Patents by Inventor Michael Earls

Michael Earls has filed for patents to protect the following inventions. This listing includes patent applications that are pending as well as patents that have already been granted by the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO).

  • Patent number: 12495760
    Abstract: A projection is provided on a side barrier of a cubicle or stall for a bovine animal, the projection being positioned at the open end of the cubicle through which the animal enters the cubicle. The projection defines a region of reduced opening width which forces the animal to straighten its entry into the cubicle, thereby promoting a straight lying position without reducing the lying area available for the animal within the cubicle. A straight lying position encourages the animal's waste to be deposited away from the animal's bed into a waste channel in the passageway outside the cubicle. Preferably a pair of projections are provided, extending towards one another from the opposed side barriers, such that the reduced opening width region is centered within the overall opening width. The projection is preferably provided as an accessory which can be mounted on the rails of an existing cubicle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 24, 2024
    Date of Patent: December 16, 2025
    Inventor: Michael Earls
  • Publication number: 20240156044
    Abstract: A projection is provided on a side barrier of a cubicle or stall for a bovine animal, the projection being positioned at the open end of the cubicle through which the animal enters the cubicle. The projection defines a region of reduced opening width which forces the animal to straighten its entry into the cubicle, thereby promoting a straight lying position without reducing the lying area available for the animal within the cubicle. A straight lying position encourages the animal's waste to be deposited away from the animal's bed into a waste channel in the passageway outside the cubicle. Preferably a pair of projections are provided, extending towards one another from the opposed side barriers, such that the reduced opening width region is centered within the overall opening width. The projection is preferably provided as an accessory which can be mounted on the rails of an existing cubicle.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 24, 2024
    Publication date: May 16, 2024
    Inventor: Michael Earls
  • Patent number: 11910777
    Abstract: A projection is provided on a side barrier of a cubicle or stall for a bovine animal, the projection being positioned at the open end of the cubicle through which the animal enters the cubicle. The projection defines a region of reduced opening width which forces the animal to straighten its entry into the cubicle, thereby promoting a straight lying position without reducing the lying area available for the animal within the cubicle. A straight lying position encourages the animal's waste to be deposited away from the animal's bed into a waste channel in the passageway outside the cubicle. Preferably a pair of projections are provided, extending towards one another from the opposed side barriers, such that the reduced opening width region is centered within the overall opening width. The projection is preferably provided as an accessory which can be mounted on the rails of an existing cubicle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 5, 2021
    Date of Patent: February 27, 2024
    Inventor: Michael Earls
  • Patent number: 11375683
    Abstract: A barrier component is disclosed for an animal stall, comprising a curved, elongated body member of elastomeric material such as rubber. This body member has first and second end sections each adapted for engagement within a respective hollow pipe. Together the two hollow pipes and the barrier component provide a stall divider when mounted on a suitable set of brackets, poles or supports at the head end of a stall. The component has a collar formation at each end which defines an annular recess for receiving a hollow pipe end and shielding the end of the pipe from the animal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 20, 2020
    Date of Patent: July 5, 2022
    Inventor: Michael Earls
  • Publication number: 20210274741
    Abstract: A projection is provided on a side barrier of a cubicle or stall for a bovine animal, the projection being positioned at the open end of the cubicle through which the animal enters the cubicle. The projection defines a region of reduced opening width which forces the animal to straighten its entry into the cubicle, thereby promoting a straight lying position without reducing the lying area available for the animal within the cubicle. A straight lying position encourages the animal's waste to be deposited away from the animal's bed into a waste channel in the passageway outside the cubicle. Preferably a pair of projections are provided, extending towards one another from the opposed side barriers, such that the reduced opening width region is centred within the overall opening width. The projection is preferably provided as an accessory which can be mounted on the rails of an existing cubicle.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 5, 2021
    Publication date: September 9, 2021
    Inventor: Michael Earls
  • Publication number: 20200344973
    Abstract: A barrier component is disclosed for an animal stall, comprising a curved, elongated body member of elastomeric material such as rubber. This body member has first and second end sections each adapted for engagement within a respective hollow pipe. Together the two hollow pipes and the barrier component provide a stall divider when mounted on a suitable set of brackets, poles or supports at the head end of a stall. The component has a collar formation at each end which defines an annular recess for receiving a hollow pipe end and shielding the end of the pipe from the animal.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 20, 2020
    Publication date: November 5, 2020
    Inventor: Michael Earls
  • Patent number: 10750716
    Abstract: A mat for a bovine animal has an elastomeric body having a ground-engaging underside and a top side, the mat having a head end and a tail end. The top side has a generally planar area on which a cow may rest in use, and a portion of the generally planar area towards the head end is bounded on either side and across the head end thereof by a barrier integrally formed with the elastomeric material of the mat. The barrier projects upwardly above the generally planar area, and defines a pair of arms extending on either side of the bounded portion. The configuration of the mat encourages an animal to rest correctly on the mat, increasing comfort and reducing the chance of injury, while also avoiding the problems of hygiene and installation difficulties associated with known mats and their accessories.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 24, 2016
    Date of Patent: August 25, 2020
    Inventor: Michael Earls
  • Patent number: 10736298
    Abstract: A barrier component includes a curved, elongated body member of elastomeric material such as rubber. This body member has first and second end sections each adapted for engagement within a respective hollow pipe. Together the two hollow pipes and the barrier component provide a stall divider when mounted on a suitable set of brackets, poles or supports at the head end of a stall. The component has a collar formation at each end which defines an annular recess for receiving a hollow pipe end and shielding the end of the pipe from the animal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 12, 2014
    Date of Patent: August 11, 2020
    Inventor: Michael Earls
  • Publication number: 20200170217
    Abstract: A neck rail (142, 242, 42) system is provided for an animal stall. The neck rail (142, 242, 42) has first and second end segments (152, 52) defining a common axis (58) and a middle segment having a neck-receiving portion which is offset from the common axis (58) and which accommodates the neck of an animal. First and second receivers (44) are mounted on the sides of a stall In and are adapted to receive the first and second end segments (152, 52) of the neck rail (142, 242, 42). At least the first receiver (144, 44, 46) and the first end (150, 154, 50, 54) segment of the rail are provided with complementary locking formations which can be brought into and out of engagement by axial displacement, and which locking formations prevent angular rotation of the neck rail (142, 242, 42) relative to the first receiver (144, 44, 46) when engaged with one another.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 6, 2018
    Publication date: June 4, 2020
    Inventor: Michael Earls
  • Patent number: 10477830
    Abstract: A coupling component for an animal cubicle that includes an engagement member, a pipe collar transverse to the engagement member for receiving a neckrail, a flexible member that extends in opposite directions from the engagement member and connects the engagement member to the pipe collar so that the flexible member encircles a space adjacent the pipe collar. The deformation of the flexible member allows relative movement between the engagement member and the pipe collar.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 11, 2016
    Date of Patent: November 19, 2019
    Inventor: Michael Earls
  • Publication number: 20180192611
    Abstract: A mat for a bovine animal has an elastomeric body having a ground-engaging underside and a top side, the mat having a head end and a tail end. The top side has a generally planar area on which a cow may rest in use, and a portion of the generally planar area towards the head end is bounded on either side and across the head end thereof by a barrier integrally formed with the elastomeric material of the mat. The barrier projects upwardly above the generally planar area, and defines a pair of arms extending on either side of the bounded portion. The configuration of the mat encourages an animal to rest correctly on the mat, increasing comfort and reducing the chance of injury, while also avoiding the problems of hygiene and installation difficulties associated with known mats and their accessories.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 24, 2016
    Publication date: July 12, 2018
    Inventor: Michael Earls
  • Publication number: 20170055483
    Abstract: A coupling component for an animal cubicle that includes an engagement member, a pipe collar transverse to the engagement member for receiving a neckrail, a flexible member that extends in opposite directions from the engagement member and connects the engagement member to the pipe collar so that the flexible member encircles a space adjacent the pipe collar. The deformation of the flexible member allows relative movement between the engagement member and the pipe collar.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 11, 2016
    Publication date: March 2, 2017
    Inventor: Michael Earls
  • Publication number: 20150164037
    Abstract: A barrier component is disclosed for an animal stall, comprising a curved, elongated body member of elastomeric material such as rubber. This body member has first and second end sections each adapted for engagement within a respective hollow pipe. Together the two hollow pipes and the barrier component provide a stall divider when mounted on a suitable set of brackets, poles or supports at the head end of a stall. The component has a collar formation at each end which defines an annular recess for receiving a hollow pipe end and shielding the end of the pipe from the animal.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 12, 2014
    Publication date: June 18, 2015
    Inventor: Michael Earls