US2704066A

US2704066A - Horn weights

Info

Publication number: US2704066A
Application number: US275710A
Authority: US
Inventors: Sanden Theodore
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1952-03-10
Filing date: 1952-03-10
Publication date: 1955-03-15
Anticipated expiration: 1972-03-15

Description

March 15, 1955 SANDEN 2,704,066

HORN WEIGHTS Filed March 10, 1952 )7 3 INVENTOR 772:0 dare $ava'an ATTORNEY United States Patent HORN WEIGHTS Theodore Sanden, Mahnomen, Minn.

Application March 10, 1952, Serial No. 275,710

Claims. (Cl. 128-76) This invention relates to an improvement in horn weights wherein it is desired to provide simple and effective means for shaping the horns of cattle.

Various types of devices have been previously constructed for the purpose of shaping the horns of cattle. Most of these devices comprise collars which encircle the horns and are secured thereto. All of the weights with which I am familiar include set screws or pins which hold the weights in place. Such set screws and other such holding means usually extend beyond the periphery of the weights and provide protuberances which tend to catch upon fences, posts, and'the like.

An object of the present invention lies in the provision of a horn weight which requires no set screws, pins or projections to hold the weights in place. The outer surface of the weights is rounded from one end to the other. As a result the tendency for the weights to catch upon fences, gates and the like is eliminated.

-A feature of the present invention resides in the provision of horn weights which are easy to apply. Most such weights are applied by first applying the weights upon the horn and then tightening set screws or drilling holes and inserting retaining pins in order to hold the weights in place. My weights are merely threaded into place by rotating the weights with the hand until they are tight upon the horns of the animal. When once engaged the weights remain firmly in place, mainly through the fact that most of the tendency for loosening the weights or disturbing the position thereof is eliminated.

-A further feature of the present invention lies in the fact that my weights do not injure the horns and cause no discomfort to the animal. Where set screws are employed it is necessary to tighten the set screws until the end of the set screw penetrates or indents the surface of the horn. This action often cracks or permanently disfigures the horns. In other instances pins are employed which extend entirely; through the horn, a hole being drilled for this purpose. With such an arrangement the horn is permanently injured and the aperture or indentation formed when the weight is applied remains visible throughout the life of the animal. This is particularly disadvantageous as horn weigh-ts are usually used on pure bred cattle to improve the appearance of the animals. With the present construction the weights may be later removed without causing any permanent injury to the horn itself. I have found that any marks made on the horns by the weights disappear shortly after the weights are removed.

These and other objects and novel features of my invention will be more clearly and fully set forth in the following specification and claims.

In the drawings forming a part of my specification:

Figure 1 is a perspective view of a pair of cattle horns showing the weights in place thereupon.

Figure 2 is a perspective view of a horn and weight, a portion of the weight being broken away to show the manner in which the weight grips the horn.

Figure 3 is a sectional view on a plane through the axis of the weight.

The horn weight disclosed is extremely simple in design but is unusually effective in its use and operation. The weight includes an elongated tubular body which is slightly rounded longitudinally throughout its entire length. The intermediate portion 11 of the tubular body 10 is provided with a slightly rounded outer surface 12 and a substantially cylindrical inner surface 13. The intermediate portion 11 is provided at one end with an "ice inwardly extending flange 14. The outer surface of the flange 14 at its point of juncture with the intermediate portion 11 of the weight is continuously rounded as indicated at 15. The inner surface of the flange 14 is also preferably rounded as indicated at 16 at the juncture between the flange 14 and the intermediate portion 11. Thus a shoulder is formed between the flange 14 and the intermediate portion 11 producing a reduced diameter opening 17 at one end of the weightbody.

The end 19 of each weight is internally threaded as indicated at 20. These internalthreads are relatively sharp so as to firmly engage the surface of the horn, but at the same time are polished to remove any cutting edge which might cut deeply into the horn. The threaded portion 20 is of substantial length so that the horn may be gripped over an elongated surface. The internal threads are slightly tapered, the degree of taper being substantially similar to the taper of a pipe tap with which the threads are formed. The horns, being somewhat flexible and thin-walled, are securely gripped by the threads even though the threaded edges do not cut deeply into the horn body. I

The end 21 of the weight body at the outside of the threaded portion 20 is also continuously rounded from the threaded aperture to the surface 12. Thus from end to end of the weight the surface, is curved so that the weight will not catch on any object such as a fence, post, rail, or other object which might be apt to dislodge the weight.

The flange 14 forms a smaller diameter opening at one end of the weight so that the weight will be held in proper position. The smaller diameter portion of the horn extends through the reduced diameter opening 17 and is held from a wobbling movement when the weight is struck against an obstruction. While the horns vary considerably in taper, I have found that by providing an inturned flange on the body at the end thereof opposite the threaded end, the smaller diameter end of the horn may minimize any tendency for the weight to tilt or rock.

In the past it has been usual practice to thread the weights throughout their length. The threads are tapered, presumably to fit the taper of the horns. -A long internally threaded taper is difficult to produce. The difference in taper of the horns makes one end or the other of the weight spaced from the horn. Any rocking of the weight tends to cause the threaded surface to rub against the horn, marring the same. This difiiculty I avoid by threading only one end of the weight and providing an internally extending sleeve at the outer end of the body.

The advantage of the rounded outer surface cannot be over-estimated. Horns are relatively thin, and while the walls are somewhat flexible, they are brittle if an excessive strain is applied. Cattle oftentimes stick their necks through a wire fence, between gate slats, through other such openings. They also rub their necks and heads on posts, trees and the like. If a projecting set screw or shoulder on a horn weight gets caught or entangled, the subsequent head shaking and twisting may readily break off a horn or damage it, disfiguring the animal for life. Horn weights are used on show animals and the like, where appearance is of utmost importance. The provision of a weight having a surface which cannot readily catch on a surrounding object is thus of utmost importance.

In accordance with the patent statutes, I have described the principles of construction and operation of my horn weight, and while I have endeavored to set forth the best embodiment thereof, -I desire to have it understood that obvious changes may be made within the scope of the following claims without departing from the spirit of my invention.

I claim:

1. A horn weight having an elongated tubular body having an opening from end to end thereof, said opening having an internally threaded end as the sole horn gripping means and an integral un-threaded other end, the other end of the body including a relatively narrow inwardly projecting flange.

2. The structure described in claim 1 and in which the body is provided with a continuously rounded outer surface cfontinuously flaring from each end to the center thereo 3. A horn weight including an elongated tubular body having a substantially cylindrical bore extending the major portion of its length and-having a smaller diameter cylindrical bore extending the remainder of its length, and internal threads on said weight body at the first named end thereof.

4. The structure described in claim 3 and in which the weight is continuously curved from end to end and flares continuously from each end to the center thereof.

5. A horn weight for cattle including an elongated body having an opening extending therethrough, said opening being provided near one end with slightly tapered internally threads, a hollow space free of threads at the other end and inwardly projecting flange of lesser diameter than the said first tapered portion and the said hollow space portion, the body being circular in cross section and rounded from'end to end longitudinally, the ends of 4 the body adjoining the opening being at an angle of less than ninety degrees to the axis.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 86,882 Thompson Feb. 9, 1869 1,334,200 Weston Mar. 16, 1920 1,771,900 Petersen July 29, 1930 2,123,603 Henderson July 12, 1938 2,501,086 Picker Mar. 21,1950 2,541,224 Ellis Feb. 13, 1951 FOREIGN PATENTS 1,392 Great 'Britain 1890 517,864 Germany Feb. 10,1931