US 4,394,956 A · Electric stock prod

Abstract

A stock or cattle prod for applying an electric shock to stock to induce them to move when loading them for transportation or through a cattle chute or the like comprises a handle having a high voltage generator and a battery therein. A head, which is angularly rotatable relative to the handle structure, is provided, this head having electrical contact means adapted to electrically, conductively contact said handle in any selectable angular position therebetween the head being adapted to extend forward from said handle and comprising a shaft carrying the contact means and, forward from this shaft terminating in a pair of spaced conducting tips or electrodes. The handle is constructed to insulate and protect the high voltage conductors and to provide a convenient switch for energizing the tips. The handle and shaft are constructed to afford rotation of the tips to any desired angle with respect to the operator's hand, both the handle and head being provided with external electrical insulation means effective to protect the operator from the electrical shock voltage, insulation while maintaining the electrical connections to the tips. The head on which the tips are mounted is relatively flat and is adapted to be held in face engagement with an animal's body, this facilitating the effective handling of the prod during use.

Claims23

Dependent claims

A head for an electric animal prod or the like comprising a body of insulating material having a width substantially greater than its thickness and having a shaft attaching means at its rear end adapted to receive a shaft extending rearwardly thereof, a pair of spaced electric contact tips secured to and projecting forwardly from the front end of said body, the front end of said body having a configuration between said tips providing a long insulated path between said tips having a length substantially greater than the spacing between said tips, said body being adapted to be placed laterally against an animal with said tips in position for simultaneous electrical contact with the animal.

An electric stock prod or the like comprising an insulating handle and a shaft of insulating material extending therefrom and having a near end and a remote end,

and a shock applying fitting affixed to said remote end of said shaft,
a high voltage generator mounted within said handle and having a pair of high voltage output conductors and a switch on said handle for controlling said generator,
said shock applying fitting comprising a head of insulating material having a substantially U-shaped portion and including a relatively flat body having a thickness of the order of that of said shaft and a width substantially greater than its thickness, and a pair of spaced parallel fingers of insulating material extending therefrom in general alignment therewith and constituting the sides of the said U-shaped portion of said head,
said fingers having exposed electric contact terminals at their tips, the insulating material of each of said fingers extending from the respective one of said tips to said body,
and separate first and second conducting means for respectively connecting each of said contact terminals to a respective one of said high voltage output conductors,
whereby a side of the head is adapted to be positioned against the body of an animal and held in substantial facial engagement therewith and the contact terminals are adapted to be pressed into engagement with the body of the animal while the head remains with its flat side against the body of the animal for applying the electric shock.

3 more elements

A combined shaft and head for electric animal prods and the like, said head being mounted at one end of said shaft, and at least a portion thereof remote from said shaft having a substantially U-shaped configuration, said head comprising a body of insulating material having a width substantially greater than its thickness and having opposite relatively flat faces and a pair of spaced fingers of insulating material extending therefrom in general alignment with said shaft and with the plane of the said body and constituting the sides of the U of the U-shaped configuration,

exposed electrical contacting terminals at the tips of said fingers for engaging the body of an animal,
the configuration of said head adapting it to be applied with said shaft and extending laterally from the axis of the shaft against the body of an animal substantially in facial engagement with the said body of the said animal and with both of said exposed terminals close to, or touching, the said animal body,
with the insulating material of the said fingers extending from the said tips thereof to the insulating material of said head body,
the length of said fingers being at least of the order of the width of the space therebetween and providing a long insulated path over the surfaces of said fingers and said body between said terminals.

1 more element

An electric stock prod or the like comprising an insulating handle and a shaft of insulating material extending therefrom and having a near end and a remote end,

and a shock applying fitting affixed to said remote end of said shaft,
a high voltage generator mounted within said handle and having a pair of high voltage output conductors and a switch on said handle for controlling said generator,
said shock applying fitting comprising a head of insulating material having a substantially U-shaped portion and including a relatively flat body having a thickness of the order of that of said shaft and a width substantially greater than its thickness, and a pair of spaced parallel fingers of insulating material extending therefrom in general alignment therewith and constituting the sides of the said U-shaped portion of said head,
said fingers having exposed electric contact terminals at their tips, the insulating material of each of said fingers extending from the respective one of said tips to said body,
separate first and second conducting means for respectively connecting each of said contact terminals to a respective one of said high voltage output conductors,
whereby a side of the head is adapted to be positioned against the body of an animal and held in substantial facial engagement therewith and the contact terminals are adapted to be pressed into engagement with the body of the animal while the head remains with its flat side against the body of the animal for applying the electric shock,
including means for detachably securing said shaft to said handle, said detachable securing means including a connecting fitting of electric insulating material secured to the rear end of said shaft and having a central portion of reduced cross section extending axially rearwardly beyond said shaft, wherein said conducting means includes two electric leads extending through said shaft and each being connected to a respective one of said contact terminals, and wherein each of said first and second conducting means includes a pair of separable contact elements for connecting a respective one of said electric leads to a respective one of said high voltage conductors, each of said pairs including one of said elements at the end of one of said leads and another of said elements at the end of one of said high voltage conductors, one of said electric leads extending through the center of said fitting and a first of said lead contact elements being secured to the end of said portion and being connected to said one lead, the other of said electric leads being connected to a second of said lead contact elements, said second contact element being mounted on said fitting and spaced axially forwardly and radially from said first contact element, said detachable securing means including means providing separate insulated compartments for said contact elements on said output leads for effectively insulating the engaged pairs of contacts from one another.

4 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Electric stock prod

Life of this patent

Electric stock prod

Life of this patent

Abstract

Claims23