NZ563311A - Docking iron - Google Patents

Abstract

A tail docking iron 10 is provided with a heated blade 18 and an opposed anvil 20. Pulling the handles 12 and 22 together will cause the blade to close on a tail caught between the blade and the anvil to dock the tail. At the same time as the blade and anvil are brought together the anvil is rotated on it's axis so that the wool on the tail near the anvil is caught in the protrusions on the anvil and pulled away from the docking site to provide a cleaner dock.

Description

563311 *10056665914* NEW ZEALAND PATENTS ACT, 1953 No: 563311 Date: 9 November 2007 COMPLETE SPECIFICATION DOCKING IRON We, TE PARI PRODUCTS LIMITED, a New Zealand company, of 67 Humber Street, Oamaru, New Zealand, do hereby declare the invention for which we pray that a patent may be granted to us, and the method by which it is to be performed, to be particularly described in and by the following statement: 563311 FIELD OF THE INVENTION The invention relates to a docking device. In particular, although not exclusively, the docking device maybe utilised to dock the tails of sheep.

BACKGROUND TO THE INVENTION It is well known that a heated blade or hot knife may be utilised to dock the tails of sheep. The underside of the tails is non-wool bearing and is called the skin side, whereas the top of the tail is wool bearing and called the wool side. Various portable docking devices have been developed that utilise a heated blade to make a docking cut through the skin side of the tail.

An example of one such docking device is disclosed in New Zealand patent 193705/193797. This docking device includes a heated blade and an anvil that are provided on components of a scissor action. The docking device is operable by a single hand of a user to bring the heated blade and anvil together to make a docking cut through the tail of a sheep located in between. Typically, the sheep are restrained in the inverted position in a cradle, with rear legs raised and restrained, and the heated blade cuts through the skin side of the tail from the top with the anvil contacting the wool side of the tail underneath.

In this specification where reference has been made to patent specifications, other external documents, or other sources of information, this is generally for the purpose of providing a context for discussing the features of the invention. Unless specifically stated otherwise, reference to such external documents is not to be construed as an admission that such documents, or such sources of information, in any jurisdiction, are prior art, or form part of the common general knowledge in the art.

It is an object of the invention to provide an improved docking device, or to at least provide the public with a useful choice. 2 563311 SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION In a first aspect, the invention broadly consists in a docking device for docking an animal's tail, comprising: a blade for engaging with one side of the tail; an anvil, having one or more engagement protrusions on its surface, for engaging with the other side of the tail; a heat source for heating the blade; and a handle assembly that is arranged to support the blade and anvil in a pivotably moveable relationship relative to each other, the handle assembly being operable by the hand of a user to move the blade and anvil toward and away from each other between an open position in which the blade and anvil are displaced from each other and a closed position in which the blade and anvil are substantially engaged with each other, the handle assembly also being arranged to rotate the anvil as the device moves from the open to closed position such that the rotating anvil acts to stretch one side of the tail during the docking cut of the tail.

Preferably, the handle assembly is operable to cause simultaneous translation of the anvil toward or away from engagement with the blade and reciprocal rotation of the anvil as the device is moved between its open and closed positions.

Preferably, the handle assembly comprises: a first component that is arranged to support the blade and heat source; a second component that is arranged to rotatably support the anvil and which is pivotably coupled to the first component to provide a scissor action to enable the blade and anvil to move toward and away from each other between the open and closed positions; and an operating handle that is pivotably coupled to the first and second components and which may be operated by a user to move the device between the open and closed positions and which is also operatively coupled to the anvil to cause it to rotate during movement of the device between the open and closed positions.

Preferably, the first component and operating handle comprise handle portions for gripping and operation of the device by hand(s) of a user. More preferably, the operating handle is arranged to be pulled toward the first component to close the docking device and may be released to a rest position in which the operating handle is 3 563311 displaced from the first component to leave the docking device in the open position. In one form, the operating handle is arranged to translate toward and away from the first component and also for pivotal movement relative to the first and second components, thereby essentially having two degrees of freedom.

Preferably, the operating handle is pivotably coupled to the first and second components such that it can pivot toward or away from the first component to thereby move the device between the closed and open positions, respectively.

Preferably, the operating handle is operatively coupled to the anvil such that pivotal movement of the operating handle toward or away from the first component causes the anvil to reciprocally rotate back and forth about the second component as the device is moved between its open and its closed positions.

Preferably, the anvil is rotatably mounted to an end of the second component and is operatively connected to the operating handle by an operating linkage such that pivotal movement of the operating handle causes reciprocal movement of the operating linkage to thereby cause rotation of the anvil about the second component.

Preferably, the anvil is reciprocally rotatable such that it rotates back and fourth between a rest position when the docking device is in its open position and a fully rotated position when the docking device is in its closed position. The fully rotated position may be any pre-set desired angle of rotation relative to the rest position.

Preferably, the anvil is biased toward its rest position.

Preferably, the handle assembly further comprises a biasing component that is arranged to bias the operating handle into a pivotal orientation that causes the anvil to rotate toward its rest position when the docking device is in its open position. More preferably, the biasing component is a resiliently springy metal component having first and second ends, the first end being rigidly coupled to the second component and the second end acting against the operating handle such that the operating handle 4 563311 compresses the resiliently springy component when the docking device is in the closed position thereby biasing the operating handle.

In one form, the anvil is an integral elongate component having one or more engagement protrusions on its surface. In another form, the anvil comprises a series of individual components that are coupled together to form a collective elongate component, and one or more of the series of individual components having a profile that forms one or more engagement protrusions on the surface of the collective elongate component.

In one form, the engagement protrusion(s) are randomly located about at least a portion of the circumference of the surface of the anvil. In another form, the engagement protrusion(s) are provided in the form of a patterned array about at least a portion of the circumference of the surface of the anvil.

Preferably, the engagement protrusion(s) are provided along at least a portion of the length of the anvil. In one form, the engagement protrusion(s) are provided along the entire length of the anvil.

Preferably, the engagement protrusion(s) of the anvil are in the form of hook-like engagement protrusion(s) that are oriented toward the direction of rotation of the anvil as the device is moving toward the closed position. By way of example, the engagement protrusions may be in the form of hooks, spikes, tines, dimples, ribs, or any other type of engagement protrusion or surface profile that is capable of gripping and/or engaging with a surface of a tail, whether the wool-side or skin-side, so as to stretch the side of the tail as the anvil rotates. It will be appreciated that the engagement protrusions may be either integral or attached to or formed at the outer surface of the anvil.

Preferably, the anvil is a hollow elongate component having a central longitudinally extending cylindrical aperture through which a complimentary cylindrical shaft of the 563311 second component extends to thereby allow rotation of the anvil about the second component.

Preferably, the blade is elongate and has a substantially triangular cross-sectional profile, wherein the apex of the triangle forms the edge of the blade and is directed toward the anvil.

Preferably, the heat source is integral with the first component of the handle assembly and generates a gas flame for heating the blade. More preferably, the heat source comprises: a gas conduit through a portion of the first component of the handle assembly through which gas flows from a gas source for generating a gas flame. The first component may also comprise vents into the conduit to enable mixing of the gas with oxygen as required for combustion.

In a second aspect, the invention broadly consists in a docking iron comprising: an operable handle assembly comprising a first component that supports a blade and a second component onto which an anvil is rotatably mounted, the first and second components being pivotably coupled in a scissor action to allow the blade and anvil to be moved toward and away from engagement with each other, and the anvil being operatively connected to the handle assembly such that it reciprocally rotates back and forth about the second component in response to relative movement of the first and second components in the scissor action..

Preferably, the docking iron further comprises a heat source for heating the blade.

Preferably, the anvil comprises one or more engagement protrusions on its exterior surface.

Preferably, the anvil is an elongate component.

In a third aspect, the invention broadly consists in a method of docking the tail of a sheep utilising the docking device or docking iron of the first or second aspects of the 6 563311 invention, the method comprising the steps of: operating a heat source to heat the blade; positioning the tail in between the blade and anvil with the docking device in the open position such that the skin side of the tail faces the blade and the wool side of the tail faces the anvil; and operating the handle assembly to close the docking device thereby causing rotation and engagement of the anvil with the blade so as to enable the blade to cut through the tail from the skin side while the rotating anvil is stretching the wool side of the tail resulting in a docked tail having reduced wool on the wool side.

Preferably, the method further comprises the step of supporting the sheep in an inverted position with their rear legs raised such that the skin side of the tail faces upward and the wool side of the tail faces downward.

The term "comprising" as used in this specification and claims means "consisting at least in part of'. When interpreting each statement in this specification and claims that includes the term "comprising", features other than that or those prefaced by the term may also be present. Related terms such as "comprise" and "comprises" are to be interpreted in the same manner.

The invention consists in the foregoing and also envisages constructions of which the following gives examples only.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS Preferred embodiments of the invention will be described by way of example only and with reference to the drawings, in which: Figure 1 shows a right side view of a preferred form of the docking device of the invention; Figure 2 shows a left side view of the docking device; Figure 3 shows a close-up view of a section of the docking device shown in Figure 2 and in particular the operating linkage for the rotatable anvil; 7 563311 Figure 4 shows a right side perspective view of the docking device being held by a user in an open position; Figure 5 shows a front end view of the docking device being held in the open position; Figure 6 shows a right side perspective view of the docking device being operated by a user into a closed position; Figure 7 shows a front end view of the docking device being held substantially toward the closed position; and Figure 8 shows a schematic view of a sheep tail in between the open docking device shown in Figure 5.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS The invention relates to a docking device, also commonly referred to as a docking iron, for docking tails of sheep. It will be appreciated that the docking device may also be used to dock other parts of sheep or other animals. In the preferred form, the docking device is a portable hand-held device that can be held and operated either by a single hand of a user, or with two hands if desired.

Referring to Figures 1 and 2, the preferred form docking device 10 comprises an operable handle assembly that supports a blade 18 and anvil 20 for pivotable movement relative to each other. In particular, the handle assembly may be held and operated by a user to move the docking device between an open position where the blade 18 and anvil 20 are displaced from each other to a closed position where they are engaged with each other to perform a docking cut on a tail. In the preferred form, the handle assembly comprises first 12 and second 14 components that are pivotally connected by a pivotal connection 16 to provide a scissor action. The first component 12 comprises a handle portion 12a, a heat source 12b, and is arranged to support the blade 18. The second component 14 is arranged to rotatably support the anvil 20. The handle assembly of the docking device 10 also comprises an operating handle 22 that is preferably pivotally connected to both the first 12 and second 14 components and which may be manipulated by a user to move the docking device between the open and closed positions as desired during the docking process. 8 563311 In the open position shown in Figures 1 and 2, the blade 18 and anvil 20 are separated from each other. As the operating handle 22 is pulled towards the handle portion 12a of the first component 12, the docking device is moved from the open position to the closed position in which the anvil 20 is pivotally moved about pivotal connections 16 in direction A toward engagement with the blade 18. Referring to Figure 2, the operating handle 22 is also operatively coupled by an operating linkage 24 to the anvil 20 and is arranged to move with two degrees of freedom. In particular, the operating handle 22 is arranged to translate and pivot toward and into alignment with the first component 12 to cause the anvil 20 to engage with the blade 18 and also to cause the anvil to simultaneously rotate via movement of the operating linkage. In the preferred form, the operating linkage 24 is arranged to reciprocally rotate the anvil 20 back and forth about the second component 14 as the docking device is moved between open and closed positions. In particular, the anvil 20 is arranged to rotate from a rest position when the docking device is in the open position to a preset fully rotated position, which can be a preset rotation angle relative to the rest position, as the docking device moves into the closed position. When the docking device is released from the closed position, the operating handle 22 is preferably biased into an orientation that causes the operating linkage 24 to rotate the anvil 20 back into its rest position.

In the preferred form, the first component 12 is preferably substantially elongate with a cylindrical main hollow body generally indicated by 12c. The main hollow body 12c preferably has an internal conduit through which gas may flow from a gas source, such as a gas cylinder of propane or the like. A gas cylinder is preferably connected via a flexible conduit 28 to one end of the main hollow body 12c by a connection 30. The heat source associated with the first component 12 is preferably a gas flame that is arranged to heat the blade 18. The gas flame is preferably directed out from the end of the conduit of the main hollow body 12c at 12b into a flue 32 (shown in Figures 5 and 7) or alternatively a channel extending through the blade 18 through which combustion gases may flow. The main hollow body 12c of the first component 12 is also preferably provided with a number of vents 58 toward the gas flame end to provide oxygen for mixing with the propane gas provided in the internal conduit. The configuration of such 9 563311 a gas flame for the heating of docking irons is known to those skilled in the art. It will be appreciated that alternate forms of the docking device need not necessarily have an integral heating source. For example, the blade of alternative forms of the docking device may be heated continuously or as needed by an external heat source, whether that is a gas flame or otherwise.

The end of the main hollow body 12c from which the gas flame 12b is provided is integrally formed with two spaced apart parallel mounting arms 34 for the flue 32 and blade 18. In particular, the flue 32 and blade 18 are attached or mounted between the mounting arms 34 by bolts 36, screws, welds or any other suitable attachment means. It will be appreciated that the flue 32 and blade 18 could be integrally formed as one component in alternative forms of the docking device. The preferred form first component 12 is also provided with two parallel guide arms 38 that extend at substantially perpendicular angles downward from the end of the main hollow body 12c. The guide arms 38 form a channel within which the second component 14 supporting the rotatable anvil 20 can move upwards and downwards toward and away from the blade 18 as the docking device is moved between its open and closed positions.

The preferred form second component 14 of the handle assembly comprises three parts that are integrally formed or alternatively attached to each other. The first part is a substantially L-shaped component 14a that is pivotally connected to the end of the main hollow body 12c of the first component 12 by pivotal connection 16. In the preferred form, pivotal connection 16 is formed by two tabs 40 that extend from the end of the main hollow body 12c of the first component 12 to capture an end 14b of the L-shaped component 14a of the second component 14. A bolt or other pivotal component allowing relative pivotal movement extends through the complementary apertures in the tabs 40 and L-shaped component 14a and is secured in place with a fastening bolt. It will be appreciated that other forms of pivotal connections could alternatively be used in other forms of the docking device. The second part of the second component 14 comprises two handle guide components 42 that extend at a substantially perpendicular angle up from the other free end 14c of the L-shaped component 14a. The two guide 563311 components 42 are rigidly coupled toward an end 44a of the third part of the second component 14, which is the anvil mounting component 44. In operation, the two guide components 42 are arranged to guide the operating handle 22 up and down in the required alignment. In the preferred form, the anvil mounting component 44 is preferably substantially elongate and has a cylindrical or substantially cylindrical cross-section for rotatably supporting the anvil 20.

In the preferred form, the operating handle 22 of the handle assembly comprises a substantially L-shaped handle portion 22a that is rigidly coupled or integrally formed with connecting bar 22b. In the preferred form, the connecting bar 22b is pivotally coupled to at an end 44b of the anvil mounting component 44 of the second component 14 by two parallel linkage arms 46 and pivotal connections 48 and 50. The connecting bar 22b of the operating handle 22 is also pivotally connected between the ends of the guide arms 38 of the first component 12 at pivotal connection 52. In the preferred form, all the pivotal connections 16, 48, 50, 52 are formed by nut and bolt arrangements that extend through the components to form a pivotal connection as is known in the art. However, it will be appreciated that other types of pivotal connections could alternatively be used if desired. In particular, riveting or other forms of pivotable connections or pivot joints could be used.

Referring to Figure 2, the connecting bar 22b is also connected to one end of the operating linkage 24 via a ball-joint connection 54. At the other end, the operating linkage 24 is coupled to the rotating anvil 20 via another ball-joint connection 56. In operation, the user of the docking device 10 may pull the operating handle 22 toward the handle portion 12a of the first component 12 to cause the device to move from an open position to a closed position via pivotal connection 16 between the first 12 and second 14 components. At the same time, the operating handle 22 pivots into alignment with the main hollow body 12c of the first component 12 via pivotal connections 48, 50, and 52, and this causes the connecting bar 22b to rotate anti-clockwise about pivot 52 to thereby pull the operating linkage 24 downward causing the anvil 20 to rotate from its rest position towards a fully rotated position at a preset angle relative to the rest 11 563311 position. This rotation happens progressively as the docking device moves from its open position to its fully closed position.

As shown in Figures 1 and 2, a biasing component 26, such as a resilient springing bent metal component or the like, is bolted to the L-shaped component 14a of the second component 14. The biasing component 26 is arranged to urge the connecting bar 22b to rotate clockwise (Figure 2) about pivot 52 to thereby cause the operating linkage to move upward and rotate the anvil 20 toward and into its rest position. For example, when the docking device is being held in the closed position, the connecting bar 22b comprises the biasing component 26 into a flatter formation against the L-shaped component 14a of the second component 14. Once the operating handle 22 is released when moving the docking device from a closed position to an open position after a docking cut has been performed, the biasing component 26 resiliently decompresses into its rest bent formation (shown in Figure 1 and 2) and acts on the connecting bar 22b to cause it to rotate clockwise about pivot 52. This movement causes the operating linkage 24 to be pushed upward to thereby urge the anvil 20 to return from it fully rotated position to its rest position ready for another docking cut. With this arrangement, the anvil 20 is biased to rotate to return toward its rest position when the operating handle 22 is released.

Referring to Figures 1 and 2, the operating handle 22 is shown in its rest and pivoted position and it may be pulled toward the first component in direction C to move the docking device from an open position to a closed position to perform a docking cut. The operating handle 22 may then be released in direction D to move the docking device from the closed to the open position ready for another docking cut. When the operating handle 22 is released, the second component 14 pivots away from the first component 12 about pivot 16 under gravity, and the operating handle 22 pivots about connections 48, 50, 52 to rotate the anvil 20 back to its rest position in response to decompression of the biasing component 26.

Referring to Figures 5 and 7, the blade 18 and flue 32 of the docking device will be described in more detail. In the preferred form, the flue 32 is formed preferably from 12 563311 cast copper or any other material that provides a good heat sink characteristic. As shown, the flue 32 comprises a channel 32a through which combustion gases resulting from the gas flame of the heat source may flow. In the preferred form, the blade 38 is an elongate component having a substantially triangular cross-section. In the preferred form, the apex of the triangular cross-section forms a blade edge 18a that is arranged to penetrate into a side of the tail during the docking cut. It will be appreciated that other profiles of blades could be used in alternative forms of the docking device and they do not necessarily have to be triangular in cross-section. In particular, the blade could be substantially flat, slim-line, wider or have various other profiles to enable the desired searing docking cut to be performed. In the preferred form, the blade 18 is also formed from cast copper but any other suitable material having good heat sink characteristics may alternatively be used.

As mentioned, the anvil 20 is arranged to rotate about a centrally extending axis formed by the anvil mounting component 44 of the second component 14. In the preferred form, the anvil 20 is a hollow elongate component and the rotation axis is aligned with the longitudinal axis of the elongate anvil 20. For example, the anvil is preferably cylindrical with a central longitudinally extending cylindrical aperture through which a complimentary cylindrical shaft of the mounting component 44 extends. Referring to Figures 5 and 7, the anvil 20 is arranged to progressively rotate about the mounting component 44 in both directions E or F in response to movement of the operating linkage 24 that is coupled between the connecting bar 22b of the operating handle 22 and an end of the anvil 20.

In the preferred form, the rotatable anvil 20 is provided with one or more engagement protrusions on its surface to assist gripping. In particular, the preferred form anvil 20 is provided with a series of spaced-apart engagement protrusions 60 that extend along the length of the anvil and about at least a portion of the circumference of the anvil. Each protrusion 60 extends outwardly from the surface of the anvil 20. In operation, the engagement protrusions 60 are arranged to engage into and/or grip the surface of the tail to which the anvil contacts such that, in cooperation with rotation of the anvil, the side 13 563311 of the tail is stretched as the docking cut is performed. In the preferred form, the anvil 20 is arranged to engage with the wool side of the tail during a docking cut.

In the preferred form, the anvil 20 is collectively formed from a series of washers 20a that are bolted together via bolts 62 as shown in Figures 3 and 5. More preferably, the washers 20a each have a shark-fin 60 extending outwardly from the periphery of the circular washer and which forms a hook-like engagement protrusion on the anvil. The hook-like engagement protrusions are preferably angled or oriented toward the direction of rotation of the anvil when the device is moving toward the closed position. For example, the protrusions are preferably angled toward the clockwise rotation direction. It will be appreciated that the number of washers and their arrangement may be altered or modified to provide the desired pattern or random arrangement of engagement protrusions or engagement surface profile on the anvil 20. It would also be appreciated that the anvil could be formed from one integral component that has integral or attached engagement protrusions on its surface. Engagement protrusions could be of any suitable form and they may, for example, alternatively comprise spikes, tines, ribs, dimples, or any other engagement protrusions that form a grip surface or perform an engagement function for stretching the side of the tail as the in-contact anvil rotates. In the preferred form, the washers 20a are formed from stainless steel but any other suitable material could alternatively be used. Referring to Figure 3, the series of washers 20a forming the rotatable anvil 20 is shown and the final washer 20b in the series near the operating linkage 24 comprises an eccentric lug on its outer periphery for coupling to the ball joint 56 of the operating linkage. Referring to Figures 5 and 7, an end washer 44a and locking bolt 44b is provided at the opposite end of the anvil mounting component 44 to secure the washers 20a of the anvil 20 in place on the end of the mounting component 44.

A typical operation of the docking device 10 will now be explained with reference to Figures 4-8. Referring to Figure 8, the docking device is intended to be utilised to dock the tail 64 of a sheep supported in the inverted position, for example by a cradle, with its rear legs 70 raised and pointing towards the sky. The docking device 10 is prepared by initiating the heating source, for example the gas flame, to heat the blade 18 to the 14 563311 required temperature. As shown in Figure 4, the docking device 10 is arranged to be held by a single hand of a user although alternatively two hands can be used if desired. When one had is used, the fingers are used to grip the operating handle 22 while the palm of the hand fits over the handle portion 12a of the main hollow body 12c of the first component 12 of the handle assembly. With the docking device 10 in its rest and open position with the blade 18 and anvil 20 displaced from each other, the tail 64 of the sheep is positioned in between the blade and anvil. In the inverted position, the skin side 66 of the tail faces the blade 18 and the wool side 68 of the tail faces the anvil 20. Once the tail 64 is positioned, the user may pull the operating handle 22 toward the main hollow body 12c of the first component 12 in the direction shown by arrow C to progressively move the position of the docking device from its open position (shown in Figures 4 and 5) to its closed position (shown in Figures 6 and 7) so as to engage the anvil 20 with the edge 18a of the blade 18 to dock the tail 64. In particular, as the docking device 10 is moved from an open position to a closed position the blade 18a sears and cuts through the tail. In particular, as the anvil 20 moves toward the blade 18, a docking cut is completed once the blade 18 and anvil 20 are fully or substantially engaged in the closed position.

Referring to Figures 5 and 7, the anvil 20 is arranged to progressively rotate clockwise in direction E from its rest position shown in Figure 5 to a fully rotated position as shown in Figure 7 as the operating handle 22 is squeezed to move the docking device from its open position to its closed position. In operation, the engagement protrusions 60 on the surface of the anvil 20 operate to engage into and grip the wool side of the tail and the progressive rotational motion of the anvil 20 on the tail acts to stretch the wool side 68 of the tail 64 during the docking cut. This stretching of the wool side results in an improved docked tail as the wool side of the docked tail is caused to have reduced wool due to it being stretched during the docking cut. This is a desirable effect because wool growing on the top or upper surface of docked tails can hang down over the end of the docked tail and extend under the end of the tail, trapping urine and faeces. This can result in increased risk of flystrike. Therefore, the docking device may provide an improved docked tail that further reduces the risk of flystrike. 563311 Once the tail has been docked, the user may release the operating handle 22 in direction D to move the docking device from its closed position to its open position. During this process, the biasing component 26 acts to pivot the operating handle 22 to cause, via movement of the operating linkage 24, the anvil 20 to rotate anti-clockwise back towards its rest position in the direction shown by arrow F, ready for the next tail to be docked.

It will be appreciated that the docking device does not necessarily have to be utilised in the manner set out above. In particular, it is not essential that the sheep be supported in the inverted position. The docking device can be utilised on sheep that are upright provided the heated blade component is positioned to face the skin side of the tail.

It will be appreciated that other scissor action or handle arrangements could be utilised in alternative forms of the docking device. In particular, any operative coupling or connection that allows movement of the anvil and blade component toward and away from each other via the operation of handles or a handle arrangement may be utilised. Further, it will be appreciated that other mechanisms, linkages or coupling arrangements could be utilised to simultaneously cause rotation of the anvil during operation of the docking device between the open and closed positions.

It will be appreciated that the docking device may be formed from any suitable materials. By way of example, the docking device components may be formed from metal, such as steel or mild steel, and suitable materials for the various components are known to those skilled in the art. The blade component is preferably substantially solid but could be partially hollow if desired.

The foregoing description of the invention includes preferred forms thereof. Modifications may be made thereto without departing from the scope of the invention as defined by the accompanying claims. 16 563311

Claims (33)

WHAT WE CLAIM IS:

1. A docking device for docking an animal's tail, comprising: a blade for engaging with one side of the tail; an anvil, having one or more engagement protrusions on its surface, for engaging with the other side of the tail; a heat source for heating the blade; and a handle assembly that is arranged to support the blade and anvil in a pivotably moveable relationship relative to each other, the handle assembly being operable by the hand of a user to move the blade and anvil toward and away from each other between an open position in which the blade and anvil are displaced from each other and a closed position in which the blade and anvil are substantially engaged with each other, the handle assembly also being arranged to rotate the anvil as the device moves from the open to closed position such that the rotating anvil acts to stretch one side of the tail during the docking cut of the tail.

2. A docking device according to claim 1 wherein the handle assembly is operable to cause simultaneous translation of the anvil toward or away from engagement with the blade and reciprocal rotation of the anvil as the device is moved between its open and closed positions.

3. A docking device according to claim 1 or claim 2 wherein the handle assembly comprises: a first component that is arranged to support the blade and heat source; a second component that is arranged to rotatably support the anvil and which is pivotably coupled to the first component to provide a scissor action to enable the blade and anvil to move toward and away from each other between the open and closed positions; and an operating handle that is pivotably coupled to the first and second components and which may be operated by a user to move the device between the open and closed positions and which is also operatively coupled to the anvil to cause it to rotate during movement of the device between the open and closed positions. 17 563311

4. A docking device according to claim 3 wherein the first component and operating handle comprise handle portions for gripping and operation of the device by hand(s) of a user.

5. A docking device according to claim 3 or claim 4 wherein the operating handle is pivotably coupled to the first and second components such that it can pivot toward or away from the first component to thereby move the device between the closed and open positions, respectively.

6. A docking device according to any one of claims 3-5 wherein the operating handle is operatively coupled to the anvil such that pivotal movement of the operating handle toward or away from the first component causes the anvil to reciprocally rotate back and forth about the second component as the device is moved between its open and its closed positions.

7. A docking device according to any one of claims 3-6 wherein the anvil is rotatably mounted to an end of the second component and is operatively connected to the operating handle by an operating linkage such that pivotal movement of the operating handle causes reciprocal movement of the operating linkage to thereby cause rotation of the anvil about the second component.

8. A docking device according to any one of claims 3-7 wherein the anvil is reciprocally rotatable such that it rotates back and fourth between a rest position when the docking device is in its open position and a fully rotated position when the docking device is in its closed position.

9. A docking device according to claim 8 wherein the anvil is biased toward its rest position.

10. A docking device according to claim 8 or claim 9 wherein the handle assembly further comprises a biasing component that is arranged to bias the operating handle 18 563311 into a pivotal orientation that causes the anvil to rotate toward its rest position when the docking device is in its open position.

11. A docking device according to claim 10 wherein the biasing component is a resiliently springy metal component having first and second ends, the first end being rigidly coupled to the second component and the second end acting against the operating handle such that the operating handle compresses the resiliently springy component when the docking device is in the closed position thereby biasing the operating handle.

12. A docking device according to any one of the preceding claims wherein the anvil is an integral elongate component having one or more engagement protrusions on its surface.

13. A docking device according to any one of claims 1-11 wherein the anvil comprises a series of individual components that are coupled together to form a collective elongate component, and one or more of the series of individual components having a profile that forms one or more engagement protrusions on the surface of the collective elongate component.

14. A docking device according to claim 12 or claim 13 wherein the engagement protrusion(s) are randomly located about at least a portion of the circumference of the surface of the anvil.

15. A docking device according to claim 12 or claim 13 wherein the engagement protrusion(s) are provided in the form of a patterned array about at least a portion of the circumference of the surface of the anvil.

16. A docking device according to any one of claims 12-15 wherein the engagement protrusion(s) are provided along at least a portion of the length of the anvil. 19 563311

17. A docking device according to any one of the preceding claims wherein the engagement protrusion(s) of the anvil are in the form of hook-like engagement protrusion(s) that are oriented toward the direction of rotation of the anvil as the device is moving toward the closed position.

18. A docking device according to any one of claims 3-17 wherein the anvil is a hollow elongate component having a central longitudinally extending cylindrical aperture through which a complimentary cylindrical shaft of the second component extends to thereby allow rotation of the anvil about the second component.

19. A docking device according to any one of the preceding claims wherein the blade is elongate and has a substantially triangular cross-sectional profile, wherein the apex of the triangle forms the edge of the blade and is directed toward the anvil.

20. A docking device according to any one of claims 3-19 wherein the heat source is integral with the first component of the handle assembly and generates a gas flame for heating the blade.

21. A docking device according to claim 20 wherein the heat source comprises: a gas conduit through a portion of the first component of the handle assembly through which gas flows from a gas source for generating a gas flame.

22. A docking iron comprising: an operable handle assembly comprising a first component that supports a blade and a second component onto which an anvil is rotatably mounted, the first and second components being pivotably coupled in a scissor action to allow the blade and anvil to be moved toward and away from engagement with each other, and the anvil being operatively connected to the handle assembly such that it reciprocally rotates back and forth about the second component in response to relative movement of the first and second components in the scissor action. 20 563311

23. A docking iron according to claim 22 further comprising a heat source for heating the blade.

24. A docking iron according to claim 22 or claim 23 wherein the anvil comprises one or more engagement protrusions on its exterior surface.

25. A docking iron according to any one of claims 22-24 wherein the anvil is an elongate component.

26. A method of docking the tail of a sheep utilising the docking device or docking iron of any one of claims 1-25, the method comprising the steps of: operating a heat source to heat the blade; positioning the tail in between the blade and anvil with the docking device in the open position such that the skin side of the tail faces the blade and the wool side of the tail faces the anvil; and operating the handle assembly to close the docking device thereby causing rotation and engagement of the anvil with the blade so as to enable the blade to cut through the tail from the skin side while the rotating anvil is stretching the wool side of the tail resulting in a docked tail having reduced wool on the wool side.

27. A method according to claim 26 further comprising the step of supporting the sheep in an inverted position with their rear legs raised such that the skin side of the tail faces upward and the wool side of the tail faces downward.

28. A docking device according to claim 1 and substantially as herein described with reference to any embodiment disclosed.

29. A docking device substantially as herein described with reference to any embodiment shown in the accompanying drawings.

30. A docking iron according to claim 22 and substantially as herein described with reference to any embodiment disclosed. 21 563311

31. A docking iron substantially as herein described with reference to any embodiment shown in the accompanying drawings.

32. A method of docking the tail of a sheep according to claim 26 and substantially as herein described with reference to any embodiment disclosed.

33. A method of docking the tail of a sheep substantially as herein described with reference to any embodiment shown in the accompanying drawings. DATED THIS DAY OF 20°2 22