Animal husbandry – Confining or housing – Birdhouse
Reexamination Certificate
1999-05-24
2001-06-12
Jordan, Charles T. (Department: 3644)
Animal husbandry
Confining or housing
Birdhouse
C119S463000, C119S468000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06244220
ABSTRACT:
TECHNICAL FIELD
The present invention pertains generally to bird cages, and in particular to a bird cage which has a centrally disposed bird receiving structure and inwardly sloping sides.
BACKGROUND ART
Bird cages are well known in the art. They house one or more birds and contain a wide variety of perches, swings, and amenities such as seed trays, gravel trays, water trays, baths, toys, and the like. For example, U.S. Pat. No. 2,693,786 discloses a bird cage having a door hingedly mounted at its bottom so that it may optionally be caused to assume either a closed or horizontal open position. When the door is in a fully open horizontal position, it is self-supporting providing the bird inside a takeoff and landing platform. One important consideration in bird cage design is the ease with which the cage may be cleaned. For example, U.S. Pat. No. 4,572,107 shows an easily cleanable animal enclosure consisting of a cage detachably positioned over a funnel supported by a base member. Newspaper is placed within the funnel to absorb excreted matter that is discharged from the cage. A detachable sack having an inner bag is placed at the bottom open end of the funnel to catch any excreted matter that falls through. U.S. Pat. No. 4,838,204 illustrates an animal cage assembly comprising a cage supported by a base having two opposite inwardly and downwardly sloping baffles which are spaced apart from one another to form a gap therebetween positioned below the cage and a tray located below the gap. Two paper roll holders are mounted adjacent their respective sloping baffles for providing paper which can be pulled across the baffles to periodically replace the paper on the baffles. U.S. Pat. No. Des. 77,845 shows a substantially triangular bird cage in the top plan view. U.S. Pat. No. Des. 224,934 shows an animal shelter having a pyramid shape. U.S. Pat. No. Des. 248,049 illustrates a triangular bird cage. And, U.S. Patent Des. 376,874 illustrates a wire bird cage having four inwardly sloping sides.
DISCLOSURE OF INVENTION
The present invention is directed to an improved bird cage which is easy to clean because of its design. A vertically extending bird receiving structure, such as a tower, is centrally located in the cage and contains various amenities including perches mounted on the sides of the structure that attract birds and generally cause them to face inward toward the structure. Then when the birds defecate, they do not do so on the bird receiving structure. Additionally, the bird cage has upwardly and inwardly sloping sides or walls. The proximity of the sloping sides to the uppermost perches on the bird receiving structure further causes the birds to face inward rather than outward. Even if the birds turn on the perches placing their bodies parallel to a side of the bird receiving structure, the sloping sides of the cage extend away from the bottoms of the birds so that feces, which is discharged at a downward angle, tends to miss the sides. Rather than having a small conventional door, the bird cage has a removable top portion which can be selectively removed from a bottom portion thereby creating a large access to the bottom portion for cleaning. The removable top portion contains a removable perch which birds can occupy while the bottom portion is being cleaned.
In accordance with a preferred embodiment of the invention, the removal of the top portion from the bottom portion grants the birds temporary access to the outside while also allowing them to return for food or water.
In accordance with a preferred embodiment of the invention, the bird cage includes a base upon which the bird receiving structure is centrally disposed.
In accordance with an important aspect of the invention, the bird cage has a four sided pyramid, a three sided pyramid, or a cone shape.
In accordance with an important feature of the invention, the removable top portion is selectively connected to the bottom portion.
In accordance with another important aspect of the invention, the bird cage is doorless.
In accordance with another important aspect of the invention, the bird receiving structure further includes a plurality of centrally located vertically spaced amenities such as seed, water, gravel, toys, play area, bath, and the like.
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Abbott Yvonne R
Freilich Hornbaker & Rosen
Jordan Charles T.
Masters Ted
Tyson Timothy Thut
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