US397722A - Hopple - Google Patents

Description

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE. I

THOMAS HEREIN, OF STOCKVILLE, NEBRASKA.

H OPPLE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Iatent No. 397,722, dated February 12, 1889.

Application filed Tune 26, 1888- $eria1hlo. 278,228. (No model.)

To aZZ whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, THOMAS HEREIN, a citi' zen of the United States, residing at Stockville, in' the county of Frontier and State bf Nebraska, have invented a new and useful Improvement in Pig-Hopples, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to a pig-hopple, having for its object to provide a device to be attached to the leg of a pig, which will prevent the latter from stopping or j nmping over a low ii'iclosing-fence.

It is sometimes desirable to inclose pigs with. a low wire fence, thereby saving the expense of a higher structure, and to prevent the stock from stepping or j nmping over this fence I provide a small device to he attached to the front legs, whereby when they liftthe leg small, pointed wires either prick the breast or catch in the wire of the fence.

The invention consists in a certain novel Referring to the drawings, A designates an adjustable band or strap, which is adapted to be adjusted to the leg of the animal, and the wire points B Bare affixed at their lower ends to the said band or strap by meansof the inner strap, 0, stitched to the inner side of the same, the lower ends of the points being provided with small hooks c c, held in place by the said straps. These wire points are curved out-ward toward tln irupper ends, and are provided near their lower ends or bases with the ontward-extending loops or offsets l) h, for a purpose to be hereinafter explained.

The upper ends of the wire points are preferably separated three or four inches, and are adapted to extend without about an inch of the breast of .the pig, so that, although the latter may walk freely on a level. surface, it cannot raise its leg to step over an obstacle without. causing the points to come in contact with the flesh. Thus if the pig attempts to step over a low wire fence he is prevented from raisin his leg by the spreading poinis- Further, if the pig approaches very close to the wire before raising his leg, the forwardly-projecting end of one of the points will engage the wire and prevent the leg from bein raised, the loops or offsets in the lower ends of the points being designed to receive the wire when thus engaged. The points are disengaged from the \vi re when the pig attempts to back away from the latter.

This device is very simple, can be manufactured very cheaply, and is designed to be applied to both fore legs of the animal. It will be understood that the ordinary motions of the animal are not interfered with by the improved hopple, the only time when it acts being when the pig raises his leg to step over an obstacle.

Having describeal my invention, I claim- The herein-described pig-hopple, composed of the hand A, and the similar band, (7, secured together to form a strap, which provided at one end with a buckle and at the other end with eyelets therefor, and the p'oin is or pricks B, with the hooks c at their lower ends, secured between the bands A and (1, having their upper ends curved outwardly from the leg when in place thereon and provided just above the strap with the ontward-extending loops 1), substantially as and for the purpose specified. i In testimony that I claim the foregoing as i my own I have hereto affixed my signature in presence of two witn csses.

; 'llIOLlIAS HEREIN. l \Vitnesses:

WILLIAM W. 000mm, 13. G. MoULToN.

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