Abstract:
A livestock squeeze chute having a head gate assembly at the head end thereof with the head gate assembly including first and second head gates which dwell in a plane which is approximately at a 30-degree angle with respect to the longitudinal axis of the squeeze chute. Power cylinders pivotally move the head gates between open and closed positions. Although power cylinders are preferred, the head gates could be manually moved between their open and closed positions.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     1. Field of the Invention 
     This invention relates to a head gate for a livestock squeeze chute and more particularly to a novel head gate which is movably positioned on a hydraulic squeeze chute. More particularly, this invention relates to a head gate for a cattle squeeze chute which consists of two gates that move in unison from fixed pivot points at the bottom of the chute frame at the head end thereof. Even more particularly, this invention relates to a cattle head gate of the type described wherein each of the head gates move from an open position to a closed position at a 30-degree angle with respect to the animal&#39;s body rather than transversely with respect to the animal&#39;s body. 
     2. Description of the Related Art 
     In the practice of livestock husbandry, it is necessary to restrain livestock such as cattle and bison. This is common for treating or performing typical procedures on the livestock such as weighing, vaccinations, identification references, doctoring and sorting. The head gate is part of the hydraulic squeeze chute that is used to catch the animal&#39;s head to restrain the animal. The restraint consists of keeping the animal still and safe to administer typical procedures. By reason of the massive weight and power of the animal and the excited state it is in, often there is a substantial force put on the animal&#39;s front quarters when it impacts the head gate. This can result in injury to the animal by bruising the muscle and lost profits for the producer. 
     Most head gates on the market today, move in a transverse 90-degree motion to the animal causing abrupt stoppage to the animal. This leads to excess trauma to the animal. Other head gates on the market today catch the animal in an inward back motion. This puts excess pressure on the animal&#39;s front quarters by pressing against the flow of motion. The industry of cattle handling needs to keep the safety of the animal at a top priority for humane handling as well as producing top quality meat products. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     This Summary is provided to introduce a selection of concepts in a simplified form that are further described below in the Detailed Description. This Summary is not intended to identify key aspects or essential aspects of the claimed subject matter. Moreover, this Summary is not intended for use as an aid in determining the scope of the claimed subject matter. 
     The head gate of this invention is designed to be used on a livestock squeeze chute wherein the squeeze chute has a tail end and a head end. The squeeze chute comprises a lower frame having a tail end, a head end, a first side and a second side. The squeeze chute also includes an upper frame positioned above the lower frame which has a tail end, a head end, a first side and a second side. A tail gate assembly is provided on the squeeze chute at the tail ends of the lower and upper frames for selectively closing the tail end of the chute. The tail gate assembly includes first and second tail gate members which are movable between open and closed positions in conventional fashion. 
     A horizontally disposed lower head gate support is provided at the head end of the lower frame with the lower head gate support being generally V-shaped and including first and second support members having rearward and forward ends. The first support member extends forwardly and inwardly from the head end of the lower frame at the first side thereof. The second support member extends forwardly and inwardly from the head end of the lower frame at the second side thereof. The forward ends of the first and second support members of the lower head gate support are secured together. 
     A horizontally disposed upper head gate support is provided at the head end of the upper frame. The upper head gate support is generally V-shaped and includes first and second support members having rearward and forward ends. The first support member of the upper head gate support extends forwardly and inwardly from the head end of the upper frame at the first side thereof. The second support of the upper head gate support extends forwardly and inwardly from the head end of the upper frame at the second side thereof. The forward ends of the first and second support members of the upper head gate support are secured together. 
     The first support member of the upper head gate support has an elongated slot formed therein which has rearward and forward ends. The second support member of the upper head gate support has an elongated slot formed therein which has rearward and forward ends. The forward ends of the two slots communicate with one another. 
     A first upstanding head gate member is provided having an upper end, a lower end, an outer side, an inner side, a forward side and a rearward side. A second upstanding head gate member is also provided which has an upper end, a lower end, an outer side, an inner side, a forward side and a rearward side. The first head gate member has an upwardly extending protrusion at its upper inner end which is movably received by the slot in the first support member of the upper head gate support. The second head gate member has an upwardly extending protrusion at its upper inner end which is movably received by the slot in the second support member of the upper head gate support. 
     The first head gate member is pivotally secured at its lower inner end to the first support member of the lower head gate support. The second head gate member is pivotally secured at its lower inner end to the second support member of the lower head gate support. 
     Hydraulic cylinders are secured to the first and second head gate members for pivotally moving the head gate members between open and closed positions. The head gate members, when in their closed positions, extend forwardly and inwardly to conform to the configuration of the animal captured by the head gate members. 
     It is therefore a principal object of this invention to provide an improved head gate for a hydraulic squeeze chute to conform the head gate to the body structure of the animal to increase the surface area of impact which will result in reducing force per square inch which will lead to increased safety of the animal. 
     A further object of the invention is to provide an improved head gate assembly for a hydraulic squeeze chute wherein the head gates thereof extend forwardly and inwardly so as to dwell in a substantially V-shape when in their closed positions. 
     These and other objects will be apparent to those skilled in the art. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       Non-limiting and non-exhaustive embodiments of the present invention are described with reference to the following figures, wherein like reference numerals refer to like parts throughout the various views unless otherwise specified. 
         FIG. 1  is an upper front perspective view of the squeeze chute with the head gate of this invention in a completely closed position; 
         FIG. 2  is a lower front perspective view of the squeeze chute with the head gate of this invention in a completely closed position; 
         FIG. 3  is a front view of the squeeze chute with the head gate in a completely closed position; and 
         FIG. 4  is a front view of the squeeze chute with the head gate in a completely open position. 
     
    
    
     DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT 
     Embodiments are described more fully below with reference to the accompanying figures, which form a part hereof and show, by way of illustration, specific exemplary embodiments. These embodiments are disclosed in sufficient detail to enable those skilled in the art to practice the invention. However, embodiments may be implemented in many different forms and should not be construed as being limited to the embodiments set forth herein. The following detailed description is, therefore, not to be taken in a limiting sense in that the scope of the present invention is defined only by the appended claims. 
     The numeral  10  refers to a livestock squeeze chute having a tail end  12 , a head end  14 , a first side  16  and a second side  18 . Squeeze chute  10  includes a lower frame means  20  which extends between the tail end  12  and the head end  14  of the squeeze chute  10 . Squeeze chute  10  also includes an upper frame means  22  which extends between the tail end  12  and the head end  14  of the squeeze chute  10 . The lower frame means  20  and the upper frame means  22  are interconnected by various frame members generally collectively referred to by the reference numeral  24 . The squeeze chute  10  includes spaced-apart side panels  26  and  28  which are laterally movable in conventional fashion to aid in restraining the animal being handled. 
     The numeral  30  refers generally to a conventional tail gate assembly consisting of two movable tail gates  32  and  34  which are selectively movable between open and closed positions in a transverse manner with respect to the longitudinal axis of the squeeze chute  10 . The tail gates  32  and  34  are pivotally movable by hydraulic cylinders attached thereto in conventional fashion. 
     The numeral  36  refers to a horizontally disposed lower head gate support including a first support member  38  and a second support member  40  which are joined together at their inner forward ends to define a V-shape. As seen, support member  38  extends inwardly and forwardly from side  16  at approximately 30 degrees to the longitudinal axis of the chute  10  at the head end  14  of squeeze chute  10 . Support member  38  has a rearward end  42  which is positioned outwardly of the squeeze chute  10 . As seen, support member  40  extends forwardly and inwardly from side  18  of squeeze chute  10  at approximately a 30-degree angle with respect to the longitudinal axis of the chute  10 . Support member  40  has a rearward end  44  which is positioned outwardly of the squeeze chute  10 . 
     The numeral  46  refers to a first head gate member while the numeral  48  refers to a second head gate member. Head gate member  46  includes an upper end  50 , a lower end  52 , an outer side  54  and an inner side  56 . Inner side  56  of head gate member  46  has an outwardly extending angular or arcuate portion  58  to provide a space for the animal&#39;s neck. The lower end  52  of head gate member  40  is pivotally secured to support member  38  at  60 . The upper inner end of head gate member  46  has an upwardly extending protrusion or contact point  62 , the purpose of which will be described hereinafter. The lower end of a hydraulic cylinder  64  is pivotally connected to the rearward end  42  of support member  38  at  66 . The rod end of hydraulic cylinder  64  is pivotally secured to head gate member  46  at  68 . 
     Head gate member  48  includes an upper end  70 , a lower end  72 , an outer side  74  and an inner side  76 . Inner side  76  of head gate member  48  has an outwardly extending angular or arcuate portion  78  to provide a space for the animal&#39;s neck. The lower end  72  of head gate member  48  is pivotally secured to support member  40  at  80 . The upper inner end of head gate member  48  has an upwardly extending protrusion or contact point  82 , the purpose of which will be described hereinafter. The lower end of a hydraulic cylinder  84  is pivotally connected to the rearward end  44  of support member  40  at  86 . The rod end of hydraulic cylinder  84  is pivotally secured to head gate member  48  at  88 . 
     The numeral  90  refers to a horizontally disposed upper head gate support including a first support member  92  and a second support member  94  which are joined together to define a V-shape which is the same as the V-shaped support  36 . As seen, support member  92  extends inwardly and forwardly from side  16  at the head end  14  of squeeze chute  10 . Support member  92  has a rearward end  96  which is positioned outwardly of the squeeze chute  10 . As also seen, support member  94  extends forwardly and inwardly from side  18  of the squeeze chute  10 . Support member  94  has a rearward end  98  which is positioned outwardly of the squeeze chute  10 . 
     Support member  92  has an elongated slot  100  formed therein and support member  94  has an elongated slot  102  formed therein. The forward ends of the slots  100  and  102  communicate with each other. Protrusion  62  of head gate member  46  extends upwardly through slot  100  in support member  92  with protrusion  82  of head gate member  48  extending upwardly through slot  102  in support member  94 . 
     The squeeze chute  10  is operated as follows when it is desired to perform a procedure on an animal. The head gate members  46  and  48  will initially be completely closed in the position of  FIGS. 1-3 . Tail gate assembly  30  will be moved to its open position to allow the animal to enter the chute  10 . As soon as the animal has entered the chute  10 , the tail gate assembly  30  will be closed. Hydraulic cylinders  64  and  84  will be retracted somewhat so that the animal may extend the animal&#39;s head and neck through the opening defined by the angular or arcuate portions  58  and  78  in head gate members  46  and  48  respectively. When the animal&#39;s head has been captured between the head gate members  46  and  48 , the head gate members  46  and  48  may be partially closed to keep the animal still and safe. The head gate members  46  and  48 , when in their closed positions, extend forwardly and inwardly to conform to the configuration of the animal captured by the head gate members. 
     The angular configuration of the head gate members  46  and  48  substantially reduces the pressure on the animal&#39;s front quarters which would be exerted on the animal by transversely extending head gate members. The angular configuration of the head gate members  46  and  48  keeps the safety of the animal at a top priority for humane handling, as well as producing top quality meats. 
     When the procedure has been performed on the animal, the head gate members  46  and  48  are moved to their open positions of  FIG. 4  to allow the animal to exit the chute  10 . 
     Thus it can be seen that the invention accomplishes at least all of its stated objectives. 
     Although the invention has been described in language that is specific to certain structures and methodological steps, it is to be understood that the invention defined in the appended claims is not necessarily limited to the specific structures and/or steps described. Rather, the specific aspects and steps are described as forms of implementing the claimed invention. Since many embodiments of the invention can be practiced without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention, the invention resides in the claims hereinafter appended.