NZ617484B2 - Animal identification tag - Google Patents

Abstract

animal identification ear tag (1) is disclosed. The ear tag includes a male pin (2) having a first end and a second end (17) configured to penetrate an animal's ear having a locking shoulder (26) adjacent the second end. The male pin (2) contains an electronic RFID tag component suspended in a cushioning material such as a gel, grease or foam. The first end of the pin is either formed integrally with or configured to be coupled to a single piece moulded panel (3). The panel (3) includes a female portion (5) with an opening (6) to receive the second end (17) of the male pin including the locking shoulder (26) and a panel body (4) extending from the first portion to the female portion (5). The opening (6) includes a plurality of locking projections extending inwardly. cushioning material such as a gel, grease or foam. The first end of the pin is either formed integrally with or configured to be coupled to a single piece moulded panel (3). The panel (3) includes a female portion (5) with an opening (6) to receive the second end (17) of the male pin including the locking shoulder (26) and a panel body (4) extending from the first portion to the female portion (5). The opening (6) includes a plurality of locking projections extending inwardly.

Description

Our Ref: ALF1114NZ Patents Form No. 5 PATENTS ACT 1953 COMPLETE SPECIFICATION Divisional ation out of New d Patent Application No. 610043 Complete Filing Date: 30 April 2013 Provisional Filing Date: 17 May 2012 ANIMAL IDENTIFICATION TAG We, Allflex Europe SAS, a French company of Route des Eaux, ZI de Plague, 35500, Vitre, France, do hereby declare the invention for which we pray that a patent may be granted to us, and the method by which it is to be performed, to be particularly described in and by the following statement: ANIMAL IDENTIFICATION TAG FIELD OF THE ION The invention relates to animal identification tags.

BACKGROUND TO THE INVENTION Ear tags are used for identification of animals. Existing ear tags are y formed 1O of plastic and include an identifier such as a number, e or electronic ID device. Tags include male components with a punch that is forced through the animal’s ear by an applicator tool. The tool brings the male punch into alignment with an opening in a female component. The male punch looks into place in the female ent, such that the tag is securely d to the animal’s ear.

Known ear tags include the Applicant’s “Flexitag” range, which includes a male pin and a single piece panel extending from a first end of the male pin. The other end of the panel includes an opening that receives the other end of the male pin to form a closed loop after application. This is a simple and cost-effective tag. The tag does not include any electronic component. The Applicant has devised further improvements in construction of the tag attachment ism and provision of electronic identification capability.

W091/10982 and W095l04455 disclose tags including a similar male pin and single panel configuration, forming a closed loop after application. In each case an electronic tag component may be located within the male pin. The structure of the male pin and the female opening is complex and ive to manufacture. Further, the tag structure does not adequately protect the electronic components from damage.

It would be desirable to provide an improved animal ear tag or at least to provide the public with a useful choice.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION In a first aspect the invention provides an animal identification ear tag including: a male pin having a first end, a second end configured to penetrate an animal’s ear, a locking shoulder positioned adjacent the second end; a cavity in the male pin; an electronic tag component within the cavity, the cavity containing a al, and the material configured to cushion the electronic tag component to se impact or shock damage; and a single piece moulded panel including: a first portion formed ally with the male pin or configured to couple to the first end of the male pin; a female portion ing an opening configured to receive the second end of the male pin including the locking shoulder; and a panel body extending from the first portion to the female portion.

Preferably the electronic tag component is suspended within the material.

Preferably the material is a viscous substance.

Alternatively the material is foam or foam like material.

In a still further alternative the material is a substance which allows some movement of the electronic tag ent. ably the electronic tag component is an RFID tag component. ably the electronic tag component is an encapsulated tag component.

Alternatively the electronic tag component is an unencapsulated tag ent.

Preferably the material is a gel.

Preferably the electronic tag component es an elongate antenna that resides at least partly within the first portion of the moulded panel.

Preferably the electronic tag component is substantially smaller than the cavity.

Preferably the material is a gel, fluid, grease or foam filling a space n the electronic tag component and the wall of the cavity.

Alternatively the electronic tag component may be contained within a capsule received in the cavity. ably the material is a gel, fluid, grease or foam filling a space between the electronic tag component and the internal wall of the e.

Preferably the ear tag is configured to form a closed loop after application to an animal’s ear.

Preferably the ear tag includes a plug or cap formed as part of the male pin or the single piece moulded panel.

Preferably a plug or cap seals the cavity to substantially prevent ingress of moisture or other contaminants.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS The invention will now be described by way of example only, with nce to the accompanying drawings. in which: Figure 1 is a first perspective view of a tag according to one embodiment; Figure 2 is a second perspective view of the tag of Figure 1; Figure 2A shows the female component of the tag of Figure 1 in r detail; Figure 3 is a side view of the tag of Figure 1; ‘10 Figure 4 is a front view of the tag of Figure 1; Figure 5 is a cross-section along the line 5'—5’ shown in Figure 4; Figure 6 shows the tag of Figure 1 after application; Figure 6A is a cross-section along the line 6A—6A shown in Figure 6; Figure 7 is a cross-section through a tag according to a second embodiment; Figure 8 is a cross-section through the tag of Figure 7, after application; Figure 9 is a cross-section through a male pin according to a further embodiment; Figure 10 is a first perspective view of a tag according to a further embodiment; Figure 11 is a second perspective view of the tag of Figure 10; Figure 12 is a perspective view of the male pin of the tag of Figure 10; Figure 13 is a second perspective view of the male pin of the tag of Figure 10; Figure 14 is a side view of the male pin of the tag of Figure 10; Figure 15 is a second side view of the male pin of the tag of Figure 10; and Figure 16 is a cross-section through a tag according to a further ment.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION Figures 1 and 2 show an animal fication tag 1. The tag 1 includes a male pin or punch 2 and a panel 3. The panel 3 is formed as a single moulded piece. The panel 3 es a panel portion 4 and a female portion 5, which includes an opening 6.

The panel 3 also includes a number of recesses 8, which provide a local weakening, helping the panel 3 to bend during application, as will become apparent below.

Similarly the recess 9 may help bending of the tag near the male pin 2, assisting in ation of the tag using an applicator, such as the Flexitag applicators available from Al lflex.

As shown in Figures 1 and 2, and in further detail in Figure 2A, the opening 6 is surrounded by a locking flange 10 formed by a number of fingers or projections 11, which project inwards at an angle towards the centre of the opening 6. The fingers 11 therefore form a generally conical arrangement or flange 10, with slots or spaces 12 between the fingers 11. The locking flange and its fingers are also formed integrally as part of the panel 3, in a single moulded piece. In the embodiment shown there are five fingers 11, but any suitable number of s may be used.

Preferably between 3 and 8 fingers are used.

The male pin 2 has a shaft 15, a base portion 16 (See Figure 5) and a distal tip portion 17. The base n 16 is shaped to couple with an opening in the panel 3, ably by a push-fit although other ngs may be used. As shown in Figure , the base portion 16 includes a base flange 18, and a locking projection 19 defining a groove 20 running around the circumference of the male pin 2. A lip 21 on the panel 3 locks into this groove 20 when the male pin is fully inserted into the panel 3.

The male pin 2 and the panel 3 may therefore be formed as separate components before assembly into the complete tag 1. However, the invention encompasses tags formed by overmoulding or integral forming of the male pin 2 and panel 3.

As shown in Figure 5, the first portion 23 of the panel 3, Le. that portion surrounding the base of the male pin 2, may be formed as a thicker region than the main part of the panel 3. This r region provides improved rigidity at the mounting of the male pin 2 to the panel 3, and may provide improved rigidity to that part of the male pin that resides within the thickness of the panel 3. This sed rigidity improves the performance of the tag, in particular the application of the tag using a plier or automatic applicator. In some embodiments this region may be 5 to 10mm in thickness, ably around 6-8mm in thickness. In contrast. the thinner sections of the panel 3 may be around 1 to 3 mm, preferably 1 to 2 mm, y around 1.25 to 1.45 mm thick.

The distal or tip portion 17 of the male punch may be formed with a sharp tip with a number of sharp ridges 24 (see Figure 1) in order better to penetrate the tissue of an animal’s ear during application.

The tip portion 17 has a lly conical section 25 leading to a locking shoulder 1O 26. The locking shoulder 26 cooperates with the locking flange 10 on application of the tag 1 to an animal. An ator receives the tag 1 in a generally U—shape and drives the male pin through the animal’s ear. The conical section 25 passes through the ’s ear and then into the opening 6, forcing the locking fingers 11 to bend slightly, allowing the locking shoulder 26 to pass beyond the locking fingers 11. The locking fingers then return to their natural position, snapping inwards and acting against the locking shoulder 26 as shown in Figure 6. The male pin cannot be retracted from the g because of the locking of the male pin 2 into the opening 6. The tag then forms the closed U—shape as shown in Figure 6.

Figure 5 also shows the position of an electronic tag component 30. The electronic component 30 sits in a blind bore 31 (i.e. a bore open at only one end) formed in the male pin 2. The blind bore may be open at the base of the male pin 2, and may be sealed after insertion of the onic tag component using any suitable sealant or plug. The onic component 30 may be of any desired construction and may or may not be encapsulated in glass or other suitable encapsulation material. In one embodiment the electronic component may include an ID element 32 with an elongate antenna 33 ting of a conductive wire wound around a core (e.g. copper wire wound around a ferrite core). The electronic tag component may be an HDX (half-duplex) RFID (Radiofrequency identification) tag, but other types of electronic tag component may be used.

Figure 6 shows the ear tag in a closed configuration. During application, the male pin 2 penetrates the ’s ear before entering the female portion of the panel 3, the tag g a closed loop after application. Figure 6A is a cross-section along the line 6A—6A in Figure 6. Figure 6A shows the locking projections of the l flange 10 acting against the locking shoulder 26 to lock the male and female components together.

Figure 7 shows a further embodiment, in which the first portion 23 of the panel is formed with still greater thickness. In this tag the male pin has the same length from the opening of the blind bore 31 to the tip. However, the distance from the tip to the plane of the panel 3 is less than in the tag of Figures 1 to 6A. This alters the position of the electronic tag component with respect to the panel 3. The first portion 23 is significantly thickened on both sides of the panel 3. This provides r support to the male pin 2. Furthermore, a larger section of the antenna portion of the electronic tag component resides within the thickness of the first portion 23.

Figure 8 shows the ear tag of Figure 7 in a closed uration.

Figure 9 shows a further embodiment of male pin 2, which may be used with a panel 3 such as those described above. In this embodiment a frustoconical section 35 extends from the base end of the male pin to a point part way along the male pin 2.

This frustoconical section may be formed integrally in a single moulding with the male pin 2 and provides ed rigidity, particularly in the region of the electronic tag component antenna, which resides at least partly within the frustoconical section.

In any embodiment sed herein, the panel 3 may be made from polyamide or any other le plastic material with some flexibility but sufficient rigidity to form the locking projections 11. The male pin 2 may be made from a hard plastic material in order to pierce the animal's ear and protect the electronic tag component.

The arrangement of the locking projections 11 provides a strong. rigid g mechanism. However, this arrangement also requires more force to be applied in order to engage the male and female components during application of the tag than is the case for tags with a simple resilient female opening. These greater forces may create undesirable bending of the male component during application, which may lead to damage to the male pin, or to the electronic tag component housed within the male pin. Electronic tag components employing ferrite cores have somewhat fragile antenna sections, particularly when unencapsulated, and such g of the male pin may damage the antenna, leaving the tag useless. In order to address this m, the rigidity of the male pin may be improved, or the male pin may be ted, e.g. as described above. sing the overall diameter of the male pin is generally undesirable. However, the frustoconical n 35 (see Figure 9) and/or supporting thickness in the region 23 (see Figure 5) may be used to improve rigidity in the male tag, particularly the base section of the male pin where the antenna portion of the electronic tag ent resides.

Figures 10 to 15 illustrate a further embodiment of tag 1. In this embodiment the male pin 2 has an asymmetric cross-section, as will be described below. The electronic tag component may be contained within the hollow male pin, as described above. The panel 3 and other features of the tag are othenlvise as described above.

The asymmetric cross-section can be seen in Figures 10 to 13, but is most nt by ison of the two side views in Figures 14 and 15. The width W of the male pin 2 in the view of Figure 15 is greater than the width W’ in Figure 14. In this embodiment the cross-section is preferably generally elliptical or oval.

As shown in Figure 10, the male pin is preferably arranged in the panel 3 such that the longer axis of its cross-section is parallel to the length of the panel 3, or more generally the long axis of the oval is substantially parallel to a line from the male pin to the female n of the panel. This can be achieved reliably by forming the base of the male pin and the cooperating opening and portion 21 of the panel 3 with cooperating asymmetric ions to position the male pin correctly. This positioning means that the longer axis is positioned to resist the bending forces created during application of the tag. Less th is required perpendicular to that axis, as the lateral bending forces are less.

Figures 16 shows a further embodiment of the invention. This ment is similar to that of Figures 7 and 8, except for the following points.

In Figure 16, the electronic tag component 30 is positioned within a blind bore 31. In this embodiment the electronic tag component 30 has a size that is significantly smaller than the bore 31. This results in a space 31’ surrounding the electronic tag component 30. This can be contrasted with Figure 7, where the electronic tag component fits relatively closely within the bore.

The electronic tag ent 30 may simply float within an air space 31' within the bore 31. However, in preferred embodiments the space 31’ may be filled with a fluid, viscous nce (such as a grease or gel), a foam material or the like. Preferably the substance allows some movement of the electronic tag component 30.

Optionally the space 31' may be sealed by a plug or cap 38. The plug or cap 38 may be secured to the male pin by any suitable attachment means, including but not restricted to; laser welding, hot melt welding, gluing or by some other mechanical means. The plug or cap may be a plastic component that may be formed separately or optionally may be formed as part of the male pin or panel ng, Alternatively, the plug or cap may be a resin or similar cap formed in situ.

The plug or cap closes the bore 31. Further, the plug or cap 31 may seal the bore to prevent ingress of moisture or other contaminants.

This arrangement provides some m of movement of the electronic tag component and helps to cushion the electronic tag component after application of the tag. This will help to prevent damage to the onic tag component caused by impact or shock stresses. Further, this arrangement limits the bending forces applied to the onic tag component during application of the tag, because the male pin must bend through a greater angle in order to transmit that g force to the electronic tag component.

In conventional tags, the RFID transponder is generally encapsulated in glass or a similar material. Inside this is a resin that holds the transponder in a fixed position.

The encapsulated transponder is a single, rigid ent.

In a r alternative, the electronic tag component may be loosely enclosed in a capsule (formed from e.g. plastic, glass or the like), which may be filled with a fluid, viscous nce (such as a grease or gel), a foam material or the like. In this embodiment the capsule forms a close fit to the bore 31 (as in e.g. Figure 7), but the electronic tag component has some freedom of movement within the e. This provides similar benefits to those of the embodiment of Figure 16.

Either of these arrangements of the electronic tag component within the male pin may be used with any of the other embodiments described herein.

In any of the embodiments described above, except the asymmetric pin embodiment of Figures 10-15, the panel may be free to rotate with t to the male pin. This may help to prevent damage to the tag or the animal's ear, for example if the panel catches on a branch or the like.

The Applicant’s tag may be particularly suited to identification of sheep, but may also be used for fication of other animals.

While the present invention has been illustrated by the description of the embodiments thereof, and while the embodiments have been described in detail, it is not the intention of the Applicant to restrict or in any way limit the scope of the appended claims to such detail. Additional advantages and modifications will readily appear to those skilled in the art. Therefore, the ion in its broader aspects is not limited to the specific details, representative apparatus and methods, and illustrative examples shown and described. Accordingly, departures may be made from such details without ure from the spirit or scope of the Applicant’s general inventive concept.

Claims (18)

1. An animal fication ear tag including: i. a male pin having a first end, a second end configured to penetrate an animal’s ear, a locking er positioned adjacent the second end; a cavity in the male pin; ii. an electronic tag component within the cavity, the cavity containing a material, and the material configured to cushion the electronic tag component to minimise impact or shock damage; and 1O iii. a single piece moulded panel including: a. a first portion formed ally with the male pin or configured to couple to the first end of the male pin; b. a female portion including: an opening red to receive the second end of the male 15 pin ing the locking shoulder; and c. a panel body extending from the first portion to the female portion.

An ear tag as claimed in claim 1 n the electronic tag component is suspended within the material.

An ear tag as claimed in claim 1 wherein the material is a viscous substance.

An ear tag as claimed in claim 1 wherein the material is foam or foam like material.

An ear tag as claimed in claim 1 wherein the material is a substance which allows some movement of the electronic tag component.

An ear tag as claimed in any preceding claim wherein the electronic tag 30 component is an RFID tag component.

An ear tag as claimed in any preceding claim wherein the electronic tag component is an encapsulated tag component.

An ear tag as claimed in any of claims 1 to 6 wherein the electronic tag ent is an unencapsulated tag component.

An ear tag as d in claim 1 wherein the material is a gel.

10. An ear tag as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein the electronic tag 10 component includes an elongate antenna that resides at least partly within the first portion of the moulded panel.

11. An ear tag as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein the electronic tag component is substantially smaller than the cavity.

12. An ear tag as claimed in claim 11, n the material is a gel, fluid, grease or foam filling a space between the onic tag component and the wall of the cavity. 20

13. An ear tag as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 10. wherein the electronic tag component is contained within a e received in the cavity.

14. An ear tag as claimed in claim 13, wherein the material is a gel, fluid, grease or foam filling a space n the electronic tag component and the internal wall 25 of the capsule.

15. An ear tag as claimed in any preceding claim. configured to form a closed loop after application to an animal’s ear. 30

16. An ear tag as claimed in any preceding claim, further comprising a plug or cap formed as part of the male pin or the single piece moulded panel.

17. An ear tag as claimed in claim 16, wherein the plug or cap seals the cavity to substantially prevent ingress of re or other contaminants.

18. An ear tag as claimed in claim 1 substantially as herein described.