US3744456A - Walled enclosures - Google Patents

Abstract

Bend resistant and torsion yielding panel members form panel assemblies, with firm yet detachable connection between the panel assemblies in a knock down construction corral. This construction provides straight line relations between edges and members of the adjacent panel assemblies in absence of stress applied thereto and provides a gentle yet firm snubbing action through an elastic yielding of the panel assemblies when impact is applied thereto by an animal penned therein without any pinching or scratching of the animal. Other walled enclosures of the same construction are applied to truck bodies.

Description

United States Patent 1191 Wheeler et al.

1111 3,744,456 14 1 July 10,1973

[ WALLED ENCLOSURES [76] Inventors: Ralph Wheeler, Waterflow, N. Mex.;

Leroy P. Young, PO. Box 51 1, Kirkland, N. Mex. 87417 22'] Filed: Apr. 12,1971

211 App]. 110.; 133,142

[51] Int. Cl A0111 01/00 [58] Field of Search 119/20; 296/3, 10;

[56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 3,107,900 10/1963 De'Paolom'... 256/65 1,285,193 ll/1918' 'Hunt 119/20 2,930,638 3/1960 Morrissey... 256/65 UX 3,002,493 10/1961 Galamba 119/20 3,475,046 10/1969 Webster 296/3 FOREIGN PATENTS 'OR APPLICATIONS 1,006,996 10/ 1965 7 Great Britain Primary Examiner-Hugh R. Chamblee Attorney-Ely 'Silverman 57 ABSTRACT Bend resistant and torsion yielding panel members form panel assemblies, with firm yet detachable connection between the panel assemblies in a knock down construction corral. This construction provides straight line relations between edges and members of the adjacent panel assemblies in absence of stress applied thereto and provides a gentle yet firm snubbingaction through an elastic yielding of the panel assemblies when impact is applied thereto by an animal penned therein without any pinching or scratching ofthe animal. Other walled enclosures of the same construction are applied to truck bodies.

7 Claims, 12 Drawing Figures iLizzA PATENTED JUL 3. 744.456

SHEEI 1 0F 4 1N VENTORS ATTORNEY PAIENTEUJUL' 1019K 744,455

SHEET 2 0f 4 6e ELEROYP You/vs AND RALPH WHEELER INVENTORS ATTORNEY PATENIEuJuumm 3744.456

saw u or 4 LEROY P. YOUNG 7 2 AND RALPH WHEELER INVENTORS ORNEY WALLED ENCLOSURES BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION The field of art to which this invention pertains are in animal husbandry and, more particularly, in stocks, stanchions, and stock sorters.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PRIOR ART It is necessary that the head of a show horse intended for sale be permitted to be raised and movement allowed to the animal; tie downs are thusundesirable.

A space for the animals movement which is at least 10 feet wide and 10 feet long is required for a standing adult horse: however, for portability, the components of such enclosures should be small enough to be rapidly handled during assembly and dismantling; hence such pens are made of smaller units which are assembled site of proposed use.

The prior art has provided knock down corrals but the joints or connection of the panels forming such portable corrals have been either loose, which resulted in linear irregularity between adjacent panels (as in US Pat. No. 2,835,223), i.e., a loss of straight line relationships of edges and structural elements on either side of such joints. Where there is attempt to avoid this irregularity by making the joints stiff as in U.S. Pat. No. 3,002,493 such stiffness between adjacent panels in undesirable inasmuch as such animals as would be kept in such corrals bump into these panels and as the panels are stiffly joined together either. the animal would be hurt by such impact or the corral joints would be broken by the impact of such animal with its panel. The

scratching or damage of a show animal is "a serious mat- I ter to its value and the rigidity of fenced stalls also is dangerous in view of the extreme brittleness of the lower leg bones of thoroughbreds and racers and the nervous behavior of such animals.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The strong resistance of bars or beam members having a transverse cross section in the shape of a hollow square to bending about an axis perpendicular to the edges of such beams and their relatively low yet elastic resistance to torsion about an axis parallel to its edges and located within the beam is utilized to provide a pen or enclosure structure which is composed ofpanels comprising such members. Such pen or enclosure or corral structure is;

a. readily cleaned and b. avoids elements that pinch the animal therein and c. exhibits a symmetrical appearance and d. provides for an elastic return of the members displaced from their initial position because of an impact thereon by the restrained animal to the initial position of the parts of the corral or enclosure walls and e. the torsional characteristics of the bars are utilized to provide an impact-asorbing structure which provides an increasing resistance to impact as its displacement increases i.e., the structure provides a snubbing action which initially applies only a small reaction force to an animal bumping against such panels and, as further impact or force is applied thereto, a greater reaction is developed by the panel structure sufficient to preventsuch assembled corral from being knocked down by usually met impacts.

This method of construction is also applied to frames for purposes for transport of such animals where the same mechanical features are desirable i.e., a light initial resistance to movement followed by a greater resistance to further mechanical movement and an elastic return of the'structural elements to their initial position.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a corral apparatus 20 according to this invention with an animal enclosed therein.

FIG. 2 shows the components of apparatus 20 in FIG. 1 broken down and in compact position for transport.

FIG. 3 diagramatically represents the deflections suffered by the components of a panel 86 of apparatus 20 when stress is applied thereto.

FIG. 4 is an exploded view of some components of FIG. 3 as seen in the direction of the arrow 4A of FIG.

FIG. 5 is an enlarged view of one bar element and a post element in zone 5A of FIG. 4 in operatively joined position.

FIG. 6 is a view of the structure components shown in FIG. 5 in their exploded, separated, position.

FIG. 7 is a sectional view taken along the plane DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Embodiment 20-according to this invention is a portable corral of knock down construction formed of a plurality of panels, each panel formed of rigid square vertical posts and rigid horizontally spaced apart square hollow horizontal bar members. The vertical posts each have firmly attached thereto horizontally extending rigid lugs firmly yet slidably fitted into one of the hollow ends of the horizontal members at each end of the horizontal bar members. A locking element connects one end of each horizontal bar member to an adjacent post.

Embodiment 20 encloses a space 18 wherein is located a large animal 19' such as a horse. Apparatus 20 comprises, in operative combination, a vertically extending front wall and gate assembly 46, a vertically extending-right side wall assembly 47, a vertically extending rear wall assembly 48, and a vertically extending left wall assembly 49. Assemblies 46, 47, 48, and 49 are all of the same height and of the same length. The left side wall assembly 49 comprises a plurality of vertically extending posts, i.e., rear left corner vertical post 21, a center or middle left vertical post 22, and a front left corner vertical post 23 and horizontal bars 31 40 therebetween as shown in FIG. 1. I

The front wall and gate assembly 46 is composed of a front center gate panel 80, a front left side panel 81 and a front right side panel 82 in operative connection.

The front left panel 81 is composed of a series of vertically equispaced horizontal bars 41 through 45, a portion of the left front corner vertical post 23, and a left center front panel post 24.

Front right panel 82 is composed of a front right corner post 26, identical in structure to left front corner post 23, and a right center front panel post 25 substantially identical in structure to post 24, with horizontal bar elements as 41A, 42A, 43A, 44A, and 45A 'corresponding to elements 41, 42, 43, 44, and 45 respectively as shown in FIG. 1.

The door panel 80 is composed of elements as hereinbelow described. The right side wall assembly 47 is substantially identical in structure to left side wall assembly 49 and the rear wall assembly 48.

The right side wall assembly 47 comprises, in operative combination, a rear right vertical post, 21A, a front right vertical post, 26, a center or middle right vertical post, 26, (a center or middle right vertical post 22A corresponds structurally to post 22, and 21A to 23) and a plurality of horizontal bar elements as 31 through 40.

The rear wall assembly 48 comprises the rear right vertical post 21A, the rear left vertical post 21, a center of middle rear post (not shown) corresponding to post 22 and a plurality of horizontal bar elements corresponding to bar elements 31 through 40. In the preferred embodiment, the horizontal bars 31 through 40 are identical in structure to each other as well as to the horizontal bars corresponding thereto in the right side wall assembly 47 and in the rear wall assembly 48.

In the preferred embodiment of the invention an exemplary bar 32 has a flat top face 54, a flat inner face 55, a flat outer face 56 and a flat bottom portion 57. These form a rigid square seamless tube; all these walls are firmly joined to each other at their edges, the edges are smoothly rounded on their outer periphery to avoid any cutting or scratching of the animal penned therein and are also rounded internally to limit stress concentration and cracking.

The left side wall assembly center post 22 is described with details of structure and operation of the left side wall assembly 49. The description therefor would be the same for the center post structure and the operation of the rear wall assembly 48 and for the right side wall assembly 47 as all these center posts and wall assemblies have a common structure and function.

The left rear corner post 21 is identical in structure to the left front corner post as 23 on the same side wall and also as the corner post at the junction of rear wall assembly 48 and right wall assembly 47 and is same in structure as the corner post 26 at the junction of wall assemblies 47 and 46.

The left wall center post 22 is a rigid squaresectioned hollow post: it comprises, firmly connected together in operative combination, a front vertical face 51, a left or outer face 52, a right or inner vertical face 50, and a rear vertical face 53 and a base plate 221. The plates 50, 51, 52, and 53 are rigid and joined with rounded smooth outer corners: plate 22P is rigidly attached to all of plates 50, 51, 52, and 53 and is rigid and horizontal. Post 22 is located in the middle of the left side wall assembly 49.

The bars 31 through 35 and posts 21 and 22 of the left side wall assembly 49 form a rear left side wall panel 85 and posts 22 and 23 and bars 36 through 40 from front left side wall panel 86. The bars and posts of assembly 47 form similar rear and front right panels, A and 86A respectively, and the bar and postsof as sembly 48 form similar left and right rear panels 85B and 8613.

A plurality of like rigid ears, as 72, each with a vertical rigid plate as 59 and a horizontal rig'id'plate as 58, are each equally spaced from its vertically adjacent member in a vertical direction as ears 71, 72, 73, 74, and 75 located on one, the front, side of post 22 and, on the other, rear, side, 53, thereof are located like ears 66, 67, 68, 69, and 70. Each of the cars 66 through 75 (or lugs) as 72 is formed with a rigid vertical extending plate as 59 and a horizontal plate as 58 firmly joined together and both firmly joined to a side wall, as 53, of the post (as shown in FIGS. 6 and 8 and 10 for the ear or lug 72). The ear 72 is rigid and stout and firmly attached to a bar as 38; likewise, each of ears as 66 through 75 is of same structure as cars 71 through 75 and each is firmly attached to the post element 22 on the face 51 thereof at the same height as ears 71 through 75 respectively in same manner as is ear 72.

The top surface of each bar as 38, is firmly attached to one end of a leaf spring as 27 which, at its other end, supports a pin 28 which projects throughia hole 29 in upper plate 54 of bar 38 and such pin 28 projects into the hole 30 provided in the portion 58 of the lug 72 in the attached position of bar 38 and post 22 as shown in FIGS. 5, 7, and 9.

The corner post 23 has a rear face 91, a front face 92, a left or outer face 93, and a right or inner face 94. This post is provided on face 91 with a set of equally spaced ears 61, 62, 63, 64 and 65 corresponding in height and structure and made of attachment to the ears 71, 72, 73, 74, and 75 on the element 22 and abase plate 23? below the lowest lug. The faces 91, 92, 93, and 94 are rigid and joined with rounded smooth outer corners. Base plate 23? is a rigid horizontal plate firmly attached to all of plates 91 through 94.

The cars 111, 112, 113, 114, and are structurally the same as car 72 and are located on the face 94 of post 23 at the same level as the cars 61, 62, 63, 64, and 65 respectively are joined thereto. as shown in FIG. 4.

Bar 36 joins ears 61 and 71, bar 37 similarly joins ears 62 and 72 bar 38 similarly joins the ears 63 and 73, bar 39 joins the ears 64,and 74, and bar 40 joins the ears 65 and 75.

Each of the ears as 72 has a firm yet slidable fit within the hollow in the adjacent end of the bar as 38 and a hole as 30 at the top of each ear plate portion or face as 58. Each such hole, as 30, is located a distance from the juncture of that plate as S8 and the post to which that ear is attached and the hole 29 (and pin 28) located a very slightly smaller distance from the end of the bar as 38 to which end the car (72) attaches so that the bar as 38 readily fits on the ear as 72 and the pin as 28 fits into the holes therefor. The locking pin as 28 is located by a leaf spring as 27 which resiliently urges it toward and into such hole 29 and 30. Such pin holds the adjacent end of each bar as 38 to the post as 22 attached to such ear as 72.

Each of the pairs of pin elements, as 28, at each end of each horizontal bar as 38 serves to prevent motion of the adjacent vertical posts as 22 and 23 toward and away from each other, along the length or longitudinal axis 38L of the bar 38; because of the tensile and compressive strength of the bar, as 38, and the firm attachment of the pins as 28 thereto. Such bars as 38 thus serve to locate the vertical members 21, 22, and 23 at predetermined equal spacing from each other along the length of the bar members as 32 therebetween.

Each plate 58 and 59 of ear 72 is firmly welded to the adjacent vertical face 53 of the post 22 as shown at 90 in FIG. 8 at the faces of the flat portions as 58 and 59 of the car 72 where an inside corner is formed, i.e., below the lower surface 118 of portion 58 of ear 72 and at the outer (to left as shown in FIG. 7) surface 119 of plate portion 59. the posts When each ear as 72 is operatively connected to the adjacent bar end (as the end of bar 38 adjacent to ear 72, as shown in FIGS. 1, 3, 5, 7, and 9), the outer (left in FIG. 7) edge 98 of the rigid plate portion as 58 of each ear as 72 meets and contacts with a loose sliding fit the inside (right side as shown in FIG. 7) vertical inner surfaces of the upper outer (left as shown in FIG. 7) corner of the bar 38 while the bottom edge 99 of plate portion is located at the lower and inner (right side as shown in FIG. 7) corner on the inside of the bar 38. The top face or plate 96 of the ear plate portion 58 meets and contacts the bottom surface 104 of the upper plate portion 54 of the bar 38 and the inner (right in FIG. 8) vertical face 97 of the ear plate portion 59 of the ear 72 similarly meets and contacts the central surface 105 of the vertical plate portion 55 of the bar 38. The outer edge 98 of ear 72 similarly tits and contacts the inner central surface 106 of the plate 56 of the bar 38; the bottom edge 99 of the plate portion 59 of the ear 72 also contacts the top surface 107 of the bottom portion 57 of the bar member 38. All of the ears as 72 have a rather length and width edge portions and these edges as 98 and 99 take up and resist any attempted twisting of the bar 38 about its longitudinal axis as 38L relative to the vertical longitudinal axis 22L of the vertical member 22.

Each of the ears as 72 extends into the hollow of the adjacent bar as 38 distance beyond the hole as 29 and the exterior corners and surfaces of the rigid plates 58 and 59 meet and match the exterior surfaces of the bar 38 at three interior corners thereof rotation of each bar 'as 38 where itis in contact with the lug or ear as 72 (or 62) about its longitudinal axis relative to the longitudinal axis of each adjacent post (as 23 for ear 62 and post 22 for ear 72) is thereby substantially eliminated.

When a section or panel as 86 according to this invention is stressed by an animal held in the enclosure by such animal bumping or pushing against the top bar member of such as 86 or against a post thereof as 22 at the level of an upper bar member as 40 in an outward direction (shown as leftward in FIG. 3) from the inside of the enclosure in a direction as 4A or 22F (in FIG. 3) parallel to the ground and perpendicular to the post 22, the panel is resiliently deformed. More particularly, the post 22 then is rotated in the direction 22F around the longitudinal axis 36L of member 36 from the position shown in dashed lines in FIG. 3 to the position of the post 22 shown in full lines. On such displacement the post 23 is moved in the direction 23R parallel to the central longitudinal axis 40L of the element 40. This outward motion of the top end of the post 22 (along the direction of the arrow 22F) results in:

a. Twisting of the bar 40 about its longitudinal axis as indicated by the arrow 40T and rotation about axis 23L of post 23,

b. A twisting of the bar 39 as indicated by the arrow 39T and rotation about axis 23L by bar 39.

c. Twisting of the bar 38 as indicated by the arrow 38T about its longitudinal axis 38L and rotation about axis 23L of post 23,

d. Twisting of the bar elements 37 and 36 as shown by the arrows 37T and 36T around the longitudinal axes of those bar .elements and their rotation about axis 23L of post 23.

As the bar element 40 is rigid against bending notwithstanding such displacement of its rear end outward (leftward as shown in FIG. 3), movement of the upper portion of the panel 86 from outward impact of the animal against the upper portion of that panel 86 at some point intermediate of post 23 and post 22 also results in the above described rotational movement of the post 22 and resilient twisting of bar elements 36 through 40 about their longitudinal axes between the points at which such bar members are firmly attached to the post members (as 22 and 23) as the ends of such bar members. The torsional stress is taken up by the mechanical contact of the interior corners and surface of the bar, as 38, with the outer corners and outer surfaces of the ears, as 72, on each post. The pin, as 28, only absorbs some longitudinal stress along the length of the bar member but is not required to absorb or withstand the torsional stress developed by the above described motion as the hole 30 is large enough to provide a loose fit (+0.0l" to 0.10") over the pin 28 or a screw with lock nut used in place thereof; alternatively, the hole 29 may have a loose fit (+0.0l" to 0.10) about a self tapping screw extending through the plate 54 into the holes as 30.

Accordingly the horizontal displacement of the top of the post as 22 on application of outwardly directed stress thereto causes a rotational or torsional elastic deflection of each of the bars 36, 37, 38, 39, and 40 proportional to such stress. There is also concurrently an increasing elastic rotational deflection of each of the portions 76T, 77T, 78T, and 79T of each of the portions of the post 23. On removal of the stress applied thereto i.e., on removal of the stress applied either to the post 22 or to an area of the panel 86 intermediate of the posts 22 and 23, such posts return to their original vertical position. This structural arrangement of bars, ears, and posts at each panel of the structure 20 provides that the structure 20, because it yields, does not provide damage to an animal that might bump into it. At the same time the structure 20 is sufficiently strong to resist the usual maximum impact of an animal against such walled enclosure and sufficiently elastic for the structure to regain its initial orientation of straight bars intersecting vertical posts in a symmetrical and homogeneous pattern and thus the structure is not given any permanent deflection by the usual impact of a large animal against the components thereof.

When the lower end of any panel as 86 of the structure 20 is stressed by an animal striking or pushing on the lower portion of the panel as 86 or against a post thereof as 22 in an outward direction at the level of the bar member 36 i.e., at the lower end of the panel, the bottom portion of the post 22 is rotated in an outward direction, 22C, and the bar elements 36 through 40 are twisted in a direction opposite to that shown by the arrows 36T through 40T respectively and the lower'end of post 23 moves in the direction of the arrow 36L2;

this is generally an opposite motion of that shown in FIG. 3 but the resiliency is the same.

The structure 20 thus resiliently returns to the relationship of parts whether struck at its top or at its bottom without reliance on attachment of any part thereof to the ground. Aditionally, as embodiment 20 may be erected without attachment to the ground, the lack of attachment of the entire structure to the ground of structure 20 permits that the entire structure 20 yields and moves when a blow is given to that structure by an animal restrained in that enclosure, which blow might otherwise damage the animal striking the enclosure walls if they were permanently affixed to the ground.

In a particular embodiment the bar elements 36 through 40 are feet long, 1 inch wide and walls are 3/32 inch thick; the fit of each end of each bar is by a smooth sliding fit with the ears therefor, the ears are each 2 inches i l/l6 inch long, it inch 1- l/l6 inch wide, /4 inch 1: H16 inch high and made of steel 3/16 inch thick; hole 30 is 9/32 inch and hole 29 is 7/32 inch. The post 22 yields k inch on application thereto of a force of five pounds in direction of arrow 22 of FIG. 3 as result of the resilient yield of the bar members as 31 through 40 in the operative combination of panel 86 in structure 20.

The gate panel 80 is composed of left and right vertical post members 87 and 89 respectively, firmly joined by horizontal gate bar members 41B, 42B, 43B, 44 B and 458. The posts 87 and 89 have the same structure as posts 24 and 25: each of posts 24, 25, 87 and 89 comprises a vertical member as in posts 22 and 23 with ears as 71-75 similarly attached thereto at one side only thereof. The horizontal gate bar members as 41B-45B have the same structure and operation as bar members 36-40. The connection of the horizontal gate members 418-458 to the post members 87 and 89 is the same as above described for the connection of the bar elements 36-40 to posts 22 and 23; the connection of the horizontal front panel members as 41A-45B and 418-458 to the post members of panels 81 and 82 is the same as above described for connection of the bar members 3640 to theposts 22 and 23 through vertically spaced-apart hinges, one near to top member 453, one at level of member 43B and one at level of member 41B; the post 87 is firmly yet releasably attached to post 24 at three vertically spaced-apart points (one at level of bar 418, another at level of bar 43B and another at level of bar 4513) by releasable bolts passing through post 87 and 24, each bolt held by a nut.

The structure may be attached to the ground by ground engaging pins through holes as 22H in the plates (e.g. 23P, 21?) as 22F at the bottom of each post as 21, 22, and 23.

FIG. 2 shows the components of the structure 20 in a collapsed position for transport on a trailer 88.

The same resilient return is shown in a trailer structure as 120 in FIG. 11 or 121 in FIG. 12 wherein panels are connected as in structure 20.

The stock rack 120 as shown in FIG. 11 provides a bay as 132 over the cab as 131 of the truck 136 for carrying feed or baggage. The stock rack 120 is composed of wall enclosure panels as 122, 123, 125, 126 and 124 corresponding in structure and operation to enclosure wall panels 85, 86, 85A, 86A and 80, respectively, of embodiment 20. The panels 122 and 123 are firmly attached to the side wall 133 of the truck 136, and the panels 125 and 126 are similarly attached to the panel on the other side of the'truck. The swing gate panel 124 is attached to the rear vertical posts of panels 123 and 125 in the same manner as above discussed for attachment of panel to posts 24 and 25 of the embodiment The stock rack 121 shown in FIG. 12 provides a gate that slides up and down and is releasably bolted to the back of the bed of the pick-up truck 137. The stock rack 121 is composed of panels 140, 141, 143, 144 and 142 corresponding in structure and operation to panels 86A, A, 85, 86 and assembly 48 respectively of embodiment 20. Panels and 141 are firmly attached at their bottom to the top of the side wall 1340f the truck 137; and the panels 143 and 144 are similarly attached to the other side of the truck 137. The rear gate assembly 145 is composed of a vertical right rear side panel 146 and a vertical rear left side panel 147, and a bridging bar 149 and a gate panel 148. panels 147 and 146 correspond in structure and operation to panels 81 and 82 of embodiment 20, and are firmly attached to and joined at their bottom to the rear lateral portions of the truck body.

Bar 149 is a rigid bar member composed of the same square sectioned bars as 36, rigid against bending about an axis transverse to its edges, yet resiliently twistable about an axis parallel to the length of such bar. It is joined permanently at its ends to the central vertical posts of panels 146 and 147 (such as 24 and 25 of assembly 46 of embodiment 20). Central panel 148 corresponds in structure to panel 80 and is slidably attached to central vertical posts of the panels 146 and 147 and may be releasably and firmly attached to the body of the truck 137.

We claim:

1. A portable corral of knock-down construction formed with a plurality of panels firmly joined to each other, each of said panels formed of a plurality of vertically extending posts and vertically spaced apart horizontal bars,

the vertical posts each having firmly and fixedly attached thereto a plurality of horizontally extending rigid ears,

each of said horizontal bars at one end firmly yet releasably supported on one of said ears with a smooth sliding fit, releasable holding means between said bar and said ear and releasably holding said ear and said bar together,

each of said holding means comprising a pin and a hole in said bar and a hole in said ear, and said pin is of a smaller outer diameter than the inner diameter of the hole in said ear and said ear extends from a vertical post a distance greater than the distance of its hole from the end of said post and the distance of the hole in the bar from the end of the bar is a very slightly smaller distance than the distance of the hole in the ear from the post towhich that ear is attached, and whereby each such pin holds the adjacent end of each ear to the post therefor and wherein the fit of the holding means in each said ear is looser than the fit of said bar on said ear, each said bar being resiliently twistable about its longitudinal axis.

2. Apparatus as in claim 1 wherein said ears are formed of hollow square sectioned bars withrounded exterior edges.

3. Apparatus as in claim 2 wherein said posts are formed of hollow square sectioned bars with rounded exterior edges.'

4. Apparatus as in claim 2 supported on the ground and free of attaching means between said'corral and the ground supporting it.

5. A resilient walled enclosure comprising a plurality of panels firmly joined to each other, each of said panels formed of a plurality of vertically extending posts and vertically spaced apart horizontal bars, the vertical posts each having firmly and fixedly attached thereto a plurality of horizontally extending rigid ears,

each of said horizontal bars at one end firmly yet releasably supported on one of said ears with a smooth sliding fit and releasable holding means between each said bar and said ear and releasably holding said ear and said bar and each of said holding means comprising a pin and a hole in .said bar and a hole in said ear, and said pin is of a smaller outer diameter than the inner diameter of the hole in said ear and said ear extends from its vertical post a distance greater than the distance of said hole from the end of said post and the distance of the hole in the bar from the end of the bar is a very slightly smaller distance than the distance of the hole in the ear from the post to which that ear is attached, and such pin holds the adjacent end of each bar to the post and wherein the fit of the holding means in each said ear is looser than the fit of said bar on said ear, each bar being resiliently twistable about its longitudinal axis.

6. An apparatus as in claim 5 wherein said ears are formed of hollow square sectioned bars with rounded exterior edges and wherein said posts are formed of hollow square sectioned bars with rounded exterior edges.

7. Apparatus as in claim 6 wherein said panels are arrayed in an end-to-end series and said series includes a gate member movable with respect to adjacent panels of said series, and the panel members adjacent the gate member and spaced apart by said gate member are joined to a beam which is resiliently twistable about its longitudinal axis and substantially rigid against bending about an axis perpendicular to said longitudinal axis.

Claims (7)

1. A portable corral of knock-down construction formed with a plurality of panels firmly joined to each other, each of said panels formed of a plurality of vertically extending posts and vertically spaced apart horizontal bars, the vertical posts each having firmly and fixedly attached thereto a plurality of horizontally extending rigid ears, each of said horizontal bars at one end firmly yet releasably supported on one of said ears with a smooth sliding fit, releasable holding means between said bar and said ear and releasably holding said ear and said bar together, each of said holding means comprising a pin and a hole in said bar and a hole in said ear, and said pin is of a smaller outer diameter than the inner diameter of the hole in said ear and said ear extends from a vertical post a distance greater than the distance of its hole from the end of said post and the distance of the hole in the bar from the end of the bar is a very slightly smaller distance than the distance of the hole in the ear from the post to which that ear is attached, and whereby each such pin holds the adjacent end of each ear to the posT therefor and wherein the fit of the holding means in each said ear is looser than the fit of said bar on said ear, each said bar being resiliently twistable about its longitudinal axis.

2. Apparatus as in claim 1 wherein said ears are formed of hollow square sectioned bars with rounded exterior edges.

3. Apparatus as in claim 2 wherein said posts are formed of hollow square sectioned bars with rounded exterior edges.

4. Apparatus as in claim 2 supported on the ground and free of attaching means between said corral and the ground supporting it.

5. A resilient walled enclosure comprising a plurality of panels firmly joined to each other, each of said panels formed of a plurality of vertically extending posts and vertically spaced apart horizontal bars, the vertical posts each having firmly and fixedly attached thereto a plurality of horizontally extending rigid ears, each of said horizontal bars at one end firmly yet releasably supported on one of said ears with a smooth sliding fit and releasable holding means between each said bar and said ear and releasably holding said ear and said bar and each of said holding means comprising a pin and a hole in said bar and a hole in said ear, and said pin is of a smaller outer diameter than the inner diameter of the hole in said ear and said ear extends from its vertical post a distance greater than the distance of said hole from the end of said post and the distance of the hole in the bar from the end of the bar is a very slightly smaller distance than the distance of the hole in the ear from the post to which that ear is attached, and such pin holds the adjacent end of each bar to the post and wherein the fit of the holding means in each said ear is looser than the fit of said bar on said ear, each bar being resiliently twistable about its longitudinal axis.

6. An apparatus as in claim 5 wherein said ears are formed of hollow square sectioned bars with rounded exterior edges and wherein said posts are formed of hollow square sectioned bars with rounded exterior edges.

7. Apparatus as in claim 6 wherein said panels are arrayed in an end-to-end series and said series includes a gate member movable with respect to adjacent panels of said series, and the panel members adjacent the gate member and spaced apart by said gate member are joined to a beam which is resiliently twistable about its longitudinal axis and substantially rigid against bending about an axis perpendicular to said longitudinal axis.

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