Patent ID: 7918191

Claim:
A cattle chute comprising: a. a base frame having two side walls and an entry passage on a first end of the base frame and an exit passage on a second end of the base frame; b. an entry gate hingedly mounted on the first end of the base frame and moveable between an open position and a closed position; c. an exit gate hingedly mounted on the second end of the base frame and moveable between an exit open position and an exit closed position; d. a floor disposed within the base frame having a first end of the floor pivotably mounted to the base frame proximal the entry gate and adjacent a ground area located under the base frame and a second end of the floor moveable between a raised position and a lowered position closer to the ground area than the raised position; e. a linkage assembly in communication with the entry gate, the exit gate, the floor, and a biasing mechanism for applying a first biasing force to keep the entry gate in the open position and to keep the exit gate closed, wherein a force applied by an animal stepping on the floor proximal the moveable second end moves the floor into the lowered position and overcomes the first biasing force to move the entry gate to the closed position and stores a second biasing force in a spring; and f. a release mechanism for releasing the stored second biasing force to open the exit gate.