Horse Panel With Variable Crossbar Spacing

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing panels with 20 cm lattice distances pose a risk of injury to horses, as they can entangle their limbs between the cross struts, leading to accidents and injuries, especially when rolling or getting up.

Innovation Solution

A panel design with a maximum cross strut distance of 5 cm in the lower area and between 30 cm to 80 cm in the upper area, combined with a sliding gate that maintains these strut distances, minimizes the risk of injury by preventing entanglement.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Ease of manufacture

If cross struts are spaced approximately 20 cm apart in the panel, then the panel structure remains simple and lightweight, but horses can entangle their limbs between the cross struts causing injuries

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvepanel structure simplicityVSAvoidinjury risk to horses
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of manufactureVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies different cross strut spacing in different vertical regions of the panel. The lower region (first region) has closely spaced cross struts (maximum 5 cm apart) to prevent limb entanglement, while the upper region (second region) has wider spacing (30-80 cm) to maintain structural simplicity and lightweight design. This local differentiation resolves the contradiction by targeting the harmful effect only where it occurs most severely.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #3Local quality

Solution Approach 2:

The panel is divided into two distinct vertical regions with different cross strut spacing configurations. The first region (lower part) and second region (upper part) are segmented separately, allowing each to have optimized spacing for its specific function - safety in the lower region and structural efficiency in the upper region.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

2Ease of operation

If a sliding gate is added to the panel for versatile use in narrow stable aisles, then ease of operation and safety are improved, but device complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvegate opening convenienceVSAvoidpanel structure complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of operationVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent incorporates a sliding gate mechanism that can move horizontally along the panel frame, providing dynamic access control. The sliding gate maintains the same cross strut spacing pattern (5 cm in lower region, 30-80 cm in upper region) as the main panel, ensuring consistent safety standards while adding operational flexibility for narrow stable aisles.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

Data Source

PatentEP4548753A1Safety panel for horses with sliding gate
Publication Date: 2025.05.07 PATURA
  • EP4548753A1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP4548753A1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP4548753A1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

The present invention relates to a panel (1) for horses, comprising a preferably rectangular frame (2) and a plurality of crossbars (3) arranged in the frame, wherein in a first region of the panel the distance between the individual crossbars is a maximum of 5 cm and in a second region 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, and the panel is a sliding gate, wherein the distances are preferably less than 5 cm and greater than 30 cm respectively in the open and closed states of the sliding gate. The invention further relates to a mobile paddock and a horse stall with at least one such panel.