Horse Panel With Segmented Crossbar Spacing

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Solution Overview

Problem

Conventional panels with 20 cm spacings between cross braces pose a risk of injury to horses, especially when they roll near or attempt to rise from the panels, leading to accidents and non-compliance with horse-keeping recommendations.

Innovation Solution

Adjusting the cross brace spacings to a maximum of 5 cm in the lower area and between 30 cm to 80 cm in the upper area, with the frame and cross braces made of metal, preferably steel, and incorporating stand elements and shielding elements to prevent injuries and ensure compliance with horse-keeping standards.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Ease of manufacture

If the distance between cross braces is increased to improve ease of manufacture and reduce material usage, then the panel becomes easier to manufacture and less expensive, but the risk of injury to horses increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveease of manufactureVSAvoidrisk of injury to horses
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of manufactureVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The panel is divided into two distinct zones: a lower safety zone with closely spaced cross braces (maximum 5 cm) and an upper area with larger spacing (30-80 cm). This segmentation allows the panel to simultaneously meet safety requirements in the critical lower area while maintaining ease of manufacture and reduced material usage in the upper area.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

Different regions of the panel are assigned different cross brace spacing characteristics. The lower area (first area) has dense spacing of maximum 5 cm to prevent horse limbs from getting caught, while the upper area (second area) has wider spacing of 30-80 cm for manufacturing efficiency. This local differentiation optimizes both safety and manufacturability.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #3Local quality

2Object-affected harmful factors

If the distance between cross braces is decreased to minimize injury risk, then the safety for horses is improved, but the manufacturing complexity and material usage increase

Engineering Contradiction:
Improverisk of injury to horsesVSAvoiddevice complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Object-affected harmful factorsVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The panel structure is segmented into two functional zones with different spacing requirements. Only the lower safety-critical area requires dense cross bracing at maximum 5 cm intervals, while the upper area uses standard 30-80 cm spacing, thereby reducing overall manufacturing complexity compared to uniform dense spacing throughout.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The dense cross bracing configuration is applied locally only where safety is critical (lower area up to 50 cm height), rather than uniformly across the entire panel. This localized approach minimizes the increase in device complexity and material usage while still achieving the safety objective.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #3Local quality

3Ease of manufacture

If uniform cross brace spacing is used throughout the panel, then the manufacturing process is simplified, but the safety for horses is compromised

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveease of manufactureVSAvoidsafety for horses
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of manufactureVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The panel employs non-uniform cross brace spacing with different densities in different regions. The lower area has dense spacing (max 5 cm) for safety, while the upper area has wider spacing (30-80 cm) for manufacturing efficiency. This local differentiation resolves the contradiction between uniformity for ease of manufacture and variability for safety.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #3Local quality

Solution Approach 2:

The panel is segmented into a lower safety zone and an upper manufacturing zone with different spacing characteristics. This segmentation allows each zone to be optimized for its specific function while maintaining overall panel integrity and ease of assembly.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Data Source

PatentEP3815522B1Safety panel for horses
Publication Date: 2022.08.17 PATURA
  • EP3815522B1 patent drawingFigure 1~2
  • EP3815522B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

The present invention relates to a panel for horses, with a preferably rectangular frame and a plurality of crossbars arranged in the frame, characterized in that in a first area of ​​the panel the distance between the individual crossbars is a maximum of 5 cm and in a second area of ​​the panel the distance between the individual crossbars is at least approximately 30 cm and preferably lies in the range between approximately 30 cm and approximately 80 cm.