Improvements in the Construction of Hen-coops.
Year: 1894

page_text: Date of Application, 1st Feb., 1894
Complete Specification Left, 10th Oct., 1894-Accepted, 17th Nov., 1894
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in the Construction of Hen-coops.
HENRY CHAMPNESS, of South Street Bishop's Stortford in the County of
Hertfordshire Builder and Contractor do hereby declare the nature of this
invention to be as follows:-
The front of hen-coops as usually constructed consists of a series of vertical bars
rigidly fixed at such distance apart as to allow of the young chicks passing freely
between. At night, or when required to confine the chicks to the coop, a separate
shutter is used to enclose the whole.
Now by my invention, I so construct the front of the hen-coop that a separate
shutter is dispensed with the front of said hen-coop being enclosed (when required)
by the bars themselves.
This I accomplish by so constructing the front, that the bars, of which there
are usually about seven, are each pivoted at top and bottom, in their containing
frame, either by forming a pin on the wood itself, or by inserting a metal pin at
each end, or by affixing a metal shoe at each end, such shoe having a pin projecting
therefrom, or by any other provision whereby the said bars can be so arranged as
to be free to rotate about a central vertical axis. These bars I prefer to
construct about 3 inches wide, by about inch thick, so that when turned with
their widest diameter transversely to the front of hen-coop they admit of the free
passage of the chicks between, but when turned a quarter revolution that is, with
their widest diameter in a line with front of coop, by touching each other edge to
edge, they completely fill the opening of front of hencoop and so prevent the exit
of young chicks.
I prefer to form a rebate on the alternate and opposite angles at edges of each
bar, that by interlocking they exclude all draught & cold, and in fact take the
place of a separate shutter.
In a suitable position, preferably near the top, and inside the hencoop I affix to
each bar a short arm or lever, (in using a metal shoe to form the pivot for the bars,
this lever would form part of the said metal shoe).
At a convenient height, preferably at top and within the hencoop a sliding rod
of wood or other suitable material is arranged to slide in a direction parallel with
the front of the hen-coop. To this rod the free end of the lever projecting from
the back of each bar is connected in such manner that on sliding the rod all the
bars are simultaneously caused to make a quarter revolution, in one or other
direction and so open or close the front of hencoop, according as the sliding bar is
moved from right to left or from left to right, by allowing the ends of this sliding
rod to pass through, & project beyond, the sides of coop, the coop can be opened
or closed with great facility-a button or other suitable fastening, by securing the
sliding rod prevents the same shifting by accident when once placed in the desired
position.
Dated this 30th day of January 1894.

page_text: Improvements in the Construction of Hen-coops.
I HENRY CHAMPNESS of South Street, Bishop's Stortford, Herts, Builder and
Contractor do hereby declare the nature of this invention and in what manner
the same is to be performed, to be particularly described and ascertained in and by
the following statement :-
The front of hencoops as usually constructed, consists of a series of vertical
bars rigidly fixed at such distance apart as to allow of the young chicks passing
freely between. At night or when required to confine the chicks to the coop a
seperate shutter is used to enclose the whole. Now by my invention I so construct
the front of the hencoop that a seperate shutter is dispensed with, the front of
hencoop being enclosed (when required) by the bars themselves. This [
accomplish by so constructing the front that the bars of which there are usually
about seven, are each pivotted at top and bottom in their containing frame either
by forming a pin on the wood itself or by inserting a metal pin at each end or by
affixing a metal shoe at each end such shoe, having a pin projecting therefrom,
or by any other provision whereby the said bars can be so arranged as to be free
to rotate about a central vertical axis. These bars I prefer to construct about
3 inches wide by about inch thick, so that when turned with their widest
diameter transversely to the front of hen coop they admit of the free passage of
the chicks between, but when turned a quarter revolution, that is, with their widest
diameter in a line with front of hencoop, by touching, or lapping each other edge
to edge they completely fill the opening of front of hen coop and so prevent the
exit of the chicks.
I prefer to form a rebate on both edges of each bar, the said rebate on one edge
being on the inside and on the other edge being outside of the bar-so that by
each bar interlocking with the adjacent one edge to edge they exclude all draught
and so render a seperate shutter uunecessary.
Iu a suitable position, preferably near the top and inside the hencoop, I affix to
each bar a short arm or lever (in using a metal shoe to form the pivot for the
bars, this lever would form part of the said metal shoe).
At a convenient height preferably at top & within the hen coop a sliding rod of
wood or other suitable material is arranged to slide in a direction parallel with
the front of hencoop. To this rod the free end of the short lever projecting from
the back of each bar is connected in such a manner that on sliding the rod all the
bars are simultaneously caused to each make a quarter revolution in one or other
direction and so open or close the front of hen-coop according as the sliding rod
is moved from right to left or from left to right. This sliding rod can be actuated
by any suitable means from the outside of the coop either by letting ends project
through the sides of the coop, or by means of suitable lever working on top of
frame of front and can be fastened by a metal or other button or by any other
ordinary means whereby it can be retained in position & so prevent the bars from
being rotated.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed I declare that what I
claim is―
1. The construction of the front of a hencoop as to dispense with a seperate
shutter.

page_text: 2. Forming & pivoting the bars of front in manner substantially as described.
3. The use of a sliding rod to open or close the front of hencoop by one
movement.
HY. CHAMPNESS.