Cattle chute transporting system

Description

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to cattle chute transport systems.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Cattle chutes are used all across the country and all over the world to load cattle from a pen into a trailer. Even though they work very well, they must be built of sturdy construction to withstand the weight of full grown cattle passing thereon. The sturdy construction makes the cattle chute heavy and difficult to move, thus requiring an awkward, and unsafe attachment to a forklift, a front end loader, or a tractor using chains. The present invention features a system for transporting a cattle chute with a tractor.

Any feature or combination of features described herein are included within the scope of the present invention provided that the features included in any such combination are not mutually inconsistent as will be apparent from the context, this specification, and the knowledge of one of ordinary skill in the art. Additional advantages and aspects of the present invention are apparent in the following detailed description and claims.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention features a system for transporting a cattle chute with a tractor. In some embodiments, the system comprises a tractor having a hydraulically activated three-point hitch. In some embodiments, the three-point hitch comprises a first three-point hitch leg, a second three-point hitch leg, and a center three-point hitch leg.

In some embodiments, the system comprises a cattle chute comprising a first side pickup horizontally located on a cattle chute front structure close to a cattle chute first side. In some embodiments, the cattle chute comprises a second side pickup horizontally located on the cattle chute front structure close to a cattle chute second side. In some embodiments, the cattle chute comprises a center pickup horizontally centrally located on the cattle chute front structure vertically offset from the first side pickup and the second side pickup.

In some embodiments, the system comprises a “U” shaped chute hitch having a first chute hitch leg, a second chute hitch leg, and a horizontal chute hitch connector. In some embodiments, the chute hitch is located on the three-point hitch. In some embodiments, the chute hitch comprises a first hook, a second hook, and a center hook.

In some embodiments, the tractor is backed up toward the cattle chute front structure. In some embodiments, the chute hitch is raised via the hydraulically activated three-point hitch. In some embodiments, the first hook engages the first side pickup. In some embodiments, the second hook engages the second side pickup. In some embodiments, the center hook engages the center pickup. In some embodiments, the hydraulically activated three-point hitch lifts the cattle chute for transport via the chute hitch.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 shows a perspective view of the cattle chute of the present invention.

FIG. 2 shows a side view of the cattle chute of the present invention.

FIG. 3 shows a top view of the cattle chute of the present invention.

FIG. 4 shows a front view of the cattle chute of the present invention.

FIG. 5 shows a cross-sectional view of the cattle chute front structure of the present invention.

FIG. 6 shows a side view of the present invention.

FIG. 7 shows a perspective view of the three-point hitch and the chute hitch of the present invention.

DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

Following is a list of elements corresponding to a particular element referred to herein:

• • 100 Cattle chute transporting system
  • 110 Tractor
  • 120 Three-point hitch
  • 121 First three-point hitch leg
  • 122 Second three point hitch leg
  • 123 Center three point hitch leg
  • 130 Cattle chute
  • 131 Cattle chute front structure
  • 132 Cattle chute first side
  • 133 Cattle chute second side
  • 135 First side pickup
  • 136 Second side pickup
  • 137 Center pickup
  • 140 Side pickup plane
  • 141 Center pickup plane
  • 150 Chute hitch
  • 151 First chute hitch leg
  • 152 Second chute hitch leg
  • 153 Chute hitch connector
  • 154 Chute hitch connector first side
  • 155 Chute hitch connector second side
  • 160 First hook
  • 161 Second hook
  • 162 Center hook
  • 170 Linear support member

Referring now to FIG. 1-7, the present invention features a cattle chute transporting system (100) for transporting a cattle chute with a tractor. In some embodiments, the system (100) comprises a tractor (110) having a hydraulically activated three-point hitch (120). In some embodiments, the three-point hitch (120) comprises a first three-point hitch leg (121), a second three-point hitch leg (122), and a center three-point hitch leg (123). In some embodiments, the first three-point hitch leg (121) and the second three-point hitch leg (122) are parallel. In some embodiments, the center three-point hitch leg (123) is located between the first three-point hitch leg (121) and the second three-point hitch leg (122). Three-point hitches are well known to those of ordinary skill in the art.

In some embodiments, the system (100) comprises a cattle chute (130) comprising a linear first side pickup (135) horizontally located on a cattle chute front structure (131) close to a cattle chute first side (132). In some embodiments, the first side pickup (135) lies on a horizontal side pickup plane (140).

In some embodiments, the system (100) comprises a cattle chute (130) comprising a linear second side pickup (136) horizontally located on a cattle chute front structure (131) close to a cattle chute second side (133). In some embodiments, the second side pickup (136) lies on the horizontal side pickup plane (140).

In some embodiments, the system (100) comprises a cattle chute (130) comprising a linear center pickup (137) horizontally centrally located on a cattle chute front structure (131) vertically offset from the first side pickup (135) and the second side pickup (136) on a horizontal center pickup plane (141). In some embodiments, the side pickup plane (140) is parallel to the center pickup plane (141). In some embodiments, the center pickup plane (141) is above the side pickup plane (140) when the cattle chute (130) is in a position for use.

In some embodiments, the first side pickup (135), the second side pickup (136), and the center pickup (137) are permanently mounted to the cattle chute (130). In some embodiments, the first side pickup (135), the second side pickup (136), and the center pickup (137) are removably mounted to the cattle chute (130). In some embodiments, the first side pickup (135), the second side pickup (136), and the center pickup (137) comprises a kit that can be installed on an existing cattle chute (130). In some embodiments, cattle chutes (130) are well known to those of ordinary skill in the art.

In some embodiments, the system (100) comprises a “U” shaped chute hitch (150) having a first chute hitch leg (151), a second chute hitch leg (152), and a horizontal chute hitch connector (153). In some embodiments, the first chute hitch leg (151) is located on and extends downwardly from a horizontal chute hitch connector first side (154). In some embodiments, the second chute hitch leg (152) is located on and extends downwardly from a horizontal chute hitch connector second side (155).

In some embodiments, the chute hitch (150) is removably located on the three-point hitch (120). In some embodiments, the first three-point-hitch leg (121) is pivotally located on the first chute hitch leg (151). In some embodiments, the second three-point hitch leg (122) is pivotally located on the second chute hitch leg (152). In some embodiments, the center three-point hitch leg (123) is pivotally located at a midpoint on the horizontal chute hitch connector (153).

In some embodiments, the chute hitch (150) comprises a first hook (160), a second hook (161), and a center hook (162). In some embodiments, the first hook (160), the second hook (161), and the center hook (162) face upward. In some embodiments, the first hook (160) is located on a lowermost point on the first chute hitch leg (151). In some embodiments, the second hook (161) is located on a lowermost point on the second chute hitch leg (152). In some embodiments, the center hook (162) is centrally located on the horizontal chute hitch connector (153). In some embodiments, the first hook (160), the second hook (161), and the center hook (162) project out and away from the chute hitch (150) opposite the three-point hitch (120).

In some embodiments, the tractor (110) is moved toward the cattle chute front structure (131). In some embodiments, the chute hitch (150) interfaces with the cattle chute front structure (131). In some embodiments, the chute hitch (150) is raised via the hydraulically activated three-point hitch (120). In some embodiments, the first hook (160) engages the first side pickup (135). In some embodiments, the second hook (161) engages the second side pickup (136). In some embodiments, the center hook (162) engages the center pickup (137). In some embodiments, the hydraulically activated three-point hitch (120) lifts the cattle chute (130) for transport via the chute hitch (150).

In some embodiments, a method for transporting a cattle chute (130) comprises moving the tractor (110) toward the cattle chute front structure (131). In some embodiments, the chute hitch (150) interfaces with the cattle chute front structure (131). In some embodiments, the method comprises raising the chute hitch (150) is via the hydraulically activated three-point hitch (120). In some embodiments, the first hook (160) engages the first side pickup (135). In some embodiments, the second hook (161) engages the second side pickup (136). In some embodiments, the center hook (162) engages the center pickup (137). In some embodiments, the hydraulically activated three-point hitch (120) lifts the cattle chute (130) for transport via the chute hitch (150).

In some embodiments, the first side pickup (135), the second side pickup (136), and the center pickup (137) are each permanently attached to the cattle chute (130) on two opposing ends.

In some embodiments, the first side pickup (135), the second side pickup (136), and the center pickup (137) are each permanently attached to the cattle chute (130) for a third point of support via a separate angled linear support member (170) located thereon.

In some embodiments, the first side pickup (135), the second side pickup (136), and the center pickup (137) are constructed from round steel comprising a diameter between 1 inch and 2 inches.

As used herein, the term “about” refers to plus or minus 10% of the referenced number.

Various modifications of the invention, in addition to those described herein, will be apparent to those skilled in the art from the foregoing description. Such modifications are also intended to fall within the scope of the appended claims. Each reference cited in the present application is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety.

Although there has been shown and described the preferred embodiment of the present invention, it will be readily apparent to those skilled in the art that modifications may be made thereto which do not exceed the scope of the appended claims. Therefore, the scope of the invention is only to be limited by the following claims. Reference numbers recited in the claims are exemplary and for ease of review by the patent office only, and are not limiting in any way. In some embodiments, the figures presented in this patent application are drawn to scale, including the angles, ratios of dimensions, etc. In some embodiments, the figures are representative only and the claims are not limited by the dimensions of the figures. In some embodiments, descriptions of the inventions described herein using the phrase “comprising” includes embodiments that could be described as “consisting of”, and as such the written description requirement for claiming one or more embodiments of the present invention using the phrase “consisting of” is met.

The reference numbers recited in the below claims are solely for ease of examination of this patent application, and are exemplary, and are not intended in any way to limit the scope of the claims to the particular features having the corresponding reference numbers in the drawings.