Patent application number | Description | Published |
20090095697 | VENTILATED RACK SYSTEM - A ventilated cage and rack system for assembly by a user using simple tools and a method for assembly is provided. A plurality of frames and vertical plenums can be connected to a base, and a retaining assembly can be used to connect a plurality of vertical beams and horizontal support beams. A plurality of canopies is preferably used to connect the plenums and the support beams to shroud cages beneath the canopies. The canopies preferably include removable side walls to adapt to the width of the cage being shrouded. A plenum clean out system preferably provides a relatively simple method of draining a cleaning fluid from a plenum by moving a lever between an open and closed position. A pressure based plenum system is also provided wherein a constant air pressure is maintained in the ventilated rack system and air is provided into a cage at a constant air pressure. | 04-16-2009 |
20100108622 | LOCKING ASSEMBLY - A locking assembly for securing and retaining a cage to a rack. The locking assembly is supported by a rack and includes a lock member. The lock member includes an obstruction member. The lock member is movable from an unlocked position to a locked position, wherein the default position of the lock member is the locked position. The lock member is designed and constructed such that the insertion of a person's hand into the hand space between the lock member and a cage is sufficient to cause the lock member to pivot into the unlocked position and move the obstruction member so that the cage can be removed from the rack. | 05-06-2010 |
20100116765 | DOCKING ASSEMBLY - A docking assembly for a ventilated cage and rack system that can facilitate installation and reduce leakage of air is provided. The docking assembly is connectable to air plena of the rack system and includes a cup, and a tubular body having a docking base. The tubular body is constructed and arranged to be slideably displaceable between the cup and the docking base when the tubular body is aligned coaxially with the cup and docking base. A spring may also be provided outside and surrounding the tubular body. The tubular body includes a plurality of displaceable legs. The legs are preferably urged outward in the absence of pressure and may be displaced inward, toward each other, for insertion into a docking aperture of a plenum. Once inserted, the legs return to their normal, non-displaced position to secure the docking assembly to the plenum. | 05-13-2010 |
20100132623 | Filter top assembly - A filter top assembly for a cage, wherein the assembly includes a bonnet having a perforated top wall to protect filter paper placed above the top wall. The perforations may be small enough to prevent an animal from getting a purchase position and spaced apart sufficiently to prevent the animal from biting the spacing between the perforations. The bonnet may also include one or more elevated ribs to retain the filter paper suspended above the bonnet. | 06-03-2010 |
20110132272 | DISPOSABLE CAGE - A disposable rodent cage used in both static and/or ventilated cage and rack systems, wherein the disposable cage includes a cage bottom. The cage may further be provided with a grommet disposed on the cage bottom and a bonnet constructed and arrange to fit over the cage bottom. The bonnet may further include a feeding and watering assembly. The cage may further include a filter cover that may be placed over an opening in the bonnet to cover the feeding and watering assembly. The bonnet may also include one or more elevated ribs disposed thereon to create an air seal when it is inserted into a canopy of a rack. | 06-09-2011 |
20110315087 | METHOD AND SYSTEM OF PROVIDING SEALED BAGS OF FLUID AT THE CLEAN SIDE OF A LABORATORY FACILITY - A method for facilitating the delivery of water to a plurality of cage level barrier-type cages, for housing animals for an animal study, the method including providing a plurality of cage level barrier-type cages for an animal study at a laboratory facility site, and disposing a bag forming apparatus at a clean side of a laboratory washroom at the laboratory facility site, wherein the bag forming apparatus is capable of providing sealed bags of water for use in the cage level barrier-type cages. The method can further include providing bag material to the laboratory facility site. | 12-29-2011 |
20120229277 | MONITORING AND ALERT SYSTEM FOR VENTILATED RACK SYSTEMS - The present invention is directed to monitoring/alert systems, devices, and methods useable with animal housing units. Embodiments include a primary component, such as a system controller device, for monitoring maintenance and operational events in a housing unit and a secondary component, such as a environmental monitoring device for analyzing environmental conditions. For example, the system controller device monitors unit functions (e.g., relating to power, pre-filter(s), filter(s), fan(s), air pressure, air temperature, electrical connections, etc.) and causes alert(s) to be sent (e.g., via email or text message) if there is a malfunction or abnormal operational data. The environmental monitoring device collects environmental data (e.g., time, temperature, humidity, light, sound, carbon dioxide levels, or ammonia levels) and causes alert(s) to be sent if an abnormal environmental condition is detected. The primary and secondary components may function in connection with one another, other devices, a network, or as stand-alone devices. | 09-13-2012 |
20130206074 | FLUID DELIVERY VALVE SYSTEM AND METHOD - A cage-mounted fluid delivery system for delivering a fluid from a water source, such as a fluid bag or an automatic water system, to animals housed in cages in high density caging systems may comprise a fluid delivery valve assembly, wherein the fluid delivery valve assembly is adapted to be coupled to the water source to facilitate the provision of fluid to animals housed in the cages. The cage-mounted fluid delivery valve assembly may further comprise a valve body and end cap, which may be joined together, that define a fluid channel. The cage-mounted fluid delivery valve assembly may further comprise sealing elements, a spring element, and an interior stem disposed at least in part in the fluid channel to open and close the fluid channel. | 08-15-2013 |
20140109838 | METHOD AND SYSTEM OF PROVIDING SEALED BAGS OF FLUID AT THE CLEAN SIDE OF A LABORATORY FACILITY - A method for facilitating the delivery of water to a plurality of cage level barrier-type cages, for housing animals for an animal study, the method including; providing a plurality of cage level barrier-type cages for an animal study at a laboratory facility site, and disposing a bag forming apparatus at a clean side of a laboratory washroom at the laboratory facility site, wherein the bag forming apparatus is capable of providing sealed bags of water for use in the cage level barrier-type cages. The method can further include providing bag material to the laboratory facility site. | 04-24-2014 |
20140158058 | FLUID DELIVERY SYSTEM - A fluid delivery system for delivering a fluid from a fluid bag to an animal caging system for housing an animal may comprise a fluid delivery valve assembly, wherein the fluid delivery valve assembly is adapted to be coupled to the fluid bag to facilitate the providing of the fluid to the caging system. The fluid delivery valve assembly may further comprise an upper member having a piercing member and a connecting member, the upper member having a fluid channel defined therethrough, a base having a flange member and a base fluid channel defined therethrough, wherein the base is designed to be matingly coupled to the upper member. The fluid delivery valve assembly may further comprise a spring element disposed within the base fluid channel and a stem member disposed in part within the base fluid channel, wherein a portion of the spring element abuts the stem member to apply a force. | 06-12-2014 |