This document describes an improved animal holding device consisting of a pair of movable side arms that can embrace an animal's neck. The side arms are pivotally mounted and given simultaneous movement by contact with a pivoted operating lever. In the closed position, the side arms imprison the animal's neck, while in the open position they leave a wide space for the animal to pass its head through without fright. The operating lever is held in the closed position by a ratchet and pawl mechanism to securely hold the animal. The device provides a simple, inexpensive and relatively humane way to restrain animals for inspection, treatment or other purposes.

1. * GB780015 (A)
Description: GB780015 (A) ? 1957-07-31
Improvements in animal holding means and the like
Description of GB780015 (A)
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION impi-ovementa in anilKal Molding Means and the
like
I, JOHN CLEDWYNTHOMAS, a British subject, of The Smithy, Bryngwran,
Holyhead, AngLesey, do hereby declare the invention, for which I pray
that a patent may be granted to me, and the method by which it is to
be performed, to be particularly described in and by the following
statement:
This invention relates to a means for holding cattle and other animals
for various purposes, and is concerned with the provision of a device
which is simple and rapid in operation, is relatively inexpensive, is
easily accessible by the cattle without giving cause for fright, is
relatively noiseless in operation3 and is so constructed as not to
injure the cattle.
The improved holding means may be incorporated in a pen or the like3
portable or otherwise, or in a building, say as an addition to an
existing Structure3 or it may be erected alone without being
associated with any other structure, according to the particular uses
to which it is to be put. Among other things, the invention may be
adopted at grading centres, or on farms and similar places for holding
strong cattle whilst being inspected and/or marked, it may be adopted
for holding cattle during examination and treatment by a veteri- nary
surgeon or other examiner, and for holding cattle whilst being
drenched with medicines, or prepared for showing. Many other like uses
will suggest themselves to persons dealing with live animals.
According to the invention, a pair of side elms is provided both
movable between outer and inner positions, said side arms being shaped
so as, when at the inner position, to embrace the neck of the animal,
but when at the outer position to leave a wide open space through
which the animal can pass its head easily without having cause for
fright, and the said side arms are pivotally mounted at their lower

2. ends and are given a simultaneous sideways movement by contact with a
pivotally mounted operating lever. The said lever is preferably shaped
so as to engage the two side arms at different levels, to compensate
for their different distances from the fulcrum of the operating lever,
whereby the side arms have a symmetrical uniform movement towards and
away from each other. In some embodiments of the invention the
operating lever is held in the operative position by means of a
ratchet and pawl, but these are so arranged as not to come into mutual
engagement during the early part of the closing movement of the side
arms, so that the animal is not frightened by noise before being
imprisoned by the side arms.
Usually the improved means will be incorporated in a gate-like
structure which can be opened to allow the animal to pass when
released from the arms, say after inspection or treatment, and the
operating parts will be shielded from the animal by a suitable screen
or panel.
In some embodiments the invention provides a pen having at the front
end a gate incorporating a releasable tethering means as above
described, having a smaller gate at the rear without tethering means
and having in at least one side gates which may be opened to give
access to the body of the animal, the pen being provided with a floor
and, if necessary with means whereby it may be slung from a crane.
Alternatively the floor of the pen, or even the whole pen may comprise
parts of a weighing machine for the weighing of the cattle. The
improved pen may, if desired, be fitted with small wheels or rollers
whereby it may be moved from place to place, with or without means for
locking it against such movement when necessary.
The invention is illustrated in the accompanying drawing, wherein:
Fig. 1 is a perspective view of one form of the improved tethering
device incorporated in a gate ready for hanging on any suitable
support, and showing the animal-holding parts in the open position;
Fig. 2 is a similar view but showing the parts in the closed position;
Fig. 3 is a perspective view of a complete pen incorporating the
invention;
Fig. 4 is a fragmentary perspective view to illustrate the
co-operation between the side arms and the said pivoted lever; and
Fig. 5 is a similar view of one form of lock ing means for holding
said parts in the closed position; and
Fig. 5 illustrates another form of such locking means.
Referring first to Figs. 1 and 2, the improved animal-holding device
comprises a metal rectangular frame having tubular upright side
members 1, 2 and tubular top and bottom members 3, 4, one such side
member 2 having upper and lower hinge lugs 5 to engage suitable hinge
pins about which the frame may swing as a gate, and the other side

3. member 1 having a latching lug 6 to be engaged by pivoted latches on
an adjacent support, and thereby be held in the closed position or, if
two sets of latches are provided3 it can be held in both the closed
and the open positions. In addition to the upper and lower hinge lugs
S there may be an intermediate lug and instead of each lug resting on
a separate hinge pin there may be a single iong hinge bolt passing
through them all.
Pivotally mounted on the bottom tubular member 4 are the two movable
side arms 7, 8, these extending upwardly to the top member 3 of the
frame and passing behind an intermediate cross member 9 midway in the
height of the frame, this cross member 9 being offset at its ends so
as to leave a free space for the side arms 7, 8. Instead of only a
single intermediate cross member 9 on the outer side of the frame
trier may be two such members, as shown3 one on the outside and the
other on the inside of the frame, and one of these may be somewhat
higher than the other. The inner cross member 9 has its end parts
curved towards the side members 1 and 2, so as to leave adequate space
between the two cross bars for the arms 7 and 8, and such cross bars
may be braced together by a short strut at the centre.
The said movable side arms 7, 8 are also tubular and at the top and
bottom ends each has a pair of flat plates 1G wedded to it to form a
yoke or fork to fit over the adjacent top or bottom member (as the
case may be) of the frame, the plates 10 at the lower end being
transfixed by pivot bolts 11 passing through the bottom cross member
4, and those at the top end constituting guides slidable along the top
cross member 3.
The pivots of the movable side arms 7, 8 are relatively close together
and, with the said side members in the inner or dosed position, those
members are so shaped that, upwardly from the pivots they diverge
slightly, then converge towards each other where they pass the said
intermediate cross member, they are substantially parallel when they
would engage the animal's neS and, at the uppr end again converge
towards each other. The lower parts of the members 7, 8 determine
their pivotal movement as explained below, whilst the nipper parts
constitute the animal-retaining means.
Pivotally mounted on the hinged upright 2 of the frame is an operating
lever 12 having four lugs or collars 13 projecting from one face to
engage the respective sides of the two side arms 7, S where they
diverge from each other.
At the pivot end 12 of the operating lever 12, such lever is
voke-shaped to embrace the upright oy having a supplementary part 14
extending trom the pivot to the nearest of said four lugs 13. - e
lever 12 is bent so that the lugs 13 engaging the side arm 8 nearest
the pivot do so at a lower level than those engaging tue other side

4. StlIl 7 so as to ensure a symm.nFa*cal moveinent of the side arms.
At its free end the operating lever 12 carries a spring urged pawl 15
(see fig. 5) to engage ratchet teeth 16 on an arcuate member 16
secured in the lower part of the frame, said member 16 being centred
around the pivot of the operating lever 12 and having a stop piece 17
(Fig. 1) to limit the downward movement of the lever 12. The lever 12
carries an outstanding tlanile 18 adjacent to which is a trip lever 19
for releasing the pawl 15. The ratchet teeth 16 are provided in the
upper part only of rae arcuate member r 16, so that the pawl 15 is
silent during the first half of the closing movement.
The pawl 15 is of curved form, pivoted to the lever 12 at 15, and
urged into the teeth 16 by a spring 15 (see Fig. 5). It is retracted
by means of a separately pivoted trip member 20, having a part 20
extending behind the upper part of the pawl 15, said trip member 20
being carried by the before-mentioned trip lever 19 and being held
normally in a retracted position by the spring 21. For guiding the
pawl 15 there is a bracket 12" secured to the rear face of the lever
12.
In the modification shown in Fig. 5", the parts 20 and 20 are integral
and the spring 15" operates on the part 20-, which in turn is
connected by a spring to the pawl 15.
Those parts of the movable side arms 7, 8 which engage said collars 13
may be reinforced by having flat bars 22 positioned within them.
One of these is shown in Fig. 4. Also, if desired the said collars 13
may be provided with rollers to engage the side arms 7, 8, thereby
reducing friction.
On the inner face of the gate-like device, namely that which is
towards the animal being held, a sheet metal panel or shield 23 is
provided, extending from upright 1 to upright 2, and from the bottom
cross member 4 to the intermediate cross member 9.
In operation, with the actuating lever 12 ioR-:rsd, the uffiper parts
of the side arms 7, 8 lie against the respective uprights 1, 2, thus
providing a wide open substantially rectangular space or window
through which the animal will pass its head. Thereupon said lever 12
is raised, the four lugs 13 causing the side arms 7, 8 to come
together and imprison the animal, and the said arms 7. 8 are
eventually held in the inner position automatically by the ratchet 16
and pawl 15. To release the animal all that is necessary is to trip
the pawl by means of the trip lever 19 whereupon the lever 12 will
fall by its own weight and cause the arms 7, 8 to separate.
The gate as shown in Figs. 1 and 2 may be hung in any suitable
position, say in the doorway of a farm building or to a post in a yard
or field, or it may be included in a pen, iixed or movable. Fig. 3
shows such a pen which comprises end frames 24, 25, a centre frame 26,

5. a bottom or floor 27, which may be removable, and horizontal bracing
members 28 at the top and 29 at one side.
The gate-like tethering device is hung in the end frame 24, the other
end frame including a smaller gate or closure element 30. Also, in the
one side, not having the horizontal braces 29, there are two gates 31,
either or both of which may be opened to give access to the animal
held in the pen. The complete pen is easily transportable, with or
without an animal within it and may if desired be fitted with small
wheels or rollers at the bottom.
What I claim is : -
1. Means for holding an animal, for the purposes set forth, wherein a
pair of side arms is provided both movable between outer and inner
positions, said side arms being shaped so as, when at the inner
position, to embrace the neck of the animal, but when at the outer
position to leave a wide open space through which the animal can pass
its head easily without having cause for fright, and said side arms
being pivotally mounted at their lower ends and being given a
simultaneous sideways movement by contact with a pivotally mounted
operating lever.
2. Means according to Claim 1, wherein the said lever is shaped so as
to engage the two side arms at different levels, to compensate for
their different distances from the fulcrum of the operating lever,
whereby the side arms have a symmetrical uniform movement towards and
away from each other.
3. Means according to Claim 1 or 2, wherein the operating lever is
held in the operative position by means of a ratchet and pawl, so
arranged as not to come into mutual engagement during the early part
of the closmg movement of the side arms.
4. Means according to any preceding claim incorporated in a gate.
5. Means according to any preceding claim wherein the operating parts
are shielded by a panel or the like on the side nearest the animal.
6. Means according to any preceding claim arranged as part of a pen or
the like.
7. Means according to Claim 1, constructed and adapted for use
substantially as in the example herein described and illustrated in
the accompanying drawings.
8. A pen for an animal, having a gate with animal-holding means as
herein claimed and substantially as herein described and illustrated.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION
Improvements in Animal Holding Means and the like
I, JOHN CLEDWYNTHOMAS, a British subject, of The Smithy, Bryngwran,
Holyhead,
Anglesey, do hereby declare this invention to be described in the
following statement:

6. This invention relates to a means for holding cattle and other animals
for various purposes, and is concerned with the provision of a device
which is simple and rapid in operation, is relatively inexpensive, is
easily accessible by the cattle without giving cause for fright, is
relatively noiseless in operation, and is so constructed as not to
injure the cattle.
The improved holding means may be incorporated in a pen or the like,
or in a building, or may be erected alone without being associated
with any other structure, according to the particular uses to which it
is to be put. Among other things, the invention may be adopted at
grading centres, or on farms and similar places for holding strong
cattle whilst being inspected and/or marked, it may be adopted for
holding cattle during examination and treatment by a veterinary
surgeon or other examiner, and for holding cattle whilst being
drenched with medicines, or prepared for showing. Many other like uses
will suggest themselves to persons dealing with live animals.
According to the invention, a pair of side arms is provided lying
across upper and lower horizontal bars and both movable between outer
and inner positions, said side arms being shaped so as, when at the
inner position, to embrace the neck of the animal, but when at the
outer position to leave a wide open space through which the animal can
pass its head easily without having cause for fright.
According to a further feature of the invention, the said side arms
are pivotally mounted at their lower ends and are shaped to act as
cams for effecting their sideways movement by contact with a pivotally
mounted operating lever.
The said lever is shaped so as to engage the two side arms at
different levels, to compensate for their different distances from the
fulcrum of the operating lever, whereby the side arms have a
symmetrical uniform movement towards and away from each other. In some
embodiments of the invention the operating lever is held in the
operative position by means of a ratchet and pawl, but these are so
arranged as not to