Animal husbandry – Bed or rest
Reexamination Certificate
1998-06-22
2001-03-13
Jordan, Charles T. (Department: 3644)
Animal husbandry
Bed or rest
C119S727000, C005S611000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06199508
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
This invention relates in general to the field of wheeled litters for transporting immobile large animals, and more particularly to such litters which can be collapsed very close to ground or floor level to facilitate placing an animal thereupon, and subsequently raised under power or manually for transporting and transferring the animal to a treatment table.
Lifting and transporting an immobile, injured or sick large animal without causing the animal discomfort or aggravating an injury is difficult. So an apparatus for lifting and transporting large animals in comfort is needed. (As used in this document, the word “large” includes animals of about seventy-five pounds or more but refers in general to animals which, if sick or injured or disabled due to age or some other reason, are large enough to present lifting and transportation difficulties to a handler.) Particularly for veterinarians, animal clinics, animal hospitals, humane societies, canine units and zoos, there is an urgent need for such an apparatus.
With this invention, large immobile animals can be lifted and transported with relative ease and without causing further injury or unnecessary discomfort to the animal. It provides a way for a single person of ordinary strength to lift a very large, prone animal from the ground or floor and transport it. A significant advantage is that this invention has two components, a wheeled cart and a wheeled lift. The cart is light-weight so it can easily be carried over the rough terrain. The cart is also easily maneuverable to transport an animal over the rough terrain to the lift which is more suited for smoother surfaces. The cart can be rolled over the lift and carried by the lift without the need to transfer the animal from the cart to the lift. Preferably the lift is designed to elevate an animal weighing up to 300 pounds to a level of approximately 40 inches. This is sufficient to allow treatment to be conducted on a large animal while it remains on the lift, or the animal can be easily transferred therefrom to a treatment table. In its lowered or collapsed position the lift is compact, allowing it to be easily stored in a vehicle.
Other advantages and attributes of this invention will be readily discernable upon a reading of the text hereinafter.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
An object of this invention is to provide an animal lift and transport apparatus for large animals.
An additional object of this invention is to provide an animal lift and transport apparatus for immovable, injured or sick animals without causing further injury or discomfort to such animals.
An additional object of this invention is to provide an animal lift and transport apparatus which has both a lift and a cart.
An additional object of this invention is to provide a lift capable of lifting animals weighing up to 300 pounds.
An additional object of this invention is to provide a lift capable of being lowered or compressed to eight inches in height, or less.
An additional object of this invention is to provide a lift having a battery powered lifting mechanism.
An additional object of this invention is to provide a gear driven collapsible lift having a quick-lift feature which disengages the drive gear permitting the lift to be quickly, manually expanded upward to a desired level and/or tilt.
An additional object of this invention is to provide a lift and a cart each having a detachable, flexible sheet for resting an animal thereon.
An additional object of this invention is to provide a lift having a flexible sheet which can be stiffened to allow CPR to be performed on a supported animal.
An additional object of this invention is to provide a lift capable of being rolled on an edge when collapsed.
An additional object of this invention is to provide a cart capable of transporting an animal over rough terrain.
An additional object of this invention is to provide a foldable cart capable of being positioned over a collapsed lift.
An additional object of this invention is to provide a lift capable of lifting an animal on the cart.
These objects, and other objects expressed or implied in this document, are accomplished by an apparatus having two major components: a lift and a cart. In the preferred embodiment, the cart has a rectangular framework with a fabric sheet stretched between, and connected to, opposite long frame members for vertical support of the animal. The cart has two wheeled legs supporting a rear end, and a handle at a front end for pulling and maneuvering the cart. The cart preferably also has front legs extending from the frame to support the frame parallel to a floor or ground surface. For a prone, disabled or sick animal, the fabric sheet can be disconnected from the frame and pulled underneath the animal. The frame of the cart can then be placed over the animal and the sheet can be reconnected. Once the sheet is reconnected to the frame, straps attached to the sheet can be connected around the animal to hold it in place. Once the animal is secured on the sheet by the straps, the cart can then be carried to the lift. Alternatively the cart can then be raised onto its wheels and front legs and wheeled to the lift.
Preferably the lift has a base and a lift framework including a motor driven elevator mechanism for selectively raising and lowering the lift frame from the base. The base has wheels near its corners for stability and maneuverability. An optional quick-lift feature disengages the motor drive so that the lift frame can be quickly lifted manually by its handles to a selected level horizontally or at a selected tilt. As for motor drive, the lift preferably has two battery operated motors, each controlling an opposite end of the lift frame but acting in unison to keep it parallel to the floor within its operating range. Preferably a battery and a battery charger are mounted on the base. The lift frame has a flexible sheet upon which an animal can lie, and the sheet can have a second layer attached to its underside, forming a large pocket to allow the insertion of a rigid resuscitation board. This provides rigid support so cardio-pulmonary resuscitation (CPR) can be administered to an animal in distress.
Preferably the frame of the cart is wider than the lift frame and base so that the cart can be wheeled over the lift when the lift is in its lowest position. The lift frame can then be raised, with the cart and animal on top, without having to move the animal from the cart to the lift. The lift can then be wheeled to a desired location, and the animal can then be lifted or lowered to the level needed. Treatment can be given to the animal while on the lift. Alternatively, the cart, since it is separate from the lift, can again be used to transport the animal from the lift to an operating table. This avoids the necessity of having to lift just the animal and the possible additional injury and discomfort it could cause. Also, the support sheet of the cart can be disconnected from the cart, allowing the animal to remain on the sheet on the treatment table while the cart is removed to get it out of the way.
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pa
Miale Gloria L.
Miale Theresa
Molvaney Michael
Pantos William
Jordan Charles T.
Miale Theresa
Shaw Elizabeth
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