Modular Animal Enclosure

Abstract

A modular animal enclosure includes a housing comprising a top portion affixed to a base portion to form a sheltered interior. The housing includes a door aperture and a climate conditioning aperture. A remove ably attachable climate conditioning unit is installed over the climate conditioning aperture to facilitate a flow of atmospheric air from the exterior environment into the interior of the housing. The climate conditioning unit can variously comprise a cover assembly, a heating unit, a cooling unit and a forced air unit, and different types of units can be installed at different times. In another aspect, the bottom portion can be selectively hinged to the top portion on opposing sides of the housing to allow pivotal movement of the top portion in two opposite directions, as desired to permit access to the interior of the housing for inspection, maintenance and cleaning of the interior.

1 - 14 . (canceled) 
   
   
       15 . A portable dog house, comprising:
 a housing sized to accommodate a dog formed from opposing top and bottom portions which adjoin at a circumferentially extending seam, the housing comprising a door aperture to permit the dog to enter the housing and a climate conditioning aperture disposed adjacent a topmost portion of the housing, the climate conditioning aperture extending from an upper surface to a lower surface of the top portion; and   separate first and second climate conditioning units each configured to be respectively, contactingly supported by the upper surface of the top portion to span the climate conditioning aperture and to facilitate a flow of atmospheric air therethrough, wherein the first climate conditioning unit is characterized as a passive cover plate and the second climate conditioning unit comprises at least a selected one of a fan, a heater unit, or a forced air conditioner, and wherein the first and second climate conditioning units are each removably attachable to the top portion so that only a selected one of the first and second climate conditioning units can be installed onto the top portion at a time.   
   
   
       16 . The portable dog house of  claim 15 , wherein each of the first and second climate conditioning units comprises a plate portion with selected overall length and width dimensions greater than corresponding length and width dimensions of the climate conditioning aperture to cover and span said aperture, and wherein each of the first and second climate conditioning units further comprises at least one downwardly depending flange that extends from the associated plate portion to contactingly engage the upper surface of the top portion to removably secure the respective plate portion thereto. 
   
   
       17 . The portable dog house of  claim 15 , wherein the downwardly extending flange fully surrounds the climate conditioning aperture to contactingly engage the upper surface of the top portion. 
   
   
       18 . The portable dog house of  claim 15 , further comprising a user activated fastener mechanism which secures the climate conditioning unit to the top portion, the fastener mechanism accessible from a position above the top portion to releasingly disengage the climate conditioning unit from the top portion. 
   
   
       19 . The portable dog house of  claim 15 , wherein the top and bottom portions are sized to be stackable such that, when the top portion is inverted relative to the bottom portion, a selected one of the top or bottom portions can nest within the remaining one of the top or bottom portions to occupy a total volume of space substantially smaller than when the top portion is not inverted and arranged onto the bottom portion to form said housing. 
   
   
       20 . The portable dog house of  claim 15 , wherein the top portion and the base portion are each formed of injection molded plastic.