Nestable Animal Containment Cage Bases and Covers for Recycling
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing animal containment cage bases and covers are typically disposed of or recycled after use, with components often requiring separate handling and sorting before disposal or recycling, which is labor-intensive and inefficient.
Innovation Solution
The development of nestable animal containment cage bases and covers that allow for integrated nesting of components, enabling simultaneous disengagement and recycling without prior separation, using materials like PET that can be recycled together.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If cage components are designed for easy disassembly and separate recycling, then recycling efficiency is improved, but device complexity increases due to multiple component types and assembly configurations
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges multiple cage components (cage base, cage cover, and various accessories like water bottles and food trays) into a single integrated nested structure. All components are designed to fit within each other, allowing them to be transported and recycled as one unified assembly, thereby simplifying the recycling process while maintaining component functionality during use
Solution Approach 2:
The patent implements a nested doll configuration where smaller components are placed inside larger ones. The cage cover nests within the cage base, and accessories nest within both or each other, creating a compact hierarchical structure that reduces complexity during recycling while preserving the ability to access individual components when needed
2Volume of moving object
If cage bases and covers are designed for nesting to reduce storage space, then storage efficiency is improved, but the ability to access and remove components becomes more difficult
Solution Approach 1:
The patent designs cage bases and covers with nested configurations where the cover fits within the base and components fit within each other, dramatically reducing storage volume. The nested structure maintains accessibility through designed entry points and removable components that can be accessed even when nested
Solution Approach 2:
The patent segments the cage system into distinct modular components (base, cover, water bottle, food tray, etc.) that can be independently accessed and removed. This segmentation allows components to be nested for storage while maintaining ease of access when needed, as each segment can be independently manipulated
3Productivity
If multiple cage components are integrated into a single nested structure, then labor for separate handling is reduced, but the nesting density and compactness may be compromised
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines multiple cage components into a single integrated nested structure that maximizes space utilization. Components are designed with complementary shapes and sizes that fit together like puzzle pieces, achieving high nesting density while maintaining the ability to handle and process the entire assembly as one unit, thereby reducing labor without sacrificing compactness
Data Source
AI summary
Provided herein are animal containment cage bases and covers that can be nested to disengage and/or collapse one or more cage components or one or more cage component mount members from a cage base or cage cover. Also provided herein are methods of removing cage components or cage component mount members from cage bases and cage covers by nesting. Also provided herein, is a detachable animal containment cage component grommet and methods of use thereof.