AU2004233502A1 - Improvements in animal identification tags - Google Patents

Description

P/00/011 Regulation 3.2

AUSTRALIA

Patents Act 1990 COMPLETE SPECIFICATION FOR A STANDARD PATENT

ORIGINAL

TO BE COMPLETED BY APPLICANT Name of Applicant: Actual Inventor: Address for Service: Invention Title: LEADER PRODUCTS PTY LTD GEOFFREY DUMBRELL CALLINAN LAWRIE, 711 High Street, Kew, Victoria 3101, Australia IMPROVEMENTS IN ANIMAL IDENTIFICATION TAGS The following statement is a full description of this invention, including the best method of performing it known to us:- 25/11/04jf 3773 spc,2 -2- The present invention relates, in general terms, to improvements in identification tags for

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Oanimals.

z With animals of all types, and especially livestock as for example cattle, sheep and/or the like, it is often a requirement to, firstly, be able to actually identify a particular animal (in terms of ownership, for example) and, secondly, to be able to locate the animal and/or N monitor its movements. Where a "wild" animal, this as distinct from livestock or feedstock, is concerned, information as to whereabouts, movements etc. can be employed by persons such as zoologists and the like. With feedstock or livestock, the information S 10 can be employed by owners/ranchers for a variety of reasons. It has therefore been, and Sremains to be, an established practice to provide animal(s) with a means which allows for identification and also allows for monitoring of monitors movements. Such means have generally been in the form of a tag, to be appropriately disposed at a preferred position on the body of the animal. With cattle, sheep, etc such a tag is preferably located on/attached to the ear of the animal.

In accordance with established practices such tags have generally involved co-operating respective male and female components, in particular a pointed, barbed or headed stem (the male component) which is adapted, in use, to be forced or projected through one (or more) skinfolds of the animal, and in turn through an aperture to be provided in the female component of the overall tag combination. The female component is adapted, in turn and in use, to be located on that side of the skinfold(s) of the animal opposite to that through which the barbed or headed stem is to be forced. In practical terms a secure means for achieving the desired coupling of the overall tag to the animal is necessary, in order to ensure that the overall tag remains in place on the animal at all relevant times, this regardless of wear and tear or the possibility of the tag becoming snagged on an obstruction such as, for example, undergrowth, trees, a fence, gate, fencing wire etc.

Furthermore, and perhaps even more importantly, it has become an extremely desirable property of tags of this general type for them to be effectively tamper-proof or tamperevident, since otherwise any information they may provide may have been compromised in some way.

In the past, a number of attempts have been made to create or arrive at a tag of this general type which is tamper-evident or tamper-proof Nowadays, tags of this general type are 24/11/04jfl 3773 spc,2 desired to have associated therewith means of any suitable type which will allow for (i) tracking of an animal, (ii) identificationof an animal and other functions, using electronic means. There has thus been adopted the practice of including a coil and/or RFID sensor 0 z into the overall tag. With the prior art arrangements, however, it was found that there was S 5 insufficient protection in a physical sense for the coil and/or sensor. The present (,i invention seeks to address this problem (among others). In particular, the present c arrangement lends itself to ready application to a given animal, without real possibility of Serror.

(Ni Whilst the prior art efforts have been to some extent successful, nonetheless the present applicant's arrangement is intended to represent an improvement thereover. More specifically, the present invention seeks to overcome the problems and disadvantages associated with the prior art by providing an improved form of animal identification tag which can be readily installed in any desired position on any animal, using conventional tooling or apparatus of the type currently in vogue, and which is to all intents and purposes tamper-proof or tamper-evident. By the same token, however, the arrangement in accordance with the present invention is to be such as to allow for ready retrieval thereof, for possible partial re-use, in the instance of it having been legitimately removed from a given animal, as for example upon that animal being slaughtered.

In accordance with the present invention, therefore, there is provided an improved, tamperproof or tamper-evident tag for an animal, including: a male component, having a barbed head; and a female component having associated therewith means for receiving and retaining said barbed head of said male component, the arrangement being such that said male and female components, once mated together, cannot be separated without incurring visible physical damage to at least one thereof In order that the invention may be more clearly understood and put into practical effect reference will now be made to preferred embodiments of an improved animal identification tag in accordance with the present invention. The ensuing description is given by way of non-limitative example only and is with reference to the accompanying drawings, wherein: FIG. 1 is a view of an identification tag in accordance with the present invention, as to be located on the ear (preferably) of an animal; 24/11/04,jfl 3773 spc,3 FIG. 2 is an exploded view of an animal identification tag in accordance with the present invention; (,i FIG. 3 is a sectional view showing an animal identification tag in accordance with 0 Z the present invention in place and relative to the ear of an animal; 5, FIG. 4 is an exploded view of a portion of a female member of an animal (,i identification tag in accordance with the present invention; FIG 5 is a view taken along the line 5-5 of FIG 4; and SFIG. 6 is a view, similar to FIG. 2, of a tag in accordance with the present Cc, Cc invention with an electronic sensor or transponder means adapted to be associated therewith.

The tag in accordance with the present invention is, in the especially preferred embodiment illustrated and when in position on an animal, formed from two discrete components, namely a male component 1 and a co-operating female component, generally designated 10. The respective male and female components 1 and 10, described in more detail hereinafter, are constructed principally from a suitable plastics material. Whilst the actual material of construction is not of the essence of the invention, it should be understood that the material is to exhibit good strength characteristics, and be impact-resistant as well as substantially resistant to ultra-violet radiation.

In the preferred embodiment illustrated the male component 1 is in the form of a one-piece element having an elongate, stepped stem member 2 which has disposed, at one end thereof, a disc or the like element 3 and, at the opposite end thereof, a barbed head 4. In the preferred embodiment illustrated the stem member 2 has at least one position of a reduced diameter, or step 5, disposed at or in the vicinity of that end of the stem member 2 having the barbed head 4 associated therewith. Again in the preferred embodiment illustrated the barbed head 4, in any known manner, includes a pointed insert 6 of a harder material (as for example metal), adapted to be attached thereto or associated therewith in any suitable manner. In use, and in any known manner, the pin of an applicator tool of any known and presently in-use type (not shown) is adapted to be located within a hollow bore 7 of the male component 1 so as to be brought into engagement with the barbed head 4 and thereby to apply a driving force to the shaped insert 6. In such a manner, and in accordance with known techniques, the barbed, headed stem member 2 is adapted, in use, to be forced through a skinfold of a given animal, in an especially preferred embodiment 24/11/04,jfljn 3773 spc,4 through the ear of such an animal. When thus forcibly projected through the skinfold the male component 1, or more correctly the stepped stem portion 2 thereof, is also forced through that skinfold.

0 z 5 In the preferred embodiment illustrated the female component 10 is made up of substantially complementary and co-operating members, generally designated 11 and 12.

Each of these members 11,12 is preferably formed, as by moulding, in one piece. The respective members 11 and 12 are preferably of a substantially complementary shape, Cc, Cc although such is not of the essence of the invention. In use, the member 12 is adapted to be attachable to the member 11 in any suitable manner, as for example through a sonic welding technique. The first member 11 preferably includes an enclosure, generally designated 13, for receiving and releasably retaining a suitable electronic identification means, as for example a transponder or the like 14 (see FIG. 6).

The first member 11 is preferably of a substantially triangular shape when viewed in elevation. The second member 12 may be of a complementary shape or, as in the embodiment illustrated (see FIG. 3) may have a height dimension slightly greater than that of the first member 11, whereby to have a skirt portion or the like 15 depending downwardly therefrom. Preferably the first member 11 will have a flange or the like 16 extending around/along at least two side edges thereof Such assists in location of the second member 12 within or relative to the member 11, thereby to facilitate interconnection therebetween (as for example by sonic welding as previously mentioned).

In accordance with known practices the second member 12 of the female component may also include means on which any desired indicia may be applied. Again in accordance with known practices both male and female components 1 and 10 are preferably constructed principally from a suitable resilient material, as for example polyurethane. It should be realised, however, that the actual material of construction and method of formation are not of the essence of the invention. However, and by employing a resilient or flexible material, such will enable the overall tag to bend or flex, in the instance of any snagging occurring. Indeed this ability to flex or be resilient ought to result in the animal wearing such a tag being capable of pulling that tag away from any snagging obstacle, rather than destroying the tag or, in the alternative, ripping the overall tag itself from the animal (an undesirable result).

24/11/04jfl 3773 In the preferred embodiment illustrated the first member 11 of the female component includes a boss or the like component/compartment 17, preferably located at or in the

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z vicinity of the vertex of the substantially triangular member and extending substantially 5 normally therefrom, such boss 17 being adapted in use to receive and retain, in a snaplocking-type arrangement, the headed stem member 2 of the male component 1 (see FIG.

N, The boss 17 of the first member 11 preferably includes an internal cavity 18 which is of a shape to be commensurate with and to co-operate with the external shape of the head 4 Cc of the male component 1, yet with sufficient clearance to allow the head 4 to move ,z 10 sufficiently into the cavity 18 whereby to permit a correct locking action. The cavity 18, however, is of a size to allow it to accommodate only a single head 4 within the boss 17.

A shaped opening 19 into the cavity 18 is provided. This preferably is of a stepped or ramped type, as may be seen in FIG. 3. In an alternative embodiment, not shown, that opening may be of a truncated conical shape.

The second member 12, in similar manner, includes an abbreviated boss 20 extending substantially normally, thereof, such boss 20 being of a lesser length dimension than the boss 17 of the first member 11, but of a similar diameter. Indeed, the boss 20 in use is adapted to be disposed within the shaped opening 19 of boss 17. The arrangement is such that, in use, when the respective first and second members 11 and 12 are brought into juxtaposition, the respective bosses 17 and 20 inter-react to ensure correct relative positioning thereof With particular reference now to FIG. 4 of the drawings, the boss 20 provided through the second member 12 will preferably have a plurality of slots 21 disposed at spaced-apart locations around the periphery thereof and extending along substantially the entire length dimension thereof (see FIG. In the especially preferred embodiment illustrated three such slots 21 are disposed equally-angularly around that periphery, with an angular spacing of 1200 therebetween. The existence of those slots 21, in conjunction with the actual material of construction of the overall component, affords the shaped boss 20 provided on the second member 12 with an enhanced degree of flexibility, to assist in location of the barbed stem 2 in the correct position within and relative to the boss 17 of the first member 11.

24/1 1/04,j1 3773 spc,6 In an alternative embodiment, not illustrated, a female component of a tag in accordance with the present invention may be comprised of two substantially complementary, and 0 z preferably circular shaped, elements. In like manner to the first element 11 as illustrated 5 and described previously, in this alternative embodiment each of the elements includes a boss, preferably in this instance disposed substantially centrally, with one of those bosses N, being deeper (longer) than the other,'but with the other again having a plurality of slots Sextending therealong to afford a degree of flexibility thereto.

(Ni The arrangement in accordance with the present invention illustrates the following advantages when compared with the prior art.

Firstly, it is constructed from a hard material, which is substantially resistant to crushing and/or impact damage. This is important in terms of affording protection to any transponder or coil (of any suitable type) intended to be housed within the overall tag itself.

The arrangement is such that any transponder or coil will not be in any way damaged or distorted, either during installation and/or in use. Any such damage or distortion, if sustained, would render the tag basically inoperable.

Secondly, and in contrast to the prior art arrangements, in the present applicant's arrangement the female member is of a two-piece construction (first and second members 11 and 12 respectively). Such a two-piece configuration is cheaper to form or mould.

Thirdly, the existence in second member 12 of the slotted, flexible boss 20 has a practical significance. It has been found that when the point (of an associated male member as mounted on an applicator tool or gun, was projected through a solid boss, in other words one without any such peripheral slots, there was a tendency for animal hairs, and perhaps even some skin, to constitute an obstruction to passage, in a worst case scenario then giving rise to incorrect application or installation of the overall tag. The existence of the slots 21 gives the boss 20 a certain degree of flexibility or resiliency, thereby facilitating tag application and minimising, if not removing altogether, the likelihood of obstruction to passage of the stepped, barbed stem of the male component during the procedure of application of the tag to an animal.

24/11/04,jfl 3773 spc,7 Finally it is to be understood that the aforegoing description refers merely to preferred

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Sembodiments of the present invention and that variations and modifications will be possible thereto without departing from the spirit and the scope of the invention. The

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0 ambit of which is to be determined from the following claims.

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(N

24/1 1/04,jfl 3773 spc,8

Claims (19)

1. An improved, tamper-proof or tamper-evident tag for an animal, O z including: a male component, having a barbed head; and a female component having 1. 5 associated therewith means for receiving and retaining said barbed head of said male (N component, the arrangement being such that said male and female components, once mated Ntogether, cannot be separated without incurring visible physical damage to at least one 0 thereof

2. The tag as claimed in claim 1, wherein said male component is in the S 10 form of an elongate member having disposed, at one end thereof, a base in the form of a Sdisc and, at the other end thereof, said barbed head.

3. The tag as claimed in claim 1 or claim 2, wherein said barbed head is substantially of a plastics material, having a pointed insert of a metallic material disposed at the free end thereof

4. The tag as claimed in claim 2 or claim 3, wherein said elongate member of said male component includes at least one portion of a reduced diameter, preferably disposed adjacent said barbed head.

The tag as claimed in any one of claims 2 to 4, wherein said male component includes an aperture disposed substantially centrally of said base thereof and extending along at least part of the length of said elongate member, said aperture being adapted to releasably receive a driving pin of an applicator tool.

6. The tag as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, wherein said female component is made up of two discrete members adapted, in use, to be joined together.

7. The tag as claimed in claim 6, wherein a first member of said female component includes an internal recess adapted to receive, and releasably retain, an electronic identification means of any known type.

8. The tag as claimed in claim 7, wherein said electronic identification means is a transponder.

9. The tag as claimed in any one of claims 6 to 8, wherein said two discrete members are interconnected by a sonic or ultrasonic welding procedure.

The tag as claimed in any one of claims 6 to 9, wherein said first member of said female component is of a substantially triangular shape, having a flange extending around at least part of the periphery thereto. 24/11/04,jf13773 spc,9

11. The tag as claimed in claim 10, wherein said flange extends along at least two sides of said triangularly shape first member.

12. The tag as claimed in claim 10 or claim 11, wherein said second member 0 Z of said female component is of a size and shape substantially complementary to that of said 5 first member.

13. The tag as claimed in claim 10 or claim 11, wherein said second member N of said female component has a height dimension slightly greater than that of said first member, whereby to have a skirt portion depending downwardly thereof

14. The tag as claimed in any one of claims 6 to 13, wherein said first i0 member of said female component includes a substantially hollow boss or the like protruding externally therefrom, said boss being adapted, in use, to receive and retain said barbed head of said male component.

The tag as claimed in claim 14, wherein said first member of said female component includes a stepped lead-in or entry to said boss, whereby to ensure correct location and alignment of said male and female components.

16. The tag as claimed in claim 14 or claim 15, wherein said first member of said female component is of a substantially triangular shape and said boss is .disposed at or in the vicinity of the vertex thereof

17. The tag is claimed in any one of the preceding claims, wherein said second member of said female component includes a hollow boss, of a substantially complementary size and shape to that of said boss of said first member, said bosses being adapted to co-operate, in use.

18. The tag as claimed in claim 17, wherein said boss of said second member includes one or more slots extending along the length dimension thereof.

19. The tag as claimed in claim 18 wherein said boss of said second member includes three slots, spaced equi-distantly around the circumference thereof An improved, tamper-proof or tamper-evident tag for an animal, substantially as described herein with reference to the accompanying drawings. DATED this 2 6 th day of November, 2003 LEADER PRODUCTS PTY LTD By their Patent Attorneys: CALLINAN LAWRIE 25/11/04,jfl 3773 spc,1O