Poultry carriers and methods of restraining poultry
AssigneeNova-Tech Engineering, Inc.
InventorsMarc S. Gorans, Matthew Henry Erickson
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
Bird carriers and methods of restraining birds are disclosed. Each bird carrier may include a torso support, one or more leg clamps, and a head support. The head support may further include a beak receiving passage such that at least a portion of the birds' beaks are exposed. The bird carriers may restrain one or both legs and heads of the birds while supporting their torsos. Restraining the legs and the heads of the birds while supporting their torsos may produce a calming effect such that the birds exhibit significantly reduced struggling in an attempt to free themselves from the carrier.
Claims25
A carrier apparatus for restraint of a live bird, the apparatus comprising:
- a torso support element shaped to support and retain the torso of a live bird restrained in the carrier;
- a leg clamp apparatus operably attached to the torso support element, the leg clamp positioned to receive and retain a leg of a live bird restrained in the carrier, wherein the leg clamp apparatus comprises an open configuration in which the leg can be positioned in the leg clamp apparatus and a closed configuration in which the leg is retained in the leg clamp;
- a head support operably attached to the torso support element and positioned to receive a head of a bird restrained in the carrier with its chest supported against the torso support element;
- and
- a head clamp operably attached to the head support, wherein the head clamp and the head support cooperate to receive and retain a head of a bird between the head clamp and the head support.
A method of restraining a live bird in a carrier apparatus, the method comprising:
- positioning the torso of a live bird proximate a torso support element of a carrier apparatus, wherein the torso support element is shaped to support and retain the torso of the bird restrained in the carrier;
- restraining at least one leg of the bird in a leg clamp apparatus that is operably attached to the torso support element;
- and
- restraining the head of the bird against a head support operably attached to the torso support element, wherein a head clamp is operably connected to the head support and cooperates with the head support to receive and retain the head of a bird between the head clamp and the head support.
A carrier apparatus for restraint of a live bird, the apparatus comprising:
- a torso support element shaped to support and retain the torso of a live bird restrained in the carrier;
- a torso clamp operably connected to the torso support element, the torso clamp movable between an open configuration and a closed configuration, wherein the torso of a live bird can be positioned in the torso support element when the torso clamp is in the open configuration, and wherein the torso clamp retains the torso of a live bird restrained in the carrier in contact with the torso support element when the torso clamp is in the closed configuration;
- a leg clamp apparatus operably attached to the torso support element, the leg clamp positioned to receive and retain a leg of a live bird restrained in the carrier, wherein the leg clamp apparatus comprises an open configuration in which the leg can be positioned in the leg clamp apparatus and a closed configuration in which the leg is retained in the leg clamp;
- a head support operably attached to the torso support element and positioned to receive a head of a bird restrained in the carrier;
- and
- a head clamp operably attached to the head support, wherein the head clamp and the head support cooperate to receive and retain a head of a bird between the head clamp and the head support.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.