GB2494044A

GB2494044A - A device for releasing insect repellent

Info

Publication number: GB2494044A
Application number: GB1214820.1A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Richard John Cleeve
Original assignee: NATURAL ANIMAL FEEDS Ltd
Current assignee: NATURAL ANIMAL FEEDS Ltd
Priority date: 2011-08-20
Filing date: 2012-08-17
Publication date: 2013-02-27
Anticipated expiration: 2032-08-17
Also published as: GB201114411D0; GB201214820D0; GB2494044B

Abstract

A device for releasing a substance such as an insect replant to relieve and animal €™s irritation includes a tag 2 impregnated with and/or containing the substance. The tag 2 can be secured to a tail, mane, collar or tack buy use of a double thong 9, 10 joined at one end 11 to form a loop. The thong can be passed through an eye 12 at the other end of the thong to create two shorter loops for the attachment of the device to the tail, mane, collar or tack. The repellent may be citronella or diethyltoluamine.

Description

SUBSTANCE RELEASE DEVICE

The present invention relates to a substance release device.

$ It is known to impregnate an ear tag with a substance for repelling or killing insects. Similarly it is known to impregnate a wrist band with an insect repellent.

Neither of these devices are suitable for equine and such use.

The object of the present invention is to provide a substance release device adapted to be secured to tails, manes and/or tack, such as collars, bridles or harness.

According to the invention there is provided a device for releasing a substance to relieve an animal's irritation comprising: is * a tag impregnated with and/or containing the substance and adapted for its slow release by dissipation from the surface of the tag; * means at one end of the tag for securing the tag to a tail, mane, collar or tack wherein the securing means comprises a long double thong joined at its distal ends to form a loop, and an eye at the proximal end of the thong, enabling the thong to be passed through the eye and around the tag, creating two shorter 1oops, for attachment of the device to a tail, mane, collar or tack.

Whilst the tag could be of a natural material, such as leather, it will preferably * 25 be of synthetic material such as a flexible polymer. The material may be such as to absorb and retain the substance within itself as an impregnation, in which case the tag *: * : : is likely to be without any substantial void. Alternatively, the tag may be provided with a central, substance-filled void, the material of the tag being such as to allow the substance to permeate out. Preferably the void is provided with a closable opening, 0** ". : 30 which may be formed of engageable formations and may be openable or it may be * plain and sealed closed by adhesive. The opening may be provided with a bleed through which the substance may leach. In a further alternative, the tag maybe provided with a central, substance-filled void, in a substantially impermeable material. The substance leaching out through at least one of a plurality of bleeds/apertures in the tag. Typically, the apertures can be provided with frangible seals for opening by a user. Advantageously a plurality of apertures of can be provided, with the user opening one or more of the apertures, depending upon the flow rate required.

The substance may be water based, with the water being a vehicle for an active ingredient. Equally the substance may be oil based, either with the oil being a vehicle for an active substance or the oil itself being an active substance. In the to preferred embodiment, the substance is an essential oil, normally citronella. Another alternative is the use of a liquid substance that is not dissolved such as diethyltoluamide.

For plaiting into a tail or mane, the thong is preferably between 50mm and is 200mm long, and normally between 75mm and 150mm long. Also the thong is a double thong with the distal ends joined for use as a loop whereby it can have a buckled strap of the tack passed through the loop formed by the twin, joined thong. It can be fitted to a non-buckled strap by passing the thong around the strap and the tag through between the twin, distally-joined pieces of thong, thus creating two loops around the strap.

In the preferred embodiment, an eye is provide at the proximal end of the thong through which the joined distal end of the thong can be passed, with the tag * : : then being passed through the distal loop. This provides a pair of short thong loops which will not undo when the tag is removed from the strap.

S..... * .

* :* : :* To help understanding of the invention, a specific embodiment thereof will now be described by way of example and with refcrence to the accompanying drawings, in winch: ::::; o Fire us a perspective view of a substance release device of the invention.

Referring to the drawings, the substance release device I shown comprises a tag 2 and a double thong 3 moulded as a single moulding of elastomeric material.

The tag is approximately 50mm by 25mm and 6mm thick. It has upper and lower skins 4,5 between which is a void 6. The void is closed with adhesive at an opening 7.

From one skin at the opening extends the double thong 3 of 3mm square section with its two 100mm pieces 9,10 joined at their distal end 11 From the other skin extends an eye 12 of the same section.

For use, the void is filled with citronella oil and the opening closed. The material of the tag is such that the oil permeates out over a period of days, typically a week or ten days. For quicker dispensing, a hole may be pricked in the tag. The tag may be provided with potential openings with frangible seals, for ease of piercing. A plurality of these can be provided, with a user choosing how may to open to obtain thc desired level of dispensing of the substance.

The device may be plaited into a mane, via the thong. Alternatively a bridle Is strap may be passed through the loop formed by the two thong pieces. Again the pieces may be folded back on themselves with the proximal end in the loop. The double loop so formed can have a strap passed through it. If the distal end passes through the eye 12, the double loops are permanent even in the absence of a strap through them.

The invention is not intended to be restricted to the details of the above described embodiment. For instance, a pharmaceutically active substance can be introduced into the void in place of the citronella oil. * * *

* ,. . -* * S. * * ..

S *5*

S S... * S **.. ** S

S S * -

Claims

<claim-text>CLAIMS: 1. A device for releasing a substance to relieve an animal's irritation comprising: * a tag impregnated with and/or containing the substance and adapted for its slow release by dissipation from the surface of the tag; * means at one end of the tag for securing the tag to a tail, mane, collar or tack wherein the securing means comprises a long double thong joined at its distal ends to form a loop, and an eye at the proximal end of the thong, enabling the thong to be passed through the eye and around the tag, creating two shorter loops, for attachment of the device to a tail, mane, collar or tack.</claim-text> <claim-text>2. A substance release device as claimed in claim I or claim 2, wherein the thong is between 50mm and 200mm long.</claim-text> <claim-text>3. A substance release device as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein the tag is made of a natural material.is 4 A substance release device as claimed in claim 1 or claim 2, wherein the tag is made of a synthetic material.5. A substance release device as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein the tag has a central, substance-filled void.6. A substance release device as claimed in claim 5, wherein the void has a closable opening.7. A substance release device as claimed in claim 5 or 6, wherein the void has at least one bleed though which the substance can leach.8. A substance release device as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein the substance is an insecticide.9. A substance release device as claimed in any one of claims 1-7, wherein the * substance is an insect repellent.10. A substance release device as claimed in claim 9, wherein the substance is citronella 11. A substance release device as claimed in claim 9, herein the substance is ::::; 30 * 12. A substance release device substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to Figure 1 of the accompanying drawing.</claim-text>