SLATTED DEVICE FOR STABLE FLOORS

Abstract

Slatted device for stable floors. The device is suitable for being installed as a separation between a waste pit and stable compartment of stabled animals. The device comprises a chassis and a movable trap door having a plurality of openings. The trap door rests on the chassis. A sliding hinge means is provided between the chassis and trap door and the trap door can be moved to a position in which the trap door extends below the chassis.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Other advantages and characteristics of the invention will be appreciated from the following non-limiting description of a preferable embodiment of the invention, with reference to the attached drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 is an isometric perspective view of a stable floor with a slatted device according to the invention.

FIG. 2 is an exploded isometric perspective view of the floor with the slatted device of FIG. 1.

FIG. 3 is a perspective view of the slatted device according to the invention, with the trap door in its folded position.

FIG. 4 is a perspective view of the slatted device according to the invention, with the trap door in its retracted position.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF AN EMBODIMENT OF THE INVENTION

FIGS. 1 and 2 show a slatted device 1 according to the invention mounted in a suitable housing 16 of a stable floor 14. In this case, stable floor 14 also has a slat. However, device 1 according to the invention can also be mounted on construction floors, without departing from the object of the invention, in other words, simplifying the cleaning of the stable compartment floor. Therefore, slatted device 1 is assembled so that it separates the stable compartment from the pit 15, not shown but referenced, as being located below the floor 14.

As it can be better seen in FIG. 2, the slatted device mainly comprises a chassis 2 and a movable trap door 3. Trap door 3 has a plurality of openings 6 intended to prevent the excessive accumulation of excrements. Chassis 2 comprises a removal hole 17 over which trap door 3 is assembled. Between chassis 2 and trap door 3, sliding hinge means 11 are provided that allow trap door 3 to swing and move with respect to chassis 2, so that said trap door, during the operation of cleaning floor 14 of the stable compartment, is concealed inside pit 15.

In this embodiment, chassis 2 comprises a rectangular frame 4 that surrounds removal hole 17. Over opposite longer faces 8 of frame 4, near a first end 10 of the frame 4, two inner pivots 12 are provided that define a hinge axis 5. Moreover, trap door 3 has side guides 7 in the shape of a groove open at one end. This way, sliding hinge means 11 are the result of inserting pivots 12 into side guides 7 of trap door 3. Naturally, this is not the only possible arrangement of sliding hinge means 11. Therefore, for example, pivots 12 could be replaced with a rigid rod that extends between opposite faces 8 of frame 4. Furthermore, it would also be feasible for side guides 7 to be provided on frame 4 and for trap door 3 to have pivots suitable for cooperating with side guides 7. Also the fact that side guides 7 of trap door 3 are open at one end is an important advantage, because it avoids using additional joining elements, such as for example, screws. However, the invention also contemplates the possibility that pivots 12 can be threaded so as to ensure trap door 3 is attached more firmly.

Chassis 2, also comprises a secondary slat 9 located below trap door 3 that reduces the transverse section of removal hole 17. As mentioned above, one of the problems that occurs when cleaning stable compartment floor 14 is the danger of young animals falling into pit 15 during the cleaning operation. Therefore this secondary slat 9, defines secondary openings 18 that are much bigger than openings 6 of trap door 3 so that it is easier for the excrements to fall through, but on the other hand, small enough to prevent young animals from falling through them.

Optionally, secondary slat 9 can be removed from chassis 2. By means of this solution, secondary slat 9 can be cleaned thoroughly, for example, when the compartment is not being used by any animal.

In order to ensure that trap door 3 is firmly closed, this embodiment provides clicking (or retaining) means 13 that act between trap door 3 and secondary slat 9 of chassis 2. These clicking means 13 prevent generating an opening torque that could accidentally lift trap door 3 if the animal walks on the area between axis 5 and wall 19 of chassis 2. Such a situation could cause a young animal to fall onto secondary slat 9 and be squashed by trap door 3 in its downward movement.

There follows below the description of an operating mode of slatted device 1 according to the invention. Beginning with the view shown in FIG. 1, trap door 3 is raised, for example by hand, and is rotated around axis 5, in the direction of arrow A in FIG. 1. This movement continues until trap door 3 has reached a relatively raised position. FIG. 3 shows trap door 3 in a position that is nearly 90° with respect to stable compartment floor 14. However, it is not necessary to complete the 90° to subsequently insert trap door 3 into pit 15. In fact, the necessary rotation angle for inserting trap door 3 depends essentially on the shape of frame 4 and the free space available inside pit 15. So, once a raised position is reached such as that shown in FIG. 3, trap door 3 is inserted in the direction of arrow B inside pit 15, by moving side guides 7 of trap door 3 along pivots 12, in other words with respect to chassis 2. This way, trap door 3 remains in its final position, as shown in FIG. 4, and the stable compartment floor can be cleaned. In this position the excrements on the compartment floor can be easily pushed so that it falls inside the pit, without trap door 3 presenting an impediment.

Once the floor cleaning operation is completed, trap door 3 can be closed again by inverting the steps described above.

As can be seen from this description, the slatted device for stable floors according to the invention succeeds in resolving in a particularly novel, simple and comfortable way, the technical problem of cleaning stable floors without the trap door of the device jeopardising the cleaning operation.

Claims

1. Slatted device for stable floors, suitable for being installed as a separation between waste pits and stable compartments, comprising: a chassis;a movable trap door with a plurality of openings, said trap door having a first position resting on said chassis;sliding hinge means coupled to said chassis and said trap door, wherein said trap door is adapted to swing and move to a second position in which said trap door extends below said chassis.

2. Slatted device for stable floors according to claim 1, wherein said chassis comprises a frame and said sliding hinge means comprises an axis and at least two side guides, said axis extending between opposite faces of said frame and said side guides located on said trap door.

3. Slatted device for stable floors according to claim 2, wherein said axis extends through at least two pivots located on said opposite faces of said frame.

4. Slatted device for stable floors according to claim 1, wherein said chassis comprises a secondary slat located below a top surface of said trap door when said trap door is in said first position.

5. Slatted device for stable floors according to claim 4, wherein said secondary slat can be removed from said chassis.

6. Slatted device for stable floors according to claim 3, wherein said pivots are provided near a first end of said frame.

7. Slatted device for stable floors according to claim 3, wherein said frame is rectangular and said pivots are provided on longer faces of said frame.

8. Slatted device for stable floors according to claim 2, wherein said side guides of said trap door are open at one end.

9. Slatted device for stable floors according to claim 4, wherein clicking means are provided between said trap door and said secondary slat.

10. Slatted device for stable floors, suitable for being installed as a separation between a waste pit and stable compartment, comprising: a chassis;a movable trap door with a plurality of openings, said trap door having a first generally horizontal position resting on said chassis;a sliding hinge coupled to said chassis and said trap door, wherein said sliding hinge permits said trap door to be moved to a second generally vertical position in which said trap door extends below said chassis.

11. Slatted device for stable floors according to claim 10, wherein said chassis comprises a frame and said sliding hinge comprises at least one pivot and at least one guide that receives said at least one pivot.

12. Slatted device for stable floors according to claim 11, wherein said at least one pivot and said at least one guide are located between opposite faces of said frame.

13. Slatted device for stable floors according to claim 10, wherein said chassis comprises a secondary slat located below a top surface of said trap door when said trap door is in said first position.

14. Slatted device for stable floors according to claim 13, wherein said secondary slat can be removed from said chassis.

15. Slatted device for stable floors according to claim 11, wherein said at least one pivot is located near a first end of said frame.

16. Slatted device for stable floors according to claim 11, wherein said frame is rectangular and said at least one pivot is located on a longer face of said frame.

17. Slatted device for stable floors according to claim 11, wherein said at least one guide is open at one end.

18. Slatted device for stable floors according to claim 11, wherein said at least one guide is located on said trap door.

19. Slatted device for stable floors according to claim 11, wherein a retainer is coupled between said trap door and said chassis when said trap door is in said first position.

20. Slatted device for stable floors according to claim 19, wherein said chassis comprises a secondary slat, said retainer is connected to said trap door, and said retainer engages said secondary slat when said trap door is in said first position.