GB2446946A

GB2446946A - Modular animal cage with snap fit connections

Info

Publication number: GB2446946A
Application number: GB0803128A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Melvin Brian Driver
Original assignee: MDC Exports Ltd
Current assignee: MDC Exports Ltd
Priority date: 2007-02-21
Filing date: 2008-02-21
Publication date: 2008-08-27
Also published as: GB0803128D0; GB0703332D0

Abstract

A modular cage formation system comprising a plurality of different sized panels which can be held together wholly by a series of snap like action clips. Cages of different sizes and shapes can be constructed by connecting different sized panels together. The cages can be easily assembled and collapsed for stowage. The clips are of two principal types, one type providing a double action hinge facility whereby the two panels are free to fold towards each other for the purposes of stowage (fig 2), and a second type which are provided with a handle/lever whereby the clips can be readily disengaged from an adjacent panel when required (fig 3).

Description

-1-2446946

ANIMAL CAGE

This invention relates to the construction of cages or enclosures for housing animals and/or birds whether household or wild birds.

it is well known for many reasons to use a cage appropriate to the size and space requirements for any particular animal/bird that may be required to be housed on a short term temporary basis or for longer or more permanent time periods.

In practice it is usually desirable that the physical size of such cages are appropriate to the size and type of animal or bird involved.

In practice, for example, in situations such as in veterinary practices there can be an ongoing change in the variety and mix of the animals likely to be present in the 1 Opremises of a veterinary centre so that at any one time there may well be a demand for varying numbers and sizes of cages required for use at any one time In the case of fixed permanent cage constructions each such cage requires a fixed storage space whereby the their existence makes substantial demand upon the space available within the veterinary or other locations/centres.

1 5As a result of this it is known to provide cage constructions that are foldable.

However, with the known foldable constructions the cages can only be formed from panels that are only suitable for a specific size cage construction.

It is an object of the invention to alleviate cage storage problems associated with the storage of a range of cages..

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Broadly, according to a first aspect of the present invention there is provided a cage formation system for enabling the construction of differently sized cages, wherein the system incorporates a series of differently sized panels selectively inter connectable to provide cages of a required size,.

Preferably the panels comprise rectangular frameworks including a main frame and a mesh like covering, wherein the main frames of all of the panels are formed from bar or rod presenting the same cross sectional area.

Conveniently the bars or rods are of circular cross section.

in accordance with a further aspect of the invention, connection means are provided for coupling the main frames of a requisite number of appropriately sized panels required to establish a required size of cage to each other in such manner that a thus formed cage can be collapsed from an animal receiving state to a folded or stowed state.

Preferably, the connection means each comprise a clip element incorporating two frame engaging sections each adapted to engage with a main frame member with a snap like action.

Preferably, selected ones of the clip elements can be provided with a lever element, so positioned relative to the remainder of the element as effectively to act as handle/lever for enabling engagement and release thereof as required to provided for the connection or separation of panels one from the other.

Conveniently, where it is required to provide a door to the cage, a panel that is to serve as the door is pivotally joined to an adjacent selected panel, and is arranged to be securable in its closed position to any other adjacent panels by one or more of said connection means with the handle/lever.. "4-

In a preferred construction the clip element has a numeral three like cross section.

Thus the panels can be considered as being held are held together wholly by a series of snap like action clips which are of two principal types one type providing a double action hinge facility whereby the two panels that such a clip interconnects are free to fold towards each other for the purposes of stowage of any cage of which they form part, and a second type which are provided with a handle/lever whereby such clips can be readily disengaged from an adjacent when ever required.

For a better understanding of the invention and to show how to carry the same into effect reference will now be made to the accompanying drawings in which Figure 1 which very schematically illustrates the formation of a panel incorporating the concepts of the present invention; Figures 2 illustrates in cross section a clip for pivotally joining one panel to another, the Figure illustrating engagement with a frame rod or bar, Figures 3 illustrates the engagement of a clip having a handle/lever, the Figure illustrating the engagement or disengaged with a second rod or bar, Figure 4 very schematically illustrates a group of panels in laid out form demonstrating a possible arrangement panels required to form a cage with a door; Figure 5 illustrates the group of panels when joined together to form an assembled cage; and Figure 6 schematically illustrates a stage in the process of folding an assembled cage of Figure 5.

Referring now to the Figure 1 this illustrates a panel I having a rectangular main frame 2. The frame is provided with a wire mesh 3. The nature of this mesh in terms of hole spacing will be related to the nature of animals and/or birds that the cages intended to be housed therein.

Figure 2 schematically illustrates the form of a connection means 4. As will be noted the connection means 4 has a generally numeral three cross section with a central body part 5 the arms 6 of which a so curved and dimension as to be ab le to engage with members of the main frame 2 of the panel 1 with a snap action which affords a firm fit that does not readily disengage but allows relative pivoting of the two panels that the connection means serves to connect together. In this Figure the left hand side is illustrated in conjunction with a part engaged frame bar.

Figure 3 illustrates the form a connection means 7 similar in construction to that of Figure 2 but including a handle/lever element 8 at one side 9 thereof. The provision of the handle/lever element 8 enables the connection means 7 to be readily engaged with or disengaged from a panel main frame 2 frame which the handle/lever element end 9 of the connection means 5 is associated. The left hand side of this Figure is illustrated when fully engages with a frame bar and the right hand side when part engaged with a frame bar. The words lock and unlock in the Figure indicates the direction of displacement of the connection means 7 when engaging with or when 2oseparating from a frame bar Referring now to Figure 4. this figure schematically illustrates the number of panels panels I required to form a cage having an operable door in the front thereof.

Broadly speaking the cage incorporates a single piece back panel 10 defining the height and length of the cage, two foldable cage ends structures 11 defining the 2 5width/depth of the cage, a front structure 12 defining the front wall of the cage, and a lid structure 13..

Since it is required that the cage should be foldable the panels forming the cage are interconnected in such manner that the various panels can be folded to form a compact structure, The interconnections of the back panels and said structures will involve the two types of the connection means used at the particular positions considered appropriate for the size of the cage involved and the nature and position of any openable door or doors.

The various interconnections involved in forming a cage from the above mentioned back panel and the end wall, front and lid structures structures will be briefly considered in relation to Figures 4, 5 and 6.

In practice the back panel 10 can conveniently be regarded as the basic shape setting panel 1 for the cage.

As is illustrated the lid structure 13 is connected to one edge region 14 of the back panel 10 by a plurality of the connection elements 4. The numbers of these connections 4 and their distribution will depend upon the overall size of the panel and 1 5 the lid structure. The two panels 15,16 forming an end wall are pivotally coupled by connections 4 and are in turn pivotally connected to the upstanding ends of the back panel. The ends 17 of the front structure are pivotally connected to the outer upright edge of the associated panel 16 by connections 4.

The constructional form of the front structure will depend upon whether or not one or more doors are required to be provided If a door is not required the lid and/or front structures can comprise a single panel. If a door or doors is/are required the panels selected to form the lid and/or door structure will be related to the number and location of the required door or doors and the type of door i.e., a drop down door, a lift up door, a single door, a double door, a swing door, two swing doors, full length doors, part length doors or various combinations thereof.

In particular Figure 5 illustrates a simple form of an erected cage. The cage is maintained in its erected setting by means of appropriately positioned connections 5.

These connections will be located, for example, .between the ends of the lid structure and the tops of the panels 15 and 16, and any other locations considered necessary to prevent the end panels from displacement from the position shown in the Figure 5.

Figure 6 schematically illustrates a stage in the collapsing/stowing an erected cage.

As will be noted the lid is initially folded back and the front structure is pushed towards the back 10 causing the end wall panels to pivot towards each other.

Claims

1. A cage formation system for enabling the construction of differently sized cages, wherein the system incorporates a series of differently sized panels selectively inter connectable to provide cages of a required size,.

2. A cage formation system as claimed in claim 1, wherein the panels comprise rectangular frameworks including a main frame and a mesh like covering, and wherein the main frames of all of the panels are formed from bar or rod presenting the same cross sectional area.

3. A cage formation system as claimed in claim I or 2, wherein the bars or rods are of circular cross section.

4.. A cage formation system as claimed in claim 1, 2 or 3, and wherein connection means are provided for coupling the main frames of a requisite number of appropriately sized panels required to establish a required size of cage to each other insuch manner that a thus formed cage can be collapsed from an animal receiving state to a folded or stowed state.

5. A cage formation system as claimed in claim 4, wherein each connection means comprises a clip element incorporating two frame engaging sections each adapted to engage with a main frame member with a snap like action.

6.. A cage formation as claimed in claim 5, wherein the clip element has a numeral three Ike cross section.

7. A cage formation system as claimed in claim 5 or 6, wherein selected ones of the clip elements can be provided with a lever element, so positioned relative to the remainder of the element as effectively to act as handle/lever for enabling engagement and release thereof as required to provided for the connection or separation of panels one from the other.

8. A cage formation system as claimed in any one of the preceding claims wherein where it is required to provide a door to the cage, a panel that is to serve as the door is pivotally joined to an adjacent selected panel, and is arranged to be securable in its closed position to any other adjacent panels by one or more of said connection means with the handle/lever..

9. A cage formation system comprising a plurality of panels wherein the panels can be considered as being held are held together wholly by a series of snap like action clips which are of two principal types one type providing a double action hinge facility whereby the two panels that such a clip interconnects are free to fold towards each other for the purposes of stowage of any cage of which they form part, and a second type which are provided with a handle/lever whereby such clips can be readily disengaged from an adjacent when ever required.

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10.A cage formation system constructed and arranged to be assembled, substantially as herein before described with reference to the Figures of the accompanying drawings.

11. A cage when formed by the system as claimed in any one of the preceding claims.

12.A cage constructed and arranged to be assembled, substantially as herein before described with reference to the Figures of the accompanying drawings.