DK201570131A1 - Cage system with fastening system - Google Patents

Abstract

The invention relates to a cage system (2) for furred animals, wherein said cage system (2) comprises at least a first cavity (3) for one of more furred animals, a door (4), which door (4) is configured to be moved between a closed position and an open position, and a fastening system (1) comprising a fastening part (30, 30b), which fastening part (30, 30b) comprises first fastening means (10) for fastening said door (4) in said closed position by interacting with a first cage system part (11). The fastening system (1) moreover comprises a fastening part (30, 30a) which comprises second fastening means (20) configured for fastening said door (4) in said open position by interacting with a second cage system part (21). The invention moreover relates to a fastening system.

Description

CAGE SYSTEM WITH FASTENING SYSTEM

The invention relates in a first aspect to a cage system for furred animals such as mink or foxes, and in a second aspect of the invention to a fastening system.

Background

Cage systems for furred animals such as mink, foxes and the like have developed over the recent years. The cage system comprises a compartment (sometimes more than one compartment), that can be access through a door/lid, and the cage walls may be provided by a mesh structure and/or a combination of mesh structures and plates.

Different systems are known within the field in relation to keeping a door of a cage in a desired position. However, such known systems suffer from disadvantages in relation to e.g. simplicity and adaptability. Moreover, known systems have proven to be time consuming when e.g. exchange of hay or other cage material, or other kinds of care of animals in a cage should be provided.

It is e.g. an object of the present invention to provide an improved, simple and yet efficient solution in relation to a fastening system for cage system doors.

The invention the present invention relates in a first aspect to a cage system for furred animals, wherein said cage system comprises at least a first cavity for one of more furred animals, a door, which door is configured to be moved between a closed position and an open position, a fastening system comprising a fastening part, which fastening part comprises first fastening means for fastening said door in said closed position by interacting with a first cage system part, and wherein said fastening system moreover comprises a fastening part which comprises second fastening means configured for fastening said door in said open position by interacting with a second cage system part.

The above e.g. provides a simple and reliable solution where the fastening system may fit into different types of cage systems where the door can be arranged and fixed in an open or closed position. For example, the first cavity may be arranged to provide a nest section for the furred animal. Such a nest section needs exchange of hay or other material to provide a comfortable nest place, to provide insulation in cold environment and/or the like. This is often provided manually, as the care person can then also consider the condition of the animal(s). The present invention provides a fast, reliable and simple solution where a user can arrange the door in the open position by means of the second fastening means by making the second fastening means corporate with the second cage system part. After the required care has been provided, the door is released from the open position by releasing the second fastening means from the second cage system part, moved to the closed position and the first fastening means is arranged to interact with the first cage system part, thereby preventing the animal(s) in the cage from opening the door from the inside.

It is however understood that the present invention may also be used in other types of cage systems.

It is generally understood that the first fastening means and second fastening means also may be referred to first fastening part and second fastening part.

In an aspect of the invention, said fastening part is pre-shaped, preferably by a bending a wire or plate such as a metal wire or metal plate, or by means of moulding and/or cutting.

The bending of a material, or the moulding or cutting provides a strong fastening part which is at the same time fast and cost efficient to produce.

Metal may be a preferred material as the furred animals may gnaw/eat some of the fastening part when it is arranged in the open position, and thus metal is sustainable to this treatment. Also metal is durable and may provide a desired flexibility. However, in other aspects of the invention plastic or any other suitable material may be used for providing a fastening part.

In a preferred aspect of the invention, said fastening part has been formed in one piece by bending a material, such as a metal wire, preferably so as to form said fastening means.

This provide a simple, reliable and cost-efficient fastening part that is fast and cost efficient to produce as the bends provides the first and second fastening means. Thus, jointing of multiple parts to provide the fastening means of the fastening part is not needed. Hence, also a strong fastening part that is not exposed to the risk of weak jointing due to production errors is provided.

In preferred aspects of the invention, the first fastening means and the second fastening means of the fastening system are arranged together at the same fastening part.

This has shown to provide a simple, cost efficient and yet effective solution for providing improved fastening means. Moreover, this takes up less space, may reduce the risk of a person or material unintentionally catching/sticking to the fastening part and/or may be hygienic solution.

It is however understood that in embodiments of the invention, the first fastening means may be arranged at a first fastening part, and the second fastening means of the fastening system may be arranged at a further, second fastening part.

In advantageous aspects of the invention said fastening part is fixed to and extends from said door, preferably in a predefined, substantially fixed direction, and into one or more first bend(s), thereby providing said second fastening means, and subsequently into one or more second bends to provide said first fastening means.

This may e.g. be provided by a metal wire or a bended plate, and has proven to be simple, reliable and cost-efficient solution.

In another aspect of the invention, the fastening part may be fixed to and extend from the door, preferably in a predefined, substantially fixed direction, and into one or more first bend(s), thereby providing said first fastening means, and subsequently into one or more second bends to provide said second fastening means.

By the phrase “extending from the door in a predefined, substantially fixed direction” it is understood that the fastening part is not connected by a hinge to the door, but extends in a predefined direction so that the fastening part is flexible so that it can be deformed/flexed, e.g. by hand, to connect with the first and/or second cage system part(s) and thereby provide a holding force.

In an advantageous aspect of the invention, said fastening part is formed in one piece by bending a wire such as a metal wire to comprise a bend providing two wire parts, wherein each of said wire parts comprises a first bend thereby providing said second fastening means, and a second bend to provide said first fastening means, and wherein said first and second bends are arranged between said door and said bend providing the wire parts.

This provide a fastening part that is fast, simple and cost-efficient to produce, and at the same time is e.g. strong as it is formed in one piece. Moreover it may provide a simple solution with an advantageous resiliency so as to allow the connection part to be deformed by hand to arrange the door in the desired position, and a solution which is easy for a user to operate.

In advantageous aspects of the invention, said fastening part may comprise further bends to provide wire parts configured to extend along a frame part of the door, which wire parts are used for fixing said fastening part to said frame part.

Hence an advantageous one-piece solution is provided which provide an efficient connection/fixation of the fastening part to the door, such as to a frame part of the door.

In preferred aspects of the invention, at least a part of said fastening part(s) is/are resilient and configured to be deformed so as to keep said door in said open position and/or said closed position.

This provides a reliable and simple solution for keeping the door in the desired position(s). The resiliency is preferably provided by the material of the fastening part, i.e. the material has a resilient property which provides that the material, when deformed, e.g. by hand, will try to regain its starting position where it is not deformed. Hence, it may provide a force against the second cage system part and/or first cage system part, thereby providing a “holding force” that keeps the door in an open or closed position

Alternatively, in an aspect of the invention, a spring may be provided so that the material of the fastening part is not in itself deformed much, but the spring provides the force for keeping the door in the desired position.

The resiliency may also in aspects of the invention at least partly be provided by resiliency of the door, e.g. a metal mesh so when providing a force on e.g. the fastening part(s), the door deflects to provide a force to keep the door/lid in a desired open or closed position.

In aspects of the invention, said first fastening means and/or said second fastening means may this be pre-shaped by a wire or plate such as a metal wire or metal plate, or by means of moulding, and the first fastening means and/or said second fastening means may thereby be resilient and configured to be deformed to keep the door in the open position and/or the closed position.

Also, in aspects of the invention, the fastening part may be configured to be deformed when the door is arranged in the open position and/or the closed position, but when the door is arranged in the open or closed position the fastening part may be substantially un-deformed. In this case, the fastening part may comprise one or more latches and/or notches, hooks or the like to keep the door in open or closed position.

The cage system may in advantageous aspects of the invention be arranged so that said second fastening means are configured to provide operation means so that a user, by pushing and/or pulling said second fastening means by a force is able to release said first fastening means to allow opening of said door from said closed position.

This may e.g. provide an enhanced and efficient operation of the fastening system. It may be especially advantageous in aspects wherein the first fastening means and said second fastening means of the fastening system are arranged together at the same fastening part, e.g. where the fastening part is configured to be fixed to and extend from the door and into a first bend to provide the second fastening means, and subsequently into a second bend to provide the first fastening means, or where the fastening part is moulded to provide the first and second fastening means.

In aspects of the invention, said first fastening means and said second fastening means are arranged with a mutual angle between 35° and 160° such as between 65° and 120°, e.g. between 80° and 100°.

This provides a solution wherein the door may be arranged in different angles, i.e. an open and a closed position. The mutual angle between the first and second fastening means may help to determine the angle of the door when arranged in the open position, compared to closed position. This may be especially advantageous when the first fastening means and the second fastening means of the fastening system are arranged together at the same fastening part, e.g. formed by bended metal wire.

In preferred aspects of the invention, second fastening means are configured to corporate with a mesh structure of said cage system, which mesh structure provides said second cage system part, so as to keep said door in said open position.

This provides a simple and yet efficient solution for keeping the door in the open position. The mesh structure may e.g. have a number of crossing wires providing a plurality of predefined openings.

Alternatively, the second cage system part may be provided by an opening in a plate or the like.

In preferred aspects of the invention, said cage system comprises a second cavity for one of more furred animals such as mink, and wherein said second fastening means are configured to interact with a structure, such as a mesh structure, enclosing at least a part of said second cavity.

This may e.g. provide a space saving and simple solution where a part of the enclosure forming the second cavity may be used as the second cage system part with which the second fastening means can interact.

In this aspect, the cage system may comprise an opening for allowing the furred animal(s) to move between the first cavity and the second cavity. However, in other embodiments, the first and second cavities may provide different cages for different furred animals to keep the animals in the different cages separated.

In advantageous aspects of the invention, said mesh structure is a standard mesh structure comprising a plurality of openings of substantially similar size, and said second fastening means are configured to be placed in one or more of said openings in said open position.

This provides that no special second cage system part need to be provided as the standard mesh structure provides the second cage system part due to its standard openings. Such standard mesh structure may be provided by crossing wires arranged e.g. substantially perpendicular to each other to form a plurality of rectangular openings or the like, which are separated by the wires. One or more of these openings, together with one or more of the wires forming the respective opening(s) may be used as the second cage system part.

It may also reduce the work needed to produce the cage system as no special work has to be done to provide the second cage system part.

In a preferred aspect of the invention, at least a part of the fastening system may be is configured to be deformed by hand to keep said door in said open position, preferably by placement of said second fastening means in one of the standard openings of the mesh structure.

In aspects of the invention, wherein said cage system is a cage system for mink, where the cage system comprising a nest section provided by a first compartment and a further cage section provided by a second compartment, and wherein an opening is provided to allow the furred animal(s) in the cage system to move between said first and second compartments.

In such cage systems, the nest section may be arranged at the lower part of the further cage section and extend from the further cage system so that the door may be a lid or door giving access to the nest section. The door may be opened and by the second fastening means connected to the mesh structure of the further cage section above the nest section.

In advantageous aspects of the invention, said cage system is part of a set of cage systems for furred animals, which set of cage systems comprises a plurality of cage systems according to any of claims 1-14, and which set of cage systems preferably are supported by a common support frame structure.

The fastening system is an efficient solution for such cage systems, as it provides fast and easy access to the first cavities of the set of cage systems. The cage systems are often arranged in rows so that a user may fast open a plurality of the doors to the open position and thus fast provide the needed care and observation of the animals, and then close the door again in an easy way to the closed position.

In a second aspect of the present invention, the invention relates to a fastening system for a cage system for furred animals, wherein said cage system comprises at least a first cavity for one of more furred animals, and a door, which door is configured to be moved between a closed position and an open position, wherein said fastening system comprises a fastening part, which fastening part comprises first fastening means configured for fastening said door in a first position by interacting with a first cage system part, and wherein said fastening part moreover comprises second fastening means configured for fastening said door in a second position by interacting with a second cage system part.

This provides one or more of the advantages described above in relation to provide a strong and yet simple fastening system.

In aspects of said second aspect of the invention, said fastening part extends into a first bend, which first bend provides said second fastening means, and subsequently into a second bend to provide said first fastening means, wherein said fastening part is preferably formed in one piece, preferably by bending a wire or plate such as a metal wire or a metal plate.

In aspects of said second aspect of the invention, said fastening system is part of a cage system according to any of claims 1-15.

The invention may in a further aspect if the invention relate to a set of cage systems for furred animals, which set of cage systems comprises a plurality of cage systems according to any claims 1-18.

Figures

Aspects of the present disclosure will be described in the following with reference to the figures in which: fig. 1 : Illustrates schematically a cage system seen from the side, with a closed door, according to embodiments of the invention fig. 2 : illustrates schematically a cage system seen from the side, with an open door, according to embodiments of the invention, figs. 3-4 : illustrate a door with a fastening part according to embodiments of the invention, figs. 5a-5d : illustrate steps that may be performed to arrange a door from a closed position to the open position according to embodiments of the invention, figs. 6a-6b : illustrates embodiments of the invention where a fastening part may be moulded or cut to be formed with first and section fastening means, fig. 7-7a : illustrates embodimens of the invention comprising two fastening parts, fig. 8a-8c : illustrates embodiments of the invention where a mutual angle between fastening means are provided, fig. 9 : illustrates an embodiment of the invention where a fastening part comprises a hook arrangement, and fig. 10 : illustrates a set of cage systems according to embodiments of the invention.

Detailed description

Fig. 1 schematically illustrates an embodiment of the invention where a cage system 2 comprises a first compartment 3, enclosed by walls 40, 41 and a door 4. The walls may be made of a mesh 41, plates 40 or, as in the present example, a combination of plates 40 and a mesh 41 such as a mesh bottom.

The door 4 provides a lid that can be arranged in an open position and a closed position, and is preferably hinged (not illustrated) in the opposite end of the door than the end where a fastening system 1 is provided.

The cage system 2 moreover comprises a second compartment 5 which is formed by walls 50, in in this case all the walls are provided by a mesh structure 22. The mesh structure is a standard mesh structure comprising a plurality of openings 23 of substantially similar size.

The cage system comprises an opening 6 so the furred animal(s) can move between the firsts and second compartments 3, 5, e.g. a nest section 3 and a further cage compartment/section 5.

It is generally understood that the first compartment 3 may provide a nest section whereas the second compartment 5 may provide a further cage section for the furred animal. The nest section may comprise one or more walls 40 which are not permeable to light, e.g. made by one or more metal plates, plastic plates or wood plates to reduce the light entering the nest section. The bottom and/or door 4 of the nest section may however be made from a metal mesh, see e.g. figs. 1-4.

The fastening system 1 comprises a fastening part 30 comprising first fastening means 10 for fastening the door 4 in a closed position by interacting with a first cage system part 11. The first cage system part 11 is in this example provided by an opening 12 in a wall 40 that is configured so that the first fastening means can extend into the opening 12 so that the edge 11 of the opening prevents the door 4 from opening due to the first fastening means 10 extending into the opening 12.

The fastening system 1 moreover comprises second fastening means 20 configured for fastening the door 4 in an open position by interacting with a second cage system part 21 as illustrated in fig. 2.

The second fastening means 20 are configured so that they, when door is in an open position, can enter into an opening 23 of a mesh structure and interact with a part 21 of the mesh structure thereby keeping the door in an open position to provide access to the first compartment 3 from the outside of the compartment 3 through the opening 60 being covered by the door 4 when the door 4 is in a closed position.

As illustrated, the fastening part 30 preferably comprises both the first fastening means 10 and the second fastening means 20, this is explained in more details later below.

As illustrated, the fastening part 30 is fixed to and extends from the door 4. In an embodiment of the invention, the fastening part 30 may form the first and second fastening means 10, 20 by extending from the door 4 and into a first bend 7 which provides the second fastening means 20, and subsequently into a second bend 8 to provide the first fastening means 10 which may be provided by the “free” end part 13 of the fastening part 30. An example of this is also illustrated in fig. 3 which illustrates an embodiment of the fastening system 1 seen in perspective.

The fastening part 30 is fixed to and extends from the door 4, preferably so that that the fastening part 30 can be deformed by hand to arrange the first and second fastening means 10, 20 to interact with the cage system parts 11, 21.

The fastening part 30 may be fixed to e.g. a frame part 34 of the door 4, e.g. by welding or soldering, and/or by binders or the like (not illustrated) extending around the door frame and a part (16a, 16b) of the fastening part 30 arranged to extend along a frame part 34 of the door 4, from a bend 16 near a first end 17 of the fastening part 30, see e.g. fig. 3.

In embodiments of the invention, the first compartment 3 may provide a cage section, such a s nest section for e.g. mink, where the cage section with compartment 3 may e.g. be removable arranged to be removed from a second further cage section having further compartment 5 when the animal in the cage do not need the cage section such as a nest section.

The metal wire may in embodiments of the invention be bended 13a into two parts 15a, 15b such as substantial parallel parts 15a, 15b, around a point 13. In this case, this bending point 13a provides a free end 13 of the fastening part 30, and a part of the first fastening means 10.

As illustrated in fig. 3, the fastening part 30 may accordingly in a preferred embodiment of invention be provided by a one-piece metal wire bended to comprise: • a bend 13a at point 13 to provide two wire parts 15a, 15b, • a first bend 7 on each wire part 15 a, 15b to provide second fastening means 20, • a second bend 8 on each wire part 15 a, 15b to provide first fastening means 10, • a further bend 16 on each wire part 15a, 15b to provide parts 16a, 16b extending along the frame part 34, preferably in opposite directions as illustrated, so as to connect/fix the fastening part 30 to the cage door such as the cage door frame 34.

The fastening 30 part is thus provided between the ends 35 of the bended metal wire.

In fig. 3, the fastening part 30 is thus formed in one piece by bending a metal wire to comprise a bend 13a providing two wire parts 15a, 15b extending from the door.

Each of the wire parts 15 a, 15b comprises a first bend 7 thereby providing the second fastening means 20, and a second bend 8 to provide the first fastening means 10. The first and second bends 7, 8 are arranged between the door 4 frame 34 and the bend 13a providing the wire parts 15a, 15b.

In another embodiment of the invention, which is not illustrated, the fastening part may be fixed to and extend from the door, preferably in a predefined, substantially fixed direction, and into one or more first bend(s) providing the first fastening means 10 , and subsequently into one or more second bends 20 to provide the second fastening means. The first fastening means may thus extend into an opening or the like 12 to keep the door in a closed position, and the second bend may e.g. be provided at a free end extending away from the door die to a second bend.

As illustrated in fig. 4, the fastening part may in embodiments of the invention be provided by a plate bended as described above by first and second bends 7, 8 to provide fastening means 10, 20.

Figs. 5a-5d illustrates the steps that may be needed to arrange the door 4 from the closed position in fig. 5a to the open position in fig. 5d according to embodiments of the invention.

In fig. 5a, the second fastening means 20 provide an operation part that a user may operate. By providing a force FI on the fastening part 30 as indicated in fig 5a, away from the wall part 40, or cage system part 11, the user will release the first fastening means to allow opening of the door 4 from the closed position. The result of this force FI being provided is indicated in fig. 5b.

The door 4 can then be lifted upwards to an open position and a force F2 as illustrated in fig. 5 c can be provided, thereby forcing the second fastening means 20 to a position to interact with a second cage system part 21, in this case a part of the mesh 22 as illustrated in fig. 5d.

The fastening part 30 may thus in embodiments of the invention be resilient and configured to be deformed to keep the door 4 in the open position as illustrated in fig. 5d and/or the closed position as illustrated in fig. 5a by the force provided due to the resiliency of the material of the fastening part 30.

In other embodiments of the invention which are not illustrated, the fastening part 30 may be connected to the door by means of a hinge arrangement comprising a spring so that the spring may provide the movement of the fastening part 30 when the force F2 is provided.

When the door 4 is configured to be moved to the closed position, a user may e.g. provide a force F3 on the first fastening means 10, e.g. by his/her hand, e.g. away from the second cage system part 21, thereby releasing the door 4 from the open position, and the user can then arrange the first fastening means 10 to interact with the first cage system part 11 by arranging it in the opening 12, thereby keeping the door 4 in a closed position as indicated in fig. 5a.

Fig. 6a illustrates an embodiment of the invention wherein the fastening part 30 may be moulded or cut in a material such as metal, plastic or any other suitable material such as a polymer material.

In this embodiment, the fastening part is fixed to the door 4 at a first end part 17, and extends to a free, end opposite to the first end part 17. This opposite end provide the second fastening means 20 which as previously described are configured for fastening the door 4 in the open position by interacting with a second cage system part 21 (not illustrated in fig. 6a.).

The first fastening means 10 for fastening of the door 4 in the closed position by interacting with the first cage system part 11 extends in embodiments of the invention with an angle a from the fastening part 30.

The first fastening means 10 are arranged to extend into the opening 12 when the door 4 is in the closed position as indicated in fig. 6a, to prevent that the furred animals can open the cage from the inside. The upper edge 11 of the opening 12 in the wall 40 may thus provide the first cage system part.

Fig 6b illustrates the fastening part 30 of fig. 6a when the door 4 is arranged in an open position. Here the second fastening means 20 interacts with a second cage system part 21, thereby keeping the door 4 in an open position to allow access to the compartment 3 (not illustrated in fig. 6b).

Fig. 7 illustrates an embodiment of the invention wherein the fastening system 1 comprises two fastening parts 30a, 30b comprising each their fastening means 10, 20. The fastening parts 30a, 30b are fixed at their first end 17 to the door 4 and extend in a predefined direction away from the door 4. The fastening part 30a comprises the second fastening means 20 for keeping the door 4 in an open position by interacting with a second cage system part (not illustrated in fig. 7) as previously described. The fastening part 30b comprises the first fastening means 10 for keeping the door 4 in a closed position by the first fastening means 10 interacting with the first cage system part 11. The fastening parts 30a, 30b may thus be resilient as previously described so as to provide a force towards cage system parts 11, 21 to keep the door in the open or closed position.

The fastening parts 30a and 30b may in embodiments of the invention be formed in the same piece of metal wire extending along the frame part of the door. Fig. 7a illustrates an embodiment of the invention, wherein the fastening means 10, 20 are arranged at each their first and second fastening parts 30a, 30b respectively with an intermediate part 32 formed by bends 32a extending between the fastening parts 30a, 30b.

The first and second fastening parts 30a, 30b illustrated in figs. 7 and 7a may thus be arranged to be displaced along the door frame 34 as illustrated in fig. 7a with an intermediate section 32 of the wire. In this example, as opposed to the embodiment illustrated in e.g. figs. 1-3, multiple wire parts are provided by different bends so as to provide different fastening parts 30a, 30b, in a one-piece solution. The connection means 10, 20 are thus in fig. 7a arranged at different fastening parts 30a, 30b, and are thus not arranged together at the same fastening part 30 as provided by other embodiments of the invention e.g. as illustrated in figs. 1-6 and 8-9.

Fig. 8a illustrates an embodiment of the invention where the first fastening means 10 and second fastening means 20 are arranged together at the same fastening part 30.

The first fastening means 10 and the second fastening means 20 are arranged with a predefined mutual angle a of about 90°. It is however understood that dependent on the configuration of the part 30, the mutual angle a may be between 35° and 160° such as between 65° and 120°, e.g. between 80° and 100°. This provide a very simple and yet effective solution as this provides that the same part 30 is adapted to arrange the lid/door 4 (not illustrated in fig. 8) can be arranged in a closed and open position as the opening of the door will bring the second fastening means 20 in a suitable connection position as previously shown and described to keep the door/lid 4 in an open position, whereas the closing of the door/lid 4 will bring the first connection means 10 in a suitable connection position as previously shown and described to keep the door/lid 4 in a closed position. This is provided due to the change of angle al of the door/Lid.

The angle a is in this example provided by the bend 8 of the fastening part 30 and the is measured between the part comprising the second fastening means 20 and the part providing the first fastening means 10. The fastening part 30 is configured to be fixed to and extend in a predefined direction from the door 4 and into a first bend 7, thereby providing the second fastening means 20, and subsequently into a second bend 8 to provide the first fastening means 10.

The first bend 7 may be about 150°-230° so the part 30 extends back towards the end 17, and the second bend 8 may provide the above described angle a compared to the part 19 provided by the first bend 7.

Fig. 8a moreover illustrates that the door/lid 4 may be hinged by a hinge arrangement 18 enabling the door/lid 4 to open and close and this move between an open and closed position.

Fig. 8b illustrates a moulded, cut or the like example of the fastening part 30, where the angle a is measured between a protrusion 70 providing the second fastening means 20, and the protrusion 80 providing the first fastening means 10.

Fig. 8c illustrates an example where the fastening system 1 comprises two fastening parts 30a, 30b as previously described in relation to fig. 7. The angle a may be measured between the second fastening means 20 of the part 30a and the first fastening means 10 of the part 30b as illustrated.

Fig 9 illustrates an embodiment of the invention seen from the side where the second fastening means 20 of the fastening part 30 (or 30a) comprises a hook part 31 to help to keep the door 4 in the open position. In this example, the hook may provide that the fastening part 30, when released from the first cage system part 11 (not illustrated in fig. 9) may pivot towards the surface 4a of the door 4, e.g. by the part 30 being connected to the door at end 17 by a hinge arrangement. Thus, when opening the door 4, gravity may help to drag the part 30 downwards so the hook connects to a second cage system part 21.

On other examples, the hook part 31 may be arranged in any other suitable way and/or extend e.g. upwards when the door is in an open position to grab in under the part 21. In this embodiment, the part 30 may be arranged to be flexible arranged when the door is in an open position, and a user may provide a force F2 (se fig. 5c) to arrange the second connection means 20 in a suitable way to interact with a second cage system part 21.

Fig. 10 illustrates a set 90 of cage systems 2 for furred animals seen in perspective. The set of cage systems 2 comprises a plurality of cage systems 2, e.g. as described above, e.g. comprising a nest section 3 and a further cage section 5 for furred animals such as mink. The set 90 of cage systems are supported by a common support frame structure 91, and may be lifted above the ground by means of leg parts 90.

In general, it is to be understood that the present invention is not limited to the particular examples described above but may be adapted in a multitude of varieties within the scope of the invention as specified in e.g. the claims. Accordingly, for example, different types of fastening parts 30, 30a, 30b as described and/or illustrated above may be used in various aspects of the invention for different types of cage arrangements for furred animals such as mink, fox, rabbit, chinchilla or the like, and is not necessarily limited to a cage system comprising nest section and a further cage section.

List 1 : Fastening system 2 : Cage system 3 : First cavity 4 : Lid/door 4a : Lid/door surface 5 : Second compartment 6 : Opening between first and second compartment 7 : First bend on fastening part 8 : Second bed on fastening part 10 : First connection means 11 : First cage system part 12 : Opening or recess for arranging first connection means 13 : Free end part of fastening part, e.g. a part of first connection means 15 a, 15b : two wire parts of fastening part provided by bend at free end 16 : Bend near a first end of the fastening part. 17 : First end part of fastening part 18 : Hinge arrangement 19 : Part of fastening part extending towards lid/door due to first bend, and towards second bend 20 : Second connection means 21 : Second cage system part 22 : Standard mesh structure 23 : Standard openings in mesh structure 30 : Fastening part comprising first and second fastening means, 30a, 30b : Fastening part comprising connection means 31 : Hook part 40 : Walls forming first compartment 50 : Walls forming second compartment 60 : Opening to be covered by door/lid 70, 80 : Protrusions providing second and first fastening means

Claims (18)

1. A cage system (2) for furred animals, wherein said cage system (2) comprises at least a first cavity (3) for one of more furred animals, a door (4), which door (4) is configured to be moved between a closed position and an open position, a fastening system (1) comprising a fastening part (30, 30b), which fastening part (30, 30b) comprises first fastening means (10) for fastening said door (4) in said closed position by interacting with a first cage system part (11), wherein said fastening system (1) moreover comprises a fastening part (30, 30a) which comprises second fastening means (20) configured for fastening said door (4) in said open position by interacting with a second cage system part (21).

2. A cage system (2) according to claim 1, wherein said fastening part (30, 30a, 30b) is pre-shaped, preferably by a bending a wire or plate such as a metal wire or metal plate, or by means of moulding and/or cutting.

3. A cage system (2) according to claim 1 or 2, wherein said fastening part (30, 30a, 30b) is formed in one piece by bending (7, 8) a material, such as a metal wire, preferably so as to form said fastening means (10,20).

4. A cage system (2) according to any of the preceding claims, wherein said first fastening means (10) and said second fastening means (20) of said fastening system (1) are arranged together at the same fastening part (30).

5. A cage system (2) according to claim 4, wherein said fastening part (30) is fixed to and extends from said door (4), preferably in a predefined, substantially fixed direction, into one or more first bend(s) (7), thereby providing said second fastening means (20), and subsequently into one or more second bends (8) to provide said first fastening means (10).

6. A cage system (2) according to claim 4 or 5, wherein said fastening part (30) is formed in one piece by bending a wire, such as a metal wire, to comprise a bend (13a) providing two wire parts (15a, 15b), wherein each of said wire parts (15a, 15b) comprises a first bend (7) thereby providing said second fastening means (20), and a second bend (8) to provide said first fastening means (10), and wherein said first and second bends (7, 8) are arranged between said door (4) and said bend (13a) providing said wire parts (15a, 15b).

7. A cage system (2) according to any of claims 3-6, wherein said fastening part (30, 30a, 30b) comprises further bends (16) to provide wire parts (16a, 16b) configured to extend along a frame part (34) of the door (4), which wire parts (16a, 16b) are used for fixing said fastening part (30) to said frame part (34).

8. A cage system (2) according to any of the preceding claims, wherein at least a part of said fastening part (30, 30a, 30b) is/are resilient and configured to be deformed so as to keep said door (4) in said open position and/or said closed position.

9. A cage system (2) according to any of the preceding claims, wherein said second fastening means (20) are configured to provide operation means so that a user, by pushing and/or pulling said second fastening means (20) by a force (FI) is able to release said first fastening means (10) to allow opening of said door (4) from said closed position.

10. A cage system (2) according to any of the preceding claims, wherein said first fastening means (10) and said second fastening means (20) are arranged with a mutual angle (a) between 35° and 160° such as between 65° and 120°, e.g. between 80° and 100°.

11. A cage system (2) according to any of the preceding claims, wherein said second fastening means (20) are configured to corporate with a mesh structure (22) of said cage system (2), which mesh structure (22) provides said second cage system part (21), so as to keep said door (4) in said open position.

12. A cage system (2) according to any of the preceding claims, wherein said cage system (2) comprises a second cavity (5) for one of more furred animals such as mink, and wherein said second fastening means (20) are configured to interact with a structure, such as a mesh structure (22), enclosing at least a part of said second cavity (6).

13. A cage system (2) according to claim 11 or 12, wherein said mesh structure (22) is a standard mesh stmcture comprising a plurality of openings (23) of substantially similar size, and wherein said second fastening means (20) are configured to be placed in one or more (21) of said openings in said open position.

14. A cage system (2) according to any of the preceding claims, wherein said cage system is a cage system for mink comprising a nest section provided by a first compartment (3) and a further cage section provided by a second compartment (5), and wherein an opening (6) is provided to allow the furred animal(s) in the cage system (2) to move between said first (3) and second (5) compartments.

15. A cage system (2) according to any of the preceding claims, wherein said cage system (2) is part of a set (90) of cage systems (2) for furred animals, which set (90) of cage systems (2) comprises a plurality of cage systems (2) according to any of the preceding claims, and which set of cage systems (2) preferably are supported by a common support frame structure (91).

16. A fastening system (1) for a cage system (2) for furred animals, wherein said cage system (2) comprises at least a first cavity (3) for one of more furred animals, and a door (4), which door (4) is configured to be moved between a closed position and an open position, wherein said fastening system (1) comprises a fastening part (30), which fastening part (30) comprises first fastening means (10) configured for fastening said door (4) in a first position by interacting with a first cage system part (11), and wherein said fastening part (30) moreover comprises second fastening means (20) configured for fastening said door (4) in a second position by interacting with a second cage system part (21).

17. A fastening system (1) according to claim 13, wherein said fastening part (30) extends into a first bend (7), which first bend (7) provides said second fastening means (20), and subsequently into a second bend (8) to provide said first fastening means (20), wherein said fastening part (30) preferably formed in one piece, preferably by bending a wire or plate such as a metal wire or a metal plate.

18. A fastening system (1) according to claim 16 or 17, wherein said fastening system (1) is part of a cage system (2) according to any of claims 1-15.