the contradiction by achieving high versatility through standardized components that can adapt to various configurations without proportionally increasing structural complexity.
4Illumination intensity
If transparent or translucent wall panels are used, then visibility and aesthetic appeal are improved, but the wall panels may be more vulnerable to damage
Solution Approach 1:
The patent specifies using transparent or translucent materials (such as acrylic or polycarbonate) for wall panels that combine optical transparency with enhanced mechanical strength and impact resistance. These composite materials resolve the contradiction by providing both the desired visibility/aesthetic appeal and sufficient durability to withstand normal use conditions, replacing traditional opaque materials that either lacked visibility or used weaker transparent materials.
Data Source
AI summary
A pen for an animal, such as a dog, includes a plurality of walls and a frame. The plurality of walls can extend substantially vertically. The walls can include one or more wall panels. The wall panels can be transparent or highly translucent. The panels can be held in place at least in part by the frame, which can include a plurality of frame members and a plurality of connectors. The pen can include a door. A top frame member at the door can be movable to allow a person to freely enter and exit the space enclosed by the pen. The pen can provide confinement for an animal in a safe and aesthetically-pleasing manner. The pen can maximize an owner's ability to see his or her pet. The pen can provide the animal with clear visibility of its surroundings or owner, creating a lower stress environment for the pet.