GB2128938A - Animal tag and stiffening rod - Google Patents

Abstract

A two-component animal tag for attachment to the ear or other part of an animal, one component. being a pin (12) for piercing and passing through the ear (14) to engage and hold the second component (10). The pin has a rigid pointed tip (40) and a rigid elongate alignment portion (54) extending axially of the tip for engagement with a rod of an insertion tool. The pin has a resilient flexible body portion including a flange (30) and hollow stem (for receiving said rod). <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION Animal tag and stiffening rod BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION The present invention relates to animal tags utilized to identify animals, particularly cattle, but also utilized to identify other domestic animals or wild life.

Animal tags are commonly utilized to identify specific animals in a herd or group in order to maintain records for breeding purposes, milk records, feeding plans, wool production, and the like. The ear of the animal has been found to be a satisfactory place to locate an identification tag although tags may be mounted elsewhere on the animal or on a chain attached around the neck of the animal.

Generally, a satisfactory ear tag should extend below the ear so that it is visible from both the front and rear, should be comparatively wide to permit large identification letters or numbers, should be readily disengageable from any object encountered by the animal, and should be sufficiently flexible so as not to be damaged or pulled off the animal by an encounter by the animal with objects such as brush, fences, trees, or the like.

In recent years, two-piece animal identification tags have become increasingly popular.

Such tags include a male portion which is passed through the ear of the animal to engage a female portion. The tag or information-carrying portion may be associated with either the male or female portion. Such tags are shown, for example, in U.S. Patents Nos.

3,260,007 and 3,731,414.

It is desirable that two-piece animal identification tags be made entirely of flexible material. Thus, various means have been devised to stiffen the pin during insertion. Such a stiffening may be accomplished by utilizing a tubular pin, through which a stiffening rod having a sharp, pointed tip is passed during insertion. An early disclosure of such a tag is found in New Zealand Patent No. 141,589. A disadvantage of such tags, however, is that the same point is used for each animal, thus risking the carrying of infection or disease from one animal to another. While this problem may be solved by the use of a pin having an integral sharp metal tip on the male portion, the use of such tips presents additional problems.

The major difficulty with an integral metal tip has been that, when the stiffening rod is not passed all the way through the male member, the tip has a tendency to tilt when an attempt is made to force it through the ear of an animal. While this tendency may be reduced by the use of some kind of engagement means on the tip and the stiffening rod, in the past such engagement means have not been entirely satisfactory. In one commercially available tag, the engagement means comprises a conical projection on the rear of the tip, which engages a conical indentation in the end of the rod. It has also been proposed to utilize a hollow tip into which the end of the rod may project.

Another difficulty with integral tips has been the relative lack of sharpness, as compared to the use of pointed stiffening rods.

Such tips have generally been of conical shape to simultaneously form and spread a hole in the animal's ear to allow the tubular pin to pass therethrough. Because of a desire to avoid danger to the user and injury to the animal, these tips have normally been relatively short, thus limiting their sharpness when a conical shape is utilized.

Accordingly, it is an object of the present invention to provide an animal tag having a flexible pin which can conveniently pierce an ear of an animal and effect locking engagement with a tag body without transmitting infection from one animal to another. It is a further object of the present invention to provide a pin with a resilient, flexible body portion and a rigid end configuration that permits the pin to cleanly pierce the ear of the animal without resulting in a long, protruding sharp point that might injure the installer or irritate the neck of the animal during use if not trimmed following installation. It is still a further object of the present invention to provide a stiffening rod which maintains alignment of a relatively rigid tip within a flexible pin body while driving the tip axially and while holding the flexible pin body.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention is directed to a novel animal tag as well as to a stiffening rod thereof.

According to one aspect of this invention, a pin for use in a two-component animal tag to be attached to an ear or the like of an animal is provided. The pin has a relatively rigid, pointed tip portion for piercing and spreading the animal's ear during insertion of the pin. A relatively rigid, elongated alignment portion extends axially from the tip of the pin for engagement with a stiffening rod so as to maintain axial alignment of the tip during insertion. A resilient, flexible body portion has a flange to retain the animal tag in the animal's ear or the like and a hollow stem portion to permit the stiffening rod to engage the alignment portion. Locking means adjacent the tip for effecting locking engagement with a second component is provided.In a preferred embodiment, the alignment portion of the pin includes an elongated, substantially cylindrical surface integral with the tip of the pin for engagement with a tubular portion of the stiffening rod.

According to a second aspect of the present invention, the tip of the pin has a compound conical configuration having a first conical part tapered to a sharp point for piercing the animal's ear or the like and a second conical part tapered less sharply to form a wedge for spreading the animal's ear or the like during insertion. Preferably, the first conical part is adapted for blunting by an applicator tool during installation to eliminate a protruding sharp point that might injure the installer or irritate the neck of the animal during use.

According to a third aspect of the present invention, a stiffening rod is provided. The stiffening rod includes a tubular end portion for engaging a rigid tip of the pin to maintain alignment of the tip, an outer surface for penetrating and frictionally engaging a hollow stem of the pin to hold the pin in place, an abutment surface for driving the rigid tip of the pin, and mounting means. In a preferred embodiment, the outer surface of the stiffening rod includes a substantially cylindrical step for engaging and frictionally holding the hollow stem of the pin.

The invention, together with further objects and attendant advantages, will be best understood by reference to the following detailed description of the preferred embodiment taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS Figure 1 is an exploded view of the pin and tag body of the animal tag of the present invention in relation to the stiffening rod and an ear of an animal during insertion; Figure 2 is an elevational view of the plierlike applicator tool, the ear of the animal, and the pin and tag body of the animal tag preceding insertion, with portions cut away; Figure 3 is an enlarged sectionai view of portions of the stiffening rod and the pin of the animal tag of Fig. 2; Figure 4 is a front elevational view of an ear of an animal following insertion of the animal tag of the present invention; and Figure 5 is an enlarged sectional view of the pin of the animal tag, portions of the ear of the animal, and portions of the tag body following insertion, taken along the line 5-5 of Fig. 4.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODI MENT With reference to the drawings, the tag body, indicated generally by the numeral 10 in Figs. 1, 2, 4 and 5, is attached by means of a pin, indicated generally by the numeral 12 in Figs. 1-5. The pin 12 penetrates an ear 14 of an animal, which may be a cow, steer, sheep, goat, pig, elk, deer, or the like. It will be understood, of course, that the animal tag of this invention may be made in various sizes so as to be appropriate for particular animals.

For smaller animals such as hogs or sheep, for example, the tag body 10 may be a small, round disc having a socket at its center for receiving the pin 12.

For installation of the tag body 10, a hole 16, as shown in Fig. 5, is made in the lower, outer portion of the ear 14 of the animal by the self-piercing action of a pointed end portion, indicated generally by the numeral 18, of the pin 1 2 through the use of an applicator tool described later. As the hole 1 6 is pierced, the pin 1 2 is inserted through a hole 20 in the upper end of the tag body 10, as shown in Figs. 2 and 5. In some applications it may be preferred to place the tag body 10 on the rear side of the ear 14, as shown in Fig. 4, so that when the animal brushes past an object, the tag body 10 will be between the ear 14 and the side of the head or neck of the animal to reduce any tendency of the tag body 10 to be snagged.

As best shown in Figs. 1 and 4, the tag body 10 is provided with a relatively wide base portion 22 and an upwardly extending neck portion 24 of considerably reduced width and connected to the base portion 22 by inclined shoulder portions 26 at each side.

The neck portion 24 has sufficient length such that identification marks placed upon the base portion 22 of the tag body 10 will be clearly visible from either the front or rear of the animal below any hair of the ear 14.

During installation, the tag is preferably positioned so that the hole 1 6 is formed inwardly from the end of the ear 14 a distance sufficient that the ear 14 will extend slightly beyond the edge of the base portion 22. Generally, the hole 1 6 should be located at a distance of about one to one-and-a-half inches from the bottom of the ear for cattle or similar large animals.

The tag body 10 is made of a resilient flexible material, such as polyurethane plastic or other nontoxic plastic or the like, which is sufficiently flexible such that the tag body 10 may be bent and twisted during use. Although many resilient, flexible materials may be used, applicants have found that a polyurethane sold under the commercial designation of Pellethane No. 21 02-90A by the Upjohn Company, Kalamazoo, Michigan, is especially well suited to this purpose. The tag body 10 may be conveniently formed by molding and may have a roughened surface, as by vapor honing of the mold cavity, to facilitate release of the tag body 10 from the mold cavity during manufacture.

As best shown in Figs. 1, 2 and 5, the pin 1 2 has a hollow, cylindrical stem portion 28 having at one end the pointed end portion 18, which has a greater overall diameter than that of the stem portion 28. At the opposite end of the pin 12, a disc-shaped flange 30 extends radially outward from the stem portion 28 to form a substantially flat button for retaining the animal tag in the animal's ear.

The stem portion 28 and the disc-shaped flange 30 of the pin 12 are, preferably, formed of a flexible material such as polyurethane or other nontoxic plastic or the like, which is sufficiently flexible to permit the pin 1 2 to flex upon being brushed against a wire fence or the like to prevent the animal tag from being torn from the ear 14 of the animal. Although other resilient, flexible materials may be used with similar results, applicants have found that the same polyurethane previously described for the female portion is particularly suitable.

The tag body 10, at the upper end of the neck portion 24, is provided with a cylindrical socket, indicated generally by the numeral 32, having the hole 20 communicating therethrough to a well portion 34. After insertion, the hole 20 grips the stem portion 28 of the pin 12, as shown in Fig. 5, to form a locking engagement with a shoulder of the pointed end portion 1 8. Preferably, the well portion 34 has an inside diameter slightly less than the outside diameter of the pointed end portion 1 8 of the pin 1 2 to provide an interference fit for gripping the end portion 1 8. In this way, the end portion 1 8 will be received within the socket 32 such that the socket 32 will prevent a fence wire or the like from catching beneath the shoulder of the pointed end portion 18. The socket 32 has a flat annular outer end 36 for a purpose to be described.

As shown in Figs. 3 and 5, the pin 1 2 includes a tip, indicated generally by the numeral 38, of a tough, relatively rigid material such as aluminum, brass or hard plastic.

Preferably, the tip 38 has a compound conical configuration, i.e., a first conical part 40 tapered to a sharp point and an adjacent second conical part 42 tapered less sharply to form a wedge-like base. Applicants have found that this particular configuration provides a sharp point for piercing the ear 14 of the animal as well as a wedge surface for spreading the hole 1 6 to facilitate insertion of the pin 1 2. This feature of the present invention permits the pin 1 2 to cleanly pierce the ear 1 4 of the animal without resulting in a long protruding sharp point that might injure the installer or irritate the neck of the animal during use if not trimmed following insertion.

Preferably, the tip 38 is formed. with a mounting flange 44 spaced from the second conical part 42 by a circumferential groove 46 of reduced diameter. The mounting flange 44 permits the tip 38 to be conveniently fixed within the flexible part of the pointed end portion 1 8 of the pin 1 2 by molding. The pointed end portion 1 8 extends outward tangent to the second conical part 42 of the tip 38 along a conical surface 48 and then extends along a cylindrical surface 50 defining a maximum diameter. The cylindrical surface 50 is reduced at its termination to form a shoulder portion 52 joining the pointed end portion 1 8 to the stem portion 28.The resiliency of the socket 32 and the pointed end portion 1 8 ensures that the cylindrical surface 50 and the shoulder portion 52 engage the well portion 34 following insertion to prevent withdrawal of the pin 1 2 from the tag body 10.

A particular feature of the tip 38 is its provision with a cylindrical alignment portion 54 extending along the axis of the stem portion 28. The stem portion 28 is formed with a tapered hole 56 decreasing to a minimum diameter greater than that of the alignment portion 54 to permit penetration of the stem portion 28 by a stiffening rod, indicated generally by the numeral 58. The tapered hole 56 communicates with the mounting flange 44 of the tip 38 to permit a flat end 60 of the stiffening rod 58 to engage an annular abutment surface 62 on the side of the mounting flange 44 to drive the pin 1 2 axially into the socket 32.

The stiffening rod 58 includes a cylindrical hole 64 along the axis thereof to form a tubular end portion for closely receiving the cylindrical alignment portion 54 of the tip 38.

In this way, the stiffening rod 58 limits bending or twisting of the stem portion 28 and prevents misalignment of the pointed end portion 1 8 with respect to the socket 32 of the tag body 10 during insertion. The cylindrical alignment portion 54 of the tip 38 terminates with a chamfer 66 to facilitate initial penetration of the cylindrical hole 64 by the cylindrical alignment portion 54.

Preferably, the stiffening rod 58 has a tapered outer surface 68 having a decreasing diameter in a direction extending toward the tubular flat end 60 so as to mate with the tapered hole 56 and stiffen the stem portion 28. It will be appreciated that, alternatively, the hole 56 of the stem portion 28 and the outer surface 68 of the stiffening rod 58 may be cylindrical. However, the preferred tapered configuration of the hole 56 and the outer surface 68 facilitates release of the pin 1 2 from a mold, strengthens the base of the stiffening rod 58, and facilitates penetration of the stem portion 28 by the stiffening rod 58.

The stiffening rod 58 has a threaded base 70, indicated in Fig. 2, and mounting flange 72, as shown in Figs. 1 and 2.

In the preferred embodiment shown, the tapered outer surface 68 of the stiffening rod 58 includes a stepped portion 59 of increased diameter for spreading the stem portion 28 upon penetration of the tapered hole 56 by the stiffening rod 58. In this way, the resiliency of the stem portion 28 frictionally holds the pin 1 2 in position on the stiffening rod 58 before insertion. The stepped portion 59 may be of cylindrical shape joined to the tapered outer surface 68 by a blended or beveled surface, as shown. A radiused surface 74 within the disc-shaped flange 30, at the base of the tapered hole 56 of the stem portion 12, facilitates penetration of the stiffening rod 58 into the pin 12.

Although the ear 14 of the animal and the socket 32 of the tag body 10 are sufficiently resilient to permit installation of the animal tag by conventional plier-type applicators, a special plier-like applicator tool, indicated generally by the numeral 76 in Fig. 2, facilitates insertion. The applicator tool 76 comprises a pair of arms 78 and 80 pivoted about a pivot rod 82 and adapted to be pushed together by a pair of handles, not shown. The arms 78 and 80 are biased apart by a torsion spring 83 and are provided with a linkage arrangement adapted to bring together the pin 1 2 and the tab body 10 in substantially perpendicular relation. Specifically, a driving pin 84 is driven linearly toward a jaw 86 by a slot 88 within a lever arm 90 rigidly extending from the arm 78.The driving pin 84 travels within a slot 92 of an extension of the jaw 86 and drives a piston 94 upon which the threaded base 70 of the stiffening rod 58 is mounted.

The jaw 86 of the applicator tool 76 includes a seat portion 96 for closely receiving the socket 32 of the tag body 10 to ensure alignment with respect to the stiffening rod 58. The seat portion 96 includes a shoulder for receiving the flat annular end portion 36 of the socket 32 to prevent axial displacement of the socket 32 during insertion of the pin 1 2. A channel 98 is provided within the seat portion 96 to blunt the tip 38 while stopping its travel and to provide clearance for the blunted tip 38 during removal of the animal tag after installation. A clip 100, pivoted about a pivot rod 102, is biased against the neck portion 24 of the tag body 10 by a torsion spring 104 to hold the tag body 10 in position upon the applicator tool 76 before and during insertion of the pin 1 2.

It will be readily apparent that closing of the arms 78 and 80 causes the stiffening rod 58 to drive the tip 38 through the ear 14 of the animal and into the socket 32 of the tag body 10. The mounting flange 44 and tapered outer surface 68 of the stiffening rod 58 ensure that the flexible portions of the pin 1 2 will be carried along with the tip 38 and that the pointed end portion 18 will effect locking engagement with the seat 34 of the socket 32. Upon release of the arms 78 and 80, the stiffening rod 58 is withdrawn from the stem portion 28 of the pin 1 2 by the torsion spring 83, leaving the tag body 10 clipped to the jaw 86 by the clip 100.The seat portion 96 of the jaw 86 has an open end 106 to permit the socket 32 of the tag body 10 to be easily removed upon release of the clip 100 after insertion of the pin 1 2.

It is to be understood that the particular shape, material, and dimensions of the pin 1 2 and the stiffening rod 58 are dependent upon the characteristics of the animal and of the desired location of the animal tag on the animal. For example, the compound cone of the tip 38 may be formed with various angles of acuteness. Generally, the advantages of this configuration are most useful when the first conical part 40 forms an enclosed angle within the range of 45 to 65 degrees and the second conical part 42 forms an enclosed angle greater than that of the first conical part 40. However, the advantages of the compound cone configuration of the present invention may be realized within a broader range.

As an illustration, not a limitation, applicants have found that a tip 38 machined of 201 1T3 aluminum and having a first conical part 40 with an included angle of 56 degrees extending .065 inches along the axis and a second conical part 42 having an included angle of 73.6 degrees extending .093 inches along the axis is suitable for use with fullgrown cattle. Such a tip 38 may have a cylindrical alignment portion 54 having a diameter of .068 inches and extending axially .100 inches. The mounting flange 44 may have a diameter of .218 inches extending axially for .030 inches spaced from the compound cone by a channel 46 having a diameter of .100 inches and extending axially for .060 inches.

Applicants have found that a stiffening rod 58 machined of 41 L40 steel, hardened and nickel-plated, and having a cylindrical hole 64 of .070 inches diameter, an outside tip diameter of .107 inches, and an outside diameter of .131 inches adjacent the bevel of the stepped portion 59 is compatible with the tip 38 just described. The stepped portion 59 of the stiffening rod 59 may have a diameter of .145 inches extending axially .125 inches so as to provide a step of .007 inches for spreading the base of the hollow stem portion 28. A corresponding stem portion 28 may have a tapered hole 57 with maximum and minimum diameters of .140 and .120 inches at the disc-shaped flange 30 and the mounting flange 44, respectively.

From the foregoing, it should be apparent that an animal tag having a flexible pin which can conveniently pierce an ear of an animal and effect locking engagement with a tag body has been disclosed. Because a fresh tip pierces the ear of each animal, there is no risk of transmitting disease or infection from one animal to another. Further, the animal tag disclosed herein provides a pin with a rigid end configuration that permits the pin to cleanly pierce the ear of the animal without resulting in any long, protruding sharp point that might injure the installer or irritate the neck of the animal during use if not trimmed following installation. As shown in Fig. 5, the blunted tip does not protrude significantly beyond the flat annular outer end of the socket.Additionally, a stiffening rod is dis closed which maintains alignment of a relatively rigid tip mounted on a flexible pin body, while drivingly engaging the tip and while stiffening and holding the flexible pin body.

Of course, it should be understood that various changes and modifications to the preferred embodiment described above will be apparent to those skilled in the art. For example, alternatively, the tag body may be associated with the pin of the animal tag and the button may be associated with a socket for receiving the pin, thus reversing the male and female elements. Similarly, the alignment portion of the tip and the mating surface of the stiffening rod may have a non-cylindrical configuration, provided they are sufficiently elongated along the axis of the pin to ensure alignment of the pointed end portion of the pin. Further, changes in the scale and angles of the components for particular applications are anticipated. Such changes and modifications can be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the present invention, and it is therefore intended that such changes and modifications be covered by the following

Claims (11)

claims. CLAIMS

1. A pin, for use in a two-component animal tag to be attached to an ear or the like of an animal, comprising: a relatively rigid pointed tip portion for piercing and spreading the animal's ear or the like during insertion of the pin; a relatively rigid, elongated alignment portion extending axially from the pointed tip portion for engagement with a stiffening rod so as to maintain axial alignment of the pointed tip portion with respect to the stiffening rod during insertion of the pin; locking means adjacent the pointed end portion for effecting locking engagement of the pin with a second component of the animal tag following insertion of the pin; and a resilient, flexible body portion having a flange portion, for retaining the animal tag in the animal's ear or the like, and a hollow stem portion, for penetrating the animal's ear or the like, joining the flange portion to the pointed end portion such that the stiffening rod may pass through the body portion and engage the alignment portion during insertion of the pin.

2. The pin of claim 1 wherein the alignment portion of the pin includes an elongated, substantially cylindrical surface integral with the pointed tip portion for engagement within a tubular portion of the stiffening rod to ensure alignment.

3. The pin of claim 2 wherein the rigid pointed tip portion and the alignment portion of the pin are separated by an integral relatively rigid flange about which the flexible body portion is formed to effect connection between the flexible body portion and the rigid pointed tip portion, the rigid flange being adapted for abutment with the stiffening rod to drive the pin axially during insertion.

4. A pin, for use in a two-component animal tag to be attached to an ear or the like of an animal, comprising: a relatively rigid, pointed tip portion having a compound cone with a first conical part tapered to a sharp point for piercing the animal's ear or the like and a second conical part, adjacent the first conical part, tapered less sharply to form a wedge for spreading the animal's ear or the like during insertion of the pin; alignment means for maintaining alignment of the pointed tip portion with respect to the tag body during insertion of the pin; locking means upon the pointed tip portion for effecting locking engagement of the pin with a second component of the animal tag following insertion of the pin; and a flexible body portion having a flange portion, for retaining the animal tag in the animal's ear or the like, and a hollow stem portion, for penetrating the animal's ear or the like, joining the flange portion to the pointed tip portion such that a stiffening rod may pass through the body portion and engage the alignment means during insertion of the pin.

5. The pin of claim 4 wherein the first conical part forms an enclosed angle in the range of 45 degrees to 65 degrees and the second conical part forms an enclosed angle greater than that of the first conical part.

6. The pin of claim 1 or claim 4 further comprising a flexible tag body for extending away from the animal's ear or the like so as to be readily visible.

7. The pin of claim 1 or claim 4 wherein the pointed tip portion is adapted for blunting by an applicator tool during installation of the animal tag upon the animal's ear or the like.

8. A two-component animal tag comprising a flexible tag body for attachment to an ear or the like of an animal and a pin adapted to penetrate the animal's ear or the like and to lockingly engage the tag body, the pin including: a relatively rigid pointed tip portion for piercing and spreading the animal's ear or the like during insertion of the pin; a relatively rigid, elongated alignment portion extending axially from the pointed tip portion for engagement with a stiffening rod so as to maintain axial alignment of the pointed tip portion with respect to the stiffening rod during insertion of the pin; locking means adjacent the pointed tip portion for effecting locking engagement of the pin with the tag body; and a flexible body portion having a flange portion, for retaining the animal tag in the animal's ear or the like, and a hollow stem portion, for penetrating the animal's ear or the like, joining the flange portion to the pointed tip portion such that the stiffening rod may pass through the body portion and engage the alignment portion during insertion of the pin.

9. A stiffening rod for use with a twocomponent animal tag for attachment to an ear or the like of an animal, the animal tag having a pin adapted to penetrate the animal's ear or the like and lockingly engage a second component, the pin having a relatively flexible hollow stem portion and a relatively rigid tip, the stiffening rod comprising:: a tubular end portion for engaging a mating substantially cylindrical surface of the rigid tip to maintain alignment of the rigid tip during insertion of the pin through the animal's ear or the like and into the second component; an outer surface extending axially from the tubular end portion for penetrating and frictionally engaging the hollow stem portion of the pin to hold the pin in place prior to insertion and to maintain alignment of the hollow stem portion during insertion; an abutment surface upon the tubular end portion for driving the rigid tip along the axis of the stiffening rod during insertion of the pin; and mounting means for mounting the stiffening rod for substantially linear movement along the axis of the stiffening rod.

10. The stiffening rod of claim 9 wherein the outer surface includes a tapered surface of increasing cross-section in a direction from the tubular end portion toward the mounting means for cooperating with a tapered hole of the hollow stem portion of the pin.

11. The stiffening rod of claim 9 wherein the outer surface includes a substantially cylindrical step portion of increased crosssection for spreading the hollow stem portion of the pin.