US4051760A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Shearing apparatus
Assignee: Individual
•
Filing: 1975-07-02
•
Granted: 1977-10-04
•
Expires: 1995-07-02
Abstract
Abstract An improved cutting unit for incorporation in a sheep-shearing apparatus having a flexibly curvable comb which conforms to the curved contours of an animal's body, thereby enabling a larger area to be fleeced at any one stroke, whether the apparatus is manually operated, power driven, or is an automatic or high speed fleecing machine.
Inventors
- 👤 Michael John Glennan
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-09 15:13
CPC Classifications
B; B26; B26B; B26B19/00; B26B19/24; Y; Y10; Y10S; Y10S83/00; Y10S83/929; Y10T; Y10T83/00; Y10T83/707; Y10T83/7101; Y10T83/7145
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 23
Claim 1
Independent Claim
120 words
A cutting unit for a shearing apparatus comprising a flexibly curvable comb having teeth on the intended concave surface thereof, the comb cooperating with a cutting means located behind and adjacent to the upper part of the teeth of the comb, and when the toothed surface of the comb is applied in a flexed condition to the body of an animal to be shorn, the comb and the co-operating cutting means conform as required to the contours of the animal's body and when forward propulsion force is applied to the shearing apparatus to propel same over the body of the said animal, this propulsion force simultaneously assists the cutting means to break or sever the fleece from the animal's hide.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
120 words
A cutting unit for a shearing apparatus comprising a flexibly curvable comb having teeth on the intended concave surface thereof, the comb cooperating with a cutting means located behind and adjacent to the upper part of the teeth of the comb, and when the toothed surface of the comb is applied in a flexed condition to the body of an animal to be shorn, the comb and the co-operating cutting means conform as required to the contours of the animal's body and when forward propulsion force is applied to the shearing apparatus to propel same over the body of the said animal, this propulsion force simultaneously assists the cutting means to break or sever the fleece from the animal's hide.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
17 words
The cutting unit as claimed in claim 1 wherein the cutting means is a flexible cutting blade.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
15 words
The cutting unit as claimed in claim 1 wherein the cutting means is a hot-wire.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
21 words
The cutting unit as claimed in claim 2 wherein the cutting means is itself in the form of an endless belt.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
24 words
The cutting unit as claimed in claim 4 wherein the cutting means is a toothed endless belt provided with a number of cutting teeth.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
25 words
The cutting unit as claimed in claim 5 wherein the cutting teeth are individually mounted on the comb for swivel movement of the said teeth.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
31 words
The cutting unit as claimed in claim 1 wherein the cutting means comprises at least two cutting units joined together by a flexible axle in spaced apart relationship to each other.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
28 words
The cutting unit as claimed in claim 1 incorporating at least one propelling cylinders made from traction producing material and providing the forward propulsion of the cutting unit.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
38 words
A shearing apparatus comprising a housing, incorporating a cutting unit according to claim 1, in combination with propulsion means for applying propulsion to the cutting unit to propel same over the body of an animal to be shorn.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
43 words
The shearing apparatus according to claim 9 wherein the propulsion means comprises at least one propelling cylinders made from traction producing material or incorporating traction producing protuberances, and providing or assisting the forward propulsion of the shearing apparatus or the cutting unit thereof.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
57 words
A hand holdable shearing apparatus according to claim 9 including a motor adapted to drive the propelling cylinder by a belt drive and sprockets provided in the housing, the cutting means of the cutting unit being in the form of a rotatable moving hot-wire also drivable from the motor by means of a belt drive and sprockets.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
37 words
The hand holdable shearing apparatus according to claim 9 comprising a motor adapted to drive the propelling cylinder, the cutting means of the cutting unit being in the form of an endless belt passing through the housing.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
25 words
The hand holdable shearing apparatus according to claim 12 wherein the cutting means of the cutting unit is a hot-wire attached to the endless belt.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
22 words
The hand holdable shearing apparatus according to claim 12 wherein the cutting means of the cutting unit is a toothed endless belt.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
30 words
The hand holdable shearing apparatus according to claim 14 wherein the cutting means of the cutting unit are a series of blades mounted on a flexible comb in swivel manner.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
40 words
A power drivable, high speed fleecing apparatus according to a cutting unit according to claim 1 together with means for applying power driving propulsion to the cutting unit to propel same over the body of an animal to be shorn.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
45 words
The power drivable, high speed fleecing apparatus according to claim 16 wherein a number of propelling cylinders are joined together on a flexible axle at spaced intervals is provided to assist propulsion of the cutting unit over the body of an animal to be shorn.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
88 words
The power drivable, high speed fleecing apparatus according to claim 16, comprising means for holding an animal to be shorn temporarily immobilised with its spine in a vertical position, means for positioning a flexible comb of a cutting unit according to claim 2, against the back and sides of the body of the said animal and another such cutting unit against the belly of said animal, the flexible comb of each said cutting unit being of sufficient length to cover the said back and sides of belly respective.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
26 words
The cutting means when used in the cutting unit claimed in claim 1 comprising an endless belt provided with a number of cutting teeth affixed thereto.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
33 words
The cutting means when used in the cutting unit claimed in claim 19 wherein the cutting means of the cutting unit are a series of blades mounted on the comb in swivel manner.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
31 words
The cutting means when used in the cutting unit claimed in claim 1 comprising a flexible blade in the form of an endless belt or attached to a non-cutting endless belt.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
29 words
The cutting means when used in the cutting unit claimed in claim 1, comprising a hot-wire in the form of an endless belt or attached to a non-cutting belt.
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) | 1980-10-03 | 1981-04-04 | 1981-10-04 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1984-10-03 | 1985-04-04 | 1985-10-04 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1988-10-03 | 1989-04-04 | 1989-10-04 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |