Vehicle safety seat for pets

Claim 2

A vehicle safety seat for pets, comprising: a base portion having a floor with opposite forward and rearward walls and opposite first and second side walls extending upwardly from said floor, with said walls each having an upper edge, an upper portion, a lower portion, and an intermediate differentiation between said upper portion and said lower portion of each of said walls; a pet seating portion removably disposed within said base portion along said intermediate differentiation of said walls with said upper portion of each of said walls extending upwardly beyond said pet seating portion, and said floor portion, said lower portion of each of said walls, and said pet seating portion defining an enclosed storage volume when said pet seating portion is installed to said base portion; each said lower portion of said first and second side walls including vehicle seat belt passages therethrough and below said removably disposed pet seating portion, with said passages adapted for the removable installation of a vehicle seat belt therethrough and through said storage volume and beneath said pet seating portion; said upper portion of at least one of said walls including a restraining strap passage therethrough and adjacent said upper edge, said restraining strap passage adapted for the attachment of a restraining straps thereto and providing for the securing of a pet harness to said vehicle safety seat by means of said restraining strap, whereby; said vehicle safety seat is secured to the vehicle passenger seat by securing the vehicles seat belt through said vehicle seat belt passages of said base portion, said pet seating portion is installed to said base portion, the pet is secured to the safety seat by said restraining strap secured to said restraining strap passage of said upper portion of at least one of said walls and attached to the pert harness, and the pet is securely and safely restrained in the vehicle for travel.

Claim 3

The vehicle safety seat of claim 1 wherein: said intermediate differentiation of said walls comprises an outwardly extending flange extending around said walls, with said upper portions of said walls being outwardly displaced from said lower portions of said walls and said flange providing peripheral support for said pet seating portion.

Claim 4

The vehicle safety seat of claim 1 wherein: each of said side walls has a forward portion, an intermediate portion, and a rearward portion, and; said upper edges of said front wall and said forward portion of each of said side walls are lower than said upper edges of said side wall intermediate portions, and said upper edges of said side wall intermediate portions are lower than said upper edges of said side wall rearward portions and said rearward wall.

Claim 5

The vehicle safety seat of claim 1 wherein: said upper portion of each of said side walls and said rear wall each include restraining strap passages therethrough, with a lateral restraining strap extending between said restraining passages of said side walls and a central restraining strap extending from said rear wall, and said central restraining strap is secured substantially to the center of said lateral restraining strap.

Claim 6

The vehicle safety seat of claim 1 wherein: said upper edge of each of said walls includes an inwardly turned flange.

Claim 7

The vehicle safety seat of claim 1 wherein: said floor portion includes a generally centrally disposed pet seating portion support column extending upwardly therefrom and two rearwardly disposed pet seating portion support inserts formed in said lower portion of said rearward wall.

Claim 8

The vehicle safety seat of claim 1 wherein: said lower portion of said forward wall is sloped forwardly and upwardly from said floor.

Claim 9

The vehicle safety seat of claim 1 wherein: said pet seating portion includes an upper surface substantially covered with a padding material and providing a good grip for a pet positioned thereon.

Claim 10

The vehicle safety seat of claim 8 wherein: said padding material is a washable synthetic sheep skin.

Claim 11

The vehicle safety seat of claim 1 wherein at least said bottom portion is formed of plastic in a single, unitary construction.

Claim 12

A vehicle safety seat for pets and pet harness, comprising in combination: a vehicle safety seat base portion having a floor with opposite forward and rearward walls and opposite first and second side walls extending upwardly from said floor, with said walls each having an upper edge, an upper portion, a lower portion, and an intermediate differentiation between said upper portion and said lower portion of each of said walls; a pet seating portion removably disposed within said base portion along said intermediate differentiation of said walls with said upper portion of each of said walls extending upwardly beyond said pet seating portion, and said floor portion, said lower portion of each of said walls, and said pet seating portion defining an enclosed storage volume when said pet seating portion is installed to said base portion; each said lower portion of said first and second side walls including vehicle seat belt passages therethrough and below said removably disposed pet seating portion, with said passages adapted for the removable installation of a vehicle seat belt therethrough and through said storage volume and beneath said pet seating portion; said upper portion of at least one of said walls including a restraining strap passage therethrough and adjacent said upper edge, said restraining strap passage adapted for the attachment of a restraining strap thereto; a pet harness removably attachable to said restraining strap, said pet harness providing for the securing of a pet to said vehicle safety seat by means of said restraining strap, whereby; said vehicle safety seat is secured to the vehicle passenger seat by securing the vehicle seat belt through said vehicle seat belt passages of said base portion, said pet seating portion is installed to said base portion, the pet is secured to the safety seat by said restraining strap secured to said restraining strap passage of said upper portion of at least one of said walls and attached to said pet harness, and the pet is securely and safely restrained in the vehicle for travel.

Claim 13

A vehicle safety seat for pets and pet harness, comprising in combination: a vehicle safety seat base portion having a floor with opposite forward and rearward walls and opposite first and second side walls extending upwardly from said floor, with said walls each having an upper edge, an upper portion, a lower portion, and an intermediate differentiation between said upper portion and said lower portion of each of said walls; a pet seating portion removably disposed within said base portion along said intermediate differentiation of said walls with said upper portion of each of said walls extending upwardly beyond said pet seating portion, and said floor portion, said lower portion of each of said walls, and said pet seating portion defining an enclosed storage volume when said pet seating portion is installed to said base portion; each said lower portion of said first and second side walls including vehicle seat belt passages therethrough and below said removably disposed pet seating portion, with said passages adapted for the removable installation of a vehicle seat belt therethrough and through said storage volume and beneath said pet seating portion; said upper portion of at least one of said walls including a restraining strap passage therethrough and adjacent said upper edge, said restraining strap passage adapted for the attachment of a restraining strap thereto; a pet harness removably attachable to said restraining strap, said pet harness providing for the securing of a pet to said vehicle safety seat by means of said restraining strap, whereby; said vehicle safety seat is secured to the vehicle passenger seat by securing the vehicle seat belt through said vehicle seat belt passages of said base portion, said pet seating portion is installed to said base portion, the pet is secured to the safety seat by said restraining strap secured to said restraining strap passage of said upper portion of at least one of said walls and attached to said pet harness, and the pet is securely and safely restrained in the vehicle for travel.

Claim 14

The vehicle safety seat and pet harness combination of claim 11 wherein: said intermediate differentiation of said walls comprises an outwardly extending flange extending around said walls, with said upper portions of said walls being outwardly displaced from said lower portions of said walls and said flange providing peripheral support for said pet seating portion.

Claim 15

The vehicle safety seat and pet harness combination of claim 11 wherein: each of said side walls has a forward portion, an intermediate portion, and a rearward portion, and; said upper edges of said front wall and said forward portion of each of said side walls are lower than said upper edges of said side wall intermediate portions, and said upper edges of said side wall intermediate portions are lower than said upper edges of said side wall rearward portions and said rearward wall.

Claim 16

The vehicle safety seat and pet harness combination of claim 11 wherein: said upper portion of each of said side walls and said rear wall each include restraining strap passages therethrough, with a lateral restraining strap extending between said restraining passages of said side walls and a central restraining strap extending from said rear wall, and said central restraining strap is secured substantially to the center of said lateral restraining strap and includes an extension therefrom providing for the removable attachment of said central restraining strap to said pet harness.

Claim 17

The vehicle safety seat and pet harness combination of claim 11 wherein: said upper edge of each of said walls includes an inwardly turned flange.

Claim 18

The vehicle safety seat and pet harness combination of claim 11 wherein: said floor portion includes a generally centrally disposed pet seating portion support column extending upwardly therefrom and two rearwardly disposed pet seating portion support inserts formed in said lower portion of said rearward wall.

Claim 19

The vehicle safety seat and pet harness combination of claim 11 wherein: said lower portion of said forward wall is sloped forwardly and upwardly from said floor.

Claim 20

The vehicle safety seat and pet harness combination of claim 11 wherein: said pet seating portion includes an upper surface substantially covered with a padding material and providing a good grip for a pet positioned thereon.

Claim 21

The vehicle safety seat and pet harness combination of claim 18 wherein: said padding material is a washable synthetic sheep skin.

Claim 22

The vehicle safety seat and pet harness combination of claim 11 wherein: at least said bottom portion is formed of plastic in a single, unitary construction.