PREFABRICATED BED WITH LITTER CONTAINMENT SYSTEM

Description

PC»U000 0 1 0 Description of a utility model entitled: PREFABRICATED BED WITH CONTAINMENT SYSTEMS OF THE LITTER in the name of: PARENTI Giuseppe in Piacenza and Pierluigi NAVAROTTO in Piacenza This innovation proposes a prefabricated cubicle intended specifically but not exclusively for use in cattle stables, of the type comprising a concrete structure with a configuration suitable for the use of automatic cleaning systems such as scrapers, etc., which is characterised by the presence of means suitable for containing a litter consisting, for example, of a layer of straw, sawdust or other bedding material spread on a mat, preventing it from spreading around. In particular, these devices consist of a tubular element integral with arms hinged to one side of the cubicle (the front one, where the animal's head is located) and which run along the sides of the cubicle so as to define, together with the tubular element, a U-shaped containment structure. These arms can rotate so as to move from a position of use in which the tubular frame is substantially horizontal, resting on the mattress, to contain the layer of bedding material spread on the mattress, to a raised position that allows for easy replacement of the straw or cleaning of the cubicle when necessary. Thanks to the configuration of the kennel, you get a litter box that is Eng. Giorgio MILANI Convenient and practical to use, it allows you to use straw without it spreading all over the place, making it easier to clean the service lane and allowing the use of the slatted floor. As is well known, the increase in the average size of stables has led to a gradual abandonment of traditional straw bedding in stalls. This is due to the high cost of this material, which in some years reaches values ​​comparable to those of fodder, the cost of the necessary labor, and the need to make waste management more practical and quicker, which in stables with many animals is a significant aspect. The presence of significant quantities of straw in the wastewater, in fact, prevents the use of slatted floors, and makes its removal by scrapers and subsequent management of storage and distribution more burdensome. All this has led to the search for various solutions to ensure a comfortable sleeping surface, ranging from the use of sand in those countries where scrapers are not used but manure is removed with hydraulic systems, to the use of synthetic mattresses for the sleeping areas that can reproduce the softness of straw and still encourage the animals to use the sleeping areas for their long periods of rest. There are several types of mattresses, in particular: - mattresses made from elastic waste materials (shredded rubber and the like) by filling bags that then become actual mattresses. Sometimes, instead of a single bag, several cylindrical bags are used - 12-15 cm in diameter - which are placed side by side and covered (sometimes with a cloth, sometimes not) like a sheet. This solution prevents the minced meat can move and ensures that a more uniform surface is maintained over time, - mattresses made with elastic panels produced with recycled products (rubber, polyurethane, etc.) of various densities and thicknesses (generally from 150 to 250 kg / m3 and 4-5 cm thick) which are used to create the soft layer of the mattress and are then covered with a sheet like a sheet, - mattresses as above but already equipped with a "closed" surface and therefore do not require an additional covering sheet. In any case, experience in recent years has shown that the surfaces of the mats in contact with the cattle, even when "dusted" with chopped straw or sawdust, very frequently cause abrasions that lead to hair loss and, in the most serious cases, ulcers and various complications that seriously damage the animal's health, drastically reduce its well-being and negatively impact production. This innovation now offers a solution to the above-mentioned problems, which consists of a prefabricated kennel equipped with litter containment systems, allowing the use of litter consisting of a layer of straw or other material placed on top of the mattress without the litter spreading all over the area. This provides the advantages of traditional natural straw litter combined with the practicality and ease of cleaning of mattresses. This innovation will now be described in detail, by way of a non-limiting example, with reference to the single attached figure which illustrates, PC 25531)000 0 10 in partially sectioned side view, a litter box according to the innovation. In the figure, the number 1 indicates as a whole a litter box according to the innovation, which comprises a concrete structure substantially made up of a plate 2 provided with front and rear walls 3 which rest on foundation strips 4 and, in the front part, where the animal's head is located, a raised surface 5 on whose upper wall there are vents 6 for the distribution of the air introduced into the tunnel 7 by a fan or a blower, not illustrated in the figures as it is of a known type, which takes fresh air from the outside and introduces it into the tunnel. The berths are arranged side by side so that the box-shaped structures that make up the berths are arranged one after the other, creating a single tunnel closed at the head. On the sides of the kennel, two metal structures 8 delimit the area available to the animal. The structure of the bunk is associated with a containment element substantially consisting of a tube 9 which runs along the rear edge of the bunk (the one facing the service lane) fixed to arms 10 whose ends are hinged at 11 to the front part of the bunk, by means of profiles (for example Alfen type) or threaded bushings, which allow the height position of the hinge axis to be varied. The plate 2 is designed to accommodate a mattress 12, and the tubular element 9, thanks to the presence of the hinge 11, is able to rotate to Eng. Giorgio MILANI PCZ03UOOOO1O move from a position of use, in which it is positioned almost horizontally, resting on the mattress 12, to a position, illustrated with a dotted line in the figure, in which it is raised, allowing the litter box to be quickly and conveniently removed, for example for cleaning. For use, the U-shaped structure 9-10 is placed in a horizontal position, resting on the mattress 12, around which the tubular structure creates a frame that acts as a containment element, thus allowing a layer of straw to be placed on the mattress which certainly does not damage the animal's fur. This U-shaped structure (tubular 9 - arms 10) then retains all the straw, preventing it from escaping from the kennel. If the berths need to be cleared, for example for periodic cleaning operations, it will be sufficient to lift the tube 9 by rotating the arms 10 which will be arranged at an angle as shown in the figure, allowing easy and free access. As will be clear to experts in the sector, the configuration adopted is remarkably practical, since the straw or bedding material does not spread and above all does not clog the cleaning devices and the kennel remains easily accessible for removing the mattress, simply by lifting the tube 9. Furthermore, the possibility of varying the height position of the zipper allows the litter box to be adapted to mattresses of different thicknesses. In this way the underlying mattress only has to guarantee the softness effect, while the bedding material that is placed on the mattress allows the animal to lie down while containing the abrasion and Eng. Giorgio MILANI avoiding the development of abrasions, hair loss and ulcers. Obviously, the dimensions, as well as the materials used, may vary depending on the application requirements. ^2® uooo (j ; o 0 ¢¢233110000 1 0

Claims

CLAIMS 1) Prefabricated cubicle, particularly for cattle stables, of the type comprising a concrete structure with a configuration suitable for the use of automatic cleaning systems such as scrapers, etc., characterised by the fact that it provides means for containing a litter consisting, for example, of a layer of straw or other bedding material spread on a mat, preventing it from spreading around, said means being movable between a use position, in which they are positioned resting on the mat, around it, and a raised position, in which they allow easy access to the litter. 2) Prefabricated kennel according to claim 1, characterised in that said containment means consist of a structure hinged to one edge of the litter tray, so as to be able to rotate between a use position in which it rests on a mattress placed on the litter tray, and a raised position, in which it allows access for cleaning operations. 3) Prefabricated kennel according to claim 2, characterised in that said containment means consist of a tubular element integral with arms hinged to one edge of the litter tray, so as to be able to rotate between a position of use in which said tubular element and arms rest on a mattress placed on the litter tray, and a raised position, in which they allow access for cleaning operations. 4) Prefabricated berth according to claim 3, characterised Eng. Giorgio MILANI from the fact that said support arms of said tubular are hinged to the litter box structure by means of a hinge fixed on bushings or similar hooks provided on the product. 5) Prefabricated kennel according to any of the preceding claims, characterised by having a shape such as to define a tunnel below the support plate of the mattress, said tunnel being provided with openings directed towards the area where the animal's muzzle is located and being connected to means suitable for introducing fresh air into it. 6) Prefabricated kennel especially for cattle stables, as described and illustrated.