An animal containment apparatus

Abstract

An animal containment system 100 (Figure 1) comprises: a frame comprising a plurality of edge rods 104 (Figure 1) having a hollow square cross-section, the edge rods defining a cuboid shape of the fra

Description

TECHNOLOGICAL FIELD Examples of the disclosure relate to an animal containment apparatus. Some relate to an animal containment apparatus for containing pets in an outdoor area. BACKGROUND It is known to provide an animal containment apparatus for keeping animals in a defined area. If an animal containment apparatus is required outside, there is a need to provide an animal containment apparatus which is durable and long lasting. BRIEF SUMMARY According to various, but not necessarily all, examples there is provided an animal containment system comprising: a frame comprising a plurality of edge rods having a hollow square cross-section, the edge rods defining a cuboid shape of the frame; and a plurality of corner connectors configured to connect two or more edge rods, wherein: a corner connector comprises two or more arms extending from two or more faces of a central box, an arm extending from a face of the central box to a free end, the arms being at least partially hollow and having a substantially square cross-section, the corner connector being formed as a single part, wherein each arm comprises a reinforcement web extending from the point of connection to the central box towards the free end, the reinforcement web forming a cross shape extending between the four internal corners of the arm, wherein an arm of a corner connector is configured to be received by an edge rod, the arm being sized for an interference fit between the arm and the edge rod such that removal of the arm from the edge rod is inhibited by a frictional force between inner faces of the edge rod and outer faces of the arm. In some but not necessarily all examples, the arm tapers such that a cross-sectional area of the point of connection to the central box is larger than a cross-sectional area of the free end of the arm. In some but not necessarily all examples, a corner connector comprises up to six arms, wherein an angle between any two of the six arms is approximately 90° or approximately 180°. In some but not necessarily all examples, the reinforcement web extends approximately a third of the length of the arm from the first end of the arm. In some but not necessarily all examples, the plurality of corner connectors comprises corner connectors with different numbers of arms. In some but not necessarily all examples, the corner connectors are formed by injection moulding. In some but not necessarily all examples, the animal containment system comprises one or more edge connectors configured to connect one or more collinear edge rods, wherein a first end of an edge connector is configured to be received by a first edge rod and a second end of an edge connector is configured to be received by a second edge rod. In some but not necessarily all examples, an edge connector comprises a hollow metal rod with a square cross-section, the edge connector having a smaller cross-section than the edge rods such that the edge connector may be received within an open end of an edge rod. In some but not necessarily all examples, when a first edge rod is connected to a second edge rod by an edge connector, an end of the first edge rod abuts an end of the second edge rod. In some but not necessarily all examples, the edge connector is connected to an edge rod by a connector passed through a face of the edge rod and a face of the edge connector. In some but not necessarily all examples, the animal containment system is an animal containment system for domestic animals. In some but not necessarily all examples, at least four vertical sides of the animal containment system are provided by a mesh, sized to prevent egress of a domestic animal from the animal containment system. In some but not necessarily all examples, a top side and / or a bottom side of the animal containment system is provided by a mesh, sized to prevent egress of a domestic animal from the animal containment system. In some but not necessarily all examples, the mesh is attached to one or more of the plurality of edge rods using a plurality of mesh connectors. In some but not necessarily all examples, the edge rods provide twelve edges of the frame. In some but not necessarily all examples, one or more vertical edge rods extend as supporting rods between an upper horizonal edge rod and a corresponding lower horizontal edge rod. According to various, but not necessarily all, examples there is provided a method of assembling an animal containment system, comprising: providing a plurality of edge rods having a hollow square cross-section; providing a plurality of corner connectors, wherein: a corner connector comprises two or more arms extending from two or more faces of a central box, an arm extending from a face of the central box to a free end, the arms being at least partially hollow and having a substantially square cross-section, the corner connector being formed as a single part, wherein each arm comprises a reinforcement web extending from the point of connection to the central box towards the free end, the reinforcement web forming a cross shape extending between the four internal corners of the arm, wherein an arm of a corner connector is configured to be received by an edge rod, the arm being sized for an interference fit between the arm and the edge rod such that removal of the arm from the edge rod is inhibited by a frictional force between inner faces of the edge rod and outer faces of the arm; using a first corner connector to connect a first edge rod to a second edge rod, comprising pushing a first arm of the corner connector into the first edge rod and pushing a second arm of the corner connector into the second edge rod; and using the plurality of corner connectors to connect the plurality of edge rods to provide a frame of the animal containment system, the edge rods defining a cuboid shape of the frame. According to various, but not necessarily all, examples there is provided a corner connector for an animal containment system, the corner connector comprising two or more arms having extending from two or more faces of a central box, an arm extending from a face of the central box to a free end, the arms being at least partially hollow and having a substantially square cross-section, the corner connector being formed as a single part, wherein each arm comprises a reinforcement web extending from the point of connection to the central box towards the free end, the reinforcement web forming a cross shape extending between the four internal corners of the arm, wherein one or more arms of the corner connector are configured to be received by one or more different rods having a hollow square cross-section, an arm being sized for an interference fit between the arm and a corresponding rod such that removal of the arm from the rod is inhibited by a frictional force between inner faces of the rod and outer faces of the arm. In some but not necessarily all examples, the arm tapers such that a cross-sectional area of the point of connection to the central box is larger than a cross-sectional area of the free end of the arm. In some but not necessarily all examples, a corner connector comprises up to six arms, wherein an angle between any two of the six arms is approximately 90° or approximately 180°. In some but not necessarily all examples, the reinforcement web extends approximately a third of the length of the arm from the first end of the arm. In some but not necessarily all examples, the corner connector is formed by injection moulding. According to various, but not necessarily all, embodiments there is provided an apparatus comprising means for performing at least part of one or more methods described herein. The description of a function and / or action should additionally be considered to also disclose any means suitable for performing that function and / or action. Functions and / or actions described herein can be performed in any suitable way using any suitable method. According to various, but not necessarily all, embodiments there is provided examples as claimed in the appended claims. While the above examples of the disclosure and optional features are described separately, it is to be understood that their provision in all possible combinations and permutations is contained within the disclosure. It is to be understood that various examples of the disclosure can comprise any or all the features described in respect of other examples of the disclosure, and vice versa. Also, it is to be appreciated that any one or more or all the features, in any combination, may be implemented by / comprised in / performable by an apparatus, a method, and / or computer program instructions as desired, and as appropriate. The description of a function should additionally be considered to also disclose any means suitable for performing that function BRIEF DESCRIPTION Some examples will now be described with reference to the accompanying drawings in which: FIG. 1 illustrates an example animal containment system; FIGs. 2A -2C illustrate example corner connectors for an animal containment system; FIGs. 3A - 3C illustrate example corner connectors for an animal containment system; FIGs. 4A - 4B illustrate a detail view of an example animal containment system; and FIG. 5 illustrates an example method of assembling an animal containment system. The figures are not necessarily to scale. Certain features and views of the figures can be shown schematically or exaggerated in scale in the interest of clarity and conciseness. For example, the dimensions of some elements in the figures can be exaggerated relative to other elements to aid explication. Similar reference numerals are used in the figures to designate similar features. For clarity, all reference numerals are not necessarily displayed in all figures. DETAILED DESCRIPTION The Figures illustrate an animal containment system 100 comprising: a frame 102 comprising a plurality of edge rods 104 having a hollow square cross-section, the edge rods 104 defining a cuboid shape of the frame 102; and a plurality of corner connectors 200 configured to connect two or more edge rods 104, wherein: a corner connector 200 comprises two or more arms 202 extending from two or more faces of a central box, an arm 202 extending from a face of the central box to a free end, the arms 202 being at least partially hollow and having a substantially square crosssection, the corner connector 200 being formed as a single part, wherein each arm 202 comprises a reinforcement web 206 extending from the point of connection to the central box towards the free end, the reinforcement web 206 forming a cross shape extending between the four internal corners of the arm, wherein an arm 202 of a corner connector 200 is configured to be received by an edge rod 104, the arm 202 being sized for an interference fit between the arm 202 and the edge rod 104 such that removal of the arm 202 from the edge rod 104 is inhibited by a frictional force between inner faces of the edge rod 104 and outer faces of the arm 202. FIG. 1 illustrates an example animal containment system 100. In some, but not necessarily all, examples, the animal containment system 100 is an animal containment system for domestic animals. The animal containment comprises a frame 102. The frame 102 is formed by a plurality of edge rods 104, which define a cuboid shape of the frame 102. In the example of FIG. 1, the apparatus comprises twelve edge rods 104 arranged in a cuboid so that the twelve edge rods 104 provide the twelve edges of the frame 102. In examples, the apparatus comprises additional supporting edge rods 104 (not illustrated) extending between an upper horizonal edge rod and a corresponding lower horizontal edge rod 104. The edge rods 104 are at least partially hollow and have a square, or substantially square, cross-section. In some examples, the edge rods 104 are made of metal. In other examples, the edge rods 104 are made of plastic. In some examples, the edge rods 104 are made of steel. In the examples illustrated, the animal containment apparatus comprises at least two edge rods 104 connected at a right angle. When there are two edge rods 104, they may be attached at their other ends to another structure to provide an enclosure in which to keep an animal. In some examples, any number of edge rods 104 are provided, providing that there are two or more edge rods 104. In some examples, the edge rods 104 are not required to be substantially identical and may be of a different shape, length, etc., to one another. In the example of FIG. 1, the animal containment apparatus has a cube shape. In some examples, the animal containment apparatus may be extended to resemble an elongated cube, such as a cuboid. This may be provided either by some of the edge rods 104 being longer than other edge rods 104, or by providing a T-junction connector, for example a corner connector 200 as described below. The T-junction connector can connect three edge rods 104 in a T-shape, to extend the length of the animal containment apparatus. The animal containment system 100 comprises a plurality of corner connectors 200. The corner connectors 200 are configured to connect two or more edge rods 104. In examples, the corner connectors 200 are configured to connect two collinear edge rods 104. In examples, the corner connectors 200 are configured to connect two or more edge rods 104 at right angles to each other. In examples, the corner connectors 200 are configured to connect a combination of collinear edge rods 104 and edge rods 104 at right angles to each other. FIGs. 2A - 2C illustrate example corner connectors 200. A corner connector 200 comprises two or more arms 202 extending from two or more faces of a central box 204. As illustrated by FIG. 2C, each arm 202 of a corner connector 200 is configured to be received by an edge rod 104. The arm 202 is sized for an interference fit between the arm 202 and the edge rod 104 such that removal of the arm 202 from the edge rod 104 is inhibited by a frictional force between inner faces of the edge rod 104 and outer faces of the arm 202. In examples, the arm 202 tapers such that a cross-sectional area of the point of connection to the central box 204 is larger than a cross-sectional area of the free end of the arm 202. Thus, positioning of the arm 202 within the edge rod 104 is facilitated due to the smaller size of the free end of the arm 202 relative to the edge rod, and removal of the arm 202 from the edge rod 104 is inhibited by the larger size of the point of connection to the central box 204 relative to the edge rod, which provides an interference fit. An arm 202 of a corner connector 200 extends from a face of the central box 204 to a free end. The free end is a planar open end, wherein the plane of the open end is substantially perpendicular to a direction in which the arm 202 extends. The end at which the arm 202 is connected to the central box 204 is closed by the face of the central box 204 to which it is connected. An arm 202 of a corner connector 200 is at least partially hollow and has a substantially square cross-section. As can be seen in FIG. 2B, each arm 202 of a corner connector 200 comprises a reinforcement web 206 extending from the point of connection to the central box 204 towards the free end. The reinforcement web 206 forms a cross shape extending between the four internal corners of the arm 202. In some, but not necessarily all, examples, the reinforcement web 206 extends approximately a third of the length of the arm 202 from the first end of the arm 202. The corner connector 200 comprises at least two arms 202 and up to six arms 202. An angle between any two arms 202 of the corner connector 200 is approximately 90°, approximately 180°, or approximately 270°. In some, but not necessarily all, examples, the number of arms 202 on a corner connector 200 is adapted to the number of edge rods 104 to be connected. In the example of FIG. 2, the corner connector 200 comprises three arms 202 extending at 90° to each other to provide a corner of the system where a vertical rod and two perpendicular horizontal rods meet. FIGs 3A - 3C illustrate further examples of corner connectors 200. FIG. 3A illustrates an example corner connector 200 comprising two arms 202; FIG 3B illustrates an example corner connector 200 comprising three arms 202 forming a T shape to provide a join where, for example, a vertical rod and two parallel rods meet; FIG. 3C illustrates an example corner connector 200 comprising five arms 202. In some, but not necessarily all, examples, the plurality of corner connectors 200 comprises corner connectors 200 with different numbers of arms 202. For example, the animal containment system 100 may contain multiple different corner connectors 200. In some, but not necessarily all, examples, the corner connectors 200 comprise plastic. A corner connector 200 is formed as a single part. In some, but not necessarily all, examples, a corner connector 200 is formed by injection moulding. In examples, the animal containment system 100 comprises one or more edge connectors 400. The one or more edge connectors 400 are configured to connect one or more collinear edge rods 104. FIGs. 4A and 4B illustrate an example in which two edge rods 104 are connected by an edge connector 400. As illustrated in FIGs. 4A and 4B, a first end of an edge connector 400 is configured to be received by a first edge rod 104 and a second end of an edge connector 400 is configured to be received by a second edge rod 104. When the first edge rod 104 is connected to the second edge rod 104 by an edge connector, an end of the first edge rod 104 abuts an end of the second edge rod 104. In some, but not necessarily all, examples, an edge connector 400 comprises a hollow metal rod with a square cross-section. The edge connector 400 has a smaller cross-section than the edge rods 104 such that the edge connector 400 may be received within an open end of an edge rod 104. In some, but not necessarily all, examples, the edge connector 400 is connected to an edge rod 104 by a connector 402 passed through a face of the edge rod 104 and a face of the edge connector 400. In some examples, such as the example illustrated in FIG. 4B, the connector 402 comprises a bolt. In some such examples, the connector 402 comprises a square head bolt. In examples, the animal containment system 100 comprises a gate. The gate is fixed between two opposite parallel edge rods 104. In the example of FIG. 1, the animal containment system 100 does not comprise a gate. Although not illustrated in FIG. 1, each of the upstanding faces of the animal containment system 100 may be provided with mesh attached to the edge rods 104. The mesh may be attached to one or more of the plurality of edge rods 104 using a plurality of mesh connectors. The mesh is sized to prevent egress of a domestic animal from the animal containment system 100. In some examples, three sides of the animal containment system 100 are provided by a mesh and a fourth side is provided by an external structure such as a wall of a building. The top, ceiling face of the animal containment system 100 and / or the bottom, ground face of the animal containment system 100 can also have mesh fixed to the edge rods 104. The mesh extends across the edge rods 104 so that an animal within the animal containment system 100, placed on the ground, cannot escape the animal containment system 100. FIG. 5 illustrates a method of assembling an animal containment system 100. At block 502, the method comprises providing a plurality of edge rods 104. The edge rods 104 may be edge rods 104 as described above. At block 504, the method comprises providing a plurality of corner connectors 200. The corner connectors 200 may be corner connectors 200 as described above. At block 506, the method comprises using a first corner connector 200 to connect a first edge rod 104 to a second edge rod 104 by pushing a first arm 202 of the corner connector 200 into the first edge rod 104 and pushing a second arm 202 of the corner connector 200 into the second edge rod 104. At block 508, the method comprises using the plurality of corner connectors 200 to connect the plurality of edge rods 104 to provide a frame 102 of the animal containment system 100. In some examples, block 508 comprises repeating block 506 with the plurality of corner connectors 200 and the plurality of edge rods 104 until all a cuboid frame 102 is produced. In some examples, the method comprises additional block 510. At block 510, the method comprises providing a mesh as at least three sides of the animal containment system 100. The illustration of a particular order to the blocks does not necessarily imply that there is a required or preferred order for the blocks and the order and arrangement of the block may be varied. Furthermore, it may be possible for some blocks to be omitted. The term ‘comprise’ is used in this document with an inclusive not an exclusive meaning. That is any reference to X comprising Y indicates that X may comprise only one Y or may comprise more than one Y. If it is intended to use ‘comprise’ with an exclusive meaning then it will be made clear in the context by referring to ‘comprising only one...’ or by using ‘consisting.’ In this description, reference has been made to various examples. The description of features or functions in relation to an example indicates that those features or functions are present in that example. The use of the term ‘example’ or ‘for example’ or ‘can’ or ‘may’ in the text denotes, whether explicitly stated or not, that such features or functions are present in at least the described example, whether described as an example or not, and that they can be, but are not necessarily, present in some of or all other examples. Thus ‘example’, ‘for example’, ‘can’, or ‘may’ refers to a particular instance in a class of examples. A property of the instance can be a property of only that instance or a property of the class or a property of a sub-class of the class that includes some but not all the instances in the class. It is therefore implicitly disclosed that a feature described with reference to one example but not with reference to another example, can where possible be used in that other example as part of a working combination but does not necessarily have to be used in that other example. Although examples have been described in the preceding paragraphs with reference to various examples, it should be appreciated that modifications to the examples given can be made without departing from the scope of the claims. Features described in the preceding description may be used in combinations other than the combinations explicitly described above. Although functions have been described with reference to certain features, those functions may be performable by other features whether described or not. Although features have been described with reference to certain examples, those features may also be present in other examples whether described or not. The term ‘a’, ‘an’ or ‘the’ is used in this document with an inclusive not an exclusive meaning. That is any reference to X comprising a / an / the Y indicates that X may comprise only one Y or may comprise more than one Y unless the context clearly indicates the contrary. If it is intended to use ‘a’, ‘an’ or ‘the’ with an exclusive meaning then it will be made clear in the context. In some circumstances the use of ‘at least one’ or ‘one or more’ may be used to emphasis an inclusive meaning but the absence of these terms should not be taken to infer any exclusive meaning. The presence of a feature (or combination of features) in a claim is a reference to that feature or (combination of features) itself and to features that achieve substantially the same technical effect (equivalent features). The equivalent features include, for example, features that are variants and achieve substantially the same result in substantially the same way. The equivalent features include, for example, features that perform substantially the same function, in substantially the same way to achieve substantially the same result. In this description, reference has been made to various examples using adjectives or adjectival phrases to describe characteristics of the examples. Such a description of a characteristic in relation to an example indicates that the characteristic is present in some examples exactly as described and is present in other examples substantially as described. The above description describes some examples of the present disclosure however those of ordinary skill in the art will be aware of possible alternative structures and method features which offer equivalent functionality to the specific examples of such structures and features described herein above and which for the sake of brevity and clarity have been omitted from the above description. Nonetheless, the above description should be read as implicitly including reference to such alternative structures and method features which provide equivalent functionality unless such alternative structures or method features are explicitly excluded in the above description of the examples of the present disclosure. Whilst endeavoring in the foregoing specification to draw attention to those features believed to be of importance the Applicant may seek protection via the claims in respect of any patentable feature or combination of features hereinbefore referred to 5 and / or shown in the drawings whether or not emphasis has been placed thereon. l / we claim:

Claims

1. An animal containment system comprising:a frame comprising a plurality of edge rods having a hollow square cross-section, the edge rods defining a cuboid shape of the frame; anda plurality of corner connectors configured to connect two or more edge rods, wherein:a corner connector comprises two or more arms extending from two or more faces of a central box, an arm extending from a face of the central box to a free end, the arms being at least partially hollow and having a substantially square crosssection, the corner connector being formed as a single part,wherein each arm comprises a reinforcement web extending from the point of connection to the central box towards the free end, the reinforcement web forming a cross shape extending between the four internal corners of the arm, wherein an arm of a corner connector is configured to be received by an edge rod, the arm being sized for an interference fit between the arm and the edge rod such that removal of the arm from the edge rod is inhibited by a frictional force between inner faces of the edge rod and outer faces of the arm.

2. An animal containment system as claimed in claim 1, wherein the arm tapers such that a cross-sectional area of the point of connection to the central box is larger than a cross-sectional area of the free end of the arm.

3. An animal containment system as claimed in claim 1 or 2, wherein a corner connector comprises up to six arms, wherein an angle between any two of the six arms is approximately 90° or approximately 180°.

4. An animal containment system as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein the reinforcement web extends approximately a third of the length of the arm from the first end of the arm.

5. An animal containment system as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein the plurality of corner connectors comprises corner connectors with different numbers of arms.

6. An animal containment system as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein the corner connectors comprise plastic.

7. An animal containment system as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein the corner connectors are formed by injection moulding.

8. An animal containment system as claimed in any preceding claim, comprising one or more edge connectors configured to connect one or more collinear edge rods, wherein a first end of an edge connector is configured to be received by a first edge rod and a second end of an edge connector is configured to be received by a second edge rod.

9. An animal containment system as claimed in claim 8, wherein an edge connector comprises a hollow metal rod with a square cross-section, the edge connector having a smaller cross-section than the edge rods such that the edge connector may be received within an open end of an edge rod.

10. An animal containment system as claimed in claim 8 or 9, wherein, when a first edge rod is connected to a second edge rod by an edge connector, an end of the first edge rod abuts an end of the second edge rod.

11. An animal containment system as claimed in any of claims 8-10, wherein the edge connector is connected to an edge rod by a connector passed through a face of the edge rod and a face of the edge connector.

12. An animal containment system as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein the animal containment system is an animal containment system for domestic animals.

13. An animal containment system as claimed in claim 12, wherein at least three vertical sides of the animal containment system are provided by a mesh, sized to prevent egress of a domestic animal from the animal containment system.

14. An animal containment system as claimed in claim 13, wherein a top side and / or a bottom side of the animal containment system is provided by a mesh, sized to prevent egress of a domestic animal from the animal containment system.

15. An animal containment system as claimed in claim 13 or 14, wherein the mesh is attached to one or more of the plurality of edge rods using a plurality of mesh connectors.

16. An animal containment system as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein the edge rods provide twelve edges of the frame.

17. An animal containment system as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein one or more vertical edge rods extend as supporting rods between an upper horizonal edge rod and a corresponding lower horizontal edge rod.

18. A method of assembling an animal containment system, comprising: providing a plurality of edge rods having a hollow square cross-section;providing a plurality of corner connectors, wherein:a corner connector comprises two or more arms extending from two or more faces of a central box, an arm extending from a face of the central box to a free end, the arms being at least partially hollow and having a substantially square crosssection, the corner connector being formed as a single part,wherein each arm comprises a reinforcement web extending from the point of connection to the central box towards the free end, the reinforcement web forming a cross shape extending between the four internal corners of the arm,wherein an arm of a corner connector is configured to be received by an edge rod, the arm being sized for an interference fit between the arm and the edge rod such that removal of the arm from the edge rod is inhibited by a frictional force between inner faces of the edge rod and outer faces of the arm;using a first corner connector to connect a first edge rod to a second edge rod, comprising pushing a first arm of the corner connector into the first edge rod and pushing a second arm of the corner connector into the second edge rod; andusing the plurality of corner connectors to connect the plurality of edge rods to provide a frame of the animal containment system, the edge rods defining a cuboid shape of the frame.

19. A corner connector for an animal containment system, the corner connector comprising two or more arms having extending from two or more faces of a central box, an arm extending from a face of the central box to a free end, the arms being at least partially hollow and having a substantially square cross-section, the corner connector being formed as a single part, wherein each arm comprises a reinforcement web extending from the point of connection to the central box towards the free end, the reinforcement web forming a cross shape extending between the four internal corners of the arm, wherein one or more arms of the corner connector are configured to be received by one or more different rods having a hollow square cross-section, an arm being sized for an interference fit between the arm and a corresponding rod such that removal of the arm from the rod is inhibited by a frictional force between inner faces of the rod and outer faces of the arm.

20. A corner connector as claimed in claim 19, wherein the arm tapers such that a cross-sectional area of the point of connection to the central box is larger than a cross-sectional area of the free end of the arm.

21. A corner connector as claimed in claim 19 or 20, wherein a corner connector comprises up to six arms, wherein an angle between any two of the six arms is approximately 90° or approximately 180°.

22. A corner connector as claimed in any of claims 18 - 21, wherein the reinforcement web extends approximately a third of the length of the arm from the first end of the arm.

23. A corner connector as claimed in any of claims 18-22, comprising plastic.

24. A corner connector as claimed in any of claims 18-23, wherein the cornerconnector is formed by injection moulding.

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