# US 11,297,844 B2 · Carcass hanging device and method for hanging an animal carcass > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 11,297,844 B2 - Document ID: US11297844B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 16/945,980 - Filed: 2020-08-03 - Published: 2022-02-03 - Granted: 2022-04-12 - Earliest claimed: 2020-08-03 - Applicants: NSC Beef Processing, LLC - Inventors: Gary Steven Hendrix - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US11297844B2 ## CPC - A22B 7/002: {Devices for hanging animal carcasses while being conveyed or stored, e.g. gambrels, hooks} - A22C 15/00: Apparatus for hanging-up meat or sausages {(filling and conveying sausage products during manufacture A22C11/00; transport through slaughterhouses A22B7/001; poultry shackles A22C21/0007; conveying poultry A22C21/0053)} - A22C 17/02: Apparatus for holding meat or bones while cutting {(holding fish A22C25/06; holding meat for carving A47J43/18)} - A22B: SLAUGHTERING - A22C: PROCESSING MEAT, POULTRY, OR FISH (preserving A23B; obtaining protein compositions for foodstuffs A23J1/00; fish, meat or poultry preparations A23L; disintegrating, e.g. chopping meat, B02C18/00; preparation of proteins C07K1/00) ## Abstract An animal carcass hanging device includes a base having an upper surface, a projection connected at one end with the base upper surface, and a connection device connected with a second end of the projection. The projection has a width that is less than a width of the base. When the device is inserted into a central cavity of an animal carcass, the projection extends through a carcass upper end opening so that the base is in contact with a wall of the cavity. The connection device is then connected with a structure and the carcass is hung from its front quarter. ## Claims ### Claim 1 An animal carcass hanging device, comprising: (a) a base having a vertical axis and a generally circular configuration in a horizontal cross section normal to said vertical axis; (b) at least one projection having a first end connected with said base and a second end extending from said base; and (c) a connection device connected with said at least one projection second end, whereby when said carcass hanging device is inserted into a central cavity of a carcass that contains an opening at its front quarter, said connection device extends through the opening, said base is in contact with a central cavity wall, and said connection device is connected with a structure to hang the carcass from its front quarter. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) An animal carcass hanging device as defined in claim 1, wherein: (a) said base has an annular configuration and contains a central opening; and (b) said at least one projection comprises three projections having first ends connected in spaced relation with said base and second ends extending at an angle from said base toward a common location on said axis spaced from said base, wherein said base and said three projections form a generally cone-shaped configuration. ### Claim 3 (depends on 2) An animal carcass hanging device as defined in claim 2, said base having a circular configuration in a vertical cross section. ### Claim 4 (depends on 2) An animal carcass hanging device as defined in claim 2, wherein said connection device comprises a chain. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) An animal carcass hanging device as defined in claim 1, wherein said base has an upper surface with which said at least one projection first end is connected, said projection width being less than a width of said base. ### Claim 6 (depends on 5) An animal carcass hanging device as defined in claim 5, and further comprising a chain connected with said connection device. ### Claim 7 (depends on 5) An animal carcass hanging device as defined in claim 5, wherein said projection comprises a generally cylindrical configuration having a uniform diameter. ### Claim 8 (depends on 5) An animal carcass hanging device as defined in claim 5, and further comprising at least one vertical support wall having a first edge connected with said base upper surface and a second edge connected with a surface of said projection. ### Claim 9 (depends on 8) An animal carcass hanging device as defined in claim 8, wherein said at least one vertical support wall has a generally triangular configuration. ### Claim 10 A method for hanging an animal carcass, comprising the steps of: (a) removing the head of a carcass to produce a front quarter opening corresponding with a central cavity of the carcass; (b) providing a carcass hanging device including a base having a vertical axis and circular configuration in a horizontal cross section normal to said vertical axis and a projection extending from said base; (c) attaching the device with a carcass front quarter, including the steps of: (1) inserting a hanging device into the central cavity of a carcass through a pelvic opening; (2) extending a portion of the device through the front quarter opening produced from removing the head of the carcass; and (3) contacting a central cavity inner surface with a portion of the device whereby the device is prevented from entirely passing through the front quarter opening; (d) connecting the device with a weight-bearing structure; and (e) hanging the carcass from its front quarter to position the front quarter above the carcass hindquarter. ### Claim 11 (depends on 10) A method of hanging an animal carcass as defined in claim 10, wherein said extending step includes extending a portion of the device through the opening created when the head and neck of an animal carcass are removed. ### Claim 12 (depends on 10) A method for hanging an animal carcass as defined in claim 10, and further comprising the step of providing a carcass hanging device that includes a base having an upper surface and a projection connected with the upper surface at a first end, wherein a width of the projection is less than a width of the base.