Stunning device for killing small animals or fish
OwnerRichard Bassinventor
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
Stunning device (1) for small animals or fish of 2kg to 7kg weight comprises pneumatically powered piston assembly (2) which includes an extendible piston. Support (3) for piston assembly (2) includes base member (4) and multi-component trigger (22, 23, 24, 26). Piston assembly (2) is positioned to define a space between base member (4) and head plate (21) for receiving the head (27) of the animal. When the piston is activated by head (27) contacting plate (22), it extends and strikes head (27) just behind and/or between the eyes with sufficient force to kill the animal with a shock to the brain, but without affecting the external appearance of the animal or fish. The piston extends only once and then retracts, and trigger (22, 23, 24, 26) is reset by removing head (27) from device (1).
Claims28
An animal or fish stunning device comprising:
- a pneumatically-powered piston assembly comprising a piston retractably extendable from an open ended cylinder included in said assembly;
- a support for said piston assembly including a base member, wherein said piston assembly is positioned with respect to said base member to define a space between said base member and said cylinder open end for receiving a head of an animal or fish, and wherein said piston can extend partially into said space;
- and
- a trigger for activating extension of said piston when said trigger is contacted by the head of said animal or fish when positioned in said space, wherein said trigger includes a mechanism for preventing refiring of said piston while said head of said animal or fish is in contact with said trigger.
An animal or fish stunning device comprising:
- an assembly comprising a pneumatic gun connected to a piston within an open-ended cylinder, the gun being mounted to a frame comprising parallel rails;
- a support into which said assembly is pivotally fitted via said rails, the support comprising a planar base member and planar side members, wherein said assembly is positioned with respect to said base member to define a space between said base member and said cylinder open end for receiving a head of an animal or fish, and wherein said piston can extend partially into said space;
- and
- a trigger for activating extension of said piston when said trigger is contacted by the head of said animal or fish when positioned in said space, said trigger comprising a contact plate that is adjustably linked to a pivot frame having a first pushrod extending therefrom for contacting an activating button of said gun;
- and a second, pneumatically operated, pushrod that disengages said first pushrod from said button immediately after activation of said button to prevent refiring of said piston while said head of said animal or fish is in contact with said trigger;
- wherein said pivot frame is biased to a pre-firing position and said first pushrod is biased towards said button.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.