Modular cage for equipment and method of assembling the same

Abstract

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.

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.