WO2009064191A1

WO2009064191A1 - Cage for keeping animals

Info

Publication number: WO2009064191A1
Application number: PCT/NO2008/000388
Authority: WO
Inventors: Terje Meyer
Original assignee: Terje Meyer
Priority date: 2007-11-15
Filing date: 2008-11-03
Publication date: 2009-05-22
Also published as: NO20075887L

Abstract

Cage for keeping and transportation of animals, featured in that it can be included as a modular part of an item of furniture, inventory or storage system and can also be used for the purpose of transporting the animal. The cage has a door device which does not require more space than the module itself upon opening and closing.

Description

Cage for Keeping Animals

Introduction and Prior Art

The present invention concerns a cage for keeping animals, designed as a module for possibly being a part of an item of furniture, inventory or storage system, and which also may be used to transport animals.

Existing cages for keeping animals are in general designed as a box-shaped unit, primarily designed for transport of the respective pets. Normally, cages for keeping animals are in general equipped with an opening device on one side; for dog cages one of the sides is frequently somewhat tilted, such that they e.g. easily go into the trunk of station wagons. Cat cages, or other cages for keeping animals, are generally made as a box which is well ventilated. These cages also have a door or opening on one side. Many of the conventional cages can, however, be too clumsy and unmanageable in order to have good functionality. They also have an appearance which is not satisfactory for indoor use.

Summary of the Invention

The present invention has the objective of mitigating the above-mentioned problems. A need for particular adaptation of cages is met in relation to the products which are included in the range of furniture chain stores etc.

The cages according to the invention can for example be introduced as ready-to-use adapted unit(s) in modular building systems. Such modular building systems are common to use in e.g. the furniture branch, for example as modular systems for bookshelves, cupboards, kitchen, cloakroom etc.

The present invention comprises a cage for keeping and transporting animals, comprising a cupboard structure consisting of atop (1), base (2), roof and two side walls (3), and with a door device placed as a front on the structure, featured in that the door device (4) is in a bearing of four sliding devices (6), which run in approximately L- shaped tracks (5) on the inside of each of the side walls (3) of the structure. Short Description of the Drawings

Fig. 1 depicts a cage for keeping animals in modular form in which the door device is about to be opened (or possibly is about to be closed).

Fig. 2 depicts a cage for keeping animals in modular form in which the door device is in a completely open position.

Detailed Description of the Invention

Hence this cage for animals can be used approximately as both a module in an item of furniture, inventory or storage system and for keeping animals during transportation. The inventive cage for keeping animals can therefore be kept in the living room, kitchen, cloakroom or in the bedroom or other suitable place where it is needed, for example also for transportation purposes, and which can be included in a modular system.

The invention is thereby comprised of a cage for keeping animals, which in its basic form has a cubical or box-shaped appearance, with a structure consisting of a top 1, base 2, roof and sidewalls 3 and with height, width and length dimensions which are adapted to the type and dimension of the module into which it is to be fitted.

Since the invention is to be adapted to the assortment for furniture chain stores, the appearance, form and material selection will therefore have somewhat larger significance than what would have been required for conventional cages. The selection of materials is basically a combination of hard plastic, steel and possibly wooden materials and will present an integrally pleasant-looking appearance in agreement with the rest of the modular system. Also, in the invention it is emphasised that it shall be functional, easy to use and moreover not require too much space when it is to be for indoor use.

The invention is featured by its modest requirement of space in that as a door device for example a sliding grated door 4 is used in an approximate L-shaped track 5. In the open position, the door is parked at the top and requires a minimum of space in this open position. Conventional solutions of grated door are usually of a type which must face outwards when opening and closing and therefore require quite a large space when they are to be used. The door device of the invention is therefore made such that it consists of a grated door or something else placed as a front and which is in a bearing at four points 6, either in that the grated bar 7 is resting on the track 5 or with the assistance of sliding or rolling devices, such as knobs, wheels or similar (not specifically shown).

These sliding or rolling devices run into rails of metal profiles (not specifically shown), which constitute the approximate L-shaped track 5, attached to the inside of each of the side walls of the structure, or they run into tracks following the same line and which are milled off at the inside of each of the two side walls 3 of the structure.

The door device can therefore be glided up for the purpose of opening, or pushed down for the purpose of closing, according to what the requirement is. It is particularly beneficial that such a design of the door device does not require more space or volume than the module itself requires of space/volume where it is to be placed.

Further, it is an advantage of the invention that it is not necessary with a locking device on the door device/hatch because it is kept down with the aid of its own weight and because the upper gliding points will abut if the animal tries to push it up.

A typical embodiment of the invention therefore comprises a module of a cage for keeping animals which may be included in existing standard modular sizes of furniture systems. It is well known that these dimensions can for example be 60 x 60 x 90 cm underneath a kitchen bench, or 45 x 45 x 60 cm for a cupboard, or for that sake any set of dimensions which could be suitable for a modular system.

Claims

P a t e n t C l a i m s

1. A cage for keeping and transporting animals, comprising a cupboard structure consisting of a top (1), base (2), roof and two side walls (3) and with a door device placed as a front on the structure, c h a r a c t e r i s e d i n that the door device (4) is borne in four gliding devices (6) which run in approximate L-shaped tracks (5) at the inside of each of the two side walls (3) of the structure.

2. Cage according to claim 1, wherein as a door device for a cage a sliding grated door (4) is used.

3. Cage according to any of the previous claims, wherein the door device (4) is borne with sliding devices (6) in the form of knobs.

4. Cage according to any of claims 1-2, wherein the door device (4) is borne with rolling devices in the form of wheels or castors.

5. Cage according to any of the previous claims, the cage comprises a cubical or box-shaped structure with dimensions being adapted to standard modular systems for bookshelves, cupboards, kitchen, cloakroom and/or other systems which are suitable for accepting such cages.

6. Cage according to any of the previous claims, wherein the approximate L- shaped tracks (5) are milled into the side walls.

7. Cage according to any of the previous claims, wherein the approximate L- shaped tracks (5) are made of metal profiles attached to the inside of each of the side walls of the structure.