NZ625362B2 - A connector, and a teatcup - Google Patents

Abstract

The invention refers to a connector and a teatcup comprising a connector (2) and a cartridge. The cartridge comprises a sleeve, having a first end and a second end, and a teatcup liner mounted in the sleeve and having a inner space for receiving a teat. The connector is configured to connect a milk conduit to the cartridge. The connector comprises a casing (24), which defines a longitudinal centre axis (x) and encloses a connection space (27). The casing has en inner surface facing the connection space. The casing comprises an inlet opening (28) for the cartridge to the connection space, and an outlet opening (29) for the milk conduit. Locking means is provided on the inner surface of the casing and configured to permit locking of the cartridge in the connector. The teatcup also includes a protective outer shell for shielding the cartridge from damage. conduit to the cartridge. The connector comprises a casing (24), which defines a longitudinal centre axis (x) and encloses a connection space (27). The casing has en inner surface facing the connection space. The casing comprises an inlet opening (28) for the cartridge to the connection space, and an outlet opening (29) for the milk conduit. Locking means is provided on the inner surface of the casing and configured to permit locking of the cartridge in the connector. The teatcup also includes a protective outer shell for shielding the cartridge from damage.

Description

A connector, and a p TECHNICAL FIELD OF THE INVENTION The present invention refers generally to teatcups to be attached to the teats of animals to be milked. More precisely, the t invention refers to a tor configured to be comprised by a teatcup. The present invention also refers to a teatcup to be attached to a teat of an animal to be milked.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION AND PRIOR ART Teatcups used today typically ts of two te main parts, a shell and a teatcup liner mounted in the shell. A pulsation r is provided between the shell and the teatcup liner. The teatcup liner is an article of consumption that is subjected to wear, and thus has to be replaced on a regular basis. The replacement of the teatcup liner is a time—consuming and difficult work, requiring dismounting of the p liner from the shell and mounting of a new teatcup liner in the shell. The teatcup liner may form one single part either together with the short milk conduit or separate from the short milk conduit.

Traditionally, the p liner forms one single part together with the short milk conduit. In order to enable replacement of only the barrel of the teatcup liner, it is know to produce teatcup liners being separate from the milk conduit. In such teatcups, there is a difficulty in the connection of the teatcup liner including the barrel to the separate short milk conduit. Especially, it is difficult to provide an easy mounting and dismounting of the barrel to the milk conduit without leakage between the milk channel and the surrounding, and n the milk channel and the pulsation chamber.

US-7,921,806 discloses a connector configured to be comprised by a teatcup to be attached to a teat of an animal to be milked. The connector is ured to connect a milk conduit to a cartridge 2012/051467 comprising a sleeve, having a first end and a second end, and a teatcup liner mounted in the sleeve and having an inner space for receiving the teat. The connector defines a longitudinal axis and comprises a casing, which has an inner surface and s a connection space, an inlet opening configured for receiving the cartridge to the connection space, and an outlet opening for the milk conduit. ent ng s are provided to extend around and grip the cartridge.

US-4,459,939 discloses a connector configured to be comprised by -a teatcup to be attached to a teat of an animal to be milked. The connector is configured to connect a milk conduit to a cartridge comprising a sleeve, having a first end and a second end, and a teatcup liner mounted in the sleeve and having an inner space for ing the teat. The connector defines a longitudinal centre axis and comprises a casing, which has an inner surface and defines a space, an inlet opening configured for receiving the cartridge to the connection space, and an outlet opening receiving a rigid milk nipple.

EP-511 723 discloses a teatcup to be attached to a teat of an animal to be milked. A lower part of the teatcup is configured to connect a milk conduit to an upper part comprising a sleeve, having a first end and a second end, and a teatcup liner mounted in the sleeve and having an inner space for receiving the teat. The teatcup s a longitudinal axis. The lower part comprises a casing, which has an inner surface and defines a space, an inlet opening in which the upper part is mounted, and an outlet opening for the milk conduh.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The object of the present invention is to me the problems discussed above and to provide a connector that enables a convenient, quick and secure connection of a teatcup liner to a milk conduit.

The invention provides a connector configured to form part of a teatcup to be attached to a teat of animal to be milked, the connector being configured to connect a milk conduit to a dge comprising a sleeve, having a first end and a second end, and a teatcup liner mounted in the sleeve and having an inner space for receiving said teat, wherein the connector comprises a casing, which defines a longitudinal centre axis and es a connection space, wherein the casing has an inner surface facing the connection space, and wherein the casing comprises an inlet opening for the cartridge to the connection space, and an outlet opening for the milk conduit, locking means 1O being provided on the inner surface of the casing and ured to permit g of the cartridge in the connector, n the connector ses an outer shell extending beyond the inlet opening of the casing, and wherein said outer shell is configured to protect the cartridge when the cartridge is mounted in the connector.

Such locking means on the inner surface of the casing permit quick and easy dismounting of the cartridge from the connector and the milk conduit, and quick and secure mounting and locking of the cartridge in the connector, thereby establishing a tight milk passage from the inner space of the teatcup liner to a milk channel defined by the milk conduit.

According to an embodiment of the invention, the locking means comprises a bayonet ng part. Advantageously, a ponding bayonet coupling part is provided on an outer surface of the cartridge.

According to a r embodiment of the invention, the outlet opening is configured to receive and hold the milk conduit. Advantageously, the casing may comprise a bottom wall through which the outlet opening extends. The milk conduit may then be introduced in the outlet opening. The bottom wall may be configured to engage a ferential groove on the milk conduit.

Moreover, the bottom wall may be is plane, and extend perpendicularly to the udinal centre axis.

According to a further embodiment of the invention, the longitudinal centre axis extends through the inlet opening and the outlet opening.

Advantageously, the outer shell may be attached to and e an end portion of the casing. 4O According to a further embodiment of the invention, the casing comprises an aperture extending through the casing into the connection space and a holding member configured to hold a pulse conduit in a flow communication with the aperture for communicating a pulsating vacuum to the connection space.

The invention further provides a teatcup to be attached to a teat of an animal to be milked, comprising a connector and a cartridge comprising a sleeve, having a first end and a second end, and a teatcup liner mounted in the sleeve and having an inner space for ing said teat, wherein the connector is configured to connect a milk conduit to the cartridge, wherein the connector comprises a casing, which defines a longitudinal centre axis and es a 1O connection space, wherein the casing has an inner surface facing the tion space, and wherein the casing comprises an inlet opening for the cartridge to the connection space, and an outlet opening for the milk conduit, locking means being provided on the inner surface of the casing and configured to permit locking of the cartridge in the connector, wherein the connector comprises an outer shell extending beyond the inlet opening of the casing such that the outer shell protects the cartridge located inside the outer shell.

By means of such a teatcup, comprising at least two te parts, the cartridge and the connector, the replacement of the cartridge, including p liner, may be tated since the cartridge may be simply aged from the connector and ed by a new cartridge, which is then mounted to the connector. No loosening of al ts from the connector is required when replacing the cartridge. The cartridge, which has been d from the connector, may then be thrown away as a waste product.

According to a further embodiment of the invention, cartridge comprises ponding locking means provided on an outer side of the sleeve and configured to co-act with the locking means of the casing to establish said locking of the cartridge in the teatcup connector. Advantageously, the locking means comprises at least one outer bayonet coupling part on the inner surface of the casing, and the corresponding locking means ses at least one inner bayonet coupling part on the outer surface of the cartridge, the outer and inner bayonet coupling parts forming a bayonet coupling permitting easy dismounting and mounting of the cartridge from the connector.

According to a further embodiment of the ion, the sleeve comprises a hole extending through the sleeve and positioned in the connection space, and wherein the casing comprises an aperture extending through the casing and a 4O holding member configured to hold a pulse conduit in order to permit flow communication of a pulsating vacuum from the pulse t to the pulsation chamber. Advantageously, a sealing ring may be provided between the outer e of the sleeve and the casing, thereby sealing the connection space from the surrounding atmosphere, and wherein the hole is provided n the sealing ring and the lower end of the sleeve.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS The present invention will now be explained more closely by means of a description of various embodiments and with reference to the drawings attached hereto.

Fig 1 discloses a longitudinal section of a teatcup comprising or connected to a milk conduit.

Fig 2 discloses an exploded longitudinal section of a cartridge of the teatcup in Fig 1.

Fig 3 discloses a section of the milk conduit in Fig 1.

Fig 4 discloses a n of a connector of the teatcup in Fig Fig 5 discloses a section of a pulse conduit of the teatcup in Fig 1.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF S EMBODIMENTS OF THE INVENTION Fig 1 discloses a p to be attached to a teat of an animal to be milked. The teatcup comprises a cartridge 1 and a connector 2. The teatcup may also comprise a lip member 3. In addition, the teatcup may comprise or be connected to a milk conduit 4, such as a short milk t. Moreover, the teatcup mayrcomprise or be connected to a pulse conduit 5.

A udinal centre axis x extends through and along the teatcup, i.e. the cartridge 1, the connector 2 and the lip member 3. The longitudinal centre axis x also extends through and along the milk conduit 4 when it is in a rest state as disclosed in Fig. 1.

The cartridge 1‘, see also Fig 2, comprises a sleeve 6 having an upper end 6a and a lower end 6b, and a teatcup liner 7 mounted the sleeve 6. In Figs 1 and 2, the cartridge is shown in a mounted state, i.e. the teatcup liner 7 is d in the sleeve 6. The teatcup liner 7 has or forms an inner space 8 for receiving the teat.

A pulsation chamber 9 is provided or formed between an inner side of the sleeve 6 and an outer side of the teatcup liner 7.

The teatcup liner 7 comprises an upper end portion 7a located at 1O the upper end 6a of the sleeve 6, a barrel portion 70 and a lower end portion 7b located at the lower end of the sleeve 6. The barrel portion 7c is an intermediate tubular portion ed between and adjoining the upper end n 7a and the lower end portion 7b.

The barrel portion 70 is the main part of the p liner 7 and is in contact with the teat of the animal during milking.

The lower end portion 7b extends from a position within the sleeve 6 away from and beyond the lower end 6b of the sleeve 6. The lower end n 7b forms an end nozzle 10. The end nozzle 10 is the part of the lower end portion 7b that s beyond the lower end 6b of the sleeve 6. The end nozzle 10 forms an outlet from the inner space 8.

The end nozzle 10 has a tapering external shape configured to be received in the milk conduit 4 for transporting the milk from the inner space 8 to the milk conduit 4. The end nozzle 10 also has a tapering internal shape forming a tapering outlet for the milk from the inner space 8 of the teatcup liner 7.

The barrel portion 70 of the teatcup liner 7 is made of a first material having a relatively high elasticity. The lower end portion 7b of the teatcup liner 7 is made of a second material, which is different from the first material and has a different composition. The second material has a relatively low elasticity in comparison with the relatively high elasticity of the first material of the barrel portion The first material may consist of or comprise rubber, black rubber, silicone rubber, elastic polymers, such as Thermoplastic Elastomers, TPE, or any other suitable elastic material.

The second material may consist of or comprise a suitable polymer with low elasticity, such as polyeten, polypropene, etc.

The upper end portion 7a is made in a third material having a relatively low city in comparison with the relatively high 1O elasticity of the first material of the barrel portion 70. The third al may be a material having similar or the same composition and/or properties as the second material of the lower end portion The barrel portion 7c is attached to the lower end portion 7b by a lower permanent joint 11. Such a permanent joint 11 may be formed by a melt joint, a weld joint or a chemical bonding between the first material and the second material.

The barrel portion 70 is also attached to the upper end portion 7a by an upper permanent joint 12. Such a permanent joint 12 may be formed by a melt joint, a weld joint or a chemical bonding between the first al and the third material.

The lower and/or upper permanent joints 11, 12 my be formed by melting of at least one of the first material and the second al at the permanent joint. The lower and/or upper permanent joints 11, 12 may also be obtained through vulcanisation.

Alternatively, the barrel n 70 and the lower end portion 7b and/or the upper end portion 7a are made of the same material, for ce in one single piece, preferably through injection moulding.

The sleeve 6 is made of a fourth material having a relatively low elasticity. The fourth material may be a material having r or the same composition and/or properties as the same material as the second material.

The lower end portion 7b of the teatcup liner 7 comprises a lower engagement member 14, which s the sleeve 6 in such a manner that the barrel portion 70 of the teatcup liner 7 is ined in a stretched state in the sleeve 6. The lower engagement member 14 comprises, or is formed as, an annular flange extending outwardly at least beyond an inner diameter of an end surface of the lower end 6b of the sleeve 6. The annular flange of the lower end n 7b may extend radially or ntially radially outwardly with respect to the longitudinal centre axis x. The 1O annular flange of the lower end n 7b extends beyond and abuts the end surface of the lower end 6b of the sleeve 6.

The upper end portion 7a of the teatcup liner 7 comprises an upper engagement member 15, which engages the sleeve 6 at the upper end 6a of the sleeve 6. The upper engagement member 15 ses, or is formed as, an upper annular flange extending outwardly at least beyond an inner diameter of an end surface of the upper end 6a of the sleeve 6. The annular flange of the upper engagement member 15 may extend radially or substantially radially outwardly with respect to the longitudinal centre axis x. In the embodiment disclose, the annular flange of the upper engagement member 15 of the upper end portion 7a abuts an dly bent part of the first material of the barrel portion 70, which in turn abuts the end surface of the upper end 6a of the sleeve 6.

The sleeve 6 comprises a sealing ring 17 extending around an outer surface of the sleeve 6. The sealing ring 17 is configured to engage a surface, especially an end surface, of the connector 2, as will be 3O described below.

Moreover, the sleeve 6 comprises a hole 18 through the sleeve 6, or through the wall of the sleeve 6. The hole 18 permits a pulsating vacuum to be applied in the pulsation chamber 9. The hole 18 is provided between the sealing ring 17 and the lower end 6b of the sleeve 6.

The lip member 3 is in the embodiment disclosed attached to the in Figs 1 upper end n 7a of the teatcup liner 7, as can be seen and 2. The lip member 3 is ably detachably ed to the cartridge 1 by a snap tion 19. In Fig 2 the lip member 3 is shown in a detached state with respect to the teatcup liner 7 and the cartridge 1. Alternatively, the lip member 3 may be detachably attached to the sleeve 6.

The lip member 3 comprises or forms a lip 20, which surrounds and 1O defines an opening 21 for the teat to the inner space 8. The lip 20 is also made of a relatively elastic material, possibly a material having similar or the same composition and/or properties as the first material of the barrel portion 70.

It is to be noted that the lip member or the lip 20 as an alternative may form an integrated part of the teatcup liner 7, preferably by being permanently joined to the upper end portion 7a, or being manufactured in one single piece with the upper end n 7a or with the teatcup liner 7.

The connector 2, see also Fig 4, comprises a casing 24, which has a bottom wall 25 and a surrounding wall 26 having an inner surface.

The casing 24 defines a connection space 27. The bottom wall 25 is plane or substantially plane.

The tor 2, or the casing 24, comprises an inlet opening 28 for the cartridge 1 to the connection space 27, and an outlet opening 29 for the milk conduit 4. The outlet opening 29 extends through the bottom wall 25 and is configured to receive and hold the 3O milk conduit 4. In the embodiment disclosed, the longitudinal centre axis x extends trically through the casing 24 and through the inlet opening 28 and the outlet opening 29, wherein the bottom wall s perpendicularly, or substantially perpendicularly to the longitudinal centre axis x.

The connector 2 is connected to the cartridge 1 by means of locking means. The locking means is ed on the inner surface of the surrounding wall 26. Corresponding locking means is provided on the outer side of the sleeve 6. The corresponding locking means is ed between the sealing ring 17 and the lower end 6b of the sleeve 6. The locking means may comprise on or more outer bayonet coupling parts 31 on the inner surface of the casing 24.

The corresponding locking means may comprise one or more inner t coupling parts 32 on the outer e of the sleeve 6 of the cartridge 1. The outer t coupling parts 31 and the inner bayonet coupling parts 32 form a bayonet coupling permitting secure locking of the cartridge 1 in the connector 2. 1O Furthermore, the connector 2 comprises an outer shell 34 extending beyond the inlet opening 28 of the casing 24. The outer shell 34 is r and attached to an end portion 24a of the casing 24. The purpose of the outer shell 34 is to protect the cartridge 1. The outer shell 34 may be made of a relatively rigid material, for ce as plastics or metal, such as ess steel.

The casing 24 also comprises an aperture 35 extending through the casing 24 into the connection space 27. Furthermore, the connector 2 or the casing 24 comprises a holding member 36 configured to hold the pulse conduit 5 in a flow communication with the aperture and the pulsating chamber 9 via the hole 18 for communicating a pulsating vacuum to the connection space 27 and to the pulsating chamber 9. The holding member defines a holding space, which is partly defined by a side wall 37 and a bottom wall 38. An opening 39 extends through the bottom wall 38.

The milk conduit 4, or short milk conduit, see also Fig 3, is tubular and comprises a first end n 4a defining a first end, a second end portion 4b defining a second end, and a conduit portion 40 between the first end portion 4a and the second end n 4b. The milk conduit 4 defines a milk channel 40 extending through the first end portion 4a, the conduit portion 4c and the second end portion The first end of the milk conduit 4 may be defined or formed by a plane, or substantially plane, end surface from which the milk channel 40 extends.

The first end portion 4a of the milk conduit 4 has an external tapering shape from the first end to the conduit portion 4c. The milk conduit 4 thus has a greater outer diameter at the first end compared to the outer diameter at the conduit portion 40.

The first end portion 4a is ured to be ed in the outlet opening 29 extending through the bottom wall 25 of the connector 2 of the teatcup. The first end portion 4a comprises a first circumferential groove 41 configured to engage the bottom wall 25, positioned at a see Fig 1. The first circumferential groove 41 is distance from the first end and at a distance from the conduit portion 4c.

The milk channel 40 of the first end portion 4a has an internal tapering shape from the first end towards the milk channel 40 of the conduit portion 40.

The second end portion 4b comprises a second circumferential in any suitable milk— groove 42, which is configured to be received receiving member or milk-collecting member, such as a claw, not disclosed. The second circumferential groove 42 is positioned at a ce from the second end and at a distance from the conduit portion 4c. Also the second end portion 4b has an external tapering shape from the second end to the conduit n 40.

The milk conduit 4 is made of a hose material having a relatively high city in the order of the elasticity of the first material of the barrel portion. For instance, the milk conduit 4 may be manufactured of natural rubber, black rubber, silicone rubber or Thermoplastic Elastomers, TPE. The conduit portion 4c comprises an bending area 43 having a locally decreased outer diameter, thus a y increased city to provide a predetermined area for bending of the milk conduit 4.

Also the pulse conduit 5, see also Fig 5, may be made of a hose material having a relatively high elasticity, possibly the same hose material as the material of the milk conduit 4. The pulse t 5 has a ment end portion 5a to be engaged by the holding member 36. The puise conduit 5 defines or encloses a pulse channel 51 extending along the pulse conduit 5 through the attachment end portion 5a. The attachment end portion 5a s an opening 52 of the pulse channel 51. When the pulse conduit 5 is engaged by the holding member 36, the opening 52 is oned opposite to the opening 35 through the casing 24.

The attachment end portion 5a is configured to be received in an opening extending through the bottom wall 38 of the g member 36. The attachment end portion 51 has a bottom surface 53 1O configured to abut the bottom wall 38, see Fig 1, when the pulse conduit 5 is mounted in the connector 2.

The ling of the teatcup is now to be described. One assembling step is to produce the cartridge 1, wherein the teatcup liner 7 is mounted in the sleeve 6. This mounting may be made in advance in connection with the manufacturing of the teatcup. The teatcup liner 7 is then pulled through the sleeve 6, wherein the lower end portion 7b is introduced at the upper end 6a of the sleeve and pushed and pulled downwardly so that the lower end portion 7b passes the lower end 6b until the lower engagement member 14 surface of the lower snaps outwardly to abutment against the end end 6 of the sleeve 6. Thanks to the upper engagement member 15, the upper end portion 7a will not pass through the upper end 6a of the sleeve 6, but the ment members 14 and 15 secure that the teatcup liner 7 and its barrel portion 7c is retained in a stretched state in the sleeve 6. In the stretched state, the teatcup liner 7 is prolonged in comparison with a rest state, in which the teatcup liner 7 is not subjected to any external forces, i.e. before the teatcup liner 7 is mounted in the shell 6.

Thereafter the lip member 3 may be attached to the cartridge 1, wherein the lip member 3 is d onto the upper end 6a of the sleeve 6 so that the snap connection 19 locks the lip member 3 in a able manner on the cartridge 1.

The cartridge 1 is a replaceable component, together with or without the lip member 3, depending on the wear of the lip 21. The cartridge 1 and the lip member 3 are the components of the teatcup that are subjected to significant wear.

A further assembling step is the assembling of the connector 1. The outer shell 34 may be d to the casing 24 in advance or after mounting of the milk t 5 and the pulse conduit 5. The milk conduit 4 is mounted to the connector 2 by the uction of the second end portion 4b through the inlet opening 28 and then through the outlet opening 29. The milk conduit 4 is then pulled through the connector 2 until the lower wall 25 of the casing 24 The tapering shape of snaps into the first circumferential groove 41. the first end portion 4a facilitates the pulling of the milk t 4 into the snapping-in engagement. ln a r manner, the pulse conduit 5 is mounted to the connector 2 by being pulled through the holding member 36 until the bottom surface 53 comes to abutment against the bottom wall 38, wherein the opening 52 of the pulse channel 51 is opposite to the opening through the casing 24.

The teatcup is then present as two main ents, namely the cartridge 1 together with the lip member 3, and the connector 2 together with the milk conduit 4 and the pulse conduit 5. The milk t 4 and the pulse conduit 5 may be mounted to their respective components of the remaining milking equipment in any suitable manner. The milk conduit 4 may for instance be mounted by engagement of the second circumferential groove 42.

Finally, these two main components are connected to each other.

The dge 1, with or without the lip member 3, is then uced into the connection space 27 of the connector 2 until the end nozzle penetrates the milk channel 40 at the first end portion 41, and abuts tightly the wall of the milk channel 40. Thanks to the shape of the end nozzle 19 and to the relatively low elasticity of the end nozzle 10 in combination with the relatively high elasticity of the milk conduit 4 a tight connection is achieved. 2012/051467 in this position of the cartridge 1 vis—a—vis the connector 2, the end surface of the casing 24 will abut the sealing ring 17 so that the between the sleeve 6 and the casing 24 is space formed tightly sealed, thereby permitting proper communication of the ing vacuum. It is to be noted that the sealing ring 17 alternatively may be ed on the connector 2, especially on the casing 24.

When the cartridge 1 has reach this position vis—a-vis the milk conduit, the cartridge is locked in the connector 2, by means of the 1O bayonet coupling, i.e. the coupling of the outer t coupling part 31 and the inner bayonet coupling part 32. This coupling may be achieved through a turning of the cartridge 1 in relation to the connector 2. It is to be noted that the coupling and locking of the cartridge 1 to the connector 2 may also be achieved by other locking means, eg. a thread connection.

The present invention is not limited to the embodiments disclosed but may be varied and modified within the scope of the following The terms “upper” and “lower” used in the description and the claims refer to the orientation disclosed in the figures and the approximate orientation when the teatcup is attached to the teat of an animal.

List of reference signs cartridge connector lip member milk conduit first end portion second end portion conduit portion 1O pulse conduit attachment end n sleeve upperend lower end teatcup liner upper end portion lower end n barrel portion innerspace pulsation chamber end nozzle lower permanent joint upper permanent joint lower engagement member upper engagement member sealing ring hole snap connection opening casing bottom wall surrounding wall connection space inlet opening outlet opening outer bayonet coupling part inner t coupling part outer shell wo 2013/095290 aperture 36 g member 37 side wall 38 bottom wall 40 milk channel 41 first circumferential groove 42 second circumferential groove 43 bending area 51 pulse channel 52 opening 53 attachment circumferential groove

Claims (16)

WHAT WE CLAIM IS:

1. A connector configured to form part of a teatcup to be attached to a teat of animal to be milked, the connector being configured to connect a milk conduit to a cartridge comprising a sleeve, having a first end and a second end, and a teatcup liner mounted in the sleeve and having an inner space for receiving said teat, 1O wherein the connector comprises a casing, which defines a longitudinal centre axis and encloses a connection space, wherein the casing has an inner surface facing the connection space,and wherein the casing ses an inlet g for the cartridge to 15 the connection space, and an outlet opening for the milk conduit, locking means being provided on the inner e of the casing and configured to permit locking of the cartridge in the connector, wherein the connector comprises an outer shell extending beyond the inlet opening of the casing, and wherein said outer shell is 20 configured to protect the cartridge when the dge is mounted in the connector.

2. A tor according to claim 1, wherein the g means comprises a bayonet coupling part.

3. A connector according to claim 1 or claim 2, wherein the outlet opening is configured to receive and hold the milk conduit.

4. A connector according to any one of the preceding claims, 30 n the casing comprises a bottom wall through which the outlet g extends.

5. A connector according to claim 4, wherein the bottom wall is plane.

6. A connector according to claim 4 or claim 5, wherein the bottom wall extends perpendicularly to the longitudinal centre axis.

7. A connector according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the longitudinal centre axis s through the inlet opening and the outlet opening.

8. A connector according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the outer shell is ed to and encloses an end n of the casing.

9. A connector according to any one of the preceding claims, 1O wherein the casing comprises an aperture extending through the casing into the connection space and a holding member configured to hold a pulse conduit in a flow communication with the aperture for communicating a pulsating vacuum to the connection space. 15

10. A teatcup to be attached to a teat of an animal to be milked, comprising a connector and a cartridge sing a , having a first end and a second end, and a teatcup liner mounted in the sleeve and having an inner space for receiving said teat, wherein the connector is configured to connect a milk conduit to the 20 canndge, wherein the connector comprises a , which defines a longitudinal centre axis and encloses a connection space, wherein the casing has an inner surface facing the connection space,and 25 wherein the casing comprises an inlet opening for the cartridge to the connection space, and an outlet opening for the milk conduit, locking means being provided on the inner surface of the casing and configured to permit locking of the cartridge in the connector, wherein the connector comprises an outer shell extending beyond 30 the inlet opening of the casing such that the outer shell protects the cartridge located inside the outer shell.

11. A teatcup according to claim 10, wherein the dge ses corresponding locking means ed on an outer side 35 of the sleeve and configured to co-act with the locking means of the casing to establish said locking of the cartridge in the teatcup connector.

12. A p according to claim 11, wherein the locking means comprises at least one outer bayonet coupling part, and the corresponding locking means comprises at least one inner bayonet coupling part.

13. A teatcup according to any one of claims 10 to 12, wherein the sleeve comprises a hole extending through the sleeve and positioned in the connection space, and wherein the casing 1O comprises an aperture extending through the casing and a holding member configured to hold a pulse conduit in order to permit flow communication of a pulsating vacuum from the pulse conduit to the pulsation chamber. 15

14. A p according to claim 13, wherein a sealing ring is provided between the outer surface of the sleeve and the , thereby sealing the connection space from the surrounding here, and n the hole is provided between the sealing ring and the lower end of the sleeve.

15. A connector substantially as herein described with reference to and as shown in the accompanying drawings.

16. A p substantially as herein described with reference to 25 and as shown in the accompanying drawings.