Animal caging system
First Claim
1. An animal housing system of the type having a plurality of cages slideably disposed on flanges depending from shelves in a rack, the shelves having integral air supply and air exhaust ducts communicating with an air source and an air discharge, the ducts opening to the cages disposed in the rack, the system comprising:
- a plurality of cage covers having openings aligned with the openings of the ducts when the cages are inserted in the rack;
at least one spring-loaded sliding valve member for each cage cover, slideably mounted on the cage cover and having tabs biased to normally block the openings in the covers, the valve member having a protrusion extending to contact the rack upon partial insertion and to slide said tabs to uncover the openings upon full insertion of the cage.
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Accused Products
Abstract
An improved animal caging system of the type having a plurality of hollow boxes suspended on flanges from a plurality of ducted shelves is provided. The ducting for the ventilation system is entirely enclosed and is formed integrally with the caging system rack. A sliding valve member mounted in each lid is biased to seal air openings to the cage upon removal from the rack, a protrusion contacting the rack to uncover the air openings upon cage insertion. Similar valves are optionally placed in the rack to maintain balanced airflow when a cage is removed. The system minimizes the possibility of cross-infection between occupants of different cages, and between people and cage occupants.
102 Citations
7 Claims
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1. An animal housing system of the type having a plurality of cages slideably disposed on flanges depending from shelves in a rack, the shelves having integral air supply and air exhaust ducts communicating with an air source and an air discharge, the ducts opening to the cages disposed in the rack, the system comprising:
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a plurality of cage covers having openings aligned with the openings of the ducts when the cages are inserted in the rack; at least one spring-loaded sliding valve member for each cage cover, slideably mounted on the cage cover and having tabs biased to normally block the openings in the covers, the valve member having a protrusion extending to contact the rack upon partial insertion and to slide said tabs to uncover the openings upon full insertion of the cage. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7)
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Specification