Patent Publication Number: US-2010108622-A1

Title: Locking assembly

Description:
CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
     This application claims priority to U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 61/112,045, filed Nov. 6, 2008, entitled “LOCKING ASSEMBLY,” the contents of which are hereby incorporated by reference in its entirety. 
    
    
     FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention relates generally to a mechanism for securing a laboratory cage onto a rack. More specifically, the invention relates to a lock having an opened position when removing the cage from the rack and a locked position when the cage is properly positioned within the rack. Preferably, the cage lock can swing into the locked position automatically via the force of gravity when released. 
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     Laboratories often utilize racks having one or more cages therein that are moved within a laboratory room or to another area in an animal facility for processing, cleaning, etc. Therefore, it can be preferable to provide a locking mechanism to retain the cages within the rack and prevent the cages from sliding out of the rack or otherwise being inadvertently moved. Although the use of a locking mechanism can prevent inadvertent movement of the cage when it is positioned in the rack, the locking assembly is often difficult to operate and to incorporate into the rack design. Accordingly, an effective locking mechanism for retaining a cage in position in a rack that is easy to operate and incorporate into a rack is desired. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     A preferred embodiment of the present invention is directed to a locking assembly for securing and retaining a cage to a rack. 
     In accordance with an embodiment of the invention, the locking assembly is preferably supported on a rack having a canopy, wherein the cage is placed beneath the canopy. The locking assembly includes a pivoting member that is pivotable between an unlocked position and a locked position, wherein the pivoting member can be pivoted upward to an unlocked position and pivoted downward to a locked position. The pivotable member includes a protrusion that extends laterally across the front of the cage such that the protrusion prevents the cage from moving forward past the protrusion. Preferably, the pivoting member is urged to the locked position by the force of gravity. Therefore, the pivoting member can be pivoted upward to remove or insert a cage and once released, the pivoting member will drop back down by the force of gravity into the locked position. 
     In an exemplary embodiment, the pivotable member may have an undulating surface similar to the shape of a person&#39;s hand, such that by inserting the hand between the pivotable member and the cage, the technician or other person removing the cage can displace the pivotable member upward into the unlocked position. When the technician removes his hand from beneath the pivotable member, either after releasing the cage beneath the canopy or while removing the cage from the rack, the pivotable member will pivot downward to the locked position. Thus, no additional step is necessary to displace the pivotable member from the locked position to the unlocked position and vice versa. 
     Other objects and features of the present invention will become apparent from the following detailed description, considered in conjunction with the accompanying drawing figure. 
     It is to be understood, however, that the drawings are designed solely for the purpose of illustration and not as a definition of the limits of the invention, for which reference should be made to the appended claims. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       The particular features and advantages of the invention as well as other objects will become apparent from the following description taken in connection with the accompanying drawings, in which: 
         FIG. 1  is a perspective view of a rack including a locking assembly in accordance with an embodiment of the invention; 
         FIG. 2  is a partial perspective view of a rack including a locking assembly in accordance with an embodiment of the invention; 
         FIG. 3  is a perspective view of a cage and canopy and locking assembly in accordance with an embodiment of the invention; 
         FIG. 4  is a front elevational view of the cage and canopy and locking assembly of  FIG. 3 ; 
         FIG. 5  is a side elevational view of the cage and canopy and locking assembly of  FIG. 3 ; 
         FIG. 6  is a perspective view of the cage and canopy and locking assembly of  FIG. 3  in operation; 
         FIG. 7  is a perspective view of a locking member in accordance with an embodiment of the invention; 
         FIG. 8  is a bottom planar view of the locking assembly of  FIG. 7 . 
     
    
    
     DESCRIPTION OF EXEMPLARY EMBODIMENTS 
     Certain exemplary embodiments of the present invention will now be described with reference to the drawings. In general, such embodiments relate to a locking assembly for retaining a cage in a rack, for example, while the rack is being moved. The locking assembly can be used with a ventilated rack having an air plenum providing air into or drawing air out of cages docked to the plenum, such as the rack system disclosed in U.S. patent application Ser. No. 11/871,942, filed Oct. 12, 2007, entitled “VENTILATED RACK SYSTEM,” the contents of which, are incorporated by reference herein. 
     Referring to  FIGS. 1-6 , a rack generally indicated at  300 , can include one or more canopies  200  for receiving a cage  400  beneath each canopy  200 . In accordance with the embodiment shown, a locking assembly generally indicated as  10  includes a lock member  100 , an obstruction member  110 , and a support member, for example, the canopy  200 , from which the lock member extends. It is to be understood that the support member can be the shelf, beam or other structure of the rack  300  without deviating from the scope of the invention. A lock member  100  is preferably connected to the canopy  200  and extends downward from the canopy  200  proximate the cage  400  such that the lock member  100  prevents the removal of the cage  400  from beneath the canopy  200  when the lock member  100  is in the locked position. 
     In accordance with an exemplary embodiment, cage  400  can be supported by canopy  200  and suspended above a canopy, shelf, base, etc. of the rack  300  beneath the cage  400 . Alternatively, cage  400  can be supported on the canopy, shelf, base, etc. of the rack  300  beneath cage  400  in combination with or in lieu of being supported by the canopy  200  above the cage  400 . 
     As shown in greater detail in  FIGS. 1-4 , the default position of the lock member  100 , in the absence of external force, is preferably the locked position. Preferably, when lock member  100  is in the locked position, the body  108  of the lock member  100  extends downward from the canopy  200  and the obstruction member  110  of the locking assembly  10  extends in front of the cage  400 . The obstruction member  110  thus prevents the displacement of the cage  400  toward the front of the rack  300  in direction A. 
     Referring to  FIG. 6 , the lock member  100  is constructed and arranged such that when a person, for example, a technician, wishes to remove the cage  400  from beneath the canopy  200  of the rack  300 , the technician may insert a hand between the cage  400  and the lock member  100 . Such a motion is preferably consistent with the technician&#39;s motion to grab the cage  400  on the side of the cage  400 . Preferably, once the technician has inserted his hand a sufficient distance to properly grab the cage  400 , the lock member  100  is displaced by the technician&#39;s hand without the need for any additional steps. Once the technician removes his hand from between the cage  400  and the lock member  100 , the lock member  100  preferably returns to the default, locked position, more preferably by the force of gravity acting on the lock member  100 . 
     Referring to  FIG. 2 , a structure such as a beam, air plenum  302 , etc. of the rack  300  can prevent the displacement of the cage  400  in direction B when the cage  400  is properly positioned in the rack  300 . More preferably, the cage  400  can connect to an air valve  304  connected to the air plenum  302  of the rack  300  to provide air into and/or out of the cage  400 . When the cage  400  is properly connected to the air plenum  302 , for example, via a connecting grommet, the lock member  100  extending along the side of the cage  400 , can be positioned such that the obstruction member  110  extends along the front of the cage  400  to prevent the displacement of the cage  400  in direction A past the obstruction member  110 . Preferably, the distance between the obstruction member  110  and the air plenum  302  is such that the obstruction member  110  does not extend along the front of the cage  400  unless the cage is inserted a sufficient distance to ensure proper engagement with the air plenum  302 . 
     Referring to  FIGS. 1-6 , the locking assembly  10  can include a lock member  100  and a support member from which the lock member  100  can hang downward. Whereas the support member is depicted as a canopy  200  of a rack  300  in which a cage  400  is housed, it is to be understood that the support member can vary as a matter of application specific design choice. 
     The lock member  100  preferably includes a body  108  extending downward from the canopy  200  adjacent to the respective cage  400 . The lock member  100  is pivotable toward and away from the cage  400 . Referring to  FIG. 7 , lock member  100  preferably has an axis  102  about which the lock member  100  can pivot, and one or more pivot projections  104  extending from the body  108  on the opposite side of axis  102  from the body  108 . 
     Referring to  FIGS. 3-4 , the lock member  100  preferably includes an obstruction member  110  for preventing the displacement of the cage  400  in a forward direction out of the rack  300 . In the embodiment shown, obstruction member  110  extends perpendicularly from the body  108  toward the cage  400 . Accordingly, when the lock member  100  is in a locked position, as shown in  FIGS. 2-5 , the body  108  extends downward next to the cage  400  and the obstruction member  110  extends from the body  108  in front of the cage  400 . However, the position of the obstruction member  110  can vary, as long as the obstruction member  110  can obstruct the displacement of the cage  400  out of the rack  300 . 
     In accordance with an exemplary embodiment shown in  FIGS. 6-8 , the body  108  includes an undulating inner surface  108   a  having a size and shape similar to the outer contours of a person&#39;s hand. For example, the inner surface  108   a  is conformed generally to the shape of the top of a person&#39;s hand, the knuckles and the fingers. More specifically, the inner surface  108   a  can define a space  108   b  wherein the space  108   b  is wider proximate the front of lock member  100  and becomes narrower proximate the back of lock member  100 , wherein the front of lock member  100  is proximate the opening of the rack  300  through which the cage  400  can be inserted and removed. As a person inserts his hand into the space  108   b,  the lock member  100  is urged away from the cage  400  to pivot upward. Accordingly, the mere insertion of a person&#39;s hand and grabbing the side of the cage  400  can be sufficient to displace the lock member  100  to an unlocked position, as illustrated in  FIG. 6 . When the lock member  100  is in the unlocked position, the obstruction member  110  is preferably clear of the path of the cage  400  so that the cage  400  can be inserted or removed from the rack  300 . 
     In accordance with an exemplary embodiment, the canopy  200  can include one or more receiving apertures  202 , grooves, etc. through which pivot projections  104  can be inserted or otherwise received by canopy  200  ( FIG. 3 ). Pivot projections  104  may include a securing projection  106  for securing lock member  100  to the canopy  200 . For example, securing projection  106  can extend laterally from the pivot projection  104  to prevent the inadvertent removal of pivot projections  104  through receiving apertures  202 . Whereas the embodiment illustrated shows a securing projection  106  extending perpendicularly from pivot projection  104 , it is to be understood that securing projection  106  can extend in more than one direction, and can have a variety of sizes and shapes. For example, securing projection  106  can have a spherical or cylindrical shape. Additionally, the lock member  100  can be connected to canopy  200  in a variety of ways without deviating from the scope of the invention. Alternatively, the support member includes a shelf, beam, etc. of the rack  300 , or another structure preferably within the rack  300 , without deviating from the scope of the invention. 
     In accordance with an embodiment of the support member as shown, the canopy  200  includes a support wall  206  for supporting the securing projection  106  thereon and for maintaining the securing projection  106  in place ( FIG. 3 ). 
     The method of use of a locking assembly in accordance with an embodiment of the invention will be described herein. As shown in  FIGS. 1-4 , wherein cage  400  is received in rack  300  under canopy  200 , the lock member  100  extends downward next to the cage  400  and obstruction member  110  extends from the lock member  100  in front of the cage  400 . Accordingly, obstruction member  110  prevents cage  400  from being displaced in direction A and out of rack  400  ( FIG. 2 ). 
     A technician can insert his hand into area  108   b  between the cage  400  and the body  108  of the lock member  100  to grab the cage  400 . The technician preferably inserts his hand into area  108   b  until lock member  100  is urged upward by the hand, such that the body  108  pivots away from the cage  400  until obstruction member  110  is no longer in front of the cage  400 , as shown in  FIG. 6 . Accordingly, the cage  400  can be removed from the rack in direction A. Preferably, no additional step of displacing the lock member  100  is necessary to clear the path of the cage  400  in direction A. Once the cage  400  is removed from the rack  300  past the obstruction member  110 , the lock member  100  is released and permitted to pivot back downward to the locked position. 
     When the cage  400  is being inserted into the rack  300  under the canopy  200 , the cage  400  can be displaced in direction B until it contacts the obstruction member  110  ( FIG. 2 ). Preferably, the cage  400  pushes the obstruction member  110  in direction B, which results in the lock member  100  being urged upward and away from the cage  400 . Referring to  FIGS. 3 and 7 , the obstruction member  110  can include a tapered portion  110   a.  Therefore, as the cage  400  is being inserted beneath the canopy  200 , the cage  400  can contact the tapered portion  110   a  of the obstruction member  100 . Because the tapered portion  110   a  permits the cage  400  to contact the obstruction member  110  at an acute angle due to the tapered portion  110   a,  the movement of the cage  400  in direction B can force the obstruction member  110  and thus the lock member  100  to pivot away from the cage  400  until the obstruction member  110  is clear of the path of the cage  400  and no longer obstructs the cage  400  from being displaced in direction B. 
     Once the cage  400  is released and the technician removes his hands from next to the cage  400 , the lock member  100  will pivot downward. However, if the cage  400  is not inserted sufficiently into the rack  300 , the lock member  100  can remain in the unlocked position. For example, the obstruction member  110  can contact the sidewall of the cage  400  if the cage  400  is not properly positioned in the rack  300 . Once the cage  400  is inserted sufficiently in the rack  300 , the obstruction member  110  preferably clears the cage and the lock member  100  can pivot downward to the lock position. In the lock position, the obstruction member  110  preferably extends in front of the cage  400 , thus preventing the cage  400  from being inadvertently removed from the rack. 
     In accordance with an exemplary embodiment, the lock member  100  is formed of a molded plastic. However, other materials, such as metal, acrylic, etc. can be used as a matter of application specific design choice. Furthermore, the shape of the lock member  100  can be varied without deviating from the scope of the invention. 
     The examples provided are merely exemplary, as a matter of application specific to design choice, and should not be construed to limit the scope of the invention in any way. Thus, while there have been shown and described and pointed out novel features of the present invention as applied to preferred embodiments thereof, it will be understood that various omissions and substitutions and changes in the form and details of the disclosed invention may be made by those skilled in the art without departing from the spirit of the invention. For example, the mechanism for connecting the lock member to the canopy, the type of support member, the shape and arrangement of the obstruction member, etc. can be changed without deviating from the scope of the invention as a matter of application specific to design choice. It is the intention, therefore, to be limited only as indicated by the scope of the claims appended hereto. 
     It is also to be understood that the following claims are intended to cover all of the generic and specific features of the invention herein described and all statements of the scope of the invention which, as a matter of language, might be said to fall therebetween.