AU2010206093B2

AU2010206093B2 - A plug for livestock butchering

Info

Publication number: AU2010206093B2
Application number: AU2010206093A
Authority: AU
Inventors: Colin Plant; Andrew Charles Simpson
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2009-08-03
Filing date: 2010-08-02
Publication date: 2014-12-18
Anticipated expiration: 2030-08-02
Also published as: AU2010206093A1; NZ587148A

Abstract

A PLUG FOR LIVESTOCK BUTCHERING Abstract A plug (10) for covering an orifice of a cavity in a livestock carcass, the plug (10) including: a head (16) to be inserted through the orifice and anchored within the 5 cavity; a body (10) fixed to and extending from the head (16) and configured to extend outwardly from the orifice; and a cover member (14) to be fixed to the body (18) to substantially cover the orifice so that in use carcass flesh adjacent the orifice is secured between the head (16) and the cover member (14). -(0 FFc Flcx iF/70.

Description

S&F Ref: 961699 AUSTRALIA PATENTS ACT 1990 COMPLETE SPECIFICATION FOR A STANDARD PATENT Name and Address Andrew Charles Simpson, of Applicants: Australian Citizen, of Unit 207, 53-59 Great Buckingham St, Redfern, New South Wales, 2016, Australia Colin Plant, Australian Citizen, of 43 Castlereach Ave, Dubbo, New South Wales, 2830, Australia Actual Inventor(s): Andrew Charles Simpson Colin Plant Address for Service: Spruson & Ferguson St Martins Tower Level 35 31 Market Street Sydney NSW 2000 (CCN 3710000177) Invention Title: A plug for livestock butchering The following statement is a full description of this invention, including the best method of performing it known to me/us: 5845c(2874924_1) A PLUG FOR LIVESTOCK BUTCHERING Technical Field The present invention relates broadly to a plug for use during livestock butchering. More particularly, the invention relates to a plug to be applied to a processed s livestock carcass to prevent faecal contamination thereof. Background Art Sheep butchering involves slaughtering of the sheep in an abattoir and having it processed in a production line. Despite the fact that the carcass is usually handled with extra care by slaughterers during the course of removing guts and entrails thereof, it is io almost unavoidable to stop the bowel of the sheep from opening with the carcass being constantly manipulated. This often results in waste matter discharging from the intestines through the anus onto the processed carcass of livestock. Any occurrences of waste matter discharging may have serious consequences such as rejection and hence mandatory abandonment of an entire cargo of livestock for non-compliance of food hygiene 15 standards. To prevent faecal contamination, previous attempts have been made to provide and insert a plug into the sheep's anus to prevent faeces from discharging out of the bowel. This however has the shortcoming that there is little or no control of the placement and positioning of the plug after being inserted into the carcass, which often 20 leads to dislocation of the plug, permitting accidental discharging of faeces from the anus of the carcass. Object of the Invention It is the object of the present invention to substantially overcome or ameliorate one or more of the disadvantages of the prior art.

2 Summary of the Invention According to one aspect of the present invention there is provided a plug to manually cover an orifice of a cavity in a livestock carcass, the plug including: a head to be inserted through the orifice and anchored within the cavity; a body having a longitudinal axis, the body fixed to and extending from the head and configured to extend outwardly from the orifice in use; the body having at least one flexible portion; and a cover member moveable along the axis and to be fixed to the body in use to substantially cover the orifice so that in use carcass flesh adjacent the orifice is secured between the head and the cover member. Preferably, the head is conical shaped. Still preferably, the body is integral to the head. In a preferred embodiment the body has a longitudinal axis and the head includes a plurality of blades extending generally radially outward relative to the axis. Each blade has a base edge and a side edge, with the base edges providing a base to engage the flesh adjacent the orifice, and the side edges converging away from the base toward the axis. Preferably, the head includes one or more barbs to engage the flesh adjacent the orifice to anchor the head within the cavity. In a preferred embodiment, the cover member includes a passage through which the body passes. Preferably, the body includes a plurality of teeth, and the cover member includes a tab extending from a wall of the passage. The tab is configured to cooperate with the teeth to allow a user to selectively position the cover member on the body. Preferably, the at least one flexible portion in use permits a user to wrap the body around his or her finger thereby gaining leverage to lift and/or hold the carcass with the plug. In one embodiment, the cover member includes an annular flange. Preferably, the flange includes a plurality of recesses for receiving a corresponding blade extending from the head. Preferably, the cover member includes barbs to engage flesh adjacent the orifice.

3 Brief Description of the Drawings In order to achieve a better understanding of the nature of the present invention, non-limiting preferred embodiments of the invention will now be described, by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: s Figure 1 is a first perspective view of a plug including a first member and a second member in accordance with one embodiment of the present invention; Figure 2 is a second perspective view of the plug in Figure 1; Figure 3 is a first perspective view the first member of the plug in Figure 1; Figure 4 is a second perspective view of the first member of the plug in Figure 1; 1o Figure 5 is a first perspective view of the second member of the plug in Figure 1; Figure 6 is a second perspective view of the second member of the plug in Figure 1; Figure 7 is a side view of a plug including a first member and a second member in accordance with another embodiment of the present invention; is Figure 8 is a partial perspective view of the plug in Figure 7; Figure 9 is a perspective view of a plug in accordance with a further embodiment of the present invention, wherein the head of the first member includes a removable disc; Figure 10 is a perspective view of the first member of the plug in Figure 9; Figure 11 is a partial view of the plug in Figure 9; 20 Figure 12 is a perspective view of a plug in accordance with a yet further embodiment of the present invention; Figure 13 illustrates the plug in Figure 12, wherein the head of the first member is in a first configuration prior to insertion into a cavity; Figure 14 illustrates the plug in Figure 12, wherein the head of the first member 25 is in a second configuration after insertion into the cavity wherein the plug has been pulled back toward the orifice; 4 Figure 15 is a cross-sectional view of the plug in Figure 12; Figure 16 is a perspective view of a plug in accordance with another embodiment of the invention including a first member and a second member; Figure 17 is a perspective view of the plug in Figure 16, wherein the second 5 member is mounted on the body of the first member; Figure 18 is a perspective view of the plug in Figure 16, where the second member is mounted on the body of the first member; Figure 19 is a first perspective view of the plug in Figure 16, wherein the second member is engaged with the head of the first member; 10 Figure 20 is a second perspective view of the plug in Figure 16, wherein the second member is engaged with the head of the first member; Figure 21 is a side view of the plug in Figure 16 with the second member inserted on the body of the first member; Figure 22 is a perspective view of a plug in accordance with another embodiment is of the present invention wherein the head and body of the first member are separate pieces; Figure 23 is a side view of the plug of Figure 22 prior to attachment of the head and body; Figure 24 is a first perspective view of the plug in Figure 22 with the second 20 member inserted on the body of the first member; Figure 25 is a second perspective view of the plug in Figure 22 with the second member engaged with the first member; Figure 26 is a first perspective view of the plug in Figure 22, wherein the second member is engaged with the head of the first member; and 25 Figure 27 is a side view of the plug in Figure 22 with the second member inserted on the body of the first member.

5 Detailed Description of Preferred Embodiments It should be understood that the livestock referred to herein generally are sheep. The plug of the present invention however may also be applied to other livestock, such as pigs and cows. Also, while it is intended that the orifice in the livestock carcass is an 5 anus, it is within the scope of the present invention that the orifice may include other openings through which waste matter or excretion may be discharged out of the carcass. Figures 1 to 6 illustrate one embodiment of a plug 10 for covering an orifice of a cavity in a livestock carcass according to one embodiment of the present invention. The plug 10 includes a head 16, a body 18, and a cover 14 which is best shown in Figures 5 10 and 6. The head 16 is designed to be inserted through an orifice (not shown) and into a cavity (not shown) in a livestock carcass. The plug 10 can be fabricated by injection molding. The head 16 and body 18 can be fabricated as one piece as shown in Figures 3 and 4. Alternatively, the head 16 and body 18 can be fabricated separately as shown in Figure 22 and attached prior to use. The cover 14 may also be fabricated together with is the head 16 and body 18. When fabricated in such a way, the cover 14 is connected to the end of the body 18 and needs to be snapped off before installation and use. Once detached, the cover 14 is to be positioned along the body 18 and secured to the body 18 to substantially cover the orifice. Preferably, the cover 14 is not to be put into engagement with the head 16 via the body 18 until the head 16 has been inserted into the orifice. 20 The head 16 is conical shaped for facilitating insertion through the orifice. As shown in Figure 3, the head 16 includes four radially-extending blades 22, 24, 26, 28. Each blade 22, 24, 26, 28 has a base edge 38, 40, 42, 44, and a side edge 30, 32, 34, 36. The base edges 38, 40, 42, 44 form a base 20. In use, the base 20 engages flesh adjacent the orifice as the head 16, being inside the orifice, is urged against internal flesh. The 25 side edges 30, 32, 34, 36 converge away from the base 20 toward the axis a-a to form the conical shape. As best shown in Figure 1, each of base edges 38, 42 of respective blades 22, 26 has anchoring means in the form of spikes, or barbs 70, 72. The spikes or barbs 70, 72 engage the flesh as the head 16, after insertion into the orifice, is pulled back towards the orifice. 30 Referring to Figures 1 to 4, the body 18 takes the form of an elongate strap 48. The body 18, or at least a substantial part of it, is to remain outside the orifice when in use so as to allow the user to manipulate the head 16 from outside of the cavity. The strap 48 6 includes a ratchet bar 50 extending from the head 16, the ratchet bar 50 having sloping teeth 54. A portion 52 of the strap 48 extending from the ratchet bar 50 is flexible so that in use, the user can wrap the flexible portion 52 around his/her finger thereby gaining 5 leverage to lift and/or hold the livestock carcass with the plug 10 of the present invention. With the head 16 inside the cavity, when the strap 48 is pulled, the base 20 of the head 16 presses against the flesh adjacent the orifice thereby affecting a seal. It can be observed from Figures 1 to 3 that the flexible portion 52 of the strap 48 has an uneven or corrugated surface 56 so as to facilitate gripping thereof. It should be appreciated that the io ratchet bar 50 need not be present on the entire length of the strap 48. Turning now to Figures 5 and 6, the cover 14 has an edge 58. The edge 58 is configured to engage external flesh adjacent the orifice. The cover 14 has a passage 60 through which the body 18 passes as the cover 14 moves along the body 18 towards the orifice during installation. The cover 14 has a tab 62 which extends from a wall 64 of the is passage 60. The tab 62 engages the sloping teeth 54 of the ratchet bar 50 as the cover 14 moves towards the orifice. The teeth 54 are sloped at such an angle that when the cover 14 moves towards the head 16, the tab 62 slides over each tooth 54 in turn flexing into a depression before the next tooth 54. The teeth 54 and the tab 62 cooperate to permit movement of the cover 14 toward the head 16 or orifice only. The cover 14 also includes 20 a pair of recesses 66 and 68 for receiving the corresponding spike or barb 70, 72 (see Figures 1 and 2) stemming from the base 20. Referring to Figure 6, the cover 14 has two pairs of downwardly extending barbs 76, 78. Each pair of barbs 76, 78 is configured to engage blades 38, 42 respectively upon engagement of the cover 14 and the head 16, with the flesh of the orifice sandwiched 25 therebetween. In another embodiment shown in Figures 7 and 8, the plug 10 has a base 20 which includes four webs 74, each web 74 spans a space between adjacent base edges 38, 40, 42, 44. The webs 74 abut the internal flesh adjacent the orifice as the cover 14 engages the base 20. Further webs 76 are provided at two levels along the length of 30 adjacent blades 22, 24, 26, 28 to enhance the seal. It will be appreciated by a skilled person in the art that the webs 74, 76 assist in further reducing the likelihood of accidental discharge of the waste matter out of the orifice. The cover 14 has an annular flange 80. Eight spikes or barbs 78 extend from the flange 80. The spikes or barbs 78 are configured to engage flesh adjacent the orifice and 7 cooperate with the base 20 to achieve a tight seal of the orifice, as the cover 14 is urged to engage the head 16. As best seen in Figure 8, the spikes or barbs 78 extend in an opposite direction to barbs 70, 72. As the cover 14 and base 20 are urged toward one another, the flesh adjacent the orifice is sandwiched between the base 20 of the head 16 and the cover 5 14. The opposing barbs 70, 72, 78 collaboratively grip the flesh adjacent the orifice thereby securing the flesh between the head 16 and the cover 14 and achieving a tight seal of the orifice. In the embodiment shown in Figures 9 to 11, the base 20 of the head 16 includes a removable disc 82 which in use slides down the body 18 to be positioned on base edges 10 38, 40, 42, 44 of blades 22, 24, 26, 28. The disc 82 includes a passage 61 through which the ratchet bar 50 of the body 18 passes as described in earlier embodiments. The disc 82 includes four pairs of clips 86 located on the underside of the disc 82. The clips 86 secure the disc 82 onto each respective blade 22, 24, 26, 28. The disc 82 includes spikes or barbs 88 which in use engage the internal flesh adjacent the orifice as the head 16 is is pulled back toward the orifice after insertion into the cavity. The cover 14 includes spikes or barbs 78 configured to engage external flesh adjacent the orifice. As the head 16 and the cover 14 are urged toward one another, the flesh adjacent the orifice is sandwiched between the disc 82 and the cover 14, resulting in opposing barbs 88, 78 collaboratively engaging both the internal and external flesh adjacent the orifice thereby 20 effectively covering the orifice and reducing the likelihood of any accidental discharge of waste matter. In the embodiment shown in Figures 12 to 15, the head 16 includes a wall 90 with an annular wall edge 94. The wall edge 94 includes spikes or barbs 70 which are distributed around the wall edge 94. As shown in Figure 13, prior to installation, the wall 25 90 forms a conical shape to facilitate insertion through the orifice into the cavity. After insertion, the head 16 is pulled back toward the orifice causing the head to 'collapse' as shown in Figure 14. The barbs 70 engage the internal flesh adjacent the orifice when the head 16 is pulled back. 30 As best seen in Figure 12, the cover 14 has an annular edge 58 with spikes or barbs 78. The barbs 78 engage the external flesh adjacent the orifice as the cover 14 is urged toward the head 16. As the cover 14 and the head 16 are urged toward one another, opposing barbs 70, 78 collaboratively engage both the internal and external flesh adjacent the orifice respectively thereby effectively covering the orifice.

8 Although not shown, the person skilled in the art will understand that the body 18 can also include a lower section which connects with the head 16 in the form of a ratchet bar. The upper section of the body 18 includes a bifurcated open end 96. This end 96 5 allows the user to bend and wrap prongs 98 and 100 around a finger which is received within the trough 102 to gain leverage for lifting and/or holding of the carcass via the plug 10. Figures 16 to 21 illustrate another embodiment of the present invention. The body 18 has a longitudinal axis a-a. The head 16 includes four radially extending blades io 22, 24, 26, 28. Each blade has base edge 38, 40, 42, 44, and a side edge 30, 32, 34, 36. The base edges 38, 40, 42, 44 providing a base 20 to engage the flesh adjacent the orifice and the side edges 30, 32, 34, 36 converging away from the base 20 toward the axis a-a. Each blade 22, 24, 26, 28 includes spikes or barbs 84 extending radially from each respective side edge 30, 32, 34, 36. Additional barbs 70, 72 extend from the base 20 along is opposing blade edges 38, 42. The barbs 70, 72, 200 are configured to engage flesh adjacent the orifice as the head 16 is pulled toward the orifice after insertion into the cavity. The body 18 is in the form of an elongate strap 48 and includes a plurality of teeth 54 forming a ratchet bar 50. As shown in Figure 16, the ratchet bar 50 needs only to 20 extend partially along the lower portion of the strap 48. The cover 14 includes a flange 80 which is configured to engage flesh adjacent the orifice. The cover 14 includes a passage 60 for receiving the strap 48. The cover 14 is movable along the strap 48 towards the head 16. The cover 14 includes a tab 62 which extends from a wall 64 of the passage 60. The tab 62 cooperates with the teeth 54 of the 25 ratchet bar 50 to allow the user to selectively position the cover 14 to abut the orifice. The cover 14 includes barbs 71, 73, 75, 77 for engaging the flesh adjacent the orifice. The cover 14 also includes four recesses 65, 66, 67, 68 for receiving corresponding blades 22, 24, 26, and 28. In the embodiment shown in Figures 22 to 27 the head 16 and body 18 of the 30 plug 10 are separate members. The body 18 includes a first end 21 to be attached to the head 16. The first end 21 having an attachment 23. The attachment 23 includes a cross shaped base 25 and four fins 27, 29, 31, 33 each fin 27, 29, 31, 33 having a side edge 35, 37, 39, 41 converging away from the base 25 toward the axis a-a. Each side edge 35, 37, 39, 41 includes a tab 43, 45, 47, 49 and a notch 51, 53, 55, 57. The attachment 23 snaps 9 into a recess (not shown) in the head 16 to form a single member. It will be understood by a person skilled in the art that other attachment methods are suitable. The body 18 includes four walls 61, 63, 65, 67 extending radially outward relative to the axis a-a. A portion of the body 18 extending away from the attachment 23 includes a plurality of teeth 54 extending between adjacent walls 61, 63, 65, 67 to form a ratchet bar 50. The cover 14 has a flange 80. Spikes or barbs 78 extend from the flange 80. The spikes or barbs 78 are configured to engage the external flesh adjacent the orifice. The base 20 of the head 16 includes spikes or barbs 69 which cooperate with the barbs 78 of the cover 14 to achieve a tight seal of the orifice, as the cover 14 is urged toward the head 16. As shown in Figure 24, the spikes or barbs 78 extend in an opposite direction to the spikes or barbs 71 extending from the head 16. As the cover 14 and head 16 are urged toward one another, the flesh adjacent the orifice is sandwiched between the base 20 of the head 16 and the cover 14. This results in opposing barbs 71, 78 collaboratively engaging both the internal and external flesh adjacent the orifice respectively thereby securing the flesh between the head 16 and the cover 14 and achieving a tight seal of the orifice. The operation of the plug of the present invention will now be described. It will be appreciated that the following applies to all of the embodiments described above. Firstly, in the case of using an embodiment with separate head and body members, the body and head will have to be attached prior to installation and use. In the case of using an embodiment with a removable disc, the disc will have to be positioned as to abut the base of the head before the head is inserted through the orifice and into the cavity. The vertex of the head is to be directed towards the orifice before insertion. In the case of using an embodiment with radially extending blades, a user can guide the head into the orifice using a finger which can be placed between two blades. Once the head (with or without the removable disc) is inside the cavity, the body is to be pulled away from the orifice until the base of the head is adjacent the internal flesh of the orifice. The cover is then positioned on the body so that it engages the external flesh adjacent the orifice, thereby sandwiching the flesh adjacent the orifice between the base of the head and the cover. The ratchet bar and tab are configured to prevent any backward movement of the cover thereby reducing the likelihood of any leakage from the orifice. The manually pulling and pushing of the head, cover and body can be achieved by use of the fingers of a user or with the aid of a tool such as a ratchet gun or the like.

10 Now that several preferred embodiments of the present invention have been described in some detail, it will be apparent to those skilled in the art that the plug may offer at least the following advantages: 1. it is simple and easy to install and apply, requiring a minimum degree of skill and dexterity; 2. it allows a certain degree of control over the location and placement of the head after insertion into the orifice; 3. it provides a tight seal of the orifice thereby avoiding post-slaughtering contamination of livestock carcass. Those skilled in the art will appreciate that the invention described herein is susceptible to variations and modifications other than those specifically described. All such variations and modifications are to be considered within the scope and spirit of the present invention the nature of which is to be determined from the foregoing description.

Claims

1. A plug to manually cover an orifice of a cavity in a livestock carcass, the plug including: a head to be inserted through the orifice and anchored within the cavity; a body having a longitudinal axis, the body fixed to and extending from the head and configured to extend outwardly from the orifice in use; the body having at least one flexible portion; and a cover member moveable along the axis and to be fixed to the body in use to substantially cover the orifice so that in use carcass flesh adjacent the orifice is secured between the head and the cover member.

2. The plug according to claim 1, wherein the head is conical shaped.

3. The plug according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the body is integral to the head.

4. The plug according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the head includes a plurality of blades extending generally radially outward relative to the axis, each blade having a base edge and a side edge, with the base edges providing a base to engage the flesh adjacent the orifice, and the side edges converging away from the base toward the axis.

5. The plug according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the head includes one or more barbs to engage the flesh adjacent the orifice to anchor the head within the cavity.

6. The plug according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the cover member includes a passage through which the body passes.

7. The plug according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the body includes a plurality of teeth.

8. The plug according to claim 7, wherein the cover member includes a tab extending from a wall of the passage configured to cooperate with the teeth to allow a user to selectively position the cover member on the body.

9. The plug according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the at least one flexible portion in use permits a user to wrap the body around his or her finger thereby gaining leverage to lift and/or hold the carcass with the plug. 12

10. The plug according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the cover member includes an annular flange.

11. The plug according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the cover member includes barbs to engage flesh adjacent the orifice. 5

12. The plug according to any claim 10 or 11, wherein the flange includes a plurality of recesses for receiving a corresponding blade extending from the head.

13. A plug for covering an orifice of a cavity in a livestock carcass substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying drawings. 2 August 2010 10 Andrew Charles Simpson Colin Plant Patent Attorneys for the Applicant/Nominated Person SPRUSON & FERGUSON