Abstract:
A cage for small animals includes a generally closed base having an open top; a grating structure upon the base forming a closed structure for containing an animal therein; and a refuse catcher surrounding the grating structure and removably fastened to the base so as to permit the refuse catcher to be removed from the base by being detached from the base and moved upward away from the base without removing the grating structure from the base. The cage can be a bird cage, wherein the refuse catcher is a seed catcher that is formed of a plurality of mating parts, the parts being releasable attached to each other and to the base.

Description:
[0001]    This application claim priority under 35 U.S.C. §119(e) from provisional patent application Ser. No. 61/063,270 filed on Feb. 1, 2008, which is incorporated by reference herein, in its entirety, for all purposes. 
     
    
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0002]    1. Field of the Invention 
         [0003]    The present invention relates to animal cages. More particularly, and although not so limited, it relates to cages for small animals and to birdcages, and is especially useful for birds kept as a pet in a home environment. 
         [0004]    2. Background Art 
         [0005]    While various small animals, and as an example, birds (not by way of limitation) or parakeets, make excellent pets, they require a good deal of maintenance and support. Small animals such as hamsters or gerbils require a bedding material, portions of which are often ejected from the cage. Generally, one problem associated with small birds in captivity is that the food that they eat generally contains seeds. The birds, when feeding, crack open the seeds and eat the interior portion. Birds generally eject the uneaten portion or shell from their cage. These ejected seed shells and other waste can cause a mess around the cage, which needs to be cleaned up on a rather frequent basis. 
         [0006]    There have been a variety of ways to deal with this situation. Various prior art bird cages have built in seed catcher structures about the periphery to catch the shells of seeds and other waste products that are ejected from the cage. Sloping surfaces, and appropriate openings in the cage aligned with the bottom of the seed catcher, return such ejected waste material to the cage, where the material falls to the cage bottom. Provisions are made in the base of the cage, such as a removable tray, under a grill, to make it possible to remove the waste material from the cage. 
         [0007]    Another seed guard or catcher is in the form of clear polyethylene extruded plastic strips wrapped around the perimeter of the cage, and permanently affixed thereto. 
         [0008]    Referring to  FIG. 1  a prior art birdcage  20 , without a seed catcher, is illustrated. The cage wall and top structure  22 , formed of a metal grating, which can be disassembled and/or collapsed for shipping, has protrusions around its periphery, generally in the form of loops  23  which fit into opening in the birdcage base  24  to secure wall and top structure  22  to base  24  (formed of a polymer material) by flexing the wall of structure  22  just enough so that the loop protrusions  23  may be placed in the openings in the base. A grating (not shown) is placed at the top of the base prior to assembly. The bottom of the base  24  receives a sliding tray  26 , which is removed to empty waste. 
         [0009]    One problem associated with this approach is that the base  24  of the cage begins to be rather tall, resulting in added height to the birdcage, and an appearance that some may find to be not esthetically pleasing. Further, this increased height is a limitation on the smallest thickness possible for a package containing the birdcage components in disassembled form, thus increasing storage and shipping cost. 
         [0010]    Another problem associated with prior art bird cages with surrounding seed catchers is that of what happens when birds are temporarily allowed out of their cages (for example in a house or apartment). A bird will tend to perch at the highest part of the top of the cage. However, the tail of the bird will become uncomfortable if the bird is facing outward, as the tail then contacts the cage, causing pressure and the resulting discomfort. Thus, the bird will often perch at the edge of the top of the cage, facing toward the cage center, so that the tail is off in space next to the cage and does not rest on the cage top. The unfortunate result of this position is that bird droppings tend to fall directly on any surrounding seed catcher, which generally extends outward form the cage. The bird droppings, and waste material ejected from the cage, tend to dirty the seed catcher, requiring that it be periodically cleaned. However, this is a relatively time consuming, difficult and unpleasant task, because in these prior art structures, the seed catchers often are not easily or not at all removable from the cage. A better approach is required. 
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0011]    It is an object of the invention to provide an animal cage having a base of low profile, which is esthetically pleasing and may be shipped, together with other components of the cage, in a relatively thin package. 
         [0012]    It is a further object of the invention to provide a refuse catcher structure that may readily be removed from the cage, in order to facilitate cleaning of the refuse catcher. 
         [0013]    It is another object of the invention to provide a structure for an animal cage with a refuse catcher that may be readily assembled from its component parts without the use any tools. 
         [0014]    These objects and others are achieved in accordance with the invention by providing an animal cage comprising a generally closed base having an open top; a grating structure upon the base forming a closed structure for contain an animal therein; and a refuse catcher, or seed catcher in the case of a birdcage, surrounding the grating structure and removeably fastened to the base so as to permit the refuse catcher to be removed from the base by being detached from the base and moved upward away from the base without removing the grating structure from the base. 
         [0015]    The refuse or seed catcher is formed of a plurality of mating parts, the parts being releasably attached to each other and to the base. The plurality of parts may be released from each other so that a single part may be released from the base. 
         [0016]    The base can be of generally rectangular shape or configuration, but may be in the shape of any polygon, or even circular in configuration. The refuse catcher can be formed of parts, with each part corresponding to a side of the base, and the base can be configured with openings to accept a projection from each of the parts so as to removeably connect the parts to the base. 
         [0017]    Two of the parts can be sized and shaped to follow a corner of the base and to be in contact with two sides of the base, and two of the parts can be configured to each contact only a single side of the base. 
         [0018]    The base can have a rim at its top, the rim defining a narrow ledge for receiving a bottom edge of the parts of the seed catcher. 
         [0019]    A plurality of the parts can include a projection for fitting into a first opening of an adjacent one of the parts. The projection may be formed in a generally rectangular shape. The first projection can be formed of a polymer, and the first opening can be sized and shaped to receive the projection. 
         [0020]    A plurality of the parts can include a second projection for fitting into a second opening of an adjacent one of the parts. The second projection can be formed generally in the shape of a solid rectangle. 
         [0021]    The base is preferably formed of a polymer. The refuse or seed catcher is preferable formed of a polymer of a type that is easily cleaned of debris. The polymer may be formed of polystyrene or polypropylene. The refuse or seed catcher is shaped so as to curve away from said base. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0022]    The foregoing aspects and other features of the present invention are explained in the following description, taken in connection with the accompanying drawings, wherein: 
           [0023]      FIG. 1  is a front perspective view of a prior art bird cage. 
           [0024]      FIG. 2  is a front perspective view of a bird cage in accordance with the invention. 
           [0025]      FIG. 3  is a perspective view of the base of the bird cage of  FIG. 2 , with the components of a removable seed catcher in place. 
           [0026]      FIG. 4  is an enlarged perspective view of a corner of the base of the birdcage of  FIG. 3 . 
           [0027]      FIG. 5  is an enlarged side elevational view of the left side component of the seed catcher illustrated in  FIG. 4 . 
           [0028]      FIG. 6A  is an enlarged front elevational view of the left side component of the seed catcher illustrated in  FIG. 4 . 
           [0029]      FIG. 6B  is an enlarged front elevational view of the rear component of the seed catcher illustrated in  FIG. 4 . 
           [0030]      FIG. 7  is a perspective view of the apparatus of  FIG. 3 , with a front component of the seed catcher removed. 
           [0031]      FIG. 8  is an enlarged perspective view including the cage base and the right end of the removed front component of the seed catcher in accordance with the invention, as it is being removed or replaced. 
           [0032]      FIG. 9  is an enlarged perspective view including the cage base and the left end of the removed front component of the seed catcher in accordance with the invention, as it is being removed or replaced. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT 
       [0033]    Referring to  FIG. 2 , a birdcage  30  in accordance with the invention, but with the seed catcher removed, is shown. Although the present invention will be described with reference to the single embodiment shown in the drawings, it should be understood that the present invention can be embodied in many alternate forms of embodiments. In addition, any suitable size, shape or type of elements or materials could be used. 
         [0034]    Birdcage  30 , has a cage wall and top structure  32 , formed of a metal grating, which can be disassembled and/or collapsed for shipping, has protrusions around its periphery, generally in the form of loops  23  which fit into opening in the birdcage base  34  to secure wall and top structure  32  to base  34  (formed of a polymer) by flexing the wall of the top structure  32  just enough so that the loops  23  may be placed in the openings in the base. Alternatively, forks-like members (not shown) that protrude from base  34  may lock onto the cage wires of top structure  32 . Other suitable arrangements may be made for securing top structure  32  to base  34 . A grating (not shown) is placed at the top of the base  34  prior to assembly. The bottom of the base  34  receives a sliding tray  36 , which is removed to empty waste. A suitable cage door  38 , as is well known in the art, is provided. 
         [0035]    It is noted that in accordance with one aspect of the invention, base  34  ( FIG. 3 ) is approximately less than half of the height of base  24  of prior art birdcage  20  ( FIG. 1 ). While base  34  must be high enough to receive sliding tray  36 , its very low profile is esthetically pleasing, and permits the various components of birdcage  30  to be shipped in much thinner package, thus saving on shipping and storage costs. 
         [0036]      FIG. 3  illustrates base  34  of a birdcage in accordance with the invention, with the components of refuse catcher, and in particular, a seed catcher, shown generally as  40 , in place. Seed catcher  40  includes a back member  42 , a right side member  44 , a front member  46 , and a left side member  48 , it being understood that the designations front, back, right and left are arbitrary, and are merely for ease of description herein. 
         [0037]      FIG. 4 , together with  FIG. 5 ,  FIG. 6A  and  FIG. 6B , illustrate the manner in which left side member  48  is secured to base  34  and front member  46  is secured to left side member  48 . 
         [0038]    Base  34  has a pair of outwardly protruding pockets  50  for receiving corresponding downwardly extending locking protrusions  52  (only one shown in  FIG. 4  and  FIG. 5 ) of left side member  48 , thus removeably locking left side member  48  to base  34 . Protrusions  52  each have hooked ends  53  and each extend from an inwardly disposed portion  54  of the lower edge  56  of left side member  48 , thus assuring that protrusions  52  are lined up with most of the length of the lower edge  56 . Right side member  44  may be removeably attached to base  34  in the same manner. 
         [0039]      FIG. 4 ,  FIG. 5 ,  FIG. 6A  and  FIG. 6B  also illustrate, at the front end of left side member  48 , an upper locking tab  58  and a lower locking tab  60 . Tabs  58  and  60  are cantilevered projections which cover most of respective openings  58 A and  60 A, respectively, in respective external bosses  59  and  61  defined in left side member  48 . External bosses  59  and  61  each have a respective sub-boss,  59 A and  61 A. At each end of left side member  48  and right side member  44 , boss  59 , sub-boss  59 A, and an internal boss  62  ( FIG. 6A ) define an upper chamber  67 . At each end of left side member  48  and right side member  44 , boss  61 , sub-boss  61 A and an internal boss  63  define a lower chamber  67 A. Upper locking tab  58  may barely protrude into upper chamber  67 . Lower locking tab  60  may barely protrude into lower chamber  67 A. 
         [0040]    Referring to  FIGS. 7 ,  8  and  9 , and in particular,  FIG. 7 , upper chamber  67 , associated with locking tab  58  and lower chamber  67 A, associated with locking tab  60 , are each designed to receive respective protrusions  70 A and  70 B, protruding from an end of front member  46 , which curves so as to have the same orientation as and mate with right side member  44  ( FIG. 8 ). 
         [0041]    Referring also to  FIG. 6B , each of protrusions  70 A and  70 B is formed of a first rectangular portion  71 A and  71 B, respectively, which extend in a vertical direction. Second rectangular portions  71 C and  71 D, extend perpendicularly from first rectangular portion  71 A and  71 B, respectively. Alignment fins  73 A and  73 B, protruding from second rectangular portion  71 C and  71 D, respectively, mate with corresponding opening  74 A and  74 B in right side member  44  to assist in maintaining alignment and in relieving stress that otherwise could be placed on protrusions  70 A and  70 B when front side member  46  is assembled to right side member  44 . 
         [0042]      FIG. 9  shows an arrangement that is similar to that shown in  FIG. 8 , but illustrates the manner in which front side member  46  is releaseably assembled to left side member  48 , when protrusions  70 C and  70 D are aligned with and received within corresponding chambers in left side member  48 , containing corresponding locking tabs. Fins  72 C and  72 D are also received in corresponding openings  74 C and  74 D. 
         [0043]    Outwardly facing surfaces of rectangular portions  71 A and  71 B of protrusions  70 A and  70 B respectively (and corresponding portions of protrusions  70 C and  70 D), may be formed with a series of groves  76  so as to interact with the portions of locking tabs  58  and  60  which extend into chambers  67  and  67 A to lead to a more secure assembly of the parts of seed catcher  40  to each other. 
         [0044]    The manner in which, and apparatus for, releaseably connecting rear member  42  to right side member  44  and left side member  48  may be identical to what has been described above with respect to front member  46 . 
         [0045]    When the seed catcher  40  is fully assembled to base  34 , as shown in  FIG. 3 , the rear member  42  and the front member  46  curve around the corners of base  34  to mate at their curved ends with the right side member  44  and the left side member  48 , to thus form a continuous barrier to seed shells and other waste material that is ejected from the birdcage  30  ( FIG. 3 ). The wall and top structure  32  is secured to base  34  as described above. However, of great advantage to the owner of the birdcage  30  in accordance with the invention, is the fact that back member  42  and front member  46  may be disassembled from right side member  44  and left side member  48  by simply pulling the members apart, and then right side member  44  and left side member  48  may be dissembled from base  34 , all without removing the wall and top structure  32  from base  34 , thus allowing the bird to remain inside the birdcage  30 , while the components of the seed catcher  40  are removed for ease of cleaning. Alternatively, if there are no interfering protrusions from birdcage  30 , the entire seed catcher  40 , including rear member  42 , right side member  44 , front side member  46  and left side member  48  may be removed as a unit, by simply pulling upward to remove the two pairs of protrusions  52  from base  34 . 
         [0046]    Thus, when in place upon base  34 , a seed catcher in accordance with the invention efficiently and effectively returns seeds and other waste to the base of the birdcage  30 , by way of openings between the wires at the bottom of wall and top structure  32 . 
         [0047]    It should be understood that the foregoing description is only illustrative of the invention. Various alternatives and modifications can be devised by those skilled in the art without departing from the invention. Accordingly, the present invention is intended to embrace all such alternatives, modifications and variances.