Educational observatory

Claim 2

A cagelike enclosure for living things comprising: wall means defining said enclosure for isolating completely the interior of said enclosure, said wall means having an orifice formed therein for communication between the interior and exterior of said enclosure; shutter means having a hole formed therein; means mounting said shutter means to said wall means for movement between positions in which said shutter means covers said orifice or exposes said orifice through said shutter hole; and a vent in said wall means, said vent being adapted to communicate air to the said chamber but to preclude an insect from passing therethrough, said shutter means comprising a slide mounted to said wall means for linear sliding movement therealong, and along a path in which said shutter hole is registerable with said orifice, said slide being elongate in shape and having parallel opposed edges with said means mounting said slide to said wall means comprising, a pair of parallel channels secured to the exterior surface of said wall means on opposite sides of said orifice in said wall means, said parallel edges of said slide being retained slidably in said channels, said channels being dimensioned to maintain said slide in flush abutment against the exterior surface of said wall means, means for limiting the movement of said slide between a first position in which said hole and orifice are in registry with each other and a second position wherein the remainder of said slide blocks and seals said orifice, and a flange secured to the underside of said slide and depending therefrom, said flange circumscribing and defining said shutter hole and being receptive to the mouth of a vial, the inner end of said collar terminating in a flange and adapted to restrict the degree of insertion of said vial into said collar, said flange and said collar cooperating with the mouth of said vial to effect a seal therebetween.

Claim 3

An enclosure as defined in claim 1 wherein said wall means comprises: a base; a removable cover mateable with said base in sealing relation thereto to define said enclosed chamber; and means mounting said shutter means to the underside of said base, said orifice being formed in said base.

Claim 4

An apparatus as defined in claim 2 wherein said base is of substantially flat configuration and wherein said cover is of a boxlike configuration having an opening mateable with said base.

Claim 5

A cagelike enclosure for living things comprising: wall means defining said enclosure for isolating completely the interior of said enclosure, said wall means having an orifice formed therein for communication between the interior and exterior of said enclosure; shutter means having a hole formed therein; means mounting said shutter means to said wall means for movement between positions in which said shutter means covers said orifice or exposes said orifice through said shutter hole; and a vent in said wall means, said vent being adapted to communicate air to the said chamber but to preclude an insect from passing therethrough, said shutter means comprising a slide mounted to said wall means for linear sliding movement therealong, and along a path in which said shutter hole is registrable with said orifice, said slide being elongate in shape and having parallel opposed edges with said means mounting said slide to said wall means comprising, a pair of parallel channels secured to the exterior surface of said wall means on opposite sides of said orifice in said wall means, said parallel edges of said slide being retained slidably in said channels, said channels being dimensioned to maintain said slide in flush abutment against the exterior surface of said wall means, means for limiting the movement of said slide between a first position in which said hole and orifice are in registry with each other and a second position wherein the remainder of said slide blocks and seals said orifice, said slide further comprising, means defining an enlarged depression in that surface of said slide which bears against said wall means, said hole being formed in said depressed portion of said slide, said slide and depression being arranged so that when in said second position, said depressed portion of said slide protrudes beyond said wall means to provide access to said depression, said depression being receptive to a tray when said slide is in said second position, said tray being adapted to cover said hole in said slide whereby when said slide is returned to said first position, said tray is exposed to the interior of said container and said hole in said slide is blocked whereby material may be introduced on said tray into the interior of said container while maintaining effective seal from the atmosphere.

Claim 6

A cagelike enclosure for living things comprising: wall means defining said enclosure for isolating completely the interior of said enclosure, said wall means having an orifice formed therein for communication between the interior and exterior of said enclosure; shutter means having a hole formed therein; means mounting said shutter means to said wall means for movement between positions in which said shutter means covers said orifice or exposes said orifice through said shutter hole; and a vent in said wall means, said vent being adapted to communicate air to the said chamber but to preclude an insect from passing therethrough, said shutter means comprising a slide mounted to said wall means for linear sliding movement therealong, and along a path in which said shutter hole is registrable with said orifice, said slide being elongate in shape and having parallel opposed edges with said means mounting said slide to said wall means comprising, a pair of parallel channels secured to the exterior surface of said wall means on opposite sides of said orifice in said wall means, said parallel edges of said slide being retained slidably in said channels, said channels being dimensioned to maintain said slide in flush abutment against the exterior surface of said wall means, means for limiting the movement of said slide between a first position in which said hole and orifice are in registry with each other and a second position wherein the remainder of said slide blocks and seals said orifice, said slide further comprising, means defining an enlarged depression in that surface of said slide which bears against said wall means, said hole being formed in said depressed portion of said slide, said slide and depression being arranged so that when in said second position, said depressed portion of said slide protrudes beyond said wall means to provide access to said depression, said depression being receptive to a tray when said slide is in said second position, said tray being adapted to cover said hole in said slide whereby when said slide is returned to said first position, said tray is exposed to the interior of said container and said hole in said slide is blocked whereby material may be introduced on said tray into the interior of said container while maintaining effective seal from the atmosphere.

Claim 7

A cagelike enclosure for living things comprising: wall means defining said enclosure for isolating completely the interior of said enclosure, said wall means having an orifice formed therein for communication between the interior and exterior of said enclosure; shutter means having a hole formed therein; means mounting said shutter means to said wall means for movement between positions in which shutter means covers said orifice or exposes said orifice through said shutter hole; and a vent in said wall means, said vent being adapted to communicate air to the said chamber but to preclude an insect from passing therethrough, said shutter means bearing against said wall means and is mounted for movement between a first position in which said hole and orifice are in registry and a second position wherein the remainder of said shutter means blocks and seals said orifice, said shutter means further comprising: means defining an enlarged depression in that surface of said shutter which bears against said wall means, said hole being formed in said depressed portion of said shutter, said shutter and depression being arranged so that when in said second position, said depressed portion of said shutter protrudes beyond said wall means to provide access to said depression, said depression being receptive to a tray when said shutter is in said second position, said tray being adapted to cover said hole in said shutter whereby when said shutter is returned to said first position, said tray is exposed to the interior of said container and said hole in said shutter is blocked whereby material may be introduced on said tray into the interior of said container while maintaining effective seal from the environment.

Claim 8

A cagelike enclosure for living things comprising: wall means defining said enclosure for isolating completely the interior of said enclosure, said wall means having an orifice formed therein for communication between the interior and exterior of said enclosure; shutter means having a hole formed therein; means mounting said shutter means to said wall means for movement between positions in which shutter means covers said orifice or exposes said orifice through said shutter hole; and a vent in said wall means, said vent being adapted to communicate air to the said chamber but to preclude an insect from passing therethrough, said shutter means bearing against said wall means and is mounted for movement between a first position in which said hole and orifice are in registry and a second position wherein the remainder of said shutter means blocks and seals said orifice, said shutter means further comprising: means defining an enlarged depression in that surface of said shutter which bears against said wall means, said hole being formed in said depressed portion of said shutter, said shutter and depression being arranged so that when in said second position, said depressed portion of said shutter protrudes beyond said wall means to provide access to said depression, said depression being receptive to a tray when said shutter is in said second position, said tray being adapted to cover said hole in said shutter whereby when said shutter is returned to said first position, said tray is exposed to the interior of said container and said hole in said shutter is blocked whereby material may be introduced on said tray into the interior of said container while maintaining effective seal from the environment.

Claim 9

A cagelike enclosure for living things comprising: wall means defining said enclosure for isolating completely the interior of said enclosure, said wall means having an orifice formed therein for communication between the interior and exterior of said enclosure; shutter means having a hole formed therein; means mounting said shutter means to said wall means for movement between positions in which said shutter means covers said orifice or exposes said orifice through said shutter hole; and a vent in said wall means, said vent being adapted to communicate air to the said chamber but to preclude an insect from passing therethrough, said wall means comprising; a base, a removable cover matable with said base in sealing relation thereto to define said enclosed chamber, means mounting said shutter means to the underside of said base, said orifice being formed in said base, a collar formed at the undersidE of said shutter means and circumscribing said hole, said collar being receptive to the mouth of a vial; and a flange secured to said shutter at the innermost end of said collar and presenting a restriction to further insertion of the mouth of said vial into said collar, said flange and vial being cooperative to define a seal therebetween when said vial is mated therewith.

Claim 10

A cagelike enclosure for living things comprising: wall means defining said enclosure for isolating completely the interior of said enclosure, said wall means having an orifice formed therein for communication between the interior and exterior of said enclosure; shutter means having a hole formed therein; means mounting said shutter means to said wall means for movement between positions in which said shutter means covers said orifice or exposes said orifice through said shutter hole; and a vent in said wall means, said vent being adapted to communicate air to the said chamber but to preclude an insect from passing therethrough, said wall means comprising; a base, a removable cover matable with said base in sealing relation thereto to define said enclosed chamber, means mounting said shutter means to the underside of said base, said orifice being formed in said base, a collar formed at the undersidE of said shutter means and circumscribing said hole, said collar being receptive to the mouth of a vial; and a flange secured to said shutter at the innermost end of said collar and presenting a restriction to further insertion of the mouth of said vial into said collar, said flange and vial being cooperative to define a seal therebetween when said vial is mated therewith.

Claim 11

A cagelike enclosure for living things comprising: wall means defining said enclosure for isolating completely the interior of said enclosure, said wall means having an orifice formed therein for communication between the interior and exterior of said enclosure; shutter means having a hole formed therein; means mounting said shutter means to said wall means for movement between positions in which said shutter means covers said orifice or exposes said orifice through said shutter hole; and a vent in said wall means, said vent being adapted to communicate air to the said chamber but to preclude an insect from passing therethrough, said wall means comprising, a base, a removable cover matable with said base in sealing relation thereto to define said enclosed chamber, and means mounting said shutter means to the underside of said base, said orifice being formed in said base, said shutter being movable between a first position in which said hole and orifice are in registry and a second position in which the remainder of said shutter blocks and seals said orifice, said shutter further comprising; means defining an enlarged depression in that surface of said shutter which bears against said base, said hole being formed in said depressed portion of said shutter, said shutter and depression being arranged so that when said shutter is in said second position said depressed portion of said shutter protrudes beyond the edge of said base to provide access to said depression, said depression being receptive to a tray adapted to cover said hole in said shutter whereby when said shutter is returned to said first position said tray is exposed to the interior of said container and said hole in said shutter is blocked whereby material may be introduced to the interior of said container while maintaining a sealed relation to the atmosphere.

Claim 12

A cagelike enclosure for living things comprising: wall means defining said enclosure for isolating completely the interior of said enclosure, said wall means having an orifice formed therein for communication between the interior and exterior of said enclosure; shutter means having a hole formed therein; means mounting said shutter means to said wall means for movement between positions in which said shutter means covers said orifice or exposes said orifice through said shutter hole; and a vent in said wall means, said vent being adapted to communicate air to the said chamber but to preclude an insect from passing therethrough, said wall means comprising, a base, a removable cover matable with said base in sealing relation thereto to define said enclosed chamber, and means mounting said shutter means to the underside of said base, said orifice being formed in said base, said shutter being movable between a first position in which said hole and orifice are in registry and a second position in which the remainder of said shutter blocks and seals said orifice, said shutter further comprising; means defining an enlarged depression in that surface of said shutter which bears against said base, said hole being formed in said depressed portion of said shutter, said shutter and depression being arranged so that when said shutter is in said second position said depressed portion of said shutter protrudes beyond the edge of said base to provide access to said depression, said depression being receptive to a tray adapted to cover said hole in said shutter whereby when said shutter is returned to said first position said tray is exposed to the interior of said container and said hole in said shutter is blocked whereby material may be introduced to the interior of said container while maintaining a sealed relation to the atmosphere.

Claim 13

An apparatus as defined in claim 7 wherein said shutter comprises: a slide mounted to the underside of said base for linear sliding movement therealong and along a path in which said hole and said depressed portion are registerable with said orifice.

Claim 14

An apparatus as defined in claim 8 wherein said slide is of elongate configuration and has a pair of opposed parallel edges and wherein said means mounting said slide to said base comprises: a pair of parallel channels secured to the underside of said base on opposite sides of said orifice, said parallel edges of said slide being retained slideably within said channels, said channels being dimensioned to maintain said slide in flush abutment against the underside of said base.

Claim 15

A cagelike enclosure for living things comprising: wall means defining said enclosure for isolating completely the interior of said enclosure, said wall means having an orifice formed therein for communication between the interior and exterior of said enclosure; shutter means having a hole formed therein; means mounting said shutter means to said wall means for movement between positions in which said shutter means covers said orifice or exposes said orifice through said shutter hole; and a vent in said wall means, said vent being adapted to communicate air to the said chamber but to preclude an insect from passing therethrough, said wall means comprising: a generally flat base having a continuous upwardly opening channel formed about its peripheral margin; a boxlike cover having an open face defined by a continuous edge, said cover and base being matable with said edge of said cover being received within said channel to effect a seal therEbetween; and wherein said shutter means comprises: a slide mounted to the underside of said base for linear sliding movement along a path in which said hole in said slide is registrable with said orifice; means for limiting the movement of said slide between a first position in which said hole and orifice are in registry and a second position wherein the remainder of said slide locks and seals said orifice, said slide further comprising: means defining an enlarged depression in that surface of said slide that bears against the underside of said base, said hole being formed in said depressed portion of said slide, said slide and depression being arranged so that when said slide is in said second position, said depressed portion of said slide extends beyond the edge of said base to provide access to said depression, said depression being receptive to a tray when in said second position, said tray being adapted to cover said hole in the slide whereby when said slide is returned to said first position said tray is exposed to the interior of said container and said hole in said slide is blocked whereby material may be introduced on said tray to the interior of said container while retaining an effective seal from the atmosphere.

Claim 16

A cagelike enclosure for living things comprising: wall means defining said enclosure for isolating completely the interior of said enclosure, said wall means having an orifice formed therein for communication between the interior and exterior of said enclosure; shutter means having a hole formed therein; means mounting said shutter means to said wall means for movement between positions in which said shutter means covers said orifice or exposes said orifice through said shutter hole; and a vent in said wall means, said vent being adapted to communicate air to the said chamber but to preclude an insect from passing therethrough, said wall means comprising: a generally flat base having a continuous upwardly opening channel formed about its peripheral margin; a boxlike cover having an open face defined by a continuous edge, said cover and base being matable with said edge of said cover being received within said channel to effect a seal therEbetween; and wherein said shutter means comprises: a slide mounted to the underside of said base for linear sliding movement along a path in which said hole in said slide is registrable with said orifice; means for limiting the movement of said slide between a first position in which said hole and orifice are in registry and a second position wherein the remainder of said slide locks and seals said orifice, said slide further comprising: means defining an enlarged depression in that surface of said slide that bears against the underside of said base, said hole being formed in said depressed portion of said slide, said slide and depression being arranged so that when said slide is in said second position, said depressed portion of said slide extends beyond the edge of said base to provide access to said depression, said depression being receptive to a tray when in said second position, said tray being adapted to cover said hole in the slide whereby when said slide is returned to said first position said tray is exposed to the interior of said container and said hole in said slide is blocked whereby material may be introduced on said tray to the interior of said container while retaining an effective seal from the atmosphere.

Claim 17

An apparatus as defined in claim 10 wherein said cover is transparent to permit visual inspection of living things within said container.

Claim 18

An apparatus as defined in claim 10 further comprising: said base having hollow supporting feet formed integrally therewith at the underside thereof, said feet extending downwardly beyond the level of said depression formed in said slide.

Claim 19

An apparatus as defined in claim 12 wherein at least one of said feet is open to the atmosphere and wherein said vent is interposed between said opening and said feet and the interior of said chamber.

Claim 20

An apparatus as defined in claim 13 wherein said vent comprises a fine mesh material.