Modular cage for equipment and method of assembling the same

Abstract

A method and apparatus providing a modular security cage 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 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.

What is claimed is:  
     
         1 . A modular security cage configured to be disposed over a base surface to secure and maintain equipment within the cage, the modular cage comprising: 
 multiple frame panels each defining a periphery and each operable to be modularly coupled to each other to form at least a four-sided cubic shaped cage; and    multiple coupling tabs extending from each of said multiple frame panels and operable to extend internally within the cubic shaped cage, each of said tabs being operable to be secured to another tab extending from an adjacent one of the multiple frame panels to removably couple the multiple frame panels together to form the cubic shaped cage, said tabs being operable for accessibility within the cubic shaped cage to break-down and form the cubic shaped cage.    
     
     
         2 . The security cage 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 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 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 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 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 of  claim 1 , further comprising: 
 at least one base shoe operatively secured to the base surface and operable to receive a bottom portion of the cubic shaped cage; and    at least one pivot shoe operatively secured to the base surface and pivotably mounted to a lower portion adjacent a lower corner of the cubic shaped cage, said at least one pivot shoe being operable to pivot the cubic shaped cage upward to provide accessibility to the equipment within the cage.    
     
     
         8 . The security cage of  claim 1 , wherein said frame panels coupled in the cubic shaped cage are operable to be suspended above the base surface with base members operatively secured to the base surface and coupled to lower portions of the frame panels.  
     
     
         9 . The security cage of  claim 8 , wherein said base members comprise at least one pivot shoe pivotably mounted 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 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 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 configured to be disposed over a base surface to secure and maintain equipment within the cage, the security cage comprising: 
 multiple frame panels each defining a periphery and each coupled to each other to form at least a four-sided cubic shaped cage;    at least one base shoe operatively 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 operatively secured to the base surface and 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 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 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 . The security cage of  claim 12 , wherein said frame panels each include coupling tabs extending therefrom and operable to extend internally within the cubic shaped cage, each of said tabs being operable to be secured to another tab extending from an adjacent one of the multiple frame panels to removably couple the multiple frame panels together to form the cubic shaped cage, said tabs being operable for accessibility within the cubic shaped cage to break-down and form the cubic shaped cage.  
     
     
         16 . A method of assembling a modular security cage 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 the tabs extending from one frame panel are alignably positioned with 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.    
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 16 , further comprising securing at least one base shoe to a base surface positioned on the base surface to receive a bottom portion of the cubic shaped cage.  
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 17 , further comprising securing at least one pivot shoe to the base surface with said at least one pivot shoe pivotably mounted to a lower portion adjacent a lower corner of the cubic shaped cage.  
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 18 , 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.  
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 19 , 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.