Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 15
Claim 1
Independent Claim
197 words
In an animal transport cage having a rectangular frame structure supporting openwork sides, ends, bottom and top, with an enlarged opening in the top, said cage having a complementary lid hinged at one end to the opening in the top, an improved lid latch comprising: a. a sliding latch member having a horizontal portion and a vertical portion depending from the front thereof, with a beveled lip formed on said vertical depending portion to provide a catch and guide means on said horizontal portion; b. a transverse beam defining one side of the enlarged opening in the top of the cage at the edge of the opening opposite that which is hinged for engaging said catch; and c. means in said lid at the end opposite said hinged end for accepting and retaining said sliding latch and including: 1. means cooperating with said guide means to permit motion of said sliding latch member in the plane of the lid perpendicular to the hinging axis and to restrain motion of said sliding latch member in all other directions; and 2. a bowed beam member biasing said latch outward to cause said beveled lip to engage said transverse beam.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
197 words
In an animal transport cage having a rectangular frame structure supporting openwork sides, ends, bottom and top, with an enlarged opening in the top, said cage having a complementary lid hinged at one end to the opening in the top, an improved lid latch comprising: a. a sliding latch member having a horizontal portion and a vertical portion depending from the front thereof, with a beveled lip formed on said vertical depending portion to provide a catch and guide means on said horizontal portion; b. a transverse beam defining one side of the enlarged opening in the top of the cage at the edge of the opening opposite that which is hinged for engaging said catch; and c. means in said lid at the end opposite said hinged end for accepting and retaining said sliding latch and including: 1. means cooperating with said guide means to permit motion of said sliding latch member in the plane of the lid perpendicular to the hinging axis and to restrain motion of said sliding latch member in all other directions; and 2. a bowed beam member biasing said latch outward to cause said beveled lip to engage said transverse beam.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
23 words
A cage according to claim 1 wherein said lid is molded plastic and said bowed beam member is integrally molded in said lid.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
36 words
A cage according to claim 1 wherein said guide means comprise vertical dependent members extending downwardly from the sides of said horizontal member, and said means cooperating with said guide means comprise slots in said lid.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
45 words
A cage according to claim 3 wherein said cage, lid, and sliding latch member are molded plastic and said members depending from the sides of said horizontal portions contain bevelled lips on their ends and further including a cutout in said lid internal said slots.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
19 words
A cage according to claim 3 wherein said slots and beam are contained within a recess in said lid.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
34 words
A cage according to claim 1 and further including an opening in said horizontal portion to provide a finger hold for sliding said latch member against the biasing force of said bowed beam member.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
136 words
In an animal transport cage having a rectangular frame structure supporting openwork sides, ends, bottom and top, with an enlarged opening in the top, said cage having a complementary lid hinged at one end to the opening in the top, an improved lid latch comprising: a. a sliding latch member having a horizontal portion and a vertical portion depending from the front thereof, with a catch on said vertical depending portion and vertical depending members extending downwardly from the sides of said horizontal member containing beveled lips on their ends; b. means in the top of the cage at the edge of the opening opposite that which is hinged for engaging said catch means; and c. means in said lid at the end opposite said hinged end for accepting and retaining said sliding latch and including:
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
136 words
In an animal transport cage having a rectangular frame structure supporting openwork sides, ends, bottom and top, with an enlarged opening in the top, said cage having a complementary lid hinged at one end to the opening in the top, an improved lid latch comprising: a. a sliding latch member having a horizontal portion and a vertical portion depending from the front thereof, with a catch on said vertical depending portion and vertical depending members extending downwardly from the sides of said horizontal member containing beveled lips on their ends; b. means in the top of the cage at the edge of the opening opposite that which is hinged for engaging said catch means; and c. means in said lid at the end opposite said hinged end for accepting and retaining said sliding latch and including:
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
129 words
a pair of parallel slots in said lid cooperating with said vertical depending members of said sliding latch member to permit motion of said sliding latch member in the plane of the lid perpendicular to the hinging axis and to restrain motion of said sliding latch member in all other directions; 2. a cutout in said lid internal said slots; 3. said cage, lid and sliding latch member being of molded plastic whereby, because of said cutout internal said slots, said beveled lips on the ends of said depending members on said sliding latch member can be inserted through said slots bending the sides thereof and thereafter be retained therein; and 4. spring means biasing said latch to cause said catch means to engage said means in said top.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
129 words
a pair of parallel slots in said lid cooperating with said vertical depending members of said sliding latch member to permit motion of said sliding latch member in the plane of the lid perpendicular to the hinging axis and to restrain motion of said sliding latch member in all other directions; 2. a cutout in said lid internal said slots; 3. said cage, lid and sliding latch member being of molded plastic whereby, because of said cutout internal said slots, said beveled lips on the ends of said depending members on said sliding latch member can be inserted through said slots bending the sides thereof and thereafter be retained therein; and 4. spring means biasing said latch to cause said catch means to engage said means in said top.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
28 words
A cage according to claim 7 wherein said spring means comprises a bowed beam member biasing said sliding latch member outward into engagement with said means for engaging.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
16 words
A cage according to claim 8 wherein said bowed beam member is molded into said lid.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
20 words
a cage according to claim 9 wherein said slots and bowed beam are contained within a recess in said lid.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
33 words
A cage according to claim 10 and further including an opening in said horizontal portion to provide a finger hold for sliding said latch member against the biasing force of said spring means.