Abstract:
A selectively deployable wheel assembly attachment for attaching to a conventional animal cage, often in pairs, to allow the cage to be rolled when desired without compromising the cage&#39;s general stability on a flat surface. The selectively deployable wheel assembly attachment includes a wheel assembly which includes a conventional wheel which is connected to an axle member and a fixed attachment mechanism which includes an attachment plate and an attachment elbow. In some embodiments, the selectively deployable wheel assembly attachment additionally includes an auxiliary support assembly which includes an adjustment plate and an adjustment loop for providing enhanced stability when the wheel assembly is in its deployed position.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     1. Field of the Invention 
     This invention relates generally to mobility attachments and, more particularly, to a selectively deployable wheel assembly attachment for use with an animal cage. 
     2. Description of the Prior Art 
     The use and design of conventional animal cages by anyone ranging from pet owners to zookeepers to confine or capture animals is well known. Because animal cages conventionally define an enclosure made of mesh, bars or wires that is optimized to contain whatever animal is to be placed or trapped inside, many of such cages, particularly the larger ones, are often very difficult to move around (particularly without harming the animal(s) inside). Moreover, moving smaller cages can even present problems due to the dimensions of the enclosure as well as the uneven distribution of weight due to the animal(s) inside. While cages many often be moved using wheeled platforms of various types, such platforms are generally not something that can be integrated with the cage without compromising its stability. 
     Accordingly, a problem which still exists is that conventional animal cages generally lack integrated structures which can improve its mobility without compromising its stability when the cage is not desired to be moved. Thus, there remains a need for a wheel assembly attachment for use with an animal cage which can be attached to a conventional animal cage to provide a selectively deployable wheel. It would be helpful if such a selectively deployable wheel assembly attachment was operative to be positioned in either a deployed position or a storage position. It would be additionally desirable for such a selectively deployable wheel assembly attachment to include an optional auxiliary support assembly for use to provide additional stability. 
     The Applicant&#39;s invention described herein provides for a selectively deployable wheel assembly attachment adapted to allow a user to selectively deploy and store a wheel on a cage so as to facilitate mobility without compromising stability. The primary components in Applicant&#39;s selectively deployable wheel assembly attachment are a wheel assembly, a fixed attachment mechanism, and an auxiliary support assembly. When in operation, the selectively deployable wheel assembly attachment configures a cage for ease of movement without affecting the stability of the cage when movement is not desired. As a result, many of the limitations imposed by prior art structures are removed. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     A selectively deployable wheel assembly attachment for attaching to a conventional animal cage, often in pairs, to allow the cage to be rolled when desired without compromising the cage&#39;s general stability on a flat surface. The selectively deployable wheel assembly attachment includes a wheel assembly which includes a conventional wheel which is connected to an axle member and a fixed attachment mechanism which includes an attachment plate and an attachment elbow. In some embodiments, the selectively deployable wheel assembly attachment additionally includes an auxiliary support assembly which includes an adjustment plate and an adjustment loop for providing enhanced stability when the wheel assembly is in its deployed position. 
     It is an object of this invention to provide a wheel assembly attachment for use with an animal cage which can be attached to a conventional animal cage to provide a selectively deployable wheel. 
     It is another object of this invention to provide a selectively deployable wheel assembly attachment was operative to be positioned in either a deployed position or a storage position. 
     It is yet another object of this invention to provide a selectively deployable wheel assembly attachment to include an optional auxiliary support assembly for use to provide additional stability. 
     These and other objects will be apparent to one of skill in the art. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         FIG. 1  is a side perspective view of a selectively deployable wheel assembly attachment built in accordance with the present invention in place on a cage in a deployed position. 
         FIG. 2  is a rear perspective view of a selectively deployable wheel assembly attachment built in accordance with the present invention in place on a cage in a deployed position with an auxiliary support assembly. 
         FIG. 3  is a front perspective view of a selectively deployable wheel assembly attachment built in accordance with the present invention in place on a cage in a deployed position with an auxiliary support assembly. 
         FIG. 4  is a side perspective view of a selectively deployable wheel assembly attachment built in accordance with the present invention in place on a cage in a storage position. 
         FIG. 5  is a rear perspective view of a selectively deployable wheel assembly attachment built in accordance with the present invention in place on a cage in a storage position. 
         FIG. 6  is an exploded side perspective view of a selectively deployable wheel assembly attachment built in accordance with a first fixed attachment mechanism embodiment of the present invention. 
         FIG. 7  is a side perspective view of a selectively deployable wheel assembly attachment built in accordance with a first fixed attachment mechanism embodiment of the present invention. 
         FIG. 7A  is a sectional side perspective view of  FIG. 7  showing the end of an attachment elbow of a selectively deployable wheel assembly attachment built in accordance with a first fixed attachment mechanism embodiment of the present invention. 
         FIG. 8A  is a sectional side perspective view of the end of an attachment elbow of a selectively deployable wheel assembly attachment built in accordance with a first fixed attachment mechanism embodiment of the present invention. 
         FIG. 8B  is a sectional side perspective view of the end of an attachment elbow of a selectively deployable wheel assembly attachment built in accordance with a first fixed attachment mechanism embodiment of the present invention. 
         FIG. 9  is an exploded side perspective view of a selectively deployable wheel assembly attachment built in accordance with a second fixed attachment mechanism embodiment of the present invention. 
         FIG. 10  is a side perspective view of a selectively deployable wheel assembly attachment built in accordance with a second fixed attachment mechanism embodiment of the present invention. 
         FIG. 11  is an exploded side perspective view of an auxiliary support assembly and wheel assembly of a selectively deployable wheel assembly attachment built in accordance with the present invention. 
         FIG. 12  is a side perspective view of an auxiliary support assembly a selectively deployable wheel assembly attachment built in accordance with the present invention. 
         FIG. 13  is a front elevational view of an adjustment plate of an auxiliary support assembly of a selectively deployable wheel assembly attachment built in accordance with the present invention. 
         FIG. 14  is a front elevational view of a positioning body of an adjustment plate of an auxiliary support assembly of a selectively deployable wheel assembly attachment built in accordance with the present invention. 
         FIG. 15  is a side elevational view of an adjustment plate of an auxiliary support assembly of a selectively deployable wheel assembly attachment built in accordance with the present invention. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
     Referring now to the drawings and in particular  FIGS. 1, 2, 3, 4, and 5 , a selectively deployable wheel assembly attachment  100  is shown having a wheel assembly  110  and a fixed attachment mechanism  120 , and an auxiliary support assembly  130 . The wheel assembly  110  defines a conventional wheel  111  which is connected to an axle member  112 . The fixed attachment mechanism  120  includes an attachment plate  121  and an attachment elbow  122 . The auxiliary support assembly  130  defines an adjustment plate  131  and an adjustment loop  132 . The fixed attachment mechanism  120  is employed to attach the selectively deployable wheel assembly attachment  100  to a conventional cage  101  such that it may be swung between a deployed position as illustrated in  FIGS. 1-3  and a storage position as illustrated in  FIGS. 4-5 . The auxiliary support assembly  130  may be employed when the selectively deployable wheel assembly attachment  100  is in the deployed position to provide enhanced stability and support for the wheel assembly  110 , which would otherwise be only stabilized through the force of gravity causing the cage  102  to rest on the axle member  112 . 
     Referring now to  FIGS. 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 7A, 8A, and 8B , in a first embodiment of the fixed attachment mechanism  120 , the attachment plate  121  of the fixed attachment mechanism  120  defines a tube plate component  123  and a bottom plate component  124  which are fixedly stacked together through a plurality of elongated fasteners. The tube plate component  123  includes a tube portion  125  welded thereon so as to provide a channel for the attachment elbow  122  to rotatably positioned therein. The bottom plate component  124  provides a planar surface to be placed against the surface of a conventional animal cage  101  and attached thereto with conventional fasteners (which may be the same fasteners which fixed the attachment plate  121  together). Advantageously, through this design, the attachment elbow  122  is able to freely rotate inside the tube portion  125  without contacting the surface of the conventional animal cage  101  to which the fixed attachment mechanism  120  is attached. 
     At the end of the attachment elbow  122  opposite its integration with the attachment plate  121  is an axle loop  128  suitable for allowing the axle member  112  to be inserted therein and to rotate while positioned therein. In one embodiment, the attachment elbow  122  includes an end groove  127  sized to removably receive an e-clamp  126  so as to allow the end to be selectively held inside the tube portion  125 , preventing it from sliding out. 
     Referring now to  FIGS. 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 9 and 10 , in a second embodiment of the fixed attachment mechanism  120 , the attachment plate  121  of the fixed attachment mechanism  120  defines three discrete layers of component plates which are fixedly stacked together through a plurality of elongated fasteners. The uppermost layer defines a top component plate  123 ′ which includes an arcuate recess  126 ′ shaped to create a space for the attachment elbow  122  to be positioned between top component plate  123 ′ and the other layers of component plates. The middle layer defines two discrete spacer plates  124 ′ and the lowermost layer defines a bottom component plate  125 ′. The bottom component plate  125 ′ provides a planar surface to be placed against the surface of a conventional animal cage  101  and attached thereto with conventional fasteners (which may be the same fasteners which fixed the attachment plate  121  together). Advantageously, through this design, the attachment elbow  122  is able to freely rotate without contacting the surface of the conventional animal cage  101  to which the fixed attachment mechanism  120  is attached or even the bottom component plate  125 ′. 
     In the second embodiment, the end of the attachment elbow  122  opposite its integration with the attachment plate  121  is threaded to allow it to engage an axle tube  128 ′ having a threaded aperture in its surface. It is appreciated that the threaded end of the attachment elbow  122  may be attached to the threaded aperture of the axle tube in order to couple the fixed attachment mechanism  120  and wheel assembly  110  in a manner which allows the axle member  112  to rotate while positioned in the an axle tube  128 ′. In the alternative, axle tube  128 ′ may be fixed to the end of the attachment elbow  122  and allow the axle member  112  to be inserted therein and to rotate while positioned therein. 
     In this embodiment, the attachment elbow  122  includes an end ridge  127 ′ sized to prevent it from sliding out of the arcuate recess  126 ′ when in place between the uppermost component plate  123 ′ and the two spacer plates  124 ′. 
     In either the first or second embodiment of the fixed attachment mechanism  120 , when the selectively deployable wheel assembly attachment  100  attached to a conventional animal cage  101 , the attachment plate  121  is fixed to a side of the cage  101  and the axle member  112  is slid through the axle tube  128 ′/axle loop  128 , thereby operatively associating the wheel assembly  110  with the fixed attachment mechanism  120 . By swinging the wheel assembly  110  into the storage position, defined by the wheel assembly  110  being positioned such that it is behind (or to the side) of the cage  101 , the wheel assembly  110  can simply rest on a ground surface and not affect the stability of the cage. On the other hand, by swinging the wheel assembly  110  into the deployed position, such that the distal end axle member  112  relative to the wheel  111  is underneath the cage  101 , enables the deployable wheel assembly attachment  100  to support the cage  101  off the ground so that it can be rolled by action of the wheel  111 . 
     It is contemplated that a cage  101  may outfitted with at least two selectively deployable wheel assembly attachments  100  to facilitate balanced rolling. 
     Referring now to  FIGS. 2, 3, 11, 12, 13, 14, and 15 , in embodiments employing the auxiliary support assembly  130 , the adjustment plate  131  defines a planar fixed plate  133  and a docking plate  134  fixedly stacked together through a plurality of elongated fasteners. The fixed plate  133  provides a planar surface to be placed against the surface of the conventional animal cage  101  and attached thereto with conventional fasteners (which may be the same fasteners which fixed the adjustment plate  131  together). The docking plate  134  includes two pairs of height selecting apertures  135 . Each pair of apertures  135  is positioned together on at different heights along the docking plate  134  such that when the adjustment plate  131  is in place on an animal cage resting on a ground surface, the pairs are different distances from the ground surface. 
     The adjustment loop  132  defines a U shaped member which includes a snap hook  136  at each end. The snap hooks  136  enable the adjustment loop  132  to selectively attach to either set of the apertures  135  pairs and thus be attached to the adjustment plate  131  at two distinct heights. 
     When the selectively deployable wheel assembly attachment  100  attached to a conventional animal cage  101  with the auxiliary support assembly  130 , the attachment plate  121  is fixed to one side of the cage  101  and the adjustment plate  131  is fixed to another side of the cage  101  such that the attachment plate  121  and adjustment plate  131  are positioned on orthogonal planes. The axle member  112  is slid through the axle tube  128 ′/axle loop  128 , thereby operatively associating the wheel assembly  110  with the fixed attachment mechanism  120 . The adjustment loop  132  is then positioned with its snap hooks  136  engaged to the pair of apertures  135  closer to the ground surface, extending down from the apertures to engage the axle member  112 , as illustrated in  FIG. 3 , thereby supportably integrating the auxiliary support assembly  130  with the wheel assembly  110 . Through this configuration, the wheel  111  can contact the ground surface, supporting the cage  101  off the ground and allowing the cage  101  to be rolled (it is contemplated that a cage  101  may outfitted with at least two selectively deployable wheel assembly attachments  100  to facilitate balanced rolling). 
     In embodiments with the auxiliary support assembly  130 , when it is desired to not roll a cage  101 , the selectively deployable wheel assembly attachment  100  can be reconfigured to not affect the stability of the cage  101  by sliding the axle member  112  out of the axle tube  128 ′/axle loop  128  (which also disassociates the axle member  112  with the adjustment loop  132 ), thereby removing the wheel assembly  110 . The adjustment loop  132  can then be attached to the pair of apertures  135  furthest from the ground surface so that it does not hang past the bottom of the cage  101 . Due to the rotational disposition of the attachment elbow  122 , when the cage  101  is set down on the ground surface, it will simply rotate so as to allow the axle tube  128 ′/axle loop  128  to the storage position, with or without the wheel assembly  110  integrated therewith. 
     In alternate embodiments, it is contemplated that the attachment plate  121  may be constructed of a single plate or any number of stacked plates. Similarly, it is contemplated that the adjustment plate  131  may be constructed of a single plate or any number of stacked plates. 
     The instant invention has been shown and described herein in what is considered to be the most practical and preferred embodiment. It is recognized, however, that departures may be made therefrom within the scope of the invention and that obvious modifications will occur to a person skilled in the art.