AU2008202387B2

AU2008202387B2 - A shearing comb

Info

Publication number: AU2008202387B2
Application number: AU2008202387A
Authority: AU
Inventors: Ronald George Cooper
Original assignee: Lister Shearing Equipment Ltd
Current assignee: Lister Shearing Equipment Ltd
Priority date: 2007-05-31
Filing date: 2008-05-30
Publication date: 2013-10-17
Anticipated expiration: 2028-05-30
Also published as: NZ568767A; AU2008202387A1

Abstract

Abstract A shearing comb suitable for use with sheep shearing handpiece includes a pair of outermost teeth and a plurality of spaced apart inner teeth therebetween. Some of the inner teeth, but not the outermost teeth, include a prominent skid to leave a thicker layer of wool than normal.

Description

Pf00o011 Regu tion 3.2 AUSTRALIA Patents Act 1990 COMPLETE SPECIFICATION STANDARD PATENT Application No.: 2007902908 Application Date: 30 May 2008 Provisional Date: 31 May 2007 Applicants: Tru-Test Pty Limited 2/B Birmingham Ave Villawood, NSW 2163 AUSTRALIA Address for Service: DON HOPKINS & ASSOCIATES c/- Spruson & Ferguson PO Box 3898 Sydney, NSW 2001 AUSTRALIA Complete Specification for the invention entitled: "A SHEARING COMB" The following statement is a full description of this invention, including the best method of performing it known to me: - 2 This invention relates to a shearing comb. More particularly the comb is intended for removable mounting to a shearing hand piece of the type intended for the shearing of animals more particularly sheep. 5 A shearing hand piece will generally provide for the removable mounting of a shearing comb and a cutter, the cutter being coupled to a drive mechanism which applies a reciprocating movement of the cutter over a surface of the comb. The comb will generally comprise a mounting portion from which extends a plurality of teeth. The teeth are separated from each other by a gullet. 10 Over time the design of shearing combs has evolved in order to provide more effective shearing, efficiencies in the shearing operation, improved performance characteristics, and other factors. is The object of the present invention is to provide a shearing comb that exhibits improved performance and when used to shear sheep will leave a layer of wool that is thicker than that which will usually be achieved when using normal shearing combs or to at least provide the public with a useful choice. 20 According to one form of the present invention there is provided a shearing comb for use with an animal shearing handpiece, the shearing comb including a pair of outermost teeth and a plurality of spaced apart inner teeth therebetween, wherein some of the inner teeth, but not the outermost teeth, include a prominent skid, wherein every alternate inner tooth includes a prominent skid. 25 Preferably a skid is provided on every second inner tooth starting from the inner tooth immediately adjacent one of the outermost teeth across to the inner tooth adjacent tot ehother of the outermost teeth. 30 Preferably the skid is in the form of a fin which curves upwardly away from a pointed distal end of the tooth and terminates in an inclined end which slopes toward the root end of the tooth. In the following more detailed description of the invention reference will be made to the 35 accompanying drawings in which: 24/09/13 4715319_1 (GHMatters) P55721 AU 3 Figure 1 is a perspective view of a shearing comb according to one embodiment of the invention, Figure 2 is a side perspective view of the shearing comb as shown in Figure 1, and Figure 3 is a front elevation view of the shearing comb as shown in Figures I and 2. The shearing comb 10 incorporating the invention includes a mounting body portion 11 which is of conventional or known construction as will be apparent to the person skilled in the art. Projecting forwardly from the body Ilis a plurality of spaced apart teeth 12. Adjacent teeth are separated by a gullet 13. As can be seen from the drawings the outermost teeth 12' are longer than the other teeth 12 and they have a pronounced curve outwards away from the adjacent tooth 12. According to the present invention the "inner" teeth 12 adjacent each of the outermost teeth 12' are each provided with a prominent skid which is created by an upwardly projecting fin 14. A fin 14 is also formed on every second inner teeth 12 u. each alternate tooth 12 is provided with a fin 14 as can be seen from the drawings. The outermost teeth 12' do not have a skid, Each inner tooth 12 extends from a pointed distal end 18 to a root end. The root end merges into the body 11 end the gullet 13. The teeth 12 are profiled in accordance with known design of shearing comb cutter teeth as is the profile and form of the intervening gullets 13. Each fin preferably extends a height of 1.5mm to 2.5mm (preferably about 2mm) above each tooth or constitutes between 45% to 75% of the height of each tooth. The fin 14 on each inner tooth 12 projects upwardly from the top of the tooth and extends in a rearward direction from the distal end 18 in a smooth curve 15 away from the pointed profile of the distal end. The fin 14 ends in a downwardly inclined end 18 at about the point where the gullet 13 merges into the tooth 12. The inclined end slopes toward the root end of the tooth.

- 4 The skid is 14 is preferably of a substantially uniform cross sectional thickness. Thus the wall 19 of the gullet merges into the tooth 12 at a point between the distal end 18 and the inclined end 16. As a result the skid 14 toward the inclined end is thinner than the cross sectional thickness of the tooth 12 and gullet wall 19. 5 It is evident from the drawings that the presence of the fin 14 results in a thinner area 17 of metal extending back from the end 16 into the body 11 than is the case with the non-finned teth 12. The transition of the gullet wall 19 into the tooth 12 when the fin 14 is present is thus different to that when there is no fin. Once again this is apparent 10 from the drawings. The comb by virtue of the skids 14 when used on a shearing hand piece to shear sheep will leave a layer of wool which is thicker than is the case when using a normal comb. This is advantageous in colder periods as the thicker layer of wool helps the 15 sheep to recover faster after shearing thereby increasing productivity of the farmer. In addition, however, the comb according to the present invention exhibits a superior performance to existing shearing combs. It is believed that this is primarily due to no skid being present on the outermost teeth 12 but being present on the inner teeth and 20 preferably every second inner to the outermost teeth. It is to be understood that, if any prior art publication is referred to herein, such reference does not constitute an admission that the publication forms a part of the common general knowledge in the art, in Australia or any other country. 25 In the claims which follow and in the preceding description of the invention, except where the context requires otherwise due to express language or necessary implication, the word "comprise" or variations such as "comprises" or "comprising" is used in an inclusive sense, i.e. to specify the presence of the stated features but not to 30 preclude the presence or addition of further features in various embodiments of the invention. 24/09/13 47153191_ (GHMatters) P85721.AU

Claims

1. A shearing comb for use with an animal shearing handpiece, the shearing comb including a pair of outermost teeth and a plurality of spaced apart inner teeth 5 therebetween, wherein some of the inner teeth, but not the outermost teeth, include a prominent skid, wherein every alternate inner tooth includes a prominent skid.

2. A shearing comb as claimed in claim 1 wherein the teeth adjacent the 10 outermost teeth include a prominent skid.

3. A shearing comb as claimed in claims 1 or 2 wherein the skids are in the form of a fin. 15

4. A shearing comb as claimed in claim 3 wherein the fins taper towards the distal ends of the teeth.

5. A shearing comb as claimed in claim 3 or claim 4 wherein each fin transitions abruptly towards the teeth at the root end of each fin 20

6. A shearing comb as claimed in any one of claims 3 to 5 wherein the fins extend between 1.5mm and 2.5mm above each tooth.

7. A shearing comb as claimed in claim 6 wherein the fins extend about 2mm 25 above each tooth.

8. A shearing comb as claimed in any one of claims 3 to 7 wherein the fins extend above each tooth between 45% and 75% of the height of each tooth. 30

9. A shearing comb as claimed in any one of the preceding claims wherein the shearing comb is configures for use with a sheep shearing handpiece.

10. A shearing comb substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying drawings. 24/09/13 4715319_1 (GHMatters) P85721.AU