COMBINED POULTRY ROOST AND WASTE ROUTING APPARATUS

A combined poultry roost and waste routing apparatus includes a main tray member having floors, side walls and a peripheral frame portion. A catch basin, including a drainage outlet, is formed in a first end portion of the main tray member. The apparatus also includes a plurality of roosting bars attached to the main tray member, and a support stand supporting the main tray member at an inclined angle with the catch basin at a lower end thereof. A water supply manifold is operatively attached to a second end of the main tray member for selectively supplying rinse water thereto. The water supply manifold includes an inlet portion configured to receive a hose connection, and a fluid dispersion member attached to, and in fluid communication with the inlet portion. The fluid dispersion member has a plurality of openings formed therein for selectively releasing rinse water into the main tray member.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to a combined poultry roost and waste routing apparatus for use by poultry farmers and hobbyists.

More particularly, the present invention relates to a combined poultry roost and waste routing apparatus including a main tray member supported at an incline and having roosting bars thereon, and a water supply manifold for selectively rinsing waste out of the main tray member.

Description of the Background Art

Backyard chicken keeping is a popular hobby which can be rewarding with the collection of eggs, but can also be labor intensive due to the general upkeep and clean up of the chicken coop and immediate area. Chickens seem to be near-constantly eating, and also near-constantly depositing waste produced by the food that they digest.

Most chicken coops have roosting bars, and that is where the chickens sleep and spend a great portion of their day. The same chickens tend to roost in the same spots, respectively, and hence their waste deposits build up in the spots underneath their roosting sites. This requires the chicken keeper to repetitively scrape and clean this area, and dispose of the collected waste material.

Some chicken coops have a wire mesh floor and a collection pan underneath the floor, which is intermittently pulled out and emptied by the chicken keeper. This method is messy for the chicken keeper and can be uncomfortable for the chickens, as they may have to stand on this wire mesh when they are not on a perch.

The present invention provides a combined poultry roost and waste routing apparatus which is designed to improve on the situations described above and to create a cleaner and healthier environment for the chickens and for the chicken keepers.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

A combined poultry roost and waste routing apparatus according to the present invention combines a poultry roost and selectively rinseable toilet area for chickens.

The apparatus includes a main tray member which is supported by legs that hold it in an inclined angular position, and this allows for the roosting of multiple birds, and also allows for the downward flow of water and waste material inside of the main tray member. Chickens may roost on the perches of the inventive apparatus, and when they produce waste material, it will fall into the main tray member of the apparatus.

The main tray member has a peripheral frame portion, a floor and side walls interconnecting the floor and the frame portion. The main tray member also has a catch basin formed in a first, or lower end portion thereof. The catch basin of the main tray member has a drainage outlet formed therein. Optionally, the floor of the main tray member may have a plurality of reinforcing ribs formed therein.

In addition to the main tray member, the apparatus according to the illustrative embodiment includes a support stand, configured to support the main tray member at an inclined angle with the catch basin disposed at a lowermost end thereof.

The combined poultry roost and waste routing apparatus according to the illustrative embodiment further includes a plurality of roosting bars attached to, and extending horizontally across the peripheral frame of the main tray member. Optionally, but not necessarily, the peripheral frame portion of the main tray member may have a plurality of opposed recesses formed therein, and the roosting bars may be supported between these recesses.

The apparatus also includes a water supply manifold for selectively supplying rinse water into the main tray member to permit cleaning thereof. The water supply manifold is operatively attached to a second, or upper end of the main tray member, opposite the catch basin, The water supply manifold includes an inlet portion configured to receive a hose connection and a fluid delivery tube attached to and in fluid communication with the inlet portion. The fluid delivery tube has a plurality of orifices formed therein for selectively releasing rinse water into the main tray member. The water supply manifold is configured to be connected to a pressurized water supply, and the drain may be connected to an outlet pipe which leads out to a desired area for disposal of the waste.

Optionally, a releasable baffle plate may be provided in the main tray member below the water supply manifold, for temporarily impeding water flow therepast, and for directing water flow to the floor of the main tray member when it is released.

To clean or “flush” the main tray member of the apparatus, the chicken keeper opens a valve to the water supply manifold, which disperses pressurized water across and down the main tray member of the apparatus. This flow of water flushes the pan clean, and the waste matter flows into the drain and out through the drain pipe to be deposited in the desired area. This flushing operation could be conducted manually by the chicken keeper or it could be automated with the addition of a simple timer to turn the water pressure on at any desired interval. The drainage pipe could be directed to any desired area or into a collection system where the waste material could be collected for fertilizer.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF ILLUSTRATIVE EMBODIMENTS

First Embodiment

FIG. 1is an isometric perspective view of a combined poultry roost and waste routing apparatus10according to a first illustrative embodiment of the present invention. The inventive apparatus10combines a poultry roost and a selectively rinseable toilet area for chickens.

The inventive apparatus10includes a main tray member12which could be formed or fabricated from any appropriate material.FIG. 2is a perspective view of a main tray member of the apparatus according to the first embodiment, modified by moving a catch basin from its location inFIG. 1.

The main tray member12is a primary component of the apparatus10. The depicted main tray member12is formed from a durable plastic which has been vacuum formed. The main tray member12includes a floor panel14, a peripheral frame15and a plurality of side walls16,17,18and19interconnecting the floor panel and the frame.

A catch basin22is molded into the bottom of the main tray member12at the lower end thereof, opposite a water supply manifold40disposed at the upper end. The catch basin22has a drainage hole24formed therein, and an optional pipe connection (not shown) of suitable diameter may be attached to the drainage hole to efficiently drain waste water from the cleaning or flushing operation.

Although the catch basin22is shown formed in the lowermost side wall18inFIG. 1, it may alternatively be situated at the lowermost part of the floor panel14, as shown inFIG. 2, or may be formed in the lowermost corner of the main tray member between the side wall and the floor panel.

Optionally, the floor panel14of the main tray member12may have reinforcing ribs38formed integrally therein for added stiffness, and may also include molded-in lettering or other indicia55for brand identification.

The main tray member12also includes the peripheral frame15, having indented recesses20formed therein, as shown, which serve to locate and secure a plurality of parallel roosting bars30,32,34in the frame, and these roosting bars may be secured by screws or other suitable fasteners extending through the side walls of the main tray member and into the ends of the roosting bars. It should be noted that the roosting bars30,32,34are spaced upwardly away from the floor panel14of the main tray member12to leave open space therebelow and ensure a clear pathway for waste to move downwardly on the floor panel.

As one example, 2″×2″ square wooden bars may be used as the roosting bars30,32,34, but other materials and/or shapes could be substituted.

The water supply manifold40is secured at the top of the main tray member12, and is configured to be connected to a pressurized water supply via a suitable hose connection. The water supply manifold40includes an inlet pipe45and a fluid dispersion pipe46attached to and in fluid communication with the inlet pipe.

In this first embodiment, the fluid dispersion member46is capped on both ends, and is perforated with line of small spaced-apart openings48that are configured to disperse pressurized water in an even pattern down the floor14of the main tray member12.

The main tray member12is supported in an inclined angular fashion by a support frame50, so as to accommodate roosting of multiple birds at different heights on the roosting bars30,32,34and also to facilitate the downward flow of waste water during cleaning for efficient drainage. The support frame50can be fabricated from a number of different materials, in the depicted embodiment, simple 2″×2″ wooden legs52,54are used, interconnected by reinforcing members56and58.

A single apparatus10can be connected to a water supply and drainage system, or alternatively, two or more units can be connected together by use of suitable connectors for the supply and drainage lines, and therefore, a user may accommodate any number of birds.

Second Embodiment

Referring now toFIGS. 3-6, a combined poultry roost and waste routing apparatus110according to a second embodiment of the present invention will now be described. The apparatus110according to the second embodiment is substantially identical to the apparatus10according to the first embodiment as previously described, with the exception that the main tray member112and the water supply manifold140in the second embodiment are arranged and configured differently from the main tray member12and the water supply manifold40of the first embodiment. For this reason, redundant description of identical parts will be avoided.

In this second embodiment of the invention, the upper end portion of the main tray member112has two opposed holes102,104formed in opposite side walls119,117thereof, and the water supply manifold140consists of a single perforated pipe acting as a fluid delivery tube, which extends through these two holes. In a manner similar to the first embodiment, the perforated pipe140has a plurality of orifices formed therein for selectively releasing rinse water into the main tray member112.

The terms “water supply manifold140” and “perforated pipe140” will be used interchangeably herein and refer to the same thing. As seen inFIGS. 3 and 4, the central part of the perforated pipe140extends across the main tray member between the side walls117,119thereof, and end portions extend of the perforated pipe extend outside of the main tray member.

If a single apparatus is being used, then one end of the perforated pipe140is capped off with a suitable fitting, and the other end144is provided with a hose fitting (not shown) for connection to a high-pressure water supply. If multiple apparatus are being connected together, such as the two apparatus110a,110bshown inFIG. 6, then the adjacent ends of the two perforated pipes140,140are connected together, one end of the perforated pipe140of a first apparatus110a, shown on the far left in the drawing, may be capped off with a suitable fitting, and the opposite end144of the second apparatus may be provided with a suitable hose fitting (not shown) for connection to a high-pressure water supply.

Third Embodiment

Referring now toFIGS. 7-8, a combined poultry roost and waste routing apparatus210according to a third embodiment of the present invention is shown. The apparatus210according to the second embodiment is substantially identical to the apparatus110according to the second embodiment as previously described, with the exception that an additional component and associated hardware have been added to the apparatus. For this reason, redundant description of identical parts will be avoided.

Optionally, as shown inFIGS. 6-7, a releasable baffle plate225may be provided in the main tray member212below the water supply manifold140, for temporarily impeding water flow therepast, and for directing water flow to the floor panel214of the main tray member212when it is released. Where used, upper end corner portions of the baffle plate225are pivotally attached to the opposite side walls of the main tray member212, and selectively releasable latch members (not shown) are attached to these side walls proximate the lower end corner portions of the baffle plate.

The apparatus210may be provided with suitable hardware which temporarily locks the baffle plate225in place after the water is released, monitors the water level as it rises behind the baffle plate, and releases the lower edges of the baffle plate when the water reaches a threshold level. The released baffle plate225and the flowing rinse water are illustrated inFIG. 8. Where used, operation of the baffle plate may be automated.

To clean or “flush” the main tray member of the apparatus10,110or210, the chicken keeper opens a valve (not shown) to the water supply manifold40or140, which disperses pressurized water across and down the main tray member12,112or212of the apparatus. This flow of water flushes the floor panel14,114or214clean, and the waste matter flows into and through the catch basin and out through the drain pipe to be deposited in a desired area.

This flushing operation could be conducted manually by the chicken keeper, or alternatively, it could be automated with the addition of a simple timer to turn the water pressure on at any desired interval. The drainage pipe could be directed to any desired area or into a collection system where the waste material could be collected for fertilizer.

Although the present invention has been described herein with respect to a number of specific illustrative embodiments, the foregoing description is intended to illustrate, rather than to limit the invention. Those skilled in the art will realize that many modifications of the illustrative embodiment could be made which would be operable. All such modifications, which are within the scope of the claims, are intended to be within the scope and spirit of the present invention.