Note: Descriptions are shown in the official language in which they were submitted.
CA 02278955 1999-07-23
ANIMAL CONTAINMENT PANELLING
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
This invention relates to an animal containment panelling which is
portable and adjustable for supporting the panelling on various types of
terrain.
BACKGROUND
The use of portable panelling for containing animals is known. These
panels generally comprise of a frame and connecting elements at respective
ends of
the frame for interconnecting the panels to form an animal holding pen. Known
panels which are arranged to be interconnected have limited adjustability of
the
connecting elements between adjacent panels such that the panels are not
fitted
securely together on terrain which is not adequately flat and free of
irregularities. An
example of this is when the panels are used in barns where solid wastes are
allowed
to accumulate, creating a hump in the middle of the barn. The panels of the
formed
pen are not adequately secured to the ground or to each other for properly
ensuring
that the animals are contained within the pen.
SUMMARY
According to the present invention there is provided a panel element for
connection to similar panel elements for forming an animal containment
enclosure,
the panel element comprising:
an upright panel structure having first and second generally upright
ends;
a mounting element mounted on the panel structure adjacent the first
end of the panel structure, the mounting element being arranged to connect to
the
second end of an adjacent panel element having a similar configuration; and
adjustable mounting means mounting the mounting element on the
panel structure such that the mounting element is able to connect to an
adjacent
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panel element which is vertically and angularly offset from the panel element.
There may be provided a mounting element and adjustable mounting
means on both ends of the panel structure for further accommodating variations
in the
terrain between adjacent panel elements. The adjustable mounting means allows
two
panel elements to be securely fastened together despite differences in ground
elevation as well as differences in ground inclination between adjacent panel
elements.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
In the accompanying drawings, which illustrate an exemplary
embodiment of the present invention:
Figure 1 is a front elevational view of one of the panel elements.
Figure 2 is a top plan view of one of the panel elements.
Figure 3A and 3B are respective side and front elevational views of the
mounting member on one side of the panel element.
Figure 4 is a side elevational view of the panel element.
Figure 5 is a side elevational view of a central mounting member of the
panel element.
Figure 6 is a side elevational view of a gate post.
Figure 7 is a front elevational view of a gate.
Figure 8 is a front elevational view of a ground penetrating spike.
Figure 9 is a top plan view of a plurality of panel elements connected
together to form a pen with the gate mounting thereon.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
Referring to the accompanying drawings, there is illustrated an animal
holding pen generally indicated by reference numeral 10. The holding pen 10 is
portable and assembled from panel elements 12. The panel elements 12 allow the
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pen 10 to be assembled in numerous arrangements for various desired shapes and
sizes of the pen.
Each panel element 12 includes a bottom bar 16 arranged to extend
substantially horizontally spaced upward from the ground and a top bar 18
which is
parallel and spaced upward from the bottom bar. The top and bottom bars 16 and
18
are tubular rigid members connected at a first end 20 by a first end post 22
and
connected at a second end 24 by a second end post 26.
A plurality of uprights 28 extend between the top and bottom bars 16, 18
similarly to the end posts 22, 26 at spaced locations along the top and bottom
bars. A
plurality of cross members 30 extend between the end posts 22, 26 at spaced
locations along the end posts for additional support. The uprights 28 and the
cross
members 30 form a frame structure for each panel element for containing the
animals
within the pen.
The ends of the bottom bar 16 are supported above the ground by a pair
legs 32 extending downward from respective ends of the bottom bar for engaging
the
ground. A pair of flat bars 34 are mounted on the bottom end of each leg 32 to
extend
laterally outward at an angle towards the opposite end of the panel element.
The flat
bars 34 provide the necessary support for mounting the panel element in an
upright
position on the ground. The inclination of the flat bars 34 ensures that they
will not
interfere with the flat bars of an adjacent panel element when two panel
elements are
mounted end to end, even if the panel elements are not mounted co-linearly. A
strap
36 extends from a free end of each flat bar 34 at an upward incline to the
bottom bar
16 for supporting the free ends of the flat bars.
A mounting member 38 is mounted adjacent both the first and second
end posts 22 and 26. The mounting members are arranged for mounting the end of
the panel element to the end of an adjacent panel element.
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At the first end 20 of the panel element, the mounting member 38 is an
upright tubular member. A free end of a mounting post 40 is slidably received
in
respective top and bottom ends of the mounting member 38 for supporting the
mounting member thereon. Each mounting post 40 is pivotally mounted at an end
opposite to the free end between a pair of mounting plates 42.
At a top end 44 of the mounting member, the mounting plates 42 extend
outward from an end of a top slide member 46. The top slide member 46 is
inserted
into the corresponding end of the top bar 18 for sliding motion therein such
that a
horizontal spacing between the top end of the mounting member and the end post
is
adjustable. A locking pin 48 is inserted through co-operating apertures in a
top side of
the top bar 18 and the top slide member 46 for securing the slide member in
place.
At a bottom end 50 of the mounting member, the mounting plates 42
extend outward from an end of a bottom slide member 52. The bottom slide
member
52 is inserted into the corresponding end of the bottom bar 16 for sliding
motion
therein such that a horizontal spacing between the bottom end of the mounting
member and the end post is adjustable. A locking pin 54 is inserted through co-
operating apertures in a top side of the bottom bar 16 and the bottom slide
member
52 for securing the slide member in place.
At the second end 24 of the panel element, the mounting member 38 is
an upright tubular member which is pivotally mounted at the bottom end 50
between
the pair of mounting plates 42 which extend from the end of the bottom slide
member
52 without the use of the mounting post as does the first side. The top end 44
of the
mounting member is mounted similarly to the mounting member which is adjacent
to
the first end.
The top and bottom slide members 46, 52 permit the mounting members
to be pivoted within a vertical plane for adjusting an angle between the
mounting
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members and the respective end posts 22, 26. As the mounting members are
pivoted
the mounting posts are free to slide within the corresponding mounting members
for
adjusting the length of the mounting members as the angles between the
mounting
members and the corresponding end posts are adjusted. Adjustment of the angle
between the mounting members and the corresponding end posts allows adjustment
of an angle between an adjacent pair of interconnecting panel elements about a
generally horizontal axis. The mounting posts also accommodate variations in
ground
elevation between adjacent panel elements when two panel elements are
connected
together by permitting upward and downward displacement of the mounting
members
relative to the corresponding end post.
A pair of upright sockets 56 are mounted spaced apart on the mounting
member 38 adjacent the first end 20 of the panel. A pair of upright engaging
pins 58
are mounted spaced apart on the mounting member 38 which is adjacent to the
second end 24 of the panel. The sockets 56 are arranged to receive the
respective
engaging pins 58 of an adjacent panel element therein for securing a pair of
panel
elements together end to end.
In use, two panel elements are connected together by inserting the
engaging pins of one panel element into the sockets of another. The locking
pins 48
are removed for adjusting the top and bottom slide members. The top and bottom
slide members are then secured in place once the panel elements have been
levelled
to accommodate any variations or inclinations in ground elevation.
A central mounting member 60 is arranged to extend between the top
and bottom bars 16, 18 at any of numerous locations along the bars. The
central
mounting member 60 is a tubular member arranged to have mounting posts 62
inserted into respective ends similarly to the mounting members 38. The outer
end 64
of each mounting post 62 is pivotally mounted between a pair of mounting
plates 66
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which extend from a bracket 68 at a corresponding top and bottom end of
central
mounting member 60. The brackets 68 are U-shaped members which extend around
the respective top and bottom bars 16, 18 and are secured in place by
fasteners
which connect between the free ends of the U-shaped members. A pair of sockets
70
are mounted spaced apart on the central mounting member 60 for mounting an end
of
an additional panel element thereon by inserting the engaging pins 58 of the
additional panel element into the sockets. The additional panel element may
extend
at numerous angles transversely to the panel element having the central
mounting
member mounted thereon.
A gate 72 is provided having a pair of upright end posts 74 being
mounted parallel and spaced apart. A top member 76 and a bottom member 78
extend between the end posts 74 at respective top and bottom ends of the end
posts.
A plurality of cross members 80 provide structural support to the gate. The
end post
74 at a first end 82 of the gate includes a pair of sockets 84 mounted spaced
apart
thereon for mounting the gate on a pair of engaging pins 58 of one of the
panel
elements. The sockets 84 are located on the end post such that the bottom
member
78 is spaced upward from the ground when the gate is mounted on the panel
element. The gate 72 is free to pivot with the sockets 84 about the engaging
pins 58
for opening and closing the gate when the gate is mounted in a pen as shown in
Figure 9. A second end 86 of the gate includes a mounting member 88 having a
pair
of engaging pins 90 thereon and being adjustably mounted on the end post
similarly
to the panel elements as described above. The engaging pins 90 on the second
end
86 of the gate allow the gate to be mounted to an end of one of the panels.
The
adjustability of the mounting member 88 ensures that the second end of the
gate can
be adequately secured even when the ground supporting the panel elements
thereon
is not level.
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An end support 92 is provided having a main post 94 supported at a
bottom end on the ground. A pair feet 96 extend laterally outward from
opposite sides
of the bottom end of the post 94. The feet 96 are flat, rigid members being
supported
at an outer end by a pair of straps 98 extending between the respective outer
ends of
the feet and the main post. A pair of handles 100 extend laterally outward
from
respective sides of the main post adjacent a top end of the post. The handles
100 are
U-shaped members connected at respective ends to the main post so as to form a
loop for gripping. A pair of engaging pins 102 are mounted spaced apart on the
main
post for engaging a pair of sockets at an end of the gate 72 or at an end of
one of the
panel elements 12. The end support 92 provides additional support at an end
the
gate or panel element and provides a convenient handle for lifting the end of
the gate
or panel element and moving it as desired.
A ground spike 104 is provided having a penetrating end 106 for
penetrating into the ground and a flanged end 108 having a flange 110
extending
radially therefrom for being supported adjacent a top surface of the ground.
The spike
104 is penetrated into the ground adjacent to the flat bars 34 of the panel
elements
such that the flange 110 extends across a top face of the flat bars and
further
supports the panel elements in an upright position on the ground.
The adjustable mounting of the mounting members on the panel
elements can be adapted to all types of animal containment panelling such as
corral
panels or panels for use with hogs. In either case the mounting members
provide a
secure mounting means between two adjacent panels regardless of differences in
ground elevation and ground inclination between adjacent panels.
In another arrangement, only one end of each panel element includes
one of the mounting members 38 mounted thereon for adjustably mounting the
panel
element to adjacent panels. The other end of the panel includes either the
sockets 70
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or engaging pins 58 mounted directly onto the corresponding end post 22 or 26.
In
use, the panel elements are mounted with each adjustable end being connected
to a
fixed end of an adjacent panel element such that each connection between two
adjacent panel elements includes an adjustable mounting member 38
therebetween.
In another embodiment, a kit is used far the conversion of a
conventional panel element having fixed end posts to a panel element similar
to those
described above having an adjustable mounting member at one or both ends of
the
panel element. The kit comprises mainly of bottom and top bars similar to the
bottom
and top bars 16, 18 of the panel elements described above. The bottom and top
bars
of the kit are welded adjacent one side of the conventional panel element in a
similar
orientation as those described above for similarly mounting a mounting member
38
adjacent one or both ends of the conventional panel element. The kit can also
be
adapted to all types of panel elements such as corral panels and panels for
containing
hogs.
While some embodiments of the present invention have been described
in the foregoing, it is to be understood that other embodiments are possible
within the
scope of the invention. The invention is to be considered limited solely by
the scope
of the appended claims.
