MXPA00005661A - An animal ear tag - Google Patents

Abstract

An animal ear tag including coupling means (12, 14, 21) for installing the ear tag with an animal's ear, the coupling means having a stem (12) with a head portion (14) and a female opening (21) through which the head portion (14) can pass to effect a coupling action, the female opening (21) being formed as part of a separate enclosed boss component (17) of hard material which is fastened to material forming a further part (11) of the ear tag.

Description

MARBETE OF THE EAR OF AN ANIMAL BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION _ This invention relates to a tag of the ear of an animal. It is well known to provide a tag in the ear of an animal, which has a coupling arrangement which incorporates a headed stem, which is forced through the ear of an animal and through an opening in the female part of the tag, which is placed on the side of the ear opposite to that through which the stem with head is forced. A secure attachment of the tag to the animal's ear is required to ensure that this tag stays in place in the animal's ear. Therefore, the coupling must be of a type that resists decoupling, especially when the tag becomes entangled in an obstruction, such as a fence, door, etc. Likewise, it is desirable to provide an ear tag construction which is much more resistant to the tag being removed and reused to re-label animals illegally. The tag of ear, therefore, needs, as far as possible, to be proof of violations.

For years, several attempts have been made to make a tamper-proof ear tag. For this purpose, an ear tag construction of the type described and claimed in the New Zealand patent specification 213378 has previously been proposed, in which a collar is located within an enclosed spine that surrounds the opening in the female part of the collar. tag. When the tag is installed in the ear of an animal, the headed stem is forced through the opening and is located in the collar within the enclosed back. Good retention characteristics are exhibited by the tag. Likewise, access to the head becomes difficult in an effort to cause this head to be forced back out of the female opening to achieve uncoupling of the tag and thus allow the tag or one or both of the components to be illicitly reused. It has also been proposed that the retention characteristics are such that, by applying a force of retraction or traction to the stem of the tag (when it comes to pulling and separating the tag) the head will separate from the stem and remain in the collar. This will make the tag and tag components non-reusable.

COMPENDIUM OF THE INVENTION The tag described in the specification of New Zealand, No. 213378, broadly achieves its objectives. However, the object of the present invention is to provide a tag of the ear of an animal, which improves the characteristics of evidence of violations. In general, according to one aspect of the present invention, an ear tag of an animal, including a coupling element, is provided for installing the ear tag on the ear of an animal, the coupling element, which has a stem with head and a female opening, through which the head of the stem can pass, to perform a coupling action, the female opening is formed as part of a separate loin component enclosed by a hard material, this component of Loin has anchor elements, the anchor elements are located with the material forming part of the tag of the ear, to anchor the loin component in the tag part. In the preferred form of the invention, the material is resilient and the spine component includes anchoring means for anchoring the spine component in the resilient material. The anchoring means can be formed by a plurality of openings in a flange, which extends peripherally from an external surface of the spine component. ~~ The hard material can be a plastic material reinforced with fibers. According to the second broad aspect of the invention, a tag is provided from the ear of an animal, which includes a coupling element to "install the ear tag on the ear of the animal, this coupling element has a stem with head and a female opening, through which the head of the stem can pass to perform a coupling action, a back component of a hard material, this back component has anchoring means, which are located inside the flexible material, "which" forms a part of the ear tag to securely attach the spine component to the tag part, the spine component has an "internal" cavity, the female aperture provides access to the cavity, a retaining element for retaining the head in the cavity, this cavity is configured to enable only one head, at any time, to be accommodated therein.According to a third broad aspect of the invention, a tag is provided from an animal's ear, which includes an element for installing the tag of ear inside the ear of an animal, coupling elements, having a stem with head and a female opening, through which the head of the stem can pass, to perform a coupling action, a The spine component of a hard material, the spine is fixedly attached to the flexible material, which is part of the ear tag, by the spine component that has anchoring means, which are anchored in the flexible material, this spine component has a internal cavity, in which the head, after passing through the female opening, can reside, this female opening is of a decreasing area in cross-section from the external part of the spine component, as it extends towards the cavity, the The female aperture is, at least in part, formed by a plurality of projections, extending inwardly from the exterior of the spine component and forming at its distal ends the retention elements, to retain the head when it is inside the cavity.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS Figure 1 is a front view of the female component of a two-piece ear tag, embodying the present invention; "" Figure 2 is a cross-sectional view on line A-A of Figure 1; Figure 3 is an elevation view of the spine portion of the female component of the tag, as illustrated in Figures 1 and 2; Figure 4 is a cross-sectional view, taken on line B-B of Figure 3; Figure 5 is a bottom plan view of the spine, as shown in Figures 3 and 4; Figure 6 is a plan view of a first part of one embodiment of the spine portion; Figure 7 is a view similar to Figure 6, showing a second part of the spine portion; Figure 8 is a cross-sectional view on line C-C of Figure 6; Figure 9 is a cross-sectional view on line D-D of Figure 7 and Figure 10 is a cross-sectional view of the first and second parts combined, to complete the spine portion.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED MODALITIES The present invention, in a preferred embodiment, as illustrated in the drawings, is applied to an ear tag of an animal, formed of two separate components, ie, a male component 10 and a female component. 11. This male component has a stem 12 projecting from a first face thereof. The male component 10 may simply be a disc, from which the stem 12 extends, or may include a panel 13, as illustrated. The present invention may also be applied to an ear tag of a one-piece construction, which employs a stem with a head mounted in a female aperture, to achieve mounting of the tag to the ear of an animal. Stem 12, at its distal end, includes a head 14, which, in a known manner, incorporates an insert 15 of hard material. In a known manner, the pin of an application tool can be inserted through the hollow bore of the stem 12 to engage with the hard insert 15 and thus applies a driving force to the insert 15. This forces the insert 15 through the ear of the animal driving with this insert the stem. ~ "™ According to a known form of ear tags, the female component 11 preferably incorporates a panel 16, in which rhcLiquecioneET can be applied. Also, in accordance with known constructions of ear tags, the male and female components are preferably formed of a resilient material, such as polyurethane. The use of such material results in the components, 10 and 11, being flexible, thus enabling the tag to bend when an obstruction occurs. Flexibility characteristics generally result in the tag being able to bend sufficiently, so that the animal using the ear tag can release this tag away from an obstructing obstacle, rather than tear the tag from the ear of the animal. . In accordance with the present invention, the female component 11 incorporates a separate spine component 17, which is intended to receive the head 14 in a pressure-locked component and retain this head within the spine. According to the invention, the spine 17 is formed, for example, by molding and made of a rigid hard material, such as "nylon." In the most preferred form of the invention, nylon includes glass reinforcing fibers with, for example, a content of the glass fibers of about 30% .The loin component 17 is preformed and, as will be described later, is incorporated using an insert molding technique with the female component 11. The manufacture of the loin 17 can be carried out by molding in a back injection molding process around a metal core.After molding, the spine will include the metal core.However, the core will be formed of a material which will be can melt at an elevated temperature, beyond that normally experienced during the injection molding process. Therefore, when the molding is complete, the spine with the contained metal core will be transported to a melting tank, in which the metal core will be melted and separated from the spine. By way of example, the melting tank can be at a temperature of about 185 ° C. The spine component will then be transferred to a rinse tank and then to a drying facility. The spine, thus completed, will then be ready to be molded into the female component. It is anticipated that a suitable metal for this process is bismuth or a combination of bismuth and tin. The spine 17 is molded with at least one peripheral flange 18, located at or adjacent to one of its ends. In other words, the end through which the head 14 is forced. This flange 18 includes anchoring means, which, in the preferred embodiment of the invention, comprise a plurality of openings 19. The spine 17, as mentioned above, is preformed. It is then placed in a molding tool and the female component 11 is molded so that part of the spine 17 that includes the flange 18 is molded into the plastic material from which the female component 11 is molded. As a consequence of this , plastic material will flow into the openings 15, so that the anchor of the spine 17 on the tag material increases. Other anchoring means may be employed within the scope of the invention. The spine 17 incorporates an internal cavity 10, which, in the preferred form, is configured to correspond to the external configuration of the head 14 of the male component, but with a clear enough to enable the head 14 to move sufficiently inside the head. cavity to allow a correct locking action, as will be described later. The cavity 20, however, is only sufficient in volume to accommodate a single head inside the spine An opening 21 in the cavity 20 is supplied.

This opening preferably has the configuration of a truncated cone, as can be seen in Figures 2 and 4. Slots or grooves 22 are formed in the wall defining the truncated cone-shaped inlet 21, thus resulting in a plurality of inclined projections 23. In an alternative arrangement, the grooves or slits may be replaced by sections or areas weakened by the deliberate thinning of the d-ared thickness at selected positions. The slots 22 do not pass through the outside of the spine, as can be seen in Figures 4 and 5.

Although the spine 17 is formed of a rigid and hard material, and the slots are closed at one end, however, these slots 22 (or weakened sections) enable the projections 23 to bend or move as the head 14 is forced through. of the opening 21 and inside the cavity 20. However, once the head 14 is positioned in position within the cavity 20, the projections become restored to their normal state and coupled behind the back 14 a of the head "14. As shown in Figure 2, the fingers 23 are more preferably engaged within the area defined by the attachment of the back 14A and the outside surface adjacent the stem 12. The projections 23, which surround the bottom side or backrest 14A of the head 14, provide a positive coupling with the head 14, so, once the head is installed, it can not be pulled back out of the cavity 20. Therefore, the retention properties are very good and in reality any Reverse traction on the stem 12 will only tend to increase the locking effect of the projections 23 on the stem / head. Therefore, it is considered that a pulling action or retraction force applied to the stem 12, if it is sufficiently large, will result in stem fracture, thereby rendering the male component 10 unusable. However, the stem 12 may include in its length , and possibly the adjacent head 14, a notched portion to further increase the possibility of fracture. This embossing should not be such that, during normal use, the force resulting from the coupling will cause the stem to break. If the stem 12 fractures / separates, the head 14 will remain inside the cavity 20. Due to the narrow conformity of the cavity 20 with the head 14, it will not be possible for the female component 12 to be reused, since there would not be enough space in the cavity 20 to accommodate a second head. Also, the rigid nature of the spine 17 is such that this spine will not be able to buckle or deform and thus accommodate a second head in the event that an effort is made to combine an additional male component 10 with the female component. The thick wall section and the nature of the material forming the spine 17, will also prevent any force applied to the head 14, in an attempt to force it back out through the opening 21. Thus, a force applied to the head 14 from externally of the spine 17, it will not be able to be used to force the head 14 off the spine 17 in order to decouple the tag component or indeed where a head portion resides in the cavity (due to the fracture of the spine). stem) to force the head 14 out, so that another component of the male tag can be used to illegally reinstall the female component 11. The invention may be modified within the scope of the present disclosure. For example, although the retaining element for retaining the head within the spine is described herein as being formed as a part of the spine, but it may be a separate element which is combined with the spine and / or body of the female component or Form during the molding of the female component. Also, while the spine is preferably molded in one piece, the opposite end of the female opening can be left open. If the end is open, a piece of cover can be held there and fixed in place as a subsequent molding operation. ~~ An alternative embodiment of the spine is illustrated in Figures 6 to 10, wherein the spine is formed by two separate sections 25 and 26. The upper section 25 has a peripheral flange 18a and an open end 27, which provides a back 28. The lower section or base 26 includes a peripheral flange 18b and incorporates the projections 23 and the opening 21. A peripheral wall 29 engages (see Figure 10) at the open end 27 in a narrow fit with the end 30 of the wall 29 abutting the back 28. The flanges 18a coincide face to face. These flanges, 18A and 18b, include openings 19, which are of an elongated, rather than circular, shape of the first embodiment. The first 25 and second 26 parts, when combined, are located so that the openings 19 of the flanges 18a and 18b are aligned or at least overlapped. The spine parts, 25 and 26, can be injection molded into a hard grade of polyurethane (TPU). Both parts are assembled, as shown in Figure 10, before being placed inside the cavity of the female mold, before molding. The subsequent molding of the label panel material can then be performed, using the traditional TPU grades. The posterior molding will retain the spine 17 as well as fix the two spine parts, 25 and 26, together.

With the tag of the present invention, it is believed that the force required to apply the head 14 of the female component 10 through the opening 21 and inside the spine will be less in relation to the level of retention of the head when installed in the head. the loin, compared to comparable labels. The tapered downward opening 21 will provide a good guide in features for the head as it approaches the cavity and the deformity of the projections 23 will be able to occur without applying unnecessary force to the insert 15 of the head 14, which may result from another way in the separation of the insert from the head and thus lead to an incorrect application. It is also believed that the tag, during the installation procedure, will provide a clean cut through the ear of the animal. However, once the head is in the contact position of the projections behind the head, it will be ensured that this head stays in place with high retention levels. This is accomplished without the need for the backrest 14a of the head to tilt backward relative to the distal or acute end of the insert, which is a technique which has previously been used to treat and increase head retention by the female component. . The tag on the ear also allows the head and stem of the male component to rotate relative to the female component. This is achieved due to a clearing that exists between the head and the cavity of the back and between the stem and the inclined projections. It is believed that it may be possible that any deformation of the backing area 14A of the head, when a retraction or pulling force is applied to the stem (such deformation being caused by interaction with the distal or free edge of the projection 23) will increase further. well that decrease the level of retention. As the interaction between the end of the projections is directed towards the inner flange of the insert 15, it is believed that any deformation of the head will not be such as to reduce the overall cross-sectional dimension of the head and thus enable the deformed head to escape again through the opening, as defined by the distal ends of the projections 23. The spine is formed of a rigid material and will also ensure that this spine can not be deformed, or 1? radially or longitudinally, or otherwise, as the head is manipulated and / or the recess projections 7 are held, to enable the head _ to be forced from within the cavity 20. Molding the spine in one piece, supplies the advantage that there is no need for a "separate manufacturing step, after the molding of the female component, in order, for example, to apply an end cap to the spine to enclose the spine cavity. tamper-proof coupling is not dependent on the quality achieved with a separate joining or fabrication process.

Accordingly, it is believed that an ear tag of an animal, embodying the present invention, will exhibit extremely good tamper evidence characteristics and will supply components of the ear tag that have been used. in an inappropriate way, for the reuse of this tag.

Claims (23)

1. CLAIMS 1. A tag on the ear of an animal, which includes coupling elements, to install this tag on the ear of an animal, the coupling element has a stem with a head and a female opening, through which the head of the workshop can go through to perform a coupling action, the female opening is formed as part of a component, enclosed and separate, of spine, made of a hard material, this spine component has an anchoring means, this anchoring means is located within the material that forms a part of the tag of the ear, to anchor the back component to the tag part.
2. 2. An ear tag, as claimed in claim 1, in which the material of the ear tag part is a resilient material. - -
3. 3. An ear tag, as claimed in claims 1 or 2, in which the "spine" component includes an anchoring means, for anchoring this spine component with the tag part.
4. 4. An ear tag, as claimed in claim 3, in which the anchoring means comprises a flange, which extends peripherally from an external surface of the spine component.
5. 5. An ear tag, as claimed in claim 4, wherein the flange further includes a plurality of openings.
6. 6. An ear tag, as claimed in claim 1, in which the hard material is a plastic material, which incorporates a fiber reinforcement.
7. 7. An ear tag, as claimed in claim 3, wherein the spine component is formed by two intermeshing spine portions, each having a flange, which combine to form the anchoring means. ~~
8. 8. An ear tag, as claimed in claim 7, wherein each flange of the spine portions includes openings that overlap, at least in part, when the spine portions are combined.
9. 9. An ear tag, as claimed in claim 8, wherein the openings in at least one of the flanges of the spine portions are of elongated shape.
10. 10. An ear tag of an animal, which includes coupling elements, "to install the ear tag on the ear of an animal, the coupling elements have a stem with head and female openings, through which the heads of the stem can passing, to perform a coupling action, a spine component of a hard material, this spine component has anchoring means, which are located within the flexible material that forms a part of the ear tag, to join, in fixed form , the loin component to the tag part, this loin component has an internal cavity, the female opening provides access to the cavity, retaining elements to retain the head inside the cavity, this cavity is configured to enable only a head, at any time, be accommodated within it.
11. 11. An ear tag, as claimed in claim 10, wherein the female aperture is of a decreasing cross-sectional area, from the outside of the spine component, as it extends into the cavity.
12. 12. An ear tag, as claimed in claim 11, in which the lomo component includes an anchoring means, for anchoring the back component with the tag part. ~~
13. 13. An ear tag, as claimed in claim 12, in which the anchoring means comprises a flange, extending peripherally from an external surface of the spine component, this flange includes a plurality of openings.
14. 14. An ear tag, as claimed in claim 13, wherein the tag part is formed of the resilient plastic material.
15. 15. An ear tag, as claimed in claim 14, wherein the female aperture is at least partially formed by a plurality of projections, extending inward from the exterior of the spine component, and forming at its distal ends, a retaining element to retain the head, when it is clentro of the cavity.
16. 16. An ear tag, as claimed in claim 15, wherein the spine component is formed by two intermeshing spine portions, each having a flange, which combine to form the anchoring means.
17. 17. An ear tag, as claimed in claim 16, wherein each flange of the spine portions includes elongate openings, which overlap, at least in part, when the tag portions are combined.
18. 18. An ear tag of an animal, which includes a coupling element, for installing the ear tag on the ear of an animal, this coupling element has a stem with head, and a female opening, through which the head from the stem can pass, to perform a coupling action, a spine component of a hard material, the spine component is attached, in fixed form, to the flexible material, which forms a part of the tag of the ear by the spine component , which has anchoring means, which are anchored in the resilient material, this spine component has an internal cavity, in which the head, after passing through the female opening, can reside, this female opening is of an area in decreasing cross-section, from an external part of the spine component, as it extends towards the cavity, this female aperture is formed, at least in part, by a plurality of projections, extending inwards from the outside component back and form the distal ends of the retaining member to retain the head when in the cavity.
19. 19. An ear tag, as claimed in claim 18, in which at least part of the external configuration of the head and the internal configuration of the cavity are in correspondence. - -
20. 20. An ear tag, as claimed in claim 18, wherein the anchoring means comprises a flange, which extends peripherally from an external surface of the spine component.
21. 21. An ear tag, as claimed in claim 18, wherein the spine component is formed by two intermeshing spine portions, each having a flange and which combine to form the anchoring means.
22. 22. An ear tag, as claimed in claim 21, wherein each flange of the spine portions includes openings, which overlap at least when the tag portions are combined.
23. 23. An ear tag, as claimed in claim 18, wherein the spine component and the tag part are formed of polyurethane, with this spine component being formed of a harder grade of polyurethane.