US 2026/0191165 A1 · Portable Livestock Corral with Integrated Squeeze Chute, Foldable Bud Box, Offset Multi-Axis Panel Hinges, Rear Pen Capability and Panel-Support Shelves

Abstract

A foldable livestock corral, alleyway and a fully functional squeeze chute are combined into a singular transportable unit, with hinged-together fold-out corral panels capable of forming various pen sizes and combinations, and a fold-out bud box for effective routing into the alleyway. The squeeze resides outside the pens for optimal operator safety, with effectively placed man gates for quick access among various strategic operator locations for various cattle handling operations, by one or more operators. Unique multi-axis hinges employed on the corral panels accommodate ground variations while avoiding panel twisting. A unique split door design enables control over livestock flow between alleyway sections, with a non-protrusive design of non-interfering relation to folded stowage of the corral panels. Panel support shelves on opposing sides of the alleyway are raisable against the undersides of the stowed corral panels to confidently bear the weight thereof, for optimal stowage confidence and safety.

Claims66

Dependent claims

A portable livestock corral apparatus comprising:

a towable frame of elongated character in a longitudinal direction, and having first and second sides of opposing relation to one another in a lateral direction of transverse relation to said longitudinal direction;
first and second sidewall structures of erect relationship to said towable frame at the first and second sides thereof, respectively, and thereby respectively denoting first and second sides of a longitudinally oriented alleyway that is delimited between said first and second sidewall structures and has front and rear ends of opposing relationship to one another in said longitudinal direction;
a first set of corral panels foldable into a stowed condition folded up alongside the first sidewall structure outside the alleyway at the first side thereof, and unfoldable to a deployed state reaching further outward from the first sidewall structure to delimit a first livestock pen at the first side of the alleyway, from which the livestock are admissible to the alleyway through a first livestock entranceway that opens into said alleyway from said first livestock pen;
and
a functional livestock squeeze comprising a cooperating pair of first and second squeeze panels operably installed in the first and second sidewall structures at a squeeze section of the alleyway that, in the longitudinal direction of the alleyway, resides between the first livestock entranceway and a livestock exit at the front end of the alleyway.

2 more elements

A livestock corral apparatus comprising:

an alleyway having first and second erectly standing sidewall structures at opposing first and second sides of the alleyway, respectively;
a first set of corral panels foldable into a stowed condition folded up alongside the first sidewall structure outside the alleyway at the first side thereof, and unfoldable to a deployed state reaching further outward from the first sidewall structure to delimit a first livestock pen outside the alleyway at the first side thereof;
a second set of corral panels foldable into a stowed condition folded up alongside the second sidewall structure outside the alleyway at the second side thereof, and unfoldable to a deployed state reaching further outward from the second sidewall structure to delimit a second livestock pen outside the alleyway at the second side thereof;
and
at least one split door installed in the alleyway that is selectively movable between an open state permitting passage of livestock from one section of the alleyway to another, and a closed state preventing said passage, said split gate comprising two door panels that reside side by side to collectively and substantially obstruct the alleyway in said closed state, and that are movable apart from one another to open or increase a gap therebetween through which the livestock can pass in said open state;
wherein a guide track on which said door panels ride during movement thereof between said open and closed states spans between the first and second sidewall structures at areas thereof outside of which the first and second sets of corral panels reside when stowed, and is of substantially non-protruding relation beyond either sidewall structure of the alleyway.

3 more elements

A portable livestock corral comprising:

a towable frame of elongated character in a longitudinal direction, and having first and second sides of opposing relation to one another in a lateral direction of transverse relation to said longitudinal direction;
and
a first set of corral panels foldable into a stowed condition folded up along a respective side of the towable frame, and unfoldable to a deployed state reaching further outward from the respective of the towable frame to delimit a first livestock pen at the first side of said towable frame;
wherein the first set of corral panels are configured for selective deployment thereof in at least two different states of deployment, including a side pen state in which said first set of panels delimit only said first livestock pen at said first side of the alleyway, and a side and rear pen state in which said first set of panels both delimit said first livestock pen and also at least partially delimit a rear livestock pen situated behind the rear end of the towable frame.

1 more element

A portable livestock corral comprising:

a towable frame of elongated character in a longitudinal direction, said towable frame having two ends of opposing relation to one another in said longitudinal direction, and first and second sides of opposing relation to one another in a lateral direction of transverse relation to said longitudinal direction;
first and second sidewall structures of erect relationship to said towable frame at the first and second sides thereof, respectively, and thereby respectively denoting first and second sides of a longitudinally oriented alleyway delimited between said first and second sidewall structures;
a first livestock entrance in the first sidewall structure, through which livestock are selectively admissible into the alleyway from the first side thereof;
a second livestock entrance in the second sidewall structure, through which livestock are selectively admissible into the alleyway from the second side thereof;
a first set of foldable corral panels deployable externally of the alleyway outside the first sidewall structure thereof to cooperatively delimit a first livestock side pen from which the livestock are admissible to the alleyway through said first livestock entrance;
a second set of foldable corral panels deployable externally of the alleyway outside the second sidewall structure thereof to cooperatively delimit a second livestock side pen residing across the alleyway from said first livestock side pen, and from which the livestock are admissible to the alleyway through said second livestock entrance;
and
a set of foldable bud box panels deployable in a first working position outside the alleyway at the first side thereof in a position across from the second livestock entrance to create an enclosed bud box for use in routing of the livestock from the second livestock side pen into the alleyway.

5 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Portable Livestock Corral with Integrated Squeeze Chute, Foldable Bud Box, Offset Multi-Axis Panel Hinges, Rear Pen Capability and Panel-Support Shelves

Life of this patent

Portable Livestock Corral with Integrated Squeeze Chute, Foldable Bud Box, Offset Multi-Axis Panel Hinges, Rear Pen Capability and Panel-Support Shelves

Life of this patent

Abstract

Claims66