Collapsible cage
CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION 
     This application is a continuation of application Ser. No. 08/459,497 filed Jun. 2, 1995,now U.S. Pat. No. 5,549,073. 
    
    
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     This invention relates to cage structures particularly for pet animals such as dogs or rabbits. 
     Dog crates, for example, are recommended by many owners, trainers, veterinarians and breeders as a means for training puppies and to provide a safe, secure environment for housebreaking, travel and general control. In time, the crate becomes the dog&#39;s den, which he regards as his home, rather than a cage which confines him. 
     Cage structures according to the invention may also be used as rabbit hutches, for example, are further useful for transportation of pet animals, and can also be used in certain kinds of animal traps. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     It is an object of the invention to provide a collapsible cage structure which can be transported in a collapsed state and which can be rapidly and easily erected by a user into a sturdy animal-retaining cage without the use of specialized tools or other equipment. 
     Another object of the invention is to provide a collapsible cage structure having a rectangular base, peripheral walls and a roof, wherein the walls and roof can be compactly folded against the base, so that the structure, when folded, is contained wholly within the footprint of the base. 
     Still another object of the invention is to provide a collapsible cage structure as above, which includes a sliding removable pan in the base for animal droppings and the like. 
     Yet another object of the invention is to provide a collapsible cage structure as above, in which at least the peripheral walls and roof are formed from metal grids. 
     In fulfillment of the above and other objects, the invention provides a collapsible cage structure comprising a rectangular base, end walls, side walls and a roof wherein the end walls, side walls and roof are formed from rectangular metal grids, the end walls being hinged along their bottom edges to opposite ends of the base for folding down of the end walls onto the base one over the other and for unfolding from the base into an elevated postion, the side walls each comprising upper and lower grids interconnected by a hinge joint, the lower grids being hinged along their bottom edges to opposite side edges of the base, the upper grids being hinged along their top edges to side edges of the roof, the side walls thus being foldable inwardly concertina-wise about the hinge joints to collapse the side walls and roof onto the base over the end walls and being unfoldable outwardly about the hinge joints to elevate the side walls and roof prior to elevating the end walls, clips for releasably securing the end walls, side walls and roof in the elevated position and an animal access opening at least in one of the end or side walls. Preferably, the hinge joints of the side walls may include a stop mechanism for preventing the side walls from unfolding outwardly beyond the vertical. The stop mechanism may conveniently comprise a section of one of the upper or lower grids extending beyond the hinge joint. 
     The base of the cage many also be formed of metal grid-work with a slide-in, slide-out tray or pan in metal or plastic. 
     In one embodiment of the invention the collapsible cage is designed particularly as a dog home and in a second embodiment of the invention the collapsible cage is made in lighter gauge gridwork and is designed particularly as a rabbit hutch. In the hutch structure, the base is provided with an upper fixed grid over the removable tray. 
     The invention provides a collapsible cage structure which is compact to pack and transport in its collapsed state, which is simply and readily opened out and fixed in upright position, for use in which a sturdy cage structure is provided and which is equally easily collapsed and stored. 
     Additional features and advantages of the invention will become apparent from the ensuing description and claims read in conjunction with the attached drawings. 
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     FIG. 1 is a perspective in-use view of a collapsible dog home according to the invention; 
     FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the dog home in a collapsed condition for storage, packing and transportation; 
     FIG. 3 is a perspective view of the dog home showing a first step in erecting the home from the collapsed position; 
     FIG. 4 is a perspective view of the dog home showing a second step in erecting the home; 
     FIG. 5 is a perspective view of the dog home when erected showing an animal access door in closed position; 
     FIG. 6 is an enlarged view showing the details of one corner of the dog home as seen in FIG. 5; 
     FIG. 7 is a view similar to FIG. 5 showing the door in an open position; 
     FIG. 8 is a perspective view of a collapsible rabbit hutch according to the invention shown in a collapsed condition; 
     FIG. 9 is a perspective view of the rabbit hutch in a partly erected condition; 
     FIG. 10 is a perspective view of the rabbit hutch in an erected condition; 
     FIGS. 10a and 10b are enlarged perspective views of parts of the rabbit hutch showing fold-over clips for latching the walls and roof of the hutch together in the effected condition; and 
     FIGS. 11-14 are elevational views of alternative clips which can be used for holding the walls an roof of the hutch together. 
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
     FIGS. 1-7 show a collapsible and portable dog home 10 in the form of a cage structure formed of plural metal grid-like sections interconnected in a manner to be described in more detail below. FIG. 2 shows the dog home in a collapsed position for storage or transportation, FIG. 3 shows the dog home in a partially elevated position and the remaining figures show the dog home in a fully elevated in-use position. 
     In more detail, the dog home comprises a base 12, end walls 14, 16 hinged along their bottom edges to respective end edges of the base, so that the end walls can be folded down onto the base, one over the other, as best seen in FIG. 3, folding side walls 18, 20 each comprising a lower grid 18a, 20a and an upper grid 18b, 20b connected to the respective lower grid by a hinge joint 18c, 20c and a roof 22 hinged at its side edges to upper edges of the respective upper grids 18b, 20b. The lower edges of the respective lower grids 18a, 20a are hinged to respective side edges of the base 12. The arrangement is such that the side walls 18, 20 can fold inwardly concertina-wise about the hinge joints 18c, 20c in order to collapse the side walls and roof onto the base on top of the downwardly folded end walls and form the compact package shown in FIG. 2. 
     In more detail still, the base 12 comprises a generally rectangularly shaped metal grid having transverse metal rods 12a and longitudinal metal rods 12b. The ends oil rods 12a are bent upwardly as are the ends of rods 12b at one end only (the back) of the dog home. The base 12 is thus formed into a dish-like structure with an open front where there are no upwardly turned ends to the rods 12b. A metal or like tray or pan 24 is provided to slide into and out of base 10 from the open front and a hinged wire locking hook 26 attached to the base is provided for holding the tray in place. Release and swinging away of the hook allows the tray to be removed. 
     The upper ends of rods 12a are welded to longitudinal rods 12c at the side edges of the base and grids 18a, 20a have vertical rods 18d, 20d with their lower ends curled around rods 12c to form hinges between the lower grids and the base. Similar connections are made between grids 18a, 18b and 20a, 20b to form the hinge joints 18c, 20c and again between the upper edges of grids 18b, 20b and the side edges of the roof form hinges between the side walls and the roof. In the case of the connections between grids 18a, 18b and 20a, 20b, the end most rod of one grid is hinged to a rod adjacent to the end most rod of the adjacent grid to provide a grid section such as section 20f seen in FIG. 3 which extends beyond hinge joint 20c. This has the effect of providing a stop allowing the side walls to hinge inwardly only and the walls cannot kink outwardly beyond the vertical position, i.e., a planar configuration of the respective side wall. 
     End wall 14 at the front of the cage is hinged to the base at its lower end above the level of pan 24. For example, the base may have a fixed rod extending across the cage at the front above the pan and vertical rods of end wall 14 may have their ends curled around that rod to form a hinge. A similar hinge connection is formed between the base and end wall 16 at the back end of the cage. The hinge connections between the end walls and the base may be somewhat displaced vertically so that one end wall can fold down onto the base over the other end wall. The hinge connections between side walls 18, 20 and the base are at a still higher level so that the side walls and the roof can fold down onto the base over the end walls. 
     In order to elevate the structure from the position shown in FIG. 2, the roof is lifted until the side walls 18, 20 are fully extended. Then, holding the roof in the elevated position, the end walls 14, 16 are swung to upright positions as shown in FIGS. 4 and 5. Hooks 18e, 20e (FIG. 4) are provided at the ends of selected longitudinal rods of the side walls and the vertical end rods of the end walls fit into the hooks in the elevated position. Similar hooks 22e are formed at opposite ends of the roof and the top most rods of the end walls fit into these hooks. To latch the cage in the elevated position the roof may have a central lengthwise rod terminating in upwardly facing hooks 22a at the front and back ends which can be pushed down when the walls are opened out to snap under the top-most rods 14a, 16a of the end walls. To collapse the structure, these steps are simply reversed. 
     The front wall 14 incorporates an upwardly sliding and outwardly pivoting door 28 which can be latched closed flat against wall 14 by means of a push-in spring lever latch 30 mounted on wall 14. To open the door, latch 30 is pressed inwardly allowing door 28 to slide upwardly somewhat and then pivot out and up to lie flat on the roof 22. To this end, the door is mounted on a double hinge arrangement comprising a U-shaped rod 32 hinged to the top-most rod of wall 14 and vertical rods of the door which are hinged to rod 32, see FIGS. 5 and 7. For latching the door closed, a horizontal rod of the door fits into hooks 34 provided on wall 14 and latch 30 snaps over rod 28b. 
     FIGS. 8-14 show a second embodiment collapsible cage structure 40 according to the invention particularly suitable for use as a rabbit hutch and which is made from lighter gauge metal grids than the dog home previously described. 
     Cage structure 40 again comprises a rectangular base 42, end walls 44, 46 hinged to the base for folding down onto the base one over the other, concertina-type side walls 48, 50 and a roof 52 hingedly attached at its side edges to the upper edges of side walls 48, 50. The structure thus collapses and extends in like manner to the previous embodiment. In FIG. 9 the end walls 44, 46 have been omitted for clarity. 
     In the second embodiment, base 42 comprises a lower grid 54 with upwardly turned sides 56 and an upper grid 58 attached to the lower grid by metal connector sleeves 60 gripping the endmost rods of the respective grids. A plastic slide-out droppings tray or pan 62 is provided between the grids. The end walls 44, 46 are similarly connected to the upper grid 58 by additional sleeves 60, the respective sleeves being dimensioned for providing sufficient play to allow one of the end walls to fold down on top of the other. 
     Side walls 48, 50 again comprise upper and lower grids 48a, 50a, and 48, 50b hingedly interconnected by further sleeves 60 to allow for the concertina effect. Again, one grid on each side wall (in this case the lower grids 48a, 50a) have sections (48e, 50e) extending beyond the central hinge joint between the grids, to form stops which prevent the side walls from unfolding outwardly beyond the vertical. The lower panels are connected to grid 58 by still further sleeves 60 that provide sufficient elevational clearance for the side walls to fold down onto the folded-in end walls 44, 46. The cage structure opens out and folds in like manner to the previously described dog house. 
     In order to releasably latch the cage structure in the upright elevated position pivotal bend-over light gauge metal clips 64 are provided at the junctions of the end walls and roof. As best seen in FIGS. 10a and 10b each clip 64 comprises a lightweight metal plate curled at one end around a rod such as rod 52a adjacent end rod 52b of the roof to allow for pivoting of the clip. The clip extends over the end rod 52b and the adjacent top rod 44d or 46d of a respective end wall and can be manually squeezed around to grip rods 52b and 44d or 46d together. Additional clips 64 are similarly mounted to grip the edges of the side walls and end walls together. When the cage structure is to be collapsed the clips can be opened out by hand. The clips 64 can also be used to hold the walls, roof and base together in the collapsed condition of the structure. 
     End wall 44 at the front the cage structure incorporates a pivoting door 66 attached by further sleeves 60 and having a spring wire retention latch 68. 
     FIGS. 11 and 12 show alternative forms of metal clips 70, 71 which can be used in place of the clips 64 and FIGS. 13 and 14 show alternative snap on and snap over pivotal plastic clips 72, 74 which can be used in place of clips 64. The left hand ends of clips 72, 74 for example snap onto a rod such as rod 52a in FIGS. 10a and 10b and the right hand ends of clips 72, 74 snap over rods 52b and 44d or 46d to releasably secure the roof and side walls in the upright position. 
     While only preferred embodiments of the invention have been described in detail, the invention is not limited thereby and modifications can be made within the scope of the attached claims.