Livestock trailer having arrangement with improved livestock unloading  characteristics

A livestock trailer arrangement is provided. The arrangement includes an enclosure defining a first sidewall and a spaced-apart second sidewall and a side opening defined on the first sidewall for allowing ingress of a livestock. A first divider has a first position in which the divider extends at an angle from the first sidewall to the second sidewall and a second position in which the divider is pivoted about the second sidewall to define a passageway for ingress of a livestock through the side opening. An accessory assembly is pivotable about a rearward portion of the first sidewall such that the accessory assembly may be pivoted outwardly of the enclosure. A second divider has a position in which the divider is pivoted about the first sidewall to define a passageway for egress of a livestock through a rearward portion of the enclosure.

TECHNICAL FIELD

This disclosure is related to a livestock trailer having an arrangement that has improved livestock unloading characteristics. More particularly, this disclosure is directed towards a livestock trailer having a rearmost hinged divider and door assembly having an accessory aspect such as a tack storage area that provides for an enlarged unloading passageway for unloading livestock from the trailer.

BACKGROUND

Livestock trailers are used for transporting livestock from one location to another. For example, when transporting a horse, a livestock trailer may be used to transport a horse to a barn or other facility. Some livestock trailers have an open carrying area where the horses are placed and face frontwards in the trailer. Each respective horse is then haltered to a support within the trailer. This has the disadvantage of allowing the horses to comingle in the carrying area.

Still other trailers have divided stalls in the carrying area. In order to maximize carrying capacity, while minimizing trailer dimensions, a reverse slant stall system has been developed in which horses are held in stalls that are formed from dividers extending at an angle relative to the outer walls of the trailer and thus minimizing the trailer width required. Portable divider walls may be placed between adjacent horses in order to form a stall for each respective horse. In this arrangement, there is typically a tack storage area in the rearmost portion of the trailer where saddles, bridles, and other tack are stored. This tack storage area reduces the amount of opening space for the rear doors and thereby limits the space in which the horse can exit the trailer.

A need therefore exists for a method or solution that addresses these disadvantages.

SUMMARY

Disclosed herein is a livestock trailer arrangement. The arrangement may include an enclosure defining a pair of opposing sidewalls, an opening defined on one of the walls for allowing ingress of a livestock, at least one divider extending between the opposing walls when in a first position, and a door assembly spanning a rear facing portion of adjacent ends of the opposing walls and carrying an accessory assembly thereabout.

According to one or more embodiments, the opening is a drop down door.

According to one or more embodiments, the at least one divider includes a plurality of dividers, with adjacent pairs forming a stall for enclosing a livestock.

According to one or more embodiments, the divider extends at an angle relative to the walls when in the first position.

According to one or more embodiments, each divider is hingedly connected to the walls and configured for pivoting into a second position.

According to one or more embodiments, the rearmost facing divider extends parallel to the wall in a livestock unloading position when the door assembly is opened.

According to one or more embodiments, the door assembly includes a pair of doors, the doors joining at a medial position of the door assembly.

According to one or more embodiments, the accessory is carried by one of the pair of doors.

According to one or more embodiments, the accessory is a tack containing accessory.

According to one or more embodiments, the opposing walls are defined along a longitudinal axis of the trailer.

According to one or more embodiments, a method for loading and unloading livestock into a trailer. The method includes, in a trailer having an enclosure that defines a first and a second opposing sidewall, an opening defined on the first sidewall, and a first divider extending between the first and second sidewalls when in a first position in which a first end of the divider is rearward of the opening, pivoting the first end towards a front of the trailer to define a passageway from the opening into the trailer for ingress of a livestock. The method further includes pivoting a door assembly carrying an accessory assembly about a rearwardmost position of the first sidewall outwardly of the enclosure. The method further includes rearwardly pivoting a second divider extending between the first and second sidewalls when in a first position about a pivot point defined at the first wall so as to define a passageway from the trailer through a rear opening for egress of the livestock.

According to one or more embodiments, a livestock trailer arrangement is provided. The arrangement includes an enclosure defining a first sidewall and a spaced-apart second sidewall and a side opening defined on the first sidewall for allowing ingress of a livestock. A first divider has a first position in which the divider extends at an angle from the first sidewall to the second sidewall and a second position in which the divider is pivoted about the second sidewall to define a passageway for ingress of a livestock through the side opening. A door assembly carries an accessory assembly thereabout and is pivoted about a rearward portion the first sidewall such that the door assembly may be pivoted outwardly of the enclosure. A second divider has a first position in which the divider extends at an angle from the first sidewall to the second sidewall and a second position in which the divider is pivoted about the first sidewall to define a passageway for egress of a livestock through a rearward opening of the enclosure.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

FIGS. 1 through 5illustrate an overhead schematic view of a livestock trailer arrangement generally designated10. The trailer depicted may be used for transporting livestock or any other animal. In one or more embodiments, the trailer depicted may be used for transporting horses.

The arrangement10may include an enclosure that is generally designated12. The enclosure is partially formed from a first sidewall14and a spaced-apart second sidewall16. The use of the terms “first” and “second” is used herein for convenience purposes only and is not intended to limit the claimed invention. A side opening20may be defined on the first sidewall14for allowing ingress of a livestock. The opening20may be, for example, a drop door22or swing open door that provides access into the enclosure12. In this manner, a livestock may be ingressed through the side opening20. A first divider24may be provided. The first divider24may be any appropriately configured dimension and is provided to span or generally span between the first sidewall14and the second sidewall16. The first divider24has a first position in which the divider24extends at an angle from the first sidewall14to the second sidewall16as illustrated inFIG. 1. In this manner, the divider24spans about the entire space between the first wall14and the second wall16. Divider24is configured to pivot about the second wall16into a second position as illustrated inFIG. 2. In this manner, a first passageway P1is formed for ingress of livestock through the side opening20.

A door assembly carrying an accessory assembly30may be provided about a rearward portion of the first sidewall14such that the accessory assembly30may be pivoted outwardly of the enclosure12as illustrated inFIG. 4andFIG. 5. The accessory assembly30may be, for example, a tack or other hardware carrying assembly. The accessory assembly30is configured to be received within portion25of enclosure12that is illustrated inFIG. 1.

A second divider28is provided. The second divider28may be pivoted from a first position as illustrated inFIG. 1in which the divider28extends at an angle from the first sidewall14to the second sidewall16to a second position in which the divider28is pivoted about the first sidewall14when the accessory assembly30is also pivoted outwardly of the enclosure12as illustrated inFIG. 4andFIG. 5. This arrangement defines a passageway P2for egress of a livestock through a rearward opening29of the enclosure12formed by opening of the door assembly26.

The arrangement illustrated inFIG. 1defines stalls21and23between respective dividers24and28in which a livestock is placed. Vents40may be provided proximal each stall21and23, and in a front portion of the trailer in which living quarters or the like may be placed. Windows42may also be provided. Fender wells44may be provided for covering tire assemblies. A front wall48may be provided, to which a door46may be defined in. Drop down windows50may be provided, with further reference toFIG. 6, about each end of stalls21and23at wall16. This allows a person to open windows50to provide access to each livestock, including providing food or water to each livestock.

Advantageous operation of the trailer having the trailer arrangement10is illustrated sequentially inFIGS. 1 through 5. As illustrated inFIG. 1, each of divider24and28is shown in the first position. Dividers24and28are advantageously provided for being pivoted about either end as illustrated. Alternatively, divider28may pivot only at the end defined at wall14. The door22is opened, allowing ingress into the enclosure. First divider24is pivoted from the first position about a pivot point defined on the second wall16to the second position as illustrated inFIG. 2. This advantageously provides an area of increased space in passageway P1for, using the illustrated example, a horse to enter the enclosure12and proceed into stall21as illustrated inFIG. 2. The divider24is then returned to the first position as illustrated inFIG. 3to form stalls21and23. At this point, if desired, a second horse may be ingressed into stall23. The door22is then closed, thereby securing each of the first and second horses into respective stalls21and23.

As illustrated inFIG. 4, the accessory assembly30is pivoted rearwardly and outwardly of the enclosure12. In this manner, because the accessory assembly30is pivotable substantially out of the way of the enclosure12, divider28may also be pivoted further until the divider is in a generally parallel arrangement with first sidewall14. This provides an increased width of passageway P2than might otherwise be available, thus making unloading of horses from the trailer arrangement more advantageous. At this point, the first horse is egressed from the enclosure through the rearward opening29. As illustrated inFIG. 5, divider24is also pivoted rearwardly about a pivot point defined about the first wall14, thereby allowing egress of the second horse in a manner similar to that of the first horse.