GB2209711A

GB2209711A - Locking clamp

Info

Publication number: GB2209711A
Application number: GB8821177A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Jan Hendrik Popken
Original assignee: POPKEN METAAL BV
Current assignee: POPKEN METAAL BV
Priority date: 1987-09-10
Filing date: 1988-09-09
Publication date: 1989-05-24
Anticipated expiration: 2008-09-09
Also published as: GB2209711B; GB8821177D0; NL8702161A

Abstract

A locking clamp for use as an ear mark for cattle and as a poster-stamp for sealing of objects consists of a metallic, flexible U-clamp (1), of which the end of one of the legs at the inner side carries a locking pin (4), extending square inwards, and the end of the other leg has a catch into which the pin can be inserted and blocked, which catch is protected at the outer side of the U-clamp by a housing (8). The construction is such that the locking pin and the protective housing are formed integrally with the clamp. <IMAGE>

Description

Locking clamp The invention relates to a locking clamp, to be used as an earmark for cattle etc., and as poster-stamp for sealing of objects, consisting of a metallic; flexible U-clamp, of which the end of one of the legs at the inner side carries a locking pin, extending substantially square inwards, and the end of the other leg has a catch into which a pin can be inserted and blocked, which catch is protected at the outer side of the U-clamp.

Such locking clamps are known and are applied in particular as earmarks for pigs, cattle etc. In such an embodiment the locking pin is provided with a sharp point, which is pushed through the ear of the animal to be marked by means of a pair of pliers, and is blocked in the catch positioned at the other side of a locking ensures that the earmark can no longer be released without damaging it. An earmark of this type is known a.o. from Dutch Patent Application No. 8303778. In this known embodiment a solid metallic, pointed pin is welded as locking pin at the inner side of the one end of the U-clamp, while the end of the other leg of the U-clamp is transformed to a snap-in catch for the pin, which shows a recess behind its point to this end.The required outer protection of the snap-locking is obtained by a separate covering part, that is slid over the leg of the U-clamp comprising the locking, and is fixed.

A locking clamp made that way shows a number of disadvantages. Thus, it is rather vuTnerable- as a consequence of the welded connection between the pin and the clamp, which is difficult to control, which may result in that at an unintended moment such an earmark might get loose by breaking off the pin. Moreover it has appeared in practice that the loose part with the numbering may get lost or may be damaged.

Another disadvantage is that the locking takes place by an upward movement of the locking lips.

A further disadvantage is that the manufacture of such a locking clamp is rather laborious, for one thing because the pin should be properly welded in place, on the other hand by mounting of the protection strip- - number plate.

It is now an object of the invention to provide such a type of locking clamp, wherein the disadvantages mentioned do not occur.

To that end the invention provides a locking clamp as described in the introduction, characterized in that the one leg of the U-clamp does or does not narrow down towards the end and this end is deflected square and is formed as a locking pin, and that the end of the other leg of the U-clamp protrudes outwardly and is shaped to a protected receiving place for the locking.

As both the locking pin as well as the protection of the locking are integrally formed at the clamp itself, the manufacture of such locking clamp is substantially simplified, and it Can be manufactured in an inexpensive manner. By the integral manufacturing of the pin at the one leg of the U-clamp the vulnerable welding spot is further omitted, while also, as a consequence of the fact that the protection of the locking forms part of the U-clamp itself, the chance of meddling with the locking clamp by third parties is excluded.

The locking clamp according to the invention can efficiently be manufactured in such a way that the Uclamp shows inwardly reversed side-edges. These reversed side-edges assist on the one hand in providing a suitable shape to the locking pin, while on the other hand they can provide a support position for a catch of this pin.

An efficient practical embodiment of the locking clamp according to the invention is such that the locking pin is carried out as a round, hollow tube, the free end of which shows an end edge reversed outwardly, which is covered by a pointed cone, which rests with the circumference of its base plane on this end edge, and is provided at its base plane with a short, round shaft, which is fittingly inserted into the opening of the tube of the pin, and that the locking consists of a locking plate, provided with a snap-opening with resiliently sideways deflectable edges, through which the locking pin with cone may be pushed and lockedbehind the reversed end edge.

Such an embodiment is especially suitable as an earmark for pigs, cattle, etc., whereby the pointed cone occupies the position of the point of the solid pin in the known ear mark configurations. This point cone constitutes thereby on the one hand the means to pierce the ear of the animal to be marked, and on the other hand a centering mechanism for the snap-opening of the locking. For the actual locking this point cone does not play a part, as this takes place over the reversed end edge of the hollow tube. In this embodiment the locking plate can efficiently be clamped as a loose part between the reversed side edges of the U-clamp. Further the snap-opening of the locking plate can efficiently be a round opening with a diameter smaller than that of the pin with cone, and with a slightly upright edge, provided with radial incisions, regularly distributed over the circumference.When the pin with pointed cone is passes through it, the edge segments of the opening will yield sideways, and will grasp behind the reversed end edge of the tube-like pin, which is kept securely locked in this position, while the presence of the shaft of the pointed cone will maintain this mounting solidly.

Thereby the embodiment may be efficiently such that the locking plate is a doubled plate with, in the lower part, a passage opening for the pin with cone, and in the upper part, the snap-opening, located in line therewith.

Instead of using a separate locking plate, it may also be assured, for example by an additional turnover, that the locking forms an integrated entity with the Uclamp.

Further the U-legs may efficiently be reinforced during the manufacture of the clamp by applying stiffening ribs.

The invention will now be elucidated in detail by means of an example with reference to the drawing. In the drawing: Fig. 1 shows in a side-view in cross-section an efficient embodiment of a locking clamp according to the invention, intended for use as an ear mark, Fig. 2 shows the embodiment of Fig. 1 in top view in cross-section, and Fig. 3 shows in cross-section the essential parts of the locking mechanism.

A locking clamp made as an ear mark according to the invention is shown in Fig. 1 in a closed, i.e.

locked position. The locking clamp consists of a Ushaped curved metal strip 1, for-example of stainless steel or aluminium, with inwardly reversed side edges 2. In addition, stiffening ribs 3 are applted at the upper and lower legs of the oU-piece in order to prevent undesired bending taking place in the central section of the U-legs.

The lower U-leg extends narrowing down and is bent square to a hollow pin 4, whereby efficient use is made of the reversed edges 2 for forming this hollow pin. The end edge 5 of the hollow pin is outwardly reversed and forms the ultimate locking location of the pin. A pointed cone 6 is mounted on the hollow pin 4, being provided at its base with a shaft 7, which is inserted into the hollow pin 4. The pointed cone thereby rests with the edge of its base plane on the reversed end edge 5 of the hollow pin 4.

The upper U-leg of the U-clamp 1 is provided with a protrusion 8 at the end, that forms a protective housing for a locking plate 9, clamped between the reversed edges 2 of the U-clamp 1. This locking plate 9 is a double bent piece of plate, the lower part of which has a passage opening 10, through which the point of the cone with pin may be passed, and in the upper part thereof a snap-opening 11, through which the pointed cone and the upper edge of the hollow pin may be snapped. This snap-opening 11 shows a slightly upright edge 12 (Fig.3), having radial incisions 13 regularly dtstributed over the circumference.

In-the unlocked, open position, the hollow pin with cone point positioned thereon, are outside the locking plate 9, in which position the clamp can be slid over an ear of an animal to be marked, whereafter the sharp cone point is pushed through the ear and subsequently the pin and cone point pass through the locking plate and the pin is locked, in that the reversed end edge 5 thereof will lock behind the snap edge 12 of the snap-opening 11. In this locked position the locking clamp is securely locked and cannot be unlocked without damage. The protrusion 8, efficiently covering the locking and being an integral part of the clamp itself, ensures that an unauthorized person cannot get access to the locking in any way. On the other hand the mounting is reliable and will not break, and there are no actual weak spots.The shaft 7 of the point cone 6 ensures that the hollow pin cannot be deformed, so that the locking will remain tight. On the other hand the pin does not show a weak spot at its bottom side, as with a welded point, so that the clamp, once fitted and locked, can no longer be released, unless by destruction thereof.

A clamp thus performed is relatively simple to make, which is highly cost saving, and will provide an efficient and absolutely safe locking. As~ materials tor the clamp there may be used aluminium plate and stainless steel plate, and possibly plastic, also for the locking plate. For the pointed cone any suitable material may be used, having adequate hardness. If this pointed cone is made of hard plastic, this will once more provide savings in costs.

Though the invention has been illustrated in the above by means of an example, it will be obvious that variations and modifications will be possible. Thus for example the pin, made integral with the clamp, may itself be provided with one sharp point and with a locking recess, and the locking plate may be made integral with the remainder of the clamp. These and other variations are all considered to fall within the scope of the invention.

Claims

Claims:

1. A locking clamp for use as an ear mark for cattle etc. and as - a poster-stamp for sealing of objects, consisting of a metallic, flexible U-clamp, of which the end of one of the legs at the inner side carries a locking pin, extending substantially square inwards, and the end of the other leg has a catch, into which the pin can be inserted and blocked, which catch is protected at the outer side of the U-clamp protrudes outwardly and is shaped to a protected location for receiving the locking.

2. A locking clamp according to claim 1, characterized in that the locking clamp has inwardly reversed side edges.

3. A locking clamp according to claim 2, characterized in that the locking pin is made as a round, hollow tube, of which the free end shows an outwardly reversed end edge, covered by a pointed cone, resting with the circumference of its base plane on the end edge, and having a short, round shaft at its base plane, fittingly inserted into the tube opening of the pin, and that the locking consists of a locking plate, provided with a snap-opening with resiliently sideways deflectable edges, through which the locking pin with cone can be pushed and be locked behind the reversed end edge.

4. A locking clamp according to claim 3, characterized in that the locking plate is clamped between the reversed side edges of the U-clamp.

5. A locking clamp according to claim 3 or 4, characterized in that the snap-opening of the locking plate is a round opening with a diameter smaller than that of the pin with cone, and with a slightly upright edge, having radial incisions regularly distributed over the circumference.

6. A locking clamp according to claim 5, characterized in that locking plate is a double folded plate with, in the lower part, a passage opening for the pin with cone, and in the upper part, the snapopening positioned in line therewith.

7. A locking clamp according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the locking forms an integrated entity with the U-clamp.

8. A locking clamp according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that a number is applied on both legs.

9. ~ A locking clamp according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that one or both legs can be made electronically readable.

10. A locking clamp according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that one or both legs can be made electronically readable.

11. A locking clamp substantially as herein described with reference to the accompanying drawings.