Patent ID: 6666169
Filing Date: 2003-12-23
Classification: A01K

Abstract:
A headgate apparatus for restraining an animal having shoulders located at a front portion of a body of the animal, a neck extending forward from the shoulders, and a head located on a front end of the neck, the apparatus comprising:a pair of vertically oriented shoulder bars movable between an open exit position, wherein the shoulder bars are separated by a space sufficient to allow the animal to pass between the shoulder bars, and a closed position, wherein the shoulder bars are separated by a space that is wide enough to accommodate the neck and narrow enough to prevent passage of the shoulders therebetween; a pair of vertically oriented head bars mounted in front of the shoulder bars and movable between an open exit position, wherein the head bars are separated by a space sufficient to allow the animal to pass between the head bars, and a closed position, wherein the head bars are separated by a space that is wide enough to accommodate the neck and narrow enough to prevent passage of the head therebetween, and wherein further in the closed position the head bars and shoulder bars are separated by a head separation distance sufficient to restrain backward and forward motion of the animal; wherein the shoulder bars and head bars are linked such that the head bars are maintained at a substantially constant head separation distance from the shoulder bars when moving to the closed position, and wherein the constant head separation distance corresponds substantially to a distance between the shoulders and head of the animal.