GB2480696A - Animal control gate assembly - Google Patents

Abstract

An animal control gate assembly 10 for allowing passage of an animal in one downstream direction D only through the gate assembly, said gate assembly comprising a frame 20 and a pair of animal gates 30 and 40 moveably mounted to the frame, each gate being movable by the animal, passing downstream, between a first closed position inhibiting animal passage, and a second open position allowing said passage, the second gate being moveable by the animal, passing in an upstream direction U, from said closed position to a position which obstructs the movement of the first gate thereby preventing opening of the first gate and further passage of the animal upstream. Thus the animal can exit the gate downstream, but cannot return upstream.

Description

Improvements in and relating to animal control gate assemblies This invention relates to animal control gate assemblies, particularly, but not exclusively, for the exclusion of wildlife such as badgers from their sets, or for exclusion of other animals from habitation, for example, prior to land development, or other workings.

Prior to the development or other workings on a piece of land, it is desirable to exclude animals, for example to force wildlife to find another home.

Such exclusion can be temporary or permanent. Simple one-way gates have been employed, but these tend to fail, particularly where strong and intelligent animals such as badgers are present. The gates can be forced open or otherwise manipulated by the badgers to avoid the gate. It is also possible for the badge to dig under the gate to avoid it.

Embodiments of the present invention address the problems mentioned above.

According to a first aspect of the invention, there is provided an animal control gate assembly for allowing passage of an animal in one downstream direction only through the gate assembly, said gate assembly comprising a frame and a pair of animal gates moveably mounted to the frame, including a first gate and a second gate downstream of the first gate, each gate being movable by the animal, passing downstream, between a first closed position inhibiting animal passage, and a second open position allowing said passage, the second gate being moveable by the animal, passing upstream, from said closed position to a position which obstructs the movement of the first gate thereby preventing opening of the first gate and further passage of the animal upstream.

Thus, the animal can exit the gate in a downstream direction by opening the two gates in turn, but upon trying to return, the movement of the second gate forces the first gate into the closed (shut) position.

In an embodiment, the first and second gates are hinged to the frame for swinging movement from said closed to said open positions. Preferably, said gates are formed from a sheet of material, and have hinges formed from a bar attached to and extending laterally across each gate, into the frame.

Preferably, the bar is attached to the gate at an upper area of the gate so that the gate will hang downwardly under the influence of gravity.

In an embodiment, the second gate is free to swing from said closed position into said first gate obstructing position, for example by means of the second gate being in abutment or engagement with the first gate when so positioned.

Preferably the first gate includes a stop allowing its swinging only in a downstream direction.

In an embodiment, the frame has a generally parallelepiped or cuboid outer periphery, said gates being disposed adjacent two opposed sides of the parallelepiped shaped frame.

Preferably, further opposed sides of the parallelepiped frame and the top and floor of the parallelepiped are closed to the passage of the animal such that the only passage through the parallelepiped frame is via the two gates.

Preferably, said frame includes ground engaging formations, extending below the floor of the frame.

Preferably said ground engaging formations are in the form of legs which extend downwardly from each corner of the frame, one on each side of each gate. Thus, the legs are sinkable below ground level and hold the frame in place securely, even if an animaitries to force the gates open.

Preferably, each leg is spaced, and at least one of the gaps between said spaced legs is closed to animal passage, thereby to prevent an animal tunnelling or digging under the gates.

In an embodiment, the floor extends beyond the parallelepiped frame in at least the downstream direction and preferably also the upstream direction also.

Thus the animal is further inhibited from digging or tunnelling because it is obstructed from doing so by the floor.

According to a second aspect of the invention, there is provided an animal control gate assembly for allowing passage of an animal in one downstream direction only through a gate assembly, the assembly including a frame and at least one swinging gate, and wherein the assembly further includes a floor member extending beyond the frame at least in the downstream direction and/or at least one ground engaging member extending below said floor, the floor and/or at least one ground engaging member each forming an obstruction to inhibit animal passage when the animal tries to avoid the swinging gate.

The invention of the second aspect may further have the features of the first aspect.

The invention extends to animal control fencing employing a control gate according to any one of the inventions identified above.

The invention may be performed in various ways and an embodiment thereof will now be described by way of example only, reference being made to the accompanying drawings, in which:-Figure 1 shows a perspective view of a remote control gate assembly according to the invention; Figure 2 shows a view of the assembly in the direction of arrow II in Figure 1; Figure 3 shows a view of the assembly in the direction of arrow Ill in Figure 1; Figure 4 shows a view of a gate assembly similar to the gate assembly shown in Figure 1 in the direction of arrow IV in Figure 1; and Figures 5, 6 and 7 show a section through the gate assembly viewed generally in the direction of arrow IV shown in Figure 1.

Referring to Figure 1 there is shown an animal control gate assembly 10 including a frame 20 which has moveable gates 30 and 40 and a floor area 50 which together define an animal movement passage 60. Gates 30 and 40 swing to allow egress of an animal in the direction of arrow D, but are configured so that re-entry of the animal in the direction of arrow U is prevented.

The frame 20 is forced into the ground so that the floor area 50 is generally at ground level the assembly 10 is incorporated into a barrier such as a fence so that an animal has to pass through the passage 60 to egress an area bounded by the fence, but cannot return to that area. In this instance the frame is manufactured from tubular members and angle iron and is galvanised or otherwise treated to resist corrosion. The frame includes four corner legs 22, which in plan view are arranged in a generally square configuration such that when they are forced into the ground they provide a rigid support for the remaining assembly which is above ground and this reduces the likelihood that the control gate assembly will be pushed over by a badger or other strong animal. The gate frame 20 is a sturdy box construction which can be inserted into the ground by the use of a post driving device or the like, and removed by an excavator or the like without damage.

Referring to Figures 2 and 3, respective side views of the entrance and exits of the gate assembly are illustrated. Gates 30 and 40 are formed from plate material and each have hinge bars 32 and 42 respectively which are welded to the gates and extend into the leg members 22 so that the gates 30 and 40 swing freely but are urged into the closed position shown by gravity.

Whilst gate 40 can swing freely in both directions the gate 30 can swing only in one direction because a stop bar 24 prevents its rotation in one direction. Figure 4 shows a side view of the gate assembly 10. In Figure 1 the gate assembly is shown as a side member in the form of a single bar material, however in this modified version the side of the assembly 10 is formed from a mesh 26. The purpose of the mesh 26 or the single bar of material shown in Figure 1 is to prevent an animal from escaping through the side of the assembly and thereby circumventing the gates 30 and 40. To prevent tunnelling the gate has a solid floor 50 which extends to each side of the gate. In addition, vertical bars 28 extend below ground between a pair of legs 22, to further inhibit tunnelling.

Figures 5, 6 and 7 show the operation of the gate assembly 10. Each of the Figures shows a section through the assembly 10 viewed in the direction of arrow IV shown in Figure 1. In Figure 5 the rest position of the assembly is shown. An animal wishing to travel through the gate in the downstream direction of arrow D will fore open the gates 30 and 40. This will cause the gates 30 and to rotate about their hinges 32 and 42 in the directions of arrows d. Thus the animal can travel freely in the downstream direction D. The position of the gates as the animal travels through the subsequent passage 60 is illustrated in Figure 6.

Referring additionally to Figure 7, should the animal wish to return through the control gate assembly 10 in an upstream direction indicated by arrow U, gate 40 is free to pivot in the direction of arrow u about its hinge 42 until it abuts gate 30. Gate 30 is prevented from rotating in the direction of arrow u by the stop 24. Thus, the result of the action of an animal pushing on gate 40 is to force the gate 30 against the stop 24 and thus to rigidly hold the gate 30 in a closed position. In this position, the gate 40 is inclined downwardly so the animal is pushed downwardly against the floor 50 which diverts its energy towards the floor 50 rather than toward the gate 30.

Various modifications, alternatives or admissions all within the ambit of the invention would be apparent to the skilled addressee.