AU2006100184A4 - Handle Device for Animal Crush Control Mechanism - Google Patents

Description

Our Ref: 12654531 P/00/011 Regulation 3:2

AUSTRALIA

Patents Act 1990

ORIGINAL

COMPLETE SPECIFICATION INNOVATION PATENT Applicant(s): Address for Service: Invention Title: Philip Malcolm Firth and Elizabeth May Firth Cook Street, Tamworth, New South Wales 2340,

AUSTRALIA

DAVIES COLLISON CAVE Patent Trade Mark Attorneys Level 10, 10 Barrack Street SYDNEY NSW 2000 "Handle Device for Animal Crush Control Mechanism" The following statement is a full description of this invention, including the best method of performing it known to me:- P \WPDOCSARS\SPECIE\ 265453 l.doc-10/03/06 c-1- HANDLE DEVICE FOR ANIMAL CRUSH CONTROL MECHANISM 00 This invention relates generally to a handle device for control mechanism suitable for use in an animal crush.

SAnimal crushes are used for restraining animals when veterinary treatments and other procedures are required to be performed on an animal. Generally, animal crushes include a main frame which forms an enclosure for the animal with a head restraining bail assembly at one end which includes one or more bail members movable between an animal restraining position and a release position. Generally a control mechanism is provided for controlling the operation of the bail assembly. The control mechanism may include an actuating handle which operates a linkage mechanism for opening and closing the bail assembly. The actuating handle is usually mounted for pivotal movement and through the linkage mechanism caused movement of the bail members between the restraining and release positions. Often two actuating handles are provided these handles being coupled together and operatively connected to the linkage mechanism. One handle is usually disposed in the region of the head restraining bail and the other towards the rear and of the bail. In one position the handles are disposed in a generally vertical orientation and in another position they are disposed generally horizontally. In the horizontal position they can be an injury risk to the operator from accidental contact by the operator. Furthermore, if one of the handles is operated by one operator risk of injury to another operator can occur because movement of the handles is usually simultaneous.

It is object of the present invention to provide an improved handle device for a control mechanism which alleviates one or more of the aforementioned disadvantages.

According to one aspect of the present invention there is provided an actuating handle for a control mechanism for an animal crush, the animal crush including a head restraining bail having bail members movable between an animal restraining position and a release

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P\WPDOCSARSSPECIE\I265453 I.do- I0/03/06 S-2position, the actuating handle being pivotally movable about a first pivot mounting to O cause the control mechanism to move the bail members between the restraining and release positions, the actuating handle including a first handle section which is operatively connected to the control mechanism and a second handle section, the first and second 00 handle sections between operatively connected through a second pivot mounting and capable of adopting engaged and disengaged positions wherein in the disengaged position IND relatively pivotal movement between the first and second handle sections is permitted, and Sin the engagea position the pivotal movement therebetween is inhibited, the arrangement being such that the handle sections are caused to adopt the disengaged position when the actuating handle is in a selected orientation.

Preferably when the handle sections are in the engaged position the actuating handle is pivotally movable about the first pivot mounting.

The second pivot mounting may include a pivot pin on one of the handle sections and an elongated slot on the other of the handle sections the pivot pin being received within the slot, the pin and slot being capable of relative movement in the direction of the slot between the engaged and disengaged positions.

The actuating handle may further include a latching device for releasably retaining the handle sections in the engaged position, the latching device including a recess in the first handle section with a mouth and side wall sections on each side of the recess, a catch disposed within the recess and a detent on the second handle section, the detent being adapted to pass through the mouth and engage the catch to releasably hold the handle sections in the engaged position.

Preferably one of the side wall sections is longer than the other side wall section of the recess so that when the handle sections are in the disengaged position pivotal movement of the handle sections in one direction is inhibited by interference of the detent with the longer side wall section of the recess so that the handle is pivotally movable about the first pivot mounting.

P:\WPDOCS\ARSSPECI E12654531.do- I0/03/06 Q)-3- O As mentioned earlier the activating device is for a control mechanism. The control mechanism may include a control bar operatively connected to a linkage mechanism. The first handle section may be operatively connected to the control bar or form an integral part 00 thereof.

IND Preferred embodiments of the invention will hereinafter be described with reference to the Saccompanying drawings, and in those drawings: Figure 1 is a schematic front elevation of an animal crush and control mechanism with a handle section according to the present invention; and Figures 2 to 7 are schematic illustrations showing how the handle assembly according to the present invention operates.

Referring to Figure 1, where is shown a front elevation of an animal crush. The crush includes a frame assembly which forms an enclosure for the animal comprising sides, a front end and a rear end. As shown, the front end 30 of the crush includes a head restraining bail 32 which includes bail members 33 and 34 movable between an animal restraining position and an animal release position. In the restraining position the animals neck is held firmly between the bail members 33 and 34 and in the release position the bail members are moved away from one another so that the animal can move out of the crush through the front end.

Movement of the bail members 33 and 34 is effected by a control mechanism 50 which includes a control bar 51 operatively connected to a linkage mechanism which is in turn operatively connected to the bail members. The control bar 51 is mounted for pivotal movement about pivot mount 52. An actuating handle 10 is connected to or formed integral with the control bar. It is often the case that two actuating handles are provided for a crush one being disposed in the region of the front end and the other in the region of P:\WPDOCS\ARSSPECIE\I12654531daoc-103/06 -4the rear end. The two actuating handles are interconnected so that either one can be used O to operate the control bar and linkage mechanism.

The handle device 10 includes a first handle section 11 and a second handle section 12.

00 The first handle section 11 forms part of the control bar 51 and is mounted for pivotal Smovement at pivot mount 52. As bests seen in Figures 2 to 7 handle section 11 can swing IND from a generally horizontal position as shown in Figure 2 to a generally vertical position as O shown in Figure 6. In Figures 2 to 7 handle section is shown as a bar and not as part of control bar 51. This is purely for illustrative purposes.

The two handle sections 11 and 12 are interconnected through a pivot mount 15 which includes an elongated slot 16 in the first handle section 11 which has its longitudinal axis extending generally in the longitudinal direction of the handle section 11. The pivot mount further includes a pivot pin 17 on the second handle section 12 which is receivable within the slot 16 and permits relative pivotal movement between the parts as well as limited axial relative movement.

The handle device further includes a latching device 20 which includes a recess 21 in an end of the handle section 11, there being a mouth 22 providing access to the recess with opposed side sections 23 and 24 on each side of the mouth. One of the side sections 24 is longer than the other side section 23 for reasons which will become hereinafter apparent.

The latching device further includes a catch 25 internally of the recess and on one of the side wall sections 23. A detent 26 in the form of a pin is provided on the other handle section 12 the detent being adapted to pass through the mouth 22 into the recess and engage the catch The operation of the actuating handle will hereinafter be described. In Figure 1 the bail members are shown in a partially closed position. When fully open the handle section 11 is disposed generally horizontally as shown in Figure 2 and with detent pin disengaged from the catch 25 and recess 21, the handle section 12 hangs down from pivot mount P:\WPDOCSARS\S PECIE\I 265453 .dw- 10103/06 Thus in this position the handle is relatively unobtrusive and the risk of injury by contact O with the handle by the operator is reduced.

z When it is required that the bail members are moved from the open position to the closed 00 position, the handle section 12 is positioned so that it is axially aligned with the handle section 11 whereafter it is moved axially so that detent pin 26 enters the recess 21 through IND mouth 22 and engages catch 25 as illustrated in Figures 3 and 4. The handle can then be Sswung about pivot mount 52 so as to cause the bail members to open or close. The catch and detent pin inhibits dislodgment of the two handle sections.

When the handle is in the position shown in Figure 6 and the handle released by the operator, the catch and detent pin are configured such that the handle sections will move to the disengaged position under the influence of gravity. To return the handle to its initial position it is not necessary to re-engage the handle sections. Pivotal movement of handle section 12 as shown in Figure 7 causes detent pin to strike the longer side section 24 of the latching assembly to cause the actuating handle as a unit to swing into the initial position.

Throughout this specification and the claims which follow, unless the context requires otherwise, the word "comprise", and variations such as "comprises" or "comprising", will be understood to imply the inclusion of a stated integer or step or group of integers or steps but not the exclusion of any other integer or step or group of integers or steps.

The reference to any prior art in this specification is not, and should not be taken as, an acknowledgment or any form of suggestion that that prior art forms part of the common general knowledge in Australia.

Finally, it is to be understood that various alterations, modifications and/or additions may be incorporated into the various constructions and arrangements of parts without departing from the spirit or ambit of the invention.

Claims (5)

1. An actuating handle for a control mechanism for an animal crush, the animal crush including a head restraining bail having bail members movable between an animal 00 5 restraining position and a release position, the actuating handle being pivotally movable 0 O about a first pivot mounting to cause the control mechanism to move the bail members IO between the restraining and release positions, the actuating handle including a first handle Ssection which is operatively connected to the control mechanism and a second handle section, the first and second handle sections between operatively connected through a second pivot mounting and capable of adopting engaged and disengaged positions wherein in the disengaged position relative pivotal movement between the first and second handle sections is permitted, and in the engaged position the pivotal movement therebetween is inhibited, the arrangement being such that the handle sections are caused to adopt the disengaged position when the actuating handle is in a selected orientation.

2. An actuating handle according to claim 1 wherein when the handle sections are in the engaged position the actuating handle is pivotally movable about the first pivot mounting.

3. An actuating handle according to claim 1 or claim 2 wherein the second pivot mounting includes a pivot pin on one of the handle sections and an elongated slot on the other of the handle sections the pivot pin being received within the slot, the pin and slot being capable of relative movement in the direction of the slot between the disengaged and engaged positions.

4. An actuating handle according to any preceding claim further including a latching device for releasably retaining the handle sections in the engaged position, the latching device including a recess in the first handle section with a mouth and side wall sections on each side of the recess, a catch disposed within the recess, a detent on the second handle section, the detent being adapted to pass through the mouth and engage the catch to releasably hold the handle sections in the engaged position. P:\WPDOCS\ARS\S PECIE\1265453 .doc- 10/03/06 -7- O

5. An actuating handle according to claim 4 wherein one of the side wall sections is longer than the other side wall section of the recess so that when the handle sections are in the disengaged position pivotal movement of the handle sections in one direction is 00 inhibited by interference of the detent with the longer side wall section of the recess so that 0 the handle is pivotally movable about the first pivot mounting. (N Dated this 10 th day of March, 2006 PHILIP MALCOLM FIRTH By Its Patent Attorneys DAVIES COLLISON CAVE