cage
Enable an agent to recognise a cage, assess its containment or protective function, and determine whether a proposed use or intervention is appropriate.
Research draft, second pass
A second pass drafted this model: the structure a model of this thing needs, and what is known about it in the world. The line under this one says how the second half was obtained - researched against sources, or recalled without web access, in which case nothing here was read anywhere and every claim is a lead to verify. Unreviewed either way.
recalled by Codex without web access - no source was read
Researched by: Codex
Purpose and description
Enable an agent to recognise a cage, assess its containment or protective function, and determine whether a proposed use or intervention is appropriate.
A cage is an enclosure made wholly or partly of bars, wire mesh, or other openwork, used to confine an occupant or retain or protect its contents while permitting some passage of air, light, or observation.
It can be Compare cage geometry with a specified occupant or content to identify passage and entrapment concerns.; Inspect and record the framework, joints, base and closures for containment defects.; Open, close and secure an access point when authority and occupant conditions permit.; Load or retrieve compatible contents through an identified access route.; Install compatible internal fittings while checking their effects on clearance and containment.; Remove a cage from service or route it for repair when its intended function cannot be established..
Distinguishing features
Bars, mesh or another open framework form a substantial part of its enclosing boundary, rather than merely a ventilation aperture in an otherwise solid container.
The framework and any supporting surfaces establish an enclosing volume; an isolated fence or screen establishes only a barrier.
Passage restriction depends on the relationship between boundary openings and the dimensions or capabilities of the intended occupants or contents.
A cage may retain something inside, exclude contact from outside, or do both; the intended direction of restriction must be identifiable.
A rib cage is an anatomical structure and is not an instance of this manufactured enclosure sense merely because its name contains cage.
Scope
+ The enclosing framework, base, roof and supporting structure
+ Openings that determine what can pass through the enclosure
+ Doors, removable panels, latches and other controlled access points
+ Compatibility between the enclosure and its intended occupants or contents
+ Containment, protection and structural condition during a specified use
- The anatomy represented by rib cage, which belongs to the narrower anatomical model
- The biology, behaviour or clinical condition of an enclosed animal
- Complete husbandry procedures and facility operations
- Solid-walled rooms, tanks and containers lacking the defining open framework
- The machinery, cargo or equipment enclosed by a cage
- Figurative cages and restrictions without a physical enclosure
Characteristics
- Containment role
- retention; exclusion; combined; unresolved Determines which crossings the cage must prevent and from which direction.
- Intended occupants or contents
- Links to occupant or content kinds, with relevant dimensions and capabilities Containment and suitability cannot be judged from the cage alone.
- Usable internal dimensions
- Internal length, width and height in mm; usable volume in m³ where meaningful Establishes clearance after accounting for fixtures and inaccessible spaces.
- Boundary opening geometry
- Clear gap dimensions in mm, with shape and location Reveals possible passage, reach-through and entrapment locations.
- Framework construction
- Bar, wire mesh, expanded mesh, lattice or other framework; material and joint type Supports assessment of deformation, damage and compatibility with the intended use.
- Access configuration
- Hinged door; sliding door; removable panel; openable roof; other; no dedicated access Determines loading, inspection and retrieval methods.
- Closure state
- open; closed but unsecured; secured; defective; unverified A closed-looking door does not establish effective containment.
- Support and anchorage
- Links to floor, base, anchors, suspension or carrier The supporting surface may complete the enclosure and prevent displacement or overturning.
- Documented load limits
- Supported mass in kg and applicable forces in N, with load case and evidence; unknown if unavailable A capacity is meaningful only for the configuration and loading conditions it covers.
- Containment integrity
- intact; degraded; breached; unverified, with defect locations Broken joints, enlarged gaps or failed attachments can defeat the intended boundary.
Also called
Where this came from
wikidata · CC0 1.0
Also registered as vr.tr.cage-artifact
Drafted structure
Bundle to layer to finding to question, as the second pass will find it: 6 bundles · 11 layers · 15 findings · 25 questions.
Containment role Establishes what the cage encloses and which movements or contacts it is intended to prevent.
The same framework may be adequate for one containment target and ineffective for another.
Enclosure identity
Identifies the physical cage sense and the surfaces completing its enclosure.
Enclosing boundary
Record which framework sections and adjoining surfaces establish the enclosed volume.
- Which bars, mesh panels, base surfaces and roof sections together define this cage's enclosing boundary? definition
- Does the cage rely on an external floor, wall or machine housing to complete that boundary? boundary
Restricted crossings
Distinguishes retention of contents from exclusion of outside contact.
Containment target
Specify the intended occupants or contents and the crossings that must be prevented.
- What is intended to remain inside, remain outside or avoid contact through the framework? definition
- What documentation or use requirement establishes that containment role? provenance
Framework and gaps Describes the open boundary as a selective physical barrier.
Gap geometry and framework behaviour determine what can cross or compromise a cage.
Opening geometry
Records clear openings across panels, edges and interfaces.
Passage and entrapment gaps
Assess openings relative to the dimensions and capabilities of the containment target.
- What are the clear dimensions and shapes of openings, including gaps around doors and the base? measurement
- Which openings could admit the intended contents, an occupant's body part or an outside contact that the cage should exclude? boundary
Framework resistance
Examines the members and connections that preserve the boundary under use.
Members and joints
Record framework materials, member dimensions and joining methods alongside evidence of resistance to expected forces.
- What materials, member dimensions and joint types form the cage panels and their connections? measurement
- What evidence establishes resistance to the pushing, pulling, impact or other forces expected in the proposed use? provenance
Controlled access Models intentional openings and the transitions between access and containment.
Doors and removable sections create planned breaks in the cage boundary that require explicit state assessment.
Access routes
Identifies how contents enter and leave and how an operator reaches inside.
Usable access opening
Record opening clearance, movement and access constraints for each door or removable section.
- What clear opening and external movement space does each access point provide? measurement
- How can the intended contents be inserted or retrieved without uncontrolled release or harmful contact? action
Closure security
Separates door position from effective fastening.
Latch engagement
Record closure position, fastening engagement and any means of unintended release.
- What observable check establishes that each latch or fastener is fully engaged? action
- Can the intended occupant, contents or external contact reach or dislodge the release mechanism? boundary
Occupancy and installation Relates usable enclosure space and installation to the intended use.
Successful containment alone does not establish that a cage accommodates its contents appropriately.
Internal accommodation
Assesses clearance and the effects of internal fittings.
Usable space and fittings
Record usable space after fittings and determine whether those fittings introduce access to gaps or closures.
- What internal clearances remain after trays, partitions, perches, racks or other fittings are installed? measurement
- Do any fittings obstruct necessary movement, create trapping points or provide a route to an otherwise inaccessible opening or latch? boundary
Installation interfaces
Examines the base and attachments that keep the enclosure positioned and complete.
Base and anchorage
Record how the cage is supported and secured, including interfaces where movement could create a breach.
- Which supports, anchors or attachments prevent the cage from shifting, tipping or separating from its base? definition
- What installation checks are required before the proposed loading or occupancy begins? action
Integrity and serviceability Determines whether the cage continues to perform its specified containment or protective role.
Local defects can create escape routes, sharp contact surfaces or ineffective closures without obvious overall collapse.
Boundary condition
Locates damage that changes the cage's functional geometry or contact surfaces.
Containment defects
Record broken wires, bent bars, loose joints, corrosion and sharp projections by location and effect.
- Where have damage or wear altered opening dimensions, joint security or surfaces accessible to occupants and handlers? measurement
- Which observed defects require the cage to be emptied, isolated or removed from service for its intended use? action
Maintenance and return
Tracks cleaning and repair methods that preserve the enclosing framework and closures.
Restored containment
Identify maintenance requirements and the checks needed after panels, coatings or closures are serviced.
- Which cleaning and repair methods are documented as compatible with the framework, coating and intended contents? provenance
- After maintenance, how will gap geometry, joint security and closure engagement be checked before reuse? action
Evidence and external alignment What the world already says about this thing, gathered so the model can be checked against it.
A model that cannot be lined up against existing standards, identifiers and practice cannot be adopted by anyone who already uses them.
Reported evidence
Findings from the breadth pass, kept separate from the structural claims.
Check these first
Recalled without web access and unsourced; every item is a lead to verify.
- No sense is recorded; this description assumes the ordinary manufactured enclosure sense rather than specialized bearing, electrical, or anatomical senses.
- Dimensions, load capacity, opening size, materials, and applicable standards depend on the particular use, so no universal ranges or standards are supplied.
- Boundaries between cages, crates, pens, and guards vary by trade and application.
- Which of these check these first hold for the sense of cage this model covers, and on what evidence? provenance
Kinds and varieties
Recalled without web access and unsourced; every item is a lead to verify.
- Animal housing cage
- Animal transport cage
- Live-capture cage trap
- Security storage cage
- Protective equipment cage
- Lifting cage
- Which of these kinds and varieties hold for the sense of cage this model covers, and on what evidence? provenance
Real-world use
Recalled without web access and unsourced; every item is a lead to verify.
- Housing animals in domestic, agricultural, laboratory, or zoological settings
- Containing animals during transport
- Capturing animals alive using a closable entrance
- Restricting access to stored goods or equipment
- Protecting equipment from impact or unintended contact
- Which of these real-world use hold for the sense of cage this model covers, and on what evidence? provenance
Failure modes and hazards
Recalled without web access and unsourced; every item is a lead to verify.
- Escape or unauthorized access through failed latches, damaged mesh, or unsuitable opening sizes
- Entrapment of limbs, heads, or other body parts in openings
- Cuts and punctures from sharp edges, broken wires, or protruding fasteners
- Collapse or loss of containment caused by corrosion, overloaded members, or failed joints
- Animal injury or distress from inadequate space, unsuitable materials, or poor environmental conditions
- Which of these failure modes and hazards hold for the sense of cage this model covers, and on what evidence? provenance
Neighbouring kinds and how to tell them apart
Recalled without web access and unsourced; every item is a lead to verify.
- rib cage - A rib cage is an anatomical framework of ribs and associated skeletal structures; the present sense concerns manufactured enclosures.
- enclosure - An enclosure is the broader category and may have solid walls; a cage characteristically uses bars, mesh, or other openwork.
- pen - A pen generally confines animals within a fenced area, often open above; a cage typically surrounds a more bounded volume.
- trap - A trap captures or restrains through a capture mechanism; a cage need not capture anything, although a cage trap belongs to both categories.
- crate - A crate is primarily a handling or transport container and may have solid or slatted construction; transport cages overlap with this category.
- Which of these neighbouring kinds and how to tell them apart hold for the sense of cage this model covers, and on what evidence? provenance
What the second pass must settle
- Does vr.tr.cage cover only general containment enclosures, or also specialised senses such as bearing cages, reinforcement cages and lift cages?
- Which existing Vercy models cover enclosure, container, animal housing or machine guard, and where should this model defer to them?
- Which authoritative definitions establish the boundary between a cage, a crate, a pen and an open-framework protective housing?
- Which use-specific standards govern enclosure dimensions, gap sizes, structural loads and closure performance, and which issuing bodies and editions apply?
- For animal occupancy, which species- and use-specific sources establish suitability beyond simple containment, including usable space, flooring and environmental conditions?