Abstract:
An animal walking apparatus having a plurality of rails where each rail is mounted at one end to a rotatable drive means and having a gate at its other end. An electric current is attached to each rail and its respective gate to provide stimulus to provoke an animal to move forward.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     1. Field of the Invention 
     The invention relates to mechanical horse walkers. 
     2. Description of the Related Art 
     Horse trainers commonly use horse walkers for the purposes of forcing a horse to walk during a “cool down” period after a race in order to protect the horse from muscle stiffening and respiratory infections, training a horse and breaking a horse to harness or halter when the horse is young. Traditionally, the horse walker was an exercise boy who led the horse by the reins. In more modern times, several types of mechanical devices have been developed to motivate a horse to move in a walking gait. 
     For example, Profughi (U.S. Pat. No. 3,773,018) discloses a horse walker apparatus having spokes connected to a rotating hub. A horse is tethered to a spoke and pulled along when the hub rotates. 
     Losaw (U.S. Pat. No. 3,815,551) discloses a mechanical horse walker that is portable. Curtis (U.S. Pat. No. 3,981,274) discloses a mechanical horse walker with a continuously variable transmission for preventing injury to a horse. 
     The mechanical horse walkers disclosed in the prior art teach the use a tether in which a horse is pulled in a circle by a rotating arm. This presents several problems. The mechanical force provided by the rotating arm pulling the horse&#39;s tether is sometimes inadequate impetus for a balking horse to keep moving. Some of the existing art mechanical horse walkers have slip clutches or other devices to prevent injury to the horse. However, these devices do not provide any impetus to keep the horse moving except for a pull on the tether. Thus, a balking race horse may injure himself by failing to keep walking after a race. 
     Another problem with mechanical horse walkers of the existing art is that they do present a hazard to a horse, because a mechanical malfunction of a protective device, such as a slip clutch, may result in the horse being dragged by the horse walker. 
     Yet another problem of mechanical horse walkers of the existing art is, because they use a tether, they restrict the movement of the horse&#39;s head; and restrict the horse to a narrow circular path, as limited by the length of the tether. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention is for a mechanical horse walker which provides an electrical stimulus to provoke forward movement of a horse. The mechanical horse walker has a plurality of radial arms connected to a vertical shaft at one end and has a grid assembly connected at the other end. The vertical shaft is connected to a vertical shaft support assembly. This assembly is supported by an apparatus support assembly and has the ability to rotate in a circular fashion due to a drive means. A bearing housing assembly provides the means for the vertical shaft assembly to rotate. 
     The electrical stimulus is provided by electrifying the vertical shaft support assembly, vertical shaft, radial arms and/or associated grids by an electrifying means. The electrifying means could include an electrical wire being in contact with either the vertical shaft support assembly, vertical shaft, radial arms and/or associated grids. When the radial arm comes into contact with a horse, the horse is motivated to move away from the radial arm in a circular motion. 
     A pair of circular fences corral the horses into a desired path. 
     Accordingly, it is a principal object of the present invention to provide a sufficient impetus to keep a horse moving in a forward direction. 
     Another object of the present invention is to provide a sufficient impetus to keep a horse moving in a forward direction, wherein such impetus is by electrical stimulus. 
     Another object of the present invention is to provide a mechanical horse walker which does not pull a horse by a tether. 
     Still another object of the present invention is to provide a mechanical horse walker which does not restrict movement of a horse&#39;s head during use. 
     A further object of the present invention is to provide a mechanical horse walker which does not restrict movement of the horse to the length of a tether. 
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     FIG. 1 is an elevation view of a mechanical horse walker of the present invention. 
     FIG. 2 is an exploded elevation view of a central portion of the mechanical horse walker of the present invention. 
     FIG. 3 is an enlarged detail view of the portion of the mechanical horse walker near the electric motor. 
     FIG. 4 is a top view of the mechanical horse walker of the present invention. 
     FIG. 5 is a detailed elevation view of a rail arm with a grid. 
    
    
     DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
     Like numbers in the various figures indicate corresponding parts of the various embodiments of the present invention. 
     Referring to FIGS. 1 through 5, mechanical horse walker  10  is generally illustrated by having plurality of radial arms  100  connected to a vertical shaft  90 . Vertical shaft  90  is rotated in a circular fashion by vertical shaft support assembly  50 . Vertical shaft support assembly  50  is supported by an apparatus support means  20  and is rotated by drive means assembly  70 . Electrical stimulus is provided to vertical shaft support assembly  50  by electrical means  120 . 
     As generally shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the preferred embodiment of the each of the radial arms  100  is illustrated as having a shaft end  102  and a distal end  104 . The shaft end is attached to vertical shaft  90 . A grid assembly  110  is attached to distal end  104 . Each radial arm  100  is spaced around vertical shaft  90 , and when placed in conjunction with inner fence  130  and outer fence  132 , creates a plurality of enclosures  130 . A horse  5  is positioned with an enclosure  130 . When walker  10  is activated, an electrical current is provided to each grid assembly  110 . If a grid assembly  110  comes in contact with the horse  5 , an electrical stimulus causes horse  5  to move in a forward direction. Alternatively, if horse  5  is moved forward in a manner which is too fast, a forward grid  110  would provoke horse  5  to slow its speed. 
     As generally shown in FIG. 3, grid assembly  110  is attached to the distal end  104  of radial arm  100  by hangers  114 . In the preferred embodiment, grid assembly  110  has a upper grid  112  and a plurality of streamers  116 . 
     As generally shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, vertical shaft  90  is connected to vertical shaft support assembly  50 . In the preferred embodiment, vertical shaft support assembly  50  has a rotational ring  60 , rotational ring support assembly  62  and a circular bearing means  40 . 
     As shown in FIGS. 3 and 5, circular bearing means  40  has an upper circular bearing housing  42 , a lower circular bearing housing  44  and bearing  46 . Connected to upper circular bearing housing  42  is a rotational ring support assembly  62  having a plurality of vertical rotational ring supports  64  and a plurality of horizontal rotational ring supports  66 . Each horizontal rotational ring supports  66  is connected by securing means  43  to upper circular bearing housing  42 . Each vertical rotational ring support  64  is connected to a horizontal rotational ring support  66  at one end and rotational ring  60  at the other end. Vertical shaft  90  is secured by securing means  43  to the horizontal rotational ring supports  66 . Triangular fillets  52  are attached to vertical shaft  90  and each horizontal rotational ring support  66  in a vertical position. 
     As generally shown in FIGS. 3 and 5, an electrical stimulus is provided to horse walker  10  by electrical means  120 . Electrical means  120  is able to connect to various parts of horse walker  10  in order to electrify the grid assemblies  110 . The preferred location to connect electrical means  120  is at lower circular bearing housing  44 . Once electrical current is supplied to electrical means  120 , all the parts including the radial arms  100  and grid assemblies  110  above the lower circular bearing housing  44  would be electrified. Another location, not shown, where electrical means is attached would be directly to each grid assembly  110 . 
     As generally shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, vertical shaft support assembly  50  is supported by apparatus support means  20 . The preferred embodiment of apparatus support means  20  has an apparatus support base  22 , a horizontal apparatus support ring  24 , and a plurality of vertical apparatus support legs  26  connected to apparatus support base  22  and supporting horizontal apparatus support ring  24 . In the preferred embodiment, apparatus support base is a series of three members  28  which provide stable support for the vertical apparatus support legs  26 . 
     As generally shown in FIGS. 3 and 5, in the preferred embodiment of the present invention, a plurality of isolators  30  are secured between the horizontal apparatus support ring  24  and the lower bearing housing  44 . These isolators provide support to the vertical support assembly  50  and act as an electrical current break such that all metal components attached above the isolators  30  could be electrified and all metal components attached below the isolators  30  are not electrified. 
     As shown in FIG. 4, rotational ring  60  has an edge  61  having an outer surface  63  and an inner surface  65 . 
     A drive means assembly  70  provides rotational movement to rotational ring  60 . In the preferred embodiment, drive means assembly  70  has a drive means  72 , such as an electrical or gas powered motor, connected to a drive means support assembly  74 . A drive wheel  76  is connected the drive shaft  78  of drive means  72 . 
     Drive means assembly  70  is positioned is such a fashion such that drive shaft  78  is substantially parallel to vertical shaft  90 . Drive wheel  76  is a frictional edge  77  is biased against the outer surface  63  of edge  61  of rotational ring  60 , so that rotation of the motor shaft  78  causes rotation of rotational ring  60 . Vertical shaft  90  and each radial arm  100  is likewise rotated. 
     The claims and the specification describe the invention presented and the terms that are employed in the claims draw their meaning from the use of such terms in the specification. The same terms employed in the prior art may be broader in meaning than specifically employed herein. Whenever there is a question between the broader definition of such terms used in the prior art and the more specific use of terms herein, the more specific meaning is meant. 
     While the invention has been described with a certain degree of particularity, it is manifest that many change may be made in the details of construction and the arrangement of components without departing from the spirit and scope of this disclosure. It is understood that the invention is not limited to the embodiments set forth herein for purposes of exemplification, but is to be limited only by the scope of the attached claim or claims, including the full range of equivalency to which each element thereof is entitled. 
     The present invention has been described in relation to the drawings attached hereto, but it should be understood that other and further modifications, apart from those shown or suggested herein, may be made within the spirit and scope of this invention.