Implement for demarcating an area, as well as a vehicle suitable for being used in said implement

• US 20050279982A1
• Filed: 08/12/2005
• Published: 12/22/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 10/20/1999
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: LELY Research Holding AG
• Original Assignee: LELY Research Holding AG
• Inventors: van den Berg, Karel
• Application Number:
  US11/201,806
• Publication Number:
  US 20050279982A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 256/10
• CPC Class Codes: A01K 1/105 Movable feed barriers, slides or fences
• CPC Class Codes: A01K 3/001 Portable, temporary, and collapsible fencing for pastures
• CPC Class Codes: A01K 3/005 Electrified fencing for pastures
• CPC Class Codes: E04H 17/266 for stretching or winding wire or wire mesh stretcher-type wire fencing or tensioning devices for wire fencing E04H17/127

Abstract

An apparatus for demarcating an area for restricting the freedom of movement of animals that may be in the area for grazing purposes. The demarcation element, as such, may be a cord, band, ribbon, strip, cable, rope or electrified or communication wire which may be two parallel wires separated by a flexible insulating material. The demarcation element is supported by a plurality of vehicles although one or two ends of same may be secured at a reference point. The vehicle is supported by two relatively large wheels which are independently connected to motors and the center of gravity of the vehicle is lower than the centers of the wheels which may be perpendicular to the ground or slanted inwardly. The vehicle carries solar panels which may be mounted on the wheels if they are slanted. A connection for the demarcation element is carried on each vehicle which may include a guide member and a tightening device. Also measuring devices are included for measuring the lengths of the sections of the demarcation element between vehicles and the angles at which they extend relative to a predetermined direction.

Claims

1. An implement for demarcating an area, in particular for restricting the freedom of movement of animals walking about freely, characterized in that the implement is provided with a demarcation element (10) and at least one vehicle (1, 1′

, 1″

) connected thereto, said vehicle being suitable for adjustably positioning an end of at least a section (12) of the demarcation element (10).

2-27. -27. (canceled)

28. An apparatus for demarcating an area which comprises a demarcation element that includes at least one section, a vehicle connected to an end of said section, said vehicle including a geodetic positioning system for selectively positioning said end of said section of said demarcation element, and an adjustable reference point which is fastened to the other end of said section.

29. An apparatus in accordance with claim 28, which comprises tightening means for tightening the position of said demarcation element relative to said vehicle.

30. An apparatus in accordance with claim 29, wherein said tightening means are fitted to said vehicle.

31. An apparatus for demarcating an area which comprises a demarcation element that includes at least one section, a vehicle connected to an end of said section, said vehicle including a geodetic positioning system for selectively positioning said end of said section to said demarcation element, and a relatively stationary reference point, the section of said demarcation element extending between said reference point and said vehicle, said reference point comprising a tightening means for tightening said demarcation element between said reference point and said vehicle.

32. An apparatus for demarcating an area which comprises a demarcation element that includes at least one section, a vehicle connected to an end of said section, said vehicle including a geodetic positioning system for selectively positioning said end of said section to said demarcation element, said section being adjustable in length, the apparatus further comprising winding means for winding and unwinding said adjustable section, said winding means being fitted to said vehicle, and a reference point which is connected to another end of said section, said winding means being disposed at said reference point.

33. An apparatus in accordance with claim 32, which further comprises a reference point which is connected to another end of said section, said winding means being disposed at said reference point.

34. An apparatus for demarcating an area which comprises a demarcation element that includes at least one section, a vehicle connected to an end of said section, said vehicle including a geodetic positioning system for selectively positioning said end of said section to said demarcation element, a reference point, the other end of said section being connected to said reference point, and angle measuring means associated with said reference point for determining the angle between a predetermined direction and said section.

35. An apparatus for demarcating an area which comprises a demarcation element that includes at least one section, a vehicle connected to an end of said section, said vehicle including a geodetic positioning system for selectively positioning said end of said section to said demarcation element, and ground engaging rotatable members that support said vehicle, said ground engaging rotatable members consisting of essentially two members, said ground engaging rotatable members comprising wheels which have axes that intersect at a point between them which is lower than the centers of said wheels.

36. An apparatus for demarcating an area which comprises a demarcation element that includes at least one section, a vehicle connected to an end of said section, said vehicle including a geodetic positioning system for selectively positioning said end of said section to said demarcation element, and contour determining means for determining the contours of the area to be demarcated by the apparatus.

37. An apparatus for demarcating an area which comprises a demarcation element that includes at least one section, a vehicle connected to one end of said section, said vehicle including a geodetic positioning system for selectively positioning said end of said section to said demarcation element, and further comprising a computer for remotely controlling said vehicle.

38. An apparatus for demarcating an area which comprises a demarcation element that includes a first section, a vehicle connected to the end of said first section, said vehicle including a geodetic positioning system for selectively positioning said end of said first section to said demarcation element, and a second section, an end of said second section being connected to said vehicle, each of said sections being provided with winding means which are capable of being controlled independently of each other.