Patent ID: 7591411

Claim:
In an electrically powered animal prod comprising a handle containing a source of electrical power and a switch for activating the electrical power, a shaft attached to the handle and an end portion attached to the other end of the shaft opposite the handle, the end portion containing two or more spaced apart contactors protruding from said end portion, contactors that communicate with the electrical power source through the switch to cause a motivating current to flow between the spaced apart contactors when the contactors are placed against the hide or skin of an animal, the improvement comprising a flexible shaft that produces superior performance to rigid shafts including ease of use, effectiveness and durability of the animal prod and wherein said shaft comprises an elastomeric flexible sheath surrounding at least most of the length of a flexible rod, the flexible rod having a flexibility such that a force of about 2750+/−550 grams acting generally perpendicular to the rod at a first point about 24 inches from a fixed, second point on the rod will deflect the rod about 6 inches at said first point.