AU2008346560B2

AU2008346560B2 - Tie for identification ring including a locking member

Info

Publication number: AU2008346560B2
Application number: AU2008346560A
Authority: AU
Inventors: Antoine Legall; Jean-Jacques Legat
Original assignee: A Raymond SARL
Current assignee: A Raymond SARL
Priority date: 2008-01-07
Filing date: 2008-12-11
Publication date: 2012-02-02
Anticipated expiration: 2028-12-11
Also published as: WO2009086875A1; EP2229671B1; EP2229671A1; FR2926157A1; AU2008346560A1; FR2926157B1; ES2426458T3; NZ584318A

Abstract

The tie comprises a strap (1) extending along a first longitudinal axis (X) between two end parts (2, 4) that have a female part (3) and a male part (5) for a fastening system, and a locking member (6) for locking said male part (5) in said female part (3) when the male part is inserted into the female part. Said locking member comprises a strip (6) and a slot (7) passing through said male part (5), into which said strip (6) is intended to be inserted along a second axis (Y) approximately perpendicular to said first longitudinal axis (X). A locking means (10, 11, 13, 14) for locking the strip (6) in the slot (7) is provided in such a way as to prevent the strip (6) from sliding inside the slot (7) in an insertion direction and in the opposite direction along said second axis (Y) after the strip (6) has passed a certain position of insertion into the slot (7) in said insertion direction.

Description

EDITORIAL NOTE APPLICATION NUMBER - 2008346560 The first page is numbered 3 WO 2009/086875 3 PCTIEP2008/010500 Tie for an identification ring with a locking member The invention concerns a tie which comprises a strap extending along a first longitudinal axis between two end parts that have a female part and a male part for a fastening system, and a locking member for locking said male part in said female part when the male part is inserted into the female part. In the fastening system, the tie is closed by joining the two end parts of the strap to form a ring. The male part of the fastening system is inserted into the female part, and then the locking member holds the male part in the female part. Such a tie can be used, for example, as an identification ring that can be placed on an animal's lower extremity (front or rear paw, leg, etc.). In fact, regulations may require that ovine, caprine and other animals be tagged, sometimes from birth, for purposes of meat traceability, for example, without it being possible to hide the removal and the refitting of a ring on an animal. Thus, there is a need for a tie that enables the user to see immediately and with certainty whether the tie has been opened, removed or refitted or if there was an attempted opening or removal. We know from patent document FR2131531 of a tie comprising a strap whose end parts are joined after having been brought together to form a ring. Each end of the strap comprises one part of a fastening system -- female and male, respectively -- and the male end has a locking member for the male part in the female part. The locking mechanism is in the form of a cap which locks itself on the male part superposed on the female part that surrounds the male part. However, this ring does not enable a user to see, for certain, that the tie has not been forced apart. In fact, one can imagine a malicious user damaging the ring to force it apart, then putting it on another animal 4 by rejoining the two end parts (with glue, for example) which would pass unnoticed because of the presence of the cap on the locking mechanism. The purpose of the invention is to suggest a tie or ring that alleviates this problem. In particular, the invention may provide a tie which would form an identification ring which could be placed on an animal's lower extremity -- especially on the pastern of an ovine or caprine animal. It will be a ring in which a locking member in the fastening system provides a high degree of security against fraud. A reference herein to a patent document or other matter which is given as prior art is not to be taken as an admission that that document or matter was, in Australia, known or that the information it contains was part of the common general knowledge as at the priority date of any of the claims. Throughout the description and claims of this specification, the word "comprise" and variations of the word, such as "comprising" and comprises", is not intended to exclude other additives or components or integers. According to the present invention there is provided a tie including a strap extending along a first longitudinal direction between two end parts, said end parts including a female part and a male part, of a fastening system, and a locking member for locking said male part in said female part when the male part is inserted into the female part, said locking member including a strip and a slot through said male part of the fastening system in which said strip is designed to be inserted in a second direction substantially perpendicular to said first longitudinal direction and further including a locking means for locking the strip into the slot, said locking means arranged in such a way as to prevent the sliding of the strip into the slot in a direction of insertion and an opposite direction along said second direction after the strip has taken a certain position of insertion in the 5 slot along said direction of insertion, and wherein the locking means includes notches disposed at a first end of the strip, a lock for receiving said notches, the lock placed on the strap laterally from one side of said lot in the male part of the fastening system, a flange in which said strip is arranged to be inserted, said flange is placed on the strap laterally from the other side of said slot in alignment with the lock and the slot along said second direction, and a first projection disposed at a second end of the strip and arranged so as to abut against the flange when said strip extends through said flange and the slot and the notches of said strip are inserted into said lock. The locking member's strip may enable a flat identification zone in addition to the one provided by the strap, reinforcing the possibility of visual control of the identification ring's integrity. With this construction, the strip, once it has been closed inside the slot of the male part of the fastening system, cannot usually be withdrawn without being damaged. As a result of that, the possibility of committing fraud is made more complicated. Embodiments of the invention may offer the following features: - a second protuberance is placed on the strip in such a way as to abut the lock when the first protuberance abuts the collar; - the first end of the strip having a rupture zone, said notches being interposed between the rupture zone and said second protuberance; - the strip comprises a noticeably flat, rectangular identification zone interposed between said first and second protuberances; - the strip is held in a detachable manner to the strap and is parallel to the first longitudinal axis by at least one lug; 6 - the strip is held perpendicular to the first longitudinal axis by a movable joint on the strip; - the first protuberance is arranged close to the movable joint on the strap; - said strap has an approximately longitudinal T-shaped slot between its two end parts; - the strap comprises two approximately flat, rectangular identification zones on both sides of the T-shaped slot; - the strap is equipped with an electronic RFID identification device; - the female part of the fastening system is an opening in the strap that is edged by a divisible zone of the band; - the female part of the fastening system is an opening in the strap and the male part of the fastening system is a protuberance fitted with a projection cooperating with an edge of the opening in the strap when said male and female parts of the fastening system are inserted one into the other. The tie with the fastening system, the locking mechanism and the locking member can be produced in a single piece, through injection moulding of plastic material with a simple mould, particularly if the lock, the male part of the fastening system with its slot as well as the lateral collar arranged on one side of said slot are produced with the undercuts which are positioned on the same side of the strap, preferably on the side which corresponds to the interior surface of the ring, thereby limiting the possibility of fraud. The construction of the tie presents the advantage of a simple and relatively intuitive installation on the animal with the likely possibility of enlarging the ring's diameter, and with the locking of the male part in the female part of the fastening system with the help 7 of a locking strip also being easy to carry out. Moreover, this tie, may be inexpensive to produce if comprised of one single piece. A preferred embodiment of the present invention will now be described with reference to the accompanying drawings wherein: Figure 1 is a perspective view from above of an example of manufacturing a tie according to the invention, in an initial state of the tie before formation of a ring. Figure 2 is a partial perspective view from below of the end of the strap comprising the male part of the fastening system of the tie in Figure 1. Figure 3 is a perspective view from above of another example of tie manufacture according to the invention, in an initial state of the tie before formation of a ring. In Figure 1, the tie, according to the invention, comprises one flexible strap 1 which extends in a first longitudinal X axis between a first end part 2 which is fitted with a female part 3 of a fastening system and a second part of end part 4 which is fitted with a male part 5 of the fastening system; this male part 5 being arranged in such fashion as to be inserted into female part 3 of the fastening system when the two parts of end parts 2 and 4 are brought together -- that is, superposed -- by bending strap 1 to form a ring. According to the invention, the tie is comprised of a locking member 6 allowing male part 5 to be locked in female part 3 of the fastening system when male part 5 is inserted into female part 3. Here, the female part of the fastening system is an opening 3 in strap 1 arranged along the longitudinal X axis of strap 1 at a certain distance from the outer edge of the end part 2 and having an approximately rectangular form as can be seen in Figure 1. Here, the male part of the fastening system is a protuberance 5 placed near the outer edge of end part 4 of strap 1, which is a collar in the shape of an inverted U and WO 2009/086875 8 PCTIEP2008/010500 which defines, between the branches of the U, a slot 7 in a second Y axis approximately perpendicular to the said first X longitudinal Axis X. The upper side 8 of collar 5 (that is, the base of the U), in an approximately rectangular form, is adjusted to the size of opening 3 so as to be inserted into it with a certain tightening within it. In particular, the upper side 8 is adjusted with a view to obtaining a sliding effect in collar 5 in opening 3 without too much lateral play in the X axis when this opening 3 is enlarged in a modular fashion as will be described hereinafter. As can be seen in Figure 1, the locking member comprises a strip 6 proportioned in width and thickness so as to permit strip 6 to be inserted into slot 7 without friction. According to a first mode of production represented in Figure 1, strip 6 can be initially held in a detachable way to strap 1 through the intermediary of at least one lug 9. Strip 6 thus extends initially along longitudinal X axis, so that strip 6 is approximately parallel to strap 1. This lug 9 is intended to be easily broken by a user in order to detach strip 6 from strap 1 in order to form a ring, as will be described below. Preferably, as shown in Figure 1, three lugs 9, each in the shape of a thin strip tying strap 1 and strip 6 together, are spread out along strip 6 between a first protuberance 10 and a second protuberance 17. In order to lock the tie so as to form a ring with strap 1 that cannot be taken apart, strip 6 is first detached from strap 1 by breaking the lugs 9. Then, collar 5 is inserted into opening 3 by disengaging slot 7 above opening 3 in strap 1. Then strip 6 is inserted into slot 7 through a first end part 18A of strip 6 along the second Y axis which is approximately perpendicular to said first longitudinal X axis, by pulling strip 6 sufficiently in the direction of the axis of insertion along the second Y axis until it goes WO 2009/086875 9 PCT/EP2008/010500 through a certain insertion position where it is locked in the two opposite directions according to the second Y axis. Strip 6 is superposed as a pin on strap 1 above opening 3, thus preventing collar 5 from being disengaged outside of opening 3. As can be seen in Figure 1, the locking system in the position of strip 6 inside slot 7 comprises projection 10 of strip 6 provided at a second end part 18B of strip 6. Figure 2 shows in part the locking system as seen from above which again comprises a collar 11 in the form of an inverted U forming a slot 12 in which strip 6 can be inserted; this collar 11 being arranged laterally next to slot 7 on strap 1. The locking system again comprises a lock 13 arranged laterally on the other side of slot 7 on strap 1, in alignment with slot 7 and slot 12 of collar 11. Lock 13 defines a sort of cage in which notches 14 provided at the free end of strip 6 are locked. These notches 14 are, for example, two trapezoidal teeth arranged respectively on the two lateral edges of strip 6 or a series of such teeth, these notches 14 cooperating with complementary collars 15 formed on the inner surfaces of lock 13, visible in Figure 2, so as to allow movement of strip 6 in a single direction of insertion according to the second Y axis, but preventing movement of strip 6 in the opposite direction from this direction of insertion. In order to lock the fastening system according to the invention, strip 6, after having been detached from strap 1, is first inserted through slot 12 of collar 11, then into slot 7 of collar 5, then finally into lock 13 where the notches 14 meet the collars 15. This locking member, according to the invention, is designed in such a way that protuberance 10 abuts a lateral side of collar 11 at the same time that the notches 14 meet the collars 15 of lock 13 in such a way that one prevents an insertion from this WO 2009/086875 10 PCT/EP2008/010500 position of strip 6 into slot 7 and any movement or sliding of strip 6 in the two directions along axis Y. As can be seen in Figure 1, each notch 14 presents a face 16 on an inclined slope in relation to axis Y and the second protuberance 17 is provided for on strip 6 between protuberance 10 and the notches 14 in such a way as to abut the lateral side of lock 13 at the same time that protuberance 10 abuts collar 11 as indicated above, while end part 18A of strip 6 re-emerges from lock 13. It will be understood that the locking of the fastening system according to the invention is produced by the relative lateral placement of lock 13 and collar 11 on strap 1, and notches 14 and the first and second protuberances 10 and 17 on strip 6, which are spaced one with the other in such a way that the distance between the intemal face of the first protuberance 10 and the lateral catch of the notches 14 is approximately identical or slightly superior to the distance between the external face of collar 11 and the internal catch of collars 15 of lock 13, and the distance between the internal face of the second protuberance 17 and the lateral catch of notches 14 is approximately identical or slightly superior to the distance between the internal face of lock 13 and the internal catch of collars 15 of Lock 13. Figure 1 shows that strip 6 includes a zone 19 of a very weak section placed between notches 14 and the first end part 18A, this zone 19 serving as a rupture zone as will be described hereinafter. This rupture zone 9, however, must be positioned along strip 6 in such a manner as to re-emerge from lock 13 at the time of the complete locking into position of strip 6 in slot 7.

WO 2009/086875 11 PCT/EP2008/010500 As can be seen in Figure 1, collar 5 can be equipped with a projection 20 in the form of a tab pointing toward longitudinal axis X and designed to cooperate with an opening edge 3 in order to hold end part 2 of strap 1 against end part 4 of strap 4 under the effect of the release of flexible strap 1 when it is bent to form a ring. Meanwhile, end part 2 of strap 1 can be fitted with a pull tab 21 designed to facilitate handling of strap 1 to form a ring. According to the invention, a length of strap 1 between opening 3 and strap 5 presents a central longitudinal opening 22 in an approximate T-shape, which brings to the tie an additional flexibility and facilitates the bending of strap 1 to form a ring. This longitudinal opening 22 permits, moreover, the reduction in the amount of material used to produce the tie and thus its cost price. What is more, when the male and female parts of the fastening system are inserted into one another to form a ring, end part 2 of strap 1 is inserted into opening 22 (at the head of the T) in order to be housed inside the ring, with the pull tab 21 being able to re-emerge alone from opening 22 (at the foot of the T) in order to keep end part 2 set firmly inside strap 1. Figure 1 also illustrates a sort of compartment 23 between opening 22 and opening 3 on the strap. This compartment 23 is designed to house an RFID electronic identification device. Strap 1 is equipped with a first identification zone 24 which is approximately flat and rectangular and which borders longitudinal opening 22 on both sides of the latter while strip 6 is equipped with a second identification zone 25 which is approximately flat and rectangular and positioned between the two protuberances 10 and 17. These WO 2009/086875 12 PCTIEP2008/010500 two identification zones 24 and 25 are flat so as to receive respectively two inscriptions, preferably identical. When the tie is locked and, in particular, when strip 6 is inserted into slot 7 of collar 5, the second identification zone 25 is arranged in two distinct half-zones on both sides of collar 5 in a similar fashion to the arrangement in two distinct half-zones of zone 24 on both sides of opening 22. These inscriptions placed upon identification zones 24 and 25 enable the support, for example, an animal, upon which the link is fixed to be identified. They can be presented in the form of bar codes, initials or alphanumeric signs and can be produced by laser, painting, engraving or by any other identification procedure that is suited to the material used to produce the tie. These inscriptions shall be favourably produced in the respective identification zones 24 and 25 during the manufacturing of the tie in order to limit fraud. According to the invention, opening 3 is edged by several sections of divisible straps 26A, 26B and 26C in the strap, which allow the tie to be used on an animal, including during its growth period. Here, the sections of divisible bands 26A, 26B and 26C each have a rectangular form and follow each other along the longitudinal X axis from opening 3 to the outer edge of end part 2 of strap 1. Per section of divisible band, a section of the strap that is easily detachable from the strap is designated, for example, by peeling when the strap is manufactured in a fairly flexible material or by breakage if the band was manufactured in a fairly rigid and breakable material.

WO 2009/086875 13 PCT/EP2008/010500 The sections of straps 26A, 26B and 26C are designed to be detachable individually from strap 1 by peeling them. To this effect each one presents a rounded protuberance 27 which serves as a pull tab point, for a pair of pliers, for example, to peel (for reasons of clarity, only protuberance 27 is indicated on the section of divisible strap 26C). More particularly, as can be seen in Figure 1, each section of divisible strap 26A, 26B and 26C is adjacent along longitudinal axis X to a respective slot 28 formed in strap 1 along a horizontal axis to axis X. Each slot 28 presents an indentation 29 in each of its two extremities which serves as an initial section for the peeling of the divisible portion (slot 28 and indentation 29 are shown only on a section of divisible strap 26 for reasons of clarity). In the production example shown in Figure 1, the design shows that the two lateral edges along longitudinal axis X of each section of divisible straps 26A, 26B and 26C are for example comprised of a thin film of the material used for strap 1 which can be easily peeled away but which is also sufficiently resistant so that the side of the divisible section 26A, 26B and 26C which is common to a side of opening 3 acts as a support edge for protuberance 5 when end parts 2 and 4 of strap 1 are brought together over one another to form a ring. In Figure 1 divisible portions of the strap 26A, 26B and 26C are shown. These have a rectangular shape and different lengths along longitudinal axis X and, in particular, a length which increases by stages when looking in the direction that runs from opening 3 towards the edge of end part 2 of strap 1, which enables an increase WO 2009/086875 14 PCT/EP2008/010500 in the diameter of the ring adaptable to a certain growth rhythms of animals which need to be fitted with rings. These sections of divisible straps 26A, 26B and 26C, in succession along longitudinal axis X, are therefore designed to be detached successively in such a way as to lengthen the dimension of opening 3 along axis X, which enables collar 5 to be brought (by sliding it into the lengthened opening 3) toward the edge of end part 2, fitted with the female part without exiting opening 3. Of course, one can design a shape that is other than rectangular for opening 3 and the sections of divisible straps 26A, 26B and 26C without departing from the framework of the invention. Furthermore, in Figure 1, only three sections of the divisible straps are shown, but it is obvious that one can allow, for example, two or three sections of divisible straps without departing from the framework of the invention. In another particular production mode of the tie according to the invention, an electronic identification device (not shown), like an RFID tag, can be incorporated into strap 1, by adhesion, setting, moulding or in some other way. An RFID tag enables registration and reproduction, by means of a wireless electronic device, of all sorts of necessary information regarding the support on which the link is mounted; for an animal, this information includes its origin, its breed, its date of birth, etc. In cases where the RFID tag includes an antenna and an electronic chip encapsulated in a glass tag, the fastening of such an RFID tag can, for example, be produced by implanting the glass tag in compartment 23 in the bracelet's projection provided for this purpose on strap 1, preferably in the centre of strap 1, as is shown in WO 2009/086875 15 PCT/IEP2008/010500 Figure 1. In cases where the RFID tag is made simply of an antenna and an electronic chip, the fastening of the RFID tag can be produced, for example, by moulding if strap 1 is made of plastic. The tie formed by strap 1 with fastening systems 3 and 5, the locking device 6, locking member 10, 11, 13 and 14, and perhaps the pull tab 26 of opening 3 and compartment 23 of the RFID tag, is produced preferably out of one single piece, for example, through injection moulding of plastic or by cutting and stamping of sheet metal. In particular, all the characteristics of the tie can be favourably obtained by moulding of thermoplastic material from a simple and inexpensive mould in two parts, and not requiring any specific tool for removing the tie from the mould. According to the invention, the tie has a particular application as an identification ring for animals equipped with a fastening system and a locking member enabling a simple and effective verification of the tie's originality; that is, that the ring that is attached to an animal is in fact the ring that was initially attached to that animal, and that the diameter can be easily increased using a simple tool without removing the ring from the animal. According to the invention, in order to place the tie, on a lower extremity of an animal for example, one begins by breaking the lugs 9 in order to detach strip 6 from strap 1. Then, strap 1 is bent into itself in order to form a ring and, with the aid of pull tab 21, opening 3 is placed around collar 5. Projection 20 meets strap 1. End part 2 of strap can be slipped into opening 22, with pull tab 21 possibly re-emerging to form a compact ring. Then the first end part 18A of strip 6 is inserted into slot 12 of collar 11, WO 2009/086875 16 PCTIEP2008/010500 then into slot 7 of collar 5, then into lock 13. End part 18A of strip 6 is pulled firmly to the point of rupture at zone 19. At that moment, strip 6 is completely wedged into lock 13 and is held in collar 11 by protuberance 10, without being able to be disengaged from slots 7 and 12. It is superposed upon end part 2 of the strap leaving the two half identification zones 25 visible from the outside of the ring on both sides of collar 5. It is then possible to easily compare the inscriptions shown on identification zone 25 with the inscriptions shown on identification zone 24, which is also visible from the outside of the ring so as to easily verify the originality of the tie. According to the invention, if someone attempts to force apart the link, strip 6 will be irreparably damaged, which will be easily observable during a regulatory inspection, for example. Since end part 18A can be removed, the result is an extremely compact and resistant ring that can withstand rubbing or scraping against any kind of surface. Figure 3 shows an alternative, according to the invention, of another strap 100 in a second mode of production. In Figure 3, the same numerical references correspond to the same elements as those showing the same references in Figures 1 and 2 and these elements fulfil the same functions. For reasons of clarity and conciseness, we will only describe the elements of strap1O that differ from the previously described strap 1. According to the second production mode shown in Figure 3, strip 6 is held to strap 100 by the intermediary of movable joint 30 at the level of end part 4, fitted with male part 5 of the fastening system. Strip 6 then extends along the second Y axis WO 2009/086875 17 PCTIEP2008/010500 perpendicular to the first X A\axis as shown in Figure 3. Protuberance 10 of strip 6, in this case, is positioned near movable joint 30. According to this production mode, the second identification zone 26 of strip 6 is arranged on the rear side of strip 6 -- not visible in the Figures -- between the two protuberances 10 and 17. According to the invention, in order to position the tie on a lower extremity of an animal for example, strap 1 is bent onto itself in order to form a ring and, with the aid of pull tab 21, opening 3 is placed around collar 5. Projection 20 meets strap 1 and end part 2 of strap 1 can be slipped into opening 22, having pull tab 21 re-emerge to form a compact ring. Strip 6 is folded back to the level of movable joint 30 and then the first free end part 18A of strip 6 is inserted into slot 12 of collar 11, then into slot 7 of collar 5, then into lock 13. End part 18A is pulled firmly from strip 6 to the point of rupture at the level of zone 19. Strip 6 is then completely wedged into lock 13 and cannot be disengaged from slots 7 and 12. In cases where movable joint 30 is broken by the force of friction caused by rubbing the ring against any kind of surface for example, strip 6 is still held in place inside of slot 7 due to the presence of protuberance 10.

Claims

1. A tie including a strap extending along a first longitudinal direction between two end parts, said end parts including a female part and a male part of a fastening system, and a locking member for locking said male part in said female part when the male part is inserted into the female part, said locking member including a strip and a slot through said male part of the fastening system in which said strip is designed to be inserted in a second direction substantially perpendicular to said first longitudinal direction and further including a locking means for locking the strip into the slot, said locking means arranged in such a way as to prevent the sliding of the strip into the slot in a direction of insertion and an opposite direction along said second direction after the strip has taken a certain position of insertion in the slot along said direction of insertion, and wherein the locking means includes notches disposed at a first end of the strip, a lock for receiving said notches, the lock placed on the strap laterally from one side of said slot in the male part of the fastening system, a flange in which said strip is arranged to be inserted, said flange is placed on the strap laterally from the other side of said slot in alignment with the lock and the slot along said second direction, and a first projection disposed at a second end of the strip and arranged so as to abut against the flange when said strip extends through said flange and the slot and the notches of said strip are inserted into said lock.

2. A tie according to Claim 1, wherein a second projection is disposed on the strip so as to abut against the lock when the first projection abuts against the flange. 19

3. A tie according to Claim 2, wherein the first end of the strip comprises a rupture zone, said notches being interposed between the rupture zone and the second projection.

4. A tie according to Claim 2 or Claim 3, wherein the strip has a substantially rectangular flat marking area interposed between said first and second projections.

5. A tie according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the strip is detachably held to the strap parallel to the first longitudinal direction by at least one pin.

6. A tie according to any one of Claims 1 to 4, wherein the strip is held in the strap perpendicular to the first longitudinal direction by a hinge region of the strip.

7. A tie according to Claim 6, wherein said first projection is arranged close to the hinge region of the strip.

8. A tie according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein a longitudinal substantially T-shaped slot is located between the two end parts of the strap.

9. A tie according to Claim 8, wherein the strap has two substantially rectangular and flat scoring areas, said scoring areas arranged either side of the longitudinal slot.

10. A tie according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the strap is equipped with an electronic identification RFID. 20

11. A tie according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein said female part is an opening in the strap and said male part includes a protrusion cooperating with an edge of the opening in the strap when said male part and female part of the fastening system are inserted into each other.

12. A tie according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein said female part is an opening in the strap bordered by an area including divisible strips.

13. A tie according to any one of the preceding claims made of one piece by injection molding of plastic.

14. A tie substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying drawings.