Abstract:
A portable insert fits within an existing animal release chute to reduce the volume of the pen and thereby provide more confinement for a smaller animal, thereby providing greater safety for the animal. The position of the portable insert may be adjusted with respect to the animal release chute, and mechanisms. Adjustable spacing members maintain the entire insert in fixed position within the chute.

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
     This is a non-provisional application of U.S. Application No. 61/732,318 filed on Dec. 1, 2012 to which application this inventor claims domestic priority. 
    
    
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     This invention generally relates to confinement apparatus for livestock and more specifically relates to an apparatus which attaches within an existing animal chute for releasing an animal into an arena, such as a rodeo arena. The prevent invention provides additional confinement within the larger animal chute, providing smooth inside facing surfaces which provide a barrier to structures within the chute which may injure the animal. The present invention further provides an optional pivoting top panel which closes over the animal&#39;s head and shoulders, thereby providing further containment of the animal and a sense of security to the animal. 
     A variety of animals are utilized in rodeos, western shows, livestock competitions, etc. In the various events in which the animals are used, the animals are often released into an arena, corral, ring, etc. (hereinafter “arena”) through a “chute.” The chute, typically configured as a rectangular pen, typically opens on a long side, with the animal initially standing within the chute with the animal&#39;s side facing the arena. Thus, when the gate of the chute opens, the animal pivots to enter the arena. For bull riding events, the chute is referred to as a “bucking chute.” 
     In some livestock competitions, the contestant&#39;s score in some events, such as bull riding, includes a factor which takes into consideration the strength of the animal and the animal&#39;s style of bucking. For example, in bull riding, a perfect score would be 100 points, based upon two judges who judge both the rider and the bull. Each judge will give up to 25 points to the rider, determined by how much control is shown throughout the eight seconds of the ride. Each judge will give a score of 25 points to the bull, based on his strength and style of bucking. The combined points given by the two judges are added together to determine competitor&#39;s score. Thus, certain rodeo events, such as bull riding, require an animal which has been strengthened and trained, which requires a substantial investment in the animal. 
     The training of an animal, such as a bull, typically begins when the animal is young and not fully grown. The animals may be bred for a variety of different qualities such as extreme strength, temperament, and the ability to jump high and spin fast. Time, patience, skill, and money are critical to the proper training of the animal. The cost of raising bucking bulls can be extensive, especially when the associated the entry fees, vet bills, hauling, insurance, etc. are considered. Thus, the overall investment in the animal, in the breeding, raising and training, can be enormous. A championship animal is extremely valuable and prudence dictates that the animal be reasonably protected from injury through the training process. 
     The typical bucking chute is approximately eight feet in length and thirty-two inches wide. These dimensions are designed for full grown animals, where the animal, because of its size, has restricted movement within the chute. However, a young animal inside the typical bucking chute has a significant amount of free space which allows significant movement of the animal. The lack of confinement can be detrimental to the animal. The animal has greater room to move, twist, jump, etc., within the chute, which allows the animal to injure itself on the inside of the chute, or to catch limbs within structural members of the chute. The combination of excess movement with the catching of a limb can result in catastrophic injury to the animal, such as breaking of the limb, which renders the animal unfit for competition and resulting in significant loss to the animal owner. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     Embodiments of the method and apparatus disclosed herein provide a solution to the problem described above. The present invention is used in combination with the known animal release chutes, where the animal release chute is of the type comprising a front, a back, a first side and a second side. A four-legged animal may be placed within the release chute with the animal&#39;s head facing the front of the chute, wherein the first side is pivotally attached to either the front or the back and may be pivoted from a first closed position in which the first side is parallel to the second side and the animal is confined within the pen to a second open position in which the first side is not parallel to the second side and an opening is formed through which the animal may exit the release chute. The portable insert utilized in combination with the animal release chute comprises a generally vertical front member disposed parallel and adjacent to the front of the release chute and a generally vertical side member which is attached to the front member. The side member may be disposed parallel and adjacent to the second side. To secure the insert within the animal release chutes, the portable insert comprises one or more adjustable spacing members which extend forward of the front member, where the spacing member may telescope forward into engaging contact with the front of the release chute. One or more support hangers are attached to the side member which are use to hang the side member to the second side. The side member comprises spacing members which are positioned in engaging contact with the second side to further secure the insert in place within the chute. The portable insert may further comprise a cover member pivotally attached to the front member, wherein the cover member may be lowered into a generally horizontal position above the location where the animal&#39;s head will be positioned. 
     When the portable insert is positioned within the animal release chute, prior to the opening of the first side, the animal is confined within an enclosure having relatively smooth sides defined by the front member of the portable insert at the head of the animal, the back of the release chute at the rear of the animal, the first side of the release chute positioned at the side of the animal facing the arena, and the side member of the portable insert at the opposite side of the animal. 
     Embodiments of the disclosed insert may be utilized to effectively reduce the inside space of an animal release chute such that the space is appropriate and safe for the size of the animal. For example, a chute having an eight foot length and thirty-two inch width may be converted, by placement of an embodiment of the disclosed insert, to having effective dimensions (i.e., the space occupied by the animal) of a six foot length and a twenty-four inch width. The disclosed insert is maintained in a fixed position within the chute by the use of hangers which attach the insert to the back side of the chute, and structural spacers which engage the front of the chute and the back side of the chute, while allowing animals to enter through the back of the chute, as per the current practice. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         FIG. 1  shows a front view of a known chute utilized for releasing an animal, such as a bull, into an arena. 
         FIG. 2  shows the chute of  FIG. 1 , with the release gate in an open position, looking toward the front of the chute. 
         FIG. 3  shows the chute of  FIG. 1 , with the release gate in an open position, looking toward the back of the chute. 
         FIG. 4  shows a view of an embodiment of the disclosed invention, looking toward the insides of the front member and the side member. 
         FIG. 5  shows a view of an embodiment of the disclosed invention, looking toward the outside of the side member. 
         FIG. 6  shows a oblique view of an embodiment of the disclosed invention, looking toward the outside of the front member and the side member. 
         FIG. 7  shows a side view of the front member, showing the bracing members extending forward of the front member. 
         FIG. 8  shows a detailed view of the lower bracing member extending forward of the front member. 
         FIG. 9  shows a detailed view of a hanging member extending outwardly from the side member. 
         FIG. 10  shows the spacing members extending outwardly at the lower portion of the side member. 
         FIG. 11  shows an embodiment of the disclosed invention disposed inside the chute depicted in  FIG. 1 . 
         FIG. 12  shows a second view of an embodiment of the disclosed invention disposed inside the chute depicted in  FIG. 1 . 
         FIG. 13  shows a partial view, looking downwardly, of an embodiment of the disclosed invention disposed inside the chute depicted in  FIG. 1 . 
         FIG. 14  schematically shows a top view of an embodiment of the disclosed invention. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE EMBODIMENTS 
     Referring specifically to the figures,  FIGS. 1-3  depict a known chute utilized for releasing an animal, such as a bull, into an arena. The chute  100  comprises a front  102 , a back  104 , a first side  106  and a second side  108 . The chute  100  is typically eight feet in length, which is the typical distance between front  102  and back  104 . The chute  100  is typically thirty-two inches wide, which is the typical distance between first side  106  and second side  108 . Back  104  will typically pivotally open to allow an animal to be placed within the release chute  100  with the animal&#39;s head facing the front  102 . First side  106  is pivotally attached to either front  102  or back  104 . First  1  shows the first side  106  in a closed position, in which the first side is parallel to the second side  108 .  FIG. 2  shows the first side  106  pivotally attached to front  102  with pivot  110 , with the first side in an open position, where the first side is no longer parallel to the second side  108 , such that an animal originally contained within chute  100  may exit the chute through the opening into the arena. 
       FIGS. 4-10  depict an embodiment of the portable insert  10  before it is placed within the chute  100 . The portable insert  10  comprises a front member  12  which is attached to a side member  14 . As shown in the figures, the front member  12  and side member  14  form half of a rectangle, such that an approximate right angle is formed between the front member and the side member. As depicted in the figures, the front member  12  and side member  14  may have upper portions  16  which comprise a vertical post-horizontal rail construction such that the insert does not cut off visibility within the chute  100 . The upper portions  16  will be positioned sufficiently high on the front member  12  and side member  14  such that an animal cannot easily insert a limb or the animal&#39;s head into the openings. However, the lower portions of the front member  12  and side member  14 , i.e., the portions below the upper portions  16 , preferably have a smooth wall construction on the inside-facing wall, i.e., the surface facing the animal. The smooth wall construction protects the animal from being injured from any structure or surface projecting from the inside-facing wall. 
       FIG. 5  shows the outside facing wall  18  of the side member  14 , showing how structural members  20  may be utilized in the construction of the side member.  FIG. 5  also shows the adjustable hangers  22  which are utilized to attach the portable insert  10  to the second side  108  of the chute  100 . Adjustable hangers  22  may be vertically repositioned by pins or fasteners which are inserted within openings in a rail member.  FIG. 5  also shows an optional lid member  24  which may be pivotally attached to the front member  12 . Lid member  24  may be lowered over the animal&#39;s head to provide a barrier to vertical movement, provide sense of containment or security to the animal, or to limit the animal&#39;s vision while inside the chute  100 . 
       FIG. 6  shows the portable insert  10  viewed from the outside of the front member  12 , showing the use of external structural members  20  to fabricate the front member.  FIG. 6  also shows spacing members  24  at the bottom of side member  14 . The spacing members  24  are utilized to properly space side member  14  from second side  108 , and to rigidly retain the insert  10  in position with respect to the second side. 
       FIG. 7  shows a side view of the front member  12  of the portable insert  10 . As shown in  FIG. 7 , front member  12  may comprise spacing members  26  which extend forwardly from the front member. The spacing members  26  may each comprise a front portion  28  which is positionable into engaging contact with the front  102  when the portable insert  10  is placed within the chute  100 . Spacing members  26  are adjustable such that the standoff between front member  12  and front  102  is maintained in fixed position, with respect to front  102 . It is to be appreciated that the spacing members  26  are adjusted when the back end of side member  14  is in engaging contact with back  104 , such that adjustment of spacing members  26  rigidly retains the insert in position with respect to front  102  and back  104 . When the spacing members  24  and the spacing members  26  are properly positioned, the insert  10  will be locked into position within the chute  100 , providing a fixed and rigid structure for containment of the animal. 
       FIG. 8  shows the front member  12  viewed from the front, showing greater detail of spacer member  26  located at the bottom of the front member and the front portion  28  which may comprise a flat plate for engagement with front  102 . As shown in  FIG. 8 , spacing member  26  may be made adjustable, such as by utilizing a telescoping construction to allow the front portion  26  to extend forward. 
       FIG. 9  shows a detailed view of a hanger member  22 , showing how the vertical position of the hanger member may be adjusted for hanging the insert  10  on second side  108 . The adjustability of hanger member  22  allows the adjustment of the vertical position of the hanger member with respect to the various rail configurations which may be present on second side  108 . 
       FIG. 10  shows another view of side member  14 , showing how spacing members  24  may be located for engagement with the bottom portion of second side  108 . 
       FIGS. 11 and 12  show an embodiment of the insert  10  placed within a chute  100 , where the first side  106  of the chute is in the open position. It is to be noted that front member  12  is abutted against front  102  and maintained in that position by spacer member  26 . The adjustable hangers  22  are utilized to attach the portable insert  10  to the second side  108  of the chute  100 , while spacing members  24  maintain the position of side member  14  with respect to second side  108 . Because of the rigid construction of the insert  10 , spacing members  24  and  26  serve to maintain the entire insert in fixed position within the chute  100 . 
       FIG. 13  shows how adjustable hangers  22  hang the insert  10  onto the second side  108  and how the front portion  28  of spacer member  26  is utilized to maintain the position of insert  10  with respect to the front  102  of the chute  100 .  FIG. 13  shows the first side  106  of the chute  100  in a closed position.  FIG. 13  also shows optional lid member  24  in a closed position. As shown in  FIG. 13 , various means may be utilized for securing lid  24  in the closed position, such as a chain and catch configuration. 
       FIG. 14  schematically shows a plan view of insert  10 , showing the relative positions of the front member  12 , the side member  14 , spacer member  26  and adjustable hangers  22 . 
     While the above is a description of various embodiments of the present invention, further modifications may be employed without departing from the spirit and scope of the present invention. For example, the size, shape, and/or material of the various components may be changed as desired. Thus the scope of the invention should not be limited by the specific structures disclosed. Instead the true scope of the invention should be determined by the following appended claims.