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US 9,038,571 B1Granted
Hay bale feeder
OwnerRussell B. Getz, Mary E. Getzinventors
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A hay bale holder having an enclosure that retains a hay bale within chain link fencing is disclosed. The hay bale holder includes a spring mechanism that causes the chain link fencing to tightly retain the hale bale. Hay can then pass through openings in fencing to allow animals to remove portions of hay from a comfortable height without excessive waste.
Claims20
A hay bale feeder, comprising:
- an enclosure having a first side panel, a second side panel, an open front trough section, a first floor attached to the bottom of said front trough section, an open rear trough section, a second floor attached to the bottom of said rear trough section, wherein said first side panel and said second side panel are joined at their bottoms to said first floor, wherein said second trough section is connected to said first side panel and to said second side panel, and wherein an extension of said rear trough section from said first side panel and said second side panel is adjustable;
- an elongated rear frame member joined to upper rear corners of said first side panel and said second side panel;
- a first support tube extending between and connecting said first side panel to said second side panel, said first support tube positioned slightly above said first floor section and towards the front of said enclosure;
- a second support tube extending between and connecting said first side panel to said second side panel, said second support tube positioned slightly above said first floor section and towards the rear of said enclosure;
- a laterally extending spring winding mechanism having a hollow shaft with a first shaft end supported by a first shaft flange attached to said first side panel and a second shaft end supported by a second shaft flange fixed on said second side panel, said spring winding mechanism further including a torsion spring having a first hook end and a second hook end, said spring extending within said shaft;
- a hand wheel and a ratchet gear attached to said first shaft end;
- a first hook fastener fixing said first hook end to said shaft;
- a second hook fastener fixing said second hook end to said second shaft flange;
- a gear pawl selectively matting to said ratchet gear to enable said shaft to selectively turn in only one direction;
- and,
- chain link fencing fixed at one end to said elongated rear frame member and selectively attached to said shaft at another end.
8 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.