GB2083737A

GB2083737A - Animal restrainers

Info

Publication number: GB2083737A
Application number: GB8126783A
Authority: GB
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1980-09-11
Filing date: 1981-09-04
Publication date: 1982-03-31
Also published as: AU542591B2; AU7492781A; GB2083737B; ZA816199B; NZ194925A

Abstract

An animal restrainer 1 comprises a nape member 2 with base 5 and sides 6, 7 to fit about the nape of an animal's neck, leg engaging hooks 3, 4 extending from each end of the nape member with each hook able to receive and hold a fore leg of the animal in a position adjacent the head of the animal. Each hook may have a tie hook 12 for a neck tie 13 which passes around the throat of the animal and strengthening ribs 10, 11 may be provided. <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION Improvements in or relating to animal restrainers This invention relates to animal restrainers and particularly, although not solely, animal restrainers designed for use in holding sheep, hoggets or lambs.

During animal husbandry it is frequently necessary to restrain an animal so that it may be easily examined, treated or transported. The present invention has been designed particularly for use in association with sheep and the term "sheep" as used herein is intended to cover the animal during its various stages. It is frequently necessary to restrain a sheep, for example, during lambing orto enable the animal to be easily transported in from the paddock. While it is desirable for the animal to be restrained it is also important to ensure that the animal is not unnecessarily discomforted during such restraint. This is particularly important with sheep during lambing.The traditional method frequently employed is to tie the legs of the animal together causing the animal to be curled up in an unnatural position which can result in complications or damage to a ewe heavy in lamb or one which has just lambed.

The present invention while particularly designed for use with sheep could have application with other animals, for example calves, although various size ranges may be required to ensure an effective restraint of an animal. Also the dimensions of the restrainer would need to be varied according to the animal being held.

It is an object of the present invention to provide an animal restrainer which is easily applied to an animal and which will hold the animal in a relatively comfortable position while minimising or restraining the animals movement.

Accordingly the invention consists in an animal restrainer comprising a nape member adapted in use to fit about the nape of an animal's neck, leg engaging hooks extending from each end of the nape member with each hook adapted in use to receive and hold the fore leg of the animal being restrained with said leg being held in a position adjacent the head of the animal.

One preferred form of the invention will now be described with reference to the accompanying drawings in which: Figure 1 is an elevation of an animal restrainer according to the present invention, Figure 2 is a front view of the restrainer shown in Figure 1, Figure 3 is a rear view of the restrainer shown in Figure 1, Figure 4 is a side view of the restrainer shown in Figure 1, - Figure 5 shows the restrainer according to the present invention fitted in use on a sheep, Figure 6 shows the first step in applying the restrainer to the sheep, Figure 7 shows the second step of applying the restrainer, and Figure 8 shows the final step of applying the neck tie of the restrainer.

The animal restrainer 1 is preferably formed as an integral plastics moulding selecting any suitable durable and tough plastic, for example a polycarbonate. The restrainer is made up of a nape member 2 and integrally formed leg hooks 3 and 4. The nape member is in turn made up of a base section 5 and sides having outwardly directed section 6 changing direction to a sections 7 essentially at right angles to the base section 5.

The hook sections 3 and 4 are returned up towards the base of the nape member and have a narrowed section 8 restricting the entrance to the hooks and assisting in holding the leg of the animal in use.

The restrainer has the thickened portion 9 on the inside of each hook and on the inside of the nape base 5 and side sections 6 with the changeover taking place across the side sections 7 as is shown in Figure 1 of the drawings. Strengthening ribs 10 run about the outside of the hooks running out along the section 7 on each side. A strengthening rib 11 is also provided on the nape base 5 and side sections 6 again running out along the section 7. In this way a strong restraining unit can be integrally formed in plastic and at the same time is a unit which can be relatively comfortably worn by a sheep when it is fitted in use.

Each leg has integrally formed therewith a tie hook 12. The tie hooks are designed to provide anchor pointsfora necktie 13which has restraining knobs 14 fitted at each end thereof.

In use the restrainer is fitted to a sheep as illustrated in Figure 5. The restrainer leaves the animal immobilised holding the front legs with the hooves adjacent the head of the animal as illustrated in the drawings. In order to apply the restrainer to the sheep the steps as illustrated in Figures 6 and 7 are performed. First one leg adjacent the hoof is engaged in a leg engaging hook and the nape section of the restrainer held by the hand of the operator. The nape section is placed over the nape of the neck. This step is shown in Figure 6. The operator then changes hands holding the other leg hook and bringing up the second front leg as illustrated in Figure 7 so that it is engaged in the leg hook and the animal would then assume the position essentially as shown in Figure 5. In a small percentage of cases because of the size of the animal or because the animal struggles a great deal it is possible for the animal to free itself if a neck tie is not applied. The neck tie is therefore passed about the throat of the animal as shown in Figure 8 with one end being restrained by the end knob 14 and the other end being tied to the other hook 12 or restrained by placing a knot in the tie member at the appropriate position and engaging the knot over the other hook.

In this way the unit can be very simply and easily applied.

1. An animal restrainer comprising a nape member adapted in use to fit about the nape of an animal's neck, leg engaging hooks extending from each end of the nape member with each hook

**WARNING** end of DESC field may overlap start of CLMS **.

Claims

**WARNING** start of CLMS field may overlap end of DESC **. SPECIFICATION Improvements in or relating to animal restrainers This invention relates to animal restrainers and particularly, although not solely, animal restrainers designed for use in holding sheep, hoggets or lambs. During animal husbandry it is frequently necessary to restrain an animal so that it may be easily examined, treated or transported. The present invention has been designed particularly for use in association with sheep and the term "sheep" as used herein is intended to cover the animal during its various stages. It is frequently necessary to restrain a sheep, for example, during lambing orto enable the animal to be easily transported in from the paddock. While it is desirable for the animal to be restrained it is also important to ensure that the animal is not unnecessarily discomforted during such restraint. This is particularly important with sheep during lambing.The traditional method frequently employed is to tie the legs of the animal together causing the animal to be curled up in an unnatural position which can result in complications or damage to a ewe heavy in lamb or one which has just lambed. The present invention while particularly designed for use with sheep could have application with other animals, for example calves, although various size ranges may be required to ensure an effective restraint of an animal. Also the dimensions of the restrainer would need to be varied according to the animal being held. It is an object of the present invention to provide an animal restrainer which is easily applied to an animal and which will hold the animal in a relatively comfortable position while minimising or restraining the animals movement. Accordingly the invention consists in an animal restrainer comprising a nape member adapted in use to fit about the nape of an animal's neck, leg engaging hooks extending from each end of the nape member with each hook adapted in use to receive and hold the fore leg of the animal being restrained with said leg being held in a position adjacent the head of the animal. One preferred form of the invention will now be described with reference to the accompanying drawings in which: Figure 1 is an elevation of an animal restrainer according to the present invention, Figure 2 is a front view of the restrainer shown in Figure 1, Figure 3 is a rear view of the restrainer shown in Figure 1, Figure 4 is a side view of the restrainer shown in Figure 1, - Figure 5 shows the restrainer according to the present invention fitted in use on a sheep, Figure 6 shows the first step in applying the restrainer to the sheep, Figure 7 shows the second step of applying the restrainer, and Figure 8 shows the final step of applying the neck tie of the restrainer. The animal restrainer 1 is preferably formed as an integral plastics moulding selecting any suitable durable and tough plastic, for example a polycarbonate. The restrainer is made up of a nape member 2 and integrally formed leg hooks 3 and 4. The nape member is in turn made up of a base section 5 and sides having outwardly directed section 6 changing direction to a sections 7 essentially at right angles to the base section 5. The hook sections 3 and 4 are returned up towards the base of the nape member and have a narrowed section 8 restricting the entrance to the hooks and assisting in holding the leg of the animal in use. The restrainer has the thickened portion 9 on the inside of each hook and on the inside of the nape base 5 and side sections 6 with the changeover taking place across the side sections 7 as is shown in Figure 1 of the drawings. Strengthening ribs 10 run about the outside of the hooks running out along the section 7 on each side. A strengthening rib 11 is also provided on the nape base 5 and side sections 6 again running out along the section 7. In this way a strong restraining unit can be integrally formed in plastic and at the same time is a unit which can be relatively comfortably worn by a sheep when it is fitted in use. Each leg has integrally formed therewith a tie hook 12. The tie hooks are designed to provide anchor pointsfora necktie 13which has restraining knobs 14 fitted at each end thereof. In use the restrainer is fitted to a sheep as illustrated in Figure 5. The restrainer leaves the animal immobilised holding the front legs with the hooves adjacent the head of the animal as illustrated in the drawings. In order to apply the restrainer to the sheep the steps as illustrated in Figures 6 and 7 are performed. First one leg adjacent the hoof is engaged in a leg engaging hook and the nape section of the restrainer held by the hand of the operator. The nape section is placed over the nape of the neck. This step is shown in Figure 6. The operator then changes hands holding the other leg hook and bringing up the second front leg as illustrated in Figure 7 so that it is engaged in the leg hook and the animal would then assume the position essentially as shown in Figure 5.In a small percentage of cases because of the size of the animal or because the animal struggles a great deal it is possible for the animal to free itself if a neck tie is not applied. The neck tie is therefore passed about the throat of the animal as shown in Figure 8 with one end being restrained by the end knob 14 and the other end being tied to the other hook 12 or restrained by placing a knot in the tie member at the appropriate position and engaging the knot over the other hook. In this way the unit can be very simply and easily applied. CLAIMS

1. An animal restrainer comprising a nape member adapted in use to fit about the nape of an animal's neck, leg engaging hooks extending from each end of the nape member with each hook adapted in use to receive and hold the fore leg of the animal being restrained with said leg being held in a position adjacent the head of the animal.

2. An animal restrainer as claimed in claim 1 wherein the nape member comprises a base section integrally formed with sides extending outwardly and away from the base section with the sides changing direction to be substantially at right angles to the base.

3. An animal restrainer as claimed in claim 1 or claim 2 wherein each said leg hook is integrally formed with said nape member so that when viewed with the nape member located in a position which would engage about the neck of an animal a substantiallyW configuration with a thickened central portion made up by the nape member and with the hook ends forming the sides of the W.

4. An animal restrainer as claimed in claim 3 wherein the entrance to the hook is restricted tending to operate to hold any leg engaged therein.

5. An animal restrainer as claimed in any one of the preceding claims wherein each said hook arm incorporates the tie engaging means.

6. An animal restrainer as claimed wherein said tie engaging means comprise a hook arm projecting out from the side of each leg hook.

7. An animal restrainer as claimed in any one of the preceding claims incorporating a tie cord adapted in use to pass beneath the neck of the sheep and this become associated with each leg hook.

8. An animal restrainer as claimed in any one of the preceding claims when the nape member and leg hooks are integrally formed from a suitable plastics material.

9. A sheep restrainer comprising a nape member having a base and side shaped to engage about the nape of a sheep's neck, an integrally formed leg engaging hook extending outwardly from each side of the nape member, each said hook being shaped to engage and hold the fore leg of the sheep so that in use the hoof is adjacent the head of the sheep.

10. An animal restrainer, and particularly a sheep restrainer, when constructed, arranged and operable substantially as herein described with reference to the accompanying drawings.