US3867903A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Egg layer system
Assignee: Individual
•
Filing: 1973-09-11
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Granted: 1975-02-25
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Expires: 1993-09-11
Abstract
Abstract An egg layer system for the production of poultry eggs which includes a plurality of tiered, open mesh wire cages arranged back to back and mounted in a plurality of rows extending the length of an elongated rectangular building enclosure. The cage rows are arranged so as to form equally spaced aisles between facing cages. At the base of the cage rows is a parallel track assembly provided to permit a servicing carriage assembly to be moved along the individual aisles. A trolley assembly is provided extending transversely across one end of the rows of cages for shifting the carriage assembly between aisles. In addition, the trolley can be arranged to extend beyond the building enclosure to interconnect with similar egg layer systems for interchanging the carriages, as desired. Individual, self-propelled carriages for egg collection, scraping manure dropping boards or maintenance of poultry within the cages are included. A single combined carriage which can simultaneously perform all of these functions can also be provided. The tiered, back-to-back cages are constructed by arranging rows of spaced support columns, alone one side of which is secured a continuous one-piece open mesh wire curtain wall. Transversely extending support arms, vertically spaced, are inserted through the curtain wall and attached to the support columns. Manure dropping boards are supported on the top surfaces of the support arms, and continuous, tilted open mesh wire floors, doors and cage partitions are hung from the cross arms and curtain wall. Any number of tiers of cages can be provided and the rows can be of any length that is desired. A novel door locking clip is provided for securing the cage doors in the down position and supporting the doors when raised to the open position.
Inventors
- 👤 Roger L Fleshman
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-29 01:04
CPC Classifications
A; A01; A01K; A01K31/00; A01K31/14; A01K31/16; A01K31/17
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 12
Claim 1
Independent Claim
330 words
A poultry cage assembly having a plurality of vertically stacked tiers and arranged in an elongated row, said cage assembly comprising: a. a plurality of vertical support columns spacedly arranged in a single longitudinal row, b. a continuous curtain wall means extending along one side of said row of columns and secured to said columns, said wall means being formed from sheet material and arranged to substantially cover the vertical height of said row of columns, c. cage support means having a plurality of horizontally disposed cross arms arranged to extend outwardly from said columns and normAl to the plane of said curtain wall means, said cross arms being vertically spaced and secured to said support columns whereby the arms are horizontally aligned with corresponding arms to form horizontal tiers, d. said cage support means further including cage hanger bars interconnecting the outer edges of the horizontally aligned cross arms, e. cover means including a continuous sheet of solid material attached to the upper surfaces of said cross arms and hanger bars and arranged to extend the full length of said column row, f. floor means being formed from open mesh wire fabric and arranged to extend the full length of said column row, said floor means being attached to said curtain wall means and said hanger bar means so as to be tilted downwardly from said curtain wall means so that eggs laid upon the floor means will roll to the outside edge of said floor means, said floor means further including egg retaining means along the outer edge of said floor means to retain said eggs, g. partition means including a plurality of partition walls vertically arranged and attached to said support means and said floor means to divide the space along each tier between the cover means, curtain wall means and floor means into a series of individual cages, and h. door means pivotally attached to said support means to enclose said cages and retain poultry therewithin.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
330 words
A poultry cage assembly having a plurality of vertically stacked tiers and arranged in an elongated row, said cage assembly comprising: a. a plurality of vertical support columns spacedly arranged in a single longitudinal row, b. a continuous curtain wall means extending along one side of said row of columns and secured to said columns, said wall means being formed from sheet material and arranged to substantially cover the vertical height of said row of columns, c. cage support means having a plurality of horizontally disposed cross arms arranged to extend outwardly from said columns and normAl to the plane of said curtain wall means, said cross arms being vertically spaced and secured to said support columns whereby the arms are horizontally aligned with corresponding arms to form horizontal tiers, d. said cage support means further including cage hanger bars interconnecting the outer edges of the horizontally aligned cross arms, e. cover means including a continuous sheet of solid material attached to the upper surfaces of said cross arms and hanger bars and arranged to extend the full length of said column row, f. floor means being formed from open mesh wire fabric and arranged to extend the full length of said column row, said floor means being attached to said curtain wall means and said hanger bar means so as to be tilted downwardly from said curtain wall means so that eggs laid upon the floor means will roll to the outside edge of said floor means, said floor means further including egg retaining means along the outer edge of said floor means to retain said eggs, g. partition means including a plurality of partition walls vertically arranged and attached to said support means and said floor means to divide the space along each tier between the cover means, curtain wall means and floor means into a series of individual cages, and h. door means pivotally attached to said support means to enclose said cages and retain poultry therewithin.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
113 words
A poultry cage assembly as defined in claim 1, wherein: said cage door means includes a pivotally mounted cage door assembly supported along its upper edge by the roof portion of said cage, a feed trough means is mounted continuously along the tier of cages suitably spaced above said floor portion to permit eggs to pass under said feed trough means to accumulate at said egg retaining means, and said floor portion of each cage is tilted in a downwardly direction toward the outside of said cage so that the eggs laid by said poultry will roll toward said egg holding device with only enough velocity to remove the egg from said cage.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
74 words
A poultry cage assembly as defined in claim 1, wherein: said cage door is secured in a downward position to an edge of said feed trough means by a removable wire locking clip, and said clip is arranged to slide upwardly on the wire of said cage door means so that the clip can be used to retain the door in an upward position by attaching to the outer edge of the cover means.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
67 words
A poultry cage assembly as defined in claim 1, wherein: said egg retaining device is arranged to pivot outwardly and downwardly to permit the eggs to roll onto an egg collecting tray as it is moved past said egg retaining means, said egg collecting tray including a means to contact a portion of said egg retaining means to cause it to pivotally move to release said eggs.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
61 words
A poultry cage assembly as defined in claim 1, wherein: said cross arms extend laterally outward in opposite directions from said support columns, and said cover, floor, partition and door means are provided on each side of said curtain wall means to form a double cage arrangement wherein the rear wall of each cage is formed by the common curtain wall.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
49 words
A poultry cage assembly as defined in claim 1, wherein: a feed trough means is mounted continuously along the front portion of said cages and is spaced above said floor means to permit said eggs to pass under said feed trough means to accumulate at said egg retaining means.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
21 words
A poultry cage assembly as defined in claim 1. wherein: said curtain wall means is formed from open mesh wire fabric.
Claim 9
Independent Claim
279 words
A method of making a row of tiered poultry cages for use in an egg layer system comprising: a. arranging a longitudinal row of spaced vertical support columns, b. securing curtain means of open wire mesh continuously along one side of said row of columns, said curtain means being arranged to extend substantially the height of said columns, c. inserting cage support means through said curtain means so As to extend laterally outward in a horizontal position from said columns and securing said support means to said columns, said support means being arranged vertically in equally spaced relation and aligned horizontally to form a series of longitudinal tiers extending the length of the row of said columns, d. positioning and attaching a continuous sheet of material on the upper surface of each tier of cage support means along the row of columns so as to form a roof for said poultry cages and to protect the cage from manure drop by the poultry retained in the cages above, e. suspending a continuous sheet of open wire mesh from each tier of cage support means in a spaced position above the roof of the next lower tier of cages and securing one edge of said sheet along the curtain means so that the sheet forming the floor of the cages is tilted downwardly away from said curtain means, f. securing vertical open wire mesh partitions between said cage support means and said floor so as to horizontally divide the space between these elements into individual cage areas, and g. pivotally securing a cage door from said cage support means so as to close said individual cages for retaining poultry therein.
Claim 10
Independent Claim
279 words
A method of making a row of tiered poultry cages for use in an egg layer system comprising: a. arranging a longitudinal row of spaced vertical support columns, b. securing curtain means of open wire mesh continuously along one side of said row of columns, said curtain means being arranged to extend substantially the height of said columns, c. inserting cage support means through said curtain means so As to extend laterally outward in a horizontal position from said columns and securing said support means to said columns, said support means being arranged vertically in equally spaced relation and aligned horizontally to form a series of longitudinal tiers extending the length of the row of said columns, d. positioning and attaching a continuous sheet of material on the upper surface of each tier of cage support means along the row of columns so as to form a roof for said poultry cages and to protect the cage from manure drop by the poultry retained in the cages above, e. suspending a continuous sheet of open wire mesh from each tier of cage support means in a spaced position above the roof of the next lower tier of cages and securing one edge of said sheet along the curtain means so that the sheet forming the floor of the cages is tilted downwardly away from said curtain means, f. securing vertical open wire mesh partitions between said cage support means and said floor so as to horizontally divide the space between these elements into individual cage areas, and g. pivotally securing a cage door from said cage support means so as to close said individual cages for retaining poultry therein.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
50 words
A method of making a row of tiered poultry cages as defined in claim 8, wherein: said cage support means is arranged to extend horizontally outward in opposite directions from said columns and the cages are formed in tiered back to back relationship on each side of the curtain means.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
37 words
A method of making a row of tiered poultry cages as defined in claim 8, wherein: a continuous feeder means and watering means is secured adjacent to each tier of cages for sustaining the poultry retained therein.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1978-02-24 | 1978-08-26 | 1979-02-25 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1982-02-24 | 1982-08-26 | 1983-02-25 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1986-02-24 | 1986-08-26 | 1987-02-25 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |