Animal display and habitat assembly

An animal display and habitat assembly having a number of modular animal display units coupled together to enclose a common access area, each of the display units including an outwardly facing display frame with a viewing section between opposing upright members and laterally disposed transition members that include first sections coupled to the upright members and second sections projecting inwardly from their respective first sections to provide a pair of door jambs across which an access door may enclose a display compartment or may be opened into the common access area.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to the field of display devices, and more specifically, to display devices including a habitat for showcasing birds, reptiles, amphibians, small mammals, and other animals commonly sold in retail or specialty pet stores and providing environmental control of such habitat.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

In the pet wholesale and retail industries, maintaining the health of the animals such as birds, small mammals, fish, reptiles, and amphibians waiting to be sold is a paramount consideration. One such health maintenance concern involves reducing the impact of one sick animal from spreading to others nearby. Thus, in many instances, the animals requires isolation from one another, particularly wherein development of airborne contagions such as those common in birds may occur. Along these lines, it is often preferable to manage any cross contamination of the air in the various animal cages. Another health maintenance concern is providing a habitat that is comfortable for the animal. Some animals are preferably kept in groups while others prefer a more solitary habitat.

In addition to health maintenance, another significant consideration for the wholesaler or retailer is creating a display of the animals to entice sales. For example, enabling observation of the animals in a naturally simulated environment, providing information nearby about the animals being observed, and reducing odors emanating from the habitat produced by animal droppings or meals factor heavily in creating a display as well. Reducing allergens and animal dander produced by the animals is also a consideration. Another significant concern is the security of the animals and any structure housing the animals should take this into account. This is particularly important with exotic species of birds and reptiles with costs ranging anywhere up to tens of thousands of dollars. As a number of animals are typically maintained in one site or section of the store and their respective habitats may take up significant floor space, blending these health and marketing considerations into a satisfactory solution is often challenging.

A wide variety of animal display devices have been developed, although many sacrifice one or more of the foregoing considerations and emphasize others. For example, birds are often displayed in open air cages near heavy traffic locations in the store. Such cages may be unlocked or have a simple lock to prevent customers from opening the cage. However, the bird is exposed to the ambient air and allergens and dander are not controlled. In addition, the birds in these settings are often removed and stored in a more secure cage at the end of the shift thus further adding to the animal's discomfort.

Another common pet store set up involves dedicated built-in rooms for larger and more exotic birds that may have large a glass panel and an employee entrance in the back. These open air rooms typically do not reduce odors, airborne contaminants, or allergens produced by the animals and thus the customers and employees may suffer. In addition, typically the rooms are not well isolated and one sick animal may contaminate a number of animals in close contact, particularly in the situation where the air is shared. The environment surrounding the animals is also unpredictable and thus the animal's health may be a concern.

Reptiles, amphibians, and fish are often maintained in glass enclosures (tanks) that are stacked on shelving units. Each tank or series of tanks may have its own or common light source and common environmental control system. In addition, these tanks are typically exposed to the same ambient air. Also, these animals often have more significant environmental control concerns such as heating, air supply, and lighting and require more stable environment to improve the animal's chances of living a long and healthy life.

As for the marketing concerns, store inventory and internal appearance frequently change, and thus the built-in rooms offer little in the way of adaptability. In order to build a new habitat in another location of the store, additional rooms must be constructed and the old ones may have to be torn down. Also these rooms are typically located off to the side and away from the primary foot traffic and thus do not prominently display the animals.

For those displays that do locate animals in the heavily trafficked areas of the store, the presentation of the animals in a pleasing manner while providing security for the animals also presents a challenging solution as some animals are not particularly suited to lots of customer interaction and crowd access may present a problem. In addition, it is often desirable to locate the animals at an off site location such as at a trade show or other public appearance. In those cases, it would be advantageous to have a readily transportable assembly that somewhat resembles the habitat in the retail setting to reduce a change of environment impact on the animals.

Thus, what is needed and heretofore unavailable is an animal display and habitat structure satisfying a wide range of health and marketing concerns of the retail or wholesale pet owner while providing a secure environment for the animals and facilitating transportation of the display structure to alternate locations if desired.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

In accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention, an animal display and habitat assembly is provided with a frame having a viewing section between a pair of opposing upright frame members and first and second transition members coupled to the upright frame members with each transition member including a section projecting inwardly and providing a door jamb with an access door spanning across two consecutive door jambs to cooperate with the frame and transition members to form a modular display unit with a display compartment and an outwardly facing viewing window and wherein at least two modular display units may be coupled together to form a common access area at a point interior to each access door.

In one aspect of the present invention, the animal display and habitat assembly includes transition members with a transverse base section with two opposing free ends and a divider section with one free end to form a wedge shaped transition member for coupling the opposing free ends to lateral sides of the consecutive frames and coupling the free end of the divider section with one side of an access door.

Another feature of the present invention incorporates a transition member with an angled flange for coupling to an anchor flange of a frame to dispose the transition member at a rearward angle from a plane passing through the frame.

Yet another feature of the present invention is the incorporation of a transition member having back to back L-shaped frames connected together to form a T-shaped transition member for coupling consecutive frames together.

In another aspect of the present invention, the frame includes a grill section set below a viewing section with the grill section extending outwardly beyond a plane passing through the viewing section for protection thereof.

Another facet of the present invention is the incorporation of modular display units that may be coupled together about a common access area closed off by a security door module.

One attribute of the present invention is the placement of advertising and information panels between consecutive display frames.

In yet another aspect of the present invention, the display compartments are isolated from one another and an environmental control system maintains a negative pressure environment in each compartment to draw ambient air through each compartment and into a ducting system to an exhaust outlet.

The display compartments are bordered to one side with a support compartment in which a light source may be mounted in another feature of the present invention.

Another facet of the present invention is the cooperation of multiple six-sided modular display units to form an outwardly faceted assembly with a polygonally shaped common access area.

Other aspects of the present invention will become apparent with further reference to the following drawings and specification.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

Referring now toFIGS. 1,2, and4, an animal display and habitat assembly, generally designated20, may provide a convenient housing for a number of animals such as birds, reptiles, amphibians, and small mammals for display in a retail or wholesale setting. The animal display and habitat system generally includes a number of modular animal display units, generally designated22, each having an outwardly facing frame24with a transparent viewing section26positioned between a first upright frame member28and an opposing second upright frame member30that are connected to a corresponding first transition member32and a corresponding second transition member34, respectively. The first and second transition members further include inwardly projecting sections36and38, respectively, that provide opposing door jambs40and42, respectively, across which an access door44coupled to one of the door jambs may span such that the frame, transition members, and access door cooperate to define an display compartment46through which animals may be viewed by the customers and which serves as the animal's habitat. A number of modular display units22,222,322,422,522may be connected together to form a common access area48interior to each of the access doors44,244,344,444,544. Thus, from the common access area, an individual may access any one of the display compartments46,246,346,446,546.

The animal display and habitat assembly20is generally a set of easy to assemble modular display units22,222,322,422,522that may provide a flexible display layout suitable for various allocations of available floor space. One such exemplary display as illustrated inFIGS. 1–4includes five separate animal display modules22,222,322,422,522and a security door module50surrounding the central common access area48. An exemplary display module22includes an animal display compartment46with a left support compartment47and a right support compartment49, as viewed from above inFIG. 4with the animal display compartment46centered. The support compartments may be formed by one half of the section laterally disposed transition members32and34. While display module22is primarily described, other display modules222,322,422,522may be constructed identically and throughout this description like components in other modules are numbered alike.

For example, moving counterclockwise around the animal display and habitat assembly illustrated inFIG. 4, display module222includes animal display compartment246, left support compartment247and right support compartment249. Likewise, display module322includes animal display compartment346and left support compartment347and right support compartment349. Skipping over the security door module50, display module422includes animal display compartment446, left side support compartment447, and right side support compartment449. The fifth display module522includes animal display compartment546, left side support compartment547and right side support compartment549. The security module inserted in the display module ring between the third and fourth display module units322and422, respectively includes a foyer51bordered by a left compartment547and a right side compartment549from transition member234and332, respectively. The construction of the display module units will now be described in more detail using display module22as an example.

Referring now toFIGS. 2,4and12, the display module22includes a rectangularly shaped display frame24as defined by a left upright28and a right upright30spaced apart by equal length transverse members including a bottom transverse member56, a lower intermediate transverse member58, an upper intermediate transverse member60, and a top transverse member62. These transverse members divide the outwardly facing surface of the display frame into three rectangular sections. A grill section64is positioned between the bottom transverse member56and the lower intermediate transverse member58. The viewing section26is disposed between the lower intermediate transverse member58and the upper intermediate transverse member60. This viewing section is the primary means through which customers can view the contents of an animal display compartment (habitat)46.

An environmental control section68is positioned between and behind the upper immediate transverse member60and the top transverse member62. Each of the uprights and transverse members are preferably constructed of rectangular tubular steel or steel alloy. However, other suitable metals such as aluminum, aluminum alloy or other materials such as plastic or wood may also be used. Preferably, these tubular members are cut at ninety degrees angles so that each upright member meets each transverse member at a right angle for ease of manufacture as well. The uprights and transverse members are preferably welded together but may be fastened using suitable conventional fasteners such as bolts if further breakdown of the frame is desired. The corners where respective transverse members meet with the uprights may also be rounded if desired.

The grill section64includes a vented grill70that provides a passage for ambient air to be drawn into the animal display compartment46under a negative pressure environment. The viewing section26includes a sheet72of sturdy, impact resistant, safety glass, plexiglass or other suitable transparent viewing material so that any animals inside the display compartment may be observed by the store employees and customers. In this exemplary display frame24, the sheet72extends between the left and right uprights28,30and the lower intermediate transverse member58and the upper transverse member60. The sheet may be secured between a set of inwardly projecting flanges (not shown) built into the uprights or transverse members that the sheet may slidably fit into or, alternatively, clamped onto the uprights (FIG. 6) using a clamping flange41secured by a bolt43into the uprights or transverse members and is preferably recessed from the outermost surface of the uprights. Advantageously, the clear sheet provides a large viewing surface. Also, advantageously, the grill section64extends outwardly beyond a plane passing through the sheet to prevent shopping carts commonly used in retail settings from bumping the glass.

The environmental control section68incorporates a translucent or opaque plastic panel45to conceal any ducting used to draw air through the animal display compartment46through the grill70as will be described below in more detail. This section may also slant upwardly and inwardly from the face of the viewing section. Conveniently, anywhere a plastic panel is used throughout the display and habitat assembly20, advertising or information about the animals in the nearby compartment or scenery may be incorporated.

With continued reference toFIGS. 1,2,4, and nowFIG. 13, the left transition member32that separates adjacent display frames24and524and the right transition member34that separates adjacent display frames24and224are constructed identically for ease of manufacture. The right transition member34(as viewed inFIGS. 1,2, and4) will now be described. As viewed from the exterior of the assembly, the right transition member appears to be similarly constructed to the frame24, that is, the right transition member includes a bottom transverse member57, a lower intermediate transverse member59, an upper intermediate transverse member61, and an upper transverse member63dividing the transition member into a lower panel section81, a middle panel section83, and an upper panel section85. The opposing free ends of the each of the transverse members57,59,61, and63are beveled as will be explained in more detail below. Each of these three sections may includes a panel inserted between the respective transverse members that, like the panel45of the environmental control section68of the frame24, may include advertising or other information displayed prominently thereon. WhileFIG. 1displays a pair of uprights to either side of the transverse members of the transition member similar to the construction of the frame24and which would impart additional rigidity to the transition member, this is an optional construction and the preferred construction is illustrated inFIGS. 4 and 13to reduce the overall amount of material required to construct the assembly.

Referring now toFIGS. 4 and 13, the transverse members57,59,61, and63of the right transition member34are welded at right angles to an inwardly extending first divider leg38and a second inwardly extending divider leg39. Other suitable connector means may be used. The divider legs are open frame-like structures extending toward the common access area. When viewed from above (FIG. 4), the right transition member includes a first L-shaped frame including one half of the transverse members57,59,61, and63and the divider leg38connected back to back with a second L-shaped frame provided by the other half of the transverse members and the divider leg39. A first section of each L-shaped frame is provided by the transverse members while a second section is provided by the respective divider leg. These two sections are welded at right angles to one another. In this exemplary construction, the transverse members connect both divider legs. However, it will also be appreciated that two separate L-shaped frames could be joined, welded, or otherwise coupled together to construct a transition member. In addition, a single generally L-shaped transition member having an outwardly facing base section (i.e. the transverse members) and a single divider leg may be used alone as a transition member for connecting multiple frames as opposed to the T-shaped transition member illustrated inFIG. 4.

Referring back toFIGS. 1 and 13, the transverse members59and61are spaced apart to form a rectangular open frame that may conveniently receive an outwardly facing advertising panel75that may be secured to the transverse members using clamping components as with the sheet70above or other suitable retainer. Preferably, the advertising panel75is relatively easy to remove as advertising frequently changes. This panel may also be used to provided printed information about the inhabitant of the adjacent compartment46or provide a motif for the assembly such as a forest, jungle, desert or aquatic scene. Likewise, advertising and information panels may be inserted between transverse members57and59or transverse members61and63. These panels may merely be used to conceal the construction of the assembly providing a more aesthetically pleasing appearance as well.

With reference toFIGS. 4 and 6, the connection between an exemplary transition member34and an adjacent frame24will now be described. The beveled free end80of transverse member57of transition member34for connecting to an adjacent frame upright30is cut at or formed with an angle and includes an inwardly projecting flange with a first flange leg75welded to the interior surface77of the transverse member57and a second flange leg76that is angled inwardly from the first flange leg so that it may lay flush up against an inwardly projecting upright anchor flange78of the upright member adjacent thereto when assembled (FIG. 6). The upright anchor flange projects inwardly at the height of the lower transverse member56to align with the second flange leg76of the angled flange of the transition member. A bolt79may is then be used to secure the anchor flange with the angled flange and thereby secure the transition member and frame together.

The free ends of the other transverse members59,61, and63are identical and aligned to butt up flush against the upright30opposite their respective corresponding transverse members58,60, and62of the frame24and align their respective angled flanges with the corresponding anchor flange aligned with each transverse member58,60, and62of the frame24. Thus, for each frame and transition member connection, there are four sets of opposing anchor flanges and angled flanges that are bolted together. This is merely an exemplary number and more or less flanges may be used if desired. For example, as pictured inFIG. 13, the angled flange76projects from the top to the bottom of the transition member as opposed to being four discrete flanges. With such construction, the bolt holes of the angled flange are aligned with the corresponding anchor flanges of the frame24. A similar single anchor flange may be used if desired.

An exploded view of like components for display module322and the alignment of the angled flange376projecting from the beveled free end of transverse member357with the upright anchor flange378projecting from upright328is shown inFIG. 11. The angled flange may either be an inwardly projecting extension from the end of the base section that is welded thereon or alternatively may in the form of an angled bracket as shown inFIGS. 6 and 11. The components of the transition members are preferably constructed of similar material to the frame24.

Referring back toFIG. 4, the innermost end of the divider leg38provides a door jamb42disposed proximate a plane passing through the upright anchor flange78. The L-shaped section of transition member34also forms a side support compartment49to the main compartment46into which equipment such as lighting equipment may be mounted. With reference toFIGS. 4,9,10and13, an exemplary lighting arrangement in left side compartment47is illustrated with upper mounting flange84and a lower mounting flange86projecting inwardly along the inner surface75of the angled flange at a convenient location. The angled flange has been removed fromFIG. 9to simplify the drawing. A light source88such as a fluorescent lamp assembly with a pair of fluorescent lamps89a,89bis secured using a pair of bolts90a,90bto the upper and lower mounting flanges and disposed to cast light into the compartment46and corresponding side support compartment47. The light source may provide both a back lighting to the outwardly facing advertising panel75as well. A lighting assembly may be placed in each support compartment (49,247,249,347,349,447,449,547,549,647,649) if desired. Power for the lighting assembly may either be provided from a nearby electrical outlet or may be battery powered.

The opposing left upright member28is connected to the left transition member32in a like manner with the left and right transition members32,34being mirror images of one another about the display frame24as viewed inFIG. 4. The inwardly extending divider leg36of the left transition member32terminates in an opposing door jamb40.

Turning now toFIGS. 4 and 14, an access door44of the first display module22is illustrated as viewed from common access area48. Surrounding three sides of the access door44is a door frame92include an upright left door support93and an upright right door support95. An upper cross member97and lower cross member99join the door supports at right angles and provide a generally rectangular shaped door frame. A panel101may be inserted between the cross members to conceal the environmental control ducting or may be left open to provide passage for the ducting out of the upper section of the compartment as will be discussed below in more detail. The door supports and cross members are preferably constricted similarly to the frame uprights and transverse members.

With continued reference toFIG. 14, the access door44includes a first panel103coupled to the left support93with a piano hinge105and a second panel107coupled to the first panel with a second piano hinge109. The right hand end of the access door as shown inFIG. 14may merely abut the right door support95or the door may include a locking or latching mechanism at a convenient location to maintain the door in a closed position. The access door opens away from the compartment46and its two sections may be folded up against one another and against an adjacent access door such that the door frame is completely open. If desired, a conventional door seal (not shown) positioned between the margin of the folding access door and the door frame may be used to provide a better seal for the animal display compartment46. Seals may also be used beneath each display frame and transition members to compensate for any imperfection between the lower edge of the display frame and transition members and the underlying support surface141. A conventional seal may be used.

Turning now toFIGS. 4,5, and14, several assembly components converge and are joined together using suitable fasteners such as bolts although other suitable fasteners could be used. As shown inFIG. 5illustrating a junction between the right transition member34and the right side of the access door44(as viewed inFIG. 4), the upright door support93of the door frame92is coupled to the right doorjamb42with an angled connector bracket102with one arm bolted111to a laterally facing side of the door jamb42and the other arm bolted113to a forwardly facing side of one end of the door support93, that is, the side facing into the display compartment46. The right door support93and an adjacent door support295of an adjacent access door244are also connected together using a similarly constructed angled door frame connector bracket104that includes one arm bolted115to the inwardly facing side of one door frame support93and the other arm bolted117to the inwardly facing side of one end of the adjacent door support295. The adjacent door support295is then bolted to a doorjamb240on an adjacent transition section39with another angled connector bracket106using a similar pair of bolts121,123. This junction forms a triangular open space125between the ends of the adjacent doorjambs42,240and the adjacent door support93,295. While only one set of angled brackets102,104,106are shown, preferably an upper set positioned about two-thirds of the height of the door frame and a lower set positioned about one-third of the height of the door frame are used. This multi-joint as illustrated inFIG. 5is repeated around the assembly where two adjacent access doors meet the divider legs of a transition member. It will be appreciated that the door frames may be omitted if desired and the access doors may be coupled directly to the door jambs using conventional fasteners. Thus, the access door may be hingedly coupled to one of the door jambs directly.

For a display module such as exemplary display module22, a set of components including the display frame24, left and right transition members32,34and access door44cooperate to, when assembled, define an animal display compartment46that generally includes a main rectangular animal habitat with two opposing triangularly shaped support compartments47,49as provided by the left and right transition members. Optionally, the support compartments may be partitioned off from the animal habitat with a separator panel110,112. Referring toFIG. 6, an exemplary connection of the forward end114of a separator panel112is illustrated. The forward end114of the panel112may be secured to the inside of the display frame flange78using conventional fasteners (such as the bolt used to secured the angled flange to the frame flange) at the same time as the angled flange76is connected to the anchor flange78. A longer bolt79may be used if necessary with this connection. Referring now toFIG. 5, an exemplary connection of an inner end116of a connector panel210is illustrated. The inner end116may be bolted129to an L-shaped bracket118that is also welded to a surface of the door frame support295(FIG. 5). The separator panels110,112may be clear or translucent to diffuse the light from the light source88and effectively cooperate with the frame24and access door44to seal off the support compartments47,49from the main animal habitat46. With opposing separator panels in place, the animal habitat is walled off from the adjacent support compartments. As an alternative, an open frame constructed similarly to the display frame24could be connected between one end of the display frame and the corresponding side of the door frame leaving both side support compartments accessible from the main habitat46. This habitat enclosure46may include accoutrements for the animals such as a perching tree131or an upper rear perch133or forward perch135as for example may be used for birds (FIG. 1). The underlying surface141of the display compartment46may be the flooring of the store or may be added as an insert such as a shallow tray to facilitate maintenance of the compartment.

With reference now toFIGS. 1,7, and15, above the top of the display compartment46is a ceiling122resting on the framework having a series of slots124for venting air from each compartment into a triangularly shaped collection duct126(FIG. 7) set above and supported by the ceiling that includes a rear outlet130coupled to a flexible ducting tube132that feeds into a collector134for all of the compartments46,246,346,446,546. The collector leads to a main exhaust duct136that includes vacuum source137with a motor138and a fan140. The main exhaust duct may be integrated into the building air control system such that air is vented externally to the building. Each compartment46,246,346,446,546preferably includes a collection duct in communication with the vacuum source137.

The vacuum source137is constructed to create a slight negative pressure environment in the compartment46. This will draw air through the grill70into the compartment, through the slotted ceiling122and into the exhaust duct136. As each compartment46,246,346,446, and546is isolated from the other, cross contamination of the compartments does not occur. The air flow subsystem including the grill70, slotted ceiling122, collection duct126, ducting tube132, collector134, exhaust duct136and vacuum source137, and any seals used assists in keeping the animals healthy and isolated in case a contagion, particularly of the airborne variety, as is common in birds is developed. In addition, odors from droppings and foods, allergens, and dander are prevented from escaping to the customers on the outside of the compartment and is also kept away from the employees when working in the common access area. It is also contemplated to use filters in the grill70to filter incoming ambient air and at a position along the length the ducting to filter compartment air prior to its escape outside the building.

Referring toFIGS. 3 and 4, while the common access area may be entered by leaving a suitable gap between opposing open ended transition members, it is preferable to provide a security door module146. The security door module includes an outwardly facing door frame148with left and right upright door supports150,152, respectively. The top section of the door frame is constructed identically to the top section of the display frame with a panel154between upper and lower transverse members156,158. A rectangular security door160with horizontal reinforcement bars162,164is hingedly connected to one of the uprights. The other side of the door includes one part of a conventional locking component and door handle166. The adjacent door frame upright includes the complementary locking component. For example, a cylinder lock openable with a key or a keypad may be used to secure the door. Thus, only employees with the key could enter the common access area. The exemplary security door is hinged on its left side as viewed inFIG. 3and opens inwardly.

Referring back toFIG. 4, the display frame24, left and right transition members32,34and access door44, and animal display compartment46form a modular animal display unit22. A display assembly with multiple compartments or animal showcases may be formed by joining units together. Display module units22and222may be joined together by connecting a transition member34, for example, between them. For example, the left hand end of the transition member34may be bolted to the right upright of30as described above. Then the right hand end of the transition member34may also be bolted to the left upright228of the next frame224.

This assembly is continued until the desired number of compartments are established and different configurations may be established using more or fewer modules. The frames and transition members are arranged in an alternating relationship. The optional security module50is likewise coupled to transition members234and332and between display modules322and422to complete the outer ring assembly. In this exemplary embodiment, five separate display modules22,222,322,422,522and their respective compartments46,246,346,446,546and the security module50are provided in a twelve sided assembly. Then a ring of access doors44,244,344,444, and544are coupled to the interior door jambs as described above. The ring is open if the security door160is located on the exterior of the assembly as illustrated inFIG. 4. However, the security door160may alternatively be disposed in alignment with the ring of access doors and supported at the inner end of the security door module50so that the foyer51is open. A double set of security doors may also be used if desired. The outer frame and transition members are concentrically arranged around the ring of access doors with the divider legs providing the connection between the access door and outer framework.

Another optional feature is a partition142sandwiched between the back to back divider legs38,39that effectively separates one support compartment49from an adjacent support247compartment. This partition may also be used to reflect light from the light assembly88back toward to the adjacent display compartment46.

Referring now toFIG. 8, while the weight of the typically metal structure is sufficient to inhibit the animal display and habitat assembly20from moving or being moved, in certain areas of the country prone to earthquakes and ground tremors, an optional L-shaped security bracket143may be welded to otherwise connected to the bottom inside edge of a bottom transverse member56on its upper leg and includes slot or aperture wherein a bolt145may be inserted and drilled into the underlying concrete141or support structure for added security.

When assembled, the access doors44face inwardly onto a common access area48. In this exemplary embodiment, the common access area is approximately six feet across from one access door344to an opposing access door544but may be smaller or larger depending on the configuration selected by the assembler. By incorporating the folding access doors44, the access area space is not obstructed when accessing a particular compartment. The common access area also provides sufficient space for an employee to work with the animal or remove the animal from the compartment to perform maintenance in the compartment. For example, the common access area could include an examination table, or grooming or nail clipping table.

It will be appreciated that the transition members may be constructed as an integral one-piece unit or be comprised of a number of section joined together to form the wedge shaped transition member. The exemplary construction discussed here is not meant to be limiting.

While the compartments46have generally been described in terms of a large animal habitat room, it will be appreciated that such compartment may be segmented off using partitions to display more animals. Such partitioned compartments may include a common ceiling or may be completely isolated from one another. In addition, a separate, preferably a conventional roll in unit151such as that shown inFIG. 4in compartment446may be used. Such units typically include a series of shelves with tanks or cages placed thereon. The unit may includes its own ducting system153and exhaust outlet155that is abuts the ceiling panel122or, alternatively, is connected to the exhaust ducting above each compartment46using a suitable ducting component (FIG. 15). The ducting system may be easily removable such that the unit may be rolled into the common access area48through an access door44for maintenance and removal of the animals.

In this exemplary embodiment, the compartments are all like dimensioned and the outwardly facing display frame and transition members with back to back L-shaped members are equal in width thus resulting in a twelve-sided faceted assembly with five compartments and one security entrance module. This also provides a pleasing symmetrical appearance to the animal display assembly. However, it will be appreciated the dimensions may be varied from modular unit to modular unit. For example, the display frame may having varying widths as can the transition members. While the transition members are illustrated projecting rearwardly from a plane passing through an adjacent frame at an angle of approximately 25–45 degrees as indicated at angle alpha (FIG. 4) by varying the angles of the ends of the bases of the L-shaped frames and corresponding transition flanges76, different animal display configurations may also be developed with smaller or larger common access areas. It is also contemplated the transition flange may be hingedly connected to the transverse members to facilitate even more radical designs.

The display frame and viewing sheet70have also generally been described as planar. However, it will also be appreciated that these sections could be bowed outwardly for instance to change the faceted appearance of the animal display system to one with a more rounded, contoured appearance. Similarly, the transition members may be curved structures as well and an alternative contoured to planar sectional assembly is also contemplated.

The construction of the animal display system lends itself to both small scale and large scale displays. For example, a typical display system for birds is 9–13 feet high and 10–12 feet wide from one display frame to an opposite display frame. However, these exemplary dimensions are merely for explanatory reasons and are not meant to be limiting in any manner.

It will further be appreciated that by removing a few bolts between sections, the overall animal display assembly may be quickly disassembled. A typical assembly time for a five compartment assembly as described herein takes about 3–4 hours for a bird display dimensioned as above using only three workers. Thus, the entire display lends itself to being transported to trade shows wherein temporary cages must be set up to more permanent fixtures in a retail setting. In addition, should the floor plan change in the store the animal display and habitat assembly system described herein may easily be moved to a suitable location.

While the present invention has been described herein in terms of a number of preferred embodiments for displaying animals or objects, various changes and improvements may also be made to the invention without departing from the scope and spirit thereof