FR2579069A1 - Rabbit cages formed by the assembly of plastic handling containers - Google Patents

Abstract

Concrete rabbit cages cause the death of several million young rabbits every year in countries with cold winters. The present invention proposes the use of plastic handling containers which form a dwelling which is well-insulated thermally and easily transportable from a ventilated site (in summer) to a sheltered site (in winter). A container 1 equipped with a hay grid 7 serves as a cover for a higher container 2 equipped with lateral openings 6 of small surface area.The container 2 is closed at its bottom by a domed grid 4 with large meshes which is lined in the upper part by a grid with fine meshes. The excrement can thus roll into a leaktight container 3 fastened at 2 by hooks or knots 8. Rabbit hutches having more than 3 levels can thus be produced by stacking containers 2 and 3. Their cleanliness and light weight mean that these cages can be used to house show rabbits.

Description

 The present invention relates to cages for rabbits or other animals, which can be used individually or assembled with others (sheaves).

 Concrete rabbit cages, unfortunately too common, are the cause of the death of probably several million rabbits, especially young ones, every year, in countries with cold winter. This is how the cold of February 1985 caused the death of countless broods, even among the most careful breeders, and wooden cages are difficult to clean.

 The assemblies presented here are new by the fact tools use plastic handling bins appeared recently on the market. The lightness, solidity, the possibility of superimposing make these bins allow to design cages with new qualities : good thermal insulation with reduced openings for the winter, great cleanliness due to the fact that the urine can be collected in a watertight container, ease of transport and disassembly allowing the hutches to be mounted in a sheltered place in winter then in a ventilated place in summer.

 A device according to the invention consists (fig 1) of three tanks (1), (2) and (3) of heights approximately 10 cm, 40 cm and 10 cm and with horizontal dimensions 60 x 40 cm; these values are given as non-limiting example. The container (1) forming a cover is placed upside down on (2) and supports in its interior a wire mesh (7) with meshes of the order of 3 cm used to receive the hay. 1) and (2) are fixed at two points by hooks or knots so that the opening can be done by rotation about an axis.

 The tray (2) forms the rabbit's housing. It is provided upwards with four openings (6) of reduced surface. Experience shows that these openings are sufficient for several rabbits except in great heat. (6) allows the hanging of cups for beverages and granules. The tank (2) is bottomless but provided with edges which allow to retain a grating formed by a curved mesh with large meshes (4) (fig 2) lined with a mesh plastic material (5) with fine mesh, for example square, from 5 to 10 mm. The covering of (4) by (5) is done only in the upper parts, so that the excrement can roll in the tank (3) .In industrial farms the floor is a metallic mesh with large mesh on which the rabbit grazes its legs, which means that you have to select breeds with particularly strong legs. The curved gratings (4) and (5) can be removable and usable For any cage but they can also be molded directly with the tank (2) which will therefore have a curved bottom with fine lattice holes in the middle and more holes large (e.g. 2cm squares) on the edges. In no case should the floor be devoid of holes because the rabbit's legs would soak up urine.

The container (3) is used to receive the excrement and can be emptied only twice a month.It can be sprinkled with salt or ash to absorb bad odors.Washing with bleach will deodorize it perfectly.
ment. (2) and (3) are fixed by four hooks or knots (8).

 According to a first variant, the cover (1) will be transformed into an inclined roof (fie3). The vertical parts of this roof are formed from triangular plates (9) provided with spikes (10) fixed in holes drilled in (1) and (2) .The second inclined part of the roof can be a mesh, a window, a plate or a second bin (1) provided with a mesh for the grass (7).

 In a second variant, the tank (5) is removed, the tank (2) then being waterproof. This device, however, prevents the assembly (1) and (2) without bottom and without gratings, directly on a lawn , which can be beneficial in summer.

 A third very simplified variant consists in using only a sealed container (2) with a grating at the bottom, the top being closed by a hay mesh sufficiently flexible to allow the nesting of another container (2) above. One can thus realize hutches with many stages. 12) can be any plastic container.

 Figure 1 gives all the characteristics of the invention. Figure 2 is a top view of the grating seen through transparency in Figure 1. Figure 3 shows a cage with its sloping roof, the mesh or the plate making facing (1) not being shown.

 The invention is capable of being used in industrial farming, more particularly for housing young rabbits which are more sensitive to cold than adults. Due to their maneuverability and cleanliness, these cages should contribute to the the rabbit becomes more of a pet and a pleasure animal, even in cities, thus helping to stem the worrying proliferation of dogs and cats.

Claims (7)

 1) Cage for rabbits or other animals characterized in that it is Standardized with three plastic handling bins (1) (2) and (3), The container (1) being fixed above (2) in an inverted manner and provided with a hay mesh (7) the container (2) with reduced side openings (6) being 3 years bottom and provided with flanges allowing to retain the convex grids: 4) and (5); the container (3) with watertight bottom being hooked to (2) by four knots> u hooks (8); the container (1) can be kept open with two triangles made of plastic (9) provided with spikes (10) and closed on the riser by a screen, a window pane or a second inclined cover (1).  2) Cage according to 1) characterized in that the tank (3) is eliminated and the yac (2) provided with a sealed bottom.  3) Cage according to '1) characterized in that the grids (4) and (5) are replaced by a curved bottom molded at the same time as (2) with a trellis' in on the top of the bulge and a trellis with large holes at the bottom.  4) Cage according to 1) characterized in that it is reduced to the tank (2) with a sealed bottom 'closed at the top by a hay screen (7) sufficiently flexible to allow the embedding of a tank above.  5) Rabbit cage characterized in that it is formed by a plastic dobby tray with a sealed bottom and provided with small lateral openings.  6) Hutches characterized in that they are formed by juxtaposition The cage according to claims 1) to 5).  7) Grating adaptable on the floor of any cage, made of metal drunk in plastic material, characterized in that it is curved upwards t that it comprises a mesh with large meshes at the bottom and a mesh in the top of the bulge.