GB2428957A

GB2428957A - Small animal manual slaughtering apparatus

Info

Publication number: GB2428957A
Application number: GB0516562A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Leicester Le Sueur
Original assignee: ARMADILLO PRODUCTS Ltd
Current assignee: ARMADILLO PRODUCTS Ltd
Priority date: 2005-08-12
Filing date: 2005-08-12
Publication date: 2007-02-14
Anticipated expiration: 2025-08-12
Also published as: GB0516562D0; GB2428957B

Abstract

The apparatus 10 comprises head locating means 12 provided at one end of a first arm 14, and a metal impaling spike 16 provided towards one end of a second arm 18. The head locating means 12 is generally of an inverted frusto-conical shape. The head locating means 12 is of a size suitable to receive the front half of the head of an animal, for example a game bird. To slaughter the bird, an operator manually closes the handle sections 20, 30, causing the impaling spike 16 to move from the open position (shown) to a closed position in which the impaling spike 16 is received within the head locating means 12. As the impaling spike 16 moves towards the closed position it enters the bird's head generally through the foramen magnum, and enters and destroys the bird's brain stem. The bird is instantly rendered unconscious and killed.

Description

Small animal manual slaughtering apparatus The invention relates to small

animal manual slaughtering apparatus.

During the shooting of game birds, such as pheasant and partridge, it is common for a significant number of the birds to be wounded rather than killed. The wounded birds must then be retrieved and killed. Many of the existing methods of killing such wounded birds in the field, such as wringing the bird's neck, striking the bird's head with a stick, or simply leaving the bird to die, are inhumane and cause un-necessary suffering to the bird.

According to an aspect of the present invention there is provided small animal manual slaughtering apparatus comprising: head locating means configured to receive the front of the head of an animal to be slaughtered, to thereby expose the base of the back of the head; and an impaling member, mechanically moveable between an open position removed from the head locating means and a closed position in which the impaling member is at least partly received within the head locating means, wherein, in use, the front of the head of an animal to be slaughtered is provided within the head locating means and the impaling member is then moved to the closed position, thereby impaling the head generally through the foramen magnum and destroying the brain stem, thus killing the animal.

The apparatus is preferably for use in slaughtering birds and small mammals, such as mice, rats and rabbits.

The head locating member preferably defines a socket of a complementary size and shape to at least part of the front of the head of the animal. The head locating member is preferably generally frusto-conical in shape, and is inverted such that its larger end faces generally towards the impaling member.

The impaling member preferably comprises a spike, most preferably tapered spike.

Preferably, the head locating means is provided at one end of a first arm and the impaling member is provided towards one end of a second arm, the first and second * II, I S III SI S I S S a * ,, * * a a aa * a ase a a a I S a p a a a a a a a alt a I a a arms being mechanically coupled to one another and moveable relative to one another, to thereby effect movement of the impaling member between the open and closed positions. The first and second arms are preferably pivotably coupled to one another, generally at their mid-points, the other ends of the arms respectively forming first and second operating handles.

A resilient member, such as a spring, is preferably coupled between the first arm and the second arm and acts to force the one ends of the arms apart. A mechanical safety catch is preferably provided between the first and second arms, for locking the impaling member in the closed position when the apparatus is not in use.

An embodiment of the invention will now be described in detail, by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying drawing which shows a diagrammatic representation of a small animal manual slaughtering apparatus according to the invention.

Referring to the drawing, an embodiment of the invention provides a small animal manual slaughtering apparatus 10 comprising head locating means 12 provided at one end of a first arm 14, and a metal impaling spike 16 provided towards one end of a second arm 18.

The head locating means 12 is generally frusto-conical in shape and is inverted such that the larger opening 12a generally faces towards the impaling member 16. The head locating means 12 defines a socket of a size and shape suitable to receive the front half of the head of an animal, for example a game bird such as a pheasant or a partridge.

The head locating means 12 is made of metal in this example.

The first arm 14 comprises a generally straight handle section 20, a curved connecting section 22 extending from one end of the handle section 20, and a mounting section 24.

The head locating means 12 is mounted at one end of the mounting section 24. The distal end of the curved connecting section 22 is riveted to the other end of the mounting section 24. The first arm 14 therefore generally has the shape of a stretched z. * I.. * S *SI I. S S S S S * I, * I * * It * S tie I S I I * S S S S S S S Sal a I S S The second arm 18 comprises a mounting section 26, a connecting section 28 and a handle section 30. The mounting section 26 is fixed to one end of the connecting section 28. The mounting section 26 comprises a first part 26a which is fixed to and extends upwardly and at an angle away from the connecting section 28, and a second part 26b which extends outwardly from the distal end of the first part 26a and is generally parallel to the connecting section 28. The impaling spike 16 extends (in use and as shown in the drawing) generally downwardly, towards the head locating means 12, from the second part 26b of the mounting section 26.

The impaling spike 16 tapers in cross-sectional size towards its distal end. The tapered nature of the spike 16 facilitates easy removal of the spike 16 from the head of the animal following operation of the apparatus 10.

The first and second arms 14, 18 are mechanically, pivotably coupled together by means of a pivot pin 32 provided through corresponding holes in the connecting sections 22, 28. The first and second arms 14, 18 are thereby movable relative to one another, enabling the impaling spike 16 to be moved between an open position in which it is removed from the head locating means 12 (as shown in the drawing) and a closed position in which it is substantially received within the head locating means 12.

A spring (not shown) is provided between the connecting sections 22, 28. The spring acts to bias the first and second arms 14, 18 away from one another, thus biasing the impaling spike 16 into the open position.

A safety catch 34 is provided on the connecting section 28 of the second arm 18. The safety catch 34 is operable to lock the first and second arms 14, 18 together, against the action of the spring, to thereby lock the impaling spike 16 in the closed position when the apparatus 10 is not in use.

In use, referring to a game bird such as a pheasant or partridge, the safety catch 34 is released causing the first and second arms 14, 18 to spring open, moving the impaling spike 16 to the open position. The bird to be slaughtered is picked up by the neck by an operator and the bird's head is inserted beak-first into the socket defined by the head locating means 12, through the larger opening 12a. The front of the bird's head is * I,, t I III *1 I I I I

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received within the socket and is thereby orientated to expose the back and base of the head.

To slaughter the bird, the operator manually closes the handle sections 20, 30, causing the impaling spike 16 to move from the open position to the closed position. As the s impaling spike 16 moves towards the closed position it enters the bird's head generally through the foramen magnum, and enters and destroys the bird's brain stem. The bird is instantly rendered unconscious and killed.

Once the bird is dead, the operator releases the handle sections 20, 30 and, under the action of the spring, the handle sections 20, 30 move apart, removing the impaling spike 16 from the bird's head. The apparatus 10 can then be cleaned and the impaling spike 16 locked in the closed position for storage.

Various modifications may be made without departing from the scope of the invention.

The head locating means may be of a different size and or configuration to that described, to define a socket of a different size and shape to that described. In particular, it will be appreciated that the size and shape of the head locating means will at least in part depend upon the size and shape of the head of the small animal which the apparatus is intended to be used on. For example, wildfowl have very different shapes beaks to game birds or chickens, so the head locating means on an apparatus for use on wildfowl will need to be a different shape to one for use on, for example, chickens.

The arms may also be of a different size relative to the head locating means and the impaling spike, and may comprise a different arrangement of parts. The impaling spike may also be of a different length to that described, and the length will at least in part depend upon the size of the head of the animal on which the apparatus is intended to be used.

The described embodiment provides various advantages, as follows. The apparatus of the invention allows an operator to slaughter (dispatch) wounded or sick birds and small mammals instantly and humanely. The apparatus is entirely mechanical in its operation enabling it to be used in the field, for example during the course of a shoot, in rearing and release pens, or in poultry flocks. The apparatus is simple to operate and can be a a a as.

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a, Isa I I I I I a. a I I S I S Ill a I S I used to humanely dispatch small animals without requiring the operator to undergo a high level of training.

Claims

* !* V I III I, I I S I V * I, I V I S II * I III I I I I * I I I V I I I

a I.. * I I Claims Small animal manual slaughtering apparatus comprising: head locating means configured to receive the front of the head of an animal to be slaughtered, to thereby expose the base of the back of the head; and an impaling member, mechanically moveable between an open position removed from the head locating means and a closed position in which the impaling member is at least partly received within the head locating means, wherein, in use, the front of the head of an animal to be slaughtered is provided within the head locating means and the impaling member is then moved to the closed position, thereby impaling the head generally through the foramen magnum and destroying the brain stem, thus killing the animal.
2. Apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein the apparatus is for use in slaughtering birds and small mammals, such as mice, rats and rabbits.
3. Apparatus as claimed in claims I or 2, wherein the head locating member defines a socket of a complementary size and shape to at least part of the front of the head of the animal.
4. Apparatus as claimed in claim 3, wherein the head locating member is generally frusto-conical in shape, and is inverted such that its larger end faces generally towards the impaling member.
5. Apparatus as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein the impaling member comprises a spike,
6. Apparatus as claimed in claim 5, wherein the impaling member comprises a tapered spike.
7. Apparatus as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein the head locating means is provided at one end of a first arm and the impaling member is provided towards one end of a second arm, the first and second arms being mechanically coupled to * I tI I, I I I I * I I I * I * I III I I I I * I I I I I I

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one another and moveable relative to one another, to thereby effect movement of the impaling member between the open and closed positions.
8. Apparatus as claimed in claim 7, wherein the first and second arms are pivotably coupled to one another, generally at their mid-points, the other ends of the arms respectively forming first and second operating handles.
9. Apparatus as claimed in claims 7 or 8, wherein a resilient member is coupled between the first arm and the second arm and acts to force the one ends of the arms apart.
10. Apparatus as claimed in any of claims 7 to 9, wherein a mechanical safety catch is provided between the first and second arms, for locking the impaling member in the closed position when the apparatus is not in use.
11. Small animal manual slaughtering apparatus substantially as described above with reference to the accompanying drawing.