Patent Description:
The invention generally encompasses an animal lift capable of securing an animal, raising the animal vertically to a desired height and rotating the animal along its longitudinal axis up to <NUM> degrees.

The invention is defined by an animal lift comprising : a lift mechanism; a vertical mast housing at least a portion of the lift mechanism; and a cradle comprising i) a horizontal shaft rotatably coupled to the lift mechanism about a longitudinal axis of rotation of the horizontal shaft, the horizontal shaft having a surface for engaging the sternum or underbelly of an animal along the animal's longitudinal axis from head to tail, and ii) a vertical side wall. Herein is also disclosed (although not claimed) an animal lift comprising: a lift mechanism; a vertical mast housing at least a portion of the lift mechanism; a horizontal shaft rotatably coupled to the lift mechanism about a longitudinal axis of rotation of the shaft; and a cradle coupled to the shaft, the cradle comprising i) a horizontal support member having a surface for engaging the sternum or underbelly of an animal along the animal's longitudinal axis from head to tail, and ii) a vertical side wall.

In a particular embodiment of this non claimed animal lift, the horizontal support member comprises a flat surface for engaging the sternum or underbelly of an animal. In a further embodiment, the horizontal support member has a rectangular cross-section and is approximately <NUM> inches long, <NUM> inches wide and <NUM> inches high (i.e., <NUM> inches x <NUM> inches x <NUM> inches). In another embodiment, the horizontal support member is <NUM>-<NUM> inches long, <NUM>-<NUM> inches wide and <NUM>-<NUM> inches high.

Optionally, the cradle further comprises a second vertical sidewall. further optionally, one or two vertical sidewalls are attached to the horizontal support member (in a non claimed embodiment), or to the horizontal shaft (in a claimed embodiment), by one or more attachment members. In a particular embodiment, the attachment members are adjustable in length so as to allow the cradle to be widened or narrowed, and/or the vertical side walls to be raised or lowered, as necessary to accommodate an animal. In yet a further embodiment, the cradle further comprises cushions or spacers, to place between the animal and the vertical sidewalls. In certain embodiments, the spacers are made of a material that conforms to the outer counter of the animal adjacent to the vertical side walls such as foam (e.g., polyethylene or polyurethane foam) or rubber. Optionally, the cradle comprises one or more straps coupled to the support member (in a non claimed embodiment) or the sidewall (in a claimed embodiment), for restraining the animal. In a further embodiment, the cradle comprises straps for securing the animal. The straps may be constructed of any suitable material, including but not limited to nylon. Optionally, the straps are attached to the horizontal support member (in a non claimed embodiment), one or more of vertical sidewalls, one or more attachment members or the horizontal shaft.

In yet another embodiment, the lift mechanism comprises a hydraulic lift mechanism. In a different embodiment, the lift mechanism comprises a pneumatic lift mechanism, including a pneumatic cylinder. In a particular embodiment of the invention, the hydraulic lift mechanism comprises a trolley, a hydraulic cylinder, a lift chain, and mast bearings. In a further embodiment, the hydraulic lift mechanism comprises a hydraulic pump. In yet a further embodiment, the hydraulic lift mechanism comprises a velocity fuse. In yet another embodiment of the invention, the animal lift further comprises a hydraulic control valve positioned on the vertical mast. Any known suitable lift mechanism may be employed in the invention in accordance with the knowledge of one of ordinary skill in the art.

In another embodiment of the invention, the animal lift further comprises a worm drive for rotating the horizontal shaft about its longitudinal axis of rotation. In a particular embodiment, the worm drive is self-locking. In another embodiment of the invention, one end of the horizontal shaft comprises, or is coupled to, a worm wheel. In a further embodiment, the worm screw comprises an axially extending shaft to which a hand crank is attached.

<FIG> do not form part of the invention but represent background art that is useful for understanding the invention.

<FIG>, depicts a non claimed animal lift <NUM>. The animal lift <NUM> as depicted shows a lift mechanism <NUM>, comprising a trolley <NUM> with mast bearings <NUM>, a hydraulic cylinder <NUM>, including a cylinder rod <NUM> with yolk <NUM> and pulley <NUM>, and a lift chain <NUM>. In certain embodiments (not depicted) a cable can be used instead of lift chain <NUM>. In other embodiments (not depicted) a pneumatic cylinder can be used instead of hydraulic cylinder <NUM>. The animal lift <NUM> further comprises a vertical mast <NUM> comprising two vertical c-channel members <NUM> in which the trolley <NUM> resides and a base <NUM> onto which the c-channel members <NUM> and the hydraulic cylinder <NUM> are secured. In certain embodiments, the c-channel members <NUM> can be coupled to each other anywhere along their length and/or at the top of the animal lift via a cross member or plate. The lift chain <NUM> is secured to the trolley <NUM> at one end of the lift chain <NUM> and to the base <NUM> at the other end of the lift chain <NUM> and passes over, and within a groove on, the pulley <NUM>. The animal lift <NUM> as depicted further comprises a horizontal shaft <NUM> rotatably coupled to the trolley <NUM> about a longitudinal axis of rotation of the horizontal shaft <NUM> and a cradle <NUM> coupled to the horizontal shaft <NUM>. The cradle <NUM> comprises a horizontal support member <NUM> for engaging the sternum or underbelly of an animal along the animal's longitudinal axis from head to tail. The horizontal support member <NUM>, in certain embodiments, can have a flat surface for engaging the sternum or underbelly of the animal. In certain embodiments, animal lift <NUM> is capable of lifting bovids and swine. Specifically, animal lift <NUM> is capable of lifting livestock weighing approximately <NUM>-<NUM> lbs or <NUM>-<NUM> lbs.

In a particular embodiment, the horizontal support member <NUM> has a rectangular cross-section and has dimensions of approximately <NUM> inches long, <NUM> inches wide and <NUM> inches high. In another embodiment, the horizontal support member <NUM> has a width of <NUM>-<NUM> inches or <NUM>-<NUM> inches. The cradle <NUM> as depicted in <FIG> further comprises two vertical side walls <NUM> coupled to the support member <NUM> along its longitudinal axis with attachment members <NUM>. The width and height of the cradle <NUM> should be sufficient to accommodate the relevant species of animal. Alternatively, in certain embodiments (not depicted), the attachment members <NUM> are adjustable in length so as to allow the cradle to be widened or narrowed, and/or the vertical side walls to be raised or lowered, as necessary to accommodate an animal. Attachment members <NUM> are spaced a sufficient distance from one another, and have a sufficiently low profile, to allow an animal to be easily walked into position over horizontal support member <NUM>. In yet a further embodiment, the animal lift <NUM> further comprises the use of cushions or spacers (not depicted) to place between the animal and the vertical sidewalls <NUM>. The spacers may be made of a material, such as foam (e.g., polyethylene or polyurethane foam) or rubber, that is able to conform to the outer contour of the animal adjacent to the vertical sidewalls <NUM>.

As depicted in <FIG>, the base <NUM> further comprises a pair of wheels <NUM> that engage the surface on which the animal lift <NUM> is placed when the animal lift <NUM> is tilted to a sufficient degree relative to the surface, thereby allowing the animal lift <NUM> to be moved if desired. The base <NUM> as shown further comprises two base members <NUM>, which extend from the base <NUM> parallel to the horizontal support member <NUM>. As shown in <FIG>, the base members <NUM> extend a distance to approximately match the length of the cradle <NUM>. The cradle <NUM> in the embodiment depicted in <FIG> further comprises a hinged gate <NUM> between vertical sidewalls <NUM> to assist in restraining an animal, especially when the animal lift <NUM> is in the lowered position and the animal's feet are still contacting the ground. Hinged gate <NUM> may further comprise a portion of a latch <NUM> for locking or securing hinged gate <NUM> in the closed position. One of the vertical sidewalls <NUM>, or attachment members <NUM>, may comprise the other portion of the latch <NUM>. Also depicted in <FIG> are fluid inlets <NUM> on the hydraulic cylinder <NUM> through which hydraulic fluid is pumped into the hydraulic cylinder.

In certain embodiments (not depicted), the animal lift <NUM> further comprises a hydraulic pump for moving fluid into the hydraulic cylinder <NUM> via fluid inlets <NUM>. Hoses from a hydraulic pump connect to fluid inlets <NUM>. In yet another embodiment (not depicted), a velocity fuse may be placed between a fluid inlet <NUM> of the hydraulic cylinder <NUM> and the hydraulic pump in order to prevent the animal lift from being abruptly lowered in the event of failure of the hydraulic system.

According to the invention (not depicted), the cradle <NUM> is comprised of horizontal shaft <NUM>, which engages the sternum or underbelly of an animal along the animal's longitudinal axis from head to tail, instead of horizontal support member <NUM>. In this embodiment, the vertical side walls <NUM> of cradle <NUM> are coupled to the horizontal shaft <NUM> via attachment members <NUM>. In such an embodiment, the portion of the horizontal shaft <NUM> that engages the sternum or underbelly of the animal can be flat.

<FIG> depicts one aspect of an example of the non claimed animal lift <NUM> that comprises a worm drive <NUM>. The worm drive <NUM> is comprised of a worm screw <NUM> and a worm wheel <NUM>. The worm drive <NUM> is coupled to the trolley <NUM>. One end of the horizontal shaft <NUM> comprises, or alternatively is coupled to, the worm wheel <NUM>. As depicted in <FIG>, the worm screw <NUM> further comprises an axially extending shaft to which a hand crank <NUM> is attached. Turning the hand crank <NUM> causes the horizontal shaft <NUM> to be rotated about its longitudinal axis, which in turn causes the cradle <NUM>, along with any animal contained therein, to be longitudinally rotated. In certain embodiments, the worm drive <NUM> is self-locking.

<FIG> and <FIG> depict one aspect of an example of the non claimed animal lift <NUM>. As depicted in <FIG> and <FIG>, a pair of mast bearings <NUM> engage the inner surface of each c-channel member <NUM> and allow the trolley <NUM> to move freely within the vertical mast <NUM> in the vertical dimension. As depicted in <FIG>, each pair of mast bearings <NUM> is attached to the trolley <NUM> at opposite ends of the trolley <NUM>.

In certain embodiments of the invention, the animal lift <NUM> is constructed substantially of metal, including but not limited to steel. In particular, in certain embodiments of the invention, certain components of the animal lift <NUM>, including the trolley <NUM>, mast bearings <NUM>, hydraulic cylinder <NUM>, yolk <NUM>, pulley <NUM>, lift chain <NUM>, vertical mast <NUM>, base <NUM>, horizontal shaft <NUM>, cradle <NUM>, vertical side walls <NUM>, attachment members <NUM>, worm drive <NUM> and/or hand crank <NUM> are constructed of steel of such metallurgical properties and manufactured to meet industry-accepted specifications for the anticipated loads and required durability. In other embodiments of the invention, other types of metals, including but not limited to aluminum and titanium, can used to construct the components of the animal lift <NUM>, according to the necessary load bearing properties needed for a particular application and as appropriate according to one of ordinary skill in the art. Similarly other materials such as fiberglass and plastics can be utilized in construction of certain components of the invention, as appropriate according to one of ordinary skill in the art.

An example of the animal lift <NUM> being operated is provided by way of the following nonlimiting example. An operator of the animal lift <NUM> lowers the lift mechanism <NUM> using a hydraulic control valve located on the vertical mast <NUM>. The cradle <NUM> is lowered to a height that allows the animal to easily step over the attachment members <NUM>. The animal is positioned so that the cradle's horizontal support member <NUM> is positioned to engage the sternum or underbelly of the animal along the animal's longitudinal axis from head to tail once the cradle <NUM> is lifted. As such, the animal's left fore and hind legs should be to the left the horizontal support member <NUM> and the animal's right fore and hind legs should be to the right of the horizontal support member <NUM>. Once the animal is roughly centered along the longitudinal axis of the cradle <NUM>, the hinged gate <NUM> is closed. Once the animal is comfortable and in position, the operator begins to lift the cradle <NUM> via operation of a hydraulic control valve (not depicted) located on the vertical mast <NUM>. The hydraulic control valve is operably coupled to the hydraulic cylinder <NUM> and allows the operator to raise and lower the cylinder rod <NUM>, and connected yolk <NUM> and pulley <NUM>, of the hydraulic cylinder <NUM> so as to raise and lower the cradle <NUM>. The operator raises the cradle to a height where the animal's feet are off of the ground. Once the animal's feet are off of the ground, the animal is examined and/or treated.

In certain embodiments of the invention, the animal is placed into an anesthetized or sedated state either once the animal's feet are off the ground, or prior to the animal's feet being lifted off of the ground but while supported by the horizontal support member <NUM>. After raising the animal to an appropriate height, the operator then turns the hand crank <NUM>, which rotates the horizontal shaft <NUM> about its longitudinal axis of rotation. In such a manner, the cradle <NUM> is rotated sufficiently by the operator to deposit the anaesthetized or sedated animal on an examination table in a supine position or on its side. In a particular embodiment of the invention, the cradle <NUM> is rotated so that the animal is on its side or in a near supine position while in the cradle <NUM>, and then the animal is slid out of the cradle <NUM> along one of the vertical sidewalls <NUM> and onto an examination table by the operator or additional personnel.

Claim 1:
An animal lift (<NUM>) comprising:
a lift mechanism (<NUM>);
a vertical mast (<NUM>) housing at least a portion of the lift mechanism (<NUM>); and
a cradle (<NUM>) comprising i) a horizontal shaft (<NUM>) rotatably coupled to the lift mechanism (<NUM>) about a longitudinal axis of rotation of the horizontal shaft (<NUM>), and ii) a vertical side wall (<NUM>),
characterised in that the horizontal shaft (<NUM>) has a surface for engaging the sternum or underbelly of an animal along the animal's longitudinal axis from head to tail.