Modular cage for equipment and method of assembling the same
A method and apparatus for providing a modular security cage system configured to be disposed over a base surface to secure and maintain equipment within the security cage. The modular security cage includes multiple frame panels with multiple coupling tabs extending within the cage and from each of the multiple frame panels. Each of the frame panels are operable to be modularly coupled to each other to form at least a four-sided cubic shaped cage. Each of the coupling tabs are configured to extend internally within the cubic shaped cage and are operable to be secured to another tab extending from an adjacent one of the frame panels to removably couple each frame panel together to form the cubic shaped cage. In another embodiment, the cage can include at least one pivot shoe configured to suspend the cage above the base surface to allow the cage to pivot upward to provide accessibility therein.
This application is a continuation-in-part of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 10/436,507 filed on May 9, 2003.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a security cage formed modularly and configured to provide security from theft of outdoor utility equipment disposed in the security cage.
2. State of the Art
Security cages are well known in the art. Many security cages are configured to house and secure expensive outside utility equipment, such as air-conditioner condensers. Such condensers are heavy and bulky and are relatively costly. Usually, the condenser is positioned outdoors adjacent a building structure, such as a home or office, to provide cool air inside of the building structure. Security cages have been provided to house some condensers due to the condensers being a ready target of theft from the yards of housing developments. This has especially been a problem in areas of low income housing.
Currently, such security cages are formed as a one-piece structure and are relatively heavy, requiring several installers to lift the security cage over the condenser for proper positioning. Furthermore, transport of such cages is expensive and cumbersome. As a consequence of these limitations, current use of security cages has generally been limited to local suppliers that fabricate the cage as a one-piece unit and install it at the site of use. Mass production of these cages has therefore been considered unpractical. A versatile modular design has not been developed that provides the security features needed and the modular assembly that allows ease of transport and assembly. Accordingly, the benefits of cost reduction and convenient installation have not be available to allow use of such security cages for consumers generally, nor as a standard line item included in large construction projects.
As a further obstacle to modular implementation, the conventional security cage is typically coupled to a cement platform or base with a locking mechanism to thereby secure the cage from being removed and substantially deter theft of the condenser. Therefore, installation is further complicated by needing special preparation of the location site with a cement pad, as well as modifications to the pad and cage for installation of a locking mechanism.
In Summary, current security cages for such condensers provide a variety of problems. First, due to the heavy nature of the one-piece security cage, several installers are required to lift the security cage over the condenser without damaging components of the condenser. Second, readily accessing the security cage is made difficult due to the heavy nature of the security cage, requiring several service men/women to lift the cage from the cement base and condenser to obtain access to the condenser for servicing. Third, from a shipping stand-point, the one-piece security cage is bulky, which minimizes the total number of cages that can be stored on a shipping truck for transporting to one or more destinations. Fourth, the one-piece security cage is disposed directly on the cement base often sitting in pools of water from sprinklers and the like. Such direct contact on the cement base often results in accelerated corrosion and water damage to the security cage. Further, with the security cage disposed directly on the concrete base, often debris, such as garbage and grass, will become trapped within the security cage, resulting in an unbecoming sight for ones yard and home. Removing such garbage and debris is made all the more difficult with the heavy security cage not readily accessible for the home owner.
It therefore would be advantageous to develop a security cage that substantially avoids the above-noted problems while maintaining security to equipment, such as air-conditioner condensers, within the security cage.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTIONThe present invention relates to a modular security cage system configured to be disposed over a concrete base surface to secure and maintain equipment within the cage. The modular cage system includes multiple unconnected frame panels, each panel having a periphery and being operable to be modularly coupled to other panels of the system to form at least a four-sided cubic shaped cage. Multiple coupling tabs are attached to the frame panels at one end and have terminal openings disposed at an opposing end. These tabs are configured to (i) extend within the cubic shaped cage from corresponding positions along the periphery of each of said multiple frame panels and (2) to intercept an inward projecting, parallel portion of a corresponding adjacent tab such that the terminal openings in the intercepting tabs are in alignment for receiving a locking pin to secure the tabs together. The multiple frame panels are thereby removably coupled together to form the cubic shaped cage and are also operable to provide accessibility within the cubic shaped cage to alternatively break-down or form the cubic shaped cage structure.
Additional features and advantages of the invention will be apparent from the detailed description which follows, taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, which together illustrate, by way of example, features of the invention.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
Reference will now be made to the exemplary embodiments illustrated in the drawings, and specific language will be used herein to describe the same. It will nevertheless be understood that no limitation of the scope of the invention is thereby intended. Alterations and further modifications of the inventive features illustrated herein, and additional applications of the principles of the inventions as illustrated herein, which would occur to one skilled in the relevant art and having possession of this disclosure, are to be considered within the scope of the invention.
In one embodiment, the modular security cage 100 can include four frame panels 110 each defining a square shaped periphery and sized and configured to be modularly coupled to each other to form a four-sided cubic shaped cage. Namely, the four frame panels 110 can include a front frame panel 112, a first-side frame panel 114, a second-side frame panel 116 and a top frame panel 118 each configured to be assembled together to form the four-sided cubic shaped cage. Such a four-sided cubic shaped cage can be utilized to secure equipment that is disposed in close relationship or adjacent the building structure 108 so that the security cage can be disposed approximately 1 to 6 inches from the building structure 108 with the cage oriented so that an open-side (rear-side) of the cage is directly adjacent the building structure 108. In this manner, the building structure 108 serves as a constructive wall for the modular security cage 100.
The assembled modular security cage 100 is configured to sit suspended above the concrete base 102 with the cage 100 disposed on two base shoes 150 and two pivot shoes 160. Each of the base shoes 150 and the pivot shoes 160 are anchored to the concrete base 102. The two base shoes 150 are configured to receive the respective two bottom corners 122 of the cage 100 closest to the building structure 108 and the two pivot shoes 160 are configured to be pivotably mounted to a lower portion 120 adjacent the respective two bottom corners 122 of the cage furthest away from the building structure 108. A locking mechanism 170 can be operatively coupled to at least one of the base shoes 150 and to a portion of one of the frame panels 110 for maintaining the cage 100 in a locked position. With this arrangement, the modular security cage 100 can be suspended above the concrete base 102 to prevent debris and grass becoming entrapped in the security cage 100 while also limiting potential corrosion and water damage to the modular security cage often resulting when the cage is disposed directly on the concrete base.
With respect to
Each coupling tab 140 can include, for example, a securing portion 142 and a free end 144 with an opening defined in the coupling tab 140. The securing portion 142 can be welded to a portion of the frame panel 110 or by any other suitable means of securing the coupling tab 140 to the frame panel 110. The free end 144 is configured to extend internally into the cubic shaped cage and can extend orthogonal with respect to the frame panel 110 or in any other suitable orientation so that the coupling tab 140 corresponds and aligns with another tab 140 extending from the adjacent frame panel 110 to be coupled together. More specifically, the openings 146 in each of the aligned coupling tabs 140 are aligned so that the two aligned coupling tabs 140 can be fastened together via their respective openings 146. Such aligned coupling tabs 140 can be coupled together with fasteners, such as with a bolt and nut type fasteners, or any other suitable fastener (referred to herein as fastening pins). With this arrangement, each of the frame panels 110 are coupled together to form the cubic shaped cage with each of the coupling tabs 140 disposed inside the cage. As such, the modular security cage 100 cannot be disassembled from the outside since there are no exposed fasteners outside the cage 100, thereby, further deterring theft and vandalism of the cage 100 and equipment 108 therein.
With reference now to
Each frame panel 110 can include four L-shaped retainers 132 configured to be disposed and joined to an inner peripheral side 131 of the square shaped peripheral frame member 130. Each L-shaped retainer 132 can include a first portion 135 and a second portion 137. The first portion 135 can be secured to the inner peripheral side 131 by welding or any other suitable securing means, such as with fasteners. The second portion 137 can be positioned to be flush with a front side 133 of the peripheral frame member 130 and extends laterally from the inner peripheral side 131 of the peripheral frame member 130. Such L-shaped retainer 132 can be formed to be disposed on each inner peripheral side 131 of the peripheral frame member 130 with the second portion 137 cut inward at 45 degree angles at longitudinal ends of each L-shaped retainer 132. In this manner, each of the four L-shaped retainers 132 are secured to the inner peripheral side 131 of the square shaped peripheral frame member 130 so that the second portion 137 of each L-shaped retainer 132 sits adjacent and/or abuts with an adjacent second portion 137 of the L-shaped retainer 132. Such an L-shaped retainer 132 can be formed from, for example, sixteen-gauge galvanized steel or any other suitable steel or material as known in the art.
After securing the L-shaped retainer 132 to the peripheral frame member 130, the panel member 134 can then be positioned and secured to the frame member 130. Such panel member 134 can be secured to a back-side 139 of the second portion 137 of each of the four L-shaped retainers 132. The panel member 134 can be formed of a heavy-duty expandable metal and/or perforated metal. Such panel member 134 can be secured to the second portion 137 by any known fastening means, such as welding, spot welding, or with screws, as known to one of ordinary skill in the art. Further, depending on the dimensions of the peripheral frame member 130, one or more mullions 136 can be positioned over the panel member 134 for added strength to the frame panel 110. Such mullions 136 can include, but is not limited to, a C-shaped cross-section and can be sized and configured to be positioned to over-lap the panel member 134 with ends secured to the back-side 139 of the second portion 137 of the L-shaped retainer 132. Once the frame panel 110 has been assembled with the respective peripheral frame member 130, the L-shaped retainer 132, the panel member 134 and, if needed, the one or more mullions 136, the frame panel 110 can receive a heat-hardened powder coat paint finish to ensure optimal durability from the corrosive elements of the environment.
With reference to
With reference to
With the foregoing arrangement, the security cage 100 can be locked to the base shoe 150 with a locking mechanism 170, such as a pad-lock. Such a locking mechanism 170 can be configured to lock the security cage 100 to one or two of the base shoes 150. This can be accomplished by extending the locking mechanism 170 through locking tabs 172 extending respectively from a lower portion of the cage 100 and the base shoe 150. As such, the security cage 100 can be in a locked position via the locking mechanism 170. In this locked position, there are no readily accessible and/or exposed fasteners that would allow one to access the equipment in the cage, except by unlocking or removing the locking mechanism 170. Other wise said, each of the frame panels 110 are coupled together via the coupling tabs 140 each fastened inside of the modular security cage 100. In this manner, the modular security cage 100 provides a substantially secure structure, deterring theft and vandalism of the equipment 106 disposed in the cage 100.
Further, the locking mechanism 170 can be unlocked and removed, after which, the entire security cage 100 can pivot upward (as shown in outline) and about the shaft 168 of each pivot shoe 160 to allow ready access to the equipment 106 in the cage 100. The pivot shoes 160 can allow the cage 100 to pivot at any angle up to approximately 190 degrees. However, with the cement base 102 disposed on, for example, level ground, the cage 100 will likely only allow a pivot up to and between approximately 80 degrees and 120 degrees so that the cage 100 rests on the ground adjacent the cement base 102. In this manner, the equipment 106 in the security cage 100 is readily accessible for home owners as well as service men. As previously set forth, the modular security cage 100 of this embodiment does not include a frame panel 110 on a rear-end of the security cage 100. As such, when pivoting the modular security cage 100 upward to an open position, such cage 100 readily clears the equipment 106 therein.
With respect to
With respect to
It is to be understood that the above-referenced arrangements are only illustrative of the application for the principles of the present invention. Numerous modifications and alternative arrangements can be devised without departing from the spirit and scope of the present invention while the present invention has been shown in the drawings and fully described above with particularity and detail in connection with what is presently deemed to be the most practical and preferred embodiments(s) of the invention, it will be apparent to those of ordinary skill in the art that numerous modifications can be made without departing from the principles and concepts of the invention as set forth in the claims.
Claims
1. A modular security cage system configured to be disposed over a base surface to secure and maintain equipment within the cage, the modular cage system comprising:
- multiple unconnected frame panels, each panel having a periphery and being operable to be modularly coupled to other panels of the system to form at least a four-sided cubic shaped cage; and
- multiple coupling tabs attached to the frame panels at one end and having a terminal opening disposed at an opponing end, said tabs being configured to (i) extend within the cubic shaped cage from corresponding positions along the periphery of each of said multiple frame panels and (2) to intercept an inward projecting, parallel portion of a corresponding adjacent tab such that the terminal openings in the intercepting tabs are in alignment for receiving a fastening pin to secure the tabs together to thereby removably couple the multiple frame panels together to form the cubic shaped cage, said tabs being operable to provide accessibility within the cubic shaped cage to alternatively break-down or form the cubic shaped cage.
2. The security cage system of claim 1, wherein said multiple coupling tabs extending from one panel are operable to alignably position and couple with the tabs extending from an adjacent panel within a substantially orthogonal angle between the one frame panel and the adjacent frame panel.
3. The security cage system of claim 1, wherein said coupling tabs extend orthogonally from each of said frame panels and are positioned so that the coupling tabs extending from one frame panel are disposed at least partially over the coupling tabs extending from an adjacent frame panel.
4. The security cage system of claim 1, wherein said frame panels comprise two side frame panels, a front frame panel and a top frame panel to form the at least four-sided cubic shaped cage.
5. The security cage system of claim 1, wherein said frame panels comprise two side frame panels, a front and back frame panel and a top frame panel.
6. The security cage system of claim 5, wherein at least one of said frame panels comprises an access door that is externally lockable for facilitating access to the equipment in the cage.
7. The security cage system of claim 1, further comprising:
- at least one base shoe configured for attachment to the base surface and operable to receive a bottom portion of the cubic shaped cage; and
- at least one pivot shoe configured for attachment to the base surface and pivotably mounted to a lower portion of the cubic shaped cage, said at least one pivot shoe being operable to pivot one side of the cubic shaped cage upward to provide accessibility to the equipment within the cage.
8. The security cage system of claim 1, further comprising base members configured to be secured to the base surface and coupled to lower portions of the frame panels.
9. The security cage system of claim 8, wherein said base members comprise at least one pivot shoe pivotably mountable to the lower portion adjacent a lower corner of the cubic shaped cage and operable to pivot the cubic shaped cage upward to provide accessibility to the equipment within the cage.
10. The security cage system of claim 1, wherein said frame panels each comprise at least a peripheral frame member and a panel member, said panel member having an outer peripheral portion sized and configured to be operatively coupled to an inner periphery of the peripheral frame member.
11. The security cage system of claim 10, wherein said peripheral frame member is coupled to said panel member with an L-shaped member therebetween with one portion of the L-shaped member coupled to the inner periphery of the peripheral frame member and the other portion of the L-shaped member coupled to the outer peripheral portion of the panel member.
12. A security cage system configured to be disposed over a paved base surface to secure and maintain equipment within the cage, the security cage system comprising:
- multiple frame panels each defining a periphery for attachment to each other to form at least a four-sided cubic shaped cage;
- multiple coupling tabs attached to the periphery of the frame panels at one end and having a terminal opening disposed at an opponing end, said tabs being configured to (i) extend within the cubic shaped cage from corresponding positions along the periphery of each of said multiple frame panels and (2) to intercept an inward projecting, parallel portion of a corresponding adjacent tab such that the terminal openings in the intercepting tabs are in alignment for receiving a locking pin to secure the tabs together to thereby removably couple the multiple frame panels together to form the cubic shaped cage, said tabs being operable to provide accessibility within the cubic shaped cage to alternatively break-down or form the cubic shaped cage;
- at least one base shoe configured for being secured to the base surface and operable to receive a bottom portion of the cubic shaped cage with the cubic shaped cage lockable in the received position; and
- at least one pivot shoe pivotably mounted to a lower portion adjacent a lower corner of the cubic shaped cage, said at least one pivot shoe being operable to allow the cubic shaped cage to pivot upward to provide accessibility to the equipment within the cage.
13. The security cage system of claim 12, wherein said at least one pivot shoe is operable to allow the cubic shaped cage to pivot about the at least one pivot shoe with a range between approximately 0 degrees to 120 degrees.
14. The security cage system of claim 12, wherein said at least one base shoe and said at least one pivot shoe are operable to suspend the frame panels above the base surface.
15. A method of assembling a modular security cage system configured to store equipment therein, the method comprising:
- positioning multiple frame panels orthogonally with respect to each other;
- aligning coupling tabs extending from each of said multiple frame panels so that openings within the tabs extending from one frame panel are alignably positioned with openings of the tabs extending from an adjacent frame panel within a substantially orthogonal angle between the one frame panel and the adjacent frame panel;
- securing said tabs aligned with respect to each other between the one frame panel and the adjacent frame panel; and
- repeating the above steps to assemble the multiple frame panels into at least a four-sided cubic shaped cage with each of the multiple coupling tabs secured to another coupling tab inside the cubic shaped cage.
16. The method of claim 15, further comprising securing at least one base shoe to a base surface to receive a bottom portion of the cubic shaped cage.
17. The method of claim 16, further comprising securing at least one pivot shoe to a lower portion of the cubic shaped cage, said pivot shoe being configured to couple to the base shoe and enable rotation of the cage about a pivot axis at the lower portion of the cage.
18. The method of claim 17, further comprising positioning the bottom portion of the cubic shaped cage on said at least one base shoe so that the cubic shaped cage is suspended above the base surface with said at least one base shoe and said at least one pivot shoe therebetween.
19. The method of claim 18, wherein said positioning the bottom portion comprises securing the cubic shaped cage to the at least one base shoe in a lockable position so that when the cubic shaped cage is locked the equipment is inaccessible and when the cubic shaped cage is unlocked the cubic shaped cage is pivotable about the at least one pivot shoe to allow the cubic shaped cage to pivot upward to provide accessibility to the equipment within the cage.
Type: Application
Filed: Feb 7, 2006
Publication Date: Aug 17, 2006
Inventor: William Martin (Taylorsville, UT)
Application Number: 11/350,250
International Classification: E04B 2/02 (20060101);