IES65981B2 - A cage - Google Patents

Abstract

A cage (10) comprises a housing (11) and a grid (16) mounted on the housing. The grid moves between an open state in which the inside of the housing is accessible and a closed state where the grid shields the inside of the housing. The housing incorporates a first part of a latch (30), and the grid incorporates a second part of the latch (28). The parts are co-operable to secure the grid to the housing when the grid is in the closed state.

Description

The present invention relates to a cage.

According to the present invention there is provided a cage conqprising a housing and a grid mounted on said housing for movement between an open state in which the inside of the housing is accessible and a closed state where the grid shields the inside of the housing, said housing incorporating a first part of a latch, and said grid incorporating a second part of the latch, said parts being co-operable to secure the grid to the housing when the grid is in the closed state.

Preferably, the grid is pivotally mounted on the housing.

Preferably, the grid include a first protective portion and a second portion to which electric power is supplied, said latch being co-operable with switch means to disconnect said electric power from said second portion when the grid is in the open state..

Preferably, said second portion includes two spaced apart electrically isolated electrodes to which power is supplied so that, in use, insects or the like passing between said electrodes conduct electricity between the electrodes and are electrocuted.

An embodiment of the invention will now be described, by way of example, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: 965981 Figure 1 is a perspective view of a cage according to the invention; and * Figure 2 is a plan view of the cage of Figure 1. if Referring now to the drawings wherein similar numerals have been used to indicate like parts, there is shown a cage indicated at 10 according to the invention.

The cage of the embodiment is of the conventional type used for attracting and killing insects, as will be explained later, and comprises a housing having a substantially rectangular frame 11 having opposite side walls 12, an upper wall 13 and a lower wall, not shown, slidably removable from the frame.

In the embodiment, a grid 16 is mounted on the frame between the side walls 12. The grid 16 includes an axle 17, opposites ends of which are located for rotation in suitable recesses in respective side walls 12. The grid 16 includes a first, protective, grid 18 which is fixed to the axle 17. The protective grid 18 comprises a plurality of L-shaped members 19 which extend away from the side of the axle 17 and upwards towards the upper wall 13 of the frame. The L-shaped members 19 are linked with a plurality of cross-members 20 to form a rectangular mesh whose aperture size is sufficiently small to prevent persons putting their hands into the cage when the grid is closed against the frame. Four threaded plates 21 are fixed adjacent respective corners of the upwardly projecting face of the protective grid 18. *» The grid 16 further includes a second, killing, grid 1 22, Figure 2 which is mounted inside the protective grid 18 through the plates 21. The killing grid 22 comprises two electrodes 23, 24 which are maintained in a spaced apart electrically isolated relationship both from one another and the protective grid 18. To this end, four threaded insulating blocks 35 are mounted on the plates 21. A pair of spaced apart conductors 23 *, 24' run between the upper pair of blocks 35, while a pair of spaced apart conductors 23, 24” run between the lower pair of blocks 35. A plurality of conductors 25 run between the upper and lower conductors 23' and 23 respectively. Interleaved between the conductors 25, a plurality of conductors 26 run between the upper and lower conductors 24' and 24 respectively. Opposite poles of an elejctrical supply fed to the cage are connected to each respective electrode 23, 24.

A pair of parallel spaced apart UV fluorescent bulbs 15 traverse the frame 11 between the side walls 12. In use the bulbs are lit and insects attracted to the light from the fluorescent bulbs 15, pass through the protective grid and between the electrodes 23, 24. The insect then forms a conductive path between the electrodes and is electrocuted. The dead insect then falls into the removable lower wall which is periodically removed and emptied.

It will be seen that through use, the UV bulbs 15 need to be replaced and the inside of the cage also needs to be cleaned. To this end, a handle 27 is fixed to the upper edge of the grid 18. A captive bolt 28 ielocated in the handle and fits into a threaded hole 30 formed in a side lip 29 of the upper wall 13.

In order to clean or maintain the cage, the bolt 28 is unscrewed and the entire grid 16 is pivoted away from the cage. This provides easy access to the inside of the cage without the need for complicated and time consuming disassembly of the cage.

It will be realised that the killing grid 22 is thus exposed with a risk of inflicting injury to persons ( maintaining the cage. To mitigate this problem, a microswitch 31 is located on the upper wall 13 in t register with the hole 30, Figure 2. The microswitch includes a lever 32 disposed on the side of the microswitch adjacent the lip 29.

Screwing the bolt 28 fully into the lip 29 causes the end of the bolt to project through the lip and to engage and close the lever 32. When the lever is closed, the microswitch connects the electricity supply through to the killing grid electrodes 23, 24.

In order to maintain the cage, the bolt is unscrewed to allow the grid 16 to open away from the cage. This allows the lever to pivot open and to disconnect the electrical supply from at least the killing grid electrodes, thus preventing accidental shock to persons maintaining the cage.

It will be realised that variations of the embodiment are possible, for example, the grid could be slidably mounted for reciprocative movement within the frame. In this or the preferred embodiment, the microswitch could be built into either the upper wall or one or other of the side walls.

Claims (5)

CLAIMS:

1. A cage comprising a housing and a grid mounted on said housing for movement between an open state in which 5 the inside of the housing is accessible and a closed state where the grid shields the inside of the housing, said housing incorporating a first part of a latch, and said grid incorporating a second part of the latch, said parts being co-operable to secure the grid to the 10 housing when the grid is in the closed state.

2. A cage according to Claim 1 wherein the grid is pivotally mounted on the housing. 15

3. A cage according to Claim 1 or 2 wherein the grid include a first protective portion and a second portion to which electric power is supplied, said latch being co-operable with switch means to disconnect said electric power from said second portion when the grid is 20 in the open state.

4. A cage according to Claim 3 wherein said second portion includes two spaced apart electrically isolated electrodes to which power is supplied so that, in use, 25 insects or the like passing between said electrodes conduct electricity between the electrodes and are electrocuted.

5. A cage substantially as hereinbefore described with 30 reference to the accompanying drawings.