Note : Les descriptions sont présentées dans la langue officielle dans laquelle elles ont été soumises.
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TITLE OF THE INVENTION:
Method of Reshaining an Animal within an Animal Squeeze, and an Animal
Squeeze.
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to a method of restraining an animal within an
animal
squeeze, and an animal squeeze constructed in accordance with the teachings of
the
method
1 o BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to animal squeezes generally, but more
particularly,
animal squeezes that are intended for use with deer. Deer are high strung
animals that tend
to become stressed and frantic to escape when confined within an animal
squeeze.
Frequently, deer become injured, as they struggle to escape.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
What is required is a better method of restraining a deer within an animal
squeeze,
and an animal squeeze constructed in accordance with the teachings of the
method.
2 o According to one aspect of the present invention there is provided an
animal
squeeze which includes a chute having a first end, a second end, sidewalls, a
floor and a
generally "V" shaped passage that extends from the first end to the second end
Means are
provided for causing relative movement of the sidewalls and the floor to
suspend an animal
in the "V" shaped passage. A pressure member is movably secured to the chute.
The
25 pressure member has an operative position exerting a substantially vertical
downward force
upon a back of an animal positioned within the chute.
According to another aspect of the invention there is provided a method of
restraining a deer within an animal squeeze. An animal squeeze is provided
having a
s o pressure member, as described above. An animal is directed into and
confined within the
chute. The animal is suspended in the "V" shaped passage by causing relative
movement
of the sidewalls and the floor. The pressure member is positioned in the
operative position
engaging a back of the animal and a restraining force exerted upon the animal
in the chute.
35 A deer suspended in a "V" shaped passage, will continue to struggle.
However,
when a pressure is exerted upon the back of the deer, the deer ceases to
struggle. This
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makes the deer much easier to work with and virtually eliminates the danger
that the deer,
by continuing to struggle, will hurt itself. Once the teachings of this method
are
understood there a various refinements that can be added to fiuther improve
the operation
of the apparatus.
The first prot~o-type has a pressure member that was pivotally mounted to one
of
the sidewalls. This pressure member pivoted a substantially horizontal pivot
axis and onto
the back of the deer. Although that configuration was workable, the back
restraint is much
more effective when the chute is constructed with an upper support structure
that overlies
to the passage, such as a ceiling. The pressure member is mounted to the upper
support
stNCture and has a substantially vertical operative position. The pressure
member is
telescopically expandable with means provided for locking the pressure in a
selected telescopic posi~on.
i 5 The preferred configuration of chute has a pair of parallel sidewalls with
opposed
wedge members extending longitudinally between the first end and the second
end to make
the passage generally "V" shaped. A drop floor is provided that is selectively
movable
between a supporting position supporting an animal and dropped position
leaving the
animal wedged between the wedge members in the generally "V" shaped passage.
20
Human access to the rear of the animal is the best way to conduct some
procedures,
such as artificial insemination. Even more beneficial results may, therefore,
be obtained
when the chute has a side entry service door large enough for a human to enter
through at
least one of the sidewalls at the first end of the chute. It is preferred that
a kick guard be
2 s positioned within the chute at an intermediate position adjacent the side
entry service door
and toward the second end. The kick guard has an operative position in a
vertical
orientation extending transversely across the chute. Beneficial results have
been obtained
when the kick guard is a pivotally mounted section of the floor. Access to
elsewhere on
the animal can be obtained by having with shuttered upper and lower access
doors in the
3 o sidewalls.
Deer are extremely quick It is, therefore, preferred that a pair of opposed
shoulders be provided that extend into the passage and block passage of an
animal at the
second end of the chute. It is also preferred that a sensor be provided that
will drop the
s s floor automatically to suspend the deer when the deer reaches a certain
point along the
chute. The use of shoulders, an automatic trigger to the drop floor or both
enables the
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head of the animal to be positioned as close as possible to the second end of
the chute.
This is desirable in order to provide access to the head for trimming antlers
and doing other
work on the animal. A combination of both makes possible having the animals
head
actually protruding from the second end of the chute. This would be very
difficult without
shoulder pads and relying solely upon human reflexes to trigger the drop
floor.
The preferred manner of releasing the animal, is have all or a porkion of one
of the
sidewalls hinged to pivot in a position widening the passage. This drops the
animal to the
ground and leaves sufficient clearance between the shoulders to exit from the
second end
i o of the chute.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THiE DRAWIhTGS
These and other features of the invention will become more apparent from the
following description in which reference is made to the appended drawings,
wherein:
i 5 FIGURE 1 is a perspective view of an animal squeeze constructed in
accordance
with the teachings of the present invention.
FIGURE 2 is a cut away perspective view of the animal squeeze illustrated in
FIGURE 1, with the floor in a drnpped position.
FIGURE 3 is a cut away perspective view of the animal squeeze illustrated in
2 o FIGURE 1, with the floor in a supporting position.
FIGURE 4 is a side elevation view of the animal squeeze illustrated in FIGURE
1, with the side entry access door open and the shutters on the upper and
lower access
doors open.
FIGURE 5 is an end elevation view of the animal squeeze illustrated in FIGURE
25 1.
FIGURE 6 is a side elevation view, in section, of the animal squeeze
illustrated in
FIGURE 1.
FIGURE 7 is a side elevation view, in section, of the animal squeeze
illustrated in
FIGURE 1.
3 o FIGURE 8 is an end elevation view of an alternative embodiment of pressure
member.
FIGURE 9 is a detailed side elevation view of the pressure member for the
animal
squeeze illustrated in FIGURE 1, in a substantially horizontal stored
position.
FIGURE 10 is a detailed side elevation view of the pressure member for the
35 animal squeeze illustrated in FIGURE 1, in a substantially vertical
operative position with
locking lever in a release position.
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FIGURE 11 is a detailed side elevation view of the pressure member for the
animal squeeze illustrated in FIGURE 1, in a substantially vertical operative
position with
locking lever in a locking position.
FIGURE 12 is an end elevation view of the animal squeeze illustrated in FIGURE
1, with sidewalls pivoted to an animal release position.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED E11!IBODIIVVIENT
The preferred embodiment, an animal squeeze generally identified by reference
numeral 10, will now be described with reference to FIGURES 1 through 12.
io
Referring to FIGURE 1, animal squeeze 10 includes a chute 12 having a first
end
14, a second end 16, and a pair of parallel opposed sidewalls 18. Referring to
FIGURE 5,
a pair of opposed wedge members 22 extends longitudinally along sidewalls 18
forming a
generally "V" shaped passage 24 that extends between first end 14 and second
end 16.
Referring to FIGURES 2 and 3, a drop floor 26 is selectively movable between a
supporting position, illustrated in FIGURE 3, supporting an animal, and a
dropped
position, illustrated in FIGURE 2. Referring to FIGURE 7, when an animal 28 is
wedged
between the wedge members 22 in the generally "V" shaped passage 24 and drop
floor 26
2 o is in the dropped position, animal 28 is supported between wedge members
22.
Referring to FIGURE 3, a sensor 112 is positioned within chute 12 and coupled
to
a release mechanism (not shown) for drop floor 26. When the presence of an
animal is
detected by sensor 112, the release mechanism is tripped and drop floor 26
drops, thereby
2 5 leaving the animal wedged in "V" shaped passage 24.
Referring to FIGURE 5, an upper support structure 20 overlies passage 24. In
the
illustrated embodiment upper support structure is a ceiling that encloses
chute 12. Upper
support structure could, however, be in the form of a single horizontal
mounting beam. A
3 o pair of opposed shoulder mountings 30 are provided for blocking movement
of an animal
through passage 24 at second end 16 of chute 12. Shoulders mountings 30 are
detachably
secured to whichever of first end 14 and second end 16 is approached by an
animal when
said animal is within chute 12. Referring to FIGURES 5 and 12, at least one of
pair of
sidewalls 18 is attached by a hinge 82 that extends laterally along a top
peripheral edge 84
35 Of sidewall 18 and along the length of chute 12 adjacent to upper support
structure 20.
Sidewall 18 connected by hinge 82 to chute 12 is pivotally movable about a
substantially
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horizontal axis, externally from chute 12, away from and toward opposite
sidewall 18, as
indicated by curved double arrow 86, between a substantially vertical closed
position
illustrated in FIGURE 5 and an angled open position illustrated in FIGURE 12.
Referring to FIGURE 12, when hinged sidewall 18 is in open position, one of
each of the
5 pair of opposed shoulder mountings 30 and wedge member 22 attached to the
same
sidewall as said shoulder mounting 30 is moved to a retracted position,
thereby widening
"V" shaped passage 24 and releasing the animal to exit from second end 16 of
chute 12.
Referring to FIGURES 2 and 3, a vertically oriented pressure member 34 is
1 o movably secured to upper support structure 20 of chute 12. Referring to
FIGURES 9
through 11, pressure member 34 has a tubular body 38, a piston 39 that extends
telescopically from body 38, and a pad 42 at a remote end 44 of piston 39.
Piston 39 is
releasably locked into a selected position relative to body 38 by means of a
cantilevered
toothed rail 40 attached at remote end 44 of piston 39 by a nut 45 and bolt
47, and a
i 5 locking lever 41, with teeth 104, pivotally attached to a collar 43
affixed to body 38.
Referring to FIGURES 9 through 11, pressure member 34 has a pivot 90 by which
body 38 is pivotally attached to a pressure member support 100 at an upper end
92 of body
38. Pressure member support 100 is rigidly attached to upper support member
20. Body
20 38 of pressure member 34 has a protruding plate 91 that is substantially
coplanar with body
38. Plate 91 has a pair of holes 94 at opposed ends of plate 91. Pressure
member 34 is
pivotally movable about pivot 90 bexween a stored position illustrated in
FIGURE 9 and
an operative position illustrated in FIGURES 10 and 11. Pressure member
support 100
includes a pin 96 that has a handle 98. Pin 96 is constrained to slide
lengthwise through a
2 5 hole 112 in a protruding pressure plate 102 ceding from pressure member
support 100.
Pin 96 is retractably inserted through one of pair of holes 94 to lock
pressure member 34
into one of stored position and operative position. Pin 94 is biased into a
position in which
said pin 94 is inserted into one of pair of holes 94 in plate 91 by a spring
(not shown) that
applies a force laterally along pin 94 by exerting an opposing force against
pressure plate
30 102. Pressure member 34 is released from stored position illustrated in
FIGURE 9 by
pulling handle 98 to retract pin 96 from upper hole 94 in plate 91. Pressure
member 34 is
then free to move pivotally about pivot 90 and descend to operating position
illustrated in
FIGURES 10 and 11. Handle 98 is released and pressure from the spring forces
pin 96
into lower hole 94 in plate 91, thereby securing pressure member 34 in the
operating
35 position. Pressure member 34 is released from operating position by pulling
handle 98 to
release pin 96 from lower hole 94, thereby allowing pressure member 34 to be
moved to
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the stored position and locked in said stored position by pin 96 engaging
upper hole 94 of
plate 91.
When pressure member 34 is in the operating position, said pressure member is
telescopically expandable from a retracted position, illustrated in FIGURE 2,
to an
operative position, illustrated in FIGURE 3. Referring to FIGURES 10 and 11,
locking
lever 41 is pivotally movable between a released position illustrated in
FIGURE 10 and a
locked position illustrated in FIGURE 11. Referring to FIGURE 10, when locking
lever
41 is in released position teeth 104 do not engage toothed rail 40, thereby
allowing piston
10 39 to move freely in a coaxial direction relative to body 38, as indicated
by a double arrow
106. Referring to FIGURE 11, when pad 42 is at a selected distance from upper
support
structure 20, locking lever 41 is raised and teeth 104 engage toothed rail 40
to lock piston
39 in position relative to body 38. Locking lever 41 is locked into a raised
position by a
locking member 108 that engages a catch 110 on lever 41.
Referring to FIGURE 7, when pressure member 34 is extended it exerts a
substantially vertical downward force upon a back 36 of animal 28 positioned
within chute
12. Pressure member 34 is locked in a selected telescopic position, as
illustrated in
FIGURE 11. There are various means by which this can be accomplished, of which
one
2 o means that has been found to be effective is described above with
reference to FIGURES
9 through 11.
Referring to FIGURE 8, an alternative embodiment of animal squeeze 60 includes
a chute 12 essentially similar to chute 12 of the above embodiment of animal
squeeze 10.
25 Alternative embodiment 60 differs from animal squeeze 10 in that pressure
member 34 of
animal squeeze 10 is replaced by a pressure bar 62 pivotally mounted at an
intermediate
height 64 on one of sidewalls 18. Pressure bar 62 has a member 68 that has a
length
sufficiently long that pressure bar 62 extends laterally across chute 12 and
through an
opening 69 in opposite sidewall 18. A pad 70 is mounted on an underside 72 of
member
30 68. Pressure bar 62 has an inoperative position, held up by hook 66, as
indicated by dashed
lines. When an animal is constrained by wedge members 30 within chute 12,
pressure bar
is detached from hook 66 and moved to the operative position in which pad 70
applies a
restraining pressure on back 36 of animal 28. Pressure bar 62 is retained in
the operative
position by a catch 74.
35
Referring to FIGURE 1, a side entry service door 46 is provided which is large
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enough for a human to enter chute 10 through one of sidewalls 18 at first end
14 of chute
12. Referring to FIGURES 6 and 7, kick guard 48 has an operative position in a
vertical
orientation extending transversely across chute 12 adjacent side entry service
door 46 at
first end 14 and toward second end 16. Referring to FIGURE 7, when kick guard
48 is in
5 the operative position it is positioned between animal 28 and a region S 1
at first end 14 of
chute 12 into which a human can enter to perform work on animal 28, thereby
preventing
animal 28 from kicking the human. In a preferred embodiment, kick guard 48 is
a
pivotally mounted section of drop floor 26.
1 o Referring to FIGURE 1, sidewalls 18 of chute 12 have shuttered upper and
lower
access doors 50. Shuttered doors 50 have openings 52 through which an animal
28 in
chute 12 can be viewed. Referring to FIGURE 4, shuttered doors 50 can be
opened to
allow a human to perform work on an animal 28 within chute 12.
i s A method of restraining a deer within an animal squeeze will now be
described
with reference to FIGURES 1 through 12. An animal squeeze 10, as described
above is
provided. Drop floor 26 is in the raised position, as illustrated in FIGURE 3.
Hinged
sidewall 18 is in the closed position, as illustrated in FIGURE 5. Pressure
member 34 is in
the stored position, as illustrated in FIGURE 9. Animal 28 is directed through
first end 14
2 o into chute 12. Animal 28 moves through chute 12 until its forward progress
is impeded by
shoulders 30. Sensor 112 detects the presence of animal 28, and triggers the
drop floor
release mechanism. Drop floor 26 drops to a dropped position, as illustrated
in FIGURE
2, leaving animal 28 suspended in "V" shaped passage 24 by wedge members 22 as
illustrated in FIGURE 7. Animal 28 will continue to struggle, even though
suspended.
2 5 Pressure member 34 is then positioned vertically in the operative position
and lever 41 is
moved to the released position, as illustrated in FIGURE 10. Support member 34
is
telescopically extended , as illustrated in FIGURE 11, until pad 42 engages
back 36 of
animal 28 as illustrated in FIGURE 7. Lever 41 is moved to the upright
vertical position
and locked in said position by locking member 108, thereby applying a
restraining force on
3 o back 36 of animal 28. It has been found that, when pad 42 exerts a
restraining force upon
back 36 of animal 28, animal 28 stops struggling. Kick guard 48 is raised as
indicated by
curved arrow 60 into the operative position, as illustrated in FIGURE 6,
thereby
preventing animal 28 from kicking into region 51 of chute 12, as illustrated
in FIGURE 7.
A human can enter region 51 of chute 12 through service door 46, illustrated
in
35 FIGURES 1 and 4, to work at a rear end 54 of animal 28 illustrated in
FIGURE 7. A
human can access a head 56 or an underside 58 of animal 28, illustrated in
FIGURE 7, by
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opening shuttered doors 50, as illustrated in FIGURE 4. When the work to be
performed
on animal 28 has been completed, hinged sidewall 18 is moved pivotally away
from the
opposed sidewall 18, as illustrated in FIGURE 12. Wedge member 22 and shoulder
30
attached to hinged sidewall 18 are thereby moved to a retracted position,
whereby passage
24 is widened, and the animal is released. Animal 28 slips freely to drop
floor 26 and exits
chute 12 through second end 16.
It should be noted that when the pressure member is said to be brought down
upon
the back of the animal, the term back is intended to be used in the broadest
sense to
i o encompass those areas along the top of the animal that include the
shoulders and the hips.
Although one pressure member is illustrated, more than one could be used
effectively. It
has been found that a single pressure member positioned at the midpoint of the
back has
the desired effect. If one of the pressure members is not positioned at the
midpoint of the
back, it is possible for the animal to arch its back. If the animal can arch
its back, it is able
i 5 to release itself from the force of peripheral pressure members. There is
also a danger that
in arching its back, its legs will strike each other and cause injury.
Once the teachings of the present invention are understood, it will be
appreciated
that there are various ways of hinging all or a portion of one of the
sidewalls to widen the
2 o passage to release the animal. For example, a portion of the sidewall at
the second end of
the passage could be pivoted about a substantially vertical axis.
It will be apparent to one skilled in the art that modifications may be made
to the
illustrated embodiment without departing finm the spirit and scope of the
invention as
2 5 hereinafter defined in the Claims.
