Abstract:
A livestock chute insert that adapts a livestock chute for use with smaller livestock. One embodiment of the insert reversibly modifies existing gated livestock chutes to prevent smaller livestock from turning around in the chute or jumping up and hurting themselves.

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION 
       [0001]    The present application, pursuant to 35 U.S.C. 111(b), claims the benefit of the earlier filing date of provisional application Ser. No. 61/398,957 filed Jul. 2, 2010, and entitled “Gated Chute Adapted for Smaller Livestock” 
     
    
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0002]    1. Field of the Invention 
         [0003]    The present invention relates to an adaptive device for a livestock chute to adapt the chute for smaller livestock. In particular, the present invention relates to an insert for a livestock chute for reversibly modifying existing gated chutes to prevent smaller livestock from turning around in the chute or jumping up and hurting themselves. 
         [0004]    2. Description of the Related Art 
         [0005]    Rodeo contests have become popular in recent years, particularly in the western states of the United States, and many cowboys and other western riders have become highly skilled in the performance of certain cattle handling feats, such as bulldogging, steer-roping, and calf-roping. Roping, for example, is increasingly popular as a family sport and today there are more than 100,000 members in the United States Team Roping Association. Ropers often exhibit their skills in competitions where they actively compete with each other for prize money before large audiences during rodeo performances. 
         [0006]    Generally these events requires that a steer or a calf be brought into a holding chute having a gate which can be selectably opened and closed for the entrance, retention, and release of the animal. Holding chutes provided with entry and exit gates are also traditionally used by rodeo performers to temporarily hold and release cattle for mounted roping practice. 
         [0007]    Furthermore, holding chutes are used to hold individual livestock for annual vaccinations, parasite treatment, weighing, and other processes. 
         [0008]    Unfortunately, smaller livestock such as a calf, sheep, pig and the like will sometimes hurt themselves by jumping up and/or turning around within the chute. A need exists for a selectably removable insert for livestock chutes that will limit the movement of smaller livestock and prevent them from hurting themselves. 
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0009]    The present invention relates to a selectably removable insert for livestock chutes that will limit the movement of smaller livestock and prevent them from hurting themselves. 
         [0010]    One embodiment of the present invention is an insert for a livestock chute comprising: (a) an insert base frame that is insertable into a livestock chute, the insert base frame having a first side wall, an opposed second side wall, an entry passage on a first end of the base frame, and an exit passage on a second end of the base frame, wherein the entry passage and the exit passage are substantially equal in size and shape; and (b) a plurality of top bars, wherein each top bar comprises a first bar end curved in a first direction from a central portion of the top bar and a second bar end curved in the first direction and where each top bar is attached to the insert base frame so that the first bar end is mounted to a top end of the first side wall, the second bar end is mounted to a top end of the second side wall. 
         [0011]    A second embodiment of the present invention is an insert for a livestock chute comprising: (a) a first side wall having a first upper section, a first lower section, and a first interconnecting section that joins a second end of the first upper section and a first end of the first lower section; (b) a second side wall having a second upper section, a second lower section, and a second interconnecting section that joins a second end of the second upper section and a first end of the second lower section; and (c) a plurality of crossbars wherein each crossbar comprises a first bar end curved in a first direction from a central portion of the crossbar and a second bar end curved in the first direction and where the first bar end is mounted on a first end of the first upper section and the second bar end is mounted on a first end of the second upper section. 
         [0012]    A third embodiment of the present invention is an insert for a livestock chute comprising: (a) a first side wall having a first upper section, a first lower section, and a first interconnecting section that joins a second end of the first upper section and a first end of the first lower section; (b) a second side wall having a second upper section, a second lower section, and a second interconnecting section that joins a second end of the second upper section and a first end of the second lower section, wherein the second upper section is substantially parallel with the first upper section and the second lower section is substantially parallel with the first lower section; and (c) a plurality of crossbars wherein each crossbar comprises a first bar end curved in a first direction from a central portion of the crossbar and a second bar end curved in the first direction and where the first bar end is mounted on a first end of the first upper section and the second bar end is mounted on a first end of the second upper section. 
         [0013]    The foregoing has outlined rather broadly several aspects of the present invention in order that the detailed description of the invention that follows may be better understood. Additional features and advantages of the invention will be described hereinafter which form the subject of the claims of the invention. It should be appreciated by those skilled in the art that the conception and the specific embodiment disclosed might be readily utilized as a basis for modifying or redesigning the structures for carrying out the same purposes as the invention. It should be realized by those skilled in the art that such equivalent constructions do not depart from the spirit and scope of the invention as set forth in the appended claims. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0014]    For a more complete understanding of the present invention, and the advantages thereof, reference is now made to the following descriptions taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which: 
           [0015]      FIG. 1  shows an end view of one embodiment of a chute insert. 
           [0016]      FIG. 2  shows an oblique view of the chute insert of  FIG. 1 . 
           [0017]      FIG. 3  illustrates another embodiment of a chute insert where the insert is modified by mounting end guards to the entrance and exit of the chute insert. 
           [0018]      FIG. 4  shows an oblique view of a pair of mirror image lower guides which may be used as end guards and optionally mounted on the chute insert of  FIG. 1 . 
           [0019]      FIG. 5  shows an oblique view of a pair of opposed upper guides which may be mounted on the chute insert in conjunction with the lower guides shown in  FIG. 4 . 
           [0020]      FIG. 6  is an oblique view of a conventional roping chute, shown with one of its end gates open. 
           [0021]      FIG. 7  is a plan view of a conventional roping chute, shown with the chute insert of  FIG. 1  modified by the addition of the end guards shown in  FIGS. 4 and 5 . 
           [0022]      FIG. 8  is an end view of a conventional roping chute shown with the modified roping chute insert of  FIG. 3  inserted therein. In this view, both end gates of the roping chute are open. 
           [0023]      FIG. 9  is an oblique view of a remotely operable roping chute shown with the entry gate and the no return barrier open to admit an animal. The roping chute insert is not installed in this view. 
           [0024]      FIG. 10  is a plan view corresponding to  FIG. 9 . 
           [0025]      FIG. 11  is an oblique view corresponding to  FIGS. 9 and 10 , but showing the chute insert of  FIG. 1  aligned for insertion into the roping chute. 
           [0026]      FIG. 12  is an end view of the remotely operable roping chute of  FIGS. 9 ,  10 , and  11  showing the chute insert of  FIG. 1  installed therein. 
           [0027]      FIG. 13  is an oblique view corresponding to  FIG. 12 . 
       
    
    
     DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
       [0028]    Embodiments of the present invention relate to a selectably removable insert for livestock chutes that will limit the movement of smaller livestock and prevent them from hurting themselves. Livestock holding chutes are particularly useful for rodeo events, livestock management, and the like. 
         [0029]    Standard livestock chutes typically include a rectangular basic frame with two interconnected sides to form a livestock enclosure having an entry passage and an exit passage. Livestock or roping chutes are deliberately made relatively narrow and with limited interior heights so that a cow or other livestock cannot turn around while in the chute and must exit only at the end of the chute opposite to that where it entered. A problem arises for the typical standard chute sized for large animals when smaller calves or other animals are penned and passed through. Unfortunately smaller animals weighing less than about 150 pounds are able to turn around readily, either by simply rotating about a vertical axis or by rearing and rotating. One object of the present invention is to provide an easily installed and removed means for preventing the turning around of smaller calves in a roping chute designed for larger animals. 
         [0030]    One embodiment of a livestock chute insert  10  is illustrated in  FIGS. 1 ,  2  and  3 . This embodiment of the chute insert  10  fits into any general livestock chute such as the one shown in  FIG. 6  or the remotely operable chute illustrated in  FIG. 9  and described in U.S. Pat. No. 7,918,191. The chute insert  10  is constructed to be quickly and easily insertable or removable by a single individual. 
         [0031]    Although the embodiment described in detail below and shown in  FIG. 1  is generally constructed of steel plates and tubes, it is recognized that any cross-sectional shape of any material which is sufficiently durable and strong can be used to construct the frame. Furthermore, the attachment of the components of the frame may be effected by welding or if desired by pipe-fitting attachment means and the like. 
         [0032]    The chute insert  10  is made to be laterally centered between the interior sides of a roping chute  40  or  70  and is centered at approximately midlength of the main chute. The chute insert  10  consists of two spaced apart side plates  12  joined by multiple crossbars  11 . Typically the two side plates will be substantially identical to each other and will be in mirror image positions joined by multiple identical equispaced crossbars  11 . The U-shaped crossbars  11  are symmetrical about their transverse midplanes and have short downwardly extending vertical segments joined to the relatively long horizontal center sections by large radius bends. The lower ends of a crossbar  11  have short upwardly extending notches parallel to the transverse midplane of the crossbar. The notches are engaged with the upper edges of the side plates  12  and are generally welded at those locations to join the crossbars  11  to the side plates  12 . 
         [0033]    Each side plate  12  is made of several different sections. Each side plate of the embodiment of chute insert  10  illustrated in  FIG. 1  has a vertical upper section, a lower vertical section, and an interconnecting section. The upper and lower sections of each side plate  12  are parallel, but offset. An inclined plate segment (the interconnecting section) bends upwardly and outwardly to connect the lower and upper sections of each side plate  12 . When the chute insert  10  is assembled, the parallel lower sections of the opposed side plates  12  are spaced apart by a distance W 1 , while the parallel upper sections of the side plates are spaced apart by a distance W 2 . The clear inside height from the bottom of the side plates  12  to the underside of the horizontal portion of the crossbars is H, as seen in  FIG. 1 . 
         [0034]    Multiple small diameter transverse through holes  13  are each spaced a short distance from each transverse end of the side plates  12 . For each end of the side plates  12 , two holes  13  are located in the lower vertical section and two holes  13  are located in the upper vertical section. For each end of a side plate  12 , one transverse through hole is located in the interconnecting section of the side plate  12 . Additionally, a hole  14  is positioned at midlength of each side plate  12  a short distance below the intersection of the upper section and the interconnecting section. The holes  14  permit selective mounting by means of bolt and nut pairs  34  of the chute insert  10  to suitable attachment points provided in the remotely operable roping chute  40  shown in  FIG. 9 . For example, the remotely operable roping chute  40  has a lefthand mechanism cover  51  and a righthand mechanism cover  52  that are suitable for mounting the interconnecting and lower sections of the left and right side plates  12  respectively. 
         [0035]    The chute insert  10  shown in  FIG. 3  shows a modified version  20  of the chute insert  10 . This modified version  20  is made to fit centered laterally and longitudinally within a conventional roping chute  70  as shown in  FIG. 6 . Since the conventional roping chute  70  does not have the side mechanism covers  51  and  52  for mounting the chute insert, the modified chute insert  20  will typically have optional side panels or edge guards attached to the lower sections of the side plates to avoid any problematic gaps or edges. 
         [0036]    The embodiment of the modified chute insert  20  has two each of lefthand lower guides  21  and righthand lower guides  25 , as well as four upper guides  16  attached to the chute insert  10 . The two ends of the modified chute insert  20  are configured similarly. The upper  16  and lower guides  21 ,  25  are selectably mounted by means of bolt and nut pairs  34  to the mounting holes  13  of the side plates  12 . 
         [0037]    The lefthand  21  and righthand  25  lower guides are basically mirror images of each other. The lefthand guide  21  consists of one or two rectangular vertical sections  22  cojoined by an inclined triangular section  23 . One vertical edge of the lefthand lower guide  21  mounts two horizontally extending rectangular mounting tabs  24 , and the adjacent inclined edge mounts a third mounting tab  24 . Each mounting tab  24  has a centrally located through hole. The mounting tabs  24  for the vertical section of lefthand lower guide  21  are at an angle with the vertical side  22  and extend horizontally with the same spacing as the accessory mounting holes  13  in the lower section of the side plate  12  on the left side when the roping chute insert  10  is viewed looking inwardly at one end. 
         [0038]    The mounting tab  24  on the upper triangular section of the lefthand lower guide  21  is bent so that its lateral edges are horizontal and parallel to the vertical section of the guide  21 . The location of the mounting tab  24  on the upper triangular section of the guide  21  is such that its hole is coaxial with the accessory attachment hole  13  on the interconnecting section of the lefthand side plate  12  when assembled with a bolt and nut pair  34  to the chute insert  10 . 
         [0039]    Referring to  FIGS. 3 and 4 , the vertical section  22  of the installed lefthand lower guide  21  is outwardly inclined relative to the lower vertical section of its mounting side plate  12 . The tabbed edge of the inclined section  23  of lefthand lower guide  21  is coplanar with the interconnecting section of the side plate  12  to which it is attached. The righthand lower guide  25  is basically the mirror image of lefthand lower guide  21 , with its vertical section  26 , its inclined section  27 , and its mounting tabs  28  corresponding to vertical section  22 , inclined section  23 , and mounting tabs  24 , respectively. 
         [0040]    The upper guides  32 , seen in  FIGS. 3 and 5 , are short unequal leg angle sections symmetrical about their transverse midplanes. The short leg of an upper guide  32  has symmetrically placed transverse through mounting holes  33  which can be aligned with the two side plate  12  mounting holes  13  on either end of an upper vertical section of the side plate. When mounted to the exterior of the side plates  12  using bolt and nut pairs  34 , the long legs of the upper guides  32  extend transversely outwardly to the side of their side plates and abut the tabbed edge of the inclined section  23  or  27  of a lower guide plate  21  or  25 , respectively. 
         [0041]    These relationships can best be understood from inspection of  FIG. 3 . The lower guides  21  and  25  thus form a tapered entry and exit to the modified chute insert  20 . The upper guides  32  present an outwardly extending transverse surface at the entry and exit of the modified chute insert  20 . 
         [0042]    Referring to  FIGS. 9 ,  10  and  11 , the remotely operable roping chute  40  described in U.S. Pat. No. 7,918,191 can be seen respectively in an oblique end view, a plan view, and an oblique end view with the chute insert  10  axially aligned for insertion into the roping chute  40 . The remotely operable roping chute  40  has a rectangular tubing elongated rectangular perimeter base frame  42  which rests on a flat ground surface  41 . The inside width of the rectangular base frame  42  is somewhat larger than the width of a full grown bovine. 
         [0043]    On its upper side, the rectangular base frame  42  mounts vertically extending transverse U-shaped arched tubular crossbars  43 . The parallel legs of the crossbars  43  extend downwardly from the central upper horizontal section where they are welded to the base frame  42 . These four vertically extending crossbars  43  are parallel to the short transverse sides of the base frame  42  and equispaced along the length of the base frame  42 . One crossbar  43  is located at each end of the base frame  42 . 
         [0044]    An entry gate half  45  consists of a vertical tube having multiple vertical equispaced coplanar horizontal tubular stubs attached one side. The vertical tube of an entry gate half  45  is larger than the vertical leg of an arcuate crossbar  43 . An antisymmetric pair of entry gate halves  45  are pivotably mounted on opposite sides of the arcuate crossbar  43  at the entry end of the roping chute  40 . The exit gate halves  46  are identical to the entry gate halves  45  and are pivotably mounted antisymmetrically on the opposite sides of the arcuate crossbar  43  at the exit end of the roping chute  40 . 
         [0045]    The two nonreturn gate halves  47  are structurally similar to the entry  45  and exit  46  gate halves, but have only a single horizontal tubular stub at midlength. A nonreturn gate half  47  is antisymmetrically pivotably mounted concentric with each vertical tube  58 . The nonreturn gate halves  47  are spring biased to close and to let an animal pass into the roping chute  40 , but are prevented by travel stops from opening to let an animal exit through the entry end of the roping chute  40 . The entry  45  and exit gate  46  halves are operated by a complex operative linkage mechanism  55  which is controlled by a radio receiver and control  56 . 
         [0046]    A perforated planar floor treadle  50  is pivotably mounted to the base frame  42  horizontally and transversely at the entry end of the roping chute  40 . The floor treadle  50  extends most of the length of the roping chute  40 . The normal position of the floor treadle  50  is to have its unpivoted end upwardly positioned. When the floor treadle  50  is depressed by the weight of a bovine, it pivots downwardly to abut the ground surface  41  while causing the entry gate halves  45  to close. When a radio signal is issued by a handheld transmitter, the radio receiver and control  56  releases a detented, spring loaded member in the operative linkage  55  to open the exit gate  46  halves. 
         [0047]    The operative linkage  55  is complex and interconnects the floor treadle  50 , the entry gate halves  45 , and the exit gate halves  46 . Part of the linkage  55  is located on the interior side of the roping chute  40 , where it is protected by lefthand  51  and righthand  52  cover plates. The cover plates  51  and  52  are mirror images. Each cover plate  51 ,  52  has a long vertically extending planar rectangular segment joined by a shorter inclined rectangular horizontal segment. The angle between the vertical and inclined segments is approximately 60°. The angle is the same as that of between the vertical and inclined portions of the side plates  12  of the basic roping chute insert  10 . 
         [0048]    The cover plates  51  and  52  cover and protect the mechanism of the remotely operable roping chute  40 . However, the protrusion of the cover plates  51  and  52  into the lower portion of the remotely operable roping chute  40  means that the lower portion of the roping chute  40  is not as wide as a standard roping chute  70 , even though the upper portion of chute  40  has substantially the same width as a standard chute  70 . 
         [0049]    A standard roping chute  70  is shown in an oblique view in  FIG. 6 . A standard roping chute  70  can be set on the ground surface  41  and has a rectangular tubular base frame  72 . On its upper side, the rectangular base frame  72  mounts four vertically extending transverse U-shaped arched tubular crossbars  73 . The parallel legs of the crossbars  73  extend downwardly from the central upper horizontal section where they are welded to the base frame  72 . These four vertically extending crossbars  73  are parallel to the short transverse sides of the base frame  72  and equispaced along the length of the base frame  72 . One crossbar  43  is located at each end of the base frame  72 . 
         [0050]    On each side of the roping chute  70  multiple vertically equispaced tubular horizontal bars  74  having coped ends are welded between adjacent arched tubular crossbars  73  of the rectangular base frame  72  of the conventional roping chute  70 . These vertical  73  and horizontal  74  bars are sized to withstand forces applied by a penned animal and to keep the animal from escaping laterally or out the top of the chute. 
         [0051]    Identical entry  75  and exit  76  gates consist of two tubular verticals cojoined by multiple equispaced smaller horizontal tubes which are coped and welded to the vertical tubes. Two other short tubes having inner diameters which are slip fits to the exterior of the tubular crossbars  73  are coaxially attached to one vertical tube of a gate  75  or  76  so that their centerlines are coplanar with the horizontals of those gates. The short tubes are equispaced from the upper and lower ends of the gates  75 ,  76  and are respectively mounted concentrically and pivotably on one leg of the entry and exit end arcuate crossbars  73  at the entry and exit ends of the of the roping chute  70 . As illustrated in  FIGS. 6 and 8 , the width W 3  of the modified chute insert  20  is approximately the same at the top section of the standard chute  70  proximal the crossbars  73  and at the bottom section of the chute  70  proximal the rectangular base frame  72 . 
         [0052]    Each gate  75 ,  76  has a short half round tubular segment latch plate  77  welded at midheight of the gate so that its centerline is vertical and coplanar with the gate. A small centrally positioned rectangular through hole penetrates the latch plate perpendicular to the plane of the gate. A small horizontal U-shaped loop latch pin holder  78  is welded to the vertical leg opposed to the gate pivot leg of each end crossbar  73  at a height and position so that when the gate  75  or  76  is fully closed, the loop  78  passes through the hole in the latch plate  77  of the gate. The outward extension of the latch pin holder  78  is sufficient to permit the insertion of a latch pin  79  to keep the gate closed. 
         [0053]    The latch pin  79  is a elongated rod having either a loop bent at its upper end as shown herein or a right angle bend. The loop or bend prevents the pin falling vertically out of engagement with the latch pin holder  78 . Insertion of the latch pin  79  can be used to maintain selectable closure of a gate  75  or  76 . 
       Operation of the Invention 
       [0054]      FIG. 11  shows the remotely operated roping chute  40  ready for insertion of the chute insert  10 .  FIGS. 12 and 13  show the basic roping chute insert  10  installed in the chute  40 . Referring particularly to  FIG. 12 , it can be seen that the nonreturn gate halves  47  and the cover plates  51  and  52  narrow the lower portion of the path through the roping chute  40 . The placement of the chute insert  10  into the roping chute  40  only slightly narrows the lower portion of the path through the chute  40 . Accordingly, the optional lefthand  21  and righthand  25  lower guides and the upper guides  32  are probably not required to avoid abrading the legs of any entering and exiting calves or other small livestock. 
         [0055]      FIGS. 7 and 8  show the modified chute insert  20  installed in a standard roping chute  70 . Because the lower portion of the interior passage of the standard roping chute  70  is generally wider than the lower portion of the passage of the remotely operated roping chute  40 , a fairly large gap can exist between the chute insert  10  and the inner passage of the chute. 
         [0056]    To prevent the calves or other small livestock from possible injury by contact with the vertical transverse edges of the chute insert  10  or entanglement within any potential gap between the chute insert  10  and the roping chute  70 , the chute insert  10  will preferably be modified to add edge guards to the front and back ends of the chute insert  10 . One embodiment of such edge guards is shown in  FIGS. 3 and 4  and described in detail above. The optional lefthand  21  and righthand  25  lower guides and the upper guides  32  represent just one of many workable edge guard designs. 
         [0057]      FIGS. 7 and 8  show the modified chute insert  20  placed within a standard roping chute  70 . The placement of the modified chute insert  20 , with its transversely outwardly extending lefthand  21  and righthand  25  lower guides and upper guides  32 , within the standard roping chute  70  avoids any problematic gaps and edges which could injure smaller livestock. 
       Advantages of the Invention 
       [0058]    The roping chute insert of the present invention permits a roping chute to readily be converted from use with full size cattle to use with small calves. Because of its light weight, the chute insert  10  or the modified chute insert  20  is readily installed and removed by one or two men. Thus, the use of the chute insert  10  or the modified chute insert  20  permits a roper to utilize only a single roping chute for all sizes of cattle. 
         [0059]    The specific dimensions and shape of the chute insert or the end edge guards may be modified without departing from the concept of a readily installed chute insert to adapt a standard roping chute for smaller livestock.