US948351A - Foldable and portable stock-pen. - Google Patents

Description

W. 0. SMITH.

FOLDABLE AND PORTABLE STOCK PEN.

uruonxqs mum nu. 29,1909.

Patnted Feb. 8, 1910.

4 SHEETS-SHEET 1.

WI 01 FOLDABLE AND PORTABLE s'rocx PEN.

Arruon'lon rum) MAR. 29; 1909.

Patented Feb; 8, 1910.

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nucnlfot William G Smith Cuban);

, w'. 0. SMITH. FOLDABLE AND POBTABLBJSTOGK PEN. v

APPLICATION FILED MAR. 29, 1909. 948,35 1 Patented Feb. 8, 1910.

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IIIDREW I. mum! on. mm-mmarngns WAMINGIOU, IL a W. 0. SMITH,

FOLDABLE AND PORTABLE STOCK PEN.

W UNITED strnt as PATENT OFFICE.

. WILLIAM C. SMITH, OF KEARNEY, MISSOURI.

FOLDABLE AND PORTABLE STOCK-PEN.

To all'whom it may concern:

Be itknown that I, WILLIAM G. SMITH, a citizen of. the United States, residing at Kearney, in the county of Clay, State of description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same.

This invention relates to foldable and portable stock pens, more particularly to 7 devices of this character employed for protecting, and restraining and housing hogs,

but which may be adapted without materlal structural changes to stock of diflerent kinds, and has for one of its objects to im- ..prove the construction and increase the efficiency and utility of devices of this character.

Another object of the invention is to provide a simply constructed device which may be folded into relatively small space when 1 not in use, or when it is t0 be transported or stored, and readily extenslble for use and adapted to be located at any required point.

Another object of the device is to provide a portable stock pen which may be readily moved from place to place Without detaching any of the parts. a

With these and other objects in view, the invention consists in certaln novel features of construction as hereafter shown and described.

The devicemay be constructed of any required size or of any suitable material, but will preferably be of wood suitably bolted or otherwise fastened together and comprises in general a yard or inclosure and a shelter house or shed communicating with the yard or inclosure, and preferably arranged in series, or with a number of *the yards or inclosures and their shelter sheds foldably connected, and for the purpose of illustration, two of the foldable devices are shown connected, but it will be understood that it is not desired to limit the invention a to any particular number of the connected devices.

In the drawings illustrative of the preferred embodiment of the invention, Figure 1 is a side elevation of the improved device in itsopen or operative position. Fig. 2 is a plan view of the same. Fig. 3 is a rear elevation. Fig. 4 is afront elevation. Fig.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Application filed March 29, 1909.

Patented Feb. 8, 1910.

Serial No. 486,550.

5 is a plan view illustrating the manner of employing the device for holding hogs while rings are being applied to their noses. Fig. 6 1s a front elevation of the device for bolding the nose of an animal while a ring is.

being applied. Fig. 7 is a section on tile 'line 77 of Fig. 5. Fig. 8 is a side eleva- 'tus comprises a central stationary sill and a central stationary division wall or fence extending from the central sill, side sills spaced from the central sill and provided with side walls or fences and foldably connected to the central sill. The fences or division walls extend for a portion only of the lengths of the sills, and the improved shelter shedsare foldably connected to each other and likewise connected to the portions of the sills not occupied by the division walls and fences.

The stationary central sill is represented at 10, and rising from this central sill is a vertical outer post 11 and a vertical inner post 12, the vertical posts being connected by spaced rails 13, the posts and rails thus forming a fencelike structure.

The post 12 is located at some distance from one end of the sill l0, and in practice the fence structure comprised in the posts 1211 and rails 13 occupies about twothirds of the length of the sill, but it will be understood that these proportions may be altered as required.

The side rails are represented respectively at 14-15, and are of the same length as the central sill 10. The sill 14: is provided spaced vertical posts 16-17 connected by rails 18, while the sill 15 is provided with spaced vertical posts 1920 connected by rails 21. The posts l1-1619 are arranged at one end of the sills 101415 while the posts 12-l7--20 are located. intermediate the sills and in alinement transversely. The three fence structures are thus uniform in size and form the side walls of two yards or pens as hereafter explained.

Pivoted at their adjacent ends to the central sill 10 at one end therof are links or bars 2223, and pivoted respectively to the side sills 1415 at one end are similar links 2425, the links 22-2 1 being hingedly united at their confronting ends. Pivoted to the opposite ends of the central. sill are links 25-26, and pivotally united respectively to the side sills 14-15 are links 28 27. The links 2527 are hingedly united at their confronting ends, while the links 2628 are similarly hingedly united at their confronting ends. By this means the side sills together with their fence structures may be moved toward and away from the central sill by folding the links upwardly as shown in Fig. 9, or extended as shown in Figs. 1 to 4.

The shelter structures are associated with the yards or pens which are located respectively between the sills 10 and 1 1 and the sills 1015. One of the shelter structures consists of rafters 29-30 hingedly united at their lower ends respectively to the side sill 14 and the central sill 10, and likewise hingedly united at their confronting or upper ends, the rafters being thus arranged when in open position obliquely to the transverse planes of the sills. The rafter members 29-30 are covered by sheathing material 31-32. By this arrangement when the rafters 293O and their sheathing or covering members are arranged in their open position, as shown in Figs. 1 to 4, an efficientshelter is provided communicating with the yard or pen which is defined by the fence structures carried by the sills 10-14. Hingedly united to the rafters 29 and its sill member 31 is a closure 33, adapted to close the outer end of the shelter as shown. The closure 33 is provided with a suitable fastening device such as a hasp 3 1 and staple 35 through which a pin 36 may be passed.

The shelter for the yard or pen which is located between the sills 10-15 is constructed precisely like the shelter just described, and is constructed of rafters 3738, cover members 394-0 and a hinged closure 41, the latter provided with suitable fastening means as shown. By this arrangement it will be understood that when the closures 3341 are released the shelter devices will fold together with the inner faces of the rafters bearing against each other when the sill members are moved inwardly or toward each other as before described. The shelter portions of the device are thus foldable to gether with the sill members and their fences and division members as will be obvious.

Located between the cover portions 3240 is an angular closure structure 44 to fill the gap which would otherwise occur between the cover members 3240 and the central fence structure 111213. The closure structure 4-1 is detachably supported in position by suitable hooks and staples 45- 4647.

Located between the side structures 1821 adjacent to the portions 3139 of the shelter devices are angular shaped closure structures 10910et. These closure structures are hingedly united as shown at 105106 respectively to the shelter members 3931, as shown, and are likewise connected by suitable hook devices 107108 to the side structures 1821. By this means the closure structures 109104 are foldable respectively upon the shelter structures 3931 when the device is arranged in folded position as shown in Fig. 9.

Connected to the posts 19 is a three part hinge formed of three leaves 18-4950, the leaf 48 being secured by screws or other fastening means to the rails 21 and the posts 19, while the leaf 50 is secured by screws or other fastening means to a gate structure represented as a whole at 51. The gate 51 is designed to close the otherwise open end of the yard or pen which is located between the sills 1015. The central leaf 49 is provided with an intermediate slot which is arranged to fit over a rotatable hook 52 extending from the post 19. By this means when the gate 51 is closed .the hook 52 will project through the slot in the leaf 49, and then by turning the hook one-fourth of a revolution it will form a lock to hold the hinged leaf connected to the post, and thus swingingly couple the gate 51 to the fence structure 192021. When thus arranged the gate 51 forms a movable closure to the yard or pen, as will be understood.

The post 11 is provided with a slidable staple 53 with which a hook 54 on the gate 51 engages to secure the gate in its closed position. The staple 53 is arranged to be withdrawn into the post 11 when not in use to permit the link 23 to fold in close relations to the post as shown in Fig. 11.

WVhen the device is to be folded the hooks 52 5 1 are released and the gate 51 swung around in parallel relations to the outer face of the fence structure 192021. The triple form of the hinge by which the gate is supported is thus an important feature of the device and enables the gate to be disposed in convenient position when the device is to be folded.

Connected to the rails 18 and the post 16 is another three part hinge formed of three leaves 5556-57, the leaf 55 being connected by screws or other fastening means to the rails 18 and the post 16, while the leaf 57 is secured by screws or other fastening means to an end member 58 of a gate struc- -ture which operates as a closure to the yard or pen which is defined by the sills 10-14, the construction of this latter gate to be hereafter described.

The central hinge leaf 56 is provided with an intermediate slot adapted to engage over arotatable hook 58 similar to the hook 52 of the first described gate,'a;id operating in the same manner to hold the hinged leaf 56 in locked position relative to the post 16 when the gate is not closed as shown.

, at their ends respectively to the end members,as shown, so that the rails operate as radius bars to enable the outer end member 59 tobe adjusted upwardly and downwardly.

. The end member 59 is provided with a plu- Q engage in the notches 61.

rality of spaced notches 61, and swinging at 62 from the end member 58 is a brace 63, the

' free end of the brace being provided with notches 64 corresponding to and adapted to By this means it will be obvious that by adjusting the brace with its notches 64L engaging in the notches '61. at a higher or lower point, the outer or free end of the gate structure may be ad.-

justecl correspondingly.

Connected to the outer gatemember 59 are spaced keepers 65, and slidably arranged for operation through. these keepers is a stand ard 66 having a plurality of spaced sockets 67 with which a pin 68 is designed to be engaged through one of the keepers, to adjust when the gate is adjusted vertically as before described, the foot-board 71 will move with plained.

members 58 the standard vertically as hereafter ex- Hingedly united at 69.-70 to the gate '59 is a runway or foot-board 71. The hinges 69-70 areunited by a single bolt to the gate members 5859 so that the gate, to prevent cramping between the parts when the adjustments are made.

. Hinged at 72 to the post 11. is a relatively narrow gate like coupling structure. 7 3 to whose free end theend member 74 of another gate structure is hinged at 75, this last mentioned gate structure comprising the inner end member 74 outer end member 76 and rail members 77. The rail members are each united to .theend members by a single bolt, so thatthe free end of this gate structure \may be adjusted vertically. The end mempoint of elevation. Connected to the end member 76 are keepers 82, and slidable through these. keepers is a standard83 provided' witha plurality of spaced apertures to receive a pin 84 .operating through the By this means the standard is adapted to be adjusted vertically.

The end members 74 76 are provided with supporting hooks 8586 over which loops 87S8 engage to couple the foot boar 71 to the gate structure 7 l7 67 7 The adjustable gate and foot board just described when thus coupled form a con- .venient and efficient chute whereby hogs may be readily discharged singly from the yard or pen.

W Vhen it is desired to arrange the chute or discharge portion of the device for its simpler purposes the standards 6683 will be adjusted vertically with their lower ends bearing upon the ground, and thus effectually supporting the outer end ofthechute structure. When it is desired to employ the chute structure for loading hogs into i a Wagon or other elevated receptacle, the braces 6380 are adjusted to supportthe outer ends of the chute structures in an elevated position or with the free end ofthe foot board level with the floor of the wagon, and at the same time adjust the standards 6683 to support the structure from the ground, the range of the standards being sufficient to support the face ends of the charged from both pens through one chute structure.

Formed upon the end member 76 are studs or pintle members 88 over which eyes 89 on a frame 90 are adapted to be disposed to hingedly connect the frame to the end member. At its opposite end the frame 90 is provided with a latch 91 and a bolt 92 by which it may be coupled to the end member 59. The frame 90 thus forms a closure to the outer end of the chute. Connected to the frame 90 is a partial closure plate 93, and slidably arranged within the frame is another partial closure plate 94, the confronting edges of the plates being reversely concaved or hollowed. The two members 9394 are thus adapted to hold the snout. or nose of a hog while a ring is being applied thereto.

Connected to the frame 90 is a bracket 95, and swinging at 96 in this bracket is a lever 97, the lever being pivotally united to the sliding plate 94:, so that when the lever is actuated the plate will be correspondingly actuated or moved toward or away fromthe tion and thus form a lock device between the lever and the frame. By this means any grip which may be obtained upon the slidable member 94 may be retained, as will be obvious.

By arranging the frame 90 and its attachments across the outlet of the chute and .operating the lever to close the slidable plate, a hog may be firmly held in position while the rings are being applied with the usual implements employed for this purpose.

'The post 11 is provided with a slidable staple 102 corresponding to the slidable staple 53, to receive a hasp on the gate member 59 and through which a pin or other fastening device may be inserted, to lock the gate in position, the slidable staples providing for the passage of the links 2223 when the device is arranged in folded position, as will be obvious.

The hooks 47 48 of the closure member 44 will be adapted to engage with slidable staples arranged to be withdrawn into the adjacent rafters of the shelter devices, in the same manner as the staples 53-102 are arranged to be withdrawn, so that the rafters will move in close proximity to post 12 when folded as will be understood.

The sills 101415 rest upon the ground, and when the improved device is to be'transported from place to place it is only necessary to hitch a team thereto and drag it to any required point. When it is deslred to change the locality of the device for any reason, if the new locality is not too far distant, the device may be dragged over the ground without removing the hogs therefrom, as the hogs will follow the movements of the pens and shelters.

The improved device will be found very convenient for use by farmers who may desire to move their stock pens from one place to another upon the farm, or who may desire to shelter or protect stock for a short time or temporarily.

lVhen it is desired to fold the apparatus the movable gate structures are released and arranged in position parallel to and against the outer fence structures. The closure members 33-41 are then released and folded respectively upon the covers 31 39, the closure structure 44 removed, the closures 33-41 disconnected and folded respectively upon the closures 39-31, and the hinged links buckled or folded upwardly and the sill members moved into relatively close proximity as shown in Fig. 9. The improved device when in this condition may be readily transported or shipped as required.

Extending from the gate member 59 is a hasp 88 arranged to bear over a staple 102 on the vertical member 11, so that the gate may be locked in position by a. pin 103, as shown.

The improved device is simple in construction, can be inexpensively constructed from any suitable material and of any suitable capacity. The shelter structures bein pointed or roof like in form effectually she rain and snow and thus protect the animals.

hat is claimed, is

1. In a portable stock pen, a central dividing fence structure, side fence structures spaced from the central fence structure, means for coupling said side fence structures tosaid central structure, and shelter devices connected to said central and side fence structures, said side fence structures being movable toward and away from each other and said shelter structures foldable together.

2. In a portable stock pen, a central dividing fence structure, side fence structures spaced from the central fence structure, means for coupling said side fence structures to said central 1 fence structure for movement toward and away from each other, shelter structures connected to fold between said central fence structure and side fence structures, closures movably connected between said side fence structures and central fence structure, and closures movably connected to said shelter structure.

3. In a portable stock pen, a central longitudinal sill, side sills arranged. in parallel relations to said central sill, means for connecting said side sills and central sill for movement toward and away from each other, a dividing fence structure extending vertically from said central sill, side fence structures extending vertically from said side sills, shelter structures connected respectively to said central sill and to said side sills and foldable between the same, closures between said side fence structures and central fence structure, and closures to said shelter structures.

4. In a portable stock pen, a central longitudinal sill, side sills arranged in parallel relations to said central sill, means for connecting said side sills and central sill for movement toward and away from each other, a division fence structure extending from said central sill, side fence structures extending from said side sills, shelter structures movably connected respectively to said central sill and side sills, and foldable between the same, closures between said side fence movably connected thereto and closures to said shelter structures and foldable over the same.

5. In a portable stock pen, a central longitudinal sill, side sills, arranged in parallel said side fence structures and central struc-' tures.

6. In a portable stock pen a central dividmg fence structure, slde fence structures,

means for coupling said side fence structures to said central fence structure for movement toward and away from each other, shelter structures formed of side members connected respectively to said central fence structure and side fence structures and extending obliquely therefrom, closures connected bet-ween said dividing structure and said side fence structures, closures between 7 said side fence structures and said shelter structure, a closure between said shelter structures, and closures connected to said shelter structures at their outer ends.

7. In a portable stock pen, a central dividing fence structure, side fence structures, means for coupling said side fence structures to said central fence structure for movement toward and away from the same, shelter structures connected to said central and side fence structures, closures to said shelter structures, and closures extending between said dividing fence structures and said side fence structure.

8. In a portable stock pen a central dividing structure, side structures, means for coupling said side structures to said central structure for movement toward and away formthe same, shelter structures formed of side members connected respectively to said central structure and side structures, and eX- tending obliquely therefrom, closures connected between said dividing structure and side structures, closures between said side fence structures and said shelter structure, a closure between said shelter structures, and closures connected to said shelter structures at their outer ends.

9. In a portable stock pen, a central longitudinal sill, side sills arranged in parallel relations to said central sill, means for connecting said side sills and central sill for movement toward and away from each other, a dividing fence structure extending from said central sill, side fence structures extending from said side sills, shelter structures comprising rafter members hingedly united at their outer ends to said sill members and hingedly united to each other at their confronting ends, cover members engaging over said rafters, closures connected between said central dividing fence structure and said side fence structures, closures connected to the outer ends of said shelter structures, and movable closures between said shelter structures and said dividing fence structure and side fence structures.

10. In a portable stock pen, a central dividing fence structure having a transverse opening, a closure for said opening, side fence structures, means for coupling said side fence structures to said central structure, shelter structures connected to said cen tral and side fence structures, closuresvconnected to said shelter structures, closures connected to said side fence structures, a runway connected to one of said closures, a guard structure mounted to swing from said central dividing fence structure, means for coupling said guard structure to said runway, and means arranged to support the free end of said runway.

11. In a portable stock pen a central dividing fence structure, side fence structures, means for coupling said side fence structures to said central fence structure for movement toward and away from the same, a closure swinging from one of said side fence structures and comprising end members and a plurality of spaced rails, the rails being connected to the end members by a single boltand one of the end members provided with a plurality of notches, a brace connected to swing from the other end member and engaging at its free end in said notches, a runway connected to said end members, a guard device mounted to swing from the central dividing fence structure, said guard device consisting of end members and a plurality of spaced rails each rail being coupled at each end respectively to the end members by a single bolt, and one of the end members of the guard device being provided with a plurality of notches, a brace connected to swing from the other end member of the guard device and engaging at its free end in the last mentioned notches, means for coupling the end members of said guard device to said runway, and standards connected respectively to said movable closure and movable guard device.

12. In a portable stock a dividing fence structure, side fence structures, means for movably coupling said side fence structures to said central fence structure for movementtoward and away from the same, shelter structures connected to said central and side fence structures, closures connected to said side fence structures, a runway connected to one of said closures, a guard device mounted to swing from said central dividing fence structure, means for coupling said guard structure to said runway, a frame detachably connected above said runway, a stationary member within said frame, a slidable member Within said frame, the confronting edges of said slidable and said stationary members being reversely concaved, means for actuating said slidable member, closures between said dividing fence structure and said side structures, and closures for said shelter structures.

13. In a portable stock pen, a central dividing fence structure, side fence structures, means for coupling said side fence structures to said central fence structure for movement toward and away from the same, shelter structures connected to said central and side fence structures, closures for said shelter structures, movable closures between said central fence structure and side fence structures, three part hinges connected respectively to said side fence structures and to said closures, means for locking said hinges to said side fence structures,. and means for detachably connecting said closures to said central dividing fence structure.

14. In a portable stock pen, a central dividing structure, side structures spaced from the central structure, closures between said central structure and said side structure, means for coupling said dividing structure to said central structure for movement toward and away from each other, shelter devices connected to said central and side structures, closures for said shelter devices, said shelter devices being foldable together.

In testimony whereof, I aflix my signature, in presence of two witnesses.

WILLIAM C. SMITH.

Vitnesses:

H. S. MOORE, ALLEN M. BATES.

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