Cage for housing animals and method for enhancing floor space of same

• US 5,894,816 A
• Filed: 09/30/1997
• Issued: 04/20/1999
• Est. Priority Date: 09/30/1997
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Allentown, LLC
• Original Assignee: Allentown Caging Equipment Company Incorporated
• Inventors: Sarrol, Augusto R., Coiro, Michael A. Sr.
• Primary Examiner(s): Swiatek, Robert P.
• Application Number:
  US08/941,491
• Time in Patent Office: 567 Days
• Field of Search: 119/417, 119/418, 119/419, 119/452, 119/473, 119/416, 206/519, 206/520
• US Class Current: 119/417
• CPC Class Codes: A01K 1/031 Cages for laboratory animals; Cages for measuring metabolism of animals

Abstract

A cage receptacle for housing laboratory creatures having an enhanced floor space. The receptacle is of the type having a base and a sidewall extending upwardly from the base. The sidewall has a bottom wall section and a top wall section with differing widths that together define a jag. The jag permits one to increase the square space allocation of the receptacle while retaining compatibility with prior art top covers and maintaining the stackability of the receptacles (inside another receptacle). A method for enhancing the floor space of laboratory cage receptacles is also disclosed.

Claims

1. A receptacle for housing animals or laboratory creatures and configured to receive a top cover, the receptacle comprising:

a base;

at least one sidewall extending upwardly from the base and terminating in a rim to define an opening to the receptacle;

wherein the at least one sidewall has a bottom wall section and a top wall section, the bottom wall section being wider than the top wall section and disposed adjacent the base, and the top wall section being disposed adjacent the rim, the difference in width of the wall sections defining a jag for allowing the nestling of one receptacle inside the opening of another.

2. The receptacle according to claim 1, in which the at least one sidewall extends upwardly at an obtuse angle relative to the plane of the base, the obtuse angle being about 91 to 93 degrees.

3. The receptacle according to claim 2, in which the bottom wall section is about 0.09 to 0.1 inches in thickness and the top wall section is about 0.07 to 0.08 inches in thickness.

4. The receptacle according to claim 3, in which the base is substantially rectangular and the rim comprises a ledge extending outwardly from the at least one sidewall for supporting a top cover placed on the base.

5. The receptacle according to claim 4, in which the rim has a width of about 0.14 to 0.16 inches.

6. The receptacle according to claim 4, in which the usable floor space is about 75 inches.

7. The receptacle according to claim 6, in which the bottom wall section has a height of about 2.8 to 3.3 inches, and the top wall section has a height of about 1.7 to 2 inches.

8. The receptacle according to claim 7, in which the length of the base is about 10 to 12 inches, the width of the base is about 6.5 to 8 inches, and the height of the base is about 4.5 to 5 inches.

9. An improved receptacle for housing animals or laboratory creatures of the type having a base and at least one sidewall extending upwardly from the base and terminating in a rim to define an opening to the receptacle, the receptacle further being of the type configured to receive at least one top cover having predetermined dimensions, the improvement comprising:

a jag disposed in the at least one sidewall so that the sidewall has a bottom wall section and a top wall section, the bottom wall section being wider than the top wall section and disposed adjacent the base, and the top wall section being disposed adjacent the rim;

wherein the jag permits the widening of the base and reduction in the angle of the at least one sidewall relative to the plane of the base to increase the space allocation defined by the base and the at least one sidewall;

retains the ability of the receptacle to receive the at least one top cover having predetermined dimensions; and

allows for the nestling of one receptacle inside the opening of another.

10. The improved receptacle according to claim 9, in which the at least one top cover has a width of about 7 to 7.5 inches, and a length of about 11.5 to 11.75 inches.

11. The improved receptacle according to claim 10, in which the usable floor space is about 75 inches.

12. The improved receptacle according to claim 11, in which the bottom wall section is about 0.09 to 0.1 inches in thickness and the top wall section is about 0.07 to 0.08 inches in thickness.

13. The improved receptacle according to claim 12, in which the bottom wall section has a height of about 2.8 to 3.3 inches, and the top wall section has a height of about 1.7 to 2 inches.

14. The improved receptacle according to claim 9, in which the improvement further comprises the rim having a thickness of about 0.12 to 0.14 inches.

15. A method for expanding the space allocation of receptacles for housing animals or laboratory creatures while retaining their compatibility with existing top covers and enabling the nestling of the receptacles, the receptacles being of the type having a base and at least one sidewall extending upwardly from the base and terminating in a rim to define an opening to the receptacle, the method comprising the steps of:

increasing the size of the base;

decreasing the angle disposed between the plane of the base and the at least one sidewall; and

placing a jag in the at least one sidewall so that the at least one sidewall has a bottom wall section and a top wall section, the bottom wall section being wider than the top wall section and disposed adjacent the base, and the top wall section being disposed adjacent the rim to allowing for the nestling of one receptacle inside the opening of another while retaining the ability of the receptacle to receive the existing top covers.

16. The method according to claim 15, further comprising the step of decreasing the width of the rim.