AU2013100490A4 - Animal tag - Google Patents

Abstract

The present invention provides a tag 10 for use with identifying and locating an animal. The tag 10 comprises connection means 12 for connecting the tag 10 to the animal or to an existing tag. The tag 10 according to the present invention further provides location means 14 comprising one or more highly reflective surfaces 16 for use in locating an animal fitted with a tag 10 in conditions of low ambient light. The present invention is particularly directed toward use with livestock animals which are permitted to graze in unfenced areas having vehicle road passing therethrough. The tag 10 provides one or more surfaces 16 capable of reflecting a beam of light, such as the headlights of a vehicle, with minimal scattering thereby providing improved safety for the animal and a vehicle operator travelling along a road in an unfenced animal grazing area. The tag 10 may further comprise one or more surfaces 16 comprising light emitting materials. A tag 10 according to the present invention may further comprise a portion 20 having a surface or area 22 for use in providing identifying information. Thus the present invention provides a tag 10 which may be used to detect and identify a roaming animal by using location means 14 thereby improving the safety of the animal as well as the safety of road users. Figure 3

Description

AUSTRALIA PATENTS ACT 1990 COMPLETE SPECIFICATION FOR A INNOVATION PATENT (Original) APPLICATION NO: LODGED: COMPLETE SPECIFICATION LODGED: ACCEPTED: PUBLISHED: RELATED ART: NAME OF APPLICANT: Steven French ACTUAL INVENTOR: Steven French ADDRESS FOR SERVICE: LORD AND COMPANY, Patent and Trade Mark Attorneys, of PO Box 530, West Perth, Western Australia, 6872, AUSTRALIA. INVENTION TITLE: "ANIMAL TAG" DETAILS OF ASSOCIATED PROVISIONAL APPLICATION NO'S: Australian Provisional Patent Application Number 2012901477 filed on 13 April 2012 The following Statement is a full description of this invention including the best method of performing it known to me/us: 2 TITLE "ANIMAL TAG" FIELD OF THE INVENTION [0001] The present invention relates to a tag for use with animals, and is of particular use for visually locating an animal at night. BACKGROUND TO THE INVENTION [0002] It is a longstanding tradition for livestock farmers having large properties or animal grazing areas to allow the livestock to wander free between muster times, when the animals are gathered together and sorted as may be required. [0003] It is also known, in more remote regions for roads to pass through areas which are used for livestock grazing such as in central and northern Western Australia for example. A vehicle driver using such a road must be vigilant in order to spot livestock animals on or near the roads or risk a potential accident to life and property. This is particularly the case at night or when visibility is limited and there are many instances where livestock animals have been injured or killed through road accidents with trucks. It is a particular problem with trucks due to their greater size and stopping distances as compared with smaller vehicles. [0004] It is commonplace to provide a device for vehicle protection such as a bull bar for example on a car or truck in order to protect a vehicle in the event of an accidental impact with an animal. While this practice may assist to protect the vehicle it does not at all protect the animal that has wandered onto a road and into the path of an oncoming vehicle. Such known practices are directed toward minimising damage to a vehicle and possible injury to the occupants of the vehicle in the event of a collision, however vehicle protection practices do not go toward actually avoiding a collision and do not aim to protect the animal in any way.

3 [0005] The use of animal tags is known for the identification of animals, known tags may use radio frequency, barcode or text for example to provide details particular to the tagged animal. However such known tags are directed toward identifying an animal and are not useful for locating the animal. [0006] The present invention attempts to overcome at least in part the aforementioned disadvantages of previous animal tags. SUMMARY OF THE PRESENT INVENTION [0007] In accordance with one aspect of the present invention there is provided a tag, for use with an animal, the tag comprises connection means for mounting the tag in position, and location means, wherein the tag may be fixed to an animal or other tag via the connection means and the location means provides a reflective surface for reflecting any incident light and indicating a position of the animal. [0008] Preferably the tag comprises an ear tag. [0009] Preferably the reflective surface comprises a material having light reflective properties. [0010] Preferably the tag comprises a portion having a high visibility colour. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS [0011] The present invention will now be described, by way of example, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: Figure 1 is a perspective view of a tag in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention; Figure 2 is a plan view of the tag of Figure 1; and 4 Figure 3 is an exploded view of an alternative preferred embodiment of a tag according to the present invention. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT [0012] Referring to Figures 1, 2 and 3, there is shown a tag 10 comprising connection means 12 and location means 14. The tag 10 further comprises a surface 22 that is generally flat and wide and which may also be used to record or mount printed or written information. [0013] The present invention comprises location means 14 comprising a portion of material having light reflective properties and may comprise a retroreflective device or material on at least a surface 16 that is capable of reflecting light back to its source with a minimum of scattering of light. [0014] Alternative embodiments of the location means 14 may comprise a portion of phosphorescent material for example thereby providing a slow release of light during night and having a 'glow in the dark' aspect which maybe used in conjunction with, or in place, of the reflective aspect of the surface 16. [0015] It is to be understood that the surface 16 may be of any desired configuration and may comprise one or more curved and/or angled portions to assist in the reflection of light coming from various distal positions. Preferably the surface 16 is adapted to visibly reflect a light source that is shone onto the tag 10 from any one or more points about a 360 degree field. The tag 10 may comprise a plurality of surfaces 16. [0016] In a preferred embodiment as shown in Figures 1, 2 and 3 the tag 10 comprises connection means 12 arranged to join the tag 10 to another tag for example or directly to an animal, preferably but not limited to an ear or tail of an animal.

5 [0017] The connection means 12 may comprise a split, bifurcated or forked end portion arranged to receive an animal ear or other tag for example. The connection means 12 may comprise one or more holes 24 or pins 25 adapted to engage a complementary connecting portion 22. It should be understood that a connection means 12 having a single connecting point 24 may allow the tag 10 to pivot, and preferably the present invention comprises connection means 12 having two or more holes 24 and/or pins 25 providing a plurality of connecting points 24 for holding the tag 10 in an upright position in use, thereby improving visibility and the effectiveness of the location means 14. [0018] The tag 10 may further comprise a portion 20 having at least a surface or area 22, for displaying information relating to the animal such as a name, number, or barcode, for example. It should be understood the portion 20 may further provide a pocket having an opening for receiving a separate portion slip, ID chip, containing the information and which may be visually accessible or scannable as necessary. The portion 20 may be removably attached to the tag 10, in use, and may further comprise one or more connecting points 24 for engaging the connection means 12. [0019] As seen in a preferred embodiment shown in the Figures1 and 2 the location means 14 comprises a 3 dimensional diamond shaped configuration which is disposed distal to the connection means 12. The location means 14 and connection means 12 being spaced apart and connected together by an elongate portion 18. [0020] It should be understood the diamond shaped configuration of the location means 14 may be 2D or 3D providing a plurality of surfaces 16, each surface 16 being arranged to face a different direction and/or at a different angles to each other surface 16. In the 3D diamond embodiment shown in the Figures 1 and 2 there are at least 8 separate surfaces 16 with each surface 16 having a different orientation to each another surface 16. [00213 It is envisaged that the tag 10 may be fitted to livestock or domestic animals in open weather and as such the tag 10 may comprise a weather proof outer coating (not 6 shown) for extending the life of the tag 10 by preventing damage through scratches, UV degradation etc. The tag 10 may comprise a highly visible colour however it is to be understood that a primary advantageous feature of the present invention resides in the use of reflective or phosphorescent materials and/or substances for assisting to locate an animal at night. [0022] The tag 10 may be used in conjunction with existing identification tags and therefore the connection means 12 may comprise any means including an adhesive surface and be fitted at any point on an existing identification tag or directly on an animal. It is to be understood that a common position for mounting the tag 10 will be on the animal ear as this position is generally the highest point on many farmed animals such as cows, sheep, goats, camels, and horses. It is to be understood that a tag 10 may alternatively be fitted to any part of the animal such as tails, noses, flanks etc. [0023] The tag 10 of the present invention may be applied with a known ear tag applicator which may pierce the animal and install the tag 10 simultaneously. Alternatively, the connection means 12 may comprise a clamp, ring or adhesive strip which can be used to hold the tag 10 in position on the animal. Similarly, the tag 10 of the present invention may have connection means 12 arranged to connect with an existing prior art animal tag thereby avoiding unnecessary stress to an animal already fitted with a tag. [0024] Preferably the tag 10 according to the present invention may be reusable such that by removal of the tag 10 from an animal the structural integrity of the connection means 12 and the location means 14 remain intact and may subsequently be reusable on another animal. [0025] In Figure 3 there is shown an alternate embodiment of the present invention. In this embodiment the reflective surfaces 16 are detachable and may be removed for cleaning or replacing as required. Any known means for fastening the surfaces 16 to the elongate portion 18 may be used. The portion 20 has provision of an integral 7 connecting portion 20 having one or more connecting points 24 for engaging the one or more of the pins 25. [0026] In an alternative embodiment of the present invention the tag 10 may have provision of radio frequency RFID chip, barcodes or other written material used for identification purposes, as is known in the art. [0027] In use, a farmer or livestock owner may fit the tag 10 to their animals or to an existing animal identification tag. In a preferred embodiment of the present invention the tag 10 is arranged to provide corresponding animal identification data thereon via barcode, REID or written text so that the tag 10 may also be used as an identification tag. [0028] A particular advantage of the present invention relates to the improved visibility of the tag 10 at night when a light strikes a surface 16. In instances where the livestock are able to roam near or across roads the present invention is particularly advantageous as it offers an additional element of safety for persons driving at night. The tag 10 will reflect the head lights of cars, motorcycles trucks, trains etc well before a driver can visually identify the animal and thereby give the driver forewarning of a potential hazard on the road. This is particularly important where no boundary fences exist to limit the livestock from crossing a road. [0029] The tag 10 of the present invention can also be useful when mustering animals as the reflective light clearly shows the position of the animals and therefore persons tracking the animals need not only work in daylight hours and can continue at night using vehicle lights or torches to locate animals wearing the tag 10. [0030] Modifications and variations as would be apparent to a skilled addressee are deemed to be within the scope of the present invention.

Claims (5)

1. A tag 10, for use with an animal, the tag comprising connection means 12 for mounting the tag 10 in position with respect to the animal, and location means 14, wherein the location means 14 comprise one or more surfaces 16 adapted to increase a visibility of the tag 10 in conditions of low ambient light thereby assisting in a detection of the animal.

2. A tag 10 according to claim 1, wherein at least one surface 16 comprises a retroreflective material for reflecting a light source back to its origin.

3. A tag 10 according to any one of the preceding claims wherein at least one surface 16 comprises a highly light reflective material.

4. A tag 10 according to any one of the preceding claims wherein at least one surface 16 comprises a phosphorescent material for providing a slow release of light during conditions of low ambient light.

5. A tag 10 according to any one of the preceding claims wherein one or more surfaces 16 are arranged to have a curved configuration.