Animal Crate Wire Latch and Corner Design
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional animal enclosures face limitations in secure access and containment, particularly in exercise pens, where doors may not be securely latched, and it can be difficult to retrieve animals when multiple animals are present.
Innovation Solution
An animal enclosure design featuring a frame of interconnected wires with a pivotable door and a latch assembly, where the wires form a periphery with hooked ends for enhanced structural integrity and secure closure, and optionally includes bent wires and trimmed corners for improved accessibility and durability.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If the door is formed by an entire height and width of a panel, then the animal can be contained securely, but it becomes difficult to reach into the interior to retrieve animals when multiple animals are enclosed
Solution Approach 1:
The door assembly is segmented into a fixed frame portion and a movable door portion that can be independently operated. The door can be opened while the frame remains stationary, allowing selective access to the interior without compromising the overall containment structure.
2Ease of operation
If conventional latches are used on the door, then the door can be latched, but the latches may not securely prevent animals from escaping
Solution Approach 1:
The latch assembly incorporates a curved or angled latch bar that engages with a corresponding recess in the frame. This curved geometry provides a mechanical advantage that secures the door more effectively against animal escape attempts while remaining operable by the user.
Solution Approach 2:
The latch mechanism uses a spring-loaded or movable latch bar that dynamically engages with the frame recess. This dynamic engagement ensures the latch automatically secures when the door closes and can be easily released when needed, balancing security with ease of operation.
3Device complexity
If the wires form a complete rectangular periphery, then the structure is simple, but the corners may be damaged during transport
Solution Approach 1:
The wire periphery incorporates bent or curved sections at the corners instead of sharp right angles. These bent wires extend beyond the rectangular perimeter and can be folded or positioned to protect the corner joints during transport and assembly, preventing damage while maintaining structural integrity.
Data Source
AI summary
A side of an animal enclosure including a plurality of interconnected horizontal and vertical wires, where the plurality of horizontal wires includes a top wire and a bottom wire, and the plurality of vertical wires includes a first end wire and a second end wire. A plurality of hooked ends are formed at the ends of either the plurality of horizontal wires or the plurality of vertical wires. The top wire, the bottom wire, the first end wire, and the second end wire define an outer periphery of the first member, and the plurality of hooked ends extend beyond the outer periphery defined by the top wire, the bottom wire, the first end wire, and the second end wire. The top wire, bottom wire, first end wire and second end wire do not form a hooked end at any of their respective ends.