AU726715B1

AU726715B1 - Chemical formulation applicator

Info

Publication number: AU726715B1
Application number: AU35031/99A
Authority: AU
Inventors: John Norris
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1999-06-15
Filing date: 1999-06-15
Publication date: 2000-11-16
Anticipated expiration: 2019-06-15
Also published as: WO2000076304A1; NZ516520A

Description

TITLE: CHEMICAL FORMULATION APPLICATOR THIS INVENTION relates to the application of chemical formulations such as insecticides and medicinal preparations to the skin of an animal.

In particular, but in no way limiting, it is directed to an applicator which finds especial use for the topical application of an insecticidal formulation to the skin of a sheep, goat or similar wooled or long haired animal as a preventative against blowfly strike.

Topical application of an insecticide to the skin of a sheep to control blowfly strike is a preferred method as the larvae of the blowfly first deposit on top of the wool and then progress down the wool fibre to the skin where they feed and grow on deposits on the skin. An insecticide will thus be most effective when applied directly to the skin. However, the present inventor is unaware of any applicator that can effectively deposit chemical directly onto the skin of a sheep. Known applicators do not reach the surface of the skin. Instead, the formulations (which are usually water based) are applied at high pressure in an attempt to penetrate the wool to reach the skin. This leads to wastage of the formulation from runoff from the wool fibre and thus increases the cost of effectively treating the sheep with the formulation.

It is thus a general object of the present invention to overcome, or at least ameliorate, the above-mentioned disadvantage.

According to a first aspect of the present invention, there is provided an applicator for applying a liquid formulation to the skin of an animal having wool or long hair, said applicator of the type which can be placed at or near the neck of said animal and drawn towards the rear of said animal while dispensing said rmulation, said applicator including: a body plate having an upper surface and a lower surface; a handle attached to said upper surface; a plurality of teeth depending from said lower surface, said plurality of teeth being in a configuration substantially complementary to the curvature of the junction of the neck and shoulders of said animal, each of said teeth containing a bore extending longitudinally therein; and a flow passage within said handle which is in fluid communication with each said bore of said teeth; wherein each of said teeth are adapted to part said wool or long hair as said applicator is drawn towards said rear of said animal while dispensing said formulation onto said skin from or near the trailing edge of each of said teeth.

Preferably, said body plate has a front surface of a shape substantially complementary to the curvature of the junction of the neck and shoulders of said animal.

Preferably, said body plate includes a mounting plate removably attached to said lower surface.

Preferably, said teeth are removably attached to said mounting plate.

Preferably, there are seven of said teeth.

Preferably, said applicator is manufactured from metal.

Preferably, said metal is aluminium.

According to a second aspect of the present invention, there is provided a method of applying a liquid formulation to the skin of an animal having wool or long hair, said method including dispensing said formulation onto said skin using an applicator as hereinbefore described.

Preferably, said liquid formulation is an insecticidal formulation.

Preferably, said insecticidal formulation is active against blowfly strike.

As a third aspect of the present invention, there is provided a method of at least deterring insect infestation in an animal having wool or hair, said method including treating said animal with an insecticidal formulation which has been O applied by a method as hereinbefore described.

A preferred embodiment of the present invention will now be described with reference to the accompanying drawings, wherein: FIG. I is a schematic side view of an applicator of the invention; FIG 2 is a schematic plan bottom view of the applicator of FIG. 1 with the mounting plate removed; FIG. 3 is a schematic plan bottom view of the applicator of FIGS. 1 2 with the mounting plate in position; FIG. 4 is a schematic front end view of the applicator of FIGS. 1 3; and FIG. 5 is a schematic top view of the applicator of FIGS. 1, 3 4.

In the FIGS, the applicator comprises a substantially planar body plate A shaped cutout with a rebated edge is present near the forward edge of the body plate (FIG. The forward edge is of a shape substantially complementary to the curvature of the junction of the neck and shoulders of an animal such as a sheep, goat, etc. A mounting plate shaped to fit the rebated cutout is removably affixed to the under surface of the body plate by screws (FIG. A series of teeth positioned in staggered relationship to each other, depend from the mounting plate (6) (FIGS. 1, 3 The configuration of the series of teeth is also substantially complementary to the curvature of the junction of the neck and shoulders of an animal such as a sheep, goat, etc. Each tooth has a shank (8a) and a shaped foot The leading face of each tooth is angled so that the junction of the leading edge of the front face and that of the base meet at an acute angle to form the foot The upper end of each shank (8a) is a push or screw fit through the mounting plate Each tooth has a bore (9) extending longitudinally therein, each bore being positioned near the trailing edge of the tooth A series of spacer plates each of substantially complementary shape to that of the body plate can be affixed to the body plate by spring clips Each spacer plate (10) includes a cutout (not illustrated) to enable the plate (10) to pass over the teeth The number of spacer plates (10) required will vary depending on the length of the wool or hair of the animal to be treated with formulation. A handle (12) is disposed on the upper surface of the body plate (FIGS. 4 The handle (12) comprises a hollow upper member the front (14) of which is forked, the respective arms (14a,b) passing over the relevant teeth and terminating at or near the respective edges of the body plate A curved rear member (15) extends from the rear of the upper member (13) to the body plate A bore (16) ends through the upper member (13) of the handle branches at the front (14) of the handle (12) and continues within each respective arms (14a,b). The upper end of each shank (8a) is in fluid communication with the bore (16) by any convenient means known in the art. For example, in one embodiment, the upper end of each shank (8a) and that portion of the bore (16) passing over the shank (8a) may be adapted such that the shank (8a) is a sealable push fit into the bore Alternatively, in a second embodiment, a hollow threaded spigot may extend from that section of the bore (16) which passes over the shank (8a) which can then be connected to a complementary threaded cap on the upper end of the shank A pivoting trigger (17) is positioned in the underneath surface of the upper member (13) of the handle (12) and is adapted to operate a conventional shut-off device (18) to control the passage of fluid through the bore (16).

In use, the applicator is placed on the back of a sheep near the base of its neck with the front member (14) closest to the neck. Insecticide formulation is applied under low pressure via the bore (16) in the handle (12) and thus through the bores of the teeth Drawing the applicator in the direction D (from the neck of the sheep towards its rear) (FIG. 1) causes the leading edge of each foot (8b) of tooth to part the wool as the insecticide formulation is simultaneously released. The released formulation may be deposited directly onto the skin or may adhere to the wool fibre traveling down same to be deposited onto the skin of the sheep. The number of spacer plates required is dependent on the length of the wool or hair of the animal.

Longer wool or hair will require fewer plates (10) as a greater length of shank (8a) will be required to be exposed in order to pass through the wool to place the foot (8b) onto the skin of the animal.

The present invention offers a number of advantages over the prior ,technology, including: as an insecticide formulation can be applied at relatively low pressure, there is significantly less wastage of formulation; this low pressure application of the formulation reduces the tendency for the formulation to "splash" on application to the animal and cover the operator with a potentially dangerous chemical; when the teeth are staggered, the wool exhibits less tendency to be compacted between the teeth such compaction leads to increased friction between the wool fibres and the teeth of known applicators making it more difficult to pull them rearwards through the wool; and more accurate deposition of formulation is possible thus increasing its efficacy.

It will be appreciated that the above described embodiments are only exemplification of the various aspects of the present invention and that modifications and alterations can be made thereto without departing from the inventive concept as defined in the following claims.

Claims

1. An applicator for applying a liquid formulation to the skin of an animal having wool or long hair, said applicator of the type which can be placed at or near the neck of said animal and drawn towards the rear of said animal while dispensing said formulation, said applicator including: a body plate having an upper surface and a lower surface; a handle attached to said upper surface; a plurality of teeth depending from said lower surface, said plurality of teeth being in a configuration substantially complementary to the curvature of the junction of the neck and shoulders of said animal, each of said teeth containing a bore extending longitudinally therein; and a flow passage within said handle which is in fluid communication with each said bore of said teeth; wherein each of said teeth are adapted to part said wool or long hair as said applicator is drawn towards said rear of said animal while dispensing said formulation onto said skin from or near the trailing edge of each of said teeth.

2. An applicator as defined in Claim 1, wherein said body plate has a front surface of a shape substantially complementary to the curvature of the junction of the neck and shoulders of said animal.

3. An applicator as defined in Claim 1 or Claim 2, wherein said teeth are removably attached to said lower surface.

4. An applicator as defined in any one of Claims 1 to 3, wherein there are seven of said teeth.

5. An applicator as defined in any one of Claims 1 to 4, wherein said applicator is manufactured from metal.

6. An applicator as defined in Claim 5, wherein said metal is aluminium.

7. A method of applying a liquid formulation to the skin of an animal having wool or long hair, said method including dispensing said formulation onto said skin using an applicator as defined in any one of Claims I to 6.

8. A method as defined in Claim 7, wherein said formulation is an insecticidal formulation.

9. A method as defined in Claim 8, wherein said insecticidal formulation is active against blowfly strike. 9 A method of at least deterring insect infestation in an animal having wool or hair, said method including treating said animal with an insecticidal formulation which has been applied by a method as defined in any one of Claims 7 to 9. DATED THIS 30th DAY OF August 2000 John NORRIS by his Patent Attorney Dr Kevin M Pullen