Improvements relating to Bird-cages and the like.
Year: 1892

page_text: Date of Application, 5th May, 1892
Complete Specification Left, 6th Mar., 1893-Accepted, 8th Apr., 1893
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements relating to Bird-cages and the like.
I, CHARLES WARING PERCY GILLIAT, of Penrhyn House, Twickenham
Park, Surrey, Civil Engineer, do hereby declare the nature of this invention
to be as follows:-
This my invention has reference to certain new and useful improvements
relating more especially to bird cages, but which improvements are also applicable
to other cages or pens.
In cages as at present constructed it is frequently necessary to remove the
cage from the base in order to properly clean out the cage, or to effect the
cleaning through a door or opening, which, besides having to be frequently done,
is inconvenient.
Now by this invention I provide means whereby the cage can be readily and
(if necessary) daily cleaned and sanded, and the soil removed, be automatically
deposited into a receptacle from which it can be removed at intervals of a week
more or less as required. Moreover the part of the cage embodying my improve-
ment can be readily applied to any existing cage. It is simple in construction,
neat in appearance, and cheap to manufacture.
By this my invention I provide a preferably box-shaped tray which fits onto
the lower portion of the cage. Two or more rollers are horizontally journalled
in the tray, one at each of two opposite sides of the tray.
A piece of webbing or other suitable fabric of the same size as the bottom
The rollers are
of the cage passes over these rollers in an endless band.
journalled preferably in sliding bearings in such manner that they can be kept
apart, and the fabric be kept taut by suitable springs which are adapted to bear
against the rollers. At one end of the tray and above the fabric is a receptacle
having a small aperture in its bottom to release sand which is contained therein,
and which distributes itself over the surface of the fabric as it passes over the
rollers. At the opposite side of the cage and tray, and extending beneath the
fabric is a receptacle having an upwardly extending side which comes into contact
with the fabric, and scrapes off any soil which may adhere thereto.
It will be readily understood that as the rollers are rotated by a suitable
handle, and as the fabric travels over them that the soil on the fabric, is scraped
off, and that fresh sand is simultaneously distributed thereon from the sand-
receptacle.
Dated this and dow of May 1892.
W. H. MUNNS,
Applicant's Agent.
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements relating to Bird-cages and the like.
1, CHARLES WARING PERCY GILLIAT, of Penrhyn House, Twickenham
Park, Surrey, Civil Engineer, do hereby declare the nature of this invention
and in what manner the same is to be performed, to be particularly described
and ascertained in and by the following statement :-
This my invention has reference to certain new and useful improvements relating
more especially to bird cages, but the said invention is also applicable to other
cages or pens.
In cages as at present constructed, no adequate means are provided for easily

page_text: cleaning them. In some cases it is necessary to remove the cage from its base, and
in others it is necessary to effect the cleaning through a door or other opening; all
such means however being inconvenient.
Now by this invention, I construct a cage which permits of the cleaning and
sanding thereof being readily perforined, and of the soil and sand being deposited
into a receptacle from which it can be taken at intervals of time as may be
necessary. Moreover a cage, pen or the like made in accordance with this
invention is simple in construction, neat in appearance, and not liable to get out of
order.
I now proceed to describe my said invention, reference being had to the
accompanying drawings and to the figures and letters of reference marked thereon,
like letters referring to like parts in all the views.
Fig. 1. is a sectional side-view of the lower portion of a cage embodying my
invention, the section being taken on the line of Fig. 2.
Fig. 2, is a plan of Fig. 1, parts being
particularly certain parts thereof.
broken away to illustrate more
The lower portion of the cage consists of a rectangular box A having ends B
and sides C which are extended upwardly at their ends as indicated by the
letter D. Partitions E extend between the parts D of each side, one partition
having an opening F through it.. A piece of glass or the like may be fitted
between the partitions E to prevent sand and seed from being spilt out of the
cage. Between one partition E and one end B a ledge H is secured and extends
between the sides C. A narrow aperture I is made in the ledge H and extends
nearly the length thereof. Suitable food and water receptacles J rest upon a
wire K extending between the sides C, and access may be had to them by the
birds or animals through the opening F.
A drawer or tray L is fitted in the lower portion of the box A and can be
withdrawn from the front thereof.
The
A board a is secured by screws 6 or other means between the sides C and is cut
out at its corners as shewn at c to accommodate wire brackets d and e.
brackets d and e are bent at their ends into loops fin which are fitted the reduced
ends of rollers h. The wire brackets d are slidingly secured to the board a by
staples and are bent at their inner ends into loops j for a purpose hereinafter
described. The brackets e are secured to the board a by staples i and by having
their ends bent at right-angles and inserted into the board as indicated by the
letter k. An endless band of webbing or other suitable flexible material / is caused
to travel over the rollers when they are rotated, said rotation being effected by
turning the knob or other handle m fixed on one of the reduced ends g of one
roller ;-the end g being extended through one side C for that purpose. The
endless band is kept taut by spiral springs n which are inserted in circular
apertures o in the board a. One end of each spring n is secured to the board a
by a staple q, and the other end r of each spring enters the loopj of the brackets d.
The ends of the springs press the brackets d outwardly and thus keep the endless
band taut. A scraper is fitted in the drawer L and may consist of a thin board or
strip of metals which may be removably held in place between blocks t and
adapted to bear against the underside of the band 1. Strips of wood or metal N
project from the sides C over the edges of the band and prevent sand and other
matter upon the band from falling over its edges.
The manner in which my invention is operated is as follows:-
Sand is placed in the receptacle M from whence it finds its way through the
the slot onto the band l. The band is then caused to travel by turning the
knob m until the whole of the upper surface of the band is covered with a thin
layer of sand.
When it becomes necessary to renew the sand the operation is
repeated which causes the soiled sand to drop into the drawer L. The matter
which adheres to the band is removed by the scraper s. The drawer L may be
emptied when full.
wish it to be understood that I do not confine myself to the particular

page_text: construction of my invention as hereinbefore described and shewn, inasmuch as
various slight modifications may be introduced without departing from the nature
of the invention.
0
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what I
claim is :-
In a bird cage, animal-pen or the like, the herein described means for facilitating
the cleaning and sanding thereot, said means consisting of a receptacle for con-
taining a supply of sand, an aperture in said receptacle to permit of the exit of
said sand, an endless band of flexible material forming the floor of said cage,
animal-pen, or the like; said band passing over rollers and capable of being
made to travel beneath the sand-receptacle and adapted to receive a layer of
sand therefrom, a drawer or receptacle arranged beneath said band and a scraper
arranged within said drawer and in contact with said band, and means such as
springs for keeping said band taut, all substantially as and for the purposes
hereinbefore set forth and illustrated in the drawings hereunto annexed.
Dated this 4th day of March 1893
W. H. MUNNS,
Applicant's Agent.