Abstract:
Ranchers and other owners of livestock commonly have a need for a transportable means of setting up a corral for numerous purposes. Sorting must take place in a remote location or a location without a permanent corral, which are prohibitively time consuming and expensive to build. A preferred embodiment of the Portable Corral is comprised of a central chute, a left corral area, and a right corral area. The central chute is comprised of a back chute, a front chute, a left central chute panel and a right central chute panel. The front chute is comprised of a breakaway hitch that in turn is comprised of a left breakaway hitch section and a right breakaway hitch section. The left and right breakaway hitch sections are collapsed together to comprise the breakaway hitch used to connect to the towing vehicle.

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
       [0001]    This application is a continuing application of pending U.S. non-provisional patent application with Ser. No. 12/946,848 titled “Portable Corral” filed on Nov. 15, 2010. This application claims priority of U.S. non-provisional patent application with Ser. No. 12/946,848. U.S. non-provisional application Ser. No. 12/946,848 in turn claims priority of U.S. provisional patent application with Ser. No. 61/263,766 titled “Portable Corral” filed on Nov. 23, 2009. The entire contents of U.S. provisional patent application with Ser. No. 61/263,766, U.S. and U.S. non-provisional patent application with Ser. No. 12/946,848 are herein incorporated by reference. 
     
    
     STATEMENT REGARDING FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH OR DEVELOPMENT 
       [0002]    Not applicable. 
       FIELD OF THE EMBODIMENTS 
       [0003]    The field of the embodiments is transportable livestock corrals. 
       BACKGROUND OF THE EMBODIMENTS 
       [0004]    Ranchers and other owners of livestock commonly have a need for a may need to sort the livestock for veterinary procedures, to sort by gender, or for marketing purposes. Many times this sorting must take place in a remote location or a location without a permanent corral. Building corrals in such locations is prohibitively time consuming and expensive. Therefore, a corral that is both portable and that serves the various sorting needs of a livestock owner is of great value. 
       SUMMARY OF THE EMBODIMENTS 
       [0005]    The Portable Corral is comprised of an entrance chute, a rear-wheel assembly, a central chute, a left foldable corral, a right foldable corral, a breakaway hitch, and an exit chute. The entrance chute is comprised of two or more fence panels that are attached to the rear of the central chute. The fence panels are constructed so that livestock cannot walk or crawl through opening of the fence panel. That is, the livestock are contained by the panels when one or more panels are arranged in the form of a gate, chute, alleyway or corral. The Portable Corral is comprised of numerous fence panels of different lengths and heights depending on their position in the Portable Corral. 
         [0006]    The purpose of the foregoing abstract is to enable the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office and the public generally, and especially the scientist, engineers and practitioners in the art who are not familiar with patent or legal terms or phraseology, to determine quickly from a cursory inspection the nature and essence of the technical disclosure of the application. Neither this summary nor the abstract is intended to define the invention of the application which is measured by the claims, nor is it intended to be limiting as to the scope of the invention in any way. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0007]      FIG. 1  is a perspective view of an embodiment of the Portable Corral in the expanded orientation. 
           [0008]      FIG. 2A  is a back view an embodiment of the Portable Corral in the transportable orientation;  FIG. 2B  is a right side view an embodiment of the Portable Corral in the transportable orientation;  FIG. 2C  is a top view an embodiment of the Portable Corral in the transportable orientation. 
           [0009]      FIG. 3  is a perspective view an embodiment of the Portable Corral as viewed resting on the ground. 
           [0010]      FIG. 4A  is a top view an embodiment of the Portable Corral in the expanded orientation showing how the sorting alleyway gates can be used to direct livestock from a selected sub-corral to another sub-corral;  FIG. 4B  is a top view an embodiment of the Portable Corral in the expanded orientation showing how a different configuration of the sorting alleyway gates can be used to direct livestock from a selected sub-corral to another sub-corral. 
           [0011]      FIG. 5  is a perspective an embodiment of the Portable Corral in the expanded orientation showing one configuration of the left corral and right corral and associated sub-corrals. 
           [0012]      FIG. 6A  is a perspective view of the breakaway hitch in the unmatched orientation;  FIG. 6B  is a perspective view of the breakaway hitch in the matched orientation. 
           [0013]      FIG. 7A  is a top view of the breakaway hitch in the unmatched orientation;  FIG. 7B  is a top view of the breakaway hitch in the matched orientation. 
           [0014]      FIG. 8  is a perspective view of the rear-wheel assembly of an embodiment of the Portable Corral. 
           [0015]      FIG. 9A  is a perspective view of the rear-wheel assembly in the deployed or ground configuration of an embodiment of the Portable Corral;  FIG. 9B  is a perspective view of the rear-wheel assembly in the transportation configuration of an embodiment of the Portable Corral. 
           [0016]      FIG. 10  is a perspective view of the rear-wheel assembly in the transport configuration of an embodiment of the Portable Corral with eight fence panels on each side. 
           [0017]      FIG. 11A  is a side view of an embodiment of the Portable Corral with eight fence panels on each side with the rear lifting cylinders and front lift in the extended position for the parked configuration;  FIG. 11B  is a side view of an embodiment of the Portable Corral with eight fence panels on each side with the rear lifting cylinders and front lift in the raised position for the transportation configuration;  FIG. 11C  is a top view of an embodiment of the Portable Corral with eight fence panels; 
           [0018]      FIG. 12  is a perspective view of an embodiment of the Portable Corral with eight fence panels on each side showing the sub-corrals for both the left foldable corral  107  and right foldable corral  108  forming one large sub-corral on both the left and right sides. 
           [0019]      FIG. 13  is a perspective view of an embodiment of the Portable Corral with eight fence panels on each side showing the sub-corrals for both the left foldable corral  107  and right foldable corral  108  forming two distinct sub-corrals. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
       [0020]    The Portable Corral  100  is comprised of an entrance chute  401 , a rear-wheel assembly  201 , a central chute  104 , a left foldable corral  107 , a right foldable corral  108 , a breakaway hitch  105 , and an exit chute  404 . In describing the embodiments of the Portable Corral  100 , the terms “left” and “right” are used relative to the central chute  104  as viewed from the rear of the Portable Corral  100  looking from the rear-wheel assembly  201  towards the front of the Portable Corral  100  towards the breakaway hitch  105 . A preferred embodiment of the Portable Corral  100  in the unfolded position is shown in  FIG. 1 . 
         [0021]    The entrance chute  401  is comprised of two or more fence panels  103  that are attached to the rear of the central chute  104 . The term “fence panels,” or more simply “panels,” means a rectangular panel constructed from tubular steel or sheet steel members that form a single fence unit or fence panel. The fence panels are constructed so that livestock cannot walk or crawl through opening of the fence panel. That is, the livestock are contained by the panels when one or more panels are arranged in the form of a gate, chute, alleyway or corral. The Portable Corral  100  is comprised of numerous fence panels  103  of different lengths and heights depending on their position in the Portable Corral  100 . 
         [0022]    In preferred embodiments of the Portable Corral  100 , the entrance chute  401  is comprised of four fence panels  103  with two fence panels  103  attached to the left side of the rear of the central chute  104  and two panels  103  attached to the right side of the central chute assembly. These rear panels  103  are hinged so that either the right or left side can fold up and be secured to the rear of the central chute assembly. Further, the second side can be folded and arranged flush against the folded first side and also be secured to the central chute assembly. The second rear panel side has a slightly extended hinge assembly to accommodate the width of the folded second side. 
         [0023]    The rear wheel assembly  201  is comprised of an under-slung torsion tube  801  and a plurality of rubber wheels  202  to support the Portable Corral  100  when being transported and allows the Portable Corral  100  to be transported. The under-slung torsion tube  801  is comprised of a steel tube that is attached to the wheel frame  802  on each side of the rear wheel assembly  201 . The wheel frame  802  is in turn attached to the one or more rubber wheels  202  on each side of the wheel frame  802 . The under-slung torsion tube  801  serves to provide a mechanical connection and communication between the two sides of the rear wheel assembly  201 . The under-slung torsion tube  801  serves to maintain stability of the Portable Corral  100  as the corral is transported over rough terrain. 
         [0024]    In one embodiment of the Portable Corral  100 , where this embodiment of the Portable Corral involves extra weight due to the application required for the embodiment, the rear wheel assembly is comprised of a pair of walking beams  203 . One walking beam  203  is positioned the left side of the entrance chute  401  and one walking beam  203  is positioned on the right side of the entrance chute  401 . Each walking beam  203  is comprised of two rubber wheels  202 . The total of four rubber wheels  202  allows for the transportation of the entire Portable Corral  100  unit when the Portable Corral  100  is in the transportation configuration. The walking beams  203  allow the Portable Corral  100  to be transported over the rough terrain that is to be anticipated in the various common applications of the Portable Corral  100 . The walking beams  203  operate by allowing the rubber wheels  202  to independently move over rough terrain. The walking beams  203  pivot at a point equidistant between the axels of the two rubber wheels  202  on each side of the Portable Corral  100 . 
         [0025]    In another embodiment of the Portable Corral  100 , where this embodiment of the Portable Corral involves a lighter weight, the rear wheel assembly is comprised of a pair of rubber wheels  202 . In this embodiment, one rubber wheel on each side of the rear end of the portable corral, where the rubber wheels are attached to the bottom of the central frame via a rear wheel frame  802  and to the upper portion of the central frame via a rear lifting cylinders  803  on each side of the portable corral. In this embodiment, no walking beam is present, as shown in  FIGS. 10 and 11 . In this embodiment, the unit is sufficiently light, due to the decrease in length of the overall unit, to not require a walking beam to traverse uneven terrain. 
         [0026]    The central chute  104  is comprised of a central chute frame, a plurality of alleyway gates, a pair of rear lifting cylinders  803 , a front lift  102 , a hydraulic pump  301 , a solar panel and battery  302 , a plurality of panels  103 . The central chute  104  acts as the main structural and support assembly when the Portable Corral  100  is being transported and provides the support for all of the elements of the Portable Corral  100 . The central chute  104  is comprised of four main corner horizontal structural beams, four main corner vertical structural beams, and a plurality of horizontal, vertical and diagonal support members. The central chute  104  serves as the central livestock herding corridor when the Portable Corral  100  is in the deployed mode. In one embodiment, the plurality of alleyway gates are comprised of a rear alleyway gate  402  and a front alleyway gate  403 . 
         [0027]    When the Portable Corral  100  is in the transportation configuration, as shown in  FIG. 9   b , the rear lifting cylinders  803  are extended, raising the rear of the central chute  104  off of the ground. Also in the transportation configuration, the front lift  102  is raised allowing the front of the central chute to clear the ground. In the transportation mode, the breakaway hitch  105  is in the closed configuration allowing engagement with a towing vehicle. The solar panel and battery  302  provide a means of supplying electrical power to the hydraulic pump  301 . The hydraulic pump  301  provides hydraulic power to the rear lifting cylinders  803  and the front lift  102 . The ability to raise and lower the Portable Corral  100  allows the entire unit to rest on the ground in the deployed configuration. Resting on the ground provides enhanced stability required for a variety of terrain conditions. It is important to note that the Portable Corral  100  can be rested squarely on the ground. This provides enhanced stability of the Portable Corral  100  over other designs that remain removed from the ground or on wheels while those corral designs are in use. When in use, the Portable Corral  100  is firmly anchored to the ground. 
         [0028]    The front chute is comprised of a breakaway hitch  105 . The breakaway hitch  105  forms a gooseneck-type hitch to engage with “fifth-wheel” type hitch connects and tractor-trailer type hitch connections. The breakaway hitch  105  is comprised of a left breakaway hitch section  601  and a right breakaway hitch section  602 . The left  601  and right  602  breakaway hitch sections are collapsed together to comprise the breakaway hitch  105  when the Portable Corral  100  is folded in the transportation configuration. The breakaway hitch  105  is then used to connect to the towing vehicle. 
         [0029]    The sections of the breakaway hitch  105  engage to form a gooseneck-type hitch when the left breakaway hitch section  601  is engaged with the right breakaway hitch section  602 . The left  601  and right  602  breakaway hitch sections are engaged and secured via two bolts  603  which are inserted through two bolt guides  606 . The bolts are secured with two nuts  607 . As the left  601  and right  602  breakaway hitch sections are secured by two guide posts  604  engaging with a guide plate  609 . Engaging the guide posts  604  with the guide plat  609  provides stability to the entire breakaway hitch  105  by limiting rolling action of the two sides of the corral. Further, a left support plate  608  and a right support plate  605  are butted and secured against each other when the left  601  and right  602  breakaway hitch sections are joined and secured by the bolts  603  and nuts  607 . The joined left  608  and right  605  support plates limit the side-to-side motion of the entire portable corral  100  while the breakaway hitch  105  is engaged and the portable corral  100  is being transported. 
         [0030]    The left foldable corral  107  is further comprised of two sub corral areas and the right foldable corral  108  is further comprised of two sub-corral areas as shown in  FIG. 13 . The left corral area is attached to the left central chute panel and the right corral area is attached to the right chute panel. The left and right corral areas are further comprised of a plurality of corral panels  103 . A winch  1001  is affixed to both sub-corral areas on both the left foldable corral  107  and right foldable corral  108  for a total of four winches, two on the left foldable corral  107  and two on the foldable corral  108 . The winches are used to raise the left and right corral areas off the ground and to place the Portable Corral  100  in the transportation mode. The outside panels of the sub-corrals are shorter due than the inside panels to the length of main frame. The outside panels are affixed to a vertical I-beam in the corner of the central chute  104  and the front and rear of the Portable Corral  100 . 
         [0031]    The rear lifting cylinders  803  in the rear of the embodiments and the front lift  102  in the front of the embodiments permit the embodiments to be raised and lowered. When the embodiments are raised (the rear lifting cylinders  803  and the front lift  102  are extended) the embodiments are placed in the transportation configuration. Once the towing vehicle is hitched to the embodiments, the front lift  102  is retracted and the embodiments can be towed. For deployed configuration from being towed, the front lift  102  is first extended so the towing vehicle can be unhitched. Then the rear lifting cylinders  803  and the front lift  102  are retracted allowing the embodiments to rest on the ground. 
         [0032]    The left foldable corral  107  and right foldable corral  108  are each comprised of a plurality of fence panels. In one embodiment of the Portable Corral  100 , the left foldable corral  107  and right foldable corral  108  are each comprised of six fence panels—three fence panels in each sub-corral as shown in  FIG. 5 . In another embodiment of the Portable Corral  100 , the left foldable corral  107  and right foldable corral  108  are each comprised of eight (8) fence panels—four fence panels in each sub-corral as shown in  FIG. 12 . In the eight panel embodiment, the fence panels are shorter than the panels in the six panel embodiment. In this manner, the eight panel embodiment can fold to a shorter transportation configuration yet maintain equivalent sized side corrals to the longer embodiment of the Portable Corral. The fence panels in the sub-corrals may be arranged in a variety of configurations depending on the application of the Portable Corral  100 . For example,  FIG. 1  shows six (6) fence panels in the sub-corrals for both the left foldable corral  107  and right foldable corral  108  connected in a basic large square configuration. Whereas, in  FIG. 5 , shows six (6) fence panels in the sub-corrals for both the left foldable corral  107  and right foldable corral  108  forming a two distinct sub-corrals. Analogously,  FIG. 13  shows eight (8) fence panels in the sub-corrals for both the left foldable corral  107  and right foldable corral  108  connected in essentially a large oval configuration. Whereas, in  FIG. 14  shows eight (8) fence panels in the sub-corrals for both the left foldable corral  107  and right foldable corral  108  forming a two distinct sub-corrals. 
         [0033]    The left foldable corral  107  and right foldable corral  108  are comprised of a plurality of small casters  303  and a plurality of large casters  304 . These casters are affixed to the bottom of the fence panels. The small casters  303  and large casters  304  allow for movement of the fence panels into various configurations. 
         [0034]    An embodiment of the portable corral can be folded into a transportation configuration as shown in  FIG. 2 . In this configuration, the right corral area folds into a flat position and is attached to the right central chute panel. In addition, the left corral area folds flat against the central chute into a transportation configuration against the left central chute panel. In addition, the back chute is folded into a transportation configuration against the rear portion of the central chute. The right breakaway hitch section and the left breakaway hitch section are folded to form a receiver hitch that is connected to the towing vehicle. 
         [0035]      FIG. 4  shows the portable corral in the expanded orientation showing the entrance chute  401 , the central chute  104 , the left foldable corral  107 , and the right foldable corral  108  in the expanded configuration. In an embodiment of the portable corral the gate panels can be configured to allow a variety of orientations in order to sort livestock into a specific sub corral areas. The sorting process is performed by simply opening and closing the appropriate sort gates and gate openings to the sub-corral areas to allow the livestock to move into the appropriate areas as shown in  FIG. 3 .  FIG. 4  illustrates how the rear sorting panel  403  and front sorting panel  404  can be oriented to allow various configurations of sorting of the livestock. 
         [0036]      FIG. 5  shows how the left breakaway hitch section and right breakaway hitch section are joined to form the breakaway hitch that is connected to the towing vehicle. The breakaway hitch pins are placed through the right pin bracket through the left pin brackets and the pins are secured onto the breakaway hitch. This connection is also further illustrated in  FIG. 6  showing the left and right section of the breakaway hitch coming together and being secured. The receiver hitch is comprised of an adjustable pin mechanism that allows for adjustment of the receiver hitch to accommodate hitch heights of various towing vehicles. 
         [0037]      FIG. 9   b  shows how the portable corral can be placed in the towing configuration with the rear lifting cylinders  803  at the rear chute location. Pneumatic or hydraulic pistons located on either side of the rear chute can be engaged to lift the entire portable corral off the ground placing the weight of the portable corral on the two rear tires. With the hitch in the transportation orientation and attached with towing vehicle the portable corral can then be towed away to a new location. In one embodiment of the Portable Corral, the lifting the rear of unit is done by two rear lifting cylinders  803  that are 3″ in diameter and 20″ long. Spindle welded to ¾×6″ flat bar on bottom at a 45 degree angle. This will let the unit be raised 12″ off of the ground for transporting. 
         [0038]    In a best mode of operation of the embodiments, to deploy the embodiments from a towing configuration, the front lift  102  is first extended so the towing vehicle can be unhitched. Then the rear lifting cylinders  803  and the front lift  102  are retracted allowing the embodiments to rest on the ground. Then, the rear chute is unfolded to allow for livestock to be channeled into the embodiments. The breakaway hitch is unfolded to allow for an exit chute for the livestock. The left and right foldable corrals are unfolded and deployed as the livestock sorting application requires.