Abstract:
A livestock gate includes a plurality of retractable horizontal members to create a variable height opening in the gate. The variable height opening allows animals below a particular height to pass through while restricting larger animals. While weaning, young animals are permitted to pass through the variable height opening to reach feed while cows are excluded to prevent nursing and competition from the larger animals.

Description:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
       [0001]    The present invention is directed generally toward livestock and animal gates. 
       BACKGROUND 
       [0002]    When raising livestock, such as horses, pigs, sheep, goats or other animals, weaning can be a traumatic period resulting in high stress and weight loss while learning to eat from a feed bunk. Young animals need access to feed without competitive feeding from the parent animals. Young animals also need to be conditioned for separation from the parent animal and to socialize with other young animals. 
         [0003]    Young animals may be removed from the parent animals, but such separation may cause further stress. Existing systems for allowing young animals access to feed include heavy, cumbersome feeders that require heavy equipment to move. 
         [0004]    Consequently, it would be advantageous if an apparatus existed that is suitable for segregating animals by size to facilitate weaning. 
       SUMMARY 
       [0005]    Accordingly, the present invention is directed to a novel apparatus for segregating animals by size to facilitate weaning. 
         [0006]    In one embodiment of the present invention, a livestock gate includes a plurality of retractable horizontal members to create a variable height opening in the gate. The variable height opening allows animals below a particular height to pass through while restricting larger animals. In one implementation, while weaning young animals, young animals are permitted to pass through the variable height opening to reach feed while cows are excluded to prevent nursing. 
         [0007]    In another embodiment, horizontal support sections may be removed to create a variable width opening. A variable width opening allows several young animals to pass through. Alternatively, horizontal supports may be spaced more closely together without sacrificing the advantages of a variable height opening. 
         [0008]    It is to be understood that both the foregoing general description and the following detailed description are exemplary and explanatory only and are not restrictive of the invention claimed. The accompanying drawings, which are incorporated in and constitute a part of the specification, illustrate an embodiment of the invention and together with the general description, serve to explain the principles. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0009]    The numerous advantages of the present invention may be better understood by those skilled in the art by reference to the accompanying figures in which: 
           [0010]      FIG. 1  shows an environmental view of a livestock gate according to one embodiment of the present invention; 
           [0011]      FIG. 2  shows a front view of a livestock gate according to one embodiment of the present invention; 
           [0012]      FIG. 3  shows a perspective view of a livestock gate according to one embodiment of the present invention; 
           [0013]      FIG. 4  shows a perspective detailed view of a portion of a livestock gate according to one embodiment of the present invention; 
           [0014]      FIG. 5  shows a perspective detailed view of a latching mechanism useful in one embodiment of the present invention; 
           [0015]      FIG. 6  shows a front detailed view of a latching mechanism and rotation mechanism for a horizontal member according to one embodiment of the present invention; 
           [0016]      FIG. 7  shows a front detailed view of an alternative embodiment of a horizontal member according to one embodiment of the present invention; 
           [0017]      FIG. 8  shows a perspective view of a livestock gate according to another embodiment of the present invention; 
           [0018]      FIG. 9  shows a perspective detailed view of a portion of a livestock gate according to one embodiment of the present invention; 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
       [0019]    Reference will now be made in detail to the subject matter disclosed, which is illustrated in the accompanying drawings. The scope of the invention is limited only by the claims; numerous alternatives, modifications and equivalents are encompassed. For the purpose of clarity, technical material that is known in the technical fields related to the embodiments has not been described in detail to avoid unnecessarily obscuring the description. 
         [0020]    Referring to  FIG. 1 , an environmental view of a livestock gate according to one embodiment of the present invention is shown. In at least one embodiment, a pen or coral may include a gate  100  comprising a primary frame structure, one or more vertical rails and horizontal rails that can be moved to create a variable height opening  102  in the gate  100 . The gate  100  may allow young animals access to an enclosure including a feeding bunk specifically designated for the young animals such that the young animals may feed without competition from larger cows, but still allowing the cows to remain in the vicinity, reducing stress on the young animals. 
         [0021]    Referring to  FIG. 2 , a front view of a livestock gate  200  according to one embodiment of the present invention is shown. The gate  200  may include a plurality of horizontal rails  204 ,  206 ,  208 ,  210 ,  212 ; each of the horizontal rails  204 ,  206 ,  208 ,  210 ,  212  may be repositioned to allow a variable height opening in the gate  200 . In one embodiment, each horizontal rail  204 ,  206 ,  208 ,  210 ,  212  may pivot around a common vertical rail. Each horizontal rail  204 ,  206 ,  208 ,  210 ,  212  may be secured to a corresponding connection point  214 ,  216 ,  218 ,  220 ,  222  in an opposing vertical rail. 
         [0022]    In another embodiment of the present invention, each horizontal rail  204 ,  206 ,  208 ,  210 ,  212  may slide past the common vertical rail to be secured to a corresponding connection point  214 ,  216 ,  218 ,  220 ,  222  in an opposing vertical rail. 
         [0023]    The horizontal rails  204 ,  206 ,  208 ,  210 ,  212  may be rotated or retracted in sequence from the ground up until an opening of a desired height is produced. The height of the opening may be based on the height of young animals that will be using the opening. 
         [0024]    Referring to  FIG. 3 , a perspective view of a livestock gate  300  according to one embodiment of the present invention is shown. A first horizontal rail  304  and second horizontal rail  306  are pivoted around a common vertical rail and secured in an opened position while a third horizontal rail  308 , fourth horizontal rail  310  and fifth horizontal rail  312  are left in a closed position creating an opening in the gate suitable for young animals. Furthermore, when desirable, the first horizontal rail  304  and second horizontal rail  306  are pivoted closed. 
         [0025]    Using the gate adjusted to the right height allows calves at an early age to enter a feed area for extra nutrition and return to an outside area with the parent animals close by. Once the young animals adjust to the separation process, the horizontal rails may be closed and the parent animals moved away. A gate according to embodiments of the present invention may be operative for all livestock by adjusting the size of the opening. 
         [0026]    Furthermore, a gate according to the present invention may be useful where the gate is obstructed. If snow has drifted or piled up, or if mud or manure has accumulated, the bottom most horizontal rails may be opened so that the adjustable height opening may be used regardless of such obstructions without immediately shoveling or otherwise forcing the gate open. 
         [0027]    Referring to  FIG. 4 , a perspective detailed view of a portion of a livestock gate, such as shown in  FIG. 3 , according to one embodiment of the present invention is shown. Where a livestock gate includes a plurality of horizontal rails  404 ,  406 ,  408  according to embodiments of the present invention, each horizontal rail  404 ,  406 ,  408  may be independently moved from a closed position (such as shown by the first horizontal rail  404  and third horizontal rail  408 ). The closed horizontal rails  404 ,  408  may be latched in a closed position by engaging a latching mechanism into a corresponding closed position keeper mechanism  426 ,  424  in a first vertical rail. Furthermore, each horizontal rail  404 ,  406 ,  408  may be independently moved from a closed position to an opened position (such as shown by the second horizontal rail  406 ) by disengaging the latch associate with the such horizontal rail  406 , re-orienting the horizontal rail  406  and engaging the latching mechanism into a corresponding opened position keeper mechanism  416  in a second vertical rail. 
         [0028]    In one embodiment, the horizontal rails  404 ,  406 ,  408  may pivot around a common vertical rail such that a single latching mechanism on each horizontal rail  404 ,  406 ,  408  may engage both a closed position keeper mechanism  426  and an opened position keeper mechanism  416 . In another embodiment, each horizontal rail  404 ,  406 ,  408  may slide horizontally from a closed position, where a first latching mechanism engages the closed position keeper mechanism  426 , to an opened position, where a second latching mechanism engages the opened position keeper mechanism  416 . In such an embodiment, the common vertical rail may include a horizontal rail retention element corresponding to each horizontal rail  404 ,  406 ,  408 , such that each horizontal rail  404 ,  406 ,  408  is maintained along a desired path to slide from a closed to an opened position. 
         [0029]    While  FIG. 4  shows an embodiment wherein the second horizontal rail  406  is in the process of being re-oriented to an opened position, in some embodiments, horizontal rails  404 ,  406 ,  408  may be opened from the bottom up (from the first horizontal rail  404  to the second horizontal rail  406  to the third horizontal rail  408 ) until an opening of a desired size is produced. Alternatively, lowermost horizontal rails  404 ,  406 ,  408  that are obstructed may be left in a closed position as necessary. 
         [0030]    Referring to  FIG. 5 , a perspective detailed view of a latching mechanism useful in one embodiment of the present invention is shown. A horizontal rail  504  may comprise a latching mechanism  530  such as a bolt action pin configured to engage a corresponding keeper mechanism  524 . Keeper mechanisms  524 ,  526  may be configured to hold the horizontal rails  504  in either an opened position or a closed position. Each keeper mechanism  524 ,  526  is housed in a vertical rail  528 . 
         [0031]    While a bolt action pin latching mechanism  530  is shown, other types of latching mechanisms are envisioned, such as a spring actuated bolt. A spring actuated latching mechanism may be configured to retract when engaging a keeper mechanism  524 ,  526  from either direction where the spring actuated latching mechanism is affixed to a horizontal rail  504  designed to pivot about a common vertical rail because the spring actuated latching mechanism will approach the opened position keeper mechanism and closed position keeper mechanism from different sides. 
         [0032]    Referring to  FIG. 6 , a front detailed view of a latching mechanism and rotation mechanism for a horizontal member according to one embodiment of the present invention is shown. Where a horizontal rail  604  is configured to pivot about a common vertical rail  632 , the horizontal rail  604  may include a common vertical rail collar  634  that pivots about the common vertical rail  632 . The common vertical rail collar  634  rests upon a corresponding horizontal support rail  638 . The horizontal rail  604  is fully supported by the horizontal support rail  638  and a latch bolt  636  of a latch mechanism  630  engaging a corresponding keeper mechanism  624 . While  FIG. 6  shows a livestock gate according to the present invention in a closed position, substantially similar mechanisms are also operable to maintain the horizontal rail  604  in an opened position. 
         [0033]    While embodiments of the present invention herein described specifically refer to livestock, alternative embodiments may be useful for other applications. In one embodiment, small pets such as puppies or kittens may be separated from their mother. Likewise, kennels, breeders or veterinarians may utilize gates according to embodiments of the present invention, though potentially on a smaller scale than the specific embodiments described herein. 
         [0034]    Referring to  FIG. 7 , a front detailed view of an alternative embodiment of a horizontal member according to one embodiment of the present invention is shown. Where a horizontal rail  704  is configured to pivot about a common vertical rail  732 , the horizontal rail  704  may include a common vertical rail collar  734  that pivots about the common vertical rail  732  and in at least one embodiment, the vertical rail collar  734  may slide up and down along the common vertical rail  732 . At different points along the common vertical rail  732 , a latch bolt  736  of a latch mechanism  730  engages one of a plurality of corresponding keeper mechanisms  724 ,  740 . Multiple keeper mechanisms  724 ,  740  allow for additional fine adjustments to the height of the adjustable height opening. 
         [0035]    Referring to  FIG. 8 , a perspective view of a livestock gate according to another embodiment of the present invention is shown. A first horizontal rail  804  pivots around a first detachable vertical rail segment  840  and the second horizontal rail  806  pivots around a second detachable vertical rail segment  842 . Both the first detachable vertical rail segment  840  and second detachable vertical rail segment  842  may releasably engage with a one or more additional vertical rail segments or a common vertical rail segment to form a vertical rail that defines a boundary of a variable width/variable height opening  802 . Each of the first detachable vertical rail segment  840  and second detachable vertical rail segment  842  may include latch keeper mechanisms  850 ,  852  configured to engage latching mechanisms associated with one of a third horizontal rail  846  and a forth horizontal rail  848 . In the embodiment shown in  FIG. 8 , the third horizontal rail  846  and fourth horizontal rail  848  are configured to pivot around a second common vertical rail in a manner substantially similar to that described herein. The addition of the third horizontal rail  846  and fourth horizontal rail  848 , in conjunction with releasable vertical rail segments  840 ,  842 ,  844 , allow for a variable width opening  802  that may double in size to accommodate young animals moving abreast to pass through. Furthermore, the third horizontal rail  846  and fourth horizontal rail  848  may be operated independently of the first horizontal rail  804  and second horizontal rail  806  to create a variable height opening in a different portion of the livestock gate  800  if desired. 
         [0036]    Vertical rail segments  840 ,  842 ,  844  may be configured to interlock by any appropriate means, such as interlocking threaded elements in distal ends of each vertical rail segment  840 ,  842 ,  844 , and in at least a bottom portion of a common vertical rail  832 . 
         [0037]    Referring to  FIG. 9 , a perspective detailed view of a portion of a livestock gate according to one embodiment of the present invention is shown. Where a livestock gate, such as shown in  FIG. 8 , includes a plurality of horizontal rails  904 ,  906 ,  908 ,  946 ,  948  according to embodiments of the present invention, each horizontal rail  904 ,  906 ,  908 ,  946 ,  948  may be independently moved from a closed position (such as shown by the first horizontal rail  904 , second horizontal rail  906 , third horizontal rail  908  and fourth horizontal rail  946 ). Horizontal rails  904 ,  906 ,  908 ,  946 ,  948  may be divided into a first grouping defining a first variable height opening, such as the first horizontal rail  904 , second horizontal rail  906  and third horizontal rail  908 , and a second grouping defining a second variable height opening, such as the fourth horizontal rail  946  and fifth horizontal rail  948 . 
         [0038]    Either the first grouping or the second grouping may be moved from a closed position to an opened position as described herein. Furthermore, one or more second grouping horizontal rails  946 ,  948  may be moved from a closed position to an opened position, and one or more vertical rail segments  944 ,  940 ,  942  corresponding to those second grouping horizontal rails  946 ,  948  may be disengaged from a common vertical rail  932  and removed, along with one or more associated first grouping horizontal rails  904 ,  906 ,  908  to create a variable height/variable width opening. 
         [0039]    In one embodiment, the horizontal rails  904 ,  906 ,  908  may pivot around a common vertical rail such that a single latching mechanism on each horizontal rail  904 ,  906 ,  908  may engage both a closed position keeper mechanism  926  and an opened position keeper mechanism  916 . In another embodiment, each horizontal rail  904 ,  906 ,  908  may slide horizontally from a closed position, where a first latching mechanism engages the closed position keeper mechanism  926 , to an opened position, where a second latching mechanism engages the opened position keeper mechanism  916 . In such an embodiment, the common vertical rail may include a horizontal rail retention element corresponding to each horizontal rail  904 ,  906 ,  908 , such that each horizontal rail  904 ,  906 ,  908  is maintained along a desired path to slide from a closed to an opened position. 
         [0040]    Embodiments of the present invention are useful to facilitate weaning of young animals, encouraging socialization of young animals, implementing training methods for young animals and segregating animals for kennels, breeders or veterinarians. 
         [0041]    It is believed that the present invention and many of its attendant advantages will be understood by the foregoing description of embodiments of the present invention, and it will be apparent that various changes may be made in the form, construction, and arrangement of the components thereof without departing from the scope and spirit of the invention or without sacrificing all of its material advantages. The form herein before described being merely an explanatory embodiment thereof, it is the intention of the following claims to encompass and include such changes.