Abstract:
A modular kennel system, each module including a floor tub having a sloped floor and a gutter formed therein that is supported at a level above the surface on which the system rests for draining wastes therefrom. The system is erected on site without modification of the site in a variety of configurations and sizes and with or without a second level of enclosures. Each module comprising the system includes a substantially vertical panel from which the floor tub is supported and the drain basin formed in the gutter of the floor tub is connected through a plumbing trap to a drainpipe that runs between the module and the next adjacent module to connect the drain basins of the gutters from successive modules. This structure of the modular kennel system prevents cross-contamination, including sewer gases, between enclosures. The system may also include manual, timed, or conductivity-controlled flush systems for ridding the enclosures of waste fluids under a grate that is easy to clean. The kennel system may also include a ventilation system for insuring fresh air in the enclosure(s) in each module. Flushing and ventilation provides a healthy, dry environment for the animals housed within the enclosures comprising the modular kennel system.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
         [0001]    The present invention relates to a modular kennel system. In more detail, the present invention relates to a kennel including multiple enclosures that is constructed in a variety of configurations and with a desired number of enclosures from a minimal number of parts. The modular kennel system is “self-contained,” and in one embodiment, the system includes all the necessary plumbing components for automatic flushing of the enclosures comprising the kennel system and can be erected on-site, without modification of the site, at any site with an existing exit drain, regardless of whether that site is inside a building or other structure. The construction of the modular kennel system of the present invention is such that it can be erected on-site but also disassembled and re-located to another site with relative ease.  
           [0002]    Many animal cages and enclosures are known in the patent literature and/or available commercially. Reference can be made, for instance, to U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,794,879, 5,116,256, 5,482,005, 6,021,739 disclosing such cages. Animal cages and enclosures are available commercially from such vendors as Mason Fence Co. (Leesburg, Ohio), Suburban Surgical Company, Inc. (Wheeling, Ill.), Schroer Manufacturing Company (Kansas City, Mo.), and T Kennel Systems, Inc. (Kansas City, Mo.), and some of these vendors claim to provide custom-designed enclosures that can be built on-site so as to house small animals such as dogs and cats. Some such multi-cage kennels, such as the Mason DOUBLE D modular kennel system, can even be double-decked so as to better utilize available space in facilities for housing small animals.  
           [0003]    However, such kennels are characterized by a number of disadvantages and limitations. For instance, most such kennels are not equipped with automated flush system equipment such that they require manual cleaning. Some kennels, such as the stainless steel pens available from Suburban Surgical, the T Kennel design available from T Kennel Systems, Inc., and the SHOR-LINE kennel runs and drain kennels available from Schroer Manufacturing Company, are provided with raised floors that are sloped with a drain at the low end of the sloped floor that are intended to be sprayed with water so as to wash down animal waste so as to minimize the need for manual pick up and cleaning. At least one of those systems, the drain kennels available from Schroer Manufacturing Company, also provides connections from the drain in each kennel to a drainpipe that runs from kennel to kennel. The others must be erected, or require modification of the building in which they are erected, so that the waste can be washed from out of the cages and subsequently out of the building by draining into a gutter or sump under the cages so that waste that is washed out of the cages can then be flushed from the sump. In spite of such claims by their manufacturers, neither the drain kennels available from Schroer Manufacturing or any of the other manufacturers, nor the type of cages that drain into a gutter or sump, are effective at preventing cross-contamination between kennels.  
           [0004]    Another limitation of such kennels is their relatively high cost. The cost results from a number of factors, including the need for a special, or single-purpose, building or a building that is modified for erection of the kennels. Other factors that increase the cost of such kennels include, for instance, their lack of flexibility. Although they are advertised as being available in custom lengths and sizes, known commercially-available kennels are available in a limited number of sizes such that they cannot always be optimally situated in the building. Because they are available in a limited number of dimensions, one can only try to fit as many cages as possible into the building while maintaining a mix of cage sizes that will be adequate for the range of sizes of animals that must be maintained in the cages.  
           [0005]    It is, therefore, a primary object of the present invention to provide a modular kennel comprising at least two modules, each module comprising a pair of substantially vertical panels and a pair of substantially horizontal, substantially rectangular floor tubs, each of the floor tubs being supported from a respective panel and having a gutter formed therein that slopes from one end of the floor tub to the other end of the floor tub. The floor tubs are oriented relative to each other so that the low ends of each of the gutters are proximate each other. The modular kennel also includes a drainpipe running between each of the two modules to which the low ends of the gutters of each of the floor tubs comprising the modules are connected and, in one embodiment, plumbing traps are provided in the connections to prevent cross-contamination from enclosure to enclosure.  
           [0006]    Another object of the present invention is to provide a modular kennel system that is self-flushing and/or that can be washed down with water that does not require modification of the building or site on which it is erected to provide drainage of the cages comprising the kennel system.  
           [0007]    Another object of the present invention is to provide a modular kennel system including cage enclosures that can be provided with floor grates and an automatic flush system that keeps the animal housed within the enclosure healthy and dry.  
           [0008]    It is another object of the present invention to provide a floor tub for an animal cage comprising a substantially rectangular panel having a lip formed around the edge thereof and having a gutter formed in the surface thereof and running in the direction of the long dimension of the pane, the gutter being deeper at one end of the panel than the other end, and the surface of the panel being sloped downwardly from the lip to the gutter.  
           [0009]    Yet another object of the present invention is to provide a kennel system that includes enclosures that are available in a wide range of sizes so as to allow optimal use of the space in which the system is erected.  
           [0010]    Another object of the present invention is to provide a bi-level kennel system that maximizes the use of available space for erection of the system.  
           [0011]    Another object of the present invention is to provide a bi-level kennel system that provides safe, convenient walkways for access to the enclosures on both levels of the kennel system without lifting the animals for entry or exit from the enclosures.  
           [0012]    Another object of the present invention is to provide a kennel system that provides effective ventilation of the enclosures comprising the system.  
           [0013]    There are other objects, and many advantages, of the modular kennel system of the present invention that will be made clear to those skilled in the art by the following description of the presently preferred embodiments of the invention. This listing of several of the objects to which the invention is directed is provided merely to illustrate the rationale for the present invention and is not intended as a complete listing of all of the motivations for making the present invention.  
         SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
         [0014]    These objects are achieved by providing a modular kennel comprising at least two modules, each module comprising:  
           [0015]    a pair of substantially vertical panels,  
           [0016]    a pair of substantially horizontal, substantially rectangular floor tubs, each of the floor tubs being supported from a respective panel and having a gutter formed therein that slopes from one end of the floor tub to the other end of the floor tub, the floor tubs being oriented relative to each other so that the low ends of each of the gutters are proximate each other, and  
           [0017]    a drain pipe running between the modules to which the low ends of the gutters in each of the floor tubs comprising the modules are connected.  
           [0018]    In another aspect, the present invention provides a floor tub for an animal enclosure that comprises a substantially rectangular panel having a lip formed around the edge thereof and a gutter formed in the surface of the panel that runs in substantially the same direction as the long dimension of the panel. The gutter is deeper at one end of the panel than the other end and the surface of the panel in which the gutter is formed is sloped downwardly from the lip to the gutter in a direction that is substantially perpendicular to the long dimension of the panel. 
       
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       [0019]    [0019]FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a presently preferred embodiment of a modular kennel system that is constructed in accordance with the teachings of the present invention that is shown without some of its component parts for purposes of clarity.  
         [0020]    [0020]FIG. 2 of a perspective view of a single-level module of a presently preferred embodiment of a modular kennel system that is constructed in accordance with the teachings of the present invention.  
         [0021]    [0021]FIG. 3 is a perspective view of a bi-level module of a presently preferred embodiment of a modular kennel system that is constructed in accordance with the teachings of the present invention.  
         [0022]    [0022]FIGS. 4A and 4B are top plan and side elevational views, respectively, of a presently preferred embodiment of a floor tub comprising the floor of one module of the kennel system of FIG. 1 that is constructed in accordance with the teachings of the present invention.  
         [0023]    [0023]FIGS. 5A and 5B are sectional views of the floor tub of FIG. 4 taken at the lines A-A and B-B, respectively, of FIG. 4A.  
         [0024]    [0024]FIG. 6 is a bottom perspective view of the modular kennel system of FIG. 1.  
         [0025]    [0025]FIGS. 7A and 7B are top perspective and sectional views of a second preferred embodiment of the floor tub of the present invention. 
     
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT  
       [0026]    Referring to FIG. 1, there is shown a perspective view of a preferred embodiment of the modular kennel system of the present invention. The particular embodiment shown comprises at least two, and preferably a plurality of, modules  10 A,  10 B,  10 C, etc. As best shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, each module  10  is comprised of certain component parts that are common to most, if not all, of the modules  10 , including a pair of substantially vertical panels  12   a  and  12 B and a corresponding pair of substantially horizontal floor tubs  14 A and  14 B, each of the floor tubs  14  being supported from a respective panel  12 . For a purpose discussed below, and as will be apparent from inspection of FIGS. 2 and 3, the floor tubs  14  are supported from panels  12  at a height above the surface on which the panels  12  rest. In the particular embodiment shown, the module  10  additionally comprises a center panel  16 , also substantially vertical, that is connected between the panels  12 A and  12 B to form a continuous wall, by a batten  18  or similar fastener(s) of a type known in the art. It will be understood by those skilled in the art who have the benefit of this disclosure that the panels  12  and  16  may be a single, continuous panel, or formed from two or any other number of panels that are connected by fasteners of any known type suitable for forming a wall to make the module  10 . Although supported from the vertical panels  12 , the substantially horizontal floor tubs  14  form the floor of each module  10  and, as best shown by reference to FIG. 1, are supported on both sides by the substantially vertical panels  12  of the next adjoining module  10  to define an animal cage, pen, kennel, or enclosure.  
         [0027]    The particular module  10  shown in FIG. 2 is provided with a grill  20  forming one end of the enclosure and a door  22  forming the other end of the enclosure. The particular module  10  shown in FIG. 2 is also provided with a vertical tower  24  between the two floor tubs  14 A and  14 B that supports a divider door  26  that can be pulled down to divide the module  10  into two separate enclosures. It will be obvious to those skilled in the art that the grill  20  can also be a swinging door  22  so that animals can be housed in both of the enclosures comprising module  10  when the divider door  26  divides the module  10  into two separate enclosures.  
         [0028]    Referring to FIG. 3, a bi-level module  10  is shown that is constructed of the same component parts as described in connection with the module shown in FIG. 2. The panels  12 A and  12 B, as well as the central panel  16 , extend vertically to a dimension that is high enough to frame an upper enclosure by supporting a floor tub  14 D from the panel  12 B (no floor tub is shown supported from panel  12 A for a purpose to be made clear below). The upper enclosure is provided with a pair of towers  14  that, like the towers  14  in FIG. 2, support a divider door  26  for dividing the upper enclosure into two enclosures in the same manner as described in connection with the module shown in FIG. 2. The upper enclosure is closed at both ends by a pair of doors  22  and/or by a door  22  and grill  20  in the same manner as described above in connection with the module shown in FIG. 2. It will also be apparent from FIG. 3 that the floor tubs  14  forming the floor of the upper enclosure are of shorter longitudinal dimension than the floor tubs forming the floor of the lower enclosure (or the single level module shown in FIG. 2), but as will be described in more detail below, the floor tubs  14  that form the floor of the upper enclosure are the same floor tubs  14  that form the floor of the lower enclosure, but have been formed to a length short enough to provide for the use of a portion of the ceiling of the lower enclosure as a walkway  28  (see FIG. 1) that is also supported from the substantially vertical panels  12 A and  12 B. As described in more detail below, the panels comprising walkway  28  and the floor tubs  14  are supported from the substantially vertical panels  12  by a plurality of straps  30 ,  32 , respectively, that rest on rails  34  that are affixed to the panels  12 .  
         [0029]    Referring now to FIGS. 4A and 4B and FIGS. 5A and 5B, a preferred embodiment of a floor tub constructed in accordance with the present invention is indicated generally at reference numeral  14 . Floor tub  14  is preferably comprised of a material that is durable, stain resistant, resistant to cleaners and bleaches, and resistant to water and fluid penetration such as a plastic or composite material. Floor tub  14  is comprised of a substantially rectangularly-shaped panel  36  having a lip  38  around the edge thereof. Floor tub  14  is provided with a longitudinal gutter  40  running in substantially the same direction as the long dimension of the rectangularly-shaped panel  36  and a drain  42 . As best shown in FIG. 4B, the gutter  40  slopes downwardly from one end of panel  36  to the drain  42 .  
         [0030]    Referring now to FIGS. 5A and 5B, it can be seen that the surface of panel  36  comprising floor tub  14  slopes downwardly from the lip  38  to the gutter  40  as shown at reference numeral  44 . In other words, the gutter  40  slopes downwardly in a direction that is substantially parallel to the long dimension of floor tub  14  and the surface of panel  36  on either side of the gutter  40  slopes downwardly from the lip  38  to the gutter  40  in a direction that is substantially perpendicular to the long dimension of the floor tub  14 . Those skilled in the art who have the benefit of this disclosure will recognize that the floor tub  14  is formed in various lengths depending upon the sizes of the enclosures that are desired and the size of the space in which the modular kennel system of the present invention is to be erected. For this reason, although the floor tubs  14  are shown and described in a preferred embodiment as being rectangular in shape, floor tubs  14  are also formed with dimensions that are such that the floor tubs are not rectangular. For this reason, the floor tubs  14  are referred to herein as being “substantially” rectangular, it being recognized from this description that the term “rectangular” is being utilized for purposes of providing a convenient point of reference to a long dimension (defined by the direction in which the gutter  40  runs) of the panel  36  of floor tub  14  and that, when the qualifier “substantially” is used with that word, the intention is to describe an inventive element that has a length and a width, regardless of whether the length is greater than the width or vice-versa. By comparison of FIGS. 5A and 5B, it can be seen that the pitch of the downwardly sloped surface  44  of panel  36  is such that there is a drop-off between the sloped surface  44  and the gutter  40  even at the end of panel  36  opposite drain  42  near lip  38 . A shoulder  46  is formed at the drop-off between sloped surface  44  and gutter  40  on which a grate  48  (see FIGS. 2 and 3) rests to cover the gutter  40 . In the preferred embodiment shown, the dimensions of the grate  48  and the dimensions of the floor tub  14  are sized so that the grates covering the gutter  40  on shoulder  46  can also be used to cover the sloped surface  44  of panel  36  as shown overlying the floor tubs  14 A in FIGS. 2 and 3. However, those skilled in the art will also recognize that the present invention is not so limited as to require the use of grates of the specific sizes and arrangements shown herein and that a number of grates are available in a number of different sizes, any one or more of which will provide the desired goal of keeping and animal housed within the enclosure healthy and dry. Although not required, a cover  50  may also provided to close the space between the edges of the grates  48  over gutter  40 .  
         [0031]    Referring again to FIGS. 1 and 2, it can be seen that the floor tubs  14 A and  14 B of module  10  are oriented relative to each other so that the drain basins at the low ends of each of the gutters  40  are proximate each other. A drainpipe  52  connects the drains  42  at the low ends of the gutters  40  of the respective floor tubs  14 A and  14 B and runs between the modules  10 A,  10 B, etc. so as to connect the drains of each successive module  10 A,  10 B, etc. comprising the kennel system of the present invention as shown in FIG. 1. In this manner, the enclosures comprising several modules  10 A,  10 B, etc. are all drained from a single drainpipe  52 .  
         [0032]    As noted above, the floor tubs  14  are supported from vertical panels  12  at a height above the surface on which the panels  12  rest, and the reason for the space under the floor tubs  14  will now be apparent from this explanation of the manner in which the cages comprising the modules  10 A,  10 B, etc. are drained. In a particularly preferred embodiment that is best shown in FIG. 6, the space under the floor tubs  14  is tall enough that plumbing traps  53  are incorporated into the connection between the drains  42  and the drainpipe  52  to provide effective protection against cross-contamination, including sewer gases, of the enclosures comprising the modular kennel system of the present invention. The drains  42  and their connections to drainpipe  52 , as well as drainpipe  52  itself, are sized so as to be capable of handling waste of even the largest expected size that is washed down from the surface  44  of floor tubs  14  either by spraying with water from a hose (not shown) or by an automatic flush (see the description of the alternative embodiment shown in FIGS. 7A and 7B set out below) that is built into or mounted on the panels  12  above the point at which the lip  38  of each floor tub  14  is secured to the panels  12 , both in a manner that is known in the art. Although not shown in FIG. 3 for purposes of clarity, the enclosures comprising the second level of modules  10 A,  10 B, etc. are drained either from a second drainpipe running across the modules between towers  24  or the drains  42  in the low ends of the gutters  40  comprising the floor tubs  14  of the second level of the modules are connected to a vertical pipe that runs down inside the towers  24  and is also tied into the drainpipe  52 .  
         [0033]    In a second preferred embodiment shown in FIGS. 7A and 7B, the floor tub  14  of the present invention is provided with one or more nozzles  55  for directing water into the gutter  40  at the high end of floor tub  14  and longitudinal water conduits  57  having a slit opening  59  therein mounted to the lip  38  along the long dimension of the floor tubs  14 . Although it is not intended that the invention be so limited, the water conduits  57  are mounted to the lip  38  by resting on the top of lip  38  and securing to the rail  61  that is mounted to the panel  12  (or panel  16 , as the case may be). The water supply to the nozzles  55  and water conduits  57  is under manual control or controlled by a timer or conductive switch that senses the accumulation of liquid waste in the gutter  40  or elsewhere in the plumbing system of the present invention to switch the water on to flush each of the surface  44  of the tub floors  14  comprising each of the enclosures comprising the modular kennel system of the present invention. The switches can be set to flush simultaneously or separately as needed to maximize the flushing action of the water.  
         [0034]    As will be apparent from this description of this preferred embodiment of the present invention, it is particularly advantageous that the flushing of wastes that may be accumulated on the surface  44  by such a system is accomplished over a relatively short dimension, e.g., from the edge of panel  36  to the longitudinal gutter  40  in the direction of arrow  45  on FIG. 4A, thereby maximizing the flushing action of the water while minimizing water usage. Of course the water that is flushed over the surface  44  in the direction of arrow  45  accumulates in the longitudinal gutter  40 , and gutter  40  is deep enough and provided with enough of a slope that the accumulated water and waste moves down the sloping gutter to the drain  42  at the low end thereof in the direction of arrow  47  by gravitational action. As noted above, however, the gutter  40  may also be provided with the nozzles  55  for improved flushing rather than relying solely on the force of gravity on the water used to flush the tub surface  44  to move the accumulated waste out of the enclosure. Although it does not eliminate the need for manual clean-up of solid waste, this system enables the animal confined in the enclosure to remain healthy and dry on top of the grates  48  while providing effective flushing of the enclosures with minimal manual labor.  
         [0035]    Although not necessary to the function of the kennel system of the present invention, in the embodiment shown in FIGS. 2 and 3 each module  10 A,  10 B, etc. is provided with a step  58  that is also supported by straps  30  that rest on a rail  34  that is secured to the substantially vertical panels  12 . To give a finished look and to close off the opening under the step  58 , a recessed toe kick  60  is preferably provided on the front of step  58 . Those skilled in the art will also recognize that the stairway  62  (FIG. 1) to the second level of cages is constructed in one of the modules  10  of the kennel system of the present invention by supporting multiple steps  58 , with toe kicks  60  between steps  58 , from rails and straps (not shown in FIG. 1) secured to the panels  12 . Alternatively, the module is provided with a purpose-built staircase. As shown in FIGS. 2 and 4A, the floor tubs  14  may also be provided with utility panels  54  for covering the openings  56  in the floor of each of the cages comprising the modules  10 A,  10 B, etc. for servicing the connections between the drains  42  and drainpipe  52 .  
         [0036]    Construction of the modular kennel system of the present invention, as well as the flexibility in placement and/or re-location of the system, is greatly facilitated by the use of a minimum number of parts that are either used as provided or cut to fit on site. For instance, the forming of the floor tubs  14  to size allows construction of a kennel system of a size that is optimized for the largest possible number of enclosures in the space that is available for construction of the modular kennel system. Note also that enclosures of different sizes can be constructed within the same kennel system, allowing for the housing of animals of different sizes, by forming the floor tubs  14  to different lengths. Similarly, the use of the divider doors  26  also creates the opportunity for enclosures of different sizes for housing animals of different sizes. Note also that although a preferred embodiment of the modular kennel system of the present invention is described and shown as being comprised of a module that comprises two floor tubs with the drains of the floor tubs being proximate each other, there is no requirement that the kennel system of the present invention must be erected in this manner. Instead, this particular embodiment is merely one embodiment of the present invention and the claims that are appended hereto that define the invention in terms of a module that comprises two floor tubs with a drainpipe that connects adjacent modules is but one way to define the invention. The floor tubs of the present invention are also utilized to advantage in a single row of enclosures with a drainpipe that connects one floor tub to an adjacent floor tub (instead of two floor tubs with their drains approximated as shown in FIGS. 2 and 3) and so on in a single row of enclosures instead of row of enclosures that are “two deep.” 
         [0037]    Ventilation of the enclosures comprising the modular kennel system of the present invention is facilitated by the use of the above-described grill  20  and door  22  and by the use of screens  64  (see FIG. 2) at the top of the vertical panels  12 . Of course those skilled in the art will recognize that it in cold climates, additional air circulation may be undesirable, so the screens may also be omitted (as in FIG. 3) and the grills  20  and doors  22  may be replaced by solid panels and/or safety glass. Although the design of the modular kennel system of the present invention is such that it generally is not necessary, additional air circulation can also be achieved by circulating air through a low-pressure air plumbing system (not shown) running through the space above the surface on which the modular kennel system of the present invention rests and under the floor tubs  14 , and up into each module  10 A,  10 B, etc. through the towers  24 . It will also be recognized by those skilled in the art that a low-pressure air plumbing system of this type provides the opportunity for circulating air, or for circulating cooled or heated air in warm or cold climates. Alternatively, resistive heating elements may be placed in the space between the surface on which the panels  12  rest and the underside of the floor tubs  14  for heating the floor of each enclosure and/or radiant heaters are incorporated into the modular kennel system of the present invention, for instance, in the towers  24 .  
         [0038]    Those skilled in the art who have the benefit of this disclosure will recognize that certain changes can be made to the component parts of the modular kennel system of the present invention without changing the manner in which those parts function to achieve their intended result. For instance, the step  58  is not an essential element of the invention and may be omitted for the purpose of increasing the size of the enclosures. Similarly, the floor tubs  14  on either side of the modules  10 A,  10 B, etc. need not be the same length such that each module may be comprised of enclosures of different sizes. The present invention also contemplates that the divider door  26  dividing each module  10 A,  10 B, etc. into two enclosures may be replaced by a solid panel or a guillotine-type door without compromising the desired goals of flexibility and ease of construction. It will also be apparent that the enclosures comprising the modular kennel system of the present invention may be provided with drop-down resting shelves of a type known in the art so that the animal can avoid sleeping on the floor of the enclosure. Another modification that provides additional flexibility to the modular kennel system of the present invention is the inclusion of a storage bin, or locker (for instance, for storage of the animal&#39;s toys, medication, food, and/or bedding) that is accessible only from the outside of the enclosure forming the modular kennel system of the present invention that is located in the door  22  of the enclosure. Those skilled in the art will also recognize that there are many ways that the horizontal elements of the modular kennel system of the present invention can be supported from the vertical panels  12  other than by the rails  34  and straps  30 ,  32 .  
         [0039]    Another example of a change that is also intended to fall within the scope of the following claims is the use of floor tubs  14  that are themselves formed with grates such that the grates  48  are not necessary. Those skilled in the art will recognize that, in such a system, it would be necessary to position sloped pans (not shown) that drain into a center trough under the floor tubs  14 . However, because the modular kennel system of the present invention is, so far as is known, the first kennel system that includes a flush system that can be erected without modifying the building on which it is erected, it offers the opportunity for such an “under floor tub” flush system. Other such changes might include the addition of a third level of cages. All such changes, and others that will no doubt be made clear to those skilled in the art by this description of the preferred embodiments, are intended to fall within the scope of the following, non-limiting claims.