IMPROVEMENTS RELATING TO LIFTING DEVICES

Abstract: A lifting device for animals, such as downer cows, has an inflatable bag (1) on a stabilising frame (2). When inflated, the bag has a valley (4), accentuated at one end, for the cow's belly and udder. A harness (3) is provided for strapping the cow to the bag. A cow can be rolled on to the deflated bag and strapped on, and as inflation proceeds she is raised up straddling the bag. This ultimately takes her entire weight while circulation is restored. The bag may be compartmented so that inflation can be progressive from one compartment to the next, assisting the lifting procedure.

Description: "Improvements relating to lifting devices" This invention relates to lifting devices for animals. It is -primarily intended to alleviate the problem of the downer cow, although it could have other bovine, equine, or general veterinary applications. In this specification it will be discussed in terms of lifting cows. After calving, cows are sometimes unable to muster sufficient strength to get to their feet, and in this weakened state they are commonly referred to as downer cows. Certain ailments such as milk fever may have similar effects. If the cow does not get up within a period of about say six hours there is a restriction of the blood circulation, particularly in the legs, and other detrimental physical conditions develop. Before these go too far, it becomes imperative to help the cow stand up. If she does not, she will probably die. Certain rather crude mechanical aids " have been used, such as a clamp which is locked onto the cow's buttocks and then hauled up by a block and tackle. Even fork lifts on the front of a tractor have been used in emergencies. » However, these methods are clumsy and potentially and sometimes actually very damaging to the animal. The aim of the invention is therefore to. ' provide a more gentle lifting device, and moreover one which not only raises the animal to a standing positio but also helps to keep it there while recovery takes place, and is then operable to lower it gradually to take its full weight on its feet. It is also desirabl that the device should be very compact and easy to install and operate in a fairly confined space. While not every farmer may need one, it should be equipment practical for a vet to carry in his car. According to one aspect of the present invention there is provided a lifting device for anima comprising an inflatable bag, means for stabilising th bag as it inflates with a load on top, and restraining means for holding an animal straddling the bag. In the preferred form, the bag is of general rectangular block-like form with a depression along it upper side for the animal's belly. As mentioned above the device is primarily intended for downer cows and s one end of this depression will generally be accentuat to accommodate a cow's udder. Internally, the bag may have a dividing memb O PI aligned with the length of the depression, which will exert a downward pull when the bag is inflated to hel create that depression. The accentuated part for the udder may be formed by further internal membranes. There will also pre erably be internal ties acting r - generally horizontally to restrain the ends of the bag from bulging. This makes for some freedom for the animal's legs, which might .be unduly restricted if the bag was allowed to bulge outwardly. The stabilising means may take the form of a rigid frame securable to the underside of the bag. Conveniently, it comprises a plurality of elements which fit together and which can-be removed for deflation and stowage of the bag. Preferably, it has radial spokes with a common hub with which the spokes engage. This hub may be attached to -the bag at the centre of the base, and the spokes may.pass ' through at or near the periphery of the base. With a block-like bag, it is convenient to have just four spokes in the form of a cross, with the eyes at the bottom corners of the bag. The restraining means will generally include a strap for fastening over the animal.'s back when straddling the bag. There may also be a strap for fastening round the animal's fore or hind legs. That would be primarily for preventing the animal trying to >- WPO walk while straddling the bag. The restraining means may go to common anchorage points at opposite sides of the bag and preferably there will be reinforcements which will also extend to zones where the frame is secured. These reinforcements may be inverted V-shape straps bonded to or incorporated in opposite sides of the bag, the anchorage points being at the apices. According to another aspect of the present invention there is provided a method of raising an animal from a lying down position comprising arranging the device as defined above in a deflated condition on the ground near the animal, manoeuvring the animal ove the bag, fastening at least some of the restraining me and inflating the bag. For a better understanding of the pxesent invention some constructional forms will now be described, by way of example, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: Figure 1 is a side elevation of a lifting device for animals, Figure 2 is an end elevation of the device, Figure 3 is an underneath plan view of the device, Figure 4 is a top plan view of the device, a Figure 5 shows variations of the device. The lifting device of Figures 1 to 4 has an inflatable bag 1, a stabilising frame 2, and a harness for strapping >over and around a cow. • When inflated as shown in the Figures, the bag is of generally rectangu block-like form, but with a depression or valley 4 alo the middle of the top. The centre line of this valley is marked by a distinguishing band 5 to help position the cow before inflation. Internally, the bag is spann by a vertical membrane or reed 6 whose action is to pul down alo g the band 5 and thus help create the valley 4 There are further short vertical membranes or reeds 7 on either side of the reed 6 at one end where the valle 4 deepens. This is to accommodate the cow's udder. Further internal restraints or ties 8 extend horizontal one on each side of the reed 6, to create dimples 9 in the ends of the bag which give some freedom for the cow legs. To allow these ends to bulge would make the cow splay her legs uncomfortably and not allow them to be worked to restore circulation. The stabilising frame 2 is in the form of a cross with four spokes 10 radiating from a socket membe 11 which is tied or otherwise secured centrally of the underside of the bag 1. The sockets point to the four corners, and each spoke can be entered through a ring or loop 12 at the respective corner before being presse home into the member 11. The spokes 10 remain projectin well beyond the base area of the bag to give it stabilit OMP particularly when being inflated. Generally, the spoke may simply have a close sliding fit in the socket membe but they may screw in, have a bayonet type engagement o some other positive attachment. The rings 12 are at the ends of the arms of- inverted V-shaped reinforcements 13 on opposite sides of the bag. These are straps bonded to or incorporated in the bag during manufacture. At the apex, they each have a ring 14 to which the harness -3 is attached. In this example,, the harness comprises two straps 15 and 16 each having spring clip attachment to .the rings 14, and each being adjustable by a sliding buckle. On one side of the bag, below the associated ring 14, there is an inlet 17 with an on/off valve 18. A the corresponding point on the opposite side there is a pressure relief valve 19. The bag may be inflated by a power source such as a compressor, a. blower similar to t found in vacuum cleaners, or possibly using the exhaust gases from an internal combustion engine. It could also be inflated by-hand or foot pump, for the pressure to be 3 attained is only of -the order of 20 x 10 Pa. However, that is a slow process and it is sometimes necessary to help the animal as the bag is inflated. This cannot be done by someone working a pump. Xn operation, the stabilising frame 2 is fitted to the deflated bag, which is laid on the ground at a measured distance from the downer cow. Th strap 15 to go over the cow's back is attached to the ring 14 nearest the cow and stretched out on the groun towards her. The animal is then rolled over until her belly is over the marker band 5. The strap 15 is brought over her back and fastened,to the other ring 1 and inflation is commenced. In the initial stages, th bag is not very stable, and the cow is still lying mor sideways than prone. However, sufficient weight is taken b the bag to allow an attendant to ensure that the raising operation proceeds smoothly, simply by leaning or pushing against the cow if she threatens to fall sideways. As the bag approaches full inflation the cow can be helped into an upright position, and eventually all or nearly all her weight will be taken by the bag. The other strap 16. can then be passed round either he rear or ore legs and secured to the rings 14. To help recovery, the attendant may massage or work the cow's legs up and down to restore circulati and strength. At intervals, the bag may be partially deflated to test whether the cow has recovered sufficie ly to stand on her own feet. She may do this after jus half an hour or so, but in some cases it may be a matter of several hours. Once the cow has recovered sufficiently, the bag can be rapidly deflated, the straps thrown off and the device removed. The underside of the bag will tend to have a similar depression to that at the top of the bag, since the reed 6 or other ties which may be substituted for it will be in tension and pulling that underside upwards. However, if the socket member 11 is tied closely to the bag, the stabilising frame will counteract this and flatten out the underside to a considerable extent. The extra tensions in the bag caused by this distortion give it enhanced stability. Also, certain variations in the depth and shape of the valley 4 can be made by adjusting the closeness of the socket member 11 to the underside. There can be many variations in the shape of the bag, its internal construction, the stabilising frame and the harness or other means for restraining the animal. " Instead of an internal reed 6 to help form the valley 4, there may be a strap wholly or partially surrounding the bag and extending along the base of that valley. In order that it should stay in position, it would probably need to be threaded through eyes or some other restraining means on the bag. As the bag is inflated, the restraint to expansion provided locally by the strap will create a similar depression to that caused by the reed 6. The strap may be secured at various lengths and accordingly vary the shape of the depression, the shorter the strap the deeper the valley 4. OMH Alternatively, instead of the reed 6, there can be one or more vertical tubes with at least one end open to the exterior of the bag, preferably under¬ neath, and with the other end closed and attached to the opposite interior side of the bag. A cord tie is .also attached at this end and extends through the tube to he exterior where it can be secured, for example to a cleat on the projecting part of one of the spokes 10. The working length of this -tie or these ties can be adjusted to control the depth and shape of the valley 4. In a variation, both tube ends can be open, and a single cord can be threaded up and down through successive tubes. Such ties can also replace the reeds 7 and the horizontal restraints 8. Indeed, they can be installed wherever some control over the naturally inflated shape is required. The frame can take many geometrical forms, although variations on the cross described above tend to add to the complexity and expense. One practical possibility, however, is to have a plate which forms a rigid base for the bag, the impermeable flexible material being bonded around the outside of the plate. Extensions to this plate to achieve the required span can be fitted by slot-in rods or the like, following the described example. More complex arrangements may have telescopic or hinged stabilising legs. Also it may be desirable to make the device mobile. For example, it may be necessary to move the cow once she has been raised to her feet, and to put her in a stall. To achieve this, the base frame may have rollers, wheels or castors, which are either removable or lockable when the device is in the correct position. There can be many modifications of the restraining harness. Instead of a single strap for the fore or hind legs, there can be individual loops for each leg, at or near the corners of the bag. The buckles may be designed to release automatically at a given tension, to avoid injury to the cow, or there may be elasticated or self-regulating straps. Another form of restraint may be a twin horned extension of the bag which inflates and embraces the animal's girth as the bag is inflated. It would meet over the animal's back, where the ends of the horns would be tied together, for example by short straps or lacing. This extension may be a separate bag or compartment so that it can be inflated first to ensure that the animal is made captive before the main bag is inflated. An alternative or even additional inflatable extension may be a collar for the animal's neck, not only to make it captive, but also to provide some measure of head and neck support. The bag may take these and many other different forms, some of which are illustrated in Figure 5. The broken lines indicate internal membranes or reeds, and these may divide the bag into a number of quite separate compartments which can be individually inflated. With suitable valve control, the assumption by the bag of its eventual shape can be done in a controlled manner more easily to raise the animal ' ". without extra help. However, such sophistication does lead to a more complex construction, and the provision of more valves and membranes increases the cost considerably. With a multi-compartmented bag, there may be a single inlet to the compartment designed for the highest pressure. When this is achieved, a relief valve to the next compartment is opened and that fills until it achieves its limiting pressure, whereupon the next relief valve into a third compartment is opened, and so on. There may be a bag with two quite separate parts; in fact two or more bags joined by sheet material or netting. Thus, in Figure 5(c) the two taller, outside formations can be separate bags, and the horizontal parts joining them can be sheets or nets. The central compartment is then not an inflatable enclosure in itself. The sheet material, or indeed any surface likely to be in contact with the cow, may be softened by a layer of foamed plastics or rubber. Although these bags will normally be air filled, other fluids may be used. In particular, the bag may be water filled, " and indeed the water could be warmed before being pumped in, and be kept in circulation to maintain a therapeutic temperature. The bag may also be vibrated by pulsing the pumped fluid, as an aid to improving the animal's circulation.

Claims: AMENDED CLAIMS (received by the International Bureau on 14 March 1983 (14.03.83)) 1. A lifting device for animals comprising an inflatable bag. 2. A lifting device as claimed in claim 1, adapted for cows. 3. A. lifting device as claimed in claim 1 or 2, and further comprising means for stabilising the bag as it inflates and/or when it is inflated with a load on top. 4. A lifting device as claimed in claim 1, 2 or 3 and further comprising restraining means for holding an animal straddling the bag. 5. A lifting device as claimed in any precedi claim, wherein the bag is of generally rectangular block-like form. 6. A lifting device as claimed in any precedi claim, wherein the bag has a depression along its upper side for the animal's underside. 7. A lifting device as claimed in claim 6, wherein the bag has an internal restraint which exerts a downward pull when the bag is inflated to help create said depression. 8. A lifting device as claimed in claim 6, wherein the bag has an external restraint which locally confines the expansion of the bag to help create said depression. O PI 9. A lifting ' device as claimed in claim 6, 7 or 8, wherein one end of the depression is accen¬ tuated to.accommodate a cow's udder. 10. A lifting device as claimed in claim 9, wherein the formation of this accentuated depression is assisted by internal restraints. 11. A lifting device as claimed in any pre¬ ceding claim, wherein there are internal ties acting generally horizontally to restrain the ends of the bag from bulging. 12. A lifting device as claimed in claim 3 and any other preceding claim, wherein the stabilising means is a base on the underside of the bag. 13. A lifting device as claimed in claim 12, wherein the base is a frame securable to the underside of the bag. 14. A lifting device as claimed in claim 13, wherein the frame includes a plurality of elements which fit together and which can be removed for deflation and stowage of the bag. 15. A lifting device as claimed in claim 14, wherein the frame has radial spokes with a common hub with which the spolces engage. 16. A lifting device as claimed in claim 15, wherein the hub is attached to the bag at the centre of the base and the spokes pass through eyes at or near the periphery of the base. 17. A lifting device as claimed in claim 16 as appendant to claim 5, wherein there are four spoke in the form of a cross, and the eyes are at the botto corners of the bag. 18. A lifting device as claimed in claim 12, wherein the base is permanently attached to the bag. 19. A lifting device as claimed in claim 18, wherein the base is a plate to which the bag is bonded 20. A lifting device as claimed in any one o claims 12 to 19, wherein the base has extensions by which its span can be increased. 21. A lifting device as claimed in any one claims 12 to 20, wherein the base has rolling means by which the device, and its load, can be moved laterally 22. A lifting device as claimed in claim 4 and any other preceding claim, wherein the restraining means includes a strap for passing over the animal's back when straddling the bag and fastenable to opposit sides of the bag. 23. A lifting device as claimed in claim 4 and any other preceding claim, wherein the restraining means includes a strap for passing around the animal's fore or hind legs when s traddling the bag and fasten- able to opposite sides of the bag. 24. A lifting device as claimed in claims 22 and 23, wherein the c raps have common anchorage points on opposite sides of the bag. OMPI 25. A lifting device as claimed in claim 24 as appendant to claim 13, wherein the anchorage point are on bag " reinforcements, which also extend to zones where the frame is secured. 26. A lifting device e claimed in claim 25 as appendant to claim 17, wherein the reinforcements are inverted V-shaped straps bonded to or incorporated in opposite sides of the bag, the anchorage points being at the apices- 27. A lifting device as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein the bag has two or more separately inflatable compartments. 28. A lifting device as claimed in claim 27, wherein the compartments are inflatable in sequence. 29. A lifting device as claimed in claim 28, wherein the compartments are interconnected by valves which open at predetermined pressures to admit fluid from one compartment to the next. 30. A lifting device as claimed in claim 27 or 28, wherein the compartments are separated by non- inflatable portions which provide animal support surfa suspended between inflatable compartments. 31. A method of raising a recumbent animal, wherein .an inflatable bag is positioned at least partially under the animal and inflated to raise the animal to its feet. 32. A method as claimed in claim 31, wherei the animal is a cow. 33. A method as claimed in claim 31 or 32, wherei the bag is part of the lifting device as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 30. EDITORIAL NOTE The applicant failed to renumber the amended claims in accordance with Section 205 of the Administrative Instructions. In the absence of any specific indication from the applicant as to the correspon¬ dence between original and amended claims, these claims are published as filed and as amended.

Inventors: KERTON PETER SELWYN, SNELL THOMAS BARTLETT, KERTON, PETER, SELWYN, SNELL, THOMAS, BARTLETT
Applicants: KERTON PETER SELWYN, SNELL THOMAS BARTLETT, KERTON, PETER, SELWYN, SNELL, THOMAS, BARTLETT
Application year: 1982
Main classification: A01K15
IPC codes: A01K15, A61D3, B66F3