GB2362082A

GB2362082A - Animal display unit

Info

Publication number: GB2362082A
Application number: GB0012224A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Keith Ward
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2000-04-13
Filing date: 2000-05-19
Publication date: 2001-11-14
Also published as: GB0012224D0; GB0009111D0

Abstract

The unit has a base 1, side walls 3 and curved sliding doors 7 of transparent materials, to provide improved viewing and access to the animals. The unit is ventilated and this ventilation may be provided by fan 21. The rear wall may be formed from a perforated sheet or mesh 5 which is air permeable. The unit may be provided with strip lights 27 which can be located behind back sheet 29. The lights may have UV filters 27a.

Description

2362082 ANIMAL DISPLAY UNIT Arrangements to allow pet shops to display

small animals, in particular rodents such as mice, hamsters and gerbils, have remained substantially unchanged for many years.

Generally. such animals are displayed in fish tanks or conventional cages. The animals ma-v be difficult to observe and remove for examination, and living conditions are far from ideal.

The display unit described herein overcomes these problems.

In the drawings:

Figure 1 is a front perspective view of the proposed display unit.

Figure 2 is a rear perspective view of the proposed display unit, Figure 3 is a cross-section through the proposed display unit, and Figure 4 is front perspective view showing two proposed display units incorporated into stands. Referring to Figures 1 and 2, the proposed display unit includes an enclosure formed by a base 1, transparent end walls 3, and an air permeable rear wall 5. The side walls 25 have arcuate free edges, and the front of the display unit is formed by a pair of generally arcuate doors 7, each having an axis of curvature which extends adjacent the lower, rear edge of the base. The side walls and the doors are preferably formed from glass but may be of plastics. The rear wall has forwardly projecting side portions 6 forming air permeable strips to the rear of the unit, and a forwardly extending upper 30 portion 15.

The base is in the form of a tray with upstanding edge portions 9. The lower edges of the side Nvalls fit within the side edge portions of the tray, and its rear edge portion overlaps or is overlapped by the rear wall, which may be formed from mesh or perforated plastics sheet. The front edge portion of the tray supports a channel-shaped 2uide I I which receives the lower edges of the doors. The upper edges of the doors are received within a channel-shaped guide I') supported by the forward extending upper portion 15 of the rear wall.

The edae of one door overlaps the other, so that each may be made to slide to the other end of the unit and provide access to one half of the enclosure.

The air permeable rear wall ensures ventilation, which may be enhanced by a fan 21.

The forwardly extending upper portion 15 of the air permeable rear wall has a turned down edge 25 behind which a strip light 27 is concealed. A second strip light 27 is located at a level of about one-half the height of the unit. A back sheet 29 is supported by the turned down edge and may be plain or carry a pattern or picture. A tubular blue/green filter 27a is sleeved over each strip light and diffuses and filters the light reaching the animals in the unit, thereby eliminating up to 95% of ultraviolet radiation which may damage the retinas of nocturnal and diurnal rodents.

As shown in Figure 4 two units may be arranged in a stand having castor wheels and shelves 35 beneath the units, and also shelves 37 beside the unit, for accessories, including bedding and litter materials and instruction books.

Each unit may be divided into two side-by-side sub-enclosures by a removable vertical panel 17, and/or into sub-enclosures one above the other by a horizontal removable panel 19 with an upstand 19a along its edge which contacts the doors 7 to separate the upper and lower compartments. Optional or closable openings - 11 may permit animals to move between the side-by-side sub-enclosures. Fittings 33 may be provided for drinking bottles.

1 JI A pull-out shelf or tray 39 on which animals may be supported for examination is located belo", each unit.

Modifications may be made to the display unit described above. Although the doors are shown in the drawings to have to have a single radius of curvature, each door may have multiple radii, or may have a planar portion between upper and lower curved portions, or yet again may have a curved portion between upper and lower planar portions. Each of the doors may have a finger piece formed by an indented or protruding portion. One or more locks may be provided to enable the doors to be secured in place. Within the scope of the invention the rear wall may be unperforated, and all ventilation takes place through the perforated strips, or by way of the firm and suitable air outlets.

4

Claims

1. A small animal display unit comprising an enclosure having a base and side and rear walls, and doors shdable horizontally, the doors being curved about at least one horizontal axis, lower edges of the doors being guided adjacent the front edge of the base and upper edges of the doors being guided adjacent the upper edge of the rear wall, the doors and the side walls being transparent. the unit including means providing ventilation.

2 A display unit as claimed in claim 1, wherein the rear wall is formed from mesh or perforated sheet material.

3 ). A display unit as claimed in claim 1 or claim 2, wherein a plain or decorative panel is positioned forwardly of the rear wall, and a strip light is disposed between the panel and rear wall.

4. A display unit as claimed in any preceding clairri. wherein the rear wall has forwardly extending, air permeable edge portions, and a fan is arranged to draw air through an air permeable portion of the rear wall or one of said, air permeable edge portions.

5. A display unit as claimed in any preceding claini, including a shelf arranged beneath the base, and being movable into an extended position forwardly of the front edge of the base.

6. One or more display units as claimed in any preceding claim, incorporated into a stand having shelves for the display of pet related products.

7. A display unit or a stand incorporating one or more display units substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the drawings.