Welding Tips and Tricks

Hi everyone!
I am thinking of trying to build some cattle chutes and selling them...
materials and labor are next to nothing and all welds are simple verical/Horizontal and a few tacks...+ them sell for alot of money and are in demand...
It all sounds to easy so I was wondering if there is some sort of pattent on them and I know the cattle chute buissness is not widly talked about so is there some way for me to find out if they are pattented?
Thanks
Peter.
Here are some pics of what I am talking about

Forgot to mention they might look complex but they are not and a squeeze chute with a few gates is cheep for 3k with way less then 1k in labor/parts.
Peter.

The original patent has long since expired...

There may be "design patents", so be sure yours doesn't look "exactly" like another, but other than that, you're good. We built our own out of wood.

Steve S

The process of building them a certain way may be patented, or any other type of trade secret involved in their manufacture may be patented. A specific name for them might be copywrit or trademarked. It might be worth going to see a patent attorney just in case. The world can be a very litigious place.

Other Steve

Cool - sounds like there is a way

I am gonna try to get what I need to make a simple one and test it out on my cows.
I have one I bought 5 years ago but it only has a headlock and no front gate.

As soon as I get what i need I will post pics.

Peter.
(will check into the pattents more if I decide to sell them)

You could also do what China is doing.

- start up a small company.
- make a large run of the product.
- sell them quickly.
- shut down the company.

When the lawyers gather around to sue someone, there's nobody there.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Incorporation_(business)
Most law suits will order a cease operations or financial compensation for lost business.
If the company was incorporated, then that identity disappears when the company closes.
Incorporation is the best way to protect yourself and costs very little if you file the paperwork yourself.
My last corporation cost me $250CAD and involved filing three pieces of paper thru the local registry office.

It amazes me at how effective China does business.
For example, if I order a product from the USA to Canada,
the shipping and taxes are brutal, not to mention the brokerage fees.
If I order an item from China for as low as one dollar,
no taxes, no shipping fees, no brokerage fees.
http://www.dx.com/
http://www.tomtop.com/
There are tons of these Chinese websites. How are they doing it?
The train rolls by my town five times per day with a 100 cars trailing behind.
85% of them are from China. and we wonder why our economies are failing?

Livestock handling equipment needs to keep you safe and the animal secure with limited stress. There is a big difference in the operational efficiency of some equipment by both design and function.
So as not to sound like an armchair expert you might google the name Temple Grandin. Her work and insight into livestock handling equipment might prove invaluable to you. Much of her work goes well beyond the equipment into the psychology of livestock handling...ie showing a flow way or lighted way of escape for the animal to head to willingly. The welding part is the easy part ... the design and flow will set your product apart bap

BAP has a great point.

Temple Grandin is a high-functioning Autistic Savant, who's gift is in the handling of livestock, of all things. Teaches animal husbandry and biology at the post-doctorate level, if I recall.

This would be a great source of information.

Steve S