Animal caging system
First Claim
1. A contagion-safe animal housing system, comprising:
- a plurality of animal cages of material impervious to air, the cages mounted in a rack, the rack having internal ducting communicating with air supply and exhaust openings for the cages;
cage lids sealingly fittable on each of the cages, the lids having air passages corresponding to the air supply and exhaust openings in the rack;
airflow controlling means located in the lids, the airflow controlling means operable by contact with the rack to open the air passages in the lids upon mounting the cages and biased to close the air supply and exhaust upon withdrawing the cages; and
,means for supplying and exhausting air to and from said ducting in the rack.
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Accused Products
Abstract
An improved animal caging system of the type having a plurality of ventilated cages suspended on flanges from a plurality of shelves is provided. The ventilation duct system is entirely enclosed and forms an integral part of the caging system rack. Valves mounted in the air ducts or inlets on the cages, for controlling airflow to and from cages, and an arrangement for a tight fit between the cages and the ducts minimize the possibility of cross-infection between occupants of different cages, and between people and cage occupants. The valves are actuated upon insertion of the cage into the rack, whereby the cages and/or air ducts are sealed upon withdrawal. A negatively pressurized isolation box, adapted to interface with the cage rack, permits manipulation and servicing of cages and occupants, resulting in a contagion-safe total system.
142 Citations
16 Claims
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1. A contagion-safe animal housing system, comprising:
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a plurality of animal cages of material impervious to air, the cages mounted in a rack, the rack having internal ducting communicating with air supply and exhaust openings for the cages; cage lids sealingly fittable on each of the cages, the lids having air passages corresponding to the air supply and exhaust openings in the rack; airflow controlling means located in the lids, the airflow controlling means operable by contact with the rack to open the air passages in the lids upon mounting the cages and biased to close the air supply and exhaust upon withdrawing the cages; and
,means for supplying and exhausting air to and from said ducting in the rack. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5)
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6. A contagion-safe animal housing system, comprising:
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a hollow rack structure for receiving a plurality of animal cages, the rack structure including internal supply and exhaust airflow channels having openings at each cage position for carrying clean air to said animal cages and for carrying exhaust air from said cages; means for supplying the clean air to said supply airflow channels and for withdrawing the exhaust air from said exhaust airflow channels; removable cage lids for each of the cages, the lids fitting sealingly on the cages between the cages and the rack when the cages are inserted in the rack; and
,means for controlling airflow located in the cage lids and having valves at air passages corresponding to the openings of the airflow channels in the rack, the valves being opened by contact with the rack when the cages are inserted in the rack and the valves being biased to close when the cages are withdrawn from the rack. - View Dependent Claims (7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16)
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Specification