Patent ID: 8051805

Claim:
A one way gate for animals comprising: a pair of parallel panels defining a passage therebetween for the animals to pass; a first transverse rail at a height above the passage; a plurality of first fingers connected to the first rail at positions spaced across the passage to prevent the animal from passing between the plurality of first fingers; the first fingers being pivotal in a forward direction of the passage about a first transverse horizontal axis at or adjacent the first rail between a first depending position, in which the first fingers extend downwardly from the first rail across the passage to prevent the animal from passing underneath the downwardly extending first fingers, and a second raised position, in which the animal can pass underneath the raised first fingers; a first stop member arranged to prevent pivotal movement of the first fingers from the first depending position in a rearward direction of the passage opposite to said forward direction to prevent the animal from moving past the first fingers in the reverse direction; a second transverse rail at a height above the passage; a plurality of second fingers connected to the second rail at positions spaced across the passage to prevent the animal from passing between the plurality of second fingers; the second fingers being pivotal in a forward direction of the passage about a second transverse horizontal axis at or adjacent the second rail between a first depending position, in which the second fingers extend downwardly from the second rail across the passage to prevent the animal from passing underneath the downwardly extending second fingers, and a second raised position, in which the animal can pass underneath the raised second fingers; a second stop member arranged to prevent pivotal movement of the second fingers from the first depending position in a rearward direction of the passage opposite to said forward direction to prevent the animal from moving past the second fingers in the reverse direction said one direction with a stop member provided to prevent rotation in the opposite direction; the second rail and the second axis being spaced along the passage in said forward direction by a distance from the first rail and the first axis; the first fingers being pivotal about the first axis between the first depending position and the second raised position independently of pivotal movement of the second fingers about the second axis between the first depending position and the second raised position; the distance being less than 3.0 feet so as to be less than the length of the animal to prevent an animal being located between the rails; and the distance being greater than 0.5 feet such that an animal attempting to lift the second fingers cannot simultaneously lift the first fingers.