Laboratory cage with cover and feeder

Abstract

Laboratory cage comprising a container (1), a cover (2) and a feeder (6), wherein the container (1) comprises one or more upper edges (1b) which delimit an upper opening (1a) which can be closed by the cover (2), wherein the feeder (6) is configured to be arranged between the container (1) and the cover (2) to at least partially cover the upper opening (1 a) of the container (1), wherein the feeder (6) comprises one or more fins (7) which protrude from the sides of the feeder (6) and are configured to rest on one or more upper edges (1 b) of the container (1), wherein the feeder (6) comprises one or more protuberances (9) which protrude from the feeder (6) and comprise a tongue (9) which is joined to and substantially perpendicular to one of said one or more fins (7), wherein the cover (2) comprises one or more recesses (10) configured to house the protuberance(s) (9) of the feeder (6) when the cover (2) closes the container (1).

Description

[0001] Laboratory cage with cover and feeder

[0002] Technical field

[0003] The present description concerns a laboratory cage, in particular a laboratory cage comprising both a cover which serves to close a container intended for housing laboratory animals and a feeder which serves to provide food to these animals.

[0004] Background of the description

[0005] EP 3909420 describes a laboratory cage comprising a container, a cover and a feeder. The container can be opened by removing the cover, while the feeder remains on the container. The feeder can also be removed from the container, for example to clean or fill it. The upper edge of the container may be provided with notches, so that when the feeder is placed on the container, fins protruding from the sides of the feeder may be inserted into the notches to prevent movement of the feeder relative to the container when the container is closed with the cover. However, if by mistake the feeder is not placed in the position foreseen by the notches, the cover may be closed inaccurately, with consequent risk of contamination inside or outside the laboratory cage, or risk that portions of the cover otherwise protected by the feeder are gnawed by a laboratory animal, in particular a rat.

[0006] FR 2471745 describes a laboratory cage according to the preamble of claim 1 .

[0007] Summary of the description

[0008] The object of the present description is therefore to provide a laboratory cage which solves these problems. This object is achieved with a laboratory cage, the main features of which are specified in the attached claims, to be considered an integral part of this description.

[0009] Thanks to the interaction of particular protuberances of the feeder with particular recesses obtained in the cover, the laboratory cage according to the present description allows the container to be prevented from closing if the feeder is not placed in the correct position. The protuberances preferably protrude towards the cover from the sides of the feeder to facilitate correct positioning of the feeder, especially if the recesses are made in a flat perimeter portion of the cover and are arranged towards the center of the larger side walls of the cover.

[0010] Preferably, the shape and / or dimensions of the protuberances and recesses are substantially complementary, so as to improve the precision of the mutual arrangement of the container, cover and feeder.

[0011] The protuberances are preferably tongues obtained by bending one edge of the fins to simplify the manufacture of the feeder, especially if the latter is made of metal.

[0012] Brief description of the drawings

[0013] Further advantages and features of the laboratory cage according to the present description will be evident to those skilled in the art from the following detailed description of some embodiments, to be considered non-limiting examples of the claims, with reference to the attached drawings in which: figure 1 is a perspective view from above of an embodiment of the laboratory cage; figure 2 is a side view of the laboratory cage of figure 1 ; figure 3 is section Ill-Ill of figure 2; figure 4 is the enlarged detail IV of figure 3; figure 5 is a bottom view of the cover of the laboratory cage of figure 1 ; figure 6 is a front view of the laboratory cage of figure 1 without the cover; figure 7 is a perspective view from above of the laboratory cage of figure 1 without the cover; figure 8 is the enlarged detail VIII of figure 7.

[0014] Exemplary embodiments

[0015] Figures 1-8 show an embodiment of the laboratory cage according to the present description, which comprises a container 1 and a cover 2, wherein the container 1 comprises an upper opening 1a, having a substantially rectangular shape, which can be closed by the cover 2. The cover 2 may comprise a seat 3 which is configured to house a bottle 4 and which is provided with an inlet opening 5 configured to house a spout of the bottle 4, so that when the bottle 4 is placed in the seat 3 of the cover 2, the spout passes through the inlet opening 5 and protrudes into the container 1 to water one or more laboratory animals housed in the container 1 with liquids contained in the bottle 4. The cover 2 of the present embodiment comprises two substantially identical seats 3.

[0016] The laboratory cage also comprises a feeder 6 configured to be arranged between the container 1 and the cover 2, so that the feeder 6 at least partially covers the upper opening 1a of the container 1 , while the portion of the upper opening 1a where the seats 3 are arranged is not covered by the feeder 6. The feeder 6 may comprise a container 6a which protrudes into the container and grid-shaped walls, so that laboratory animals housed in the container 1 can eat food contained in the container 6a of the feeder 6.

[0017] The feeder 6 can comprise one or more fins 7, in particular four fins 7, which protrude from the sides of the feeder 6 and are configured to rest on one or more upper edges 1 b of the container 1 which delimit the upper opening 1a. The fins 7 of the feeder 6, when the cover 2 closes the container 1 , can be arranged in notches 8 obtained in the upper edges 1 b of the container 1. The fins 7 have a substantially rectangular shape and / or are arranged on a same reference plane P which can be substantially horizontal and / or substantially parallel to the extension of the major wall of the cover 2 and / or to the base of the container 1.

[0018] The feeder 6 comprises one or more protuberances 9, in particular two protuberances 9, which protrude from the feeder 6, wherein the cover 2 comprises one or more recesses 10 configured to house the protuberances 9 of the feeder 6 when the cover 2 closes the container 1. The protuberances 9 preferably protrude towards the cover 2 from the sides of the feeder 6, so that each protuberance 9 is comprised between an upper edge 1 b of the container 1 and the cover 2 when the cover 2 closes the container 1 . The recesses 10 are preferably obtained in a perimeter portion 2a of the cover 2 which is substantially flat and substantially parallel to the reference plane P. The perimeter portion 2a of the cover 2 is joined to a frame 2b of the cover 2 configured to be arranged around the upper edges 1b of the container 1 when the cover 2 closes the container 1. Preferably, the shape and / or dimensions of the protuberances 9 and the recesses 10 are substantially complementary. The cover 2 comprises in particular two recesses 10, each of which is arranged substantially in the center of one of two side walls of the cover 2 which are arranged along major sides of the cover 2.

[0019] Preferably, two fins 7 are provided with the protuberance 9 and two fins 7 are not provided with the protuberance 9. In particular, each of the two fins 7 provided with the protuberance 9 and each of the two fins 7 not provided with the protuberance 9 are respectively arranged on two opposites sides of the feeder 6.

[0020] The protuberances 9 of the feeder 6 preferably comprise a tongue arranged on a plane P1 which is substantially vertical and / or substantially perpendicular to the reference plane P. Said tongue 9 is preferably joined to an edge of a fin 7 and / or is substantially perpendicular to this fin 7. In particular, said tongue 9 is obtained by bending the fin 7 to which it is joined and / or the feeder 6 is made of metal.

[0021] To allow easier alignment between container 1 , cover 2 and feeder 6, the height and / or width of said tongue 9 is / are smaller respectively than the length and / or width of the fin 7 to which the tongue 9 is joined, as seen in figures 4 and 8.

[0022] The terms top, bottom, top, bottom, horizontal and vertical refer to the laboratory cage in its normal use position, for example when the container 1 is placed on a table.

[0023] Variants or additions can be made by those skilled in the art to the embodiments described and illustrated herein while remaining within the scope of the following claims. In particular, further embodiments may comprise the technical features of one of the following claims with the addition of one or more technical features described in the text or illustrated in the drawings, taken individually or in any reciprocal combination and including their equivalent features.

[0024] The terms “a / an / one”, “two”, etc. in the description and claims they respectively mean "at least one", "at least two", etc., unless otherwise specified. Similarly, angles, aspect ratios and values mentioned in the specification and / or shown in the drawings comprise a tolerance of at least 5%, unless otherwise specified.

Claims

Claims1. Laboratory cage comprising a container (1), a cover (2) and a feeder (6), wherein the container (1) comprises one or more upper edges (1 b) which delimit an upper opening (1a) which can be closed by the cover (2), wherein the feeder (6) is configured to be arranged between the container (1) and the cover (2) to at least partially cover the upper opening (1a) of the container (1), wherein the feeder (6) comprises one or more fins (7) which protrude from the sides of the feeder (6) and are configured to rest on one or more upper edges (1b) of the container (1), characterized in that the feeder (6) comprises one or more protuberances (9) which protrude from the feeder (6) and comprise a tongue (9) which is joined to and substantially perpendicular to one of said one or more fins (7), wherein the cover (2) comprises one or more recesses (10) configured to house the protuberance(s)(9) of the feeder (6) when the cover (2) closes the container (1).

2. Laboratory cage according to the previous claim, wherein the protuberance(s) (9) protrude(s) towards the cover (2) from sides of the feeder (6), so that each protuberance (9) is comprised between an upper edge (1b) of the container (l) and the cover (2) when the cover (2) closes the container (1).

3. Laboratory cage according to one of the previous claims, wherein the shape and / or dimensions of the protube ran ce(s) (9) and the recess(s) (10) are substantially complementary.

4. Laboratory cage according to one of the previous claims, wherein the recess(s)(10) is / are obtained in a perimeter portion (2a) of the cover (2) which is substantially flat and is joined to a frame (2b) of the cover (2) configured to be arranged around the upper edges (1b) of the container (1) when the cover (2) closes the container (1).

5. Laboratory cage according to one of the previous claims, wherein the feeder (6) comprises two fins (7) which are provided with the protuberance (9) and two fins (7) which are not provided with the protuberance (9).

6. Laboratory cage according to the previous claim, wherein each of the two fins (7) provided with the protuberance (9) and each of the two fins (7) not provided with the protuberance (9) are respectively arranged on two opposite sides of the feeder (6).

7. Laboratory cage according to one of the previous claims, wherein the height of said tongue (9) is less than the length of the fin (7) to which the tongue (9) is joined.

8. Laboratory cage according to one of the previous claims, wherein the width of said tongue (9) is less than the width of the fin (7) to which the tongue (9) is joined.

9. Laboratory cage according to one of the previous claims, wherein said tongue (9) is obtained by bending an edge of the fin (7) to which the tongue (9) is joined.

10. Laboratory cage according to one of the previous claims, wherein the cover (2) comprises two recesses (10), each of which is arranged substantially in the center of one of two side walls (2c) of the cover (2) which are arranged along major sides of the cover (2).

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