Patent Publication Number: US-2005115516-A1

Title: Platform for cages, particularly for small animals such as rodents and the like

Description:
The present invention relates to a platform for cages, particularly for small animals such as rodents and the like.  
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
      The aim of the present invention is to provide a platform that can be installed easily inside cages of very different sizes.  
      Within this aim, an object of the present invention is to provide a platform whose length can vary so as to be arranged longitudinally or transversely in a same cage.  
      Another object of the present invention is to provide a platform on which the occupants of the cage can move and stay without dangers for their safety and from which the small animals can descend and climb nimbly and instinctively.  
      Another object of the present invention is to provide a platform for cages, particularly for small animals such as rodents and the like, that can be manufactured with known systems and technologies.  
      This aim and these and other objects that will become better apparent hereinafter are achieved by a platform for cages, particularly for small animals such as rodents and the like, of the type constituted by a deck provided with means for fixing to the grid-like walls of a cage, characterized in that said deck has telescopic extension means for adapting to the dimensions of said cage.  
      Advantageously, said extension means are constituted by at least one additional deck, which is suitable to slide, by way of guiding means, parallel and adjacent to said deck, which contains it in a shorter retracted configuration of said platform. 
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
      Further characteristics and advantages of the invention will become better apparent from the following detailed description of a preferred but not exclusive embodiment thereof, illustrated by way of non-limiting example in the accompanying drawings, wherein:  
       FIG. 1  is a perspective view of a platform according to the invention, installed in a cage for small animals;  
       FIG. 2  is a top perspective view of a platform according to the invention, in the extended configuration;  
       FIG. 3  is a bottom perspective view of the platform of  FIG. 2 ;  
       FIG. 4  is a perspective view of a detail of a platform according to an embodiment of the invention;  
       FIG. 5  is a perspective view of a platform according to the invention, in a second embodiment, in the extended configuration;  
       FIG. 6  is a perspective view of a platform according to the invention, in a third embodiment, in the retracted configuration. 
    
    
     DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS  
      With reference to the figures, a platform for cages, particularly for small animals such as rodents and the like, is generally designated by the reference numeral  10 .  
      The platform  10 , provided with means  12  for fixing to grid-like walls  51  of a cage  50 , comprises a first deck  11 .  
      The first deck  11  has telescopic extension means  13  for adapting to the dimensions of the cage  50 .  
      The telescopic extension means  13  are constituted by a second deck  14 , which is suitable to slide, with guiding means  15 , parallel and adjacent to the first deck  11 .  
      The second deck  14 , in a shorter retracted configuration of the platform  10 , is substantially contained within the first deck  11 .  
      The guiding means  15  are formed by two sliding guides  16  provided on the first deck  11 .  
      Complementarily shaped sliding strips  17 , rigidly coupled to the second deck  14 , engage in the guides  16 .  
      The sliding guides  16  are formed by two lateral guides  18  provided inside longitudinal edges  19  of the first deck  11  and arranged below the first deck  11 .  
      The complementarily shaped strips  17  are constituted by the corresponding outer lateral edge  20  of the second deck  14 .  
      The first deck  11  has a passage  21  for small animals and the like, which have to climb on it or off it in order to access another similar platform arranged above or below.  
      Accordingly, the second deck  14  is provided with an opening  22  at the passage  21 .  
      The opening  22  is shaped so as to not obstruct the passage  21  when the platform  10  is in the retracted configuration and therefore also not obstruct it in the many intermediate configurations between the fully extended one and the fully retracted one, which is shown for example in  FIG. 6 .  
      In a second embodiment of a platform according to the invention, designated by the reference numeral  110 , the first deck  111  and the second deck  114  have no openings.  
      Such a platform  110  is designed particularly not only for the transit of small animals but also to accommodate within its perimeter shelters, drinking troughs and other similar accessories for said small animals.  
      The passage  21  on the first deck, and therefore also the corresponding opening  22  on the second deck, have different dimensions depending on the small animal for which they are intended.  
      In a third embodiment of a platform according to the invention, designated by the reference numeral  210 , the passage  221  is a hole, conveniently provided with seats  240  for the engagement for example of a crawling tube for small animals, which is not shown and is of the type disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 6,668,757, in the name of the same Applicant.  
      The fixing means  12  are constituted by four hooks  30 , which can move along the perimeter border  31  of the platform  10  and are arranged in pairs on sides  32  that lie transversely with respect to the direction of extension of the platform  10 .  
      Each one of the hooks  30  comprises an articulated arm  33 , which is suitable to wrap around a cross-member  52  of a grid-like wall  51 .  
      The arm  33  interlocks reversibly by means of a head  34 , which is shaped so as to accommodate an end  35  of a mushroom-shaped tab  36 .  
      The tab  36  protrudes below the cross-member  52  from a plate-like portion  37  of the hook  30 .  
      Likewise, the second and third embodiments of the platform  10 , i.e., the platforms designated by the reference numerals  110  and  210 , are also provided with identical hooks  130  and  230 .  
      The platform  10 ,  110 ,  210  according to the invention can be installed easily, since it requires, for extension, only a traction so as to make the second deck exit from the first one.  
      Likewise, for retraction it is sufficient to push the second deck so that it slides within the first deck until it reaches the present length of the platform set by the dimensions of the cage with which said platform is to be associated.  
      Just as simply, the hooks  30 ,  130 ,  230  move along the perimeter  31  by means of a manual intervention.  
      In this manner, it is possible to move the hooks  30 ,  130 ,  230  so as to adapt their mutual length according to the spaces available between the uprights  53  of the cage  50 .  
      The hooks  30 ,  130 ,  230  therefore can also move externally with respect to the longitudinal edges  19  of the first deck  11 .  
      In practice it has been found that the invention thus described achieves the intended aim and objects.  
      In particular, the present invention provides a platform that can be installed easily inside cages having very different dimensions.  
      Moreover, the present invention provides a platform whose length can be adapted both to the longitudinal dimensions and to the transverse dimensions of a same cage.  
      Moreover, the present invention provides a platform on which the occupants of the cage can transit and stay without dangers for their safety but from which said small animals can descend and climb nimbly and instinctively.  
      Moreover, the present invention provides a platform with which it is possible to associate a conventional crawling tube for small animals.  
      Moreover, the present invention provides a platform that can be produced at low cost also by molding plastics.  
      In practice, the materials employed, so long as they are compatible with the specific use, as well as the dimensions, may be any according to requirements and to the state of the art.  
      The disclosures in Italian Utility Model Application No. PD2003U000110 from which this application claims priority are incorporated herein by reference.