. Specifically, in some embodiments, the height of the third end 135C relative to the horizontal portion 134, designated H, and a length of the support structure 124 defined by the first portion 130, may both be predetermined and specially formed to accommodate the specific dimensions associated with the pet 101 (e.g. length of the pet's torso and height from the pet's feet to its breastbone in a sitting position) so that when the pet 101 is positioned over the support structure 124 and the base 122, the pet 101 naturally rests its breastbone or upper chest portion along the third end 135C, and torso portions of the pet 101 naturally rest along the inclined surface 137 when the pet 101 is oriented in the position indicated in FIG. 1. Orienting the pet 101 in this manner using the novel inclined portion 136 of the support structure 124 and the elevated third end 135C described provides numerous advantages. For example, the inclined surface 137 provides a comfortable and stabilizing support surface which the pet 101 may lean or rest upon as opposed to standing upright by itself during travel. In addition, because the pet's breastbone or upper chest is generally a more rigid, stronger body part compared with other body parts of the pet 101, positioning the third end 135C along such portions of the pet 101 provides a safety contact point between the pet 101 and the apparatus 100, similar to the manner in which a shoulder safety belt is intended to wrap around the stronger upper chest portions of a human, or the manner by which a safety bar of a roller coaster is intended to contact the upper chest portions of a human. Conventional travel devices for pets lack such stabilization and comfort advantages.

As shown, the support structure 124 may further define a vertical portion 140. The vertical portion 140 may be defined along the front side 110 of the body 102 between the third end 135C and the second end 135B. In some embodiments, the vertical portion 140 extends orthogonally from the horizontal portion 134 along the front side 110 of the body 102. In some embodiments, the vertical portion 140 is generally contiguous with the inclined portion 136 and the horizontal portion 134 as shown, such that the support structure 124 at least partially (or entirely) covers the first portion 130 of the base 122. The support structure 124 may further define a first side support 142A adjacent the vertical portion 140, and a second side support 142B defined opposite the first side support 142A. The first side support 142A and the second side support 142B may extend laterally relative to the vertical portion 140 and may contour or otherwise provide additional comfort to the front legs of the pet 101. Additional such comfort features are contemplated and depicted.

Referring specifically to FIG. 9, in some embodiments, the support structure 124 may include a recess 150 defined along the inclined portion 136 as shown. The recess 150 may be arcuate, i.e., the recess 150 may include curved or bowed surfaces to compliment and support the curvature of the stomach or other torso portions of the pet 101. In this embodiment, the support structure 124 may define a first edge 152A and a second edge 152B along opposing sides of the recess 150. When a torso portion of the pet 101 is rested or otherwise in contact against the inclined portion 136, the torso portion may be cradled between the first edge 152A and the second edge 152B and rest at least partially within the recess 150 which may provide additional stability of the pet 101 relative to the body 102 and otherwise increase the comfort of the pet 101.

As described and indicated herein, the support structure 124 may generally define a general three-dimensional (3-D) triangle-shape; however, the support structure 124 is not limited to this particular shape so long as the support structure 124 includes an inclined portion 136 as described for supporting the torso or like portions of the pet 101. Similar to the base 122, the support structure 124 may be formed or manufactured using cloth, foam, plastic, wood, leather, neoprene, vinyl, suede, metal, or combinations of the same. In some embodiments, the support structure 124 may generally define a pillow, and be made up of a cloth bag containing feathers, gel, foam, or include a plastic or rubber inflatable material.

In some embodiments, the support structure 124 may be removable from the base 122. In such embodiments, the support structure 124 may be temporarily fastened to the base 122 in the orientation described using e.g. Velcro straps, clips, or other like fastening components implemented along the horizontal portion 134 to temporarily position the support structure 124 relative to the base 122 as described herein. As such, for example, a first support structure defining a set of first dimensions may be mounted to the base 122 to accommodate a first pet having a first size, and the first support structure may later be removed and replaced with a second support structure defining a different set of dimensions or generally defining a different size than the first support structure to accommodate a second pet of a different size than the first pet. In other embodiments, the support structure 124 may be manufactured together with the base 122 and the body 102 as a single unit. Specifically, for example, the support structure 124 and other parts of the body 102 may be formed using 3-D printing or similar methods, and the apparatus 100 may be customized for accommodating particular sized pets as further described herein.

In some embodiments, the vertical portion 140 of the support structure 124 may comprise e.g. a support member (not shown) extending from a predetermined point along the inclined portion 136 to the horizontal portion 134 to stabilize the third end 135C in a fixed position above the base 122. In some embodiments, the vertical portion 140 may be sufficient to maintain the third end 135C in the fixed position shown such that the support structure 124 may be devoid of a bottom side and/or may not include at least part of the horizontal portion 134 (i.e., the support structure 124 may define an opening (not shown) along the first surface 123A of the base 122). The vertical portion 140 may be in communication and flush with the third surface 123C of the base 122 as shown.

Continuing with FIG. 9, one embodiment of the back support 126 may be formed or otherwise positioned along the back side 112 of the body 102 and along the base 122 behind the support structure 124. The back support 126 may define a back wall 160 extending in a vertical direction orthogonally from the base 122 along the back side 112 of the body 102, a first sidewall 162A oriented adjacent the back wall 160, and a second sidewall 162B oriented opposite the first sidewall 162A. The back wall 160, the first sidewall 162A, and the second sidewall 162B of the back support 126 may collectively define a pocket 164. The rear portions of the pet 101, such as the rear legs and haunches, may be disposed within the pocket 164 such that the rear portions abut surfaces of the back wall 160, the first sidewall 162A, and the second sidewall 162B. In this manner, the back support 126 advantageously maintains the rear portions of the pet 101 in a fixed position relative to the base 122 during travel. In other embodiments, the back support 126 may be devoid of the first sidewall 162A and/or the second sidewall 162B (and the pocket 164) and may just include the back wall 160, such that the rear portion of the pet 101 simply rests along or is otherwise stabilized by the back wall 160. In other embodiments, the back wall 160 may define a general semi-circle shape (not shown), to define the pocket 164 described, without the first sidewall 162A and/or the second sidewall 162B shown. As such, the back support 126 may comprise a sole piece or component positioned along the base 122.

Referring to FIGS. 10-15, one embodiment of the restraining system 106 is illustrated which may be implemented in order to maintain the pet 101 in a relatively stationary position relative to the body 102. In the embodiment shown, the restraining system 106 may include a harness 170. The harness 170 may define a plurality of harness members 172 and a plurality of attachment points 174 which may be coupled to respective attachment points 128 of the base 122 or other components of the apparatus 100. The harness 170 may further define a neck portion 176, and a torso portion 178 in communication with the neck portion 176 as shown. The neck portion 176 may define an opening 180 for receiving the neck of the pet 101, and the torso portion 178 may define an opening 182 for receiving the torso portion 178 of the pet 101.

More specifically, in some embodiments, the neck portion 176 of the harness 170 may include a harness member 172A and a harness member 172B collectively defining an attachment point 174A configured to engage with the attachment point 128A of the base 122. The attachment point 174A may define an adjustment component 184A, such as a strap adjuster, to shorten or lengthen the harness member 172A and the harness member 172B and bring the neck portion 176 in closer proximity to the base 122 when the base 122 is coupled to the harness 170. Similarly, the torso portion 178 of the harness 170 may include a harness member 172C defining an attachment point 174B for joining the harness member 172C to the attachment point 128B of the base 122. The attachment point 174B may define an adjustment component 184B, such as a strap adjuster, to shorten or lengthen the harness member 172C and bring the torso portion 178 in closer proximity to the inclined surface 137 and the base 122. As shown in e.g. FIG. 11, the attachment point 174A compliments and engages with the attachment point 128A, and the attachment point 174B compliments and engages with the attachment point 128B. In some embodiments, the torso portion 178 of the harness 170 may further include a harness member 172D defining an attachment point 174C for joining the harness member 172D to the attachment point 128C of the base 122. In some embodiments, the attachment points 128A-128C of the base 122 and the attachment points 174A-174C of the harness 170 may comprise male-female portions of a respective buckle or other fastening component to temporarily adjoin the harness 170 to the base 122.

In some embodiments, the attachment point 174C defined by the harness member 172D may be pre-engaged or otherwise permanently joined to the attachment point 128C (not shown). As described herein, the components of the restraining system 106 may be permanently or non-permanently joined to portions of the base 122. So, for example, in this embodiment the attachment point 174C may be permanently joined to the attachment point 128C to reduce the likelihood of misplacing the harness 170 and otherwise increase the efficiency of engaging the harness 170 to the pet 101 and the base 122 as described herein.

As shown in FIGS. 11-15, the pet 101 may be oriented in a sitting position over the body 102. In a sitting position as described herein, the rear portions of the pet 101 may be received and secured within the pocket 164 defined by the back support 126, the torso portions of the pet 101 may rest along the inclined surface 137 of the support structure 124, and the breastbone and/or upper chest area of the pet 101 may be oriented along the third end 135C of the support structure 124. Before or after orienting the pet 101 in this sitting position shown, the harness 170 may be engaged to the pet 101 by wrapping the torso portion 178 around the pet 101, and mechanically joining the attachment point 174B with the attachment point 128B, and mechanically joining the attachment point 174C with the attachment point 128C, thereby engaging the torso portion 178 to the pet 101, and forming the opening 182 along the torso portion 178. In addition, the neck portion 176 may be engaged to the pet 101 and the base 122 by sliding the neck of the pet 101 through the opening 180 of the neck portion 176 of the harness 170, and then mechanically joining the attachment point 174A with the attachment point 128A. As described, at least some of the attachment points 174A, 174B, and 174C, and the attachment points 128A, 128B, and 128C may define non-permanent joints between the base 122 and the harness 170; i.e., the attachment points 174A, 174B, and 174C may subsequently be disengaged from the attachment points 128A, 128B, and 128C as needed to release the pet 101.

Referring to FIG. 16, one embodiment of the strap assembly 108 is illustrated for engaging the body 102 of the apparatus 100 to an attachment point of a vehicle. As shown herein, the strap assembly 108 may be oriented generally along the bottom side 120 of the body 102, and coupled to the second surface 123B of the base 122. In some embodiments, the strap assembly 108 may include a strap 190, defining a first strap end 190A, and a second strap end 190B. The strap assembly 108 may further include a loop member 191 which may comprise a strip of metal or plastic attached to the second surface 123B of the base 122, which generally defines the first strap end 190A and the second strap end 190B. The loop member 191 may be configured to be bowed slightly away from the base 122 along its center and may define a loop aperture 193, through which the strap 190 may be threaded to position the first strap end 190A and the second strap end 190B in the manner shown. Securing members 195A and 195B may maintain respective ends of the loop member