The present invention provides a wire crate for housing an animal. The wire crate includes a top panel, a bottom panel, a front panel, a back panel, and a pair of side panels oppositely disposed from one another. The crate also includes a front opening defined in the front panel. The front opening i
The present invention provides a wire crate for housing an animal. The wire crate includes a top panel, a bottom panel, a front panel, a back panel, and a pair of side panels oppositely disposed from one another. The crate also includes a front opening defined in the front panel. The front opening is configured to provide access to the interior of the crate. The crate further includes a pair of tracks coupled to each side of the front opening and a door slidably coupled to the pair of tracks. The door slides along the pair of tracks between an open position and a closed position.
대표청구항▼
1. A wire crate for housing an animal, comprising; a top panel, a bottom panel, a front panel, a back panel, and a pair of side panels oppositely disposed from one another and configured to define an interior of the crate, wherein the top panel defines a plane extending along the top panel at a loca
1. A wire crate for housing an animal, comprising; a top panel, a bottom panel, a front panel, a back panel, and a pair of side panels oppositely disposed from one another and configured to define an interior of the crate, wherein the top panel defines a plane extending along the top panel at a location outside of the interior;a front opening defined in the front panel, the front opening configured to provide access to the interior of the crate;a pair of tracks coupled to each side of the front opening, wherein each of the tracks includes a channel and an open end disposed near the top panel; anda door slidably coupled to the pair of tracks, wherein the door slides along the pair of tracks between an open position and a closed position;further wherein, the door comprises an upper portion, having a first end and a second end, spaced from the first end, and a lower portion pivotally coupled to the second end, where in the closed position the upper portion and lower portion are retained within the tracks, and in the fully open position only the lower portion is retained within the tracks and the upper portion is subtended by the plane defined by the top panel, wherein pivotal movement of the upper portion with the lower portion is restricted by the pair of tracks during movement of the upper portion within the tracks along the front panel, and pivotal movement of the upper portion with respect to the lower portion is substantially unrestricted by the channels of each of the pair of tracks once the second end of the upper portion is located at a position past the open ends of each of the tracks. 2. The wire crate of claim 1, further comprising a latch pivotally coupled to the door, the latch including a stopper portion that extends toward the interior of the crate; wherein, the door is slidable to a partially open position when the stopper portion engages a wire on the front panel. 3. The wire crate of claim 1, further comprising a side opening defined in one of the pair of side panels, the side opening configured to provide access to the interior of the crate. 4. The wire crate of claim 3, further comprising a second pair of tracks coupled to each side of the side opening. 5. The wire crate of claim 4, further comprising a second door slidably coupled to the second pair of tracks, wherein the second door slides along the second pair of tracks between an open position and a closed position; further wherein, the second door comprises an upper portion and a lower portion pivotally coupled to one another, where in the closed position the upper portion and lower portion are retained within the second pair of tracks, and in the open position only the lower portion is retained within the tracks. 6. The wire crate of claim 5, wherein the upper portion and lower portion of the second door are disposed substantially parallel to the pair of side panels in the closed position and the upper portion of the second door is substantially perpendicular to the pair of side panels in the open position. 7. The wire crate of claim 1, wherein the upper portion and lower portion of the door is disposed substantially parallel to the front panel and back panel in the closed position, and the upper portion is substantially perpendicular to the front panel and back panel in the open position. 8. The wire crate of claim 1 wherein the upper portion rests on the top panel in the fully open position. 9. The wire crate of claim 8 wherein the upper portion of the door includes a handle located between the first end and the second end thereof and wherein the handle, the pair of tracks, and the front panel are configured for the handle to be continuously accessible for uninterrupted gripping during movement of the door from the open position to the closed position. 10. The wire crate of claim 9 wherein each of the pair of tracks provide an uninterrupted sliding surface configured to provide for continuous sliding movement of the upper portion and lower portion within the tracks from the closed position to the open position. 11. A collapsible wire crate, comprising: a front panel, a back panel, a top panel, a bottom panel, a first side panel, and a second side panel, each of the front panel, back panel, top panel, bottom panel, first side panel, and second side panel including a plurality of interconnecting horizontal and vertical wires;a front opening defined in the front panel and a side opening defined in the first side, the front opening and side opening configured to provide access to the interior of the crate;a first track assembly including a first track coupled to one side of the front opening and a second track coupled to an opposite side of the front opening, the first and second tracks having substantially U-shaped structures, where each substantially U-shaped structure defines a channel therein;a second track assembly including a first track coupled to one side of the side opening and a second track coupled to an opposite side of the side opening, the first and second tracks having substantially U-shaped structures, where each substantially U-shaped structure defines a channel therein;a front door for selectively covering the front opening, the front door slidably coupled to the first track assembly such that the front door slides within the defined channels of the first track and second track; anda side door for selectively covering the side opening, the side door slidably coupled to the second track assembly such that the side door slides within the defined channels of the first track and second track;a latch for opening and closing the front door or side door, the latch having a first end forming a tab portion and a second end forming a stopper portion, the latch being pivotally coupled to a horizontal wire of the front door or side door at a location between the first end and second end, wherein the stopper portion is in contact with one of the plurality of horizontal wires of the front door or side door in a closed position;wherein, the front door is disposed substantially parallel to the front panel in a closed position and disposed partially parallel to the top panel in an open position;further wherein, the side door is disposed substantially parallel to the first side panel in the closed position and disposed partially parallel to the top panel in the open position, andwherein the front door comprises a first portion and a second portion pivotally coupled to one another, where in the closed position the first portion and second portion are retained within the channels of the first track assembly, and in the fully open position only the second portion is retained within the channels of the first track assembly and the first portion rests on top of the top panel and the tracks provide an uninterrupted sliding surface configured to provide for continuous sliding movement of the first portion and second portion within the tracks from the closed position to the fully open position. 12. The collapsible wire crate of claim 11, further comprising a reinforcement layer disposed along a portion of one of the front panel, back panel, first side panel, or second side panel. 13. The collapsible wire crate of claim 11, further comprising a divider panel for at least partially dividing the interior of the wire crate into a first portion and a second portion, the divider panel coupling to one of the top panel, bottom panel, first side panel, or second side panel. 14. The collapsible wire crate of claim 11, wherein the stopper portion extends toward the interior of the crate such that as the front door or side door is moved between a fully open position and the closed position, the stopper portion is pivoted about the horizontal wire of the front panel or side panel to avoid contacting any of the plurality of horizontal wires on the front or side panel. 15. The collapsible wire crate of claim 11, wherein the side door comprises a first portion and a second portion pivotally coupled to one another, where in the closed position the first portion and second portion are retained within the channels of the second track assembly, and in the fully open position only the second portion is retained within the channels of the second track assembly and the first portion rests on top of the top panel. 16. The collapsible wire crate of claim 11 wherein the substantially U-shaped structures each comprise a U-shaped cross-section defined substantially perpendicular to an axial length of the first track and the second track, the axial length of the first track and the second track configured to extend along the vertical wires. 17. the collapsible wire crate of claim 16 wherein the uninterrupted sliding surface is disposed at each of three sides of the U-shaped cross-section. 18. A wire crate for containing an animal, comprising: a top, a bottom, a front, a back, a first side, and a second side, the first side and second side being oppositely disposed from one another, where the top, bottom, front, back, first side and second side include a plurality of interconnecting horizontal and vertical wires that define an interior therebetween;a track assembly coupled to one of the front, back, first side or second side, the track assembly including a first track and a second track spaced from one another, wherein each of said tracks comprises a channel and an open end disposed near said top; anda door having a first portion and a second portion pivotally coupled to one another, the door being movable along the first track and second track between a fully open position, a closed position, and a plurality of vertically-spaced positions therebetween to allow access to the interior through an opening defined between the first track and second track;a handle operatively connected to the first portion, wherein the handle, the track assembly, and the front are configured for the handle to be continuously accessible for uninterrupted gripping during movement of the door from the fully open position to the closed position,a latch pivotally coupled to the door, the latch including a stopper portion;wherein, in the open position, the first portion and second portion of the door are substantially perpendicular to one another;further wherein, the latch is pivotable between a first position and a second position, in the first position the stopper portion is pivoted towards the interior to engage at least one of the plurality of horizontal wires to thereby limit movement of the door in a vertical direction and maintain the door in one of the open position, the closed position, or one of the plurality of vertically spaced positions therebetween, and in the second position the stopper portion is pivoted away from the interior to allow the door to move between the fully open position and closed position. 19. The wire crate of claim 18, wherein, in the closed position, the first portion and second portion are retained within channels defined in the first track and second track, wherein the channels include an uninterrupted sliding surface configured to provide for continuous sliding movement of the first portion and second portion within the channels from the closed position to the fully open position. 20. The wire crate of claim 18, wherein, in the fully open position, the first portion is disposed on top of the crate. 21. The wire crate of claim 18, wherein as the door moves to the closed position the first portion and second portion pivot relative to one another from a substantially perpendicular disposition to a substantially planar disposition. 22. The wire crate of claim 18, wherein the first portion is larger than the second portion such that in the fully open position the larger first portion is positioned above the top of the crate and the smaller second portion remains disposed within the first track and second track to permit a quick manipulation of the door from the open position to the closed position. 23. The wire crate of claim 18, wherein as the door moves between the fully open and closed positions, the first portion is disposed out of contact with the first track and second track, whereas the second portion remains movably disposed within channels defined by the first track and second track. 24. The wire crate of claim 18, wherein the fully open position, the closed position, and each of the plurality of vertically-spaced positions therebetween is formed by an engagement of the stopper portion with a different one of the plurality of horizontal wires of the front, back, first side or second side.
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이 특허에 인용된 특허 (10)
Randolph Arthur J. (P.O. Box 1541 Santa Rosa CA 95402), Animal cage.
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