Patent ID: 7770542

Claim:
An improved squeeze chute for restraining a livestock animal, wherein the squeeze chute is of the type having a longitudinal center plane and opposing pivoting side frames that pivot between a first open position and a second closed position for holding an animal and two opposing forward head doors pivotably mounted to the forward ends of each of the side frames for pivoting in unison between an open position and a closed positions about generally upright axes of rotation which are spaced away from the head doors to cause the head doors to pivot away from an animal as they open, the head doors defining an opening for receiving the head and neck of a livestock animal, the improvement comprising; (a) first and second neck bar assemblies, the first neck bar assembly mounted to one of the head doors, the second neck bar assembly mounted to the opposite one of the head doors, (b) each of the neck bar assemblies including a neck bar, at least one pivot link pivotably connected at least indirectly between the head door and the neck bar, the at least one pivot link arranged such that the motion of the at least one pivot link occurs about a vertical axis, and an actuator operable for moving between a retracted position and an extended position which connects at least indirectly between the head door and the neck bar for movement of the neck bar relative to the head door, the actuator, the neck bar and the at least one pivot link arranged such that when the actuator is moved from the retracted position to the extended position, the neck bar moves between a first neck bar position and a second neck bar position, the first neck bar position characterized by proximity of the neck bar to the head door and transverse separation of the neck bar from the center plane of the squeeze chute, the second neck bar position characterized by longitudinal separation of the neck bar from the head door and transverse proximity of the neck bar to the center plane of the squeeze chute, the actuator mechanism of the first neck bar assembly and the actuator of the second neck bar assembly being operable in at least three modes: a first mode wherein, the neck bar of the first neck bar assembly remains in the first neck bar position as the neck bar of the second neck bar assembly moves from the first neck bar position to the second neck bar position, a second mode wherein, the neck bar of the second neck bar assembly remains in the first neck bar position as the neck bar of the first neck bar assembly moves from the first neck bar position to the second neck bar position, and a third mode wherein both neck bars move in unison between the first neck bar position and the second neck bar position.