Animal headgate with an automatic locking mechanism

Abstract

An animal headgate has a rectangular frame in which a pair of neck-engaging yokes is mounted for coordinated sliding movement between a fully open position and a fully closed position. A parallelogram linkage interconnects each yoke to an associated sleeve on the rectangular frame so that movement of the sleeve between an upper and a lower position will move the yokes between the fully open and the fully closed position, respectively. An over-center spring arrangement urges the yokes from a neutral, open position toward the fully closed position. A unidirectional locking mechanism associated with each of the posts permits the spring arrangements to close the yokes about the neck of an animal but prevents unassisted opening of the yokes thereby restraining the animal. A notched bar and associated catch mounted on the upper end portions of the yokes provide for automatic operation of the headgate. The spring arrangements act to hold the notched bar in the catch at a preselected open position for the yokes. Opening pressure on the yokes from the shoulders of an animal that has inserted its head through the yokes will release the notched bar and permit the spring arrangement to move the yokes to engage the neck of the animal.

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.