Nonfatal Cock Fighting

Abstract

Method and apparatus for nonfatal fighting of game fowl such as cocks, characterized by replacing spurs, which are frequently fatal, with spur substitutes and connecting the spur substitutes into a suitable circuit to energize an apprising means when one cock makes a scoring contact with the body of his opponent with his spur substitute. Several specific embodiments are described, including the use of miniaturized batteries and transmitters that may be carried by each cock, and including a central scoring means that is responsive to the respective frequencies of the transmitter serving as the apprising means. The spur substitutes are attached to the legs of a cock by a shank encircling band of substantially uniform lateral cross section and of sufficient dimension to necessarily encircle and enclose at least a portion of the natural spur area.

Parent Case Text

This application is a continuation-in-part of my copending application Ser. No. 104,259, filed Jan. 6, 1971 and now abandoned.

Description

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

This invention relates to the fighting of game fowl; and, more particularly, to method and apparatus for determining the winner in a match between game fowl without a fatality.

2. Description of the Prior Art

The fighting of game fowl, or cocks, has been a sport of long standing. Because the sport has been brutal heretofore and frequently resulted in the maiming or killing of one of the cocks, statutes have been enacted to prevent or control the sport of cock fighting in most states in the United States. Cock fighting is still legally practiced in its brutal form in many places in the world. As has been noted in prominent magazines, however, the sport of cock fighting is an intriguing one and should be interesting for spectators if the brutality were eliminated.

Insofar as I am aware, there has been no protective harness and spur substitutes, such as are employed in my invention, for enabling cock fighting to take place with assurance that there will not be a fatality of one of the adversaries.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is an artist's conception of cocks fighting and employing one embodiment of this invention.

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of two adversary cocks facing each other and carrying respective spur substitutes, protective scoring plates, transmitters, and batteries in accordance with an embodiment of this invention.

FIG. 3 is an electrical schematic diagram of the embodiment of FIG. 2.

FIG. 4 is an isometric view of a scoring plate employed in the embodiment of FIG. 3.

FIG. 5 is a partial side elevational view, partly schematic, illustrating the spur substitute means and the scoring plate means in accordance with another embodiment of this invention.

FIG. 6 is an electrical schematic diagram in conjunction with a partial side elevational view illustrating still another embodiment of this invention.

FIG. 7 is a partial side elevational view, employing an electrical schematic diagram, in accordance with still another embodiment of this invention.

DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

It is an object of this invention to provide method and apparatus for nonfatal fighting of game fowl characterized by the use of spur substitutes that will effect scoring upon contact of the spur substitutes with the body of an adversary, or opponent; thereby enabling determining the winner without the death of either game fowl.

Referring to FIG. 1, cocks 11 and 13 are engaged in a nonfatal fight in accordance with this invention. Each of the cocks have had their spurs, which can kill or maim their opponent, removed and spur substitute means emplaced on each leg. Specifically, each cock has a shank engaging means, such as leg band 15, with a protruding spur substitute means 17 thereon. The leg band 15 may comprise any suitable structure; from elaborate leather or plastic gloves fastened about the shank as by snaps or zipper; to metallic or plastic rings. However, it is to be understood that the leg band shall be of substantially uniform lateral cross section and of sufficient dimension to necessarily encircle and enclose at least a portion of the natural spur area. Each spur substitute means has at least a portion of a means for effecting electrical continuity in response to contact of the spur substitute means with the opponent. For example, cock 11 carries a battery 19 serving as a power source and a transmitter 21 serving as an apprising means. Other forms of apprising means such as lights may be employed, as long as the apprising means effect an audio or visual signal to apprise spectators of a score by a cock. The score may be effected by contact of the protruding spur substitute means with a body of the opponent. Cock 13, similarly, carries a battery and transmitter for apprising the spectators of his scoring on cock 11, although the battery and transmitter are hidden by feathers as illustrated. Suitable means such as bands 22 are employed to fasten the batteries and transmitters to the respective cocks.

To help keep score, a central scoring means 23 may be employed. The central scoring means 23 may have respective audio or visual effects such as a buzzer or lights 25 to apprise the spectators of the cock scoring on his opponent. The central scoring means 23 has a transducing means for energizing the buzzer or lights in response to a signal from the respective apprising means. As illustrated, the central scoring means has receivers that are responsive to respective transmitters of the respective cocks. Moreover, the central scoring means may have appropriate counters; such as electromechanically actuated counters or purely electronic counters like ring counters; to keep track of the score of the respective adversaries.

Each respective cock may employ a pair of switch means 27, FIG. 7, in each of the spur substitute means 17. The switch means 27 may be connected with a single battery and transmitter carried by the cock, illustrated by dashed lines 29 and 31 of FIG. 7. Alternatively, a plurality of batteries and transmitters 19 and 21 may be connected with respective switch means 27 in order to discriminate whether the right leg or the left leg of the cock made the score. Such discrimination is helpful in delineating and matching right legged cocks versus left legged cocks, or such other fine points in the sport of cock fighting.

In any event, the switch means 27 are operationally closed in response to contact of a respective spur substitute means with the body of an opponent. When closed, as can be seen from FIG. 7, a series electrical circuit is completed from the battery 19 to the transmitter 21. Accordingly, a transmission is effected. The respective circuit in the central scoring means 23, if it is employed. is adjusted in frequency to be responsive to the respective transmitter 21 from the respective cocks to register a score for the cock scoring on the body of his opponent. Any type of switch means that is closed in response to contact with the body of an opponent may be employed. A wide variety of such spring mounted switch means are available. An arrangement similar to that illustrated in FIG. 4 can be employed. Ordinarily, the switch means per se, is enclosed within a suitable flexible housing such as a synthetic rubber cover for protection.

The simple embodiment illustrated schematically in FIG. 7 and described hereinbefore is advantageous in its simplicity but has the disadvantage that this scoring is indiscriminate and a cock can register a score on an adversary even though he may contact the leg, wing, or other nonvital part of the body of his adversary.

A greater sport may be realized if scoring plates are employed on the opponents, as illustrated in FIG. 2. In FIG. 2 the cocks are equipped with respective first and second sets of harness having a plurality of lightweight scoring plates that are interconnected and have respective means for emplacing them on the respective areas of a respective cock. Each of the scoring plates are designed for a respective scoring area on the cock; for example, some may be shaped to fit the cocks head while others are larger for being emplaced on the breast. The cocks have a second and first pair of shank engaging means having a protruding spur substitute means. Each spur substitute means has at least a portion of a means for effecting, in conjunction with the scoring plates, a closing of a switch means that effects electrical continuity in response to contact of the spur substitute means with the scoring plate. The cocks have first and second apprising means that are serially connected with a power source and with the respective switch means, the closing of which was effected by the respective scoring plates and the opponents' spur substitute means so as to apprise spectators of a contact of a cock's spur substitute means with a scoring plate of his opponent.

Specifically, the cocks 11 and 13 have leg bands 15 with the protruding spur substitute means 17 and have a transmitter 21 as described in connection with the cocks of FIG. 1. In addition, each of the cocks has a set of harness comprising a plurality of scoring plates 33 that are disposed over scoring areas. The plurality of lightweight scoring plates 33 are interconnected. They have means such as bands or strings for emplacing them on the respective scoring areas of the cock.

Several embodiments of this invention may be employed. For example, as illustrated in FIGS. 3 and 4, each of the respective scoring plates 33 has a switch means 35 that completes a series circuit connecting battery 19 with transmitter 21. Referring to FIG. 4, the switch means 35 comprises a plurality of electrical contacts 37 and 39 that are exposed and protrude above a base plate 41. A conductive outer plate 43 is biased away from base plate 41 and contacts 37 and 39 by springs 45. The springs 45 are weak, however, so that outer conductive plate 43 can be readily depressed inwardly toward the electrical contacts 37 and 39 via contact with the opponent's spur substitute means 17, as in a fight. Thus, it can be seen that the switch meand 35 is effectively closed when the conductive outer plate 43 contacts the electrical contacts 37 and 39. Consequently, the transmitter 21 is energized to emit a suitable signal. The signal may be an audio signal, the frequency of which indicates to the spectators which cock scored, or it may be a signal that is received by the central scoring means 23, FIG. 1, for registration of a score, or both.

In operation, the cocks 11 and 13 fight and attempt to close one of the plurality of switch means 35 in the plurality of scoring plates 33 carried by the opponent. When a protruding spur substitute means 17 depresses the conductive outer plate 43 of a scoring plate 33 of an opponent, the apprising means such as transmitter 21 is energized. Consequently, scoring of the respective cocks can be kept to determine the winner without a fatality.

Referring to FIG. 5 for another embodiment, the scoring plates 49 therein need not be electrically connected with each other, but are conductive and are disposed on scoring areas of a cock, as described hereinbefore. Each leg band 15 has a protruding spur substitute means 17 that has a pair of exposed electrical contacts 51 and 53 therein. The pair of exposed electrical contacts are serially connected with the transmitter 21 and battery 19, whether only one set is employed or whether two sets are employed as illustrated, so as to energize the transmitter 21 serving as the apprising means when the electrical contacts come into contact with a conductor. Since, as indicated, the scoring plates 49 are electrically conductive, when the protruding spur substitute means 17 emplaces the exposed electrical contacts 51 and 53 into contact with a scoring plate 49, a respective transmitter 21 is energized. Consequently, the spectators are apprised of a score by the means previously described. A central scoring means 23 is employed, if desired.

Referring to FIG. 6, the scoring plates 57 are electrically conductive and are electrically serially connected together and with one side of the serially connected battery 19 and transmitter 21. The other side of the serially connected battery 19 and the transmitter 21 is connected with an electrical common, or ground, as by a trailing conductor means 59. Each leg band 15 of the opponent cock has a protruding spur substitute means 17 having a single exposed electrical contact means 61. The contact means 61 is also serially connected with electrical common or ground via trailing conductor means 63. The electrical common will be the arena in which the cocks will fight. Ordinarily, the arenas are ground, or dirt. To insure electrical conductivity, the dirt may be sprinkled with a conductive liquid such as a mildly saline solution.

In operation, a cock such as cock 11 may strike the conductive plate 57 of his opponent with his own exposed contact means 61 to complete an electrical circuit and energize the transmitter 21 to score on his opponent.

It will be readily apparent, as described hereinbefore, that a single battery 19 and transmitter 21 may be employed. Moreover, the serially connected battery 19 and transmitter 21 may be serially connected at one side with the exposed contact means in the spur substitute means on a given cock and have the other side of the serially connected battery and transmitter means connected with the electrical common, or ground; while the opponent will have only the scoring plates serially connected with ground.

Several embodiments have been specifically illustrated and described herein. The embodiment chosen will depend upon whether scoring is to be indiscriminate or a score is to be registered upon the contact with predetermined scoring areas. Other embodiments will doubtless occur to one skilled in the art after I have described my invention. What is significant is that the often fatal spurs, or portions thereof are excised; and spur substitute means that are nonfatal are employed to register a score in a nonfatal fight between game cocks. For example, cutting off a sharp tip portion of a cock's spur and using the non-lethal remainder as a spur substitute means is deemed within the scope of this invention; particularly, in the embodiment wherein the scoring plates embody a complete switch means, except for the protruding portion of the spur substitute means.

If desired, more elaborate electrical and electronic circuitry and components may be employed to effect the desired results. For example, holding relays and similar well known apparatus may be employed to effect an apprisal of sufficient duration to register with the spectators and with a central scoring means. Such additional apparata, or equipment, are well known; are not, per se, a part of this invention; and need not be described in detail herein.

Although the invention has been described with a certain degree of particularity, it is understood that the present disclosure is made only by way of example and that numerous changes in the details of construction and the combination and arrangement of parts may be resorted to without departing from the spirit and the scope of the invention.

Claims

I claim:

1. Apparatus for nonfatal cock fighting comprising two sets, each set including:

a. a diminutive power source having means for being fastened to a cock;

b. apprising means for effecting an apprisal of a score serially connected with said power source and having means for being fastened to said cock; and

c. a plurality of shank engaging means for engaging both legs of said cock; each shank engaging means having means for being fastened to a respective leg and including a shank encircling band of substantially uniform lateral cross section and of sufficient dimension to necessarily encircle and enclose at least a portion of the natural spur area, each shank engaging means having a switch means; said switch means being in the form of a spur substitute and operationally closing in response to contact with a body of an opponent; said switch means being serially connected with said power source and said apprising means for energizing said apprising means in response to said contact with said body of said opponent.

2. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein there are two shank engaging means and two switch means, respectively, and said switch means are connected in parallel with a single said power source and said apprising means.

3. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein there are two circuits, each comprising said power source, said serially connected apprising means, and said serially connected switch means for discriminating whether the right or left leg scored on the opponent.

4. Apparatus for nonfatal cock fighting comprising:

a. first and second sets of harness, each set having a plurality of lightweight scoring plates that are interconnected and have respective means for emplacing them on respective areas of a respective cock, each said scoring plate being designed for a respective scoring area on the cock;

b. a second and first pair of shank engaging means for engaging the legs of a respective cock, each shank engaging means having means for being fastened to a respective leg and including a shank encircling band of substantially uniform lateral cross section and of sufficient dimension to necessarily encircle and enclose at least a portion of the natural spur area, and having a spur substitute means, each said spur substitute means having at least a portion of a means for effecting, in conjunction with said scoring plates, a switch means that will effect electrical continuity in response to contact of said spur substitute means with one of said scoring plates;

c. a power source; and

d. a first and second apprising means for effecting an apprisal of a score; said apprising means being serially connected with said power source via respective said switch means effected by respective scoring plates and the opponent's spur substitute means so as to apprise of a contact of a cock's spur substitute means with a scoring plate of his opponent such that a cock fight may be effected and the winner determined without a fatality.

5. The apparatus of claim 4 wherein each said scoring plate is electrically serially connected with said power source and said apprising means and contains a switch means that is closed upon impact by a spur substitute means of an opponent.

6. The apparatus of claim 4 wherein each said spur substitute means comprise a pair of exposed contact means, one contact means being serially connected with said power source and one contact means being serially connected with said apprising means so that when said contact means come in contact with an electrical conductor said apprising means is energized; and wherein said scoring plates are electrical conductors so as to complete the circuit when contacted by said contact means in said spur substitute means.

7. The apparatus of claim 4 wherein each said spur substitute means of one cock contains an exposed electrical contact means that is serially connected with one side of said serially connected power source and apprising means and each said scoring plate of the opponent's set of harness is electrically conductive and is serially connected with the other side of said serially connected power source and apprising means so that said apprising means is energized when said exposed electrical contact means of said one cock contacts an electrically conductive plate means of his opponent.

8. The apparatus of claim 4 wherein said power source and said apprising means are diminutive and are carried by each said cock.

9. The apparatus of claim 8 wherein said power source and said apprising means are serially connected with electrically conductive said scoring plates as a first portion of a switch means in the set of harness for said cock and with an electrically conductive second portion of a switch means in the opponent's spur substitute means for energizing said apprising means in response to contact of said scoring plates by the opponent's spur substitute means.

10. The apparatus of claim 9 wherein said scoring plates are connected with only one side of said serially connected power source and said apprising means and the other side of said serially connected power source and apprising means is connected with an electrical common by a trailing conductor means; and wherein said spur substitute means of the opponent has an exposed electrical contact means that is connected with an electrical common by a trailing conductor means.

11. The apparatus of claim 8 wherein said power source and said apprising means are serially connected with a plurality of exposed contact means in at least one spur substitute means in said shank engaging means carried by said cock.

12. The apparatus of claim 11 wherein said power source and said apprising means are serially connected with a plurality of exposed contact means in both spur substitute means in said shank engaging means carried by said cock.

13. The apparatus of claim 8 wherein said power source and said apprising means have one side serially connected with an exposed contact means in at least one spur substitute means in said shank engaging means carried by said cock and the other side connected with an electrical common by a trailing conductor means; and wherein said scoring plates of the opponent's set of harness are electrically conductive and are electrically connected with said electrical common by a trailing conductor means.

14. The apparatus of claim 8 wherein each said scoring plate is electrically serially connected to said power source and said apprising means and contains a switch means that is closed to complete an electrical circuit including said serially connected power source and apprising means upon impact by a spur substitute means of an opponent.

15. The apparatus of claim 4 wherein said apprising means comprises a compact transmitter.

16. The apparatus of claim 4 wherein said power source comprises a battery.

17. The apparatus of claim 4 wherein a central scoring means is provided for registering respective scores; said central scoring means having means that are responsive to said first and second apprising means so as to discriminate which cock scored on the other.

18. The apparatus of claim 17 wherein said apprising means comprises a pair of transmitters having different frequencies and wherein said central scoring means includes a pair of receivers that are responsive to respective said frequencies.

19. A method of cock fighting comprising:

a. removing the spurs on a pair of game cocks and attaching to both the respective legs thereof respective spur substitutes having at least a protrusion portion of a switch means for effecting a continuous circuit between a power source and an apprising means in response to contact with the body of an opponent;

b. providing each cock with respective power sources and apprising means; electrically serially connecting said respective power sources and apprising means via a switch means that effects electrical connection in response to contact of said protrusion means in said spur substitute means with the body of said opponent; and

c. scoring said respective cocks by registering the respective outputs from said respective apprising means such that a nonfatal cock fight is effected.

20. The method of claim 19 wherein said scoring is effected by a central scoring means that is responsive to each respective apprising means.

21. The method of claim 20 wherein said apprising means comprises transmitters of respective frequencies and said central scoring means has at least two receiving means that are responsive to respective said transmitters such that the registration of said outputs is effected by electromagnetic energy transmission.