GB2425240A

GB2425240A - Humane bird despatcher

Info

Publication number: GB2425240A
Application number: GB0522232A
Authority: GB
Inventors: David Earsman
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2005-04-21
Filing date: 2005-10-31
Publication date: 2006-10-25
Also published as: GB0508122D0; GB0522232D0

Abstract

A humane bird despatcher includes two handles (1, 2) freely pivoted about one end, the handles (1, 2) being so shaped in the applied section so as to despatch the bird safely, quickly and efficiently, without further damage to the appearance of the bird. The handles (1, 2) may be fitted with non-slip grips (4, 5). The handles (1, 2) may have an adjustable friction element to the pivot or hinge pin. The handles have jaws which may have cooperating surfaces which may be D-shaped or rough.

Description

Humane Bird Despatcher This invention relates to a hand tool used to

humanely despatch or apply the coup de grace to an injured or disabled bird. When game birds are shot, inevitably some are injured, winged or otherwise disabled and it is humane to despatch the bird with the minimum of delay and further pain or discomfort.

Current methods of despatch can include battering the bird's head with heavy blows; wringing the bird's neck; or use of plier-action types of narrow- bladed tools which are difficult to use and which can either decapitate the bird or cause further distress to both bird and/or operator. A decapitated bird is of little commercial value and many participants of game shooting find the unnecessary handling of an injured bird upsetting.

Viewed from a first aspect, the present application relates to a tool for humanely despatching a bird or animal, the tool comprising first and second arms pivotally connected to each other at a first end, the first and second arms having first and second jaws for engaging the neck of a bird or animal. The tool is used to despatch or deliver a coup de grace to a bird, such as an injured game bird, or animal.

The present invention proposes a tool which may be carried in a holster and, at least in preferred embodiments, can be easily accessed and used single- handedly to quickly despatch the bird by a single crimping action applied to the neck, so severing the spinal chord, but without otherwise cosmetically damaging the bird's appearance. The tool is preferably handheld.

The action and design of the tool is such that it will safely accommodate varying sizes and species of bird, in what are often wet and slippery conditions. It is applied to the neck of the bird in a single pass-over action, in such a way as to prevent severance of the head or further damage the appearance of the bird, but resulting in an instant despatch. Thus, the tool according to the present invention is a humane bird or animal despatcher.

The first and second jaws oppose each other and are preferably moveable in substantially the same plane between an open position and a closed position.

The jaws are preferably blunt to reduce the likelihood of the skin being broken when the tool is used.

The first and second jaws preferably have first and second cooperating surfaces respectively. The cooperating surfaces are typically provided on the inside of the first and second jaws. The width of the cooperating surfaces is typically greater than or equal to 3mm, 5mm, 7mm, 10mm or 15mm to help reduce the likelihood of the neck of the animal or bird being severed.

The first and/or second cooperating surfaces could be serrated but this may result in the skin on the neck of the animal or bird being cut when the tool is used. As such, the cooperating surfaces are preferably not serrated. Rather, at least one of the first and second cooperating surfaces is preferably rough. This reduces the likelihood of the neck slipping relative to the tool whilst helping to prevent skin on the neck of the bird or animal being broken. The desired surface roughness may be achieved by omitting to machine the cooperating surfaces of the tool after the jaws have been manufactured, for example by forging or casting.

Alternatively, an additional manufacturing step may be employed to achieve the desired surface roughness.

The first and/or second cooperating surfaces could be substantially planar.

Preferably, however, the first cooperating surface and/or the second cooperating surface is/are convex. Preferably, the first cooperating surface and/or the second cooperating surface is/are generally D-shaped in transverse cross-section.

When the first and second jaws are in a closed position, a gap is preferably provided between the first and second cooperating surfaces. A stop member may be provided to maintain the desired gap.

Alternatively, when the first and second jaws are in a closed position, the first and second cooperating surfaces may abut each other in a contact area. A gap is preferably maintained between the first and second surfaces away from the contact area. The contact area is preferably proximal the pivot at the first end of the tool. Displacing the jaws to an open position preferably forms a space between the cooperating surfaces in the contact area. The first and second cooperating surfaces are preferably substantially planar in the area where they abut each other.

The first and second cooperating surfaces preferably taper outwardly from each other away from the contact area. Thus, the gap between the first and second cooperating surfaces preferably narrows towards the pivot. This arrangement helps to retain the neck of the bird or animal towards the first end of the tool.

The first jaw is preferably substantially straight (i.e. rectilinear). Thus, the first cooperating surface preferably does not include any bends or curves.

The second jaw is preferably substantially straight (i.e. rectilinear). Thus, the second cooperating surface preferably does not include any bends or curves.

An inside edge of at least one of the first and second jaws is preferably chamfered along a portion of its length. This helps reduce the likelihood of the neck of the bird or animal being cut when the tool is used.

The first and second arms are preferably also provided with first and second handles respectively. The first and second handles are preferably provided at the free ends of the arms. The handles are preferably curved to aid gripping them. The handles may also be provided with non-slip grips. The first jaw and the first handle are preferably formed integrally. Similarly, the second jaw and the second handle are preferably formed integrally.

Viewed from a further aspect, the present invention relates to a tool for humanely despatching a bird or animal, the tool comprising first and second jaws pivotally connected to each other, the first and second jaws having first and second cooperating surfaces; wherein the first cooperating surface and/or the second cooperating surface is/are rough. The jaws may be pivoted at an end thereof or they may be pivoted along their length.

Viewed from a still further aspect, the present application relates to a tool for humanely despatching a bird, the tool comprising first and second jaws pivotally connected to each other at one end; and first and second handles being provided at the free ends of the first and second jaws respectively.

The first and second jaws may be formed from a sheet material which is pressed into the desired configuration. Preferably, however, the jaws are formed from metal bars.

The tool may also be provided with a mechanism for adjusting the friction of the pivot.

Furthermore, the tool may include a spring to bias the first and second jaws to an open position. This arrangement would help an individual to place the device around the neck of the bird or animal more readily.

The present invention also relates to a tool as described herein in combination with a holster.

Viewed from a further aspect, the present invention relates to a method of despatching a bird using a tool as described herein, the method comprising the steps of: (a) locating the neck of the bird between the cooperating surfaces; and (b) bringing the jaws of the tool together. The back of the bird's neck is preferably located proximal the pivot of the jaws so that the spine is trapped proximal the pivot.

Viewed from a still further aspect, the present invention relates to a hand- held tool, used to despatch or deliver a coup de grace to an injured game bird or similar, resulting in a humane end to its life. The tool is preferably carried in a holster. The handles may be fabricated from flat bar. Furthermore, a pivot point may be provided with a friction adjustment.

Viewed from a yet further aspect, the present application relates to a humane bird despatcher including two handles freely pivoted about one end, the handles being so shaped in the applied section so as to despatch the bird safely, quickly and efficiently, without further damage to the appearance of the bird. The handles may be fitted with non-slip grips. The handles may have an adjustable friction element to the pivot or hinge pin.

A tool according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention will now be described, by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying Figures, in which: Figure IA shows a side view of the tool according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention; Figure 1 B shows a plan view of the tool shown in Figure 1A in a closed position; Figure 1C shows an end view of the tool shown in Figure 1A; Figure 2A shows a cross-sectional view of one of the handles of the tool according to the present invention; Figures 2B and 2C show a plan view and a side view respectively of one of the handles; Figure 3 shows a perspective view of the assembled tool according to the present invention in a closed position; and Figures 4A and 4B illustrate the use of the tool according to the present invention.

Figures 1A, lB and IC shows a tool according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention. The tool comprises two metal handles (1) and (2), hinged about a flush-finished metal pivot pin (3), the handles being fitted with plastic grips (4) and (5) to prevent slipping. The handles must pivot quite freely for ease of operation.

The metal handles (1) and (2) can be formed by forging or pressing, and over the length of crimping application indicated at (6), are of a "Dshaped" cross- section, as shown in Figure 2A. formed with smooth-ground edges. At the hinge end, the boss of the handle (7) also has smoothly finished edges and transitions from a rectangular cross-section at (8) to the "D-shaped" crimping section at (6), such that a positive stop is formed at the contact point of the said rectangular sections (9), preventing complete closure of the handles.

Figures 2B and 2C shows the handles (1) and (2) continue in a "D-section" and are curved at the outer ends (10) for ease of handling and to prevent slipping.

Important features of the handles are the breadth and flatness of the inside edges of the crimping length (6) and the smoothing of the edges over this length. The gradual tapering of the gap between the handles, indicated at(11) assists in accommodating varying sizes and species of bird.

Figure 3 shows an isometric view of the tool.

Figure 4A illustrates the initial action of holding the bird, dependent upon size either by the body or tucked underarm. The tool is held by one handle whilst the other is allowed to hang freely over the neck of the bird, then as the tool is lowered in a hooking movement, the fingers are extended to grasp the free handle.

Figure 4B illustrates the final despatching action, as the two handles are brought smartly together to crush the spinal chord. The tool can then be returned to its holster and the bird secured.

It will be appreciated that various modifications to the tool described herein are possible without departing from the scope of the invention. For example, the tool may be produced in various different sizes for despatching different sizes of birds or animals.

Moreover, the tool may be mounted on a frame, a wall or fixed to the floor to facilitate despatching of larger birds such as turkeys. In such an arrangement, one of the - may be provided with a mounfing bracket or other means to facilitate mounting of the tool.

Claims

Claims: 1. A tool for humanely despatching a bird or animal, the tool

comprising first and second arms pivotally connected to each other at a first end, the first and second arms having first and second jaws for engaging the neck of a bird or animal.
2. A tool as claimed in claim 1, wherein the first and second jaws have first and second cooperating surfaces respectively.
3. A tool as claimed in claim 2, wherein at least one of the first and second cooperating surfaces is rough.
4. A tool as claimed in claim 2 or claim 3, wherein at least one of the first and second cooperating surfaces is convex.
5. A tool as claimed in any one of claims 2, 3 or 4, wherein at least one of the first and second cooperating surfaces is generally D-shaped in transverse cross- section.
6. A tool as claimed in any one of claims 2 to 5, wherein the first and second cooperating surfaces are provided on the inside of the first and second arms respectively.
7. A tool as claimed in any one of claims 2 to 6, wherein, when the first and second jaws are in a closed position, a gap is provided between the first and second cooperating surfaces.
8. A tool as claimed in claim 6 further comprising a stop member to maintain the gap between the first and second cooperating surfaces.
9. A tool as claimed in any one of claims 2 to 6, wherein, when the first and second jaws are in a closed position, the first and second cooperating surfaces abut each other over a contact area.
10. A tool as claimed in claim 9, wherein the first and second cooperating surfaces abut each other proximal the pivot.
11. A tool as claimed in claim 9 or claim 10, wherein, when the first and second jaws are in said closed position, a gap is provided between the first and second cooperating surfaces away from the contact area.
12. A tool as claimed in any one of claims 9, 10 or 11, wherein the first and second cooperating surfaces taper outwardly from each other away from the contact area.
13. A tool as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, wherein the first jaw is substantially straight.
14. A tool as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, wherein the second jaw is substantially straight.
15. A tool as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, wherein at least one of the first and second jaws is chamfered along at least a portion of its length.
16. A tool as claimed in any one of the preceding claims further comprising first and second handles provided at the free ends of the first and second arms respectively.
17. A tool as claimed in claim 16, wherein the handles are provided with non- slip grips.
18. A tool for humanely despatching a bird or animal, the tool comprising first and second jaws pivotally connected to each other, the first and second jaws having first and second cooperating surfaces; wherein the first cooperating surface and/or the second cooperating surface is/are rough.
19. A tool for humanely despatching a bird, the tool comprising first and second jaws pivotally connected to each other at one end; and first and second handles being provided at the free ends of the first and second jaws respectively.
20. A tool as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, wherein the first and second arms are formed from bars.
21. A tool as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, wherein the first and second arms are moveable in substantially the same plane.
22. A tool as claimed in any one of the preceding claims further comprising a mechanism for adjusting the friction of the pivot.
23. A tool as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, wherein the tool is hand-held.
24. A tool as claimed in any one of the preceding claims in combination with a holster.
25. A holster for a tool as claimed in any one of the preceding claims.
26. A method of despatching a bird using a tool as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, the method comprising the steps of: (a) locating the neck of the bird between the cooperating surfaces; and (b) bringing the jaws of the tool together.
27. A method as claimed in claim 26, wherein the back of the bird's neck is located proximal the pivot of the jaws.
28. A tool substantially as herein described and with reference to the accompanying figures.
29. A method of using a tool substantially as herein described and with reference to the accompanying figures.