US718197A - Hen's nest. - Google Patents

Description

'Nm 718,197. PATENTBD JAN. 13, 1.903.

L. J. DU P REE.

-`HENS NEST. APPLICATION FILED Nov. 10, 1902. N0 MODEL.

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YUnire STATES ATENT OFFICE.

LEWIS J. DU PREF., OF GRIFFIN, GEORGIA, ASSIGNOR OF ONE-HALF TO JOHN T.A KING, OF GRIFFIN, GEORGIA.

HENS NEST.

IsPECIFICATION formingpart of Letters Patent No. 718,197, dated January 13, 1903.

Application ileti November 10, 1902. Serial No.' 130,717. (No model.)

To all whom it may concer-rt:

Be it known that LLEWIS J. DU FREE, a citizen of the United States, residing at Griffin, in the county of Spalding and State of Georgia, have invented a new and useful Hens Nest, of which the following is a specification. I

This invention relates to improvements in nests for setting hens, and has for its object the production of an inclosed nest-box having a passage-way leading thereto and from which the nest-box is detachable and reversibleaud so constructed that the hen can pass freely to and from the nest-box and be protected from intrusion while upon the nest.

Another object of the invention is to produce a device which can be transformed into an automatic trap to prevent the escape of the hen.

The invention consists in certain novel features of the construction,as hereinaftershown and described, and specified in the claims following.

In the drawings illustrative of the invenz5" `tion, and in which similar designating' characters will be employed to denote like parts in all the gures, Figure 1 is a longitudinal sectional elevation viewed from one side, and Fig. 2 is a similar view viewed from the opposite side. Fig. 3 is a transverse section on the line III III of Fig. 2. Fig. 4. is a rear view of the lower portion of the device. Fig. 5 is a sectional detail illustrating the construction of the automatic closure and its operating mechanism. Fig. 6 is a detail View of the operating-bar.

In this device is comprised a runway having a movable closure at one end and with the base portion extended at the opposite end to form a support for a nest-box, the nestbox being reversible in position u ponV the extended base, and mechanism operative from within the runway whereby the closure-may be operated by the hen in passing to and from the nest-box, whereby the hen will automatically close the door, and thus be protected from intrusion while upon the nest.-

The closure-operating mechanism will be so constructed as to automatically lock the door in its open position to prevent its being accidentally closed while the hen is oft the nest.

The runway will preferably be formed of open slatwork, or the framework may be constructed of metal with the sides and top of open Wire screening, and I do not, therefore, wish to be limited in any manner to the speciticgconstruction ofthe runway or its attach ments; but for the purpose of illustration I have shown the Arunway formed of a solid base member 10, extended at one end, as at 11,a`nd with slatted sides 12 and closed top 13, this being-an approved construction and meeting the requirements of the device.

The nest-box is indicated at 14 and may be of any desired size and will be preferably formed with depending sides adapted to embrace the edges of the extended portion 11 and be thereby held in position laterally relative to the base member. The top 13 of the runway is extended over the sloping roof 15 of the nest-box,.as shown, and with a holding-pin 39 inserted through the overlapping .parts to provide a means for holding the nestbox detachably in position relative to the runway. By this simple arrangement it will be obvious that the nest-box may be readily detached from the runway and reversed in position or with the open side 16 of the nestbox outward to enable the hen to obtain access to the nest-box without passing through the runway. This is an important feature of the invention, as it provides for setting the hen independently of the runway at the beginning of her setting period, and when she becomes accustomed to the nest the nestbox may be reversed, so that access thereto may be obtained only through the runway; but by this time the hen will be so accustomed to her nest as to find her way to it through the runway, and thereafter will leave-the nest and return to it whenever she so desires.`

Movably attached to the inlet end of the runway isa movable closure, preferably in the form of a slatted door or gatev17, connected to the runway by hinges 18 of any suitable construction.

Extending from the closure 17, preferably near the hinge side, is a'pin 19, with which one end of an operating-bar 20 is movably IOO engaged, as shown, the bar extending inwardly and provided with a notch 21 near its inner end adapted to engage a pin 22,project ing from the side of the runway, and thus hold the closure 17 locked in its open position.

The bar 2O will be provided with a longitudinal slot 23 and an inclined under surface 24 opposite the slot, as indicated.

Within the lower part of the runway a platform25 is centrally supported, as by a pivot 2G, so that it will tilt vertically, and is provided with an arm 27, extending upwardly therefrom, and provided with a shoulder 28, adapted to engage the inclined surface 24 when the platform 25 is tilted with its outer end upward, as shown in Fig. 2, the arm 27 provided with an extended portion 29, movably engaging the slot 23 and extending through it, as shown. The extension 29 is considerably narrower than the length of the slot 23, so that the part 29 will move some distance longitudinally of the slot before it contacts with the ends of the slot, as will be obvious. By this simple arrangement when the platform 25 is tilted with its outer end downward the bar 20 will not be disturbed, but will be in position to lock the closure 17 in its open position by reason of the engagement of the bar with the pin 22, as before noted. By this means the door cannot be accidently closed while the platform and its attachments are in the opposite relative positions to those shown in Fig. 2, which will be the positions the parts will occupy when the hen is off the nest.

When the hen returns to the nest, in passing through the runway she walks upon the platform 25 and tilts it in its opposite position, this action causing the shoulder 28 upon the arm 27 to first elevate the rear end of the arm 2O and release the notch 2l from the pin 22, and then when the part 29 has traveled throughout the length of the slot 23 it will engage the outer end of the slot or the end toward the nest-bex and draw the bar 2O longitudinally and close the door 17. By thus forming the slot 23 somewhat longer than the width of the part 29 the latter will move a sufficient distance longitudinally of the bar before it moves the bar longitudinally, so that the bar will be released from the pin 22 before it begins to act upon the door 17, the necessity for this action being obvious.

Upon the opposite side of the runway from the bar 20 and arm 27 a gravity latch-lever 30 is pivotally supported at 3l,the pivot-point being nearer the lower end than the upper end, so that the latch-bar will remain normally with its upper end in its lowermost position.

A stop 32 will be located upon the runway in position to limit the downward movement of the latch-bar.

The latch-bar will be provided with a notch 33, adapted to engage a catch 34 upon the closure 17, and thus serve to lock the closure in its closed position.

The shorter lower end of the latch-bar will be engaged bya movable button 35 upon the platform 25 and adapted to throw the latchbar when the platform is tilted downward at the outer end. By this arrangement when the platform 25 is tilted with its inner end downward, or when the hen is upon hernest, the button 35 will not engage the latch-bar. Consequently the latch-bar will be in engagement with the catch 34 and lock the closure 37 shut, and thus prevent access to the nest and protect the hen from intrusion.

Vhen the hen leaves the nest and Walks upon the platform 25, she will tilt its outer end downward and cause the button 35 to depress the lower end of the latch-bar and release its upper end from the catch 34, leaving the closure free to be opened. It will be noted that the first movement of the arm 27 when the platform is being tilted by its .outward end will cause the portion 29 to travel harmlessly through the slot 23 or without producing any effect upon the arm 20 further than to cause the shoulder 28 to pass beneath the inclined portion 24 and permit the bar 2O to drop downward, so that by the time the part 29 reaches the end of the slot 23 the arm 2O will be in position with the notch 21 above the pin 22 and engaged therewith to lock the closure 17 in its open position, as above noted. By this simple arrangement the whole operation is automatic and all the parts operated by the passage of the heu to and from her nest, and the movements will be so slight that the hen will not be disturbed or frightened by any of the movements.

The button member 35 is easily reversible in position, and the shape of the outer end 36 of the latch-bar 30 will be inclined to a degree sufficient to cause the catch 34 to pass beneath it and engage the notch 33 automatically when the door is closed, and it will be obvious, therefore, that if the button member 35 be turned longitudinally of the platform 25 out of the path of the bar 30 the tilting of the outer end of the platform will not release the lock-bar 30, so that the device becomes a trap to prevent the hen escaping therefrom when desired. This is an important feature of the invention and enables the device to be transformed into a trap very quickly when so desired.

It will be obvious that the button member may be actuated through the open slotted sides of the runway.

The elongated slot 23 is an important feature of the invention and insures the coaction of the parts without binding and effectually prevents the interference of one part with the other. By this simple arrangement the hen in passing into the nest tilts the platform 25 in one direction and closes the door behind her, this action releasing the latchbar 30 and automatically locking the door in ICO IIO

its closed position, as before described, and thus effectually protecting the henfrom intrusion while upon the nest.

When the hen desires to leave the nest, the movement of the platform will be reversed, causing the button 35 to first release the locking means and then causing the arm 27 to actuate the bar 20 and open the door and at the same time locking it in its open position, so that it cannot be accidentally closed while the hen is off the nest.

If it is desired to gain access to the hen While upon the nest, the simple removal of the pin 39 releases the nest-box and enables it to be removed and lifted bodily from the portion ll. By this means the nest material (indicated at 38) may be renewed at any time and the nest-box fumigated or otherwise cleansed when required.

The runway being formed of open-work is easily accessible at all points for cleansing or fumigation and also permits the free circulation of air.

The device, as before stated, may be constructed of any desired size and of any suitable material and may be modified in minor particulars without departing from the principle of the invention or sacrificing any of its advantages, and I therefore reserve the right to such modifications in the structure as may come within the scope of the claims.

Having thus described the invention, what is claimed is- 1. In a hens nest, a base member, a nestbox having one side open and reversibly supported upon said base member, a runway upon said base member and leading to said nest-box, a movable closure to said runway, and means operative by the hen in moving through said runway for actuating said closure, substantially as described.

2. In a hens nest, a runway having open ends, a nest-box having one side open and engaging one end of said runway and reversibly disposed relative thereto, a closure movably connected to the opposite end of said runway, and means operative by the hen in moving through said runway for actuating said closure, substantially as described.

3. In a hens nest, a runway open at the ends land having a base member extended beyond one of said open ends, a nest-box having one open side and reversibly disposed upon said extension in engagement with the adjacent end of said runway, a closure movably engaging the opposite end of said runway, and means within said runway operative by the hen in moving therethrough for actuating said closure, substantially as described. l

4. In a hens nest, a runway open at the ends and having a base member extended beyond one of said open ends, a nest-box having one side open and reversibly disposed upon said base extension in engagement with the adjacent end of said runway, a closure movably engaging the opposite end of said runway, a tilting platform within said runway and having an arm extending therefrom, and a connecting-rod between said arm and said closure, whereby the movement of the hen alternately through said runway will likewise alternately actuate said closure, substantially as described.

5. A hens nest comprising a nest-box, a runway for the hen to and from said nest-box, means for detachably connecting said nestbox to one end of said runway, a closure movably connected to the opposite end of said runway, a tilting platform located within said runway between said nest-box and closure, and means for operatively connecting said platform and closure, whereby the passage of the hen alternately through said runway will correspondingly actuate said closure, substantially as described.

6. A hens nest comprising a nest-box, a runway for the hen to and from said nest-box, means for detachably connecting said nestbox to one end of said runway, a closure movablyconnected to the opposite end of said runway, a`tilting platform located within said runway between said nest-box and closure,

an arm extending from said platform, and a connecting-rod between said arm and said closure, whereby the passage of the hen alternately through said runway will likewise alternately tilt said platform and cause said vclosure to be correspondingly alternately actuated, substantially as described.

7. A hens nest comprising a nest-box, a runway leading to and from said nest-box, a swinging door forming a movable closure to said runway, a tilting platform located Within said runway and having an arm extending therefrom, a rod movably connected by one end to said door relatively near its hinges and provided with a longitudinal slot at the other end movably engaged by said extended arm, whereby the passage of the hen alternately through said runway will likewise alternately tilt said platform and correspondingly move said arm and cause it to engage said connecting-rod near the ends of its stroke and thereby actuate said closure only at the ends of the movement of the platform and arm, substantially as described.

8. A hens nest comprising a nest-box, a runway leading to and from said nest-box, a swinging door forming a movable closure t'o said runway, a tilting platform located within said runway and having an arm extending therefrom, a rod movably connected by one end tol said closure and relatively near its hinges, and provided with a longitudinal slot movably engaged by said extended arm, a latch-bar adapted to movably engage a catch on said closure, and means carried by said platform and engaging said catch-lever to cause it to release said closure at the initial outward movement of said platform, whereby the passage of the hen will tilt said platform and actuate said latch-bar at the first portion of the movement of said platform to release IOO ' ably engaging a stationary pin when said closure is in its open position,operative means carried by said platform and adapted to release said rod and actuate said closure by the tilting action of the platform caused by the passage of the hen alternately through said runway, substantially as described.

lO. In a hens nest, a runway having open ends, a nest-box supported opposite one end of said runway, a closure movably connected to the opposite end of said runway, a tilting platform within said runway, a rod having an inclined surface and movably connected by one end to said closure and likewise movably engaging a stationary pin when said closure is in its open position, an arm extending from said tilting platform and engaging the inclined surface of said rod, means whereby the movement of said arm will operatively engage said rod only when near the opposite ends of its stroke, to cause the initial movement of said tilting platform and arm to operatively engage said inclined surface and detach said rod from said pin, and thus release said closure before said rod is caused to actuate said closure, substantially as described.

ll. In a hens nest, a runway, a nest-box supported opposite one end of said runway, a closure movably connected to the opposite end of said runway, a tilting platform within said runway, a rod having an inclined surface and movably connected by one end to said closure and likewise movably engaging a stationary pin when said closure is in its open position and provided with a longitudinal slot, an arm extending from said tilting platform and provided with a shoulder engaging said inclined surface and with an extension passing through said slot, whereby the alternate passage of the hen through said runway will likewise alternately tilt said platform and cause said shoulder and eXtension upon said arm to detach said rod from said pin and release said closure before said rod is caused to actuate said closure, substantially as described.

l2. In a hens nest, a runway, a nest-box supported opposite one end of said runway, a closure movably connected to the opposite end of said runway, a tilting platform within said runway, a latch-bar movably connected to said runway, a catch upon said closure adapted to be movablyconnected to said latchba r, and a catch member carried by said platform and adapted to be moved into the path l LEVIS J. DU FREE.

Witnesses:

W. T. HALE, W. E. FUTRAL.

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