Abstract:
A calf catching apparatus that attaches to an ATV or similar vehicle and operates along the side of the vehicle. The calf catching apparatus has a pair of doors or gates that open to the front and are operated from ATV. The operator drives along side the cow/calf pair until the calf is inside the pen. The gates are closed and the calf is caught and separated from the cow. The operator can enter into the pen and treat the calf. If the calf needs to be transported, the calf is placed on a transportation platform and a gate is closed to restrain the calf on the platform. The calf catching apparatus can also be transformed to a tow behind version to minimize the width and bring the unit down the road behind a vehicle. There is also a fold-up embodiment that allows for the pen to be folded beside the ATV to reduce the overall width of the ATV and calf catching apparatus for traveling through narrow openings or on roads without unhooking from the ATV. In normal operation, one side of the calf catching apparatus is supported by the ATV and attached to the ATV in a manner that allows the calf catching apparatus to pivot vertically around the center axis of the ATV to allow for proper operation in rough terrain.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
       [0001]     The invention relates generally to apparatus for use in animal husbandry and, more specifically, to a catcher and transporter for calves that is mounted to a vehicle.  
         [0002]     Farmers, and particularly ranchers, who have cow-calf operations frequently have the cows in fields or open ranges where calves are given birth. Calves need to be caught in the fields or open ranges soon after birth for the purposes of identification tagging, health procedures, and related processing. They also may need to be caught at a later date for additional treatment or further processing. This requires that a farm or ranch worker be able to select, isolate and restrain the calf, which is free to roam about a large area and naturally tries to avoid capture. The mother cows are very protective of their calves, especially newborns, and often pose a threat to a worker attempting to capture or treat the calf. The present invention provides a safe and effective means to catch the calf, protect the worker from the mother cow while processing the calf, and transport the calf when required.  
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
       [0003]     The invention consists of a calf catching assembly that is mounted on a ground vehicle for isolating, capturing and retaining an animal. A portable pen is mounted on a side of the vehicle and supported a short distance above the ground. Preferably, one or more wheels are attached to the pen opposite the vehicle to assist in supporting the pen adjacent the ground. The pen has a forward-facing opening through which an animal enters the pen. Once the animal is positioned inside the pen, a door is closed, covering the opening and capturing the animal inside the pen. The invention is particularly suited for dividing off and capturing a calf from a cow-calf pair that are in a pasture or open field. The pen is preferably made of an open-grid material, such as fence panels, so that an operator of the vehicle can easily see animals that are being divided and/or captured by the invention. In addition, the open-grid allows the divided cow to see her captured calf. With her calf in view, the cow will be less stressed by the capture operation and will follow the enclosure if it is transported to a remote location, such as a barn.  
         [0004]     In operation, the doors are swung to their open position and the vehicle is directed toward a calf to be captured, typically being closely attended by a mother cow. The operator of the vehicle maneuvers the calf catching assembly to have the calf but not the cow pass through the open doors and into the pen. A latch is tripped and the doors are swing to their closed position thereby trapping the calf inside the pen. If desired, the calf can then be transported to a remote location. Alternatively, animal husbandry procedures may be conveniently conducted on the calf inside the pen essentially where captured.  
         [0005]     In an alternative embodiment of the invention, the portable enclosure may be folded from an expanded, working position adjacent the side of the vehicle to a collapsed, transport position rearward of the vehicle to facilitate travel on roads, through gates and the like.  
         [0006]     An object of the present invention is to provide a calf catching assembly that is lightweight, inexpensive, durable and easy to operate.  
         [0007]     Another object of the invention is to provide a calf catching assembly that is suitable to be transported by an all-terrain vehicle.  
         [0008]     These and other objects of the invention will be made apparent to those skilled in the art upon a review of this specification, the associated drawings and the appended claims. 
     
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       [0009]      FIG. 1  is a perspective view of the calf catching apparatus of the present invention.  
         [0010]      FIG. 2  is a top view corresponding to  FIG. 1 , wherein the calf catching apparatus is shown mounted on an all-terrain vehicle.  
         [0011]      FIG. 3  is an enlarged perspective view of a front mounting assembly.  
         [0012]      FIG. 4  is an enlarged perspective view of the front mounting assembly of  FIG. 3 , showing the underside of a ball joint that allows for pivotal movement of the calf catching apparatus relative to the ATV.  
         [0013]      FIG. 5  is an enlarged perspective view of a rear mounting assembly.  
         [0014]      FIG. 6  is a front view of the calf catching apparatus showing the rope and pulley arrangement for releasing and opening the front doors of the apparatus.  
         [0015]      FIG. 7  is an enlarged front view of the latch for holding the doors in a closed position.  
         [0016]      FIG. 8  is an enlarged perspective of a foot pedal for use by an operator in closing the doors.  
         [0017]      FIG. 9  is a perspective view of a platform and gate for use in supporting a calf in the apparatus for transport.  
         [0018]      FIGS. 10   a - c  are top views of an alternative embodiment of the calf catching apparatus that is foldable to a collapsed, transport condition,  FIG. 10   a  showing the apparatus in a fully open or expanded condition,  FIG. 10   b  showing the apparatus in a partially folded condition and  FIG. 10   c  showing the apparatus in a fully folded condition.  
         [0019]      FIG. 11   a  is a side elevational view showing an alternative embodiment of the invention in a towing configuration for towing behind an ATV and  FIG. 11   b  is a top view corresponding to  FIG. 11   a.    
         [0020]      FIG. 12  is a perspective view of a scale and sling arrangement mounted on the calf catching apparatus for weighing a calf captured in the apparatus.  
         [0021]      FIG. 13  is an enlarged perspective view of an alternative embodiment of the front mounting assembly. 
     
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS  
       [0022]     Referring to  FIGS. 1 and 2 , there is illustrated, generally at  20 , a calf catching apparatus mounted on a vehicle  22  ( FIG. 2 ), which in the preferred embodiment is an all-terrain vehicle (ATV), for transportation of the calf catching apparatus  20  alongside the vehicle  22 . The calf catching apparatus  20  includes a substantially box-shaped pen, having four vertical walls or panels, rear panel  24 , vehicle-adjacent side panel  26 , opposite side panel  28 , and a front panel which is comprised of two doors, vehicle-side door  30  and opposite-side door  32 . The panels and doors are constructed of combination panels or the equivalent to provide a safe and secure enclosure for a calf and yet permit easy visibility for both the operator and for the cow and calf. The doors  30  and  32  are mounted to the front of the corresponding side panels,  26  and  28 , respectively, on hinges for pivotal movement about vertical axes between an open position ( FIGS. 1 and 2 ) and a closed position ( FIG. 6 ).  
         [0023]     The calf catching apparatus  20  is mounted to the ATV  22  at forward and rearward positions so as to balance the weight and forces of the apparatus  20  evenly on the ATV  22 . A forward mounting assembly  34  ( FIG. 3 ) includes a U-shaped mounting bar  36  that is secured by threaded attachments or the like to a position on the ATV  22  forwardly of the operator&#39;s position. An upright post  38  includes a pin  40  that is received in a ball receiver  42  of the mounting bar  36  ( FIG. 4 ). A cotter pin  44  prevents the pin  40  from being dislodged from the ball receiver  42 . The upright post  38 , accordingly, is free to pivot and tilt through the range of motion of the ball receiver  42 . A mounting sleeve  46  is received in sliding engagement about the upright post  38 . Both the sleeve  46  and upright post  42  have a set of corresponding, equally spaced openings that can be aligned by sliding the sleeve  46  relative to the upright post  38 . Nut and bolt combinations  48  received in aligned openings are used to secure the sleeve  46  at a desired height on the upright post  38  and so provides a means of adjusting the height of the calf catching apparatus  20  relative to the ATV  22 , thus accommodating vehicles of different sizes and heights. A bar  50  is secured to the sleeve  46  and extends transversely toward the calf catching apparatus  20 .  
         [0024]     The forward mounting assembly  34  also includes a mounting arm  52  consisting of a vertical bar  54 , a horizontal bar  56 , and a brace  58 . The vertical bar  54  is attached to the vehicle side panel  26  of the calf catching apparatus  22 , either by weldments or threaded fasteners, or the like, or by a hinge and pin assembly to permit pivotal motion of the forward mounting assembly  34  relative to the pen of the calf catching apparatus  20 . Both the bar  50  and the horizontal bar  56  have a set of corresponding, equally space openings that can be aligned by sliding the horizontal bar  56  in line with and beneath the bar  50 . Nut and bolt combinations  60  received in aligned openings are used to secure the bar  50  at a desired position relative to the bar  56  to thereby allow for adjustment of the spacing of the pen of the calf catching apparatus  20  relative to the ATV  22 .  
         [0025]     The calf catching apparatus  20  is mounted to the rear of the ATV  22  by a rearward mounting assembly  62  ( FIG. 5 ). The rearward mounting assembly  62  includes a vertical bar  64 , a horizontal bar  66 , and a brace  68 . A hitch bar  70  includes a rearwardly extended bar  72  to the front of which is mounted a plurality of hitch plates  74  having vertically aligned openings  76  which are used to releasably attach the hitch bar  70  to the hitch of the ATV  22  in the conventional manner using a hitch pin (not shown). The hitch bar  70  is thus free to rotate relative to the ATV  22  about the aligned axis of the openings  76 . A pair of U-bolts  78  are used to secure the horizontal bar  66  at any desired position on the hitch bar  70 , thus providing a means of infinite adjustment of the longitudinal and transverse position of the rearward mounting assembly  62  within the range permitted by the lengths of the hitch bar  70  and horizontal bar  66 , respectively, to accommodate a wide variety of sizes of vehicles.  
         [0026]     In addition to being mounted on the ATV  22 , the calf catching apparatus  20  is also supported for rolling movement over the ground on a gimbal-mounted wheel assembly  80  attached centrally at the lower edge of the opposite side panel  28  ( FIG. 1 ). The wheel assembly  80  includes a pair of wheels  82  and  84  that are mounted on a bar equidistant from a central mounting pin (not shown) that is received for pivotal movement in the side panel  28 . Accordingly, the gimbal-mounted wheel assembly  80  will allow for improved rolling of the wheels  82  and  84  over rough or irregular terrain.  
         [0027]     It will be appreciated that the mounting of the calf catching apparatus  20  on the ATV  22  by the forward and rearward mounting assemblies  34  and  62 , together with the gimbal-mounted wheel assembly  80  permit a range of unrestricted movement of the calf catching apparatus  20  relative to the ATV  22  so as to accommodate variations in the level and slope of terrain as well as displacements of the calf catching apparatus  20  relative to the ATV  22  that may be induced by surface irregularities, acceleration, deceleration, and the like. In adjusting the mounting assemblies, it is important that there be sufficient ground clearance of the pen above the terrain to permit relatively unrestricted travel over the desired terrain without being so high as to allow a calf captured in the pen to escape under the pen.  
         [0028]     The doors  30  and  32  operate in a coordinated fashion, opening and closing together. Each of the doors  30  and  32  are mounted on a pivot rod  86  and  88 , respectively, that is received for pivotal movement about a vertical axis in tubes attached to the forward edge portions of the side panels  26  and  28 , respectively ( FIGS. 1 and 2 ). The upper ends of the pivot rods  86  and  88  are interconnected by a linkage arm  90  and a pair of connecting links  92  and  94 . The connecting link  92  is secured at a fist end portion to the top of the pivot rod  86  and is pivotally attached at its opposite end portion to a first end of the linkage arm  90  and, correspondingly, the connecting link  94  is secured at a fist end portion to the top of the pivot rod  88  and is pivotally attached at its opposite end portion to a second or opposite end of the linkage arm  90 . In this way, pivotal motion of one of the doors will pivot its pivot tube, which will in turn pivot the corresponding connecting link to push (or pull) on the linkage arm and thereby pivot the other door. The connecting links  92  and  94  have an orientation that is 90° from the other so that clockwise pivotal movement of one of the doors will result in counterclockwise pivotal movement of the other door. A spring is held in tension between the side panel  28  and a central location on the linkage arm  92  and thereby biases the doors  30  and  32  toward their closed position. The doors  30  and  32  can be opened by an operator seated at the ATV by pulling on a rope  93  that extends from a door latch assembly  110 , through an eye on a front cross bar  112 , through a pulley  114  mounted below the junction of the linkage arm  92  and the link  94 , and through an eye  116  on the side panel  26 . By pulling on the rope  93 , the operator can overcome the closing force exerted by the spring  95  and cause the linkage arm  86  to pivot the doors  30  and  32  toward the open position by way of the links  88  and  90 .  
         [0029]     A foot-released latch  96  ( FIG. 8 ) is provided on the ATV-adjacent side panel  26  for holding the doors  30  and  32  in their full open positions. An L-shaped strike member  98  is mounted horizontally on the door  30  adjacent the side panel  26 . A foot lever  100  is mounted horizontally on the side panel  26  at the same height as the strike member  98  and can be pivoted about an axis at  102 . The foot lever  100  has a forward end portion  104  in front of the axis  102  and a pedal  106  rearward of the axis  102 . A spring  108  biases the foot lever  100  toward its horizontal position. In operation, the forward end portion  104  contacts the vertical portion of the strike member  98  as the door  30  is pivoted toward the open position. The end portion  104  is cut at an upwardly sloping angle so the end portion  104  is urged upwardly by the strike member  98 , extending the spring  108 . As the door  30  reaches its full open position, the forward end portion  104  will slip past the vertical portion of the strike member  98  whereupon the spring  108  will force the forward end portion  104  onto the horizontal portion of the strike member  98  to thereby hold the door  30  in the full open position. Because the door  32  is in coordinated movement with the door  30 , it will also be held in its full open position. The doors  30  and  32  will quickly return to their closed positions if the operator depresses the pedal  106  to raise the forward end portion  104  above the strike member  98 .  
         [0030]     The latch assembly  110  includes tube  118  that is loosely captured on a tilted rod  120  between a front plate  122  and a rear bar  124  ( FIG. 7 ). The inside diameter of the tube  118  is larger than the diameter of the rod  120  and so it normally falls by gravity to a position as illustrated in  FIG. 7  where it is resting on the rod  120  and the rear bar  124 . In this position, when the doors  30  and  32  are closed, the lower edge of the tube  118  extends in front of the tope edges of the doors  30  and  32 . If a calf inside the pen were to try to push the doors  30  and  32  open, the tube  118  would be moved forwardly, but only until it contacted the front plate  122  and so the doors  30  and  32  are prevented from being opened. The operator can release the latch assembly  110 , however, by pulling on rope  94 , the end of which is attached to an eye  126  secured to the tube  118 . Tension is the rope  94  will lift the tube  118  up against the tilted rod  120 , raining the lower edge of the tube  118  above the top edges of the doors  30  and  32  so that retraction of the rope  94  will cause the doors  30  and  32  to open simultaneously as described previously.  
         [0031]     In operation, the ATV  22  is maneuvered to first isolate the targeted calf and then to position the calf inside the pen. The operator then releases the foot latch  96  to close the doors  30  and  32 , which are held in their closed position by the latch assembly  110 . An opening in the ATV-adjacent side panel  26  will allow access by the operator into the pen but the height of the ATV  22  will prevent the calf from escaping the pen.  
         [0032]     The calf catching apparatus may preferably include a transporting platform  140  and gated enclosure  142  mounted to the inside of the pen ( FIG. 9 ). A calf that has been captured is lifted onto the platform  140  and the gate  144  closed to restrain the calf in a supported position on the platform  140 . The calf can then more quickly be transported to a remote location. Because the cow and her calf can still see each other, the cow will follow along as the calf is transported to the desired location.  
         [0033]     A common operation to be carried out on newborn calves is to weigh them. For this purpose, the calf catching apparatus  20  may preferably include a scale  150  and sling  152  ( FIG. 12 ). A hand-operated lift arm  146  is pivotally attached at a first end portion to a top portion of the calf catching apparatus  20  for pivotal up and down movement by an operator grasping the second or opposite end portion of the lift arm  146 . The sling  152  is suspended from a central portion of the lift arm  146  through the scale  150 . The operator places the calf in the sling  152 , attaches the sling to the scale  150  and raised the calf off the ground using the lift arm  146 . The scale  150  is then read to provide the weight of the calf. A spring  148  keeps the lift arm  146  out of the way when not in use.  
         [0034]     In a preferred embodiment, the calf catching apparatus  20  is collapsible to a reduced width so as to facilitate passage to the ATV  22  with the attached calf catching apparatus  20  through gates, down narrow roads, and the like ( FIGS. 10   a - c ). The apparatus  20  in its fully open or expanded, working condition is illustrated in  FIG. 10   a . The side panels  24 ,  26 , and  28 , and the front panel to which the doors  30  and  32  are mounted are all pivotally connected at their junctures so that the panels may pivot relative to each other. A rigid strap  160  is releasably attached between the rear panel  24  and the side panel  28  to secure the apparatus  20  in its working condition. To collapse the apparatus  20 , the strap  160  is removed from the panels  24  and  28  and the panel  28  is moved rearwardly and toward the opposite panel  26 , as illustrated in  FIG. 10   b . Upon full collapse of the apparatus  20  to the condition illustrated in  FIG. 10   c , the strap  160  is reattached to the rear panel  24  in the same position, but attached to the side panel  28  at a new, forwardly adjusted position whereupon it secures the apparatus  20  in the fully collapsed condition.  
         [0035]     In another preferred embodiment for reducing the width of the ATV  22  and calf catching apparatus  20  combination, the calf catching apparatus  20  is adapted for being towed behind the ATV ( FIGS. 11   a  and  11   b ). Referring to  FIG. 2 , the horizontal bar  66  of the rearward mounting assembly  62  is oriented perpendicularly to the side panel  26  in its working condition. In the alternative embodiment, the horizontal bar  66  is pivotally attached to the corner of the pen so that it may be swung to a position generally rearwardly of the apparatus  20 , as illustrated in  FIGS. 11   a  and  11   b . A tongue brace  162  is releasably attached between horizontal bar  66  and either the side panel  26  ( FIG. 2 ), where it holds the rearward mounting apparatus  62  in the working position, and the rear panel  24  ( FIGS. 11   a  and  11   b ), where it holds the rearward mounting apparatus in the tow-behind position. In addition, a third wheel  164  is moved from a storage position ( FIG. 2 ) to a mounting position  166  on the side panel  26  ( FIGS. 11   a  and  11   b ) to support that side of the apparatus  22  as it is towed behind the ATV.  
         [0036]     In an alternative embodiment, the forward mounting assembly has been modified so that it can be swung between a working position generally perpendicular to the side panel  26  and a storage position parallel to and alongside the side panel  26  used when transporting the calf catching apparatus  20  behind the ATV  22 . The modified forward mounting assembly  34 ′ is illustrated in  FIG. 13 . It has been modified by the use of a vertical tube  54 ′ to which the horizontal bar  56 ′ and the brace  58  are attached for pivotal movement by a pair of tube sections  156  and  160 , respectively. A latch  158  is provided to lock the position of the forward mounting assembly  34 ′ in the desired working or storage position. Note that method of adjusting the length of the mounting assembly  34 ′ has also been modified by including a plurality of attachment holes  154  in the mounting bar  36 ′ and eliminating the length adjustment feature provided by the bar  50 , openings in  50  and  56 , and nut and bolt combinations  60 .  
         [0037]     The foregoing description and drawings comprise illustrative embodiments of the present inventions. The foregoing embodiments and the methods described herein may vary based on the ability, experience, and preference of those skilled in the art. Merely listing the steps of the method in a certain order does not constitute any limitation on the order of the steps of the method. The foregoing description and drawings merely explain and illustrate the invention, and the invention is not limited thereto, except insofar as the claims are so limited. Those skilled in the art who have the disclosure before them will be able to make modifications and variations therein without departing from the scope of the invention.