AU2008201751A1

AU2008201751A1 - Animal Containment Apparatus

Info

Publication number: AU2008201751A1
Application number: AU2008201751A
Authority: AU
Original assignee: BITCH BOX Pty Ltd
Current assignee: BITCH BOX Pty Ltd
Priority date: 2008-04-21
Filing date: 2008-04-21
Publication date: 2009-11-05

Description

P/00/011 28/5/91 Regulation 3.2 AUSTRALIA Patents Act 1990 ORIGINAL COMPLETE SPECIFICATION STANDARD PATENT Name of Applicant: Bitch Box Pty Ltd Actual Inventor Address for service is: WRAY & ASSOCIATES Level 4, The Quadrant 1 William Street Perth, WA 6000 Attorney code: WR Invention Title: Animal Containment Apparatus The following statement is a full description of this invention, including the best method of performing it known to me: 1 - 2 Animal Containment Apparatus Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an animal containment apparatus. Background Art 5 There are a variety of reasons why it may be necessary or desirable to contain an animal(s). It is desirable to prevent contact between dogs, for example to prevent the animals mating or fighting. That is, it is especially important for female animals that are used for breeding not to come into contact with male dogs during the breeding season. 10 In some instances it is desirable to use a temporary cage when permanent accommodation is unavailable. Establishments such as dog kennels and dog pounds are known to require temporary accommodation in busy times and especially require the ability to ensure animals in their care do not become pregnant or injured. The temporary cages currently available are large, heavy, 15 and difficult to transport and manoeuvre. Temporary cages are generally required to be transported to where they are needed. These large heavy cages are difficult to load and unload from a vehicle, such as a truck, trailer or the like. Further, modern houses are such that there is very little room to manoeuvre cages through gates and paths around a house 20 making it difficult for the cage to be placed in the back yard. When not in use these cages take up a significant amount of storage space, which is often undesirable. Summary of the Invention An aspect of the invention is an animal containment apparatus comprising a wall 25 structure and a roof, the wall structure being moveable between an erected -3 condition defining a containment zone and a collapsed condition, the roof being mounted on the wall structure for movement between an operative position above the containment zone and a stowed position adjacent the collapsed wall structure. Another aspect of the invention is an animal containment apparatus wherein the 5 wall structure comprises a first side wall and a plurality of further side walls. Another aspect of the invention is wherein the further side walls are confined between the first side wall and the roof when the wall structure is in the collapsed condition and the roof is in the stowed position. Another aspect of the invention is an animal containment apparatus wherein the 10 roof is pivotally mounted on the first side wall for movement between the operative and stowed positions. Another aspect of the invention is an animal containment apparatus wherein the further side walls comprise second, third and fourth side walls, wherein the second side walls are in opposed relation to the first side wall, and the third and 15 fourth side walls are in opposed relation to each other. Another aspect of the invention is an animal containment apparatus wherein the third and fourth side walls each comprise two sections foldable with respect to each other to allow the first and second side walls to move inwardly towards each other as the wall structure moves from the erected condition to the collapsed 20 condition. Another aspect of the invention is wherein the two sections are foldable inwardly to locate between the first and second side walls. Another aspect of the invention is wherein each of the two sections have an inner end and an outer end, the inner ends being hingedly interconnected and the outer ends being hingedly to the adjacent outer ends of the first and second side walls. 25 Another aspect of the invention is an animal containment apparatus wherein the roof comprises a strut portion and a cover portion, the cover portion being adapted to at least partly overlay the containment zone when the roof is in the operative position, and the strut portion being pivotally linked to the first side wall of the wall structure. Another aspect of the invention is wherein the first side wall -4 of the wall structure comprises bracket members, the brackets member comprising each one pins for connecting pivotically the strut portion of the roof. Another aspect of the invention is an animal containment apparatus wherein at least one door is incorporated in at least one of any of the first side wall and the 5 plurality of further side walls. Another aspect of the invention is wherein the door comprises at least two door wings. Another aspect of the invention is an animal containment apparatus wherein the at least one door is hingedly connected to the any of the first side wall and the plurality of further side walls. Another aspect of the invention is wherein the at 10 least one door is hingedly connected to any of the first side wall and the plurality of further side walls via spring loaded hinges. Another aspect of the invention is wherein the at least one door comprise a releasable locking mechanism. Another aspect of the invention is wherein the releasable locking mechanism comprises at least one spring loaded latch. 15 Another aspect of the invention is an animal containment apparatus comprising a floor structure. Another aspect of the invention is wherein the floor structure comprises a floor sheet hingedly connected to the first side wall via at least one hinge. Another aspect of the invention is wherein at least one of the plurality of further side walls comprise at least one flange member to support the floor sheet. 20 Another aspect of the invention is wherein the at least one flange member comprises a magnet member to support the floor sheet. Another aspect of the invention is wherein the wall structure is releasably locked in erected condition via the floor sheet. Another aspect of the invention is an animal containment apparatus wherein at 25 least one of the first side wall and the plurality of further side walls comprises material having perforations. Another aspect of the invention is wherein the material having perforations is a mesh material. Another aspect of the invention is wherein the mesh material is at least partially covered by a second mesh material.

-5 Another aspect of the invention is an animal containment apparatus comprising a plurality of wheels. Another aspect of the invention is wherein at least three of the plurality of wheels are pivotically connected to at least one of the lower ends of the first side wall and the plurality of further side walls to allow movement of the 5 apparatus. Another aspect of the invention is wherein at least one of the wheels is lockable. Another aspect of the invention is an animal containment apparatus wherein the roof comprises a rim portion surrounding at least partially the roof, the rim portion covering at least partially the upper ends of the first side wall and the plurality of 10 further side walls. Another aspect of the invention is wherein the rim portion opposite to the first side wall comprises at least one depression to receive at least one wheel when the wall structure is in the collapsed condition and the roof is in the stowed position. Another aspect of the invention is an animal containment apparatus wherein the 15 roof is releasably locked to the wall structure. Another aspect of the invention is wherein the roof is releasably locked to the wall structure via at least one band having a first end attached to the roof and a second end attached to the wall structure. Another aspect of the invention is an animal containment apparatus wherein the 20 wall structure is releasably locked in the collapsed condition. Another aspect of the invention is wherein the wall structure is releasably locked in the collapsed condition via at least one magnetic member attached to the roof, the magnetic member being in a location to attract the wall structure when in collapsed condition. 25 -6 Brief Description of the Drawings The present invention will be better understood by reference to the following description of one specific embodiment thereof as shown in the accompanying drawings, in which: 5 Figure 1 a perspective view of an animal containment apparatus according to the embodiment; Figure 2 is a perspective view of the animal containment apparatus in a partially collapse condition; Figure 3 is a perspective view of the animal containment apparatus in a 10 collapse condition. Figure 4 is a perspective view of the roof Figure 5 is a side view of the roof Figure 6 is a perspective view of one of the first or second side walls Figure 7 is a perspective view of one of the sections of the third or fourth 15 side wall Figure 8a is a perspective view of one of the side walls comprising a door Figure 8b is a front view of one of the side walls comprising two doors. Figure 9 is a perspective view of the floor sheet Figure 10 is a bottom view of the floor sheet 20 Figure 11 is a perspective view of the bracket member -7 Detailed Description of Specific Embodiment(s) The embodiment shown in the drawings is directed to an animal containment apparatus 1 having an erected condition in which it provides a containment zone 9 and a collapsed condition for storage or transport. 5 Referring to figure 1 and 2, the animal containment apparatus 1 comprises a roof 3, a floor structure 5 and a side wall structure 7 defining the containment zone 9. The containment apparatus 1 comprises a side wall structure 7 having a first side wall 11, and further side walls 13,15 and 17. Each side wall 11, 13, 15 and 17 has upper 19, lower 21 and two lateral 23 and 25 ends. 10 Containment zone 9 is formed by locating the first side wall 11 in opposed relation to the second side wall 15 and positioning between them the third side wall in opposed relation to the fourth wall 17 and uniting each adjacent lateral side 23 and 25 thus forming the containment zone 9 as shown in figure 2. Referring to figure 2, first and second side walls 11 and 15 are of rigid 15 construction. Third and fourth side walls 13 and 17 are of collapsible construction. Third and fourth side walls 13 and 17 comprise each one a pair of sections 27 and 29. The sections have outer ends 31 and inner ends 35 (see figure 7). The outer ends 31 are hingedly connected to the lateral ends 23 or 25 of their corresponding adjacent first 11 and second 15 side walls. The inner end 35 of each section 27 20 and 29 are hingedly interconnected. The hingedly connections may be formed via hinges 39. As said before, each section 27 is hingedly interconnected to its adjacent section 29 thus making third 13 and fourth 17 side walls foldable. This allows third 13 and fourth 17 side walls to move inwardly towards each other as the wall structure 7 25 moves from the erected condition to the collapsed condition. In the collapsed condition third 13 and fourth 17 side walls are located between the first 11 and second 15 side walls as shown in figure 3.

-8 Means are provided for releasably locking the wall structure 7 in the erected condition. According to an embodiment of the invention, this is provided by placement of a floor sheet 41 inside the containment zone and locating it between the lower ends 42 of the wall structure 7 (see figure 2). More particularly, the rigid 5 nature of the floor sheet 41 serves to prevent inward folding movement of the sections 17 and 21 of the third 13 and fourth 17 side walls. Other locking mechanisms can, of course, also be used to releaseably lock the wall structure 7 in the erected condition. The roof 3 is mounted on the wall structure 7 for movement between an operative 10 position and a stowed position. In the operative position the roof 3 provides a cover for the containment zone 9 formed when the apparatus 1 is in the erected position (as shown in Figure 1). When the apparatus 1 is in the collapsed condition (as shown in Figure 3) the roof 3 is in a stowed position parallel to the first side wall 11. 15 Referring to figure 4, the roof 3 comprises a cover portion 43 and a rim portion 44. The cover portion 43 comprises a front side 47, a back side 49 and two lateral sides 51. The cover portion 43 comprises two sections 53 and 55 (see figure 5) that extend outwardly and opposite to each other. Each section 53 and 55 extends at an angle - with respect to each other thus defining a roof 3 having two 20 inclined surfaces. The rim portion 44 surrounds at least partially the periphery of the cover portion 43. The rim portion 44 includes, at the front side 47 of the of the cover portion 43 depressions 57 to receive wheels 59 when the roof 3 is in the stowed position (see figure 3). As seen in figure 1, when the apparatus is in operative position the 25 rim portion 44 covers the upper ends 19 of first, second, third and fourth side walls (11, 13, 15, and 17). Front and lateral sides (59 and 61) of the rim portion 44 extend over the upper ends of first and second side walls (11 and 15) at increasing angles with respect to first and second side walls (11 and 15).

-9 The rim portion 44 includes at the lateral sides 51 of the cover portion 43 strut portions 63. As shown in Figure 5 the struts portions 63 are extensions of the rim portion 44. The strut portions 63 include apertures 65 at their ends 67. The roof 3 is pivotically linked to the wall structure via the strut portions 63. As 5 shown in figure 3, apertures 65 are connected to a bracket member 67 which is attached to the wall structure 7. Bracket members 67 are attached at each lateral side of the wall structure 7 (see figure 2). A bracket member 67 (see figure 11) comprises a first end 69 to be attached to the wall structure and a second end 71 having a pin 73. The pin 73 allows the pivotical linkage between the roofs strut 10 portions 67 and the wall structure 7 once the pin 73 is inserted into strut portions' apertures 65 (see figure 3). A locking device (not shown) is provided at the upper end's wall structure for releasably locking the roof to the wall structure in the operative condition. According to an embodiment of the invention, this can be accomplished via a 15 Velcro® band with one of its ends attached to the front side 47 of rim portion 44 and its other end releasably attached to the wall structure's outer surface. Also a locking device may be included for releasably locking the roof to the lower end's wall structure when the apparatus is in the stowed position. According to an embodiment of the invention, a magnetic based locking mechanism may be 20 provided (not shown). A magnetic member is attached to the bottom surface of the front side 47 of rim portion 44 and a second magnetic member is attached to the outer surface of the lower end of the wall structure's front side. The location of each magnet is such that when the roof is in the stowed position the magnets coincide. The exterior sides of each magnet have opposite polarities with respect 25 to each other thus providing a releasable locking mechanism when the roof 3 is in the stowed position. In case that the wall structure is made out of material attracted to magnets only the rim's portion magnetic member may be included. The animal containment apparatus comprises a floor structure 5 (see figure 5). Referring to Figure 2, the floor structure 5 of the apparatus 1 comprises a floor 30 sheet 41 (also shown in figures 9 and 10) and flange members 75.

-10 As said before the floor sheet 41 is placed inside the containment zone 7 and located between the lower ends 42 of the wall structure 7. The floor sheet 41 may be held in place by gravity. The floor sheet 41 may be removed and attached, for example, to the first or second side walls (11 and 15) of the container for storage 5 when the apparatus 1 is collapsed or a floor is not required. At least one flange member 75 (see figure 6) is attached to the lower ends of the side walls (11, 13, 15 and 17) in order to support the floor sheet 41. In the arrangement shown in figure 2, the floor sheet 41 is hingedly connected to the lower end 42 of the second side wall 15 and adapted to rest on at least one flange member 75 10 attached to the lower end 42 of the first side wall. According to an embodiment of the invention, the hingedly connection may be adapted to the first wall 11 and the flange member may be located at the second side wall 15. The floor sheet 41 may be adapted to be hingedly connected to the side walls (11 or 13) and to receive the flange members 75. As shown in figures 9 and 10, the floor sheet 41 15 comprises at one of its sides 77 a pair of hinges 79 and at their remaining sides 81 indentations 83 for receiving the flange members 75. The indentations are embedded into the floor sheet's bottom side 82. A locking device is provided for maintaining the floor sheet 41 in place and hindering the wall structure to collapse (not shown). For example, flange members 20 75 may include first magnetic members to attract and hold the floor sheet 41 in place. In case that the floor sheet 41 is made out material not attracted by magnets second magnets members may be attached to the floor sheet's lower surface to coincide with the first magnetic members attached to the flanges 75. The upper surface of the floor sheet 41 may include magnetic members such that 25 it may be releasably locked to the wall structure's inner surface. In case that the wall structure is made out material not attracted by magnets, magnets members may be attached to the wall structure's inner surface to coincide with the magnetic members attached to the upper surface of the floor sheet 41 thus maintaining the floor sheet 41 in the stored position. 30 The animal containment apparatus includes a plurality of wheels 59 attached to the lower portion of the wall structure 7 or floor structure 5. As shown in figure 1, a plurality of wheels 59 is attached to the lower ends 42 of the first and second side - 11 walls (11 and 15). The plurality of wheels 59 may be pivotically connected to the first and second side walls (11 and 15). Also, a locking mechanism for locking at least one wheel 59 in position may be provided (not shown). Wheels comprising locking mechanism are well known in the art. According to an embodiment of the 5 invention, the wheels may comprise locking mechanism that can be activated and deactivated with a foot. The wall structure 7 may have at least one door 90 through which the animal may enter or exit (see figure 8a) the apparatus 1. The door wing 91 is pivotically connected to one of the sides 96 of the aperture 93 included in any of the side 10 walls (11, 13, 15, 17). The door 90 may have hinges 95 which are spring loaded allowing the door wing 91 to automatically go back to the shut or locked position once the animal has entered or exit the apparatus 1. Referring to figure 8b, according to an embodiment of the invention the door 90 comprises a door wing 92 that may be split in two sections thus providing two 15 door wings 94 and 98 that may be opened separately or together. A locking mechanism is provided for releasable locking the door(s) 91 to the wall structure. As shown in figure 8b, door wings 94 and 98 are releaseably locked via spring loaded latches 100. The door 91 may be made out any rigid material or a mesh like material 20 surrounded by a frame. The roof 3 is made of a light weight material which offers protection from the sun and rain. The roof will be of sufficiently strong material to contain the animal. The wall structure 7, as well as other components of the apparatus, can be made out of many materials, either metal, plastic, mixture of both, among others. The 25 material may be solid material including perforations for providing oxygen to the contained animal.

- 12 The side walls (11, 13, 15, and 17) conforming the wall structure 7 are made out of a mesh like material 99 surrounded by a frame 97 (see figures 6 to 8). According to an embodiment of the invention, at least partially the mesh material 99 is covered by a second mesh material 101 as shown in figures 1 and 6. 5 The floor sheet 41 should be free of any sharp edges which could harm an animal contained by the apparatus. As shown in figure 9, the sheet is made out of a solid sheet of resistant material made out of, for example, metal, plastic, mixture of both, among others. Preferably, the sheet would be resistant to the absorption of contaminants such as 10 animal excrement and urine and food. Desirably, the apparatus is easy to clean. According to an embodiment of the invention, the floor sheet 41 comprises an upper mesh structure and a lower sheet (not shown). The lower sheet is slideablely located under the mesh structure. For this the floor structure includes guides that support the lateral sides of the lower sheet under the mesh structure. 15 The lower sheet may comprise an absorbent material for absorption of the contaminants. The lower sheet can be slide out of the apparatus for cleaning purposes and then slide back under the mesh structure. In use the apparatus will form generally a square or a rectangular shape. The four side walls (11, 13, 15, and 17) may be locked in position and the floor sheet 20 41 may be laid on the bottom of the apparatus with the roof 3 covering the top of the containment zone 9. Attached to the bottom of the apparatus on each of the four corners may be the wheels 59, which may be held in a locked position. Animals can then be stored in the apparatus. When the apparatus is in the collapsed condition (see figure 3) the various 25 components (the second side wall 15, the floor sheet 41 and the folded third and fourth side walls (13 and 17) ) are confined between the first side wall 11 and the roof 3. The bracket members 67 attached to the first side wall 11 and to the strut portions 67 of roof 3, and span along a space 103 (defined between the first side wall 11 and the second side wall 15) in which the folded third and fourth side walls 30 (13 and 17) are accommodated.

-13 In use the animal containment apparatus will advantageously provided compact storage of the unit when it is not in use or is being moved or transported. The ability to lock the unit in the expanded and unexpanded conditions allows the apparatus to be safely used. In particular a large dog is capable of moving about 5 the cage without the unit collapsing. When the unit it not in use and in the collapsed mode the ability to lock the unit in place enhances the safety of an individual moving the unit. When moving the unit around and on to a vehicle for transport and the like it is important that the unit is fixed in position in a compact way. 10 The procedure for collapsing the apparatus 10 will now be described. The roof 12 is released and lifted upwardly to provide access to the containment zone 11. The sheet 37 defining the floor 14 can be extracted from the containment zone or thanks to hinges 79 (see figure 10) can be raised and attached to the wall structure. The two side walls 20 and 22 than will be free to fold allowing the inner 15 wall sections 45 and 47 to move inwardly and causing the two rigid walls 16 and 18 to come together, as shown in Figures 2 and 3. The roof 12 is then moved into the stowed position in which it locates adjacent rigid wall 16, as shown in Figure 4. The roof 12 can be locked in this position enabling the apparatus to be secured. At this point the wheels (not shown) can be unlocked and the item can be moved 20 easily. According to an embodiment of the invention, the floor sheet 37 can be kept between the walls 16 and 18 in case that the floor sheet 37 is not hingedly connected to the wall structure. Modifications and variations as would be apparent to a skilled addressee are deemed to be within the scope of the present invention. 25 Throughout the specification and claims, unless the context requires otherwise, the word "comprise" or variations such as "comprises" or "comprising", will be understood to imply the inclusion of a stated integer or group of integers but not the exclusion of any other integer or group of integers.

Claims

1. An animal containment apparatus comprising a wall structure and a roof, the wall structure being moveable between an erected condition defining a containment zone and a collapsed condition, the roof being mounted on the 5 wall structure for movement between an operative position above the containment zone and a stowed position adjacent the collapsed wall structure.

2. An animal containment apparatus according to claim 1 wherein the wall structure comprises a first side wall and a plurality of further side walls. 10

3. An animal containment apparatus according to claim 2 wherein the further side walls are confined between the first side wall and the roof when the wall structure is in the collapsed condition and the roof is in the stowed position.

4. An animal containment apparatus according to claims 2 or 3 wherein the 15 roof is pivotally mounted on the first side wall for movement between the operative and stowed positions.

5. An animal containment apparatus according to any one of claims 2 to 4 wherein the further side walls comprise second, third and fourth side walls, wherein the second side walls are in opposed relation to the first side wall, 20 and the third and fourth side walls are in opposed relation to each other.

6. An animal containment apparatus according to claim 5 wherein the third and fourth side walls each comprise two sections foldable with respect to each other to allow the first and second side walls to move inwardly towards each other as the wall structure moves from the erected condition to the 25 collapsed condition. -15

7. An animal containment apparatus according to claim 6 wherein the two sections are foldable inwardly to locate between the first and second side walls.

8. An animal containment apparatus according to claims 6 or 7 wherein each 5 of the two sections have an inner end and an outer end, the inner ends being hingedly interconnected and the outer ends being hingedly connected to the adjacent outer ends of the first and second side walls.

9. An animal containment apparatus according to any of the claims 2 to 8 wherein the roof comprises a strut portion and a cover portion, the cover 10 portion being adapted to at least partly overlay the containment zone when the roof is in the operative position, and the strut portion being pivotally linked to the first side wall of the wall structure.

10. An animal containment apparatus according to claim 9 wherein the first side wall of the wall structure comprises bracket members, the brackets 15 member comprising each one pins for connecting pivotically the strut portion of the roof.

11. An animal containment apparatus according to any of the claims 2 to 10 wherein at least one door is incorporated in at least one of any of the first side wall and the plurality of further side walls. 20

12.An animal containment apparatus according to claim 11 wherein the at least one door comprises at least one door wing which is hingedly connected to the any of the first side wall and the plurality of further side walls.

13.An animal containment apparatus according to claim 12 wherein the at 25 least one door wing is hingedly connected to any of the first side wall and the plurality of further side walls via spring loaded hinges. -16

14.An animal containment apparatus according to any of claims 11 to 13 wherein the at least one door comprise a releasable locking mechanism.

15.An animal containment apparatus according to claim 14 wherein the releasable locking mechanism comprises at least one spring loaded latch. 5

16. An animal containment apparatus according to any one of claims 2 to 15 comprising a floor structure.

17. An animal containment apparatus according to claim 16 wherein the floor structure comprises a floor sheet hingedly connected to the first side wall via at least one hinge. 10

18. An animal containment apparatus according to claims 16 or 17 wherein at least one of the plurality of further side walls comprise at least one flange member to support the floor sheet.

19. An animal containment apparatus according to claim 18 wherein the at least one flange member comprises a magnet member to releaseably attach 15 the floor sheet.

20.An animal containment apparatus according to any of the claims 16 to 19 wherein the wall structure is releasably locked in erected condition via the floor sheet.

21. An animal containment apparatus according to any of the claims 2 to 20 20 wherein at least one of the first side wall and the plurality of further side walls comprises material having perforations.

22. An animal containment apparatus according to claim 21 wherein the material having perforations is a mesh material.

23. An animal containment apparatus according to claim 22 wherein the mesh 25 material is at least partially covered by a second mesh material. -17

24.An animal containment apparatus according to any of the claims 2 to 23 comprising a plurality of wheels.

25.An animal containment apparatus according to claim 24 wherein at least three of the plurality of wheels are pivotically connected to at least one of 5 the lower ends of the first side wall and the plurality of further side walls to allow movement of the apparatus.

26. An animal containment apparatus according to any of the clams 21 to 25 wherein at least one of the wheels is lockable.

27.An animal containment apparatus according to claim 2 to 26 wherein the 10 roof comprises a rim portion surrounding at least partially the roof, the rim portion covering at least partially the upper ends of the first side wall and the plurality of further side walls.

28. An animal containment apparatus according to claim 27 wherein the rim portion opposite to the first side wall comprises at least one depression to 15 receive at least one wheel when the wall structure is in the collapsed condition and the roof is in the stowed position.

29.An animal containment apparatus according to any of the previous claims wherein the roof is releasably locked to the wall structure.

30. An animal containment apparatus according to claim 29 wherein the roof is 20 releasably locked to the wall structure via at least one band having a first end attached to the roof and a second end attached to the wall structure.

31. An animal containment apparatus according to any of the previous claim wherein the wall structure is releasably locked in the erected condition.

32.An animal containment apparatus according to any of the previous claim 25 wherein the wall structure is releasably locked in the collapsed condition. -18

33. An animal containment apparatus according to claim 32 wherein the wall structure is releasably locked in the collapsed condition via at least one magnetic member attached to the roof, the magnetic member being in a location to attract the wall structure when in collapsed condition.