Abstract:
A feed block holder having a generally U-shape configuration with a first mounting post adapted to be secured to a vertical fence post at a least two locations along the length of the mounting post, and a feed block support post that is adapted to receive a supplemental feed block with a base member interconnecting the mounting post and the feed block support post. The mounting post and the feed block support post preferably extend in the same direction such that the plurality of securing points on the mounting post counteracts the tendency of the holder to pivot in response to loading of a supplemental feed block such as a salt block on the feed block holder. The feed block support post is configured to have a inner larger diameter section and a outer smaller diameter section such that lateral stability of the feed block can be provided as a result of the engagement of the larger diameter section of the support post engaging with the inner walls of a cavity formed in the supplemental feed block.

Description:
RELATED APPLICATION 
     This application claims the benefit of U.S. provisional application Ser. No. 60/095,100 filed Aug. 3, 1998. 
    
    
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     1. Field of the Invention 
     The present invention relates to an apparatus for feeding livestock and, in particular, concerns an apparatus for mounting a salt or mineral block to a corral or fence post such that the salt or mineral block is elevated off the ground. 
     2. Description of the Related Art 
     It is well known that livestock often requires the addition of mineral supplements or salts to their everyday diet. Livestock are typically fed either by allowing the livestock to graze upon natural grasses or are fed hay or feed in a corral. The hay or feed can be comprised of alfalfa hay or any of a number of different types of feed grains. In addition to these feeds, most livestock, such as horses and cattle, require the addition of salt and various other minerals to be added to their diet for the livestock to maintain adequate health. 
     To address this dietary need, livestock owners typically provide supplemental blocks of feed salt minerals, or mineral laden salt to their animals. Often times, the livestock owner simply deposits the supplemental feed block on the ground at a location where the livestock can consume the supplemental feed block. Typically, a very large supplemental feed block can weigh upwards up to 50 pounds and can provide the necessary supplemental nutrition to the livestock for an extended period of time. 
     However, one difficulty of leaving the supplemental feed block on the ground is that it promotes waste of the feed block. In particular, if the supplemental feed block is positioned in the ground of a livestock corral, such as a horse corral, the feed block may be contaminated by dirt and manure to the point where the livestock will no longer consume the feed block. Similarly, the feed block may be damaged as a result of the livestock inadvertently stepping on the feed block. Moreover, by positioning the feed block on the ground, the feed block may also be dissolved if it is left to rest in water occurring as a result of rain or sprinkling. 
     Hence, it is often desirable to mount a supplemental feed block in a location where the feed block is not positioned on the ground. To address this need, some salt or feed block holders have been developed. In particular, U.S. Pat. No. 2,203,275 to Beyea disclose one typical prior art supplemental feed block holder. The salt block holder illustrated on the Beyea patent includes a platform that has a recess which is adapted to receive a generally cylindrical salt block and then an arm with a single clamp that is adapted to clamp on to a vertical post of a corral. While the apparatus disclosed in the Beyea patent allows for the mounting of supplemental feed blocks off of the ground, this particular block holder is limited in its capability and is expensive to manufacture. 
     In particular, the Beyea salt block holder has a receptacle in which a particular size of salt block is to be mounted. Salt blocks that do not have that configuration cannot be mounted in this particular receptacle. Moreover, the use of a receptacle necessitates that the receptacle be equipped with a drain as water and saliva would otherwise collect in the receptacle and begin to dissolve the salt block. 
     Moreover, the Beyea salt block holder is adapted to be used primarily with smaller salt blocks. The use of only a single clamp that clamps directly onto a vertical post of a corral or enclosure limits the total weight of the salt or supplemental feed block that can be supported by the holder over long periods of time. Larger supplemental feed blocks will result in a tremendous force being placed upon the single clamp as a result of the cantilevered loading. This can resolve in the clamp bending over time, damaging the fence post or loosening the holder from the vertical post. 
     Hence, it will appreciated that there is a continuing need for a salt or supplemental feed block holder that can be attached to corral post or fence post so as to maintain the supplemental feed block in an elevated position above the ground. To this end, there is a need for a supplemental feed block holder that can be used in conjunction with the number of different supplemental feed blocks having different configurations and is also adapted for supporting heavier supplemental feed blocks including feed blocks having weights in excess of approximately 50 pounds. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     The aforementioned needs are satisfied by the feed block holder of the present invention which, in one aspect, is comprised of a U-shape member defining a supplemental feed block post, a mounting post and an arm interconnecting the supplemental feed block post and the mounting post. The mounting post is adapted to be attached to a vertical post of a fence or corral at approximately a first end and approximately a second end of the mounting post to thereby distribute the force exerted upon the interconnection between the supplemental feed block apparatus and the corral or fence post. 
     In one embodiment, the supplemental feed block post is comprised of a single post that is adapted to be positioned within a cavity formed in supplemental feed blocks so as to retain the supplemental feed block thereon. In one particular embodiment, the supplemental feed block post has a first section of a first cross-sectional area and a second section of a second, smaller cross-sectional. Preferably, the larger first section of the post engages with the interior walls of the cavities formed in the feed blocks to securely retain the feed block thereon. The use of a smaller second section of the supplemental feed block post allows for feed blocks having openings of different sizes to be mounted on the post holder. In one embodiment, the U-shape member is attached to a vertical post of a fence or corral through the use of two panel clamps. 
     It will be appreciated that the U-shape configuration of the supplemental feed block mounting apparatus allows for more secure mounting of the apparatus to a vertical post such that larger feed blocks can be mounted on the apparatus. Moreover, the use of a mounting post as oppose to a tray reduces the problems associated with the accumulation of water about the supplemental feed block which can result in the supplemental feed block being damaged or dissolved. These and other objects and advantages of the present invention will become more fully apparent from the following description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings. 
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a supplemental feed block of the preferred embodiment; 
     FIG. 2 is a perspective view illustrating the attachment of the supplemental feed block of FIG. 1 to a vertical post of a corral; 
     FIG. 3A is a side view illustration of the supplemental feed post mounting apparatus of FIG. 1 illustrating how a supplemental feed post is supported by the mounting apparatus of FIG. 1; and 
     FIG. 3B is a cross-sectional cut-way view illustrating the manner in which a supplemental feed block is mounted on the supplemental feed block mounting apparatus of FIG.  1 . 
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT 
     Reference will now be made to the drawings wherein like numerals preferred to like parts throughout. FIG. 1 illustrates one embodiment of a supplemental feed block holder  100 . As illustrated on this embodiment, the supplemental feed block holder  100  is generally U-shape having a feed block post  102  that is adapted to receive a supplemental feed block  160  in a manner that will be described in greater detail below and a mounting post  104  that is adapted to be attached to a vertical post of a fence or corral. Both the supplemental feed block post  102  and the mounting post  104  extend outwardly in the same direction from a first side  112  of a base member  110  that interconnects the supplemental feed block post  102  and the mounting post  104 . As illustrated in FIG. 1, in this embodiment, the feed block post  102  is generally cylindrical in shape and has a first section  114  of a first diameter in a second section  116  of a second diameter that is less than the first diameter. The first section  114  is mounted on the upper face  112  of the face member  110  and the second section  116  is positioned on an outer face  120  of the first section  114  of the feed block post  102 . As is illustrated in FIG. 1 the outer end  122  of the mounting post  104  is preferably capped with a cap  122  that has a generally rounded configuration so as to reduce the risk of injury to livestock who rub up against the feed block holder  100 . 
     The supplemental feed block  100  is preferably adapted to allow for the mounting of particularly heavy supplemental feed blocks including salt blocks or blocks impregnated with supplemental minerals and nutrients that are to be consumed by livestock, such as horses and cattle. In one particular embodiment, the mounting post  104  is comprised of a 2 inch diameter aluminum tube with ½ inch thick walls that is approximately 6 inches in length and it is attached to the base member  110  which is comprised of a flat piece of aluminum which measures ⅜ of an inch thick by 2 and ½ inches wide by 8 inches long. The mounting post  104  is attached, preferably through well known welding techniques so as to be a ¼ of an inch from the end of the base member  110  and so as to be centered on the base member approximately ¼ of an inch from either side of the base member. The feed block support post  102  is also comprised of an aluminum tube or bar that is positioned ½ an inch from the end and centered on the base member  110  so as to be ½ of an inch from the sides of the base member. The first section  114  of the feed block post  102  is, in this embodiment, is 1½ inches in diameter and has a length of approximately 2 and ¼ inches. The second section  116  of the feed block post  102  has 1 inch in diameter and is 3 and ¼ inches long such that the feed block post  102  is approximately 5 and ½ inches long. The outer surface of the second section  116  of these feed block post  102  can be configured so as to be adapted to receive supplemental feed blocks having openings of different configurations. For example, in one embodiment, the feed block post  102  can have a tapered shape so as to better support feed block having conical shaped openings. It will be appreciated that the dimensions listed herein are simply exemplary dimensions of one particular embodiment of the invention and should not be taken as limitation on the overall size of the feed block hold as the feed block holder  100  can be adapted to support feed blocks of any of a number of different sizes and shapes without departing from the spirit of the present invention. 
     Referring now to FIG. 2, the manner in which the feed block holder  100  is attached to a vertical post  130  of a fence  132  is illustrated. In particular, the use of the elongate mounting post  104  allows for the attachment of the feed block holder  100  at two different vertical locations through the use of securing devices  140  such as clamps or straps. In particular, as illustrated in FIG. 2, the mounted post  104  is attached to the vertical post  130  at a bottom end  142  of the mounting post  104  with a first securing device  140   a  which, in this embodiment, is comprised of a clamp that is adapted to fit about both the mounting post  104  and a circular pipe comprising the vertical post  130  such as the types of pipes that are commonly used in horse pipe corral structures. Similarly, a second securing device  140   b  is attached to the upper end  144  of the mounting post at approximately the same height above the base member  110  as the top of the feed block post  102  using a securing device  140   b  such as a clamp. 
     In this embodiment, the securing devices  140   a,    140   b  are comprised of clamps that have a first member  150   a and a second member  150   b  each of which define generally circular recesses that are adapted to receive the generally circular mounting post  104  and the generally circular fence post  130 . The clamp members  150   a,    150   b  are interconnected with a nut and bolt assembly  152  that attaches the clamp members  150   a,    150   b  together at the middle of the clamp members  150   a,    150   b,  such that tightening of the nut and bolt assembly  152  squeezes the mounting post  104  and the fence post  130  between the recesses define by the clamp members  150   a,    150   b  such that the mounting post  104  is secured to the vertical post  130 . These types of clamps are well known in the art and, it will be appreciated, that there are simply exemplary of one preferred type of device for securing the feed block holder  100  to the fence  132  and that any of a number of different securing devices can be used without departing from the spirit of the present invention. 
     As is illustrated in FIG. 3A, a feed block  160  which, in this embodiment, is comprised of a salt block that is generally in a shape of a cube that is generally approximately 8 inches tall by 8 inches wide by 8 inches deep is mounted so as to be centered on the feed block mounting post  102 . The feed block mounting post  102  extends into the approximate middle of the block  160  such that the block  160  is securely positioned on the feed block post  102 . It will be appreciated that because the supplemental feed block  160  is relatively heavy, e.g. up to 50 pounds or more in weight, and is mounted so as to be cantilevered out from the fence post  130  by the base member  110 , the tendency of the supplemental feed block holder  100  under the force of the supplemental feed block  160  is to rotate about a pivot point which occurs at approximately the interconnection between the bottom end  142  of the mounting post  104  where the securing device  140   a attaches the feed block holder  100  to the fence post  130 . However, the use of an upper securing device  140   b  that secures the top end  144  of the mounting post  104  to the fence post  130  effectively counter acts the tendency of the feed block holder  100  to pivot in response to the loading of the feed block holder  100  by the heavy supplemental feed block  160 . In this way, the supplemental feed block holder  100  is able to be more securely attached to the fence post  130  such that is will stay rigidly attached to the vertical post  130  over longer periods of time without straining or breaking the securing devices  140   a,    140   b.    
     FIG. 3B further illustrates the manner in which a supplemental feed block  160 , such as a salt block is mounted on the feed block post  102 . In particular, most commonly sold salt blocks  160  have an aperture or cavity  162  that is generally tapered inward as illustrated in the cut way view of FIG.  3 B. The second section  116  of the feed block post  102  is dimensioned so as to be able to extend to the apex  164  of the aperture  162  in the salt block  160 . The outer surface  120  of the larger diameter first section  114  of the feed block post  102  gouges into the inter walls  166  of the aperture or cavity  162  so as to secure the salt block  160  on the feed block post  102 . Moreover, the tip  165  of the second section  116  engages with the apex  164  so as to further laterally stabilize the feed block  160  on the holder. Hence, the outer perimeter of the first section  114  of the feed block post  102  and the tip  165  of the second section  116  has the effect of laterally stabilizing the salt block  160  on the feed block post  102 . It will be appreciated that significant forces will be exerted upon the feed block  160  when livestock are eating the outer surfaces of the feed block  160 . These significant forces can result in a feed block being dislodged from the feed block post  102 , however, the use of larger diameter outer surfaces on the first section  114  of the feed block post  102  inhibits the dislodgment of the feed block  160  from the feed block post  102  as a result of livestock eating the feed block. Moreover, some feed blocks  160  have smaller diameter aperture  162  and the use of multiple sections on the feed block post  102  having different dimensions facilitates the mounting of feed blocks having different size apertures. 
     As is also illustrated in FIG. 3B, the feed block post  102  extends into the center of the supplemental feed block  160  about the same distance that the second end  144  of the mounting post  104  extends outward from the base member  110 . By attaching the second end  144  of the mounting post  104  with a separate securing device  140   b,  the tendency of the holder  100  to pivot as a result of the weight of the block  160  is reduced due to the center of mass of the block  160  being supported at substantially the same height that the second end  144  of the mounting post  104  is attached to the fence post  130 . 
     From the foregoing, it will be appreciated that the feed block holder  100  of the preferred embodiment is more securely mounted to a fence post, more securely retains a supplemental feed block such as a salt block and is more flexible in being able accommodate supplemental feed blocks of different sizes and manufactures. Moreover, as the feed block is essentially comprised of three components in this embodiment, the feed block post of the preferred embodiment is more inexpensively manufactured than the more complex feed block mounting structures of the prior art. Consequently, an inexpensive, stable feed block holder is now available for livestock owners to mount supplemental feed blocks in a position where they are elevated from the ground and are thus less prone to contamination and damage as a result of being positioned on the ground. 
     Although the foregoing description of the preferred embodiment of the present invention has shown, described and pointed out the fundamental novel features of the invention, it will be understood that various omissions, substitutions, and changes on the form of the detail of the apparatus as illustrated as well as the uses thereof, may be made by those skilled in the art without departing from the spirit of the present invention. Consequently, the scope of the present invention should not be limited to the foregoing discussions, but should be defined by the appended claims.