MODULAR FRAME EXPANDABLE TO FORM A PET'S CAGE

Abstract

A modular frame expandable to form a pet's cage comprises a plurality of modules each of which comprises a substantially quadrangular vertical wall, said modules being arranged adjacently to each other to define the outer shape of the cage, and wherein each vertical edge of each module comprises connecting elements adapted to allow the connection and retention of each vertical wall of a module to a vertical wall of another adjacent module. The modular frame is expandable on a horizontal plane according to a predetermined configuration to form a pet's cage having predetermined shape and dimensions.

Claims

1. A modular frame expandable to form a pet's cage, comprising a plurality of modules each of which comprises a substantially quadrangular vertical wall, said modules being arranged adjacently to each other to define the outer shape of the cage, and wherein each vertical edge of each module comprises connecting elements allowing the connection and retention of each vertical wall of a module to a vertical wall of another adjacent module, said modular frame being expandable on a horizontal plane according to a predetermined configuration to form a pet's cage having predetermined shape and dimensions.

2. The expandable modular frame of claim 1, further comprising a base and/or a roof, said base and/or said roof being formed by at least one flat element arranged on a horizontal plane, said base and/or roof being connected to a horizontal edge of each of a plurality of the modules.

3. The expandable modular frame of claim 1, wherein at least one module includes a closed panel made of plastic material.

4. The expandable modular frame of claim 1, wherein at least one module includes a lower vertical wall portion comprising a closed panel made of plastic material and an upper vertical wall portion comprising a metallic mesh grid panel.

5. The expandable modular frame of claim 4, wherein an upper horizontal edge and a lower horizontal edge of each closed panel comprise a respective groove for receiving a horizontal edge of a metallic mesh grid panel, and wherein each respective groove comprises a respective locking tooth for engaging with the horizontal edge of the metallic mesh grid panel when received within the groove.

6. The expandable modular frame of claim 2, wherein said base is quadrangular in shape and is formed by a plurality of flat panels provided with adjacent panel connecting elements.

7. The expandable modular frame of claim 1, wherein a lower horizontal edge of each module is provided with an edge projecting orthogonally towards the inside of the cage, formed by a pair of parallel superimposed flaps which define a channel for receiving and retaining one or more base panels in a horizontal arrangement.

8. The expandable modular frame of claim 2, wherein the roof is formed by at least one panel fastened to an upper horizontal edge of each of a plurality of interconnected modules.

9. The expandable modular frame of claim 1, wherein the connecting elements comprise a first connector of elongated shape and vertical alignment, which allows the adjacent retention between the vertical edges of modules adjacent to each other.

10. The expandable modular frame of claim 9, wherein the first connector has a cross-section having a cross-like shape that defines four channels each arranged at 90° with respect to the other and parallel to a vertical axis of the connector, wherein the four channels of the first connector are each configured to receive and retain one of the vertical edges of the modules adjacent to each other.

11. The expandable modular frame of claim 1, wherein said connecting elements comprise a second connector having a horizontally elongated shape and a cross-section on the vertical plane which is substantially an overturned “U” shaped channel so as to allow an upper horizontal edge of two adjacent modules arranged co-planar with each other to be simultaneously received into and retained within the “U” shaped channel.

12. The expandable modular frame of claim 1, wherein said connecting elements comprise a third connector having a pair of elongated elements arranged at 90° with respect to each other in such a way as to allow the insertion thereof on upper horizontal edge of two adjacent modules arranged at 90° with respect to each other.

13. The expandable modular frame of claim 5, wherein a plurality of the modules each include a lower vertical wall portion comprising the closed panel, and wherein an upper crosspiece of an upper mesh grid panel of a module on a first story is received within the groove in the lower horizontal edge of each of the closed panels disposed on a second story, thereby expanding the cage vertically.

14. The expandable modular frame of claim 1, further comprising a vertical flat quadrangular element provided with an opening, said flat element having a width equal to that of a module or a multiple thereof.

15. The expandable modular frame of claim 14, further comprising a door to close said opening,

16. A pet's cage formed with an expandable modular frame according to claim 1.

17. A module for use in an expandable modular frame to form a pet's cage, the module comprising: a substantially quadrangular vertical wall comprising a lower vertical wall portion comprising a closed panel made of plastic material and an upper vertical wall portion comprising a metallic mesh grid panel attached to the closed panel; a border disposed proximate the lower horizontal edge of the closed panel, the border projecting orthogonally away from an interior side of the closed panel, the border comprising a pair of parallel spaced apart flaps which define a channel configured to receive and removably retain one or more base panels in a horizontal arrangement; wherein an upper horizontal edge and a lower horizontal edge of said closed lower panel each comprise a groove and each respective groove comprises a respective locking tooth; each respective groove and locking tooth are configured to receive and removably retain a horizontal edge of the metallic mesh grid panel within the groove and thereby form a substantially quadrangular vertical wall; a lower horizonal edge of the metallic mesh grid panel is received into and removably retained within the groove in the upper horizontal edge of the closed panel.

18. The module according to claim 17 further comprising a plurality of connecting elements configured to removably connect an edge of the module to a module disposed adjacent to the module on a horizontal plane.

19. The module according to claim 18, wherein the connecting elements comprise a first connector of elongated shape removably coupled to a vertical edge of the closed wall portion, the first connector being configured to removably couple the closed wall portion to a vertical edge of a closed wall portion of a second adjacent module at a predefined angle.

20. The module according to claim 19, wherein the first connector has a cross-section of a cross-like shape that defines four channels each arranged at 90° with respect to the other and parallel to a vertical axis of the connector, wherein the four channels of the first connector are each configured to slidably receive and retain the vertical edge of the close wall portion.

Description

ILLUSTRATION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0026] Further features and advantages of the invention will become apparent from reading the following description of an embodiment of the invention provided by way of non-limiting example, with the aid of the drawings illustrated in the appended tables of drawings, in which:

[0027] FIGS. 1 to 4 show schematic views highlighting the configuration of a module of an expandable modular frame according to the invention, seen from different angles;

[0028] FIG. 2a is a detailed section view taken from the section of FIG. 2;

[0029] FIG. 5 shows a schematic view highlighting various modules arranged adjacently to each other and retained by connecting elements disposed at the vertical edges of the modules;

[0030] FIGS. 6 and 7 show views which relate to further configurations of modules arranged adjacently to obtain cages of variable type defined by expandable modular frames on a horizontal plane according to needs;

[0031] FIGS. 8 to 10 show views of a cage obtained by arranging modules adjacently and connecting the modules according to the invention, and of two respective angular connecting elements in two positions of use;

[0032] FIG. 11 shows a view of some modules arranged adjacently according to a further possible configuration obtained by arranging modules adjacently on a horizontal plane, said modules being retained by connecting elements of a different type;

[0033] FIG. 12 refers to a view concerning a further solution of a cage formed by means of the connection of modules partly arranged adjacently and partly superimposed to obtain a cage configuration with two levels;

[0034] FIG. 13 relates to a further solution of the modular frame expandable on a horizontal plane obtained by means of the connection of adjacent modules in a mixed arrangement to form a cove along one side of the cage;

[0035] FIG. 14 shows a cage constituted by eight modules arranged adjacent to one another, as well as by a mesh grid element forming the roof of the cage itself;

[0036] FIG. 15 shows a cage in which an internal partition wall is present, in which the lower part of one side of the cage comprises a panel having a width twice that of a module and being provided with an access door;

[0037] FIG. 16 shows a further type of cage, this also being provided with a panel having a width twice that of a module and provided with an access door;

[0038] FIG. 17 shows a panel provided with a removable access door;

[0039] FIG. 18 illustrates a pair of adjacent modules with a joining element between the lower panels and a further connecting element between the upper grids; and

[0040] FIG. 19 shows the connecting element of FIG. 18 in further detail.

DESCRIPTION OF AN EMBODIMENT OF THE INVENTION

[0041] Referring to FIG. 1, the reference number 20 indicates a module belonging to an expandable modular frame according to the invention, adapted to form a vertical wall portion of a cage for rabbits or other pets with a customised and variable configuration in which the modular frame is expandable on a horizontal plane.

[0042] According to the embodiment shown in FIGS. 1 to 4, each substantially quadrangular module 20 comprises an upper portion, generally including a metallic mesh 21 having a generally quadrangular shape, and a lower portion generally comprising a flat and closed panel 22 advantageously made of plastic material, having substantially the same dimensions in width as the upper portion 21.

[0043] According to an embodiment, the panel 22 is provided, at the lower side thereof, with a border 23 projecting orthogonally towards the inside of the cage, formed by a pair of parallel superimposed flaps which define a channel adapted to receive and retain one or more of the base panels 24 in a horizontal arrangement, as represented in FIGS. 6 and 7.

[0044] The pair of flaps which form the border 23 are spaced at a distance corresponding to the thickness of the base panel 24, so that the latter remains retained therein by interlocking.

[0045] According to the embodiment shown in FIG. 2a, the upper and lower edges of the panel 22 further comprise grooves respectively indicated with 33 and 34, each of which comprises respective locking teeth 35 and 36.

[0046] The upper groove 33 allows the introduction and locking in the panel 22 of the module 20 of an upper grid mesh portion 21, while the lower grooves 34 allow a second level of modules to be arranged above a first level of modules 20, and in this case the groove 34 of the lower edge of each panel 22 of the second level receives and engages with the upper edge of the mesh grid panel 21 of the lower level. Such a configuration, which represents an advantageous embodiment of the invention, is illustrated in FIG. 12, which shows a multi-storey cage.

[0047] It should be noted that according to a preferred embodiment shown in FIG. 6, the base panel 24 is inserted by sliding it into the channel defined by the flaps of the border 23, so as to remain retained therein by interlocking. Further methods of retention can however be provided, which are to be considered as comprised in the scope of protection of the invention.

[0048] According to the embodiment shown in FIG. 5, the modular system according to the invention further comprises connection means between both the vertical edges of the adjacent panels and between the upper edges of the mesh grid portions 21 so as to be arranged in the same plane with each other or with angular arrangements.

[0049] More in particular, this connection means, as shown in FIG. 5, can comprise a first connector 25 of elongated shape and vertical alignment, which allows the adjacent retention between modules 20 which are adjacent to each other with a 90° and 180° arrangement or with other predetermined angular arrangements, for example 30°, 45° or 60°.

[0050] According to the embodiment shown in FIG. 5, the cross-section of this connector 25 has a cross-like shape 26 which defines four channels 27 each arranged at 90° with respect to the other and parallel to the vertical axis of the connector 25, for retaining the edges of the vertically adjacent modules. Each module edge has a shape adapted to be inserted and interlocked inside a respective channel 27.

[0051] Further connectors 28 form part of the connection means of the modular system according to the invention. Connectors 28 have a horizontally elongated shape and a cross-section in the vertical plane which is substantially an overturned “U” shaped, such as to allow the adjacent upper edges of the grid elements 21 to inserted therein and arranged at 180° to each other.

[0052] A further connection means of the modular system is represented by connectors 29 similar to the connectors 28 described above, but made according to a 90° angle so as to allow the adjacent upper edges of the mesh grid elements 21 to be inserted therein and arranged at 90° to each other.

[0053] Connection means of the modular system according to the invention is also represented by “T”-type connectors 30, adapted to allow the junction between the upper edges of three mesh grid elements 21, two of which arranged at 180° to each other and one at 90° in the embodiment illustrated.

[0054] According to the embodiment shown in FIG. 8, the expandable modular frame according to the invention may comprise panels 31, either solid or mesh grid or both, which can be positioned horizontally in the upper part of the cage with the function of closing all or part of the upper part of the cage and forming a roof. Panels 31 can be supported by the connectors 28, 29 and 30 described above, and in some embodiments fastened thereto.

[0055] For example, according to a further embodiment shown in FIGS. 10 and 11, the angular connectors 29 comprise a locking selector 32 which allows the retention of the grid panels 31 and locking them in this position through a 90° rotation thereof on a vertical axis. These locking selectors 32 can be provided in all the connectors 28, 29, 30 as described above.

[0056] According to further embodiments, it is also envisaged that the upper connectors 28, 29, 30 are provided with a horizontally arranged slat projecting towards the inside of the cage (or away from the inner surface of the module), and adapted to define a support element for the upper covering panels 31.

[0057] From an operational point of view, the assembly of a cage according to the invention is carried out according to a process which involves arranging adjacently to each other on a horizontal plane, according to various arrangements depending on needs, a plurality of modules 20 which remain retained, depending on the configurations, by a plurality of connectors 25 and/or 28 and/or 29 and/or 30 which act along the vertical edges of adjacent modules 20 to form a modular frame whose base is expandable as desired on said horizontal plane.

[0058] Depending on the configurations it is possible to insert one or more base trays of different dimensions substantially equal to the width of a module 20 or to multiples of the same, between the flaps forming the border 23, as can illustratively be seen in FIGS. 6 and 7.

[0059] Depending on the configurations, it is further possible to support on the upper part of the modular frame expandable to form a cage one or more panels 31 forming to form a roof or lid. It is also possible to lock the one or more panels 21 in this position by acting on the selector 32 present in the angular connectors 29 and/or on connectors 28 and 30.

[0060] FIGS. 11 to 14 show some embodiments of a modular frame expandable to form a cage according to the invention and in particular FIG. 11 shows some modules 20 arranged adjacently to each other according to some possible configurations on the horizontal plane, while FIG. 12 shows a cage formed on two levels and the upper horizontal edge of a module is connected to the lower horizontal edge of an overlying module. In this case a ladder 37 may be present inside the cage to allow the passage of the animal from one story to the other of the cage through an opening (not shown) in the base panel between one storey and the other of the cage.

[0061] FIG. 13 highlights the possibility of expanding the frame formed by the vertical modules on one side to form a cove, which is possibly repeatable on other sides. FIG. 14 shows a cage formed according to a square-base configuration with four equal sides, where each side of the cage is composed of two vertical and coplanar modules 20.

[0062] FIG. 15 shows a further embodiment of a modular frame expandable to form a cage according to the present invention, wherein there is a panel 42 disposed inside the cage, having a length equal to that of two adjacent modules 20 (but it is obviously possible to provide partitions of different width, such as for example equal to that of a module or to a multiple of the width of a module), and in this case provided with an opening 44 which allows the passage of an animal from one portion to another of the cage. The panel 42 is further shown in FIG. 17. FIG. 15 also shows a further panel 42′, made identically to the panel 42 used as an internal partition of the cage. The panels 42, 42′ may be provided with a removable door 40, which allows the passage of the animal through an opening 44, as shown in FIGS. 15 and 17.

[0063] Finally, FIG. 18 shows a further coupling between adjacent modules through a connector 25 of the type described above, as well as a further connector 43 which joins together the vertical edges of two respective adjacent mesh grid portions 21 of the modules. FIG. 19 shows the connector 43 in greater detail formed by a tubular-shaped element made of plastic material open on one side, and kept elastically closed so as to be able to retain therein said vertical edges of the mesh grid portions 21 of adjacent modules 20.

[0064] As can be noted, the modular frame expandable to form a cage according to the invention offers a wide possibility of configurations and possible enlargements which can be chosen from time to time according to needs, thanks to the fact that the base frame of the cage is formed exclusively by connecting elements between vertical modules arranged adjacently to each other on a horizontal plane.

[0065] The invention has been described in the foregoing with reference to a preferential embodiment thereof. However it is clear that the invention is susceptible to numerous variants which fall within the scope thereof, and which are technically equivalent.