Collapsible sound-deadening animal shelter

Abstract

The invention is a collapsible, sound-deadening shelter that can provide pets a place of refuge from noise. The shelter has a top panel formed from a sound-deadening material; at least two flaps coupled to the top panel; at least two side panels formed from a sound-deadening material, wherein each of the side panels is coupled to one of the two flaps; a rear panel formed from a sound-deadening material, wherein the rear panel is coupled by an additional flap to one of the top panel or the two side panels; and wherein the rear panel is removably coupled to the remaining of the top panel and the two side panels to which the rear panel is not already coupled by the additional flap. The shelter may be used as a stand-alone shelter, but it may also be placed over a pet container in order to make the container quieter.

1 . A collapsible shelter for protecting an animal from noise, the shelter comprising:
 a flat panel formed from a sound deadening material,   two opposing sides of the flat panel having a width therebetween,   wherein the flat panel is structured to bend into an arcuate shape under the condition that the two opposing sides are moved closer to one another, the arcuate shape having a first end portion and a second end portion,   wherein the first end portion opposes the second end portion.   
     
     
         2 . The collapsible shelter of  claim 1 , wherein the first end portion is pinched together to close the first end portion. 
     
     
         3 . The collapsible shelter of  claim 2 , wherein the two opposing sides are releasably coupled to one another to form the arcuate shape into a tunnel shape. 
     
     
         4 . The collapsible shelter of  claim 1 , wherein the first end portion is a first arched end portion that further comprises:
 a first end panel formed of sound deadening material,   wherein the first end panel is structured to releasably couple to the first arched end portion to close off the first arched end portion.   
     
     
         5 . The collapsible shelter of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 a connector structured to releasably couple to the flat panel to displace the flat panel in the arcuate shape.   
     
     
         6 . The collapsible shelter of  claim 5 , wherein the connector has opposing ends having a length therebetween, the length of the connector being shorter than the width of the flat panel, one opposing end of the connector being structured to releasably couple to the flat panel near one of the opposing sides and the other opposing end of the connector being structured to releasably couple to the flat panel near the other opposing side to thereby displace the flat panel into the arcuate shape. 
     
     
         7 . The collapsible shelter of  claim 5 , wherein the connector wraps entirely around one of the width of the flat panel or a length of the flat panel near the opposing edges of the flat panel to displace the flat panel in the arcuate shape, and wherein the connector releasably couples to itself. 
     
     
         8 . A collapsible shelter of  claim 4 , further comprising:
 a bottom panel formed of sound deadening material, wherein the bottom panel is structured to releasably couple to the flat panel, the first end panel, or both.   
     
     
         9 . The collapsible shelter of  claim 8 , wherein one opposing edge of the flat panel is fixedly coupled to a first edge of the bottom panel, and wherein the first end panel is fixedly coupled to a second edge of the bottom panel, the flat panel and the first end panel being capable of pivoting about the first edge and the second edge, respectively, to allow the first end panel to releasably couple to the flat panel under the condition that the flat panel is bent in the arcuate shape by releasably coupling the other opposing edge of the flat panel to the bottom panel. 
     
     
         10 . The collapsible shelter of  claim 4 , wherein the first end panel is inset from the first arched end portion. 
     
     
         11 . The collapsible shelter of  claim 4 , wherein the first end panel further comprises an opening therein. 
     
     
         12 . The collapsible shelter of  claim 4 , further comprising:
 a second end panel formed from a sound deadening material, wherein the second end panel is removably coupled to the second end portion, the second end portion being a second arched end portion.   
     
     
         13 . The collapsible shelter of  claim 12 , wherein the second end panel further comprises a plurality of second end panels, the plurality of second end panels being inset from the second arched end portion and staggered and offset from one another. 
     
     
         14 . The collapsible shelter of  claim 12 , wherein the second end panel further comprises an aperture therein. 
     
     
         15 . The collapsible shelter of  claim 8 , further comprising:
 a second end panel formed from a sound deadening material,   wherein one opposing edge of the flat panel is fixedly coupled to a first edge of the bottom panel, the first end panel is fixedly coupled to a second edge of the bottom panel that is substantially perpendicular to the first edge, and the second end panel is fixedly coupled to a fourth edge of the bottom panel that opposes the second edge, the flat panel, the first end panel, and the second end panel being capable of pivoting about the first edge, the second edge, and the fourth edge, respectively, to allow the first end panel and the second end panel to releasably couple to the flat panel under the condition that the flat panel is bent in the arcuate shape by releasably coupling the other opposing edge of the flat panel to the bottom panel, and   wherein the first end panel has an opening therein, and the second end panel has an aperture therein.   
     
     
         16 . The collapsible shelter of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 an opening in a side portion of the arcuate shape; and   a cover that pivots about a hinge,   wherein the cover pivots about the hinge to open up or close off the opening.   
     
     
         17 . A collapsible shelter for protecting an animal from noise, the shelter comprising:
 a top panel formed from a sound deadening material;   at least two flaps operably coupled to the top panel;   at least two side panels formed from a sound deadening material, wherein each of the at least two side panels is operably coupled to one of the at least two flaps; and   a rear panel formed from a sound deadening material, wherein the rear panel is operably coupled by an additional flap to one of the top panel or the at least two side panels,   wherein the rear panel is removably coupled to the remaining of the top panel and the at least two side panels to which the rear panel is not already coupled by the additional flap.   
     
     
         18 . A shelter for protecting an animal from noise, the shelter comprising:
 the collapsible shelter of  claim 17 ; and   a pet container,   wherein the collapsible shelter is structured to substantially encompass the pet container when placed around the pet container and to releasably detach from the pet container when removed from around the pet container.   
     
     
         19 . A method for protecting an animal from noise, the method comprising:
 releasing a collapsible shelter from a stored position;   erecting the collapsible shelter made of sound deadening material; and   placing the animal within the collapsible shelter.   
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 19 , further comprising:
 removing the pet from within the collapsible shelter;   razing the collapsible shelter; and   placing the collapsible shelter in the stored position,   wherein the erecting the collapsible shelter further comprises:
 bending a flat panel made of sound deadening material; 
 securing the bent flat panel to a first end panel made of sound deadening material; and 
 orienting the first end panel toward and near a permanent wall, and 
   wherein the razing the collapsible shelter further comprises:
 releasing the first end panel from the flat panel.