NZ194925A - Device for restraining front legs and head of animal - Google Patents

Description

mm NEW ZEALAND No.: Date "ANIMAL RESTRAINT" I / We-; JOHN DESMOND GRAY, a New Zealand citizen of Awahuri, R.D. 9, Palmerston North, New Zealand hereby declare the invention for which I / we~pray that a patent may be granted to me/»6, and the method by which it is to be performed, to be particularly described in and by the following statement: - . 1 _ 134915 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 or to 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 made of a rigid or semi-rigid material comprising: a nape member shaped to fit in use about the nape of an animal 's neck; and 1 an integrally formed leg engaging hook having a restricted entrance thereto, extending outwardly and upwardly from each end of the nape member with each hook shaped to receive and hold in use a fore leg of the animal being restrained with each said fore leg being restrained by being held in a position adjacent the head of the animal; there being wide contact surfaces, which in use contact the restrained animal, on the insides of the leg engaging hooks and on the inside of the nape member to reduce pressure exerted on the forelegs and nape of the restrained animal by the leg engaging hooks and nape member respectively with strengthening ribs on the outsides of the leg engaging hooks and the nape member.

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, 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 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 restrai ner.

The animal restrainer 1 is preferably formed as an integral plastics moulding selecting any suitable durable 114925 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 a 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 points for a neck tie 13 which 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 194925 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)

1. WHAT. CLAIM IS: ^ *k;1. An animal restrainer made of a rigid or semi-rigid material comprising:;a nape member shaped to fit in use about the nape of an animal's neck; and an integrally formed leg engaging hook having a restricted entrance thereto, extending outwardly and upwardly from each end of the nape member with each hook shaped to receive and hold in use a fore leg of the animal being restrained with each said fore leg being restrained by being held in a position adjacent the head of the animal;;there being wide contact surfaces, which in use contact the restrained animal, on the insides of the leg engaging hooks and on the inside of the nape member to reduce pressure exerted on the forelegs and nape of the restrained animal by the leg engaging hooks and nape member respectively with strengthening ribs on the outsides of the leg engaging hooks and the nape member.;2. An animal restrainer as claimed in claim 1 wherein the shape of the restrainer is such that, when viewed with the nape member located in a position which would engage about the neck of an animal, it has a substantially W configuration with a thickened central portion made up by the nape member with the hook ends forming the sides of the W.;0;3. An animal restrainer as claimed in claim 1 or claim 2 whereif(<;l\cu each said leg engaging hook has a tie engaging means comprising \ a hook arm projecting from a side of the leg engaging hook.;4. An animal restrainer as claimed in claim 3 wherein the tie engaging means includes a tie cord which in use passes beneath the neck of the animal and engages with each said hook arm.;5. An animal restrainer as claimed in any one of the preceding claims wherein the nape member and the leg engaging hooks of the ani-;- 6;f94925;mal restrainer are integrally formed from a suitable plastics materi al.;6. An animal restrainer as claimed in claim 5 wherein the hook arms are integrally formed with the leg engaging hooks.;7. An animal restrainer, and particularly a sheep restrainer,;arranged and operable substantially as herein described with reference to the accompanying drawings. Bated this ^ day of cototnax JB-slp;A. J. PARK & SON ' per /;agents for the applicants * ; - 7 -