GB2240251A - Animal bedding - Google Patents

Abstract

A bed for an animal, e.g. a horse in a stable, comprising a rigid foam base member 12 having a resilient foam overlay 16. The rigid foam base has corrugations in its underside and hollow bolts pass through the overlay and the base to draw the resilient foam down to give a quilted effect. Any fluids drain through the bolts to the corrugations in the base. A water-impervious sheet may be provided over the bed which may be made in hinged sections to fold or roll up as desired. Side banks may be provided along the walls of the stable. <IMAGE>

Description

ANIMAL BED This invention relates to a bed suitable for animals, particularly but not exclusively for horses.

Traditionally, horses have been bedded in a stable, the floor of which is covered with a soft material such as straw, wood shavings or the like. This material gets fouled by the animal and periodically needs to be cleaned out and replaced with fresh material, a process known as "mucking out". This system has a number of disadvantages.

The volume of material removed in mucking out is quite large and must be disposed of. The frequency with which mucking out requires to be performed means that the process is quite costly even with cheap raw materials, just straw.

The animal1 5 food can become mixed with the bedding material1 or the animal can actually eat the straw, both of which are undesirable. The materials used can give rise to dust to which some animals are allergic, and the insulation properties of the material will vary according to how wet it isi this can also lead to illness in the animal.

The invention seeks to provide a bedding system for an animal improved in the above respects.

According to the present invention, there is provided a bed which comprises a rigid base portion covered with a resilient upper layer characterised in that the resilient upper layer is provided with drainage boles.

Preferably, the rigid base is made from a lightweight material such as a rigid foamed plastics material, for example a rigid polyurethane foam. The base may be made in sections for easy insertion into and removal from the stable, and the sections may be hinged together so that the base can be folded or rolled up.

The resilient upper layer may have an undulating surface and the base may be corrugated on its under-side so as to provide improved insulation and drainage.

Conveniently, the resilient upper layer is made from a flexible foamed plastics material and, where this is not itself water impermeable, is covered with water impermeable material. The latter may be a waterproof plastics material sheet such as a polyvinyl chloride material sheet.

Conveniently, the base may be corrugated on its upper-side so as to provide drainage channels.

In a preferred mode of construction of the device of the invention, the resilient upper layer is given an undulating surface by passing bolts through the resilient layer and the base and drawing the surface of the resilient layer downwardly to create depressions.

The bolts in this case are preferably hollow, thereby providing the drainage located at the bottom of each depression. Advantageously, the location of the depressions and therefore bolts coincides with the high points in the corrugations on the under-side of the base.

In an alternative construction, the base may be formed with an undulating upper surface and the resilient upper layer material may be caused to follow that undulating surface.

A further layer of foamed material may be provided between the rigid base and the upper resilient layer, and that further layer may be a rigid foamed material.

The base may be provided on its upper surface with several closely spaced channels in order to improve insulation and drainage. In that construction, drainholes connect at least some of the channels with the undulations formed on its lower surface.

In a further construction, the bed comprises a number of tile-like members, each of which may comprise a complete assembly of base and upper resilient part, or alternatively only the base may be in a tile-like form and the upper resilient material may be assembled thereon after the base has been laid down in the stable.

Other aspects of the invention will be clear from the following description which is given by way of example with reference to the accompanying drawings in which: Fig. 1 is a section view through part of a bed according to the invention; Fig.2 is a view similar to Fig.l but of a different construction; Fig.3 is a section view of a bed of yet a further construction; Fig.4 is an enlarged view of a part of a bed according to the invention; Fig.5 is an enlarged view of part of a bed of tiled construction; Figures 6, 7, 8 and 9 are section views showing various drainage bolts, studs or other drainage means; Fig.lO is a perspective view of a type of drainage tube used in the arrangement of Figures 8 and 9; Fig.ll is a section view of a cushioning bank intended for use with the bed according to the invention.

Referring to the drawings, a bed generally designated 10 suitable for an animal such as a horse, comprises a rigid base 12 made from, for example, rigid foamed plastics material such as polyurethane either on its own or within a protective cladding of, for example, glass fibre reinforced plastics material such as an epoxy or polyester.

The bottom surface of the base is corrugated at 14 to provide for drainage, and improved insulation. On top of the base 12 is a layer 16 of a very flexible resilient material such as a flexible foamed plastics material covered by a sheet 18 of a water impermeable flexible material such as P V C.

As made, the layer 16 may be essentially flat but it is formed into an undulating or "quilted" appearance by means of a series of hollow studs or bolts 20 which pass through the upper surface of the layer 16 and engage nuts 22 beneath the base 12 such that the head 24 of each bolt 20 engages the upper surface of the layer 16 and draws it towards the base, resulting in a series of depressions 26. Since the bolts 20 are hollow, liquid draining into the depressions 26 will pass through the hollow bodies of the studs 20 and drain below the base 12.

In the arrangement seen in figure 2, the base 12 is formed with undulations 28 and a layer of resilient material 30 is drawn down by the studs 20 to conform to those undulations. A further layer 32, of a more rigid, but shock-absorbing, foam material is located between the base and the upper resilient layer.

In the arrangement of figure 3, there is shown a base 34 having corrugations 36 as in the previous embodiments but in this arrangement the top surface of the base is formed with drainage channels 38.

An intermediate layer 40 of a rigid foamed material lies between the base 34 and the upper resilient material 42. As in the embodiment of figure 1, the upper layer of resilient material is drawn downwardly by the hollow bolts 20 to form depressions 44. The hollow bolts 2C form a drainage passage from the depressions to align with the drain channels 38.

As in the previous embodiments a water-impermeable sheet material 46 covers the resilient layer of material 42.

In figure 4 is shown a construction of the animal bed wherein the base 12 is of flat construction and the resilient foam material forming the top layer 16 is of undulating or ridged form. Drainage holes 20 are provided as shown to align with the drainage channels formed on the under-side of the base.

The animal bed may be constructed in tile form for easy fitment into a stable floor area and such a tile is illustrated in figure 5. As shown, each tile 48 has a rigid base part 50, a rigid foam intermediate layer 52 and a resilient foam portion 54. The tiles are formed with a shoulder 56 around the periphery thereof and a water impervious sheet material cover 58 extends over the top surface and round the sides of the tile, to be secured firmly beneath the shoulders 56 by any suitable fastening means e.g. staples, nails or a suitable adhesive.

The top of the tiles may be formed as illustrated in figure 5, or may be domed.

As illustrated in figure 6 a stud co-operates with a nut 22 to draw down the layer 16 of resilient material, the water impervious sheet 18 being provided with appropriate holes through which the barrel 21 is passed.

The sheet 18 around the bolt fits beneath the bolt-head 24. The stud 20 may be of metal or of a rigid or semi-rigid plastics material.

The arrangement seen in figure 7 has a thin walled drainage tube 23, having a flange 25 which may be fixed to the sheet 18 by an adhesive. The barrel of the tube extends through the resilient layer 16 and the base 12 and is held by a gripper device comprising inner and outer sleeves 59, 60, having angled teeth 62. The barrel of the tube is drawn through the gripper device where it is gripped by these teeth 62.

In figure 8 a somewhat similar arrangement is used, except that a tube 64 of the same material used for the topmost sheet is provided with a flange 66 which is fastened securely to the under-side of the sheet material around the holes formed therein. The fastening may be by adhesive or by stitches 68. A gripping device of the type illustrated in figure 7 is employed in this embodiment.

The tubular member 64 itself is illustrated in figure 10.

In figure 9 a tubular member 70 having a flange 66 is secured to the under-side of the impervious sheet 18, but in this case the barrel of the tube is frusto-conical as illustrated. The hole in the base 12 is also frustoconical and a thin metal or rigid plastics gripping member 72 having a knurled outer surface is complementary in shape to the hole. The tube 70 is drawn through the hole in the upper resilient material and in the base, and the tube gripping member 72 is pushed into it from below, gripping the tube against the hole in the base 12 with a collet action.

In order to prevent the animal trapping its hooves between the edge of the bed and the wall of the stable, cushioning banks 74 may be provided as shown in figure 11 to form one or more sides of the bed 10.

Each bank 74 comprises a rigid surface 76 inclined at an angle to the horizontal and supported either by a rigid foam 78 or some other suitable mechanical means, e.g.

a framework. Above the surface 76 is a layer of resilient foam material 80 similar to that used in the layer 16 of the bed, together with a water impermeable cover 18.

The bank 74 may be attached to the wall of the stable by means of a bracket 82 and co-operating bolts 84.

Sections of the rigid base 12 are preferably hinged together to enable the bed to be folded or rolled up for removal. In use the bed is unrolled on to the floor of the stable and the banks are fixed to adjacent stable walls, The animal then has a clean and hygienic surface having good insulation properties on which to bed down.

Droppings may be removed periodically but the amount of material will be considerably less than with a conventional straw bed. Urine will drain through the bed to the stable floor from where it may be led to a suitable drainage point thus keeping the surface of the bed relatively dry.

Depending on the materials employed, it may be preferable for the animals hooves to be fitted with protective pads so as to prevent damage to the surface of the bed when the animal is in the stable.

The drainage holes are preferably spaced 9-14 centimetres apart in rows, ideally in a square formation. This is so that the domed portion of the surface is approximately the same size as a horse's hoof and will therefore present a roughly equal amount of resilience to the hoof no matter where it is placed.

The bed of the invention provides an improved and more hygienic way of stabling animals which is easier to clean and less likely to cause illness.

Since the upper layer of the bed may become worn or damaged with time it may be made as a separate unit from the base, which being rigid and protected by the upper layer, will last considerably longer.

Claims (19)

1. A bed for an animal comprising a rigid base portion covered with a resilient upper layer, characterised in that the resilient upper layer is provided with drainage holes.

2. A bed according to claim 1 wherein the drainage holes align with drainage holes formed in the rigid base portion.

3. A bed according to claim 1 wherein the rigid base is made from a lightweight material such as a rigid foamed plastic material.

4. A bed according to claim 3 wherein the rigid foamed plastic material is a rigid polyurethene foam.

5. A bed according to any of the above claims wherein the base is made in sections which may be secured together.

6. A bed according to claim 5 wherein the sections are hinged together so that the base may be folded or rolled up for easy insertion into and removal from a stable.

7. A bed according to claim 5 wherein the sections have interlocking portions.

8. A bed according to any of the above claims wherein the resilient upper layer is made from a flexible foamed plastics material.

9. A bed according to claim 8 wherein the flexible foamed plastic material has a covering layer of waterimpermeable material.

10. A bed according to claim 9 wherein the covering layer is a polyvinyl chloride material sheet.

11. A bed for an animal according to any of the previous claims wherein the base is corrugated on its underside.

12. A bed according to claim 11 wherein the upper layer is given an undulating surface by fastening means which pass through the resilient layer and the base to draw the surface of the resilient layer downwardly to create the depressions.

13. A bed according to claim 12 wherein the fastening means are hollow bolts.

14. A bed according to claim 12 or 13 wherein the location of the fastening means coincide with the high points in the corrugations on the underside of the base.

15. A bed according to any of the previous claims where, in addition to the bed at least one bank is provided, the at least one bank being arranged to connect with at least part of the periphery of the base and extending upwardly to cover part of the surface of a wall.

16. A bed according to claim 15 wherein the bank is formed in one with the base.

17. A bed according to claim 15 wherein the bank is detachable with respect to the base.

18. A bed according to claim 16 or 17 wherein the bank is constructed with a rigid interior portion and a resilient outer layer.

19. A bed according to claims 15 to 18 wherein the outer layer of at least one bank has a water-impermeable surface.