AU1064497A

AU1064497A - Excrement holder for domestic quadrupeds

Info

Publication number: AU1064497A
Application number: AU10644/97A
Authority: AU
Inventors: William John Mcnamara
Original assignee: EQUISAN LOGISTICS Pty Ltd
Current assignee: EQUISAN LOGISTICS Pty Ltd
Priority date: 1994-11-17
Filing date: 1996-12-13
Publication date: 1997-07-03
Anticipated expiration: 2014-11-17
Also published as: AU725205C; AU725205B2

Description

EXCREMENT HOLDER FOR DOMESTIC QUADRUPEDS BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

This invention relates to the catching and containment of urine and other excrement of horses and other quadrupeds, ad disclosed in the receptacle/system of the present inventor's

International Patent Application PCT/AU94/00704 (International publication WO 95/1 3695) and hereinafter sometimes called "the earlier disclosure".

The lastmentioned shows a flexible elongated pouch substantially conformable to the animal's belly and extendible forwardly from the rear to or towards the rib area, and fastening means enabling the animal to carry the pouch

In another aspect the earlier disclosure shows a system for catching equidae excrement that would otherwise foul the floor or the ground in stables, yards, paddocks or the like, and for enabling such matter to be conveniently disposed of as when and where required, including fastening means, a rear catcher bag for relatively solid matter and a forward compartment for receiving and retaining relatively fluent matter, such that the total weight of the system and contents is distributed along a substantial portion of the animal's body Means may be provided for draining fluent material from the forward compartment Non-return valve means such as shown in Figs. 1 5, 1 6 and 1 7 of the earlier disclosure may admit fluid excrement to the forward compartment There is also disclosed, irrespective of the provision of such non-return valve means, a mesh filter or other device in the pouch for preferentially passing relatively fluent material DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

According to the present invention in one aspect, such a filter is advantageously provided in a female version of the device,

(e.g for a mare) in the form of a mesh or the like, with a removable plug in the bottom of the pouch affording access to the mesh for cleaning or replacement.

In another aspect of the present invention, a front part of the pouch contains a bladder of relatively flexible material, which bladder in effect, constitutes the forward compartment referred to in the earlier disclosure. The fluid admission and drainage means, be they valves or otherwise, may form part of or be incorporated in the bladder itself . The bladder relates to the pouch in much the same manner as does a flexible, liquid-retention bag inside a relatively rigid holder or supporting box, as in a "wine-cask" for example.

The bladder may be such as to be easily removed, repaired or replaced as necessary or desired. For this purpose the roof of the forward part of the pouch may be openable as a fly, and provided with a "VELCRO" or like fastening.

The provision of such a bladder and/or mesh may avoid the need for a rear funnel valve such as shown in the earlier disclosure.

According to a further aspect of the present invention the rear part of the device is provided with an upward cowl-like extension, preferably of openwork or other lightweight material, to fit over the rear part of the animals' back and thereby form, in effect, part of the pouch support. This feature can both improve the conformity of fit of the device and would be conducive to the animal's comfort.

DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

But in order that the invention may be better understood reference will now be made to the accompanying annotated drawings which are to be considered as part of this specification and read herewith . In the drawings:-

Fig 1 shows practical embodiment of manure/urine catcher and holder device in accordance with the invention fastened to a horse e.g. a stallion; Fig. 2 is a rear view of the horse and device shown in Fig.

1 ;

Fig . 3 is an inside perspective view of the rear of the pouch and extension shown in Figs. 1 and 2;

Fig 4 is a perspective view of the front of the pouch shown in Figs 1 to 3, for a mare;

Fig 5 is a longitudinal section of the pouch part shown in Fig. 4,

Fig. 6 is a view similar to Fig. 5 but for a male animal, fro which urine is excreted separately from manure. Referring to the drawings in more detail, there are shown manure/urine catcher and holder devices adapted for both male and female horses.

As shown generally in Fig. 1 , the excrement catcher/holder system for both male and female animals is in the form of a flexible elongated trough shaped pouch indicated generally by the numeral 1 0 substantially conformable to the animal's belly extending forwardly from the rear or towards the rib area.

The device is adapted to catch excrement that would otherwise foul the floor or the ground in stables, yards, paddocks or the like, and enables the excrement to be conveniently disposed of as and where required.

Pouch 1 0 may be made of any suitably strong, flexible and substantially waterproof material, such as a combination of plastics, hessian and rubber. The pouch may be fastened to the horse by supporting means, e.g adjustable straps or harness such as 1 2 of expandable lightweight or webbing material whereby the animal's freedom of movement will not be restricted unduly Plastics clamps and/or quick-release clips may be used as required The supporting means for the device may also include a cover or rug 14 with neck and breast straps 1 6 and 1 8 respectively

The rear part of the device is provided with an upward cowl-like extension 20, preferably of openwork or other lightweight material, adapted to fit over the rear part of the animal's back and thereby form, in effect, part of the pouch support

The support as a whole is capable of distributing the total weight of the system and contents along a substantial portion of the animal's body e.g via straps associated with the rump, thigh, back, breast and/or shoulder areas. Opening 22 affords passage to bag 24 which is the (or a) main part of the system Extending above opening 22, a rear part 26 of pouch 1 0 defines an aperture 34 for the animal's tail Usually the animal will lift its tail somewhat at the onset of a manure (or urination, in the case of a female) cycle The arrangement of 26 and 28 may assist or allow this tail movement to afford freer/wider passage for excrement into the bag than would normally be permitted by opening 22

Also, "zip-fastener", "Velcro" or other openings can be provided, as desired, for quick emptying of the pouch Referring more particularly to Figs 4 and 5, the pouch for a mare, designated generally by numeral 1 0\ is provided with a mesh filter 30 between forward compartment 32 and rear compartment 34 The mesh filter 30 preferentially permits relatively fluent material to pass therethrough A removable plug 36 is provided in the bottom of the pouch 1 0¹ affording access to the mesh filter 30 for cleaning or replacement The front part of pouch 1 0¹ contains a bladder 38 of relatively flexible material. The bladder 38, in effect, constitutes the forward compartment referred to in WO 95/1 3695 Fluid admission means 40 and fluid drainage means 42 may be valves and here form part of, or are incorporated into, bladder 38.

Bladder 38 is easily removed, repaired or replaced as necessary or as desired with access being occasioned by a openable fly 44 provided with a VELCRO or like fastening 46.

A similar bladder 38¹ may be provided in the front part of pouch 1 0¹¹ for a male animal as shown in Fig. 6 In like manner as for bladder 38, bladder 38¹ is provided with fluid admission means 40¹ and fluid drainage means 42¹.

It will be clear from the foregoing that the invention provides a simple and versatile catcher/holder for equidae excreta, easily emptied and cleaned as required, and providing a relatively equable weight distribution over the animal's body

Furthermore the ease whereby the matter can be collected and removed greatly facilitates, for example, the taking of specimens for testing Although the invention has been described chiefly by reference to horses, it can evidently be adapted for use with other four-legged animals, such as cattle, asses, mules, llamas and other domesticated or domesticable animals which defecate manure and urine. For the purposes of this specification "equidae" is deemed to include all such animals

For the purposes of this specification terms such as "upward", "bottom", "roof", "forward", "forwardly", "rear", "front", and the like, are to be understood as referring to the invention in a positive/condition of use and not, therefore, as necessarily limiting.

Claims

1 . An equidae manure and urine catcher/holder system for male (entire or gelded) and female (entire or spayed) animals, the system including an elongated pouch substantially conformable to the animal's belly and extendible forwardly from the rear to or towards the rib area, a urine and/or manure bag being the or a main part of the system, and being positionable below the animal's tail and substantially between its rear legs, a front part of the pouch containing a bladder of relatively flexible material constituting in effect the or a forward part of the system, and fastening means enabling the animal to carry said pouch

2 A system as claim in claim 1 , wherein the fastening means include adjustable straps or harness placed so as to support the weight of the system and contents via the rump, thigh, back, breast and/or shoulder areas.

3 A system as claimed in claim 1 or claim 2, including means for emptying the system without unfastening the system or any part thereof

4. A system as claimed in claim 3, wherein the emptying means provide for draining fluent material from the system

5 A system for catching equidae excrement that would otherwise foul the floor or the ground in stables, yards, paddocks or the like, and for enabling such matter to be conveniently disposed of as when and where required, including fastening means, a rear catcher bag for relatively solid matter and a forward compartment for receiving and retaining relatively fluent matter, filter means in the pouch enabling preferential forward passage of relatively fluent material such that the total weight of the system and contents is distributed along a substantial portion of the animal's body, and a removable plug in the bottom of the pouch affording access for cleaning or replacement of the filter means.

SUBSTΓΓUTE SHEET (Rule 26)

6. A system claimed in claim 5, wherein are provided emptying means for draining fluent material from the forward compartment.

7. A system as claimed in any one of the preceding ciaims including non-return flexible funnel or sleeve valve means whereby fluent material can move forwardly into and be retained in the forward compartment.

8. An equidae excrement catcher and holder system substantially as herein described with reference to Figs. 1 , 2, 3, and either 4 and 5 or 6 of the accompanying drawings.