AU725020B2 - An animal immobiliser - Google Patents

Description

Form No.

AUSTRALIA

Patents Act 1990 COMPLETE SPECIFICATION STANDARD PATENT

C.

Application No.: Application Date: Priority Dates: Applicant: Address for Service: 21 May 1997 (Australian Provisional Patent Application P06900) 25 February 1998 (New Zealand Patent Application 299866) Bradley Rene VERBRAEKEN 47 Danbury Drive Launceston TASMANIA 7250 Ernst Robert SCHUCH Patent Attorney Suite 904 9 th Floor Hunter Street Sydney NSW 2000 Complete Specification for the invention entitled: "An Animal Immobiliser" The following statement is a full description of this invention, including the best method of performing it known to me: TECHNICAL FEILD This invention relates to a device for immobilising animals.

BACKGROUND ART Farmers, for various reasons, for time to time must immobilise an animal in order to, for example, keep it in one place so that it can be collected or treated for some disease or injury. Traditionally farmers have often used a piece of bailing twine to tie an animals legs together, thereby immobilising it. Unfortunately, bailing twine is easily lost, or can become caught up, in the case of sheep, in their wool. This can cause wool contamination in the wool clip, which can be problematic for wool processors. In any case, bailing twine can break, once degraded to some extent by U V radiation, and off causing problems for other animals and to the environment.

Accordingly, it is an object of the present invention to provide an animal immobiliser which overcomes at least some of the difficulties identified in the known prior art.

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20 SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION In a first broad aspect of this invention there is provided an animal immobiliser, for use in immobilising a three or more limbed animal, the immobiliser having at least three limb attachment means each comprising a loop means, each loop means being adapted to retain, in use, a different said limb of a said animal, and adjustment means 25 operable to adjust the size of each said loop means, the immobiliser characterised in that all of the loop means are formed from a single length of rope, wire, chain or strap means, and in that operation of the adjustment means adjusts the overall available length of the said single length of rope, wire, chain or strap means.

Preferably the adjustment means comprises a clam cleat.

Conveniently the clam cleat is fixed to one end of the said single length of rope, wire, chain or strap means.

Desirably the other end of the said single length of rope, wire, chain or strap means is engagable with the clam cleat, such that once engaged the said single length of rope, wire, chain or strap means forms a continuous band.

Preferably the animal immobiliser further includes a rigid body portion connecting and spacing apart the limb attachment means.

Optionally the animal immobiliser further comprises a rigid, elongate, hollow tubular body portion having apertures through the walls thereof located to allow the length of 0 rope, wire, chain or strap means to form the said loops.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 20 A preferred embodiment of the invention will now be described, by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: Figure 1 illustrates a perspective view of an animal immobiliser according to the present invention; o°•o o Figure 2 illustrates a perspective view of the animal immobiliser of Figure 1 being fitted to immobilise a sheep; and, Figure 3 illustrates the animal immobiliser of Figure 1 immobilising a sheep.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT Referring to the drawings, an animal immobiliser, as generally indicated at 1, is provided comprising a length of rope, 2, formed into three loops, 2A, 2B and 2C. The loops 2A, 2B, and 2C are intended in use, to attach the immobiliser 1 each to a leg of the animal to be immobilised.

The immobiliser 1 further comprises a tubular body 3 having ends 4. Mounted on each of the ends 4 is a cap 5. The cap 5 provides a closure to the end 4. A pair of spaced apart apertures 6 is provided through the end wall of the cap 5. The rope 2 is threaded through each of the apertures 6, thereby forming the loops 2B and 2C.

A pair of spaced apart apertures 7 are provided through the wall of the tube 3 at approximately its mid section. The ends 8, 9 of the rope 2 pass through a corresponding 1 of the apertures 7.

Attached to one of the rope 2 ends 8 is a clamp means 10. A clamp means 10 is preferably in the form of a clam cleat. The end 9 of the rope 2 is slideably attached to ••go the clam cleat 10 also. Thus, the portion of the rope 2 extending outwardly of the aperture 7, together with the clam cleat 10, form a third loop 2A.

Use of the immobiliser 1 will now be described with reference to the immobilisation of a sheep 100 (refer specifically to figures 2 and 3).

When placing the immobiliser 1 on the sheep 100 it is important to ensure that the 25 clam cleat 10 is facing with its clamp jaws 11 facing away from the tubular body 3.

Further, the rope 2 should be threaded through the tubular body 3 so as to ensure that S the clam cleat 10 is located adjacent most the tubular body 3.

With the sheep 100 restrained in the usual manner the loop 2B is loosened off and enlarged. A first front leg of the sheep 100 is then placed in the loop 2B, and is brought up on the leg of the sheep 100 to between the first and second joint. The loop 2B is then reduced and tightened around the leg by pulling on and extending out the loops 2A and 2C. The process is repeated for the second front leg.

The loops 2B and 2C of the immobiliser 1 are then tightened around the front legs of the sheep 100. Finally one of the hind legs of the sheep 100 is placed through the loop 2A, and the rope drawn as far over the hamstring as possible.

Once the hind leg has been placed in loop 2A the immobiliser 1 can be tightened.

To tighten the immobiliser 1 the clam cleat 10 is held in one hand and the end of the rope 9 is pulled as tight as possible. To secure the animal in the immobilised position the end 9 of the rope 2 is located in the jaws 11 of the clam cleat The sheep 100 is then laid on its side with its free hind leg facing uppermost.

To remove the immobiliser 1 the end 9 of the rope 2 is pulled from the clam cleat and the legs of the sheep 100 released.

Additional advantages of the present invention will be come apparent to those skilled in the art after considering the principles in particular form as discussed and oo o illustrated.

25 For example, while the preferred embodiment has been described in use in relation to a sheep, other farm animals, and indeed most if not all four legged domestic and other wild animals can be immobilised using the device. Equally, the materials used to construct the immobiliser may vary, depending on the use to which it is to be put.

Further, the dimensions of the component parts may vary, again dependent upon the animal, or range of animals on which the device is intended to be used.

It will therefore be appreciated that the invention provides an immobiliser which is small, lightweight, and can be carried at all times by, for example a farmer either in his or her pocket, or in their vehicle. The device has particular application to tie up sick farm animals, such as sheep, or to tie up an animal for transport or for treating infestation such as fly strike.

Accordingly, it will be appreciated that changes may be made to the above described embodiment of the invention without departing from the principles. For example, wherein the foregoing description reference has been made to integers or components having known equivalents then such equivalents are herein incorporated as if individually set forth.

Finally, it will be understood that the invention is not limited to the particular "so' embodiment described or illustrated but is intended to cover all alterations or modifications which are within the scope of the annexed claims.

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Claims (5)

1. An animal immobiliser, for use in immobilising a three or more limbed animal, the immobiliser having at least three limb attachment means each comprising a loop means, each loop means being adapted to retain, in use, a different said limb of a said animal, and adjustment means operable to adjust the size of each said loop means, the immobiliser characterised in that all of the loop means are formed from a single length of rope, wire, chain or strap means, and in that operation of the adjustment means adjusts the overall available length of the said single length of rope, wire, chain or strap means.

2. An animal immobiliser according to claim 1 wherein the adjustment means comprises a clam cleat.

3. An animal immobiliser according to claim 2 wherein the clam cleat is fixed to one end of the said single length of rope, wire, chain or strap means.

4. An animal immobiliser according to claim 3 wherein the other end of the said single length of rope, wire, chain or strap means is engagable with the clam cleat, such that once engaged the said single length of rope, wire, chain or strap means

555. forms a continuous band. 5555 .i 5. An animal immobiliser according to any one of the preceding claims further including a rigid body portion connecting and spacing apart the limb attachment means. 6. An animal immobiliser according to any one of claims 1 to 5 further comprising a rigid, elongate, hollow tubular body portion having apertures through the walls thereof located to allow the length of rope, wire, chain or strap means to form the said loops. 7. An animal immobiliser substantially as herein described and exemplified with reference to the accompanying drawings. Dated this 19 th day of April 2000 Bradley Rene VERBRAEKEN By his attorney Peter Charles Robert VERBOEKET ses o* O