Flex-air ventilated rack system

• US 6,612,260 B1
• Filed: 10/21/2002
• Issued: 09/02/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 10/21/2002
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Alternative Design Manufacturing and Supply, Inc
• Original Assignee: Alternative Design Manufacturing and Supply, Inc
• Inventors: Loyd, Eddie L., Owens, Jason D.
• Primary Examiner(s): Jordan, Charles T.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Shaw, Elizabeth
• Application Number:
  US10/274,750
• Time in Patent Office: 316 Days
• Field of Search: 119/417, 119/418, 119/419, 119/455, 119/457
• US Class Current: 119/418
• CPC Class Codes: A01K 1/031 Cages for laboratory animals; Cages for measuring metabolism of animals

Abstract

The present invention is an animal cage adapted for providing supply air to the cage by either static or forced ventilation, comprising, a cage receptacle and ventilation distribution means integral to said cage receptacle for distributing supply air to an interior space of said cage receptacle. A ventilation air supply system that provides air to the entire cage receptacle and allows the air to leave the cage receptacle in the same manner without the need for a filter cap or bonnet. The ventilation system creates an even flow of air along the side of the cage receptacle thus providing an even air flow across the bottom of the cage, and therefore providing a better environment for the animal. The present invention also provides a an animal cage with biological barrier means integral to said cage receptacle for precipitating microparticles and/or contaminants in the supply air out of suspension due to the low velocity of the supply air during static ventilation.

Claims

1. An animal cage adapted for providing supply air to the cage by either static or forced ventilation, comprising:

a cage receptacle;

ventilation distribution chamber integral to said cage receptacle for distributing supply air uniformly along the length of an interior space of said cage receptacle.

2. The cage of claim 1 wherein said ventilation distribution chamber comprises at least one internal side wall.

3. The cage of claim 2 wherein said internal side wall comprises a plurality of perforations communicating with said interior space of said cage receptacle.

4. The cage of claim 2 wherein said ventilation distribution chamber is disposed along a side of said cage receptacle and said ventilation distribution chamber is further characterized by a depth which gradually decreases along said side of said cage receptacle.

5. The cage of claim 1 further comprising a distribution cover wherein said distribution cover comprises diverter means for diverting supply air from said ventilation distribution chamber downwardly along said side of said cage receptacle.

6. The cage of claim 1 wherein said cage receptacle further comprises a rim and said cage further comprises a lid having a seal conforming to said rim.

7. The cage of claim 6 wherein said seal is permanently integrated into said lid.

8. The cage of claim 7 wherein said lid is formed of transparent plastic material.

9. The cage of claim 6 wherein said lid further comprises an air filter.

10. An animal cage adapted for providing supply air to the cage by either static or forced ventilation, comprising:

a cage receptacle;

biological barrier means integral to said cage receptacle for precipitating microparticles and/or contaminants in the supply air out of suspension due to the low velocity of the supply air during static ventilation; and

ventilation distribution chamber integral to said cage receptacle for distributing supply air uniformly along the length of an interior space of said cage receptacle.

11. The cage of claim 10 wherein said ventilation distribution chamber comprises at least one internal side wall.

12. The cage of claim 11 wherein said internal side wall comprises a plurality of perforations communicating with said interior space of said cage receptacle.

13. The cage of claim 11 wherein said ventilation distribution chamber is disposed along a side of said cage receptacle and said ventilation distribution chamber is further characterized by a depth which gradually decreases along said side of said cage receptacle.

14. The cage of claim 10 further comprising a distribution cover wherein said distribution cover comprises diverter means for diverting supply air from said ventilation distribution chamber downwardly along said side of said cage receptacle.

15. The cage of claim 10 wherein said biological barrier means comprises at least one vertical ascent chamber.

16. The cage of claim 10 wherein said biological barrier means comprises at least one air input means for passing supply air into said biological barrier means.

17. The cage of claim 16 wherein said biological barrier means comprises at least one air output means for passing stale air out of said biological barrier means.

18. The cage of claim 17 wherein said biological barrier means comprises at least one separator means for preventing commingling of supply air and stale air.

19. The cage of claim 10 wherein said cage receptacle further comprises a rim and said cage further comprises a lid having a seal conforming to said rim.

20. The cage of claim 19 wherein said seal is permanently integrated into said lid.

21. The cage of claim 20 wherein said lid is formed of transparent plastic material.

22. The cage of claim 19 wherein said lid further comprises an air filter.

23. An animal cage system for providing supply air to an animal cage by either static or forced ventilation, comprising:

an animal cage;

rack means for supporting said animal cage;

said animal cage further comprising

a cage receptacle; and

ventilation distribution chamber integral to said cage receptacle for distributing supply air uniformly along the length of an interior space of said cage receptacle.

24. The animal cage system of claim 23 wherein said ventilation distribution chamber comprises at least one internal side wall.

25. The animal cage system of claim 24 further comprising a distribution cover wherein said distribution cover comprises diverter means for diverting supply air from said ventilation distribution chamber downwardly along said side of said cage receptacle.

26. The animal cage system of claim 24 wherein said internal side wall comprises a plurality of perforations communicating with said interior space of said cage receptacle.

27. The animal cage system of claim 24 wherein said ventilation distribution chamber is disposed along a side of said cage receptacle and said ventilation distribution chamber is further characterized by a depth which gradually decreases along said side of said cage receptacle.

28. The animal cage system of claim 23 wherein said cage receptacle further comprises a rim and said cage further comprises a lid having a seal conforming to said rim.

29. The animal cage system of claim 28 wherein said seal is permanently integrated into said lid.

30. The animal cage system of claim 29 wherein said lid is formed of transparent plastic material.

31. The animal cage system of claim 28 wherein said lid further comprises an air filter.

32. An animal cage system for providing supply air to an animal cage by either static or forced ventilation, comprising:

an animal cage;

rack means for supporting said animal cage;

said animal cage further comprising

a cage receptacle;

biological barrier means integral to said cage receptacle for precipitating microparticles and/or contaminants in the supply air out of suspension due to the low velocity of the supply air during static ventilation; and

ventilation distribution means)integral to said cage receptacle for distributing supply air uniformly along the length of an interior space of said cage receptacle.

33. The animal cage system of claim 32 wherein said ventilation distribution chamber comprises at least one internal side wall.

34. The animal cage system of claim 33 wherein said internal side wall comprises a plurality of perforations communicating with said interior space of said cage receptacle.

35. The animal cage system of claim 33 wherein said ventilation distribution chamber is disposed along a side of said cage receptacle and said ventilation distribution chamber is further characterized by a depth which gradually decreases along said side of said cage receptacle.

36. The animal cage system of claim 32 further comprising a distribution cover wherein said distribution cover comprises diverter means for diverting supply air from said ventilation distribution chamber downwardly along said side of said cage receptacle.

37. The animal cage system of claim 32 wherein said biological barrier means comprises at least one vertical ascent chamber.

38. The animal cage system of claim 32 wherein said biological barrier means comprises at least one air input means for passing supply air into said biological barrier means.

39. The cage of claim 38 wherein said biological barrier means comprises at least one air output means for passing stale air out of said biological barrier means.

40. The animal cage system of claim 39 wherein said biological barrier means comprises at least one separator means for preventing commingling of supply air and stale air.

41. The animal cage system of claim 32 wherein said cage receptacle further comprises a rim and said cage further comprises a lid having a seal conforming to said rim.

42. The animal cage system of claim 41 wherein said seal is permanently integrated into said lid.

43. The animal cage system of claim 42 wherein said lid is formed of transparent plastic material.

44. The animal cage system of claim 41 wherein said lid further comprises an air filter.