Patent US5261352A successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
US5261352A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Heated place for animals
Assignee: Individual
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Filing: 1991-10-28
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Granted: 1993-11-16
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Expires: 2011-10-28
Abstract
Abstract A heated place is provided for cold-blooded animals or creatures, such as snakes, and the like by casting or molding a rock-like formation with a base, sides, and ridge-like top in proximity at least one location and having a predetermined contour. The rock-like formation and its contour are selected to provide a suitable and relatively comfortable habitat and place for the creature to set, rest and/or sleep. A heating device is provided to heat the area of the rock-like formation particularly at and about the contour of its ridge-like top. The heating device is embedded within the material of the rock-like formation proximate the ridge-like top so as to follow its contour. The heating filament or element of the heating device is encapsulated in silicon which is then encapsulated in an aluminum braid sheath. An epoxy encapsulation is provided at the place where the leads connected to a source of electrical power. Electrical resistors may be electrically connected in parallel with the heating element and similarly encapsulated.
Inventors
- 👤 Joseph Stammelman
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-07 14:38
CPC Classifications
A; A01; A01K; A01K63/00; A01K63/003; A01K63/006
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 47
Claim 1
Independent Claim
94 words
A heated place for animals, creatures, and the like, comprising: (a) means formed for receiving at least one animal or creature and having a predetermined size, substantially non-planar configuration, and contour and which includes at least one location for the animal or creature to set; (b) means for heating by electricity carried by said formation means in proximity at least to said at least one location; and (c) means for shielding said heating means comprising non-electrically conductive material to thereby insulate the animal or creature upon said location from shock from said heating means.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
94 words
A heated place for animals, creatures, and the like, comprising: (a) means formed for receiving at least one animal or creature and having a predetermined size, substantially non-planar configuration, and contour and which includes at least one location for the animal or creature to set; (b) means for heating by electricity carried by said formation means in proximity at least to said at least one location; and (c) means for shielding said heating means comprising non-electrically conductive material to thereby insulate the animal or creature upon said location from shock from said heating means.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
20 words
The heated place of claim 1 wherein said formation means formed for receiving are shaped like at least one rock.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
17 words
The heated place of claim 1 wherein said formation means formed for receiving are tree-trunk in shape.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
17 words
The heated place of claim 1 wherein said formation means formed for receiving are cave-like in shape.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
31 words
The heated place of claim 1, wherein said predetermined size, substantially non-planar configuration and contour provide a rock-like formation having a base, sides and a ridge-like top all formed from plastic.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
31 words
The heated place of claim 5, wherein said rock-like configuration is formed of a predetermined thickness and said means for heating is formed into said thickness and proximate said ridge-like top.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
23 words
The heated place of claim 6, wherein said ridge-like top is of a predetermined contour suitable as a habitat for a cold-blooded creature.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
18 words
The heated place of claim 7, wherein said means for heating is disposed to follow said predetermined contour.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
15 words
The heated place of claim 8, wherein said predetermined contour is suitable for a reptile.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
17 words
The heated place of claim 8, where in said means for heating comprises at least one resistor.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
19 words
The heated place of claim 10, wherein said means for heating comprises a plurality of resistors connected in parallel.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
16 words
The heated place of claim 11, wherein said resistors are encapsulated by a non-electrically conductive material.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
26 words
The heated place of claim 12, wherein said resistors are encapsulated by a sheath of silicon which is, in turn, encapsulated by an aluminum braid sheath.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
16 words
The heated place of claim 8, wherein said means for heating comprises a continuous heating filament.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
30 words
The heated place of claim 14, wherein said heating filament is within said means formed and follows the surface contours thereof to thereby provide substantially even heating throughout said surface.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
16 words
The heated place of claim 6, wherein said means for heating comprises a continuous heating filament.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
30 words
The heated place of claim 16, wherein said heating filament is within said means formed and follows the surface contours thereof to thereby provide substantially even heating throughout said surface.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
43 words
The heated place of claim 1, wherein said means for heating includes a heating filament disposed within said means formed for receiving at least one animal or creature and follows the surface contours thereof to thereby provide substantially even heating throughout said surface.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
114 words
A heated place for animals, creatures, and the like of the type shaped to simulate such typical animal or creature resting places as a rock, tree trunk, cave, or the like, said heated place comprising: (a) means formed for simulating the shape and receiving at least one animal or creature and having predetermined size, substantially non-planar configuration, and contour and which includes at least one location for the animal or creature to set; and (b) means for heating said means formed for simulating carried within said formation means and substantially following the surface contours of said formation means so as to thereby substantially evenly distribute the heat at the surface of said formation means.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
114 words
A heated place for animals, creatures, and the like of the type shaped to simulate such typical animal or creature resting places as a rock, tree trunk, cave, or the like, said heated place comprising: (a) means formed for simulating the shape and receiving at least one animal or creature and having predetermined size, substantially non-planar configuration, and contour and which includes at least one location for the animal or creature to set; and (b) means for heating said means formed for simulating carried within said formation means and substantially following the surface contours of said formation means so as to thereby substantially evenly distribute the heat at the surface of said formation means.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
17 words
The heated place of claim 19 wherein said formation means are shaped like at least one rock.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
28 words
The heated place of claim 20, wherein said rock-like formation is formed of plastic-like material formed in a rock-like configuration with a base, sides and a ridge-like top.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
16 words
The heated place of claim 21, wherein said means for heating comprises a continuous heating filament.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
31 words
The heated place of claim 22, wherein said heating filament is within said rock-like means formed and follows the surface contours thereof to thereby provide substantially even heating throughout said surface.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
17 words
The heated place of claim 19, wherein said means for heating means comprises a continuous heating filament.
Claim 27
Dependent Claim
30 words
The heated place of claim 24, wherein said heating filament is within said means formed and follows the surface contours thereof to thereby provide substantially even heating through said surface.
Claim 28
Dependent Claim
125 words
A heated place for animals, creatures, and the like, comprising: (a) means formed for receiving at least one animal or creature and having a predetermined size, configuration and contour and which includes at least one location for the animal or creature to set; (b) means for heating by electricity carried by said formation means in proximity at least to said at least one location; and (c) means for shielding said heating means comprising non-electrically conductive material to thereby insulate the animal or creature upon said location from shock from said means for heating; (d) said means for shielding comprising a first sheath of plastic non-electrically conductive material covering said heating means, and a second sheath covering said first sheath and formed of a braided material.
Claim 29
Dependent Claim
125 words
A heated place for animals, creatures, and the like, comprising: (a) means formed for receiving at least one animal or creature and having a predetermined size, configuration and contour and which includes at least one location for the animal or creature to set; (b) means for heating by electricity carried by said formation means in proximity at least to said at least one location; and (c) means for shielding said heating means comprising non-electrically conductive material to thereby insulate the animal or creature upon said location from shock from said means for heating; (d) said means for shielding comprising a first sheath of plastic non-electrically conductive material covering said heating means, and a second sheath covering said first sheath and formed of a braided material.
Claim 30
Dependent Claim
14 words
The heated place of claim 26, wherein said first sheath is formed of silicon.
Claim 31
Dependent Claim
23 words
The heated place of claim 26, wherein said first sheath is formed of silicon and said second sheath is formed of braided aluminum.
Claim 32
Dependent Claim
12 words
The heated place of claim 28 wherein said means formed are rock-like.
Claim 33
Dependent Claim
14 words
The heated place of claim 28 wherein said means formed are tree-trunk in shape.
Claim 34
Dependent Claim
14 words
The heated place of claim 28 wherein said means formed are cave-like in shape.
Claim 35
Dependent Claim
12 words
The heated place of claim 26 wherein said means formed are rock-like.
Claim 36
Dependent Claim
14 words
The heated place of claim 26 wherein said means formed are tree-trunk in shape.
Claim 37
Dependent Claim
30 words
The heated place of claim 33, wherein said heating filament is within said means formed and follows the surface contours thereof to thereby provide substantially even heating throughout said surface.
Claim 38
Dependent Claim
14 words
The heated place of claim 26 wherein said means formed are cave-like in shape.
Claim 39
Dependent Claim
47 words
The heated place for animals of claim 26, including means for providing electrical leads interconnecting said means for heating to a source of electrical power and epoxy means for encapsulating said electrical leads including at least where said electrical leads are interconnected to said means for heating.
Claim 40
Dependent Claim
23 words
The heated place for animals of claim 36, wherein said means formed for receiving at least one animal or creature is substantially non-planar.
Claim 41
Dependent Claim
132 words
The heated place for animals, creatures, and the like, comprising: (a) means formed for receiving at least one animal or creature and having a predetermined size, configuration and contour and which includes at least one location for the animal or creature to set; (b) means for heating by electricity carried by said formation means in proximity at least to said at least one location; (c) means for shielding said heating means comprising non-electrically conductive material to thereby insulate the animal or creature upon said location from shock from said means for heating; (d) means for providing electrical leads interconnecting said means for heating to a source of electrical power, and (e) epoxy means for encapsulating said electrical leads including at least where said electrical leads are interconnected to said means for heating.
Claim 42
Dependent Claim
132 words
The heated place for animals, creatures, and the like, comprising: (a) means formed for receiving at least one animal or creature and having a predetermined size, configuration and contour and which includes at least one location for the animal or creature to set; (b) means for heating by electricity carried by said formation means in proximity at least to said at least one location; (c) means for shielding said heating means comprising non-electrically conductive material to thereby insulate the animal or creature upon said location from shock from said means for heating; (d) means for providing electrical leads interconnecting said means for heating to a source of electrical power, and (e) epoxy means for encapsulating said electrical leads including at least where said electrical leads are interconnected to said means for heating.
Claim 43
Dependent Claim
17 words
The heated place of claim 14 wherein said formation means are shaped like at least one rock.
Claim 44
Dependent Claim
14 words
The heated place of claim 38 wherein said formation means are tree-trunk in shape.
Claim 45
Dependent Claim
15 words
The heated place of claim 38 wherein said formation means are shaped like a cave.
Claim 46
Dependent Claim
16 words
The heated place of claim 38, wherein said means for heating comprises a continuous heating filament.
Claim 47
Dependent Claim
23 words
The heated place for animals of claim 38, wherein said means formed for receiving at least one animal or creature is substantially non-planar.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1996-11-15 | 1997-05-17 | 1997-11-16 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2000-11-15 | 2001-05-17 | 2001-11-16 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2004-11-15 | 2005-05-17 | 2005-11-16 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |