APPARATUS, METHOD, AND SYSTEM FOR PREVENTING OBJECTS FROM SLIDING UNDER FURNITURE

Description

BACKGROUND

It is a common problem that pet toys and other objects will slide under a gap in household furniture, such as couches and beds. It is often not possible for pets to retrieve their toys by themselves, and it is a problem for the owner to retrieve the objects themselves.

Several types of products on the market have attempted to solve the problem of toys sliding under gaps in furniture. One such type of product on the market is a plastic shield, which is a plastic barrier that adheres to the floor underneath the furniture being blocked. However, this type of barrier has shortcomings, in that the adhesive is unreliable and can potentially damage flooring, the horizontal length of a unit is not adjustable, and the product is obtrusive, among other issues.

A second type of product on the market is a modular gate, which is a series of interlocking, modular gates which block the gap underneath furniture. However, this type of product is often obtrusive and aesthetically displeasing, cannot accommodate a wide range of furniture lengths, involves no or ineffective adhesive, and contains small pieces which are choking hazards, among other issues.

Other types of products on the market may include barriers made of elastic, fabric, or cardboard. These products are often ineffective, flimsy, difficult to install, easily removable by pets or children, and may need to be permanently fixed to the furniture, among other issues.

The existing products on the market all have significant shortcomings in solving the problem of objects unintentionally sliding under furniture.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES

Advantages of embodiments of the present invention will be apparent from the following detailed description of the exemplary embodiments. The following detailed description should be considered in conjunction with the accompanying figures in which:

FIG. 1A shows a front lateral view of the first wall of the ball barrier.

FIG. 1B shows a front lateral view of the first wall of the ball barrier with a locking nub.

FIG. 2A shows a front lateral view of the second wall of the ball barrier.

FIG. 2B shows a rear lateral view of the second wall of the ball barrier.

FIG. 3A shows a frontal view of the interlocking of the first wall with the second wall of the ball barrier.

FIG. 3B shows a frontal view of the interlocked first wall with the second wall of the ball barrier.

FIG. 3C shows a frontal view of the interlocking of the first wall with the second wall of the ball barrier with a locking nub.

FIG. 3D shows a frontal view of the interlocking of the first wall with the second wall of the ball barrier with hook and loop elements.

FIG. 4A shows a top-down view of the interlocked first wall with second wall of the ball barrier.

FIG. 4B shows a top-down view of the interlocking of the first wall with the second wall of the ball barrier with the hoop and loop fastener.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Aspects of the invention are disclosed in the following description and related drawings directed to specific embodiments of the invention. Those skilled in the art will recognize that alternate embodiments may be devised without departing from the spirit or the scope of the claims. Additionally, well-known elements of exemplary embodiments of the invention will not be described in detail or will be omitted so as not to obscure the relevant details of the invention. Further, to facilitate an understanding of the description discussion of several terms used herein follows.

As used herein, the word “exemplary” means “serving as an example, instance or illustration.” The embodiments described herein are not limiting, but rather are exemplary only. It should be understood that the described embodiments are not necessarily to be construed as preferred or advantageous over other embodiments. Moreover, the terms “embodiments of the invention”, “embodiments” or “invention” do not require that all embodiments of the invention include the discussed feature, advantage or mode of operation.

According to at least one exemplary embodiment, and as shown in FIG. 1A, a first wall 100 is provided. The first wall 100 can be made of a single type of material, such as plastic, or any other suitable material. In some embodiments the first wall 100 is shaped using thermoforming, although it is envisioned that other methods, including, but not limited to, thermoplastic injection molding could also be used. The first wall 100 has a first central fold 102 along a lateral axis. The first central fold 102 splits the first wall 100 into a first central portion 104 and a first outer portion 106. The first wall 100 has a first outer fold 108 along a lateral axis. The first outer fold 108 splits the first outer portion 106 into a first middle portion 110 and a first end portion 112. Two guide grooves 114 are coupled to the first wall 100 along both longitudinal edges of the first central portion 104. These guide grooves 114 have the ability to slidably couple to another wall element. In some embodiments, the first wall 100 may be slidably coupled to the second wall 200 to interlock or otherwise couple first wall 100 with second wall 200, or vice versa. In other embodiments, the first wall 100 may be slidably coupled to one end of a center extension wall and the second wall 200 may be slidably coupled to the opposite end.

According to at least one exemplary embodiment, and as shown in FIG. 1B, a locking nub 116 sits on a face of the first central portion 104 of the first wall 100. As shown in FIG. 3C, the locking nub fits into a locking groove on the second wall 200 and acts to prevent first wall 100 from inadvertently decoupling or disassembling from second wall 200 as the length or fitment of the walls 100, 200 are adjusted or otherwise moved. A locking groove can be a small indentation that couples with the locking nub 116 on first wall 100 and acts to prevent first wall 100 from inadvertently decoupling or disassembling from second wall 200 as the length or fitment of the walls 100, 200 are adjusted or otherwise moved. It may be appreciated, however, that other types of locking members or mechanisms may be utilized to securely couple first wall 100 and second wall 200.

FIG. 2A provides an embodiment of the second wall 200. The second wall 200 can be made of a single type of material, such as plastic, or any other suitable material. In some embodiments the second wall 200 is shaped using thermoforming, although other methods may be used, as noted above. The second wall 200 has a second central fold 202 along a lateral axis. The second central fold 202 splits the second wall 200 into a second central portion 204 and a second outer portion 206. The second wall 200 has a second outer fold 208 along a lateral axis. The second outer fold 208 splits the second outer portion 206 into a second middle portion 210 and a second end portion 212.

FIG. 2B provides a rear view of an embodiment of the second wall 200 shown in FIG. 2A. The second central fold 202, second central portion 204, second outer fold 208, second middle portion 210, and second end portion 212 are all shown

In another embodiment, the first wall 100 and second wall 200 may be attached using a hook and loop fastener. In this embodiment one half of the hook and loop fastener is affixed to the inward side of the first wall 100 and the opposite half of the hook and loop fastener is affixed to the outward side of the second wall 200. When the two halves of the hook and loop fastener are coupled, the first wall 100 and second wall 200 are securely attached. When the hook and loop fastener pieces are uncoupled the barrier may be extended or retracted to accommodate furniture size. One exemplary embodiment may extend the barrier to cover up to 4 feet in length.

FIG. 3A shows an embodiment of the first wall 100 being interlocked, or otherwise coupled, to the second wall 200, or vice versa. Two longitudinal edges of the second central portion 204 are received by the two guide grooves 114 on the first wall 100. The first central portion 104 overlaps with the second central portion 204, or vice versa. The sliding of the second wall 200 across the first wall 100, or vice versa, adjusts the overall length of the interlocked walls 100, 200. The overall length of the interlocked walls 100, 200 can be adjusted to a target length, so that the interlocked walls 100, 200 effectively fit a piece of furniture, such as a couch or a bed.

FIG. 3B shows an embodiment of the first wall 100 interlocked with, or otherwise coupled to, the second wall 200, or vice versa. In this configuration, the first wall 100 can be slid across the second wall 200, or vice versa, to increase, decrease, or otherwise adjust the overall length of the interlocked walls 100, 200.

FIG. 4A shows a top-down view of an embodiment of the first wall 100 interlocked with, or otherwise coupled to, the second wall 200, or vice versa. In the embodiment shown, the first central fold 102, first outer fold 108, second central fold 202, and second outer fold 208 are all 90° angles. In other embodiments, the angles may be of a different or adjustable degree.

The assembly of the apparatus is complete after the coupling of the first wall 100 and the second wall 200. In an embodiment, the assembly can be completed by a user of the apparatus. The barrier will prevent objects, such as pet toys or children's toys, from sliding under or through the barrier because the attachment between the first wall and second wall does not leave any gaps open.

The length of the apparatus can be adjusted to a similar length as a piece of furniture that the apparatus will be placed under. The apparatus can be slid under the furniture, with the first central fold 102 and the second central fold 202 being placed against two front legs of the furniture, in this embodiment. The first middle portion 110 and the second middle portion 210 extend, perpendicular to the first central portion 104 and the second central portion 204, towards back of the furniture. The first end portion 112 and the second end portion 212 extend, perpendicular to the first middle portion 110 and the second middle portion 210, and parallel to the first central portion 104 and the second central portion 204, radially outwards from a center point of the furniture.

In this configuration of this embodiment, the barrier will block or otherwise prevent objects, such as pet toys or children's toys, from sliding under the furniture from the front of the furniture and from sides of the furniture. The apparatus will offer resistance to movement by force because it is placed against legs of the furniture, and the legs of the furniture will offer resistance to movement due to frictional forces.

This embodiment can accommodate furniture ranging in size. In an exemplary embodiment the size of the barrier may be designed to fit furniture that is between 2 feet and 4 feet in length. Another embodiment may be designed to fit furniture that is between 4 feet and 6 feet in length. In some embodiments, the height of the barrier may be various sizes or adjustable to accommodate for different sizes of furniture.

In other embodiments, the product may be placed against the furniture rather than underneath the furniture, or it may be free standing, without being placed against any other object.

The foregoing description and accompanying figures illustrate the principles, preferred embodiments and modes of operation of the invention. However, the invention should not be construed as being limited to the particular embodiments discussed above. Additional variations of the embodiments discussed above will be appreciated by those skilled in the art.

Therefore, the above-described embodiments should be regarded as illustrative rather than restrictive. Accordingly, it should be appreciated that variations to those embodiments can be made by those skilled in the art without departing from the scope of the invention as defined by the following claims.