WO2010016772A1

WO2010016772A1 - Animal tags and method of manufacture

Info

Publication number: WO2010016772A1
Application number: PCT/NZ2009/000138
Authority: WO
Inventors: Michael Stuart Gardner; Roy Victor Bladen
Original assignee: Tagam Limited
Priority date: 2008-08-04
Filing date: 2009-07-13
Publication date: 2010-02-11
Also published as: AR073468A1

Abstract

An animal tag (1) includes a body portion (3) and a flag portion (2) of a substantially flexible material, a substantially rigid button or disc (7) can be accommodated within the body portion (3) and held there at least substantially by its engagement by the head (10) of a male tag (8). The button or disc (7) may be in multiple part construction and may include an RFID capability.

Description

ANIMAL TAGS AND METHOD OF MANUFACTURE

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to improvements in and relating to tags and their method of manufacture. For the sake of simplicity, reference will be made throughout to "animal tags" but it will be apparent to those skilled in the relevant areas of technology that the present application would have significance throughout the field of tags of all types and for all uses including luggage tags, medical tags, horticultural tags and the like.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Ear tags are used internationally in order to uniquely identify animals and in order to minimise r the risk of tags being torn away from the animal, or being snapped off, the use of flexible material for the tags has major benefits. There is however the opposite need of including rigidity in the ear tag for a variety of reasons which may include preserving the tag from wear and tear or avoid it being tampered with, and to assist in the appropriate presentation of the tag when in use.

To date various proposals have been put forward in order to provide both flexible and rigid portions in a tag. One proposal includes the joining of a rigid male or female tag portion to a semi-flexible flag. However this can create a dynamic loading at their interconnection as the tag is flexed by the animal, resulting in the tag's breakage. Such a combination can also require extremely expensive tooling and also impose restrictions on the types of plastics which are able to be used.

Other proposals included the use of rigid collars or inserts, which could be of rigid plastics or metal, accommodated within a boss of a flexible female flag, (see for example New Zealand Patent 213378 (Rockall)).

In an alternative proposal of the present applicant, an animal tag was proposed with a flag portion of a substantially flexible material and secured thereabout a substantially rigid portion which would provide in use a female or male tag member. Insofar as it may be appropriate, the present applicant's New Zealand Provisional Patent Specification 567985 is herein incorporated by way of reference. OBJECTS OF THE INVENTION

It is therefore an object of the present invention, at least according to one embodiment thereof, to provide an animal tag which overcomes, or at least alleviates, the aforementioned problems in animal tags at present, or at least which provides the public with a useful choice.

It is an object of another embodiment of the present invention to provide a method of manufacture of an animal tag which again overcomes or at least alleviates problems in animal tag manufacture at present, or at least provides the public with a useful choice.

Further objects of the invention, which should all be considered disjunctively, will become apparent from the following description, which is given by way of example of possible embodiments of the invention.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

According to one aspect of the present invention there is provided an animal tag including a flag portion of a substantially flexible material and further including an at least partially hollow body portion, said body portion being adapted to accommodate therein a body member of a substantially rigid material, said body member being adapted in use, to be engageable with a male tag member and to thereby be held, at least substantially, in said body portion.

According to a second aspect of the present invention there is provided a method of manufacture of an animal tag in which a flag portion and a body portion are formed of a substantially flexible material, said body portion is provided so as to be substantially hollow and is adapted to accommodate a body member of a substantially rigid material, said body member being further adapted to be engageable with a male tag member, and wherein the retention of the body member in the body portion is due, at least substantially, to the engagement of the male tag member.

Preferably the body member may be substantially button or disc-shaped.

Optionally, the body member may include or be associated with an RFID means or capability.

Optionally the body member may be retained within the body portion solely by the engagement of the male tag member with the body member. According to a further aspect of the present invention there is a provided an animal tag and/or a method of manufacture of an animal tag substantially as herein described with reference to any one of the embodiments shown in the accompanying drawings.

Further aspects of this invention may be apparent from the following description given by way of example only and with reference to the accompanying drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Figure 1 : Shows a front view of one possible embodiment of the invention after assembly;

Figure 2: Shows a rear view of Figure 1 but including a male tag;

Figure 3: Shows an end view of Figure 2;

Figure 4: Shows a side view of Figure 2;

Figure 5: Shows a cross sectional view along arrows A-A of Figure 2;

Figure 6: Shows a front perspective exploded view of Figure 2; and

Figure 7: Shows a rear perspective exploded view of Figure 2.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF POSSIBLE EMBODIMENTS

Referring to the accompanying drawings, an animal tag, see particularly Figures 6 and 7, is referenced generally by arrow 1 and is shown including a flag portion 2 and a body portion 3 which in this embodiment is shown in the form of a plate or dish or panel-like member having a central portion 4 and a peripheral raised rim 5. The body portion 3 is also shown having an aperture 6.

The body portion 3 and the flag portion 2 are preferably integrally formed and both of a soft plastics or the like. Again referring to Figures 6 and 7, a button or disk 7, of a substantially rigid material, such as a hard plastic, which may be for example a standard RFID cattle button or the like, is shown spaced apart from, but positionable within, the recess formed in the body portion 3. The size of the button 7 and the body portion 3 are preferably substantially commensurate so that the button 7 will be retained in position but preferably removable therefrom. Referring particularly to Figure 6, the rim 5 is shown with a small undercut or retaining rim which may assist in retaining the button 7 within the body portion 3 particularly for transit and during tagging. This may reduce the possibility of RFID data being mixed up with another flag marking if they came apart too easily. To remove the button 7 the rim 5 may be stretched, similar to the removal of a tyre. A male tag 8 having a stem 9 and a head 10 is shown, by way of reference only, in position on the opposite side of the body from the button 7. Once the button 7 has been retained within the body portion 3, the head 10 may be inserted through the aperture 6 in the body portion 3 so as to engage with the aperture 11 provided for the button 7 and this engagement being such as to then ensure the retention of the button 7 in position in the body portion 3.

As seen particularly in Figure 5, the button 7 may suitably have a rear chamber 12, which may be defined externally, by for example, a conical portion 13 as shown, and within which chamber 12 the head 10 of the male tag 8 may be accommodated. Also as shown particularly in Figure 5, the button 7 may, for example, be of a two part construction, between which an RFID means or capability 14 may be provided.

It is stressed however that the shape, type and/or form of the button 7 may be arranged to suit requirements, subject to it having the necessary rigidity in combination with the soft flag and body portion.

Also, although in this embodiment the button 7 is removable from the body portion 3, following the removal of the male tag portion 8, it is envisaged that if a permanent tag were required, welding for example could be provided to secure the button 7 permanently within the body portion 3.

As will be seen particularly in Figure 5, a relatively small gap is left between the inner surface of the male tag 8 and the outer surface of the body 3, so as to reduce the likelihood of the stem 9 of the male tag 8 being attacked and broken, as almost all of that space would be taken up by the thickness of the animal's ear.

Where in the aforegoing description, reference has been made to specific components or integers of the invention having known equivalents, such equivalents are herein incorporated as if individually set forth.

Although this invention has been described by way of example and with reference to possible embodiments thereof, it is to be understood that modifications or improvements may be made thereto without departing from the scope of the invention as defined in the appended claims.

Claims

1. An animal tag including a flag portion of a substantially flexible material and further including an at least partially hollow body portion, said body portion being adapted to accommodate therein a body member of a substantially rigid material, said body member being adapted in use, to be engageable with a male tag member and to thereby be held, at least substantially, in said body portion.

2. An animal tag as claimed in claim 1 in which the body portion and the flag portion are integrally formed.

3. An animal tag as claimed in claim 1 or claim 2 wherein the body portion includes a recess.

4. An animal tag as claimed in claim 3 in which the recess includes a rim adapted in use to retain said body member.

5. An animal tag as claimed in any one of the preceding claims in which the body portion includes an aperture adapted to allow the passage therethrough of a head of said male tag member.

6. An animal tag as claimed in any one of the preceding claims in which said body member is substantially button or disc-shaped.

7. An animal tag as claimed in any one of the preceding claims in which said body member is retained within the body portion solely by the engagement of the male tag member with the body member.

8. An animal tag as claimed in any one of the preceding claims in which said body member is of a multiple part construction and one part of said body member includes an RFID means or capability.

9. An animal tag as claimed in claim 5 in which said body member includes a rear chamber adapted to accommodate, in use, the head of the said male tag.

10. A method of manufacture of an animal tag in which a flag portion and a body portion are formed of a substantially flexible material, said body portion is provided so as to be substantially hollow and is adapted to accommodate a body member of a substantially rigid material, said body member being further adapted to be engageable with a male tag member, and wherein the retention of the body member in the body portion is due, at least substantially, to the engagement of the male tag member.

11. An animal tag substantially as herein described with reference to any one of the embodiments in the invention and as shown with reference to the accompanying drawings.