GB2336988A

GB2336988A - Cattle stall system

Info

Publication number: GB2336988A
Application number: GB9910704A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Robert James Muldrew
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1998-05-09
Filing date: 1999-05-10
Publication date: 1999-11-10
Also published as: GB9910704D0

Abstract

A partition member (4) for use with another of its kind (6) forms an animal stall comprising an elongate partitioning portion (8) in one plane and two or more mounting portions (10) in a second plane at right angles thereto. A free-standing system is formed from a series of aligned stalls for animals along a structure(s) (2) and comprises a plurality of neighbouring partition members (4,6). The partition members (4,6) may be attached to a structure (2) by a bracket (16). The partitions may also be mounted on upright posts (Fig 9). Two configurations of the partition member are disclosed (figures 5 and 11).

Description

2336988 CATTLE STALL SYSTEM This invention relates to a system for

creating a series of animal stalls, particularly but not exclusively cattle stalls, and a partition member therefor.

Various cattle stall partitions are known, some involve one or more floor mountings, eg. as shown in EP 437298A or GB 2013074A. However, floor mountings are prone to deterioration due to the corrosive nature of cow manure, which is naturally in and around cattle stalls, cleaning around floor mountings is also harder. "Free" standing stalls are also known, e.g. GB 1380414. However, all known freestanding stalls require significant separate mounting systems with various frames and webs to be prior- erected.

It is an object of the present invention to provide a simpler animal stall partition member and system.

According to one aspect of the present invention, there is provided a partition member for use with another of its kind to form an animal stall comphising an elongate partitioning portion in one plane and two or more mounting portions in a second plane at right angles thereto, the mounting portions extending wholly or substantially perpendicular from one end of the partitioning portion.

Preferably, at least one mounting portion extends from each side of the end of the partitioning portion.

The mounting portions are either directly mountable onto one or more structures, for example a wall or other structure or structures having a suitable upright surface, or require one or more brackets to form an attachment thereto. Because the mounting portions extend outwardly from each side of one end of the partitioning portion, each side of the partitioning portion can be securely attached to the structure. The form of attachment of the partitioning member to the structure preferably avoids any contact with the floor, i.e. it is free-standing. The term "free- standing" as used herein relates to the avoidance of any floor contact or mounting.

The partitioning portion of a partition member may be of any suitable shape, size or design. It may be solid, or possibly only in outline form. Preferably, it has an -5 elongate U-shape.

The mounting portions may extend symmetrically outwardly from the partitioning portion, and may also extend co-axially andlor extend in opposite directions. The mounting portions will generally be co-planar to meet the wall. Preferably, the mounting portions extend equally from each side of the partitioning 10 portion.

Each partition member may be separate from its neighbour(s). Preferably, the ends of the partitioning members can conjoin, either in neighbourly fashion or securely to each other, to form a continuous stall system.

According to a second aspect of the present invention, there is provided a is free-standing system for forming a series of aligned stalls for animals along a mounting surface such as a wall, comprising a plurality of neighbouring partition members as hereinbefore described.

The mounting portions may alternately extend from one side of the end of the partitioning portion and each stall is desirably formed by two partition members, the mounting portions of one member being secured to the corresponding mounting portions of the second member. Each stall so formed may be mounted to upright corner posts at the transition between the partitioning portion and each mounting portion- The present invention may be used to create stalls for any animals, including farm animals, such as horses and sheep. It is particularly suitable for use with cattle.

The partition member of the present invention may be formed of any suitable material or combination of materials. A standard material for cattle stall partitions is 3 tubular steel. In a preferred example of the present invention, the partitioning member is formed from one or more bars, more preferably a single bar.

Embodiments of the present invention will now be described, by way of example, and with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:- Fig. 1 is a perspective view of a series of partition members according to the first embodiment of the present invention and first mounting brackets; Fig. 2 is a side view of the partition members and a first bracket in Fig. 1; Fig. 3 is an enlarged perspective view of the first mounting bracket in Fig. 1; Fig. 4 is a side view of the bracket in Fig. 3; Fig. 5 is an exploded perspective view of first and second partition members forming a stall according to the first embodiment of the present invention; Fig. 6 is a perspective view of a series of partition members according to the first embodiment of the present invention using second mounting brackets; Fig. 7 is a front view of one of the second mounting brackets in Fig. 6; Fig. 8 is a perspective view of another of the second mounting brackets in Fig.

6; Fig. 9 is a perspective view of a sehes of partition members according to a second embodiment arranged alternately on opposite sides of a structure(s); Fig. 10 is a plan view of a series of partition members alternately arranged on opposite sides of a series of corner posts according to the second embodiment; and Fig. 11 is an exploded perspective view of first and second partition members according to a second embodiment.

Referring to the drawings, a free-standing system for forming a series of aligned cattle stalls along a structure, in this instance a wall 2, according to a first 2s embodiment is as shown in Figs. 1 to 8. The system is formed by fitting together in alignment a series of first and second partition members 4, 6 respectively and mounting them on the wall 2.

4 Each partition member 4, 6 has an elongate partitioning portion 8 formed in an elongate U-shape and in a first plane. Such a shape is a very simple shape to form.

From each free end of the partitioning portion 8 extends a mounting portion 10. The mounting portions 10 are located in a second plane at right angles to the first plane and extend perpendicularly and oppositely from the free ends of the partitioning portion 8, and from the plane of the partitioning portion 8. The individual shapes of the first and second partition members 4, 6 are shown exploded in Fig. 5 and are mirror-images of each other.

The first and second partition members 4, 6 may be formed from lengths of io galvanised steel tubular bars worked into the required shapes. 5mrn steel tubing or piping with an outer diameter of about 6Omm is readily available for this. The single unitary and integral nature of the partition members 4, 6 is a particular advantage of the present invention. No welding or other attaching is required.

The partitioning portions 8 of the partition members 4, 6 form the divisions along the stall floor 12, thus creating the stalls. No part of the partition members 4, 6 touch the stall floor 12, avoiding any corrosion from animal urine or excreta, and making clearing the floor 12 significantly easier.

Fig, 1 shows an alignment of a number of alternate first and second partition members 4, 6 such that their ends meet along the wall 2. The stall system thus formed is therefore also continuous. If desired or necessary, the ends of the mounting portions 10 where they meet could be attached together, e.g. by welding, or otherwise conjoined, e.g. using overlapping sleeves.

Figs. 1-4 show a first convenient form of mounting the partition members 4, 6 on the wall 2. Referring particularly to Figs. 3 and 4, there is as shown an elongate trough bracket 16 having a mounting wall 18 and two diverging side walls 20. The mounting wall 18 can be readily fixed to the stall wall 2 using screws or bolts 21 through a first series of apertures 22 in the mounting wall 18.

The enclosure formed by the walls of the bracket 16 is adapted to receive the mounting portions 10 of the partition members 4, 6; (only one shown in Fig. 3). Beyond the enclosure for the mounting portions 10, the side walls 20 have a second series of upper and lower aligned apertures 24, through which stakes 26 can be located to friction retain the mounting portions 10 within the bracket enclosure. The head of the stakes 26 is larger than the upper series of second apertures 24.

Because the trough brackets 16 are able to mount two mounting portions 10 (of different partition members), only one bracket 16 is required per partition member. This considerably reduces the number of brackets and mounting work required to mount the present system compared to prior cattle stall systems.

The trough brackets 16 are rapidly mountable in the wall 2, and once the ends of a partition member 4, 6 are located within two brackets 16, dropping the stakes 26 into their apertures 24 rapidly and easily secures them in place. No cementing of floor mounts or excessive wall mounts are necessary. Moreover, the partition members 4, 6 may be rapidly removed (by displacement of the stakes 26) should the farmer wish to use the area for other purposes, e.g. storage during the summer.

Fig 2 is a side view of the system in Fig. 1 showing its simplicity of design and support.

Fig, 6 shows the partition members 4, 6 of Fig. 1 arranged and aligned against a second wall 28 in a similar manner to that shown in Fig. 1, but using a series of second mounting brackets 30, 32. These brackets 30, 32 are shown in more detail in Figs. 7 and 8.

Fig 7 shows a sleeve bracket 30 and the conjoining ends of two partition members 4, 6. The sleeve bracket 30 has a mounting wall (not shown) adapted to be fixed to the stall wall 28, and upper and lower side walls 34, shaped to receive and substantially envelope the tubular ends of the partition members 4, 6. The side walls 34 include aligned upper and lower apertures through which bolts 36 can be located 6 and secured to tighten the side walls 34 around the partition members 4, 6_ The sleeve bracket 30 is similar in design to a known scaffolding bracket- Fig 8 shows a clasp bracket 32. The bracket 32 has a mounting portion 38 fixable, eg. by screw or bolt, to the stall wall 28, a pivotal arm 40, and a pivotal bolt 42. The clasp bracket 32 is designed and shaped so as to have an open tubereceiving position, and a closed tube-securing position, the latter as shown in Fig. 8 with the bolt 42 tightened on the arm 40. Again, this bracket 32 is similar to a known scaffolding bracket.

As with the first mounting brackets 16 mentioned above, the second mounting io brackets 30, 32 are of simple construction, they are easy and simple to fix to a wall, and they provide easy and simple mounting or dismounting of the partition members 4,6.

In a second embodiment as shown in Figs. 9 to 11 and in which like parts are identified by like numerals, the free-standing system includes the mounting portions 10' alternately extending from one side of the end of the partitioning portion 8 and each stall is formed by two partition members 4', C. The mounting portions 10' of one member 4'are secured by sleeve brackets 30 to the corresponding mounting portions 10' of the second member C. Each stall so formed is mounted to upright corner posts 50 at the transition between the partitioning portion 8 and each mounting portion 10 as shown. In this embodiment, each set of partition members 4', 6' are arranged alternately on opposite sides of the posts as shown in Figs. 9 and 10. On each side of the posts, there is no requirement to fit partition members between each neighbouring set of members 4', 6' since by this arrangement, as shown particularly in Fig. 10, stalls are provided in side-by-side relationship, the stalls between each set being formed by the partitioning portion 8 of an adjacent set and the joined mounting portions of the opposite side of the posts.

7 The present invention provides a simple system for creating animal stalls which avoids floor mounts, and which is rapidly and easily mountable on a wall, Each partition member can be of simple design, and therefore readily formable from easily available material. The system has been found strong enough in practice to stand up to the weight and forces of cattle.

A flexible strap 52 is provided in each stall, the strap being located nearer the web of the stall formed by two neighbouring partition members.

Variations and modifications can be made without departing from the scope of the invention described above and as claimed hereinafter.

1 8

Claims

CLAIMS:

1. A partition member for use with another of its kind to form an animal stall comprises an elongate partitioning portion in one plane and two or more mounting portions in a second plane at right angles thereto, the mounting portions extending wholly or substantially perpendicular from one end of the partitioning portion.

2. A partition member as claimed in Claim 1, wherein at least one mounting portion extends from each side of the end of the partitioning portion.

3. A partition member as claimed in Claim 1 or 2, wherein two mounting portions are provided and are either directly mountable onto one or more structures, or require one or more brackets to form an attachment thereto4. A partition member as claimed in Claim 2, wherein the mounting portions by extending outwardly from each side of one end of the partitioning portion allows each side of the partitioning portion to be securely attached to a structure.

5. A partition member as claimed in any one of the preceding Claims, wherein the form of attachment of the partitioning member to the structure avoids any contact with the floor.

6. A partition member as claimed in any one of the preceding Claims, wherein the mounting portions extend in opposite directions outwardly from the partitioning portion.

9 7. A partition member as claimed in Claim 1, wherein the mounting portions extend from one side only of the end of the partitioning portion.

8- A partition member as claimed in Claim 6 or 7, wherein the mounting portions 5 are co-planar to meet the surface of the structure.

9. A partition member as claimed in any one of the preceding Claims, wherein the mounting portions extend equally from each side of the partitioning portion.

10. A partition member as claimed in any one of the preceding Claims, wherein each partition member is mounted individually from its neighbour(s).

11. A partition member as claimed in any one of Claims 1 to 9, wherein the ends of the partitioning members are conjoined, either in neighbourly fashion or securely to 15 each other, to form a continuous animal stall system.

12. A partition member as claimed in any one of the preceding Claims, wherein the partitioning portion has an elongate U-shape- 13. A partition member as claimed in Claim 12, wherein the partitioning portion and mounting portions are integral and formed from a single bar of tubular material.

14. An animal stall formed by a set of two partition members which are mirrorimages of each other, the partition members being as claimed in any one of the preceding Claims.

1 () 15. A stall as claimed in Claim 14 when dependent on Claim 7, wherein the members are mounted on upright corner posts at the transition between the partitioning portion and each mounting portion.

16 A free-standing system for forming a series of aligned stalls for animals along a structure(s) comprising a plurality of neighbouring parlition members as claimed in any one of the preceding Claims.

17. A partition member substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to 10 the accompanying drawings.

18. A stall when formed by two partition members substantially as hereinbefore, described with reference to the accompanying drawings.

19. A free standing system formed from a series of stalls substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying drawings.