Note: Claims are shown in the official language in which they were submitted.
THE EMBODIMENTS OF THE INVENTION IN WHICH AN EXCLUSIVE
PROPERTY OR PRIVILEGE IS CLAIMED ARE DEFINED AS FOLLOWS:
1. A device for capturing and restraining a cow for the
purpose of examination and/or assisting with the delivery
and subsequent suckling of a calf and/or performing such
medical procedures as may be required which is constructed
of steel and comprises:
a headgate,
a side panel, and
a detachable back gate.
2. A device as claimed in claim 1 wherein the headgate
comprises:
a frame,
two vertical uprights, and
a latch.
3. A device as claimed in claim 2 wherein one vertical
upright is fixed at the top and bottom; the second vertical
upright is inserted into one of several holes in the top of
the bottom section of the frame, the top of the second
vertical upright being allowed to slide from side to side in
a horizontal slot in the top section of the frame; and the
latch locks the second vertical upright at specific
locations along the top section of the frame.
4. A device as claimed in claim 2 comprising a vertical
notch in the bottom of the top section of the frame located
near the end of travel of the second vertical upright which
allows the second vertical upright to be manually slid along
the horizontal slot to the vertical notch, lifted upwards,
and moved to a different hole at the bottom for adjustment
or moved out of the way to free the cow.
5. A device as claimed in claim 2 where in sleeves are
affixed to the right side of the headgate frame near the top
and the bottom.
6. A device as claimed in claim 5 wherein the sleeves on
the frame are connected to mounting plates or maternity pen
mounts by aligning the sleeves on the frame with the sleeves
on the mounts and inserting pins.
7. A device as claimed in claim 1 wherein the side panel
comprises:
a frame,
multiple removable vertical bars,
a removable nursing section,
a chain, and
a latch
8. A device as claimed in claim 1 wherein the front of the
frame of the side panel is welded to the left side of the
frame of the headgate at a right angle.
9. A device as claimed in claim 7 wherein the multiple
removable vertical bars are located in the upper section of
the side panel.
10. A device as claimed in claim 7 or 9 wherein the
multiple removable vertical bars are positioned in holes
located in the frame in such a way that each removable bar
may be manually raised upward and removed.
11. A device as claimed in claim 7 wherein the removable
nursing section is located at the lower rear of the side
panel.
12. A device as claimed in claim 11 wherein the removable
nursing section is secured to the frame of the side panel by
a pin.
13. A device as claimed in claim 7 wherein the chain is
attached to the rear of the frame of the side panel.
14. A device as claimed in claim 7 wherein the latch is
fixed to the rear of the frame of the side panel.
15. A device as claimed in claim 7 and 14 wherein the latch
has a cut-out notch for insertion of a chain link in order
to secure the chain at any given location.
16. A device as claimed in claim 7 wherein sleeves are
affixed to the rear of the side panel frame near the top and
the bottom.
17. A device as claimed in claim 7 wherein rods are welded
to the left side of the detachable back gate near the top
and the bottom.
18. A device as claimed in claim 7 wherein the detachable
back gate is attached to the side panel by inserting the
bottoms of the rods on the detachable back gate into the
tops of the sleeves on the rear of the side panel frame.
19. A device as claimed in claim 1, 16, 17, or 18 whereby
the detachable back gate pivots in the hinge system formed
by inserting the rods on the detachable back gate into the
sleeves on the rear of the side panel.
20. A device as claimed in claim 1, 5 or 6 whereby the
entire device pivots on the hinge system created by
connecting the sleeves on the headgate frame to the sleeves
on the mounting plates or the maternity pen mounts with
pins, allowing the entire device to be swung out of the way
when not in use.
21. A calving panel, constructed of steel, comprising:
a headgate with a frame having two vertical uprights,
the first one fixed to the frame at the top and the bottom,
the second inserted into one of several holes in the top of
the bottom section of the frame and allowed to slide from side
to side at the top in a horizontal slot at the top of the
frame and further able to latch at specific locations on the
top of the frame, in order to capture and restrain a cow,
the frame having a vertical notch on the bottom of the top
section for removal and/or adjustment of the second vertical
upright;
a side panel having a frame connected at a right angle
to the left side of the headgate frame, the side panel also
having multiple removable vertical bars in the upper
section, with each vertical bar removable for performing
cesarean sections as well as a lower rear nursing section
secured to the frame by a pin and removable to provide
access to the rear of the cow for a suckling calf or a calf
puller, and a chain and a notched latch for further
restraining the cow; and
a detachable back gate which can be mounted to the back
of the side panel frame by way of attached rods and sleeves
to assist in the capture of the cow, swung to close behind
the cow, or lifted off to provide greater access to the rear
of the cow to assist with calving;
the entire calving panel having the ability to be mounted to
a wall or maternity pen by use of sleeves and pins located
on the right of the headgate frame and also having the
ability to pivot for easier capture of the cow or to be
swung out of the way when not in use.