FR2779909A1 - Cage for raising domestic animals - Google Patents

Abstract

The cage consists of a case (2), which is closed by a transparent opening door (4), usually glass. The cage contains within it, a smaller receptacle (3), which is designed to collect all the refuse. The case is also fitted with the attachments (6) for fitting a removable temporary partition (9), which is designed to close off the cage, when the door is open. The refuse collection receptacle is formed as a drawer, which is designed to locate either in the fully closed position, or when it is withdrawn for cleaning.

Description

CAGE FOR BREEDING DOMESTIC ANIMALS

  The present invention relates to a cage intended for breeding indoor animals, such as birds, or more generally animals which should not be allowed to leave the cage when it is necessary to

clean it.

  It relates more particularly to a cage of small dimensions, for domestic use and easily transportable, of the type comprising at least one transparent wall, arranged on the front face, and in particular suitable for being placed in a living room. However, the cage according to the invention can also be used in

  any similar premises, including in public places.

  Such a device must respond to various

  requirements, some of which will be recalled below.

  It is first of all necessary to be able to clean the inside of the cage in an easy way. This cleaning requires access to the interior of the cage, at least to the lower part of the cage in which the excrement of the animals living in it is deposited, as well as various soils: hair, feathers, falling seeds a feeder, etc. When in particular the front wall

  is glazed, it must also be able to be cleaned.

  During the cleaning operation, it is desirable that one does not have to transfer the animals to another enclosure, which would require the possession of an additional cage or similar device. Animals must therefore not be able to escape from the cage during cleaning operations, and this represents a

  particularly sensitive need in the case of birds.

  The invention aims to respond simultaneously to the needs which are felt in this kind of circumstances, by proposing a cage which will be described as being a bird cage, it being understood that it can be used for other animals with behavior similar, such as small rodents or climbers, or all other vertebrate or invertebrate animals, terrestrial or marine. You can also introduce plants, alone or in the presence

of the aforementioned animals.

  In accordance with the invention, a cage is provided comprising a drawer receiving the dirt caused by the birds living in the cage and their droppings. There is further provided a front face of the cage, advantageously provided with a window, constituting a removable door which is locked in the closed position by the drawer when the latter is in the operational position. "Operational position" means the position of the drawer when it is inserted into the enclosure of the cage, so that it can be harvested

  the aforementioned dirt and droppings.

  Finally, guide rails or an equivalent receiving device are provided, allowing the insertion of a temporary partition when the removable door is

  open and the drawer brought to the cleaning position,

  ie in the withdrawn position. In this last position, the contents of the drawer are accessible from the outside. It can be emptied of its contents and cleaned. The same is true of the front panel glass. On the other hand, the provisional partition plays during this time the role previously vested in the door and

  retains the birds from the cage inside it.

  The subject of the invention is therefore a cage intended to house at least one animal, said cage being of the type comprising an enclosure closed by a transparent opening door, in particular glazed, and a lower receptacle, internal to said enclosure, intended for collecting litter , characterized in that it comprises means for receiving a removable temporary partition to close the cage when said door is open, in that said receptacle is a movable drawer, capable of assuming two states, a first state for which it is fully inserted into said enclosure and a second state in which it is released therefrom for cleaning, and in that it comprises means simultaneously authorizing the opening of said transparent door and the removal of said drawer, when said temporary partition is in place .

  The invention will be better understood and other charac-

  teristics and advantages will appear on reading the

  description which follows and attached figures, among

  which: - Figures la and lb illustrate an embodiment of a cage according to a first embodiment

  of the invention, in perspective and in side section, respectively

  tively; - Figure lc illustrates an alternative embodiment of the embodiment according to Figures la and lb; - Figures 2a and 2b illustrate an embodiment of a cage according to a second embodiment

  of the invention, in perspective and in side section, respectively

  tively; - Figures 2c to 2d are views illustrating details of the device according to Figure 2b; - Figure 3 illustrates an exemplary embodiment of a drawer usable for the cage according to the second embodiment; - and Figure 4 illustrates the placement of a partition

  provisional in this embodiment.

  We will now describe an embodiment of a bird cage according to a first embodiment of the invention, with reference to Figures la to lc. Figure la represents the cage in perspective and figure lb the cage in side section (section along AA in figure la). The

  Figure lc illustrates an alternative embodiment.

  The bird cage 1 firstly comprises an open enclosure 2 comprising side walls, 21 and 23, transverse walls, respectively upper and lower 22, as well as a bottom wall 24. These different walls are substantially flat and full , with the exception, however, of ventilation and / or access openings

inside enclosure 2.

  In FIG. 1a, only the grid 212 has been shown covering an invisible opening. preferably, the grid 212 is retained by a sliding frame or the like 213. by this arrangement, it can be moved in this frame 213 and uncover the aforementioned opening. advantageously, a removable member 214 is provided, making it possible to block the grid 212 in the covering position. it is naturally possible to provide several openings of this type, for example on both sides

side of cage 1.

  In the example illustrated, the adjacent walls are

  arranged orthogonally to each other.

  The front edge of the side walls 21 and 23 has two separate parts. The lower part, 210 or 230 respectively, is vertical, that is to say orthogonal to the lower wall 22. The upper part, 211 or 231 respectively, is slightly inclined. For example, it forms an angle a of about 15

  degrees from normal AH at the bottom wall 22.

  As shown more particularly in FIG. 1b, according to a first aspect of the invention, the bottom of the enclosure 2 is intended to receive a drawer 3, the height of which is substantially equal to the height of the lower part, 210 and 230 , side walls 21 and 23 respectively. More specifically, the height of these lower parts, 210 and 230, is equal to the front facade 30 of the drawer 3. Conventionally, the latter has two side walls, 31 and 33, a lower wall 32 and a rear wall 34 , the whole forming a parallelepiped enclosure

rectangular open upwards.

  The enclosure 2 is closed, in the normal state, by a glazed door 4, mounted on horizontal lower pivots 42, along an axis AH orthogonal to the plane of the side walls, 21 and 23. The glazed door 4 consists of a frame 40 of small width, supporting a window 41 covering most of the surface of this door, so as to offer maximum visibility on the interior of

cage 1.

  The door 3 is therefore capable of tilting forward (arrow f2) by a rotational movement around the pivots 42. However, according to another important aspect of the invention, this rotational movement is subject to the withdrawal of the drawer 3 out of its housing, that is to say outside the enclosure 2 of the cage 1. To do this, the upper edge of the front face 30 of the drawer 3 is inclined (that is to say beveled) by relative to a plane which is a priori horizontal, therefore relative to the wall 22. If it is assumed that the frame 40 of the door is substantially rectangular, the angle of inclination relative to the plane of the wall 22 is

equal to the angle a above.

  When the drawer 3 is in its housing, that is to say

  say inside the enclosure 2 (position in solid lines in FIG. 1b), the upper edge 300 of the front face of the drawer fits under the lower edge

  400 of the frame 40 and blocks the door 4 in the closed position.

  In this position, the door 4 is pressed against the inclined edges (upper parts), 211 and 231, of the

side walls, 21 and 23.

  In its upper part, the door can be pressed directly onto the front edge 200 of the upper wall 20. One can also provide an upper beam 25 extending this edge before 200, as illustrated more particularly by FIG. In all cases, edge 200 is inclined (angle a) relative to an axis

vertical AV.

  The drawer 3, on its front face 30, has front

  one or more handles 5. When a horizontal pulling force is exerted (arrow fl), the drawer 3 can be released from its housing by a horizontal translational movement (position 3a, in dotted lines) The front door 4 is then released and a tilting movement can be effected forward (arrow f2), by rotation around the horizontal pivots 42 (position 4a, in dotted lines). This double operation makes it possible to clean the drawer 3, in particular the bottom of this drawer 3, which collects droppings and other dirt. It is the same for the internal face of the window 41, by nature not

  accessible when door 4 is closed.

  However, as noted, it is entirely

  It is desirable that the birds living in the cage can be left in the cage during cleaning operations. If the height of the front face 30 of the drawer 3 is small, the birds cannot escape through the opening which is created, even if the drawer 3 is entirely released from its housing. Otherwise, one can provide a grid (not shown in Figures la and lb)), fixed between the side walls 21 and 23 and the bottom wall 24, and located just above the drawer 3. The

  grid mesh should be large enough to allow the above soiling to pass, while preventing birds from escaping.

  This floor grid is in practice necessary when the animal or animals living in the cage are not birds. A particular example of embodiment allowing the presence of lower grids will be detailed.

  below with reference to Figure lc.

  As previously mentioned, it is important that the birds cannot escape during the operations of cleaning the drawer and / or the front window., The open position of the door 4 is incompatible with this requirement. Also, according to a further aspect of the invention, slides 6 are provided, arranged on the inner faces of the two side walls, 21 and 23. These

  slides are arranged substantially vertical, i.e.

  say parallel to the AV axis. They allow the introduction

  a provisional partition 9 (according to arrow f3).

  It should be noted that the door 4 must not be fully open for it to be possible to introduce the partition 9. It suffices that the upper opening of the slides 6 is substantially perpendicular to the edge

top of door 4.

  Also advantageously, the upper mouth area 60 of the slides 6 has a flared shape, which allows easy introduction of the temporary partition 9, even if the latter is presented in a slightly inclined manner. In addition, the positioning of the slides 6 at the front of the enclosure 2 makes it possible to preserve a sufficient volume towards the bottom of the cage 1. The birds are therefore not bothered by the cleaning operations, but they do not

can escape from cage 1.

  Even if the different parts are adjusted with great precision, the gaps remaining between the

  walls 31, 33 and 34 of drawer 3, and the facing walls

  screws, 21, 23 and 24, of enclosure 2, are liable to fill up with dirt. To avoid this undesirable state of affairs, an internal peripheral frame is provided, consisting of three horizontal rods 8, of width equal to, or preferably greater than, the thickness of the walls 31, 33 and 34 of the drawer 3. These rods 8 constitute a frame open, in the shape of a "U", placed just above the upper edges of the vertical walls 31, 33 and 34. Advantageously, the rods 8 are made up of quarter-round profiles, assembled at 45 degrees. The dirt slides on the rods 8 and is collected by the drawer, without being able to enter the aforementioned interstices. The rods 8 are cut at the lower mouth of the groove 6, so that

  pass the temporary partition 9.

  Finally, conventionally, it is possible to provide various accessories arranged inside the cage 1. In FIG. 1b, there is shown a lighting device 7 fixed on the upper wall 20. It is however clear that many other accessories can be placed inside the cage 1, or even outside this cage. We can cite, without being exhaustive, the following accessories: perch, programmer, heating resistance, fan, thermostat, thermometer, hygrometer, sound amplifier, mini air conditioning and, in general, any accessory necessary for the breeding of animals

present in the cage.

  FIG. 1c schematically illustrates, in partial section, an alternative embodiment of the cage, here referenced la, comprising horizontal internal slides with grooves R, or similar members The grooves R allow the introduction of lower grids or panes (not shown) . These grooved slides R are arranged between the rods 8 and the side walls 31a and bottom 34a of the drawer 3a. The rods 8 and the grooved slides R are cut at the lower mouth of the groove 6, so as to allow the provisional partition 9 to pass (FIG. 1b). The height of these walls is lower than that of the front face 30a, to allow the presence of the slides with grooves R. In the example described, two grooves R are provided.

  which allows you to slide two grids or two panes.

  The materials constituting the enclosure 2, the drawer 3 and the frame 4 can be diverse, without departing from the scope of the invention. By way of nonlimiting example, one can

  use wood. The provisional partition 9 may be before-

  made of agglomerated wood with holes forming handling handles. The partition is preferably thin enough to retain a certain flexibility, which allows easier insertion into its housing. It may however be made of rigid plastic, in particular transparent or translucent, glass, etc. The panels of the enclosure 2 and the front face of the drawer 3 may include various decorations. Finally, according to the style proper to the cage 1 and its destination, the panels, and in particular the edges thereof, can be planar or on the contrary be provided with moldings of various shapes. In particular, the frame 40 of the door 4 can be made from molded rods. In place of the front window, a grid or mesh can be used, or a panel made of synthetic material, transparent or translucent, of various compositions. If they exist, the lower grilles can, on the contrary, be replaced by panes or

plastic panel.

  Similarly, the interior of the cage 1 can be decorated in various ways, depending on the model and / or the end use. To do this, various materials can be used, such as paints, plasters, stones, wood, resins, metal, plastics, etc., or different materials or objects, such as artificial or natural flowers, fragments of branches, fabrics, photographs, two or three dimensional paintings, etc. We will now describe an embodiment of a bird cage according to a second embodiment of the invention, with reference to Figures 2a to 2e. Figure 2a shows the cage in perspective and Figure 2b shows it in side section (section along AA in Figure 2a). Figures 2c to 2e show magnified details of Figure 2b. The elements common to the previous figures have the same references and they will only be described again as

as needed.

  The bird cage according to this second embodiment, here referenced 1 ′, differs first of all from the previous example by the fact that the front door 4 ′ no longer opens by rotation around horizontal pivots (Figures la and lb: 42). It is of the sliding type. This arrangement lends itself more to a substantially rectangular parallelepiped shape for the enclosure 2 '. Indeed, it was useful that the door 4 (Figures la and lb), once closed, rests because of its weight on the front wall of the

  cage 1, which is favored by the angle tilt a.

  This provision is not useful in the case of a door

sliding.

  The enclosure 2 ′ comprises, as previously, a bottom wall 24 and a bottom wall 22, which can be strictly identical to the homologous walls of the embodiment described above and therefore bear the same references. The side walls, 21 'and 23', are now rectangular, on the one hand, and on the other hand, they have pairs of internal grooves 6 '(6'a-6'b), the function of which will be specified below. -after. Finally, the upper wall 20 ′ is similar to the wall 20, but it does not cover the entire top of the enclosure 2 ′, for reasons

  which will also be detailed below.

  In the example illustrated, in particular by FIG. 2a, an air grille 200 ′ has been placed on top of the enclosure 2 ′, but it is clear that this could have been placed on the side walls, as previously. Of

  advantageously, the ventilation grille 202 ′, placed above

  above an opening (not visible) made in the upper wall 20 ′ of the enclosure 2 ′, is removable, so as to serve both as a ventilation and access member. To do this, the grid 202 'is secured to a removable frame 203'

  which is conventionally fitted into the wall 20 ′.

  According to an important characteristic of this embodiment, the door 4 ′ is of the sliding type, more precisely of the guillotine type. To do this, a first series of grooves 6 ′ a is provided on the internal faces of the side walls, 21 ′ and 23 ′. This arrangement is more particularly illustrated by the detail figures 2c and 2d. FIG. 2c illustrates the top of the side wall 23 ′, seen from the side from the inside, and FIG. 2d the top

  of the opposite side wall 21 ', seen from above.

  The door frame 4 'supporting the window 41' is

  reduced to two beams, top 40 'and bottom 43' are visible.

  The longitudinal members, 40 'and 43', have a width less than the width of the window 41 ', so that the latter can

  be inserted by its side edges in the grooves 6'a.

  By exerting a tensile force (arrow f'2) along the vertical axis AV, the door 4 'can be opened by sliding it, by a translational movement, along the grooves 6'a. The door 4 'is closed, a priori, because of its own weight, which drives it downwards. It should be noted, in the example illustrated, that the door 4 'can be entirely removed from its housing in

the 2 'enclosure.

  In reality, according to one of the characteristics of the invention, common to the two embodiments, the possibility of opening the door 4 ′ is subject to the withdrawal of the drawer, here referenced 3 ′. Indeed, this, as before, opposes the opening and closing of the door, when it is in the pressed-in position.

the 2 'enclosure.

  As illustrated more particularly in FIG. 3, the drawer 3 ′ comprises, in a conventional manner per se, side walls, 31 and 33, a rear wall 34 and a bottom wall 32, which are similar to the corresponding walls of drawer 3 (FIG. la and lb), and which therefore bear the same references. The front face 30 ′ also includes, as before, one or more handles 5, which make it possible to extract it from its housing, by exerting a horizontal tensile force, according to the

arrow f'l-

  This front panel 30 'further comprises a blocking member which cooperates with the lower part 43' of the door 4 '. Indeed, as shown more particularly in the detail figure 2e, the section of the front panel 30 ′ has the general shape of a coated “U”, in the example described. For its part, the section of the lower part 43 ′ of the frame of the door 4 ′ has the shape of an "L", the horizontal part of which has a thickness such that it can fit into the enclosure.

300 'formed by the "U".

  It is therefore easy to observe that, when the drawer 3 'is closed, that is to say completely inserted into the enclosure 2', the lower part 430 'is trapped in the open enclosure 300' formed by the "U" of the front 30 ', which prohibits any movement of the door 4' upwards (according to the arrow f'2). The door 4 ′ is therefore locked in the closed position as long as the drawer 3 ′ is not pulled forward enough to release it. Extracting the 3 'drawer

lets you clean it.

  However, as before, it is also

  necessary to be able to clean the rear of the window 41 '.

  To do this, the door 4 'must be opened by sliding it upwards (arrow f'2), by a translational movement along the grooves 6'a. This action would leave the possibility to the birds living in the cage of

escape.

  Also, according to another characteristic common to the two embodiments, provision is made for the possibility of inserting a temporary partition during the operation of cleaning the window 41 '. To do this, the side walls, 21 'and 23', comprise a second series of vertical grooves 6'b (along the axis AV orthogonal to the wall 22). This arrangement is further illustrated

detailed in Figure 4.

  In the state which will be called normal, the upper mouth of these grooves 6'b is hidden by a strip, a molding or the like 201 ', as shown more particularly in the detail figure 2c. In this figure, the element 201 ′ has been partially cut, to illustrate the withdrawal of the front door 4 ′. The rear part of the part 201 ′ is provided with a damping pad 204 ′, in

felt or similar material.

  This piece 201 ′ preferably has a thickness identical to that of the upper wall 20 ′, of which it forms the forward extension of the enclosure 2 ′. The underside of the part 201 ′ is provided with a relief 202 ′ which

  allows it to be inserted into the lateral grooves 6'b.

  When it is desired to introduce the temporary partition 9 (see FIG. 4), this part 201 ′ is removed forming a removable cover, which leaves free access to the grooves 6 ′ b. Once the provisional partition 9 fully inserted into the grooves 6'b, the door 4 'can be removed from its housing by sliding it along the second pair of grooves 6'a (see Figure 2c). It is noted that, in this embodiment, the volume remaining for the antics of birds

  is practically the same as the initial volume.

  Finally, as before, we anticipate before-

  suitably a peripheral frame 8, for example based on rods of the quarter-round profile type. It was also assumed that the cage 1 ′ was provided with lower horizontal grooves R, as in the case of the variant illustrated in FIG. 1c. The peripheral frame 8 and the grooves R play the same role as before. The rods are arranged just above the lateral grooves R, themselves arranged above the drawer 3 ', as shown in Figures 2a and 2b. The rods 8 prevent the introduction of dirt (seeds, droppings, etc.) between the drawer 3 'and the walls 21', 24 and 23 ', and force them to slide inside the drawer 3' The materials usable for the realization of the different elements of the cage 1 ′ can be strictly the same as those usable for the cage 1, according to the first mode. More generally, the other provisions which apply to the first embodiment (FIGS. 1a to 1c) also apply to the second embodiment: usable accessories, decorations, etc. On reading the above, we can easily see

  that the invention does achieve the goals it has set for itself.

  In particular, it allows easy cleaning of dirt caused by birds, due to the presence of a drawer. On the other hand, it also allows the cleaning of the internal face of the glass of the front door, without presenting the risk that the birds escape from the cage,

  due to the insertion of a temporary partition.

  It should be clear, however, that the invention is not limited to the sole examples of embodiments explicitly described, in particular in relation to FIGS. 1 to 4. In particular, in the second embodiment, the sliding door could be animated by a horizontal translational movement. It is sufficient that the drawer is provided with lateral locking means preventing the opening of the door

when in the closed position.

  Likewise, the usable materials are essential.

  related to the specific application envisaged and participate in a simple technological choice within the reach of

the Man of the Trade.

Claims (13)

  1. Cage intended to house at least one indoor animal, said cage being of the type comprising an enclosure closed (2, 2 ') by a transparent opening door (4, 4'), in particular glazed, and a lower receptacle (3 , 3 '), internal to said enclosure (2, 2'), intended for collecting litter, characterized in that it comprises means (6, 6 ') for receiving a removable temporary partition (9) to close the cage (1, 1 ') when said door (4, 4') is open, in that said receptacle is a movable drawer (3, 3 '), capable of taking two states, a first state for which it is pressed entirely in said enclosure (2, 2 ') and a second state for which it is released therefrom for cleaning, and in that it comprises means (300, 300') simultaneously authorizing the opening of said transparent door (4, 4 ') and the removal of said drawer (3, 3'),   when said temporary partition is in place.   2. Cage according to claim 1, characterized in that said enclosure (2, 2 ') is provided, on side walls (21-21', 23-23 '), with at least one pair of slides (6, 6'b) allowing the insertion of said removable temporary partition (9) by a translational movement along said slides (6, 6'b), so as to prevent said birds from escaping when   said transparent opening door (4, 4 ') is open.   3. Cage according to claims 1 or 2, charac-   characterized in that said transparent opening door (4, 4 ′) is rotatable around a horizontal axis (AH,   42) located in its lower part.   4. Cage according to claim 3, characterized in that said enclosure (2) comprising a flat bottom wall (22), the upper zone (211) of the front face of this enclosure (2), delimited by said transparent opening door ( 4), is inclined (a) relative to the plane formed by said lower wall (22), and in that the upper edge (300) of the wall forming the front face of said drawer is bevelled and cooperates with the lower edge (400 ) of the transparent opening door (4), these elements forming said locking means, so as to prevent rotation of the transparent opening door (4) around said horizontal axis (AH, 42), when the drawer   (3) is in said first pressed state.   5. Cage according to claims 3 or 4, charac-   that the upper mouth (60) of said   grooves (6) is flared, so as to facilitate intro   inclined duction of said provisional partition (9).   6. Cage according to claim 2, characterized in that said enclosure (2 ') is provided, on side walls (21', 23 '), with a second pair of slides (6'a), in that said door transparent opening (4 ') is of the sliding type, and in that a pair of opposite edges of this transparent opening door (4') are inserted in the slides (6'a) of said second pair, so that that she is likely to   translational movements along these slides (6'a).   7. Cage according to claim 6, characterized in that the front face (30 ') of said drawer (3') and the lower part (43 ') of said sliding transparent opening door (4') have complementary reliefs (300 ', 430 ') fitting into each other when the drawer (4') is in said first depressed state, so as to prevent said translational movements and   lock the door (4 ') in the closed position.   8. Cage according to any one of claims   previous, characterized in that said enclosure (2, 2 ') is provided with an internal peripheral frame (8), disposed above the walls (31, 33, 34) of said drawer (3, 3'), so as to slide said litter inside the drawer (3, 3 ').   9. A cage according to claim 8, characterized in that said internal peripheral frame consists of rods (8) of the quarter-round profile type, of thickness greater than that of the walls (31, 33, 34) of said drawer (3, 3 ').   10. Cage according to one of claims 8 or 9,   characterized in that said enclosure (2, 2 ') further comprises at least one series of horizontal grooves (R), disposed between said drawer (3, 3') and said internal peripheral frame (8), so as to allow inserting a grid or bottom plate in   each of said series of grooves (R).   11. Cage according to any one of claims   previous, characterized in that said enclosure (2, 2 ') comprises at least one ventilation and access grille   (212, 202 '), arranged on one of its walls (24, 20').   12. Cage according to claim 11, characterized in that said grid (212) is arranged in a frame (213), so that it moves between   slides to allow said access.   13. Cage according to claim 11, characterized in that said grid (202 ') is arranged in a frame   removable (203 '), so as to allow said access.