US 6,550,424 B1 · Folding cage

Abstract

A cage, such as a bird or other animal cage, employs a folding side assembly that, using a specially designed hinging system, allows the cage to fold to a collapsed condition for storage or shipping, and then to be unfolded and secured to an open position without the need for screws, bolts or other types of fasteners, or the use of hand or other tools. In the preferred embodiment, the folding side assembly is formed of six permanently assembled sections, each of which is attached to adjacent sections by means of a plurality of pivoting hinges. These six sections form four sides of the cage, which preferably is rectangular or square. Two of the sections form two fixed side of the cage, while the remaining four sections form, in two hinged pairs, two folding sides of the cage. The pairs are hinged to one another so that the folding sides can fold inwardly toward one another in an accordion fashion so that the fixed sides of the cage collapse toward one another. Once the side assembly is opened for use, removable top and bottom sections or assemblies are secured by gravity to the folding side assembly that maintain the same in an open. unfolded position.

Claims25

Dependent claims

A cage comprising:

a folding side assembly including a plurality of side sections, each of said side sections being attached to adjacent ones of said side sections with a plurality of pivoting hinges that allow said side assembly to fold into a collapsed position;
a fixed top disposed on a top of said side assembly and held in position thereon by gravity, said top being configured to secure said folding side assembly in an open position when disposed thereon;
and
a bottom frame panel positioned within a lower frame section of said folding side assembly and held in position by gravity, said bottom frame panel also being configured to secure said folding side assembly in an open position when positioned within said lower frame section;
whereby, said fixed top and said bottom frame panel can be assembled with said folding side assembly without the use of any fastening means and act to secure said folding side assembly in an open position.

2 more elements

A cage comprising:

a folding side assembly which forms a four sided rectangle or square when opened and includes a group of six side sections, a first and a second of which form first and second opposing fixed sides of said assembly, a third and a fourth of which form, a first folding side and a fifth and a sixth of which form a second, opposing folding side, wherein said first and second folding sides are hinged to one another so that during closing of said side assembly, said first and second folding sides fold inwardly toward an interior of said folding side assembly, thereby causing said first and second sides to collapse toward one another;
a plurality of three-piece hinges connecting said third and fourth side sections, and connecting said fifth and sixth side sections, each of said hinges including a first hinge plate having a first end secured to said third or fifth section and a second end having an aperture therein;
a second hinge plate having a first end secured to said fourth or sixth section and a second end having an aperture therein;
a third hinge plate having first and second ends, each having an aperture therein;
a first pivot pin disposed in said aperture in said second end of said first hinge plate and said aperture in said first end of said third hinge plate for pivotally connecting said first and third hinge plates;
and, a second pivot pin disposed in said aperture in said second end of said second hinge plate and said aperture in said second end of said third hinge plate for pivotally connecting said second and third hinge plates;
a first vertical tube positioned between said third and fourth side sections, and a second vertical tube positioned between said fifth and sixth side sections, wherein said third hinge plate of each of said three-piece hinges is affixed to one of said first and second vertical tubes.
a top disposed on a top of said side assembly;
and
a bottom frame panel positioned within a lower frame section of said folding side assembly.

7 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Folding cage

Life of this patent

Folding cage

Life of this patent

Abstract

Claims25