GB2174040A

GB2174040A - Animal tag

Info

Publication number: GB2174040A
Application number: GB08609745A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Jean-Paul Begouen
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1985-04-22
Filing date: 1986-04-22
Publication date: 1986-10-29
Also published as: IT8647911A0; DE3612297A1; NL8600907A; BE904639A; IT8635756V0; IT1203770B; GB8609745D0

Abstract

A releasable animal identification tag (1) is comprised of resilient material infused with a pesticidal compound. The tag bears a tab (2) provided with an aperture (3) and a slot (8) which extends from the aperture along the tab. A pin (5) is also provided having at one end an enlarged tip which passes through the animal's ear lobe (13) and then through the aperture in the tab. The tab is retained on the ear lobe by means of a retaining flange (6) at the other end of the pin which traps the ear lobe of the animal between the tab and the flange. The tag can be removed by flexing the tab around the slot (8) which allows the enlarged tip of the pin to pass through the slot allowing the tags removal. <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION Assembly including an identification tag for animals The present invention relates to an assembly including an identification tag for animal and more particularly to one which may be fixed to the ear of the animal.

There are a number of patents which describe assemblies of this kind. For instance, FR 2435197 and FR 2550915 disclose identification assemblies for cattle, which essentially comprise a tag having an aperture through it, and a pin having an enlarged tip which passes in turn through a perforation in the ear lobe of the animal and the aperture in the tag. A retaining flange is formed on the other end of the pin to retain the lobe of the ear between the flange of the pin and the tag.

Such tags are not designed to be removed from the animal's ear.

It has recently been proposed in FR 2419019, to impregnate the identification tag with a pesticidal compound. The compound slowly diffuses to the surface of the tag and then disperses, owing to movement of the animal, over the whole of its coat to protect the animal from parasites. However, once the tag is in place it begins to loose its pesticidal activity due to the pesticide diffusing away, and after about six months it becomes necessary to replace it.

Up until the present time, this replacement was performed by severing the pin and replacing the whole assembly with a new one. However, this fitting proved just as delicate and in some cases more painful for the animal than the initial one.

The present invention aims to provide an assembly which allows the tag to be replaced without having to pierce the ear of the animal again.

In particular, the present invention aims to provide a means for attaching the identification tag which allows it to be replaced without having to remove the pin from the perforation in the ear.

According to the present invention there is provided an assembly for identifying an animal comprising: an identification tag of resilient material infused with a pesticidal compound, the tag bearing a tab provided with an aperture and a slot extending from the aperture along the tab, and a pin having an enlarged tip at one end for passing through a part of the animal e.g. its ear lobe, and the aperture in the tab, and a retaining flange at its other end for retaining the pin to the animal, the resiliency of the material forming the tab together with the length of the slot allowing the enlarged tip of the pin to pass through the slot resulting in the removal of the tag from the pin.

The slot may be straight and include a second aperture near to its end furthest from the first aperture.

Alternatively, the slot may extend along the tab in a zigzag, fork or Y pattern.

The assembly may include a washer of relatively elastic material such as plasticized PVC, polyethylene or hard rubber. The washer is positioned on the pin between the animal's ear lobe and the tab and helps to facilitate the removal of the tag from the ear.

In the drawings: Figures 1 and 2 illustrate front and sectional views of an assembly according to a first embodiment of the invention; Figure 3 illustrates the assembly of Figure 1 attached to the ear of an animal; Figures 4 and 4a illustrate front and sectional views of a tag for use in assembly according to a second embodiment of the invention; and Figures 5 and 6 illustrate two additional arrangements of the slot in the tab.

Referring now to Figures 1-3, an assembly according to a first embodiment of the present invention is generally illustrated and comprises an identification tag 1 bearing a tab 2. The tag is impregnated with a pesticidal compound which is slowly released onto the coat of the animal. The tab is provided with an aperture which passes through its whole thickness and whose perimeter is surrounded by a projection in the form of a circular lip on one face of the tab. The tab includes a slot 8, 8' which also passes through the whole of its thickness and which extends along the tab and terminates at one end at the aperture 3, passing and cutting through the lip 4. In the first embodiment illustrated in Figures 1-3 the slot is in the form of a zigzag or a broken and/or forked line 8, 8'.

Several other forms of slot are also contemplated. Thus in Figure 4, the slot takes the form of a straight cut 10 provided with a second aperture 12 near its end furthest from the first aperture 3. In this case the tab is formed from a slightly thicker material 11 than the rest of the tag. Further examples of different forms of slot are shown in Figures 5 and 6 which illustrate slots in the form of a fork 8", and a Y 8"' respectively.

A pin 5 having an enlarged tip at one end is passed through a perforation in the ear lobe of the animal to be identified and then through the aperture in the tab. The other end of the pin bears a flange which retains the lobe of the ear between the flange of the pin and the tab.

The presence of the slot 8 allows the tag to be removed from the pin 5 in a manner similar to that of a button from a button-hole. This is achieved by holding the animal's ear with one hand and the pin in the other, and then twisting the tag causing the enlarged tip to pass between the opened edges of the slot. A replacement tag charged with pesticide is then forced onto the pin past the enlarged tip.

This is aided by the tip having a conical end surface, and by again twisting the tab. Thus the identification tag can be replaced by a fresh one without having to remove the pin from the animal's ear lobe.

A washer 7 of relatively rigid elastic material can be provided between the lobe and the tab to facilitate the removal of the tag from the ear.

Claims

1. An assembly for identifying an animal comprising: an identification tag of resilient material infused with a pesticidal compound, the tag bearing a tab provided with an aperture and a slot extending from the aperture along the tab, and a pin having an enlarged tip at one end for passing through a part of the animal e.g. its ear lobe and the aperture in the tab, and a retaining flange at its other end for retaining the pin to the animal, the resiliency of the material forming the tab together with the length of the slot allowing the enlarged tip of the pin to pass through the slot resulting in the removal of the tag from the pin.

2. An assembly according to claim 1 wherein the tag is in the form of an ear-pendant.

3. An assembly according to claim 1 or claim 2 wherein the aperture is surrounded by a projection in the form of a circular lip on one face of the tab.

4. An assembly which is antiparasitical and is for the identification of animals, the assembly comprising a tag of flexible and elastic matter in the-form of an ear-pendant having a tab which includes an aperture for passing through a pin for attachment to the animal, the aperture being surrounded by a protruding cylindrical portion known as the lip, wherein the tab includes a slot passing through it and opening into the aperture by passing through the said lip and extending along the tab.

5. An assembly according to any preceding claim, further comprising a washer of relatively rigid elastic material for positioning on the pin between the animal's ear lobe and the tab.

6. An assembly according to any preceding claim, wherein the slot is substantially straight and has a second aperture through it near to the end of it furthest from the orifice.

7. An assembly according to any of claims 1 to 5, wherein the slot extends along the tab in a zigzag pattern.

8. An assembly according to any of claims 1 to 5, wherein the slot extends along the tab in a fork pattern.

9. An assembly according to any of claims 1 to 5, wherein the slot extends along the tab in a Y pattern.

10. An assembly substantially as described herein with reference to any of the drawings.