Note : Les descriptions sont présentées dans la langue officielle dans laquelle elles ont été soumises.
CA 02268486 1999-04-13
TITLE OF THE INVENTION
Livestock weight estimation device
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to calipers and more particularly to a
livestock weight estimation caliper device.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
Measuring the weight of livestock animals is a long and difficult task.
A farmer must put each animal one at a time on a large expensive scale usually
having a cage. It is important for farmers to know the weight of livestock in
order
to categorize the animals according to government regulations and market value
hence, farmers will regularly measure and keep track of the weight of
livestock.
The farmer does not need to know the precise weight of an animal but must be
able to categorize it in a given weight range.
Prior methods consist of using scales which as aforementioned is a
long, difficult and expensive task especially if the livestock of a farmer is
of a
large quantity. The prior art has not taken into account the correlation
between
dimension and weight. Taking the dimension of an object will not give us the
exact weight thereof but will indicate an estimated weight range with an
acceptable margin of error. It must be noted that the weight-dimension
correlation of a given type of object must be first understood so that
appropriate
weight estimations can be assigned to respective sizes.
OBJECTS OF THE INVENTION
The general object of the invention is to provide a caliper device that
can take the dimension of an object and indicate the dimension on a scale
marked
on the device.
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Another object of the present invention is to provide a caliper device
for estimating the weight of livestock.
A further object of the present invention is to provide a livestock
weight estimation device wherein the weight of livestock is estimated
according to
the width of the rib cage of an animal.
Yet another object of the present invention is to provide a livestock
weight estimation device that is placed on the back of an animal and actuated
to
grip its sides thereby indicating the estimated weight of the animal.
Yet a further object of the present invention is to provide a livestock
weight estimation device wherein the weight of an animal is estimated with an
acceptable margin of error taking into account the inhaling and exhaling of
the
animal.
Still another object of the present invention is to provide a livestock
weight estimation device which, that can quickly and easily be used and which
is
relatively inexpensive.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
A caliper for taking the dimension of an object comprising:
first and second straight elongated parallel members assembled together
for relative longitudinal movement;
an object engaging abutment secured to one end of the first member;
a pair of caliper arms pivotally carried by the one end of the first member
on each side of the abutment for closing movement towards each other
transversely of the first member from an open limit position to an object
engaging
position in which the spacing between the outer end portions of the caliper
arms
is equal to the dimension;
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link devices connecting the second member to the caliper arms to cause
the closing movement upon manually moving the second member relative to the
first member towards the abutment;
graduations marked along the second member; and
a cursor carried by the first member, the graduations being displaced
relative to the cursor upon movement of the second member relative to the
first
member.
Preferably, the link devices include a pair of caliper arm extensions
secured at their inner end to the respective caliper arms, extending away from
the abutment along each side of the members and flaring in the direction of
their
free end portions and a spreader secured to the second member and slidably
engaging the caliper arm extensions to cause their spreading and consequent
closing movement of the caliper arms upon the movement of the second member
towards the abutment.
Preferably, the caliper arm extensions are pivotally secured to the
caliper arms at their inner ends and further including length adjustable stays
connecting said caliper arms to said caliper arm extensions to adjust the
angle
between the caliper arms and their respective caliper arm extension and
therefore to select the graduation which positions opposite the cursor for any
given spacing between the outer end portions of the caliper arms.
A caliper according to the present invention further including an
adjustment device to adjust the positions of the pivot connection of each
caliper
arm extension to its caliper arm transversely of the members to adjust the
extent
of pivotal movement of the caliper arms for a given amount of movement of the
second member relative to the first member
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Preferably, the outer end portions of the caliper arms are arc-shape
hand members pivotable about axes parallel to the pivotal axes of the caliper
arms to the first member.
Preferably, the cursor is distinct from the first member and has a
friction fit with the second member to remain positioned on the second member
when the latter is moved away from the abutment.
Preferably, the members are telescopically assembled, the second
member surrounding the first member and having a longitudinal slot, the first
member having a second end located within the second member, the cursor
extending through the slot and having an outer graduation reading portion and
an
inner portion releasably engageable by the second end of the first member, and
a
handle formed on the second member.
A caliper according to the present invention is preferably designed
to take the width of the rib cage of an animal, the graduations indicating the
weight of the animal.
Alternately, the graduations are a series of lights longitudinally
aligned and carried by the second member. Each light has a respective switch,
biased to the off position, mounted on the inner side of the second member so
as
to be turned to the on position one at a time when the second member is moved
towards the abutment by a switch engaging protrusion carried by the second end
of the first member and forming said cursor. Alternately, the members are
telescopically assembled, with the second member surrounding the first member
and carrying a clock-like gauge with the graduations marked thereon, the clock-
like gauge further carrying a pivotable arrow-shaped indicator and having a
spiral
slot. The cursor being distinct from the first member and frictionally fitted
to the
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spiral slot extending there though and having an outer graduation reading
portion
and a second outer portion engageable by the arrow shaped indicator. The
arrow shaped indicator connected to a pivot carried by the inside of the first
member, a pivoting system acting on the pivot to consequently turn arrow
shaped
indicator when moving the first member towards the abutment, causing the
cursor
to be displaced by the arrow shaped indicator along the spiral slot from an
outermost portion to a centermost portion thereof and relative to the
graduations
hence, indicating a graduation.
Preferably, the pivoting system comprises a pinion carried by the
pivot, the pinion being engaged by a complementary toothed rack carried by the
second end of the first member, the pinion being rollingly displaced along the
rack when moving the second member towards the abutment hence, acting on
the pivot to turn the arrow shaped indicator.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
In the annexed drawings, like reference characters indicate like
elements throughout.
Figure 1 is a front view of one embodiment of the present invention;
Figures 2 and 2a are sectional views along lines 2-2 and 2a-2a of
Fig. 1 respectively;
Figure 3 is a front view of the same embodiment as in
Fig. 1;
Figure 4 is a perspective view of the top portion of the device;
Figure 5 is a front view partially in longitudinal section, of the top
portion of another embodiment of the present invention;
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Figure 6 is a front view partially in longitudinal section, of the top
portion of a further embodiment of the present invention;
Figure 6a is a broken side view of Fig. 6; and
Figure 7 is a perspective (view) of the cursor used in the
embodiment of Figs. 6 and 6a.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS
Referring to Fig 1 the present weight estimation device 10 being a
caliper is shown having inner and outer straight telescoping members 12 and 14
respectively assembled together for relative longitudinal movement. The outer
member 14 is upstanding from and surrounds the inner member 12 and is tubular
to fit the first member 12 therein during relative longitudinal movement and
also
has a longitudinal slot 16 along which are marked graduations 18. A cursor 20
is
fitted in slot 16 and extends therethrough with an inner portion releasably
and
frictionally engaging the wall of outer member 14 and having an outer
graduation
reading portion 21. The inner member 12 has an object engaging abutment 22 at
its lower end 24 and an upper end 26 located within the outer member as shown
in Fig. 2 below cursor 20 and acting as a cursor stop to maintain cursor 20 at
a
predetermined position when outer member 14 is moved down towards abutment
22. The top end 26 of inner member 12 forms a curved outer portion 27,
outwardly extending of slot 16 and also acting as a graduation reading element
if
cursor 20 is not used.
A pair of caliper arms 28, 30 are pivotally carried by the inner
member 12 at each side of abutment 22 for closing movement towards each
other, transversely of first member 12, from an open limit position to an
object
engaging position. The caliper arms 28, 30 are pivoted by pivot pins 31 and
carry
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at their free ends 32 arc shape hand members 34, 36 which are pivotable about
axes parallel to the pivotal axes 31 of the caliper arms 28, 30 to the inner
members 12 and which provide for securely gripping an object, preferably
livestock. Each arm 28, 30 has a respective caliper arm extension 38, 40
attached at their inner end by a pin 42 to a respective caliper arm 28, 30 and
extending away from abutment 22 along each side of inner and outer members
12, 14 flaring in the direction of their free end portions 44.
As more clearly shown in Fig. 4 the present invention further
includes a handle 46 formed on the outer member 14, for manual movement
thereof, and upstanding from a spreader 48 also secured to the outer member
14. Spreader 48 slideably engages caliper arm extensions 38, 40 by means of
rollers 50, 52 to cause their spreading and consequent closing movement of the
caliper arms 28, 30 upon downward movement of the outer member 14 towards
the abutment 22.
Pins 42 extend through slots 54 and their position can be adjusted
therein by turnbuckles 56. Turnbuckles 58 attached to caliper arms 28, 30 and
to
their respective extension 38, 40 serve to adjust the angle defined by the
same.
A tension spring 60 attached at 62 to caliper extensions 38, 40 serve to bias
the
two caliper arms 38, 40 to open position.
Preferably, the present invention is used to estimate the weight of
farm animals such as pigs, for example. Preferably, the graduations 18 are
weight graduations with the smallest weight being marked at the lowest
graduation 18a and the greatest weight marked at the highest graduation 18b
along graduations 18. The user can estimate the weight of a farm animal as in
Fig. 3 by moving cursor 20 down to abut top end 26 of inner member 12, placing
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abutment 22 on the back of animal P and positioning hand members 34, 36
around the rib cage of animal P, while caliper arms 28, 30 are in their open
position, while holding the device 10 by handle 46 in order to stabilize it.
Preferably, abutment 22 and hand members 34, 36 have rubber or other soft
material on their engaging surfaces in order to avoid irritating animal P. The
user
can then proceed to manually move, as illustrated by arrow A, the outer member
14 towards abutment 22 with handle 46; as outer member 14, descends spreader
48 will spread extensions 38, 40, illustrated by arrows B, closing arms 28,
30,
illustrated by arrows C, from their open position to a position where hand
members 34, 36 firmly and fully grip the rib cage of the animal such that the
distance between hand members 34, 36 is equal to the size of the rib cage
hence, taking the width thereof.
Furthermore, when the outer member 14 is moved towards
abutment 22 , slot 16 and weight graduations 18 will be displaced relative to
cursor 20 to a position determined by caliper arms 28, 30 having closed to
take
the width of the rib cage. Since cursor 20 is distinct from inner member 12,
frictionally engaged within slot 16, it will be stopped by top end 26 and
extension
27 (see Fig. 2) of inner member 12 and will not be displaced along with outer
member 14 as the latter moves towards abutment 22. It must be noted that
cursor 20 is initially pushed down, before using device 10, against top end 26
and
extension 27 of inner member 12. Therefore, when the width of the rib cage has
been taken the user can lift up the second member 14 as the weight estimation
device 10 is removed from the animal and cursor 20 will be in a new position,
illustrated by arrow D, along slot 16 opposite the appropriate weight
graduation,
indicating the estimated weight of animal P. Telescoping first and second
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members 12, 14 are releasably yet tightly assembled so as to avoid their
disassembly when user lifts second member. Second member 14 also includes a
top end loop 64 so that the user can hang the present weight estimation device
on a hook when finished. The present device 10 is accessible to a variety of
animal sizes by the length adjustable stays 56, 58. Preferably the present
livestock weight estimation device is made out of strong plastic material
making it
both durable and light to carry.
The present invention has considered the correlation between the
width of the rib cage of farm animals such as pigs and their weight and has
assigned appropriate weight estimations to a respective rib cage size. Device
10
provides the user to estimate the weight of a farm animal with a margin of
error
no greater than 10%, the margin of error having taken the exhaling or inhaling
of
the animal into account.
Fig. 5 illustrates another embodiment of the present invention
wherein outer member 14 carries a series of outer longitudinally aligned
lights 66
along weight graduations 18 with each light 66 opposite a respective
graduation
18. Each light 66 has a switch 68 carried on the inner side of outer member 14
and biased to the off position. As outer member 14 is manually moved towards
abutment 22, when taking the width of the rib cage of an animal, switches 68
are
successively turned to the on position by a switch engaging protrusion 70
carried
by the top end 26 of inner member 12. The powered light 66 marks a given
weight graduation estimated according to the width, as taken by caliper arms
28,
30, of the rib cage of an animal P. Hence, the light will act as a cursor
indicating
the appropriate weight graduation. A battery 72 to power the lights 66 via
wires
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74 is preferably carried in the top of outer member 14 near loop 54 allowing
the
user easy access in order to replace battery 72 when need be.
In a further embodiment shown in figs, 6, 6a, the outer member 14
carries a circular panel 76 with graduations 78 marked thereon in a circle.
Panel
76 is formed with a spiral slot 80. A graduation indicator arm 82 is carried
in front
of panel 76 by an arm shaft 84 journalled at 85 and disposed across outer
tubular
member 14 at the center of the graduations circle. A flexible small cursor 78,
having a shape similar to cursor 20, hereabove described and more clearly
shown in Fig. 7, is fitted in spiral slot 80 extending therethrough with its
inner
notched portion 88 releasably and frictionally engaging spiral slot 80, to be
displaced along the spiral slot 80 by arm 82, and having an outer graduation
reading portion 90 which can be bent to clear the latter during its rotation
in one
direction. Arm 82 is also flexible to facilitate this clearance. A block 92
protrudes
from one side of reading portion 90 to overlap and lock with arm 82 in the
other
rotational direction of arm 82. Shaft 84 also carries a pinion 94 which is
engaged
by a complementary toothed rack 96 carried by the inner member 12 and
extending upwardly inside outer member 14.
When the user will take the dimension of an object as disclosed
herein, second member 14 will be moved towards abutment 22 (arrow E) causing
pinion 94 to be rotated by rack 96. Arm 90 will rotate in the direction of
arrow F,
which will displace cursor 86 along the spiral slot 80, since it is locked to
cursor
86 by block 92 of cursor 86. The spiral slot 80 provides for arm 90 to make
many
turns about the clock-like panel 80 while displacing cursor 86 along spiral
slot 80
towards the center of clock-like panel 80 hence, as cursor 86 is displaced
from
the outermost portion of the spiral slot 80 to the centermost portion, the
user can
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see how many turns arm 82 has made at that given point. When the width of the
object has been taken the user can lift outer member 14 as the present device
10
is removed from the given object. Arm 82 then rotates in the opposite
direction
and clears cursor 86 at each turn, allowing cursor 86 to stay in place. The
user
can evaluate a measurement after taking the dimension of an object, such as
the
estimated weight of a farm animal according the size of its rib cage,
according to
the position of the cursor 86 along the spiral slot 80 and relative to
graduations
86. It must be noted that the cursor 86 must be placed at an initial position
by the
user depending on the assigned graduation system.
Although the embodiments of the present invention have been
described with a certain degree of particularity they have been so by way of
example only of the principles of the present invention and not as a
limitation
thereto hence, it must be understood that the invention disclosed herein
includes
further variations, modifications and embodiments within the scope and spirit
of
claims.
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