Ventilated rack and animal cage system

• US 5,307,757 A
• Filed: 05/20/1992
• Issued: 05/03/1994
• Est. Priority Date: 12/12/1991
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Allentown, LLC
• Original Assignee: Allentown Caging Equipment Company Incorporated
• Inventors: Lastowski, Philip A., Murray, Dale R., Coiro, Michael A. Sr.
• Primary Examiner(s): WEISS, JOHN
• Application Number:
  US07/886,512
• Time in Patent Office: 713 Days
• Field of Search: 119/15, 119/17, 119/19
• US Class Current: 119/418
• CPC Class Codes: A01K 1/031 Cages for laboratory animals; Cages for measuring metabolism of animals

Abstract

An animal cage rack includes a forced air system for removing air from the periphery of the animal cages. The rack includes "U" shape guides for positioning and aligning each cage with respect to a positive ventilating probe and an automatic watering device. Each cage includes a top bonnet section, a bottom section which supports the bonnet around the periphery thereof, a flat rim wire bar lid, and a filter in the bonnet. An L-shaped spacer separates the bonnet from the bottom section so that air exhaust ports in the Unshaped guide can remove exhausted air from the periphery of the cage. Positive air supplied by an air inlet manifold is introduced through an aperture in the bonnet and the L-shaped bracket, to the top of each cage. A downwardly facing port in the air tube forces air toward the bottom of the cage which after it circulates is removed through the periphery by the exhaust ports in the Unshaped cage guides. In an alternate embodiment, the bonnet has a solid upper surface to prevent air from escaping through the top of the bonnet.

Claims

1. An animal cage system comprising:

at least one cage having a top section and a bottom section that supports said top section at a periphery;

a rack for supporting said cage; and

,

an air supply means including an air input means for supplying air to said cage and an air removal means for removing air from the periphery of said cage; and

a spacer bracket located between said top and bottom sections of said cage for separating said top and bottom sections to allow air to be removed from said periphery to an exhaust port after said air has circulated through said cage.

2. The system of claim 1 wherein said top section has a solid upper surface.

3. The system of claim wherein said air input means comprises:

a positive air inlet manifold; and

,

an air tube connected to said positive air inlet manifold,

wherein said air tube supplies air to said cage through an aperture in the top section thereof.

4. The system of claim 3 wherein said air tube includes a port therein which points in the direction of said bottom section of said cage so that air supplied to said cage is directed towards the bottom of said cage.

5. The system of claim 4 wherein said air removal means comprises:

a negative pressure air exhaust manifold.

6. An animal cage apparatus for use in a rack having an air supply and an air exhaust manifold, said apparatus comprising:

a top section means for receiving air from said air supply manifold, said top section having a solid upper surface;

a bottom section means for supporting said top section means at the periphery thereof; and

,

a spacer means for spacing said top and bottom section means apart, said air exhaust manifold removing air from said periphery at said spacer means.

7. The apparatus of claim 6 wherein said spacer means comprises a bracket having a top port and a bottom portion and a generally L-shape.

8. The apparatus of claim 7 wherein said cage has a front and rear section and the bottom portion of said spacer bracket is locatable at the periphery between the top and bottom section means at said rear section of said cage and includes projections thereon to assist in separating the top and bottom section means.

9. The apparatus of claim 7 wherein the top portion of said spacer bracket includes an aperture therethrough through which air from said air supply means passes.