WO1999057968A1

WO1999057968A1 - Animal containment stall

Info

Publication number: WO1999057968A1
Application number: PCT/IL1999/000231
Authority: WO
Inventors: Moshe Shapira; Tal Adar
Original assignee: Moshe Shapira; Tal Adar
Priority date: 1998-05-08
Filing date: 1999-05-04
Publication date: 1999-11-18
Also published as: IL124384A0; AU3625899A

Abstract

An animal containment stall (1) including an animal receiving cage (3) rotatably supported about a longitudinal horizontal axis (4) between a substantially vertical animal receiving position enabling the entry of an animal thereinto and its exit therefrom and a substantially horizontal animal prostrating position for prostrating the animal on a side wall (53) thereof, the side wall in the substantially horizontal position being displaceably mounted with respect to the longitudinal horizontal axis for positioning the animal with respect thereto.

Description

Animal Containment Stall

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

This invention relates to an animal containment stall for safely containing livestock for the purpose of veterinary procedures, grooming and the like.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION Animal containment stalls for safely containing livestock for the purposes of veterinary procedures, grooming and the like are in common use. Of particular interest are US Patent 2,521,487 to Syler, US Patent 4,162,685 to Knappenberger and US Patent 4,567,854 to Burns which illustrate and describe animal containment stalls having an animal receiving cage rotatable between a vertical animal receiving position enabling the entry of an animal thereinto and its exit therefrom and a horizontal animal prostrating position for prostrating the animal with its legs extending sideways thereby facilitating access to the animal's underside and its lower extremities. However, in practice, animals are not suitably positioned for particular procedures, for example, hoof trimming. In addition, the above referred to animal containment stalls are of a relatively complex construction which often precludes immediate access to an animal's underside and its lower extremities.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

In accordance with the present invention, there is provided an animal containment stall comprising an animal receiving cage rotabably supported about a longitudinal horizontal axis between a substantially vertical animal receiving position enabling the entry of an animal thereinto and its exit therefrom and a - 2 -

substantially horizontal animal prostrating position for prostrating the animal on a side wall thereof, said side wall in said substantially horizontal animal prostrating position being displaceably mounted with respect to said longitudinal horizontal axis for positioning the animal with respect thereto. In accordance with the present invention, the animal receiving cage is preferably adapted to receive bovine animals and the like and is provided with leg restraining means for restraining an animal's legs whereby adjustment of the side wall enables its legs to be suitably held for hoof trimming.

BRIEF DESCRD7TION OF THE DRAWINGS For a better understanding of the present invention and to show how the same can be carried out in practice, reference will now be made, by way of a non-limiting example only, to the accompanying drawings, in which:

Fig. 1 is a rear pictorial representation of an animal containment stall with its animal receiving cage shown in its animal receiving position in solid lines and in its animal prostrating position in dashed lines; and

Figs. 2-6 show the use of the animal containment stall of Figure 1.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

With reference to Figure 1, an animal containment stall 1 includes support means 2 for rotatably supporting an animal receiving cage 3 about a horizontal longitudinal axis 4 between a vertical animal receiving position (shown in solid lines) and a horizontal animal prostrating position (shown in dashed lines) whereby access is facilitated to an animal's underside and its lower extremities.

The support means 2 is constituted by a flat base sub-frame 6 overlying the ground and an upright support sub-frame 7 mounted thereon. The base sub-frame 6 includes an external generally trapezoidal structure 8 with parallel members 9 and 11 and oppositely inclined side members 12 and 13 and an internal H-shaped structure 14 with parallel members 16 and 17 and a cross - 3 -

member 18 extending therebetween. The support sub-frame 7 includes a first pair of vertical posts 19 and 21 mounted on the member 9 for supporting a longitudinal horizontal axle 22 affording the axis 4. The support sub-frame 7 includes a second pair of vertical posts 23 and 24 respectively mounted on the members 16 and 17 and between which extends a cross member 26. Additional members 27 and 28 extend respectively between the vertical members 19 and 23 and the vertical members 21 and 24.

The animal receiving cage 3 includes an upper rectangular structure 29 and a lower rectangular structure 31 (see Figure 6) which are connected at their corners by four members 32, 33, 34 and 36 to defme a generally open box-like construction having an open top surface 37, an bottom surface 38, open left and right side surfaces 39 and 41 and open end surfaces 42 and 43. In addition, as shown in Figure 1, members 44 and 46 extend between the upper and lower structures 29 and 31 and are attached to posts 19 and 21 for rotatably supporting the animal receiving cage 3 about the axle 22, the cage's rotation being effected by a piston 47 extending between the cross member 18 and a cross member 48 which is one of three cross members 48, 49 and 51 extending between the members 33 and 34.

A conventional hand operated stock 52 for restaining an animal's head is provided at the end surface 43 whereby the animal enters and leaves the cage 3 via the other end surface 42. Also, a side wall 53 (see Figure 6) is slidingly mounted on the cage's right side so as to be displaceable relative to the axle 22 in the horizontal animal prostrating position by means of a piston 54. Typically, the stroke of the piston 54 is about 30 cm. A bow shaped restraining member 56 suitably shaped and dimensioned to snugly fit against an animal's midriff (see Figure 6) is actuable under a piston 57 between an open position enabling the entry of an animal into the animal receiving cage 3 and its exit therefrom and a closed position for urging an animal against the side wall 53. As shown in Figure 6, the lower rectangular structure 31 is provided with leg restraining means for resfraining an animal's legs in the animal prostrating position, the leg restraining means being constituted by two pairs of a shallow groove 57 formed in each of the short side members of the lower rectangular

5 structure 31 , each groove being associated with a buckled strap 58.

The use of the animal containment stall is now described with reference to Figures 2-6. As shown in Figure 2, the animal receiving cage 3 is initially vertical so that an animal can enter via the end surface 42 and the restraining member 56 is initially in its open position. In addition, the stock 52 is initially in o its open position (not shown). After an animal has entered the animal receiving cage 3, the stock 52 is closed against its neck to generally restrain its movement prior to the restraining member 56 being brought into its closed position for urging the animal against the side wall 53 (see Figure 3). Thereafter, the animal receiving cage 3 is rotated into its horizontal animal prostrating position during 5 which rotation the animal is supported by the restraining member (Figure 4). In this position, the animal receiving cage 3 is supported on the support sub-frame 7.

Thereafter, the restraining member 56 is slightly lifted so as to allow the side wall 53 on which the animal lies to be displaced outward relative to the axle 22

(Figure 5). In a suitable position, the animal's legs are restrained so that a 0 veterinary procedure, hoof trήnming, and the like can be performed (see Figure 6). To release the animal, the above steps are performed in reverse.

Whilst the invention has been described in respect of a particular embodiment thereof, it will be appreciated that many variations, modifications and other applications of the invention may be made within the scope of the 5 amended claims.

Claims

CLAIMS:

1. An animal containment stall comprising an animal receiving cage rotatably supported about a longitudinal horizontal axis between a substantially vertical animal receiving position enabling the entry of an animal thereinto and its exit therefrom and a substantially horizontal animal prostrating position for prostrating the animal on a side wall thereof, said side wall in said substantially horizontal position being displaceably mounted with respect to said longitudinal horizontal axis for positioning the animal with respect thereto.

2. The stall according to Claim 1 wherein said support means includes a support sub- frame including at least one substantially vertical post for supporting an upper portion of said animal receiving cage in said substantially horizontal animal prostrating position.

3. The stall according to either Claim 1 or 2 fiirther comprising a piston extending between said support means and said animal receiving cage for rotating said animal receiving cage between said substantially vertical animal receiving position and said substantially horizontal animal prostrating position.

4. The stall according to any one of Claims 1-3 wherein said animal receiving cage is constituted by a generally open box-like construction with one longitudinally extending side surface provided with said side wall.

5. The stall according to any one of Claims 1-4 wherein said animal receiving cage further includes a bow shaped resfraining member suitably shaped and dimensioned to snugly fit against the animal's midriff, said resfraining member being disposable in said substantially vertical animal receiving position between an open position enabling the entry of an animal into said animal receiving cage and its exit therefrom and a closed position for urging the animal - 6 -

against said side wall, said restraining member urging the animal against said side wall during rotation of said animal receiving cage and in said substantially horizontal animal prostrating position whereby movement of the animal is substantially restrained.