US3483846A

US3483846A - Pig holder for use when castrating

Info

Publication number: US3483846A
Application number: US661280A
Authority: US
Inventors: Howard A Quint
Original assignee: HOWARD A QUINT
Current assignee: HOWARD A QUINT
Priority date: 1967-08-17
Filing date: 1967-08-17
Publication date: 1969-12-16
Anticipated expiration: 1986-12-16

Description

Dec. 16, 1969 H. A. QUINT PIG HOLDER FOR USE WHEN CASTRATING R \I/ 4! m U V Q m A I1 J m W H a w i. 1

United States Patent 0 3,483,846 PIG HOLDER FOR USE WHEN CASTRA'I'FNG Howard A. Quint, RFD, Winthrop, lowa 50632 Filed Aug. 17, 1967, Ser. No. 661,230 int. Cl. Atllk 29/00, 1/06 US. Cl. 119-98 10 Claims ABSTRACT 9F THE DISCLOSURE A holder for use when castrating a pig. It comprises a portable bracket embodying an upwardly angled arm perched and detachably held on a top rail of a pigpen wall or fence by a U-shaped anchor. A restraining unit is adjustably and removably bolted on the free end of the arm. This unit comprises a cleat-like plate linking paired fixtures each having a thigh seating and cradling stirrup at one end and a leg joint shackling and holddown hook at the other end.

This invention relates to certain new and useful improvements in a portable holder which can be shifted from one pen to a second pen and so on and which is such in design and construction that it enables one man to effectually and reliably suspend and restrain a pig when undertaking and completing such steps as are necessary to castrate or otherwise operate on a pig.

Portable suspending and restraining devices for pigpen use are old and well known. It follows that the general objective in the instant matter is to improve upon prior art animal holding, shackling and fettering devices.

Briefiy. the improved device has to do with two primary component parts. namely, a hanger bracket, and a restraining unit. More specifically, the preferred embodiment compirses a bracket unit characterized by a hanger arm having a U-shaped anchor at one end and an angularly slanting adapter at the other end, said adapter having a bolt hole therein, a readily attachable and detachable restraining unit comprising a pair of duplicate fixtures joined by a plate having a bolt hole aligned with the bolt hole in said adapter, and a bolt passing removably through said bolt holes and provided with an assembling and retaining nut.

Novelty is predicated on a bracket which can be and preferably is constructed from a length of rigid strap metal and which is generally L-shaped in edge elevation. The attachable end is provided with an inverted U-shaped anchor. The long leg slants upwardly from the anchor and has an oblique angled terminal which is provided with a bolt hole and provides an adapter for selectively attachable and detachable restraining attachments or units.

Then, too, in order to better solve the over-all problem a novel restraining attachment or unit is provided. This unit is unique in that it embodies a bolt held connector plate with rigid rod fixtures welded on opposite marginal edges. Each fixture has a thigh seating and cradling stirrup at one end and a leg shackling and holddown hook at the other end, whereby to enable one man to saddle and hook the pig in place with a minimum of trouble and to assure himself that the hind legs of the pig will stay put while he is being operated on.

These together with other objects and advantages which will become subsequently apparent reside in the details of construction and operation as more fully hereinafter described and claimed, reference being had to the accom- 3,483,846 Patented Dec. 16, 1969 "ice panying drawings forming a part hereof, wherein like numerals refer to like parts throughout, and in which:

FIG. 1 is a view in perspective on a relatively small scale showing the holder constructed in accordance with the principles of the invention and showing how it can be attached to and anchored on a rail of a fence wall to assume a position for suspending and restraining the pig in a position to be operated on.

FIG. 2 is a view in perspective on a larger scale and wherein all of the component parts are shown in readyto-use relationship.

And FIG. 3 is a view taken on the plane of the section line 33 of FIG. 2 with one leg of the pig shown in phantom lines.

With reference now to the several views of the drawing and particularly with reference to FIGS. 2 and 3 it will be noted that the aforementioned portable attachable and detachable hanger bracket is denoted by the numeral 6. The attachable and detachable as well as adjustable restraining attachment or unit is denoted by the numerl 8.

The bracket is preferably but not necessarily constructed from a length of rigid strap metal. The bracket is substantially L-shaped in edge elevation and is characterized by a relatively long limb 10 joined by an angularly bent portion 12 to the complemental laterally directed short limb 14. The limb 14 in conjunction with a similar companion part 16, which is welded or otherwise sccured in place as at 18 cooperates in defining a substantially U-shaped anchor, that is, an anchor which can be detachably but securely fastened in place atop the rail 19 of the pen wall or fence 20. Assuming that the anchor is in a substantially vertical position when attached to the rail as suggested in FIG. 3 it will be evident that the major portion of the arm 10 slants upwardly and terminates in an oblique angled free end portion which is here designated as an adapter 22. The adapter is provided with a bolt hole as at 24 to accommodate the headed shank of a bolt 28. T he screw-threded end of the shank is denoted at 39 and is provided with a thumb nut 32.

One may consider the long arm 10 as slanting up and terminating in a suitably angled adapter 22 or, conversely, as sloping downwardly that is from right to left in FIG. 3 toward the U-shaped anchor.

The restraining attachment or unit 8 is made up of three component parts; namely, a substantially square flatfaced cleat or plate 34 which has a bolt hole therein to accommodate the shank of the bolt and which in practice is lined up with the bolt hole 24 in the manner shown in FIG. 3. Opposite marginal edges of this plate are provided with duplicate spaced parallel as well as coplanar one piece fixtures 36 and 38. Each fixture is the same in construction and a description of one will suffice for both. Each fixture is made from a length of appropriate rod stock whose median portion 4%) is straight and placed along side of and welded to the coacting edge of the plate. The end toward the right in FIG. 2 for example is fashioned into a right angularly directed arcuate bend or bent portion which provides a cradling stirrup 42. The free end 44 of the stirrup is flared laterally to facilitate use as will be evident by referring to FIG. 1. The junctional bend or bent portion between the straight part 40 and the stirrup is bent upwardly and directed inwardly as denoted at 46. It follows that the opposed bends or bent portions 46 of the respective fixtures are toed inwardly toward each other to provide the desired leg spreading result. The other end portion, that is at the left of the straight portion 40 and as shown in FIG. 2, is bent up and then down to form a downwardly opening leg joint shackling and holddown hook 48. Thus the stirrup is at a level below the upstanding over-to-leg hook and experience has shown that a fixture having these unique features makes it feasible and easy for one man to handle the pig, cradle or saddle the thigh portions of the legs in the re spective stirrups 42 and hook the jointed portions of the legs under the holddown hooks 48.

It is reiterated that the toed in bent portions 46 are at the proper elevation and coact to hold back the loose skin of the flank portions of the pigs legs, give the user a better view and afford unobstructed access to the field of operation. It will be further noted that the two units, the bracket 6 and restraining unit 8 are such that they provide for easy handling and portability, can be separated for easier cleaning and handling. Dilferent size restraining devices are provided in actual practice for suspension and retention of different sized pigs. The fact that the restraining device is reversible makes it possible to arrange the respective end portions of the fixtures so that the animal can be suspended in a manner to perform minor operations on the stomach and other areas. The face that the holddown hooks are arranged to cooperate with the joints of the legs, rather than with a median portion of a bone, minimizes the likelihood of breakage of the animals leg while being handled or operated on. It follows that the invention well serves the purposes for which it is intended. Accordingly, a more extended description is believed to be unnecessary.

The foregoing is considered as illustrative only of the principles of the invention. Further, since numerous modifications and changes will readily occur to those skilled in the art, it is not desired to limit the invention to the exact construction and operation shown and described, and accordingly all suitable modifications and equivalents may be resorted to, falling within the scope of the invention.

What is claimed as new is as follows:

1. For use by one man when castrating or otherwise operating on a pig, for example, a handling and holding device comprising, a one-piece portable bracket constituting a support unit and adapted to be moved for use from pen to pen at will, said bracket embodying a rigid elongated suspension arm capable of overhanging a selected operating area and having one end provided with means capable of ready attachment to and temporary retention atop a fence rail on a selected pen, and means mounted on the other end of said arm for restraining and holding the legs of a pig with its body and head suspended in a balanced position and manner to be castrated, branded or otherwise operated on, said restraining means comprising a second unit complemental to said support unit, said second unit being readily attachable to and detachable from said other end and having a pair of complemental cradling and shackling fixtures, each of the fixtures including an elongate member having oppositely opening hook portions provided on its ends and of a given size and shape to suspend and detachably restrain a pig of a predetermined size.

2. The device defined in and according to claim 1, and wherein the attachment means at said one end of said arm comprises an inverted U-shaped anchor embodying a pair 'of spaced companion legs joined at their upper ends by a bight portion, and wherein said cradling and shackling fixtures are joined to and connected by a cleat, are in a common plane and are disposed in side by side spaced parallel relationship.

3. The device defined in and according to claim 1 and wherein said cradling and shackling fixtures are disposed in spaced apart parallel relation and are joined together in companion coplanar relationship by a rigid intervening cleat-like plate, said plate being mounted on the aforementioned other end of said arm.

4. The device defined in and according to claim 1 and wherein said cradling and shackling fixtures are disposed in spaced apart parallel relation and are joined together in companion coplanar relationship by a rigid intervening cleat-like plate, said arm when in use being inclined downwardly toward said attaching means, and said plate being superimposed upon and detachably and adjustably mounted atop the aforementioned other end of said arm.

5. A pig handling, suspending and holding device comprising a bracket unit characterized by a hanger arm having a U-shaped anchor at one end and an angularly slanting adapter at the other end, said adapter having a bolt hole therein, a readily attachable and detachable restraining unit comprising a pair of fixtures, each of the fixtures including an elongate member having oppositely opening hook portions provided on its ends, median portions of said fixtures being joined by a plate having a bolt hole aligned with the bolt hole in said adapter, and a bolt passing removably through said bolt holes and provided with an assembling and retaining nut.

6. The device defined in and according to claim 5, and wherein, the hook portions at the outer ends of the respective elongate members opening upwardly and providing arcuately bent portions, constituting thigh seating and cradling stirrups, and the hook portions at the inner ends of said elongate members opening downwardy and providing over-the-leg and holddown hooks, said hooks being spaced from and being substantially parallel with their respectively cooperable stirrups.

7. The device defined in and according to claim 6 and wherein the elongate member of each fixture is substantially straight from end-to-end and has a major median portion thereof affixed to a cooperating marginal edge of said plate in a manner to link and join the coacting stirrup and hook together, the junctional portions between adjacent ends of the stirrups and straight portions embodying an arched bend, the respective bends of said fixtures being situated at a prescribed distance from a marginal edge of the plate and being toed inwardly toward each other to spread the pigs legs apart to assist in carrying out the necessary operating steps.

8. A pig suspending and holding device comprising a restraining unit embodying a pair of animal leg engaging fixtures, each fixture fashioned from a length of stout rigid rod having an elongated straight median portion, an upwardly opening arcuately bent part disposed at right: angels to one end of said median portion and providing a thigh seating and cradling stirrup, a downwardly opening bent portion at the other end spaced from and parallel to said stirrup and providing an over-the-leg shackling and holddown hook, and a plate interposed between and integrally joining the respective straight median portions of said fixtures, and a hanger bracket adapted to support said restraining unit.

9. The pig suspending and holding device according to claim 8, and wherein said hanger bracket comprises a rigid hanger arm having an inverted U-shaped anchor at an inward end embodying a pair of spaced companion legs joined at their upper ends by a bight portion, and means at its outer end for detachably and adjustably mounting said plate on said outer end.

10. For use by one man when castrating or otherwise operating on a pig, for example, a handling and holding device comprising, a one-piece portable bracket consti-i tuting a support unit and adapted to be moved for use from pen to pen at will, said bracket embodying a rigid elongated suspension arm capable of overhanging a selected operating area and having one end provided with means capable of ready attachment to and temporary retention atop a fence rail on a selected pen, and means mounted on the other end of said arm for restraining and holding the legs of a pig with its body and head suspended in a balanced position and manner to be castrated, branded or otherwise operated on, said restrain- 5 6 ing means comprising a second unit cornplemental to said References Cited support unit, said second unit being readily attachable and UNITED STATES PATENTS detachable from said other end and having a pair of complemental cradling and shackling fixtures, each fixture 2,664,857 1/ 1954 M11161" 119-103 made from a length of rod and embodying a substantially 5 2,914,026 11/1959 Greenwood 119103 straight median part bordering and aifixed to a coacting 3,138,141 6/1964 Poage marginal portion of said plate, said rod having a laterally directed bend at one end providing a thigh seating and HUGH CHAMBLEE Pnmary Exammer cradling stirrup, and likewise having a laterally directed U S c1 XR bend at the other end fashioned into a lower leg shackling 10 119 103 and holddown hook.