Door assembly for an animal run

Abstract

A door assembly 195 for an animal run that includes a roof panel, a wall panel, and an opening that is defined in part by said roof panel and in part by said wall panel, the door assembly comprising: a first wire mesh panel 199 sized to obstruct access to the run's interior via the part of the opening that is defined by the roof panel; a second wire mesh panel 201 sized to obstruct access to the run's interior via the part of the opening defined by the wall panel; and a plurality of connectors, wherein: (i) a first peripheral edge region of said first wire mesh panel 199 is configured to be coupled by one or more of said connectors to a first peripheral edge region of said second wire mesh panel 201 so that said first and second panels can pivot relative to one another; and (ii) a second peripheral edge region of said first wire mesh pane 199l opposite said first edge region is configured to be coupled by one or more of said connectors to an edge region of said roof panel that lies above the opening when the door assembly is in use so that the first wire mesh panel 199 can pivot relative to the roof panel; the arrangement being such that the door assembly can be moved between a first position where the first and second panels 199, 201 obstruct the opening and a second position where the first and second panels 199, 201 permit access to be had to the interior of the run via the opening, movement of the door assembly from the first position towards the second causing the first panel 199 to pivot relative to the roof panel and the second panel 201 to pivot relative to the first panel 199.

Description

Field This disclosure relates, in one aspect, to a door assembly for an animal run -particularly but not exclusively to runs for domestic animals, such as chickens, rabbits, guinea pigs and the like. One illustrative implementation of the teachings of this disclosure is described below with particular reference to a run for chickens, but it will be appreciated that the particular application described herein is merely illustrative and that the improvement disclosed herein may be applied to enclosures for other types of animal. Background Fig. 1 of the accompanying drawings is a front perspective view of our previously proposed chicken coop 100, known colloquially as the Eglu Cube, in combination with an animal run 1033 (a "run" being a colloquial name for a pen within which animals, typically domestic animals, can feed or exercise). The coop 100 is formed from interconnected panels that are coupled together to form an internal roosting chamber that is accessible via a door 1055 (shown in an open position in Fig. 1). An internal wall, with a door that can be opened and closed, separates the roosting chamber from an internal laying chamber - access to which from outside of the run 3 can be had via a door 1077 in a sidewall of the coop. The coop is mounted on a frame 109 to lift the roosting and laying chambers off the ground, and a ladder 111 is provided to enable chickens, for example, to climb into and out of the coop. The run 103 is configured to be resistant to predators, and provides a secure area in which chickens - in this example - can freely move about. The run is formed from a plurality of wire mesh panels that are clipped together, and additional panels can be added to extend the run (in principle, ad infinitum) and provide more outside space for the chickens. Access to the interior of the run is enabled by means of a mesh-panel door assembly 113 provided in an end of the run remote from the coop 100. The door assembly is configured as a so-called "stable door" with an upper door panel and a lower door panel that can each be separately operated. The doors are provided one above the other, and are each pivotally coupled to the adjacent mesh panel by clips so that they can be moved to open and close an aperture in the run. The doors each have a pair of hoops that project laterally beyond a side edge of the door that is remote from the edge of the door that is pivotally coupled to the run. When the doors are closed, the door hoops fit over hoops that project outwardly from a wire-mesh run panel adjacent the aperture in the run. Each door is associated with a retainer, shaped much like a shepherd's crook, that can be slid through the hoops that are projecting outwardly from the adjacent panel to lock the doors in the closed position. Whilst this arrangement functions adequately, it can sometimes be difficult to thread the retainers through the hoops projecting from the panel adjacent the opening to lock the doors closed, particularly if the person trying to lock the doors is holding something at the time. It is also the case, that as the lower door is necessarily quite large in a vertical dimension (so that a crouching person can enter the run when both doors are open), it can be difficult to pet animals within the run if only the upper door is open. As a result, it is common for owners to open both doors to get better access to the interior of the run, and in so doing increase the risk of animals inside the run escaping. Aspects of this disclosure have been devised with the foregoing in mind. Summary In one presently preferred implementation of the teachings of this disclosure there is provided a door assembly having the features of Claim 1. Preferred features of the door assembly are set out in the dependent claims. An advantage of the door assembly herein disclosed is that access may be had to the interior of the run without having to provide a full-height opening in a wall panel of the run. In the particular arrangement disclosed, a portion of the wall panel below the opening is retained, and hence it is less likely for animals to be able to escape the confines of the run when the opening is open. In one implementation, the door assembly may further comprises first and second panel guides for receiving the second panel as the door assembly is moved towards the first position, said panel guides being coupled to the wall panel of the run so that one panel guide is located to one side of the opening and the other panel guide is located to the other side of the opening. The door guides may be configured to slideably receive opposite peripheral regions of the second panel as the door assembly is moved towards the first position. The first and second panel guides may comprise slot-like keeps for accommodating opposite lateral edge portions of the second panel when the door is in the first position. In one implementation the door assembly may further comprise a two-part lock assembly for locking the door in the first position. In a contemplated arrangement, the lock assembly must be unlocked before the door assembly can be moved from the first position towards the second. In one arrangement internal structure within the first lock part of said lock assembly can be moved to enable or disable access for part of the second lock part to an internal space within said first lock part. In one implementation, a first part of said two-part lock assembly may be configured to be coupled to said second wire mesh panel in the vicinity of a second peripheral edge region opposite the first peripheral edge region of the second wire mesh panel. The first part of the lock assembly may comprise a two-part main housing, said two-part main housing being configured so that the main housing can be assembled around an edge portion of the second panel so that the first part of the lock assembly moves with the first and second panels. The second part of said two-part lock assembly may be configured to be coupled to an edge region of the wall panel of the run that lies below the opening when the door assembly is in use. The second part of said two-part lock assembly may comprise two components that can be taken apart and then reassembled around the edge region of the run wall panel. The second part of the two-part lock assembly may comprise a tongue that projects upwardly into the opening when the second part of the two-part lock assembly is assembled around the edge region of the run wall panel. The main housing of the first part of the two-part lock assembly may define an opening into which the tongue of the second part of the two-part lock assembly can slide when the door assembly is moved towards the first position and the lock assembly is unlocked. The tongue of the second part may include a projecting peg that can slide with the tongue inside the first part of the two-part lock assembly when the lock assembly is unlocked. In one arrangement the first part of the two-part lock assembly may include a handle, said internal structure being coupled to the handle for movement therewith, the internal structure being configured to permit the projecting peg to slide out of the first part to separate the first and second parts of the lock assembly when the handle is in an unlocked position, and to retain the peg within the first part of the lock assembly when the door assembly is in the first position and the handle is in a locked position. In a contemplated arrangement, a locking mechanism may be provided that must be released before the handle can be turned from the locked position to the unlocked position. The locking mechanism may comprise a pair of buttons coupled by a bar, the buttons being biased to cause the bar to lie in a slot and prevent the handle from being turned, movement of the buttons against the bias causing the bar to be lifted out of the slot to permit the handle to be turned. In one implementation, the door assembly may be moved to a position where the first panel is pivoted to lie adjacent the roof panel and the second panel is pivoted to lie on the first panel sandwiching said first panel between the second panel and the roof panel, to thereby fully open the opening in the run. The door assembly may be is akin to a vehicle gull-wing door when the door assembly is in the first position. Another contemplated implementation of the teachings of this disclosure provides an animal enclosure comprising a hutch and a run attached to the hutch, the run further comprising a door assembly of the type disclosed herein. Other advantages and aspects of the particular arrangements disclosed herein will be apparent from the detailed description provided below. Brief Description of the Drawings The teachings of this disclosure, and arrangements embodying those teachings, will hereafter be described by way of illustrative example with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: Fig. 1 is a schematic perspective view of a previously proposed chicken coop attached to a run; Fig. 2 depicts a door assembly for a run in a closed configuration; Fig. 3 depicts a door assembly for a run in a partly-open configuration; Fig. 4 depicts a door assembly for a run in an open configuration; Figs. 5 and 6 are first and second parts, respectively, of a lock assembly for a door assembly of the type depicted in Figs. 2 to 4; Fig. 7 is an exploded view of a first part of the lock assembly; and Fig. 8 is a perspective view of the underside of part of the first part of the lock assembly shown in Fig. 7. Detailed Description In the following illustrative description of preferred implementations of the teachings of this disclosure, the door assembly - specifically, the first and second wire mesh panels of the door assembly - is sometimes referred to as a "gull-wing door" on account of the fact that the door assembly vaguely resembles gull-wing doors of the type that have previously been provided on vehicles, such as the DMC DeLorean that found fame in the Back to the Future™ movie franchise. Nothing other than the appearance of the door assembly is intended to be inferred from the fact that it is sometimes referred to as a "gull-wing door", and the terms "door assembly" and "gull wing door" are intended to be used interchangeably. Figs. 2 to 4 are perspective views of part of an extended run that includes a gullwing door 195 shown - respectively - in closed, part-open and fully open positions. The gull wing door 195 is advantageous as it can be opened whilst leaving a bottom panel 197 of the wall of the run in a closed position. Thus a person can access the interior of the run without worrying that a chicken, for example, in the run might escape. The gull-wing door 195 is comprised of first 199 and second 201 mesh panels that have been connected together by means of suitable connectors; specifically, a roof panel 199 with an outward edge region that is curved in a lateral direction, and a flat panel 201 that clips to a bottom edge of the curved portion. Connectors of the type disclosed in our European Patent no. EP3211251 may be employed for this purpose, or alternatively the panels could just be coupled together by zip ties or any of a number of other suitable connectors. As shown in Fig. 2, the first and second panels 199, 201 are quadrilaterals, specifically square or rectangular in shaped. A lock assembly 203 is provided to lock an edge of the second panel 201 to the bottom non-opening panel 197 of the run. Once unlocked, the second panel 201 of the gull-wing door 195 can be lifted up to pivot the first panel 199 about a neighbouring roof panel and then folded down on top of the first roof panel 199 (as shown in Fig. 44). A pair of slot-like keeps 205 are provided, one either side of the opening in the run, and lateral edge portions of the second panel 201 of the gull-wing door 195 can be located in the keeps 205 when the door is in the closed position shown in Fig. 42. Referring now to Figs. 45 and 46, the lock assembly 203 for the gull-wing door 195 includes a first lock portion 207 shown in Fig. 45 and a second lock portion 209 shown in Fig. 46. In use, the first lock portion will constitute an upper part of the lock assembly, and the second lock portion will constitute a lower part of the lock assembly. The second lock portion 209, as shown in Fig. 44, is coupled to an edge region of the non-opening wall panel 197 of the run, and the first lock portion 207 is coupled to a lower edge region of the second panel of the gull-wing door. The first lock portion 207 in Fig. 45 is shown in a locked position in which a handle 211 extends laterally. In an unlocked position the handle 211 has been pivoted through 90 degrees so that it extends transversely (i.e. in an up / down direction when installed on the gull-wing door 195). The second lock portion 209 is formed from two components that can be taken apart and then reassembled around the edge of a mesh panel (so that the mesh panel is sandwiched between a base part 213 of the components). With the edge of the mesh panel sandwiched between the base part 213 of the second lock portion, a tongue 215 projects upwardly into the opening that is closed by the gull-wing door. The tongue 215, as shown, includes first and second projecting pegs 217, 219, and the tongue 215 is configured to slide inside the first lock portion 207 via an opening 221 in the base of the upper lock portion 207. Referring now to Figs. 47 and 48, the first lock part comprises a two-part main housing 223 that defines the aforementioned opening 221. The two-part main housing is configured so that it can be assembled around the edge of the first panel 201 of the gullwing door 195 so that the first part of the lock moves with the gull-wing door 195. When so assembled a first part 225 of the upper lock part main housing lies inside the second panel and a second part 227 lies outside of the second panel. The two-parts of the two-part main housing 223 cooperate to define a first internal channel 229 that at least the first projecting peg 217 of the second lock portion 209 can slide into when the tongue of the second lock portion is slid into the opening 221 in the main housing of the first lock portion as the gull-wing door is closed. A column 231 extends outwardly from the second part 227 and is profiled at an end distal from the second part 227 to provide a retaining notch 233. A handle shaft 235 fits over the column 231 and comprises a frustoconical base portion 237 that locates within a recess 238 formed in the outer face of the second part 227. The handle shaft is coupled to the second part 227 of the main housing 223 by means of a screw and is configured so that it is capable, in certain circumstances, of being rotated by a user. The handle 211 of the lock is integrally formed with the handle shaft 235 and is configured to accommodate an actuator 239 that comprises a pair of buttons 241 which are coupled by a shaft 243. The actuator 239 locates in the handle 211 so that the buttons 241 project from the underneath of the handle 211, and springs 242 are provided between the actuator and a snap-fitted cap 244 so that the buttons are biased to project from under the handle. With the handle in the locked position shown in the drawings, the shaft 243 connecting the buttons 241 locates in the retaining notch 233 in the column 231, and rotation of the handle is prevented. To rotate the handle a user must first pull the buttons upwardly (i.e. away from the second mesh panel that forms part of the gull-wing door) to lift the shaft 243 out of the retaining notch 233. At this juncture a first structure 245 provided in the recess, and second and third structures 247, 249 provided in the underside of the frustoconical base portion 237 of the handle shaft 235 (see Fig. 48) co-operate to ensure that the handle (and attached frustoconical base portion 237) can only be rotated through 90 degrees. In the locked position depicted, the first structure 245 projecting from the recess in the outer face of the second part 227 is received in a circumferential gap 251 between the second and third structures 247, 249 provided in the underside of the frustoconical base portion 237. The first structure 245 cooperates with the second and third structures to ensure that the handle can only be moved through 90 degrees between a locked position where the first structure is in close proximity to the second structure and an unlocked position where the first structure is in close proximity to the third structure. As shown in Fig. 48, the second and third structures 247, 249 are spaced from one another to provide a second channel 253 that opens to a gap 255 in a peripheral wall of the frustoconical base portion. As will be appreciated by persons skilled in the art, rotating the handle from the locked to unlocked position causes the gap 255 to move to align with the channel 229. At this point the lock is unlocked and the first peg 217 can move through the first channel 229 via the gap 255 into the second channel 253 and subsequently into or out of an interior space 257 within the frustoconical base portion 237. Once the first peg 217 is within the interior space 257, rotating the handle in the opposite direction causes the gap 255 to move and the third structure 249 to move to block movement of the peg 217 out of the interior space 257. In this position the first peg is locked within the interior space 257 and the first and second lock portions are securely coupled together (which in turn means that the gull-wing door to which the lock is connected is locked closed). In summary, in this arrangement there is provided a lock for an animal enclosure wherein internal structure within a first lock part can be moved to enable or disable access for part of a second lock part to an internal space within said first lock part. It will be appreciated that whilst various aspects and embodiments of the present invention have heretofore been described, the scope of the present invention is not limited to the particular arrangements set out herein and instead extends to encompass all arrangements, and modifications and alterations thereto, which fall within the scope of the appended claims. It should also be noted that whilst the accompanying claims set out particular combinations of features described herein, the scope of the present invention is not limited to the particular combinations hereafter claimed, but instead extends to encompass any combination of features herein disclosed. Finally, it should be noted that any element in a claim that does not explicitly state "means for" performing a specified function, or "steps for" performing a specific function, is not to be interpreted as a "means" or "step" clause as specified in 35 U.S.C. Sec. 112, par. 6. In particular, the use of "step of" in the claims appended hereto is not intended to invoke the provisions of 35 U.S.C. Sec. 112, par. 6.

Claims

1. A door assembly for an animal run that includes a roof panel, a wall panel, and an opening that is defined in part by said roof panel and in part by said wall panel, the door assembly comprising:a first wire mesh panel sized to obstruct access to the run's interior via the part of the opening that is defined by the roof panel;a second wire mesh panel sized to obstruct access to the run's interior via the part of the opening defined by the wall panel; anda plurality of connectors,wherein:(i) a first peripheral edge region of said first wire mesh panel is configured to be coupled by one or more of said connectors to a first peripheral edge region of said second wire mesh panel so that said first and second panels can pivot relative to one another; and(iii) a second peripheral edge region of said first wire mesh panel opposite said first edge region is configured to be coupled by one or more of said connectors to an edge region of said roof panel that lies above the opening when the door assembly is in use so that the first wire mesh panel can pivot relative to the roof panel;the arrangement being such that the door assembly can be moved between a first position where the first and second panels obstruct the opening and a second position where the first and second panels permit access to be had to the interior of the run via the opening, movement of the door assembly from the first position towards the second causing the first panel to pivot relative to the roof panel and the second panel to pivot relative to the first panel.

2. A door assembly according to Claim 1, further comprising first and second panel guides for receiving the second panel as the door assembly is moved towards the first position, said panel guides being coupled to the wall panel of the run so that one panel guide is located to one side of the opening and the other panel guide is located to the other side of the opening.

3. A door assembly according to Claim 2, wherein said door guides are configured to slideably receive opposite peripheral regions of the second panel as the door assembly is moved towards the first position.

4. A door assembly according to Claim 2 or 3, wherein the first and second panel guides comprise slot-like keeps for accommodating opposite lateral edge portions of the second panel when the door is in the first position.

5. A door assembly according to any preceding claim, further comprising a two-part lock assembly for locking the door in the first position.

6. A door assembly according to Claim 5, wherein the lock assembly must be unlocked before the door assembly can be moved from the first position towards the second.

7. A door assembly according to Claim 5 or 6, wherein internal structure within the first lock part of said lock assembly can be moved to enable or disable access for part of the second lock part to an internal space within said first lock part.

8. A door assembly according to any of Claims 5 to 7, wherein a first part of said two-part lock assembly is configured to be coupled to said second wire mesh panel in the vicinity of a second peripheral edge region opposite the first peripheral edge region of the second wire mesh panel.

9. A door assembly according to Claim 8, wherein the first part of the lock assembly comprises a two-part main housing, said two-part main housing being configured so that the main housing can be assembled around an edge portion of the second panel so that the first part of the lock assembly moves with the first and second panels.

10. A door assembly according to any of Claim 9, wherein said second part of said two-part lock assembly is configured to be coupled to an edge region of the wall panel of the run that lies below the opening when the door assembly is in use.

11. A door assembly according to Claim 10, wherein the second part of said two-part lock assembly comprises two components that can be taken apart and then reassembled around the edge region of the run wall panel.

12. A door assembly according to Claim 11, wherein the second part of the two-part lock assembly comprising a tongue that projects upwardly into the opening when the second part of the two-part lock assembly is assembled around the edge region of therun wall panel.

13. A door assembly according to Claim 12, wherein the main housing of the first part of the two-part lock assembly defines an opening into which the tongue of the second part of the two-part lock assembly can slide when the door assembly is moved towards the first position and the lock assembly is unlocked.

14. A door assembly according to Claim 13, wherein the tongue of the second part includes a projecting peg that can slide with the tongue inside the first part of the two-part lock assembly when the lock assembly is unlocked.

15. A door assembly according to Claim 13, wherein the first part of the two-part lock assembly includes a handle, said internal structure being coupled to the handle for movement therewith, the internal structure being configured to permit the projecting peg to slide out of the first part to separate the first and second parts of the lock assembly when the handle is in an unlocked position, and to retain the peg within the first part of the lock assembly when the door assembly is in the first position and the handle is in a locked position.

16. A door assembly according to Claim 15, comprising a locking mechanism that must be released before the handle can be turned from the locked position to the unlocked position.

17. A door assembly according to Claim 16, wherein the locking mechanism comprises a pair of buttons coupled by a bar, the buttons being biased to cause the bar to lie in a slot and prevent the handle from being turned, movement of the buttons against the bias causing the bar to be lifted out of the slot to permit the handle to be turned.

18. A door assembly according to any preceding claim, wherein the door assembly can be moved to a position where the first panel is pivoted to lie adjacent the roof panel and the second panel is pivoted to lie on the first panel sandwiching said first panel between the second panel and the roof panel, to thereby fully open the opening in the run.

19. A door assembly according to any preceding claim, wherein the door assembly isakin to a vehicle gull-wing door when the door assembly is in the first position.

20. An animal enclosure comprising a hutch and a run attached to the hutch, the run further comprising a door assembly according to any preceding claim.12

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