Modular cage

Abstract: A modular cage (10) comprising a frame (12) which is constituted by profiled elements connected by interlocking comer assemblies (13) for reversible joining, said frame being associated with grille-like wall elements (11), each one of the joining corner assemblies (13) comprising a joint which has a corner body (15) from which tangs extend monolithically and at right angles, the tangs being provided with reversible locking devices which enter corresponding first longitudinally elongated seats formed in the profiled elements.

Description: The present invention relates to a modular cage. It is known that many small animals, such as birds, rodents etcetera, are kept in cages. Numerous cages of the most disparate types are currently commercially available, but they all lack flexibility both from the point of view of production as well as of construction. Moreover, they are usually sold assembled (generally they are constituted by metallic elements welded together), and this causes problems in space management from a logistic standpoint (storage, transport, etcetera) owing to their sometimes considerable dimensions. US Patent No 5000121 discloses a modular cage of the same kind of the one set forth in the preamble of claim 1. The aim of the present invention is to provide a modular cage whose structure has characteristics of modularity and easy use and construction. Within this aim, an object of the present invention is to provide a modular cage whose assembly does not entail technical skills and therefore can optionally be entrusted to the user. Another object of the present invention is to provide a cage whose structure, while being modular and standardized in relation to its components, is highly flexible in order to meet the most disparate requirements of application. Another object of the present invention is to provide a cage which has a particularly sturdy structure which is suitable even for operating conditions in which it is subjected to intense stresses. Another object of the present invention is to provide a cage whose structure can also optionally be produced with high-level aesthetics and styling features. Another object of the present invention is to provide a modular cage whose structure can be manufactured with known equipment and technologies. This aim and these and other objects which will become better apparent hereinafter are achieved by a modular cage as defined in claim 1. Advantageously, the frame is associated, at the bottom, with a drawer-like body which constitutes the bottom of the cage. Further characteristics and advantages of the present invention will become better apparent from the following description of some embodiments thereof which are illustrated only by way of non-limitative example in the accompanying drawings, wherein: Figure 1 is a perspective view of a cage having the structure according to a first embodiment of the invention; Figure 2 is an exploded view of the cage of Figure 1; Figures 3 to 9 are perspective views of various components of the cage of Figure 1; Figure 10 is a perspective view of a second embodiment of the cage of Figure 1; Figure 11 is a perspective exploded view of the embodiment shown in Figure 10; Figure 12 is a perspective view of a component of the embodiment of Figure 10; Figure 13 is a perspective view of a third embodiment of the cage according to the invention. With particular reference to Figures 1 to 9, a modular cage having the structure according to a first embodiment of the invention is generally designated by the reference numeral 10. The cage 10 comprises a frame, generally designated by the reference numeral 12, which is associated with metallic grille-like wall elements 11 and is constituted by profiled tubular elements, specified hereinafter, which are connected by interlocking corner joints 13. Each one of the comer joints 13 comprises a corner body 15 from which tangs 16 (see Figure 2) protrude monolithically and at right angles; the tangs are provided with reversible locking devices, described in greater detail hereinafter, which are adapted to enter corresponding first longitudinally elongated seats 17 formed in the tubular elements. The frame 12 is associated, at the bottom, with a drawer-like body, generally designated by the reference numeral 18, which constitutes the bottom of the cage 10. In particular, the frame 12 comprises first profiled tubular elements 19 which have only the first seat 17 and whose surfaces are shaped substantially complementarily to the tangs 16 of the corresponding joint 13. The frame 12 further comprises second profiled tubular elements 20 which in this case are arranged at the bottom and have, in addition to the first seat 17, a second seat 21 which is longitudinally open and adapted to form guides for the sliding of the shaped sides 22 of the drawer-like body 18. In particular, the second tubular elements 20 also comprise a third seat 23 for the insertion and locking of tangs 24 which are fixed monolithically to shaped end plugs. Both tubular elements 19 and 20 comprise grooves 14 complementarily shaped to grille-like wall elements 11. More specifically, in this case, the cage 10 comprises two first plugs 25 which are substantially constituted by a corner block 26 provided with a tubular tang 27. The frame 12 also comprises two second plugs 28 which are also constituted by a block 29 from which a tubular tang 30 protrudes. Each one of the second plugs 28 is provided, at the corresponding block 29, with a shape which is suitable to form a recess 31 which is in turn suitable to extend the corresponding second seat 21 for guiding the drawer-like body 18. In particular, the drawer-like body 18 in this case is of the type with trays having sides 22 shaped complementarily to the surfaces of the second seats 21 and are surmounted by a grille-like panel 32. In this embodiment, the locking devices related to the tangs 16 of the joints 13 are constituted, for each one of the tangs 16, by a corresponding monolithic elastic tongue 33 which is adapted to enter, by interlocking therein, suitable slots formed in the corresponding profiled elements. With particular reference to Figures 9 to 11, a second embodiment of the cage 10 is generally designated by the reference numeral 100. The modular cage 100 does not differ in any way from the previously described cage 10, except in that at the body, here designated by the reference numeral 101, of the joints, here designated by the reference numeral 102, dead holes 103 are formed which are suitable to accommodate and fix corresponding connection components or accessories. More specifically, in this case the cage 100 has, as its components, pins 104 with a central flange 105 which are adapted to provide reversible stacking connections for modules which are substantially constituted by cages which are fully similar to the one described above and designated by the reference numeral 10. Moreover, the holes can accommodate, at the bottom, auxiliary components such as castors 106 which are suitable to provide wheeled support for the entire cage 100. With particular reference to Figure 12, a third embodiment of the cage 10 is generally designated by the reference numeral 200. In this case, by means of joints 213 which differ from the ones designated by the reference numeral 13 in that they have four tangs 16 instead of three, it is clearly shown that it is possible to arrange a plurality of cages such as 10 so that they are hot only stacked but also superimposed. In practice it has been found that the present invention has achieved the intended aim and objects. In particular, attention is drawn to its constructive simplicity, which however never detracts from the flexibility and functional sturdiness of the cage having the structure according to the invention. The cage having the structure according to the invention can in fact meet the most disparate application requirements, adapting easily to the most disparate configurations, which in any case can be assembled simply and rapidly by the user, since the assembly of said cage requires no particular technical knowledge. In particular, it should be noted that the components that constitute the cage having the structure according to the invention can be easily standardized, achieving considerable savings in production costs. It should also be noted that the overall neat appearance of the cage having the structure according to the invention allows to provide optional embodiments thereof having good aesthetic and styling features. The present invention is susceptible of modifications and variations within the scope of the appended claims. The technical details may be replaced with other technically equivalent elements. The materials and the dimensions may be any according to requirements. Where technical features mentioned in any claim are followed by reference signs, those reference signs have been included for the sole purpose of increasing the intelligibility of the claims and accordingly, such reference signs do not have any limiting effect on the interpretation of each element identified by way of example by such reference signs.

Claims: A modular cage (10, 100, 200) comprising a frame (12) which is constituted by profiled elements connected by interlocking comer joints (13; 102; 213), said frame (12) being associated with grille-like wall elements (11), each one of said joints (13; 102; 213) comprising a corner body (15; 101) from which tangs (16) extend monolithically and at right angles, said tangs (16) being provided with reversible locking devices (33) adapted to enter corresponding first longitudinally elongated seats (17) formed in said profiled elements (19, 20) characterized in that said grille-like wall elements (11) are adapted to enter corresponding grooves (14) provided on said profiled elements (19, 20). The cage (10) according to claim 1, characterized in that said frame (12) is associated, at a bottom thereof, with a drawer-like body (18) which constitutes the bottom of said cage (10). The cage (10) according to claim 1, characterized in that said profiled elements comprise first tubular profiled elements (19) which have only said first seat (17), whose surfaces are shaped substantially complementarily to the tangs (16) of the corresponding joint (13). The cage (10) according to claim 2, characterized in that said profiled elements comprise second profiled tubular elements (20) which are arranged at a bottom thereof and have, in addition to said first seats (17), a second seat (21) which is longitudinally open and is adapted to form a guide for the sliding of said drawer-like body (18). The cage (10) according to claim 4, characterized in that said second profiled tubular elements (20) also comprise a third seat (23) for the insertion and locking of tangs (24) of contoured end plugs (25, 28). The cage (10) according to claim 1, characterized in that said frame (12) comprises at least two first plugs (25) which are constituted by a corner block (26) from which a tubular tang protrudes monolithically. The cage (10) according to claim 6, characterized in that said frame (12) comprises at least two second plugs (28) which are constituted by a corner block (29) from which a tubular tang protrudes monolithically, said block being shaped so as to form a recess (31) which is suitable to extend the corresponding second seat (21) for guiding the drawer-like body (18). The cage (10) according to claim 2, characterized in that said drawer-like body (18) is of a tray-like type with sides (22) which are shaped complementarily to surfaces of said second seats (21) and are surmounted by a grille-like panel (32). The cage (10) according to claim 1, characterized in that each one of the tangs (16) related to each one of said joints (13) has, as said locking device, a monolithic elastic tongue (33) which is adapted to enter, with a reversible interlocking action, slots formed in the corresponding profiled elements (19, 20). The cage (100) according to claim 1, characterized in that each one of said joints (102) has, at its corner body (101), a dead hole (103) for accommodating auxiliary components. The cage (200) according to claim 1, characterized in that said joints (213) are provided with at least one additional tang which is suitable to allow a modular extension of frames arranged side by side. The cage (100) according to claim 10, characterized in that said auxiliary components comprise pins (104) provided with an intermediate flange (105) which are suitable to allow a modular stacked extension of the frames. The cage (100) according to claim 10, characterized in that said auxiliary components comprise wheels (106) with a pin-shaped tang which are suitable to provide wheeled support, as a whole, for said frame (12).

Inventors: MARCHIORO DOMENICO, MARCHIORO, DOMENICO
Applicants: MARCHIORO S P A STAMPAGGIO MAT, MARCHIORO S.P.A. STAMPAGGIO MATERIE PLASTICHE
Application year: 2001
Main classification: A01K1
IPC codes: B62B5, A01K1, A01K31