US 8,186,306 B2 · Livestock confinement pen

Abstract

The invention provides an indoor livestock confinement system that includes a plurality of hollow plastic panels. Each panel includes a plurality of spaced tabs at its ends. A first end of each panel includes a first set of tabs, and a second end of each panel includes a second set of tabs. Each set of tabs includes at least one tab at a top portion of the end, at least one tab at an intermediate portion of the end, and at least one tab at a lower portion of the end. The tabs of the first set are offset vertically from the tabs of the second set such that the first set of tabs of a first panel fit vertically between the second tabs of another panel when the ends of the panels are put together. Each tab includes a hole such that a rod can be inserted down through the tabs to lock the panels together. The livestock confinement system may include additional features, such as ventilation components, reinforced panels, and bucket holders.

Claims24

Dependent claims

A free-standing plastic indoor livestock confinement system, comprising a plurality of hollow plastic panels, each panel having a number of spaced tabs at its ends, with a first set of tabs at a first end and a second set of tabs at a second end, each set of tabs having at least one tab in a top portion of the end, at least one tab in an intermediate portion of the end, and at least one tab in a lower portion of the end, wherein the tabs of the first set are offset vertically from the tabs of the second set such that the first tabs of one panel fit vertically between the second tabs of another panel when the ends of the panels are put together, and wherein the tabs each have a hole so that a rod can be inserted vertically down through the tabs to lock the panels together, wherein the system includes at least one wall intersection where four panels come together, each said panel having an end at the intersection with tabs interfitting with the tabs of the other panels, and wherein the total number of tabs of the four panels at the intersection minus 1 and that number divided by 4 equals the number of tabs present at the intersection on each of three of the panels.

A livestock confinement apparatus, comprising:

a plurality of plastic panels defining an interior livestock confinement area of the apparatus, each of the plurality of plastic panels including:
a hollow body defining a wall of the interior livestock confinement area;
a plurality of vertically offset hollow tabs integrally connected to and projecting outwardly from opposite ends of the hollow body, the hollow tabs at each end of the hollow body interdigitating with the hollow tabs at one of the ends of one of the other plastic panels to define an intersection;
and
a plurality of elongated connection rods each extending through the hollow tabs at one of the intersections to connect the hollow tabs and the plastic panels to each other.

2 more elements

A livestock confinement apparatus, comprising:

a plurality of hollow plastic panels defining an interior livestock confinement area of the apparatus, the plurality of hollow plastic panels including:
a rear panel having a first end with a plurality of hollow plastic spaced tabs and a second end with a plurality of hollow plastic spaced tabs;
a first side panel having a first end with a plurality of hollow plastic spaced tabs interdigitating with the plurality of hollow plastic spaced tabs of the first end of the rear panel, and the first side panel also having a second end with a plurality of hollow plastic spaced tabs;
a second side panel having a first end with a plurality of hollow plastic spaced tabs interdigitating with the plurality of hollow plastic spaced tabs of the second end of the rear panel, and the second side panel also having a second end with a plurality of hollow plastic spaced tabs;
a front door frame panel defining an entryway to the interior livestock confinement area and having a first end with a first plurality of hollow plastic spaced tabs interdigitating with the plurality of hollow plastic spaced tabs of the second end of the first side panel, and the front door frame panel having a second end with a plurality of hollow plastic spaced tabs interdigitating with the plurality of hollow plastic spaced tabs of the second end of the second side panel;
and
a hollow plastic door supported by the front door frame panel and pivotable to occupy the entryway and inhibit entrance and egress from the interior livestock confinement area therethrough.

4 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Livestock confinement pen

Life of this patent

Livestock confinement pen

Life of this patent

Abstract

Claims24