WO2000060928A1

WO2000060928A1 - Equidae excrement catcher/holder device

Info

Publication number: WO2000060928A1
Application number: PCT/AU2000/000298
Authority: WO
Inventors: Simon Gardner Lee; Joseph Anthony Vella; Daira Vella; Stephen Glenister
Original assignee: Equinap Pty Ltd
Priority date: 1999-04-07
Filing date: 2000-04-07
Publication date: 2000-10-19
Also published as: AUPP963699A0

Abstract

The invention discloses an equidae excrement catcher/holder device (10) including an elongated pouch (14) substantially conformable to the animal's belly and extendible forwardly from the rear to or towards the rib area. Fastening means (16) are provided to enable the animal to carry pouch (14). The pouch being, in use, positioned below the animal's tail and substantially between its rear legs. Pouch (14) has at least one chamber (34) for collection of urine and a barrier (60) separating the vulva from the anus of said animal. Barrier (60) allows anal excreta to fall onto the barrier (60) away from the vulva to prevent contamination of urine.

Description

EQUIDAE EXCREMENT CATCHER / HOLDER DEVICE

This invention relates to an equidae excrement catcher/holder device and relates particularly, though not exclusively, to a urine catcher/holder device for horses.

Prior art devices are described in International Patent Application Nos. PCT/AU94/00709, PCT/AU96/00799 and PCT/AU 99/00349, the contents of all of which are incorporated into this specification. These devices have been very successful in the field. With the emergence of biotechnology the collection of animal hormones has now become more popular. The urine of pregnant mares has hormones eg oestrogens which can be harvested. The prior art devices do not separate the manure from the urine in mares. As the anal and reproductive canals of mares are very close it has been a problem to separate urine from manure. If the two can be separated without cross-contamination then substantial savings in collection and purification will result.

It is an object of the present invention to provide an equidae excrement catcher/holder device which allows separation of urine from anal excreta. With this and other objects in view the present invention provides an equidae excrement catcher/holder device including an elongated pouch substantially conformable to the animal's belly and extendible forwardly from the rear to or towards the rib area, fastening means enabling the animal to carry said pouch, said pouch being, in use, positioned below the animal's tail and substantially between its rear legs, said pouch including at least one chamber for collection of urine and a barrier separating the vulva from the anus of said animal, wherein said barrier allows anal excreta to fall onto said barrier away from said vulva to prevent contamination of urine. Preferably said barrier includes a flexible web which sits just below the anus and sealingly clamps against the perineum of said animal. The present invention also provides a barrier for an equidae excrement catcher/holder device, said device including an elongated pouch substantially conformable to the animal's belly and extendible forwardly from the rear to or towards the rib area, fastening means enabling the animal to carry said pouch, said pouch being, in use, positioned below the animal's tail and substantially between its rear legs, said pouch including at least one chamber for collection of urine, wherein said barrier separates the vulva from the anus of said animal, and wherein said barrier allows anal excreta to fall onto said barrier away from said vulva to prevent contamination of urine.

In order that the invention may be more readily understood and put into practical effect, reference will now be made to the accompanying drawings, in which:-

Fig. 1 is a perspective inside view of a first embodiment of an equidae excrement catcher/holder device;

Fig. 2 is a perspective outside view of the equidae excrement catcher/holder device shown in Fig. 1 ;

Fig. 3 is an end inside view of the equidae excrement catcher/holder device shown in Fig. 1 ; Fig. 4 is a side cross-sectional view of the equidae excrement catcher/holder device shown in Fig. 1 ;

Fig. 5 is a cross-sectional view of a second embodiment of an equidae excrement catcher/holder device fitted to a mare;

Fig. 6 is an enlarged view of the embodiment shown in Fig. 5 adjacent the vulva and anus of the mare;

Fig. 7 is a cross-sectional view along and in the direction of arrows 7-7 shown in Fig. 6;

Fig. 8 is a side view of an embodiment of a barrier as fitted to a mount forming part of the second embodiment shown in Figs. 5 to 7; Fig. 9 is a perspective view of a damper forming part of the barrier of Fig. 8; and Fig. 10 is a perspective view of an overlay for the barrier of Fig. 8.

In Figs. 1 to 4 of the drawings there is shown an excrement catcher/holder device 10 for a mare 12 which is in the form of a flexible elongated trough-shaped pouch 14 and is substantially conformable to the mare's belly and extends forwardly from the rear or towards the rib area. Pouch 14 may be made of any suitably strong, flexible and substantially waterproof material, such as a combination of plastics, hessian and rubber. Pouch 14 can be fastened to mare 12 by supporting means, eg adjustable straps or harness as shown in PCT/AU 99/00349. The support means as a whole is capable of distributing the total weight of the device and contents along a substantial portion of the mare's body. The harness is preferably formed from expandable lightweight or webbing material whereby the mare's freedom of movement will not be restricted unduly. Clamps or quick release clips 16 will allow easy fastening of device 10 to the mare 12. The supporting means may include a cover or rug (as shown in PCT/AU99/00349) with neck/wither (not shown) and breast straps. The rear part of the supporting means includes an upward cowl-like extension 24, preferably of openwork or other lightweight material, adapted to fit over the rear part of mare's back and thereby form, in effect, part of the pouch support. The external construction of device 10 is again very similar to that shown in International Patent Application Nos. PCT/AU94/00709, PCT/AU99/00349 and PCT/AU96/00799.

A rear part of pouch 14 has an aperture 28 for the mare's tail. The mare will always lift its tail at the onset of urination or defecation resulting in the top of pouch 14 being drawn together at the top. An internal flexible wall 32 in the form of a funnel forms opens into a urine chamber 34. The shape of and operation of chamber 34 can be varied to suit requirements. Chamber 34 may hold the urine by itself or it may contain a bladder which collects the urine directly or through a tube. Such variations are clearly shown in PCT/AU 99/00349. A frame 38 is affixed to the internal flexible wall 32 to prevent closure of pouch 14. Frame 38 is shaped to conform with the muscular structure/conformation of the mare's rump or buttocks. Urine may be collected in a urine collection bag (not shown) which sits inside section 48 of device 10. The urine collection bag has an exit tap 52 to allow easy collection by a handler when required. The bag may be recyclable or disposable.

In order to prevent anal excreta contaminating the urine a barrier 60 is provided between the anus 62 and the vulva 64. Barrier 60 includes a further frame 66 which is again shaped to conform with the skeletal structure of the mare to provide a pressure fitting on the perineum of the mare. Further frame 66 can be formed of a rubber, silicone, or similar resilient material and is covered by a waterproof material 68 to form a slide 72 for anal excreta. Aperture 70 cooperates with slide 72 to allow anal excreta to fall to the ground without contact with the vulva 64.

In use, device 10 is fitted to mare 12 as shown in Fig. 4. When defecating, mare 12 will lift her tail which will increase the pressure of further frame 66 against the perineum. Urine will stream outwardly under pressure to pass into chamber 34 for collection. The urine can then be collected from tap 52. Anal excreta will pass outside of device 10 onto slide 72 and fall onto the ground. If the horse has diarrhoea there will be no leakage along the mare's rump because of barrier 60. Solids or liquid from anus 62 cannot enter chamber 34. The urine will not be contaminated by the solids or manure to provide a purer liquid to be processed for extraction of hormones or other desired products. In the embodiment shown in Figs. 5 to 9 the same reference numerals have been used for similar integers to those of the embodiment shown in Figs. 1 to 4 to avoid repetition of description. In the embodiment shown in Figs. 5 to 7 barrier 60 makes use of a resilient damper 80. Damper 80 can be formed of a soft silicone or similar material which will not cause irritation to the mare. Damper 80 is formed as a hollow protuberance which has a curved contact section 82 and a concertina section 84. Concertina section 84 has a flange 86 to allow fitment to a mount 88 forming part of further frame 66. Mount 88 is secured to device 10 to positively locate damper 80 in the correct position and at the desired angle. In order to prevent anal excreta from reducing the flexibility and cleanliness of flutes 90 of concertina section 84 and also to prevent contamination of urine or chamber 34 a waterproof material 85 overlays damper 80 to form a first slide or chute 92 having sidewalls 93 indicated by shading in Figure 7. Second slide 72 will allow anal excreta to fall to the ground. Damper 80 is assembled to provide about a 45° angle to ensure that anal excreta is directed away from vulva 64. Contact section 82 has sufficient width to ensure it will prevent anal excreta entering vulva 64. In the embodiment of the damper shown in Fig. 9 the numeral 96 denotes grommets to permit mounting of a damper to mount 88. Portion of flange 86 may be bent along line 98 to permit the desired orientation of mounted damper 80.

The embodiment shown in Figs. 5 to 7 may be adapted to conform to different mares. The size of the vulva and anus together with the position of the vulva with respect to the anus can vary between breeds and within breeds. The damper 80 acts like a flexible boot. It can comfortably accommodate variations of size and position within limits. However, it is preferred that appropriately sized dampers be used according to the size of the mare. The self-biasing nature to flutes 90 of concertina section 84 ensure constant contact of contact section 82 with the perineum to ensure that contact section 82 remains sealingly clamped to the perineum to prevent any leakage to the vulva despite movements of the horse.

Although the preferred embodiments have been described chiefly by reference to horses, they can evidently be adapted for use with other four legged animals, such as cattle, asses, mules, llamas and other domesticated or domesticable animals which defecate manure and urine. For the purposes of this specification "equidae" is deemed to include all such animals.

The invention will be understood to embrace many further modifications as will be readily apparent to persons skilled in the art and which will be deemed to reside within the broad scope and ambit of the invention, there having been set forth herein only the broad nature of the invention and certain specific embodiments by way of example.

Claims

1 . An equidae excrement catcher/holder device including an elongated pouch substantially conformable to the animal's belly and extendible forwardly from the rear to or towards the rib area, fastening means enabling the animal to carry said pouch, said pouch being, in use, positioned below the animal's tail and substantially between its rear legs, said pouch including at least one chamber for collection of urine and a barrier separating the vulva from the anus of said animal, wherein said barrier allows anal excreta to fall onto said barrier away from said vulva to prevent contamination of urine.

2. The equidae excrement catcher/holder device as claimed in claim 1 , wherein said barrier includes a flexible web which sits just below the anus and sealingly clamps against the perineum of said animal.

3. The equidae excrement catcher/holder device as claimed in claim 1 or 2, wherein said barrier forms a slide for any anal excreta allowing the excreta to slide onto said barrier and drop to the ground.

4. The equidae excrement catcher/holder device as claimed in claim 1 , wherein said barrier includes a resilient damper which maintains constant contact with said animal despite movement of said animal.

5. The equidae excrement catcher/holder device as claimed in claim 4, wherein said resilient damper has a first section which contacts said animal and a second section which is concertina shaped to allow a self-biasing to the resilient damper on the perineum.

6. The equidae excrement catcher/holder device as claimed in claim 5, wherein said resilient damper is formed from a soft silicone material.

7. The equidae excrement catcher/holder device as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, wherein said urine chamber has an inlet inside said pouch on a wall of said pouch remote from said animal.

8. The equidae excrement catcher/holder device as claimed in claim 7, wherein said urine chamber includes a bag coupled to said inlet through a tube.

9. The equidae excrement catcher/holder device as claimed in claim 8, wherein said bag includes a tap for allowing release of collected urine.

10. The equidae excrement catcher/holder device as claimed in claim 8 or 9, wherein said bag is disposable.

1 1 .The equidae excrement catcher/holder device as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, wherein said pouch includes frame means to prevent closure of said pouch.

1 2. An equidae excrement catcher/holder device substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying drawings.

13. A barrier for an equidae excrement catcher/holder device, said device including an elongated pouch substantially conformable to the animal's belly and extendible forwardly from the rear to or towards the rib area, fastening means enabling the animal to carry said pouch, said pouch being, in use, positioned below the animal's tail and substantially between its rear legs, said pouch including at least one chamber for collection of urine, wherein said barrier separates the vulva from the anus of said animal, and wherein said barrier allows anal excreta to fall onto said barrier away from said vulva to prevent contamination of urine.

14. A barrier as claimed in claim 13, wherein said barrier includes a flexible web which sits just below the anus and sealingly clamps against the perineum of said animal.

1 5. A barrier as claimed in claim 13 or 142, wherein said barrier forms a slide for any anal excreta allowing the excreta to slide onto said barrier and drop to the ground.

1 6. A barrier as claimed in claim 13, wherein said barrier includes a resilient damper which maintains constant contact with said animal despite movement of said animal.

17. A barrier as claimed in claim 16, wherein said resilient damper has a first section which contacts said animal and a second section which is concertina shaped to allow a self-biasing to the resilient damper on the perineum.

18. A barrier as claimed in claim 16, wherein said resilient damper is formed from a soft silicone material.

19. A barrier as claimed in any one of claims 16 to 18 wherein a waterproof material overlays said damper.

20. A barrier substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to any one of accompanying drawings Figs 5 to 10.