US 4,997,127 A · Electrified livestock controller

Abstract

An electrified livestock controller for guiding animals, preferably pigs, doubles as a gate and a prod. The controller comprises a central panel of generally planar dimensions, comprising a plurality of central, vertically disposed ribs separated from one another by elongated slots. One or more similar accessory panels are hingedly connected to each side of the central panel. The hinge structure facilitates adjustment of the controller for deployment in a variety of configurations. The hinge structure comprises a detent system having a plurality of indexing disks which, when yieldably mated together, facilitate positioning of the panels in a custom configuration. Suitable flush mounted electric strips are defined on all of the ribs, to provide a shocking effect without tissue damage. The system includes a removable cattle prod which, besides functioning as a handle, can be withdrawn from the handle to separately prod animals. Either concurrently with or independently of rib electrification, audio and/or visual effects may be generated to cause Pavlovian conditioning in the animals. A preferred visual effect of ascending motion, which may be induced by a revolving curtain displaying a spiral image, motivates the animals like a prod. The curtain is best operatively disposed behind the vertical ribs of at least one of the panels.

Claims26

Dependent claims

An electrified livestock controller for guiding animals such as pigs in a desired direction, said controller comprising:

a control panel comprising a top, a bottom, and a pair of sides, said control panel comprising a plurality of vertically oriented ribs spaced apart between said sides and extending between said top and said bottom;
a plurality of conductor strips, each strip longitudinally disposed upon one of said ribs for contacting and shocking animals;
a plurality of elongated slots, a slot disposed between adjacent ribs;
handle means associated with said control panel for facilitating manual manipulation of said controller;
at least one movable accessory panel operatively associated with said control panel, said at least one accessory panel comprising a top, a bottom, inner and outer sides, a plurality of vertically oriented panel ribs spaced apart between said inner and outer sides and extending between said accessory panel top and said accessory panel bottom, and a plurality of accessory panel conductor strips for shocking animals, said last mentioned conductor strips electrically interconnected with said control panel strips, each accessory panel strip longitudinally disposed upon one of said panel ribs for contacting and shocking livestock;
hinge means for operatively pivotally linking said at least one accessory panel to said control panel;
said control panel comprising top and bottom corners defined upon at least one of its sides;
said at least one movable accessory panel comprising top and bottom corners defined upon its inner side;
and,
said hinge means comprising an upper link extending between a top corner of said control panel and the top corner of the inner side of said at least one accessory panel, and a lower link extending between a bottom corner of said control panel and the bottom corner of the inner side of said at least one accessory panel.

7 more elements

A portable electrified livestock controller for guiding animals such as pigs in a desired direction, said controller comprising:

a control panel comprising a top, a bottom, and a pair of sides, and a plurality of vertically oriented ribs spaced apart between said sides and extending generally between said top and said bottom;
a plurality of conductor strips, each strip longitudinally disposed upon one of said ribs for contacting and shocking livestock;
means for selectively electrifying said conductor strips;
handle means for facilitating manual manipulation of said controller;
and,
means for generating a visual display of ascending motion for controlling said animals, said ascending motion generator comprising a revolving curtain having a generally spiral image formed thereupon.

3 more elements

An electrified livestock controller for guiding animals such as pigs, said controller comprising:

a control panel comprising a top, a bottom, and a pair of sides, said control panel comprising a plurality of vertically oriented ribs spaced apart between said sides and extending between said top and said bottom;
a plurality of conductor strips, each strip longitudinally disposed upon one of said ribs for contacting and shocking animals;
a plurality of elongated slots extending generally vertically between said top and said bottom for preventing the accumulation of excrement on said controller, a slot disposed between adjacent ribs;
handle means associated with said control panel for facilitating manual manipulation of said controller;
at least one movable accessory panel operatively associated with said control panel and comprising a plurality of vertically oriented ribs, a plurality of elongated, vertical panel slots for preventing the accumulation of excrement on said controller panel, a vertical panel slot disposed between said last mentioned ribs, a plurality of conductor strips for shocking animals, said last mentioned conductor strips electrically interconnected with said control panel strips;
and,
hinge means for operatively pivotally linking said at least one accessory panel to said control panel.

4 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Electrified livestock controller

Life of this patent

Electrified livestock controller

Life of this patent

Abstract

Claims26