Ventilated cage and open rack system

• US 5,165,362 A
• Filed: 10/12/1990
• Issued: 11/24/1992
• Est. Priority Date: 04/27/1990
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Lab Products, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Lab Products, Inc.
• Inventors: Sedlachek, Robert, Campbell, Neil E., Deitrich, Eric A., Sheaffer, John E., Ruggieri, Albert P.
• Primary Examiner(s): WEISS, JOHN
• Application Number:
  US07/596,808
• Time in Patent Office: 774 Days
• Field of Search: 119/15, 119/17, 119/18
• US Class Current: 119/452
• CPC Class Codes: A01K 1/031 Cages for laboratory animals; Cages for measuring metabolism of animals

Abstract

A wire bar lid for use in an animal cage is provided having a thin perimeter having a substantially rectangular cross-section. A plurality of wires are supported within the perimeter below the plane of the perimeter.

Claims

1. A wire bar lid for use in an animal cage having a bottom portion and a filter bonnet, said wire bar lid comprising a perimeter, said perimeter having a substantially thin rectangular cross-section, a plurality of wire bars substantially extending in a lengthwise direction parallel to the length of said perimeter at substantially parallel spaced intervals, each of said bars being supported within said perimeter, skirt means extending from said perimeter, said plurality of wire bars being supported on said skirt means, whereby said wire bar lid is adapted to be positioned between said filter bonnet and bottom portion, said wire bar lid limiting the openings therebetween.

2. The wire bar lid of claim 1, wherein said skirt means includes a skirt and a support flange affixed to said skirt, said plurality of wire bars being affixed to said support flange at a position below said perimeter and said perimeter, said skirt and said support flange are integrally formed with each other as a unitary member.

3. The wire bar lid of claim 1, wherein said cage includes a bottom portion and an upstanding sidewall and said filter bonnet is positioned on said sidewall, said filter bonnet being formed with a lip, said lip being dimensioned to receive said upstanding sidewall and rest thereon, and said perimeter is dimensioned to be disposed between said lip and said sidewall.

4. The wire bar lid of claim 3, wherein said cage is a cage level barrier cage.

5. The wire bar lid of claim 3, wherein said cage is disposed within a ventilated cage and rack system, said ventilated cage and rack system including a ventilated rack, said rack including a plurality of plenum shelf means for conveying air to a plurality of predetermined air positions within said ventilated rack, said cage housing at least one animal therein, said cage being a cage level barrier.

6. The wire bar lid of claim 5, wherein said ventilated cage and rack system includes cage guides having substantially the same shape as said filter bonnet and being disposed to form a friction fit with a portion of said bonnet while maintaining a gap between said filter bonnet and said plenum shelf means, said plenum shelf means removing air disposed adjacent said filter bonnet.

7. A cage level barrier system comprising a cage having a bottom portion and an upstanding sidewall, a filter bonnet adapted to rest on said sidewall, said filter bonnet being positioned with a lip, said lip being dimensioned to receive said upstanding sidewall and rest thereon, and a wire bar lid, said wire bar lid having a perimeter, said perimeter having a thin substantially rectangular cross-section, a skirt means extending from said perimeter, a plurality of wire bars supported to said skirt means within said perimeter, said perimeter being dimensioned to be disposed between said lip and positioned between said filter bonnet and said bottom portion, said wire bar lid limiting the openings therebetween.