WO2010031112A1

WO2010031112A1 - Animal marking tag

Info

Publication number: WO2010031112A1
Application number: PCT/AU2009/001215
Authority: WO
Inventors: Zoltan Galambos
Original assignee: Galambos, Gemma, Marie
Priority date: 2008-09-16
Filing date: 2009-09-15
Publication date: 2010-03-25

Abstract

There is provided an animal tag (8), preferably a tag for the ear of an animal, which is able to be fitted substantially flush with the part of the animal to which it is attached, and shaped so that it is difficult for another animal to get enough grip on the tag, with a biting action, to tear the tag off the animal. Domed (Fig. 1) or pyramidal (Fig. 6) shaped tags are an example. Torn off tags can be a significant problem in the area of commercial animal production.

Description

ANIMAL MARKING TAG

TECHNICAL FIELD

This invention relates to marking tags for animals.

BACKGROUND ART

Any discussion of documents, devices, acts or knowledge in this specification is included to explain the context of the invention. It should not be taken as an admission that any of the material forms a part of the prior art base or the common general knowledge in the relevant art in Australia or elsewhere on or before the priority date of the disclosure herein.

The tags of the invention may be marked with information as to details which are specific to the animal upon which they are placed, as is known, so as to identify the animal from others in a group of similar animals. Those markings may include numbers and letters.

While there are a number of areas of an animal's body where a marking tag may conveniently be placed so as to be readily seen for identification purposes, this invention will be described for convenience with reference to marking tags which are secured to the ear of an animal. However the invention is not to be construed as limited to such applications.

As will be appreciated by those skilled in this art, it is inconvenient if an animal that has been marked with a marking tag, loses that tag. The necessary and desirable good management of groups of tagged animals is made difficult or perhaps impossible, if a number of tagged animals in a group lose their marking tags. What will also be appreciated, is that in some areas of animal farming, such as pig farming, tag loss is not normally associated with the tag securing mechanism failing, but rather the tag being pulled off the animal by another animal. This can occur when one animal bites at the tag, or the part of the animal to which the tag is attached, and pulls it from the animal. Not only is the information specific to that animal lost, but the injury caused by such action is undesirable and may set back the commercial rearing of that animal.

In the farming of animals which naturally form strong hierarchical social structures, the problem and occurrence of torn off ear tags is a significant one. It is an object of the invention to provide a marking tag for an animal which reduces the likelihood that such a tag is able to be torn off the animal by the biting action of another animal.

DISCLOSURE OF THE INVENTION

In accordance with the invention there is provided a marking tag for an animal comprising first and second members; the first member being adapted to carry information thereon relating to the animal; said first and second members being adapted to engage with each other to secure the marking tag to the animal; wherein the first member has an underneath portion, at least part of which may be placed on a first side of the part of the animal to which the tag is to be attached; and, a top portion which forms the top surface of said first member; said top surface being either convex in shape, at least in the area of the periphery of the tag, or, said top surface together with the underneath portion forms a thin edge or arris at the periphery of the tag.

While the first and second members referred to above are, in one form of the invention, separate prior to engagement the invention includes an animal tag in which the first and second members are connected together, as by a flexible strip, for example, prior to engagement. In one embodiment of the invention the top surface of the first member, at the peripheral edge thereof, meets a thin edge of said first member, the thin edge not being of sufficient depth to allow a grip to be obtained thereon by the biting action of another animal.

The means referred to above to engage the first member with the second member comprises a hole in the underneath portion of said first member, said hole leading to a cavity which extends towards the top surface of said first member, said cavity having a throat therein which allows the enlarged head of a pin on said second member to pass into said cavity, and which retains the pin therein. Such an attachment means being known in the art. In a further embodiment of the invention the underneath portion of said first member is in the same plane as the peripheral edge of said first member.

In a still further embodiment, the underneath portion of the tags of the invention may consist of the bottom of the peripheral edge of said first member and the bottom surface of a post extending from the top portion of said first member.

In another embodiment the underneath portion may consist of a flat web of material which extends to the peripheral edge of said first member. In yet another embodiment of the invention the second member is substantially flat and has an area approximately the same as the area of the first member.

In another embodiment of the invention the first member is domed and in the form of a hollow skirt having a central post extending from the top portion, the bottom end of said post being part of the underneath portion of said first member.

In yet a still further embodiment of the invention, the length of the pin on the second member and the dimensions of the head portion of the pin and of the cavity are such that the tag fits snugly and firmly on to the animal. The first member may, be circular, square, oval or any other desired shape in plan view, and may be domed, partly domed, pyramidal or other desirable shape, such as having one or more flat surfaces thereon for the carrying of visible information, providing there is no part of the tag which may be readily gripped by the biting action of another animal. The top portion of said first member may be relatively thin but have an enlarged area at the periphery thereof providing an underneath periphery which prevents that enlarged area from cutting into the animal, even if a biting force is applied to the tag by another animal.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

While the tags of the invention may be used with any farm animal, particularly preferred embodiments of the invention will now be described with reference to a tag for the ear of a pig, and with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: Fig 1 is a side view of an animal tag of the invention showing, in outline, the cavity and pin of the engaging mechanism and showing part of the ear of the animal to which it is attached;

Fig 2 is a view along line 2-2 of Fig 1 ;

Fig 3 is a top view of the tag of Fig 1 ; - A -

Fig 4 is a side view of a second particularly preferred tag of the invention;

Fig 5 is a side view of a third particularly preferred tag of the invention showing, in outline, the cavity and pin and, a sealing plug for the cavity;

Fig 6 is a side view of a fourth particularly preferred tag of the invention; Fig 7 is a top view of the tag of Fig 6;

Fig 8 is a side view of a fifth particularly preferred tag of the invention; and,

Fig 9 is a top view of the tag of Fig 8.

MODES FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION

Referring in particular to Figs 1 , 2 and 3 there is seen an animal tag 8 having a first member 12 and a second member 14, which together "sandwich" a portion of the ear of an animal 16 to which tag 8 is attached.

Also seen, in outline, is pin 18 extending from second member 14 and having an enlarged head 20. Pin 18 extends into cavity 22 where head 20 engages behind a narrow throat 24 in cavity 22, to retain pin 18 in cavity 22.

As can be seen top surface 26 of top portion 27 of first member 12 meets underneath portion 28 forming an arris 30 having an angle less than 90 degrees. Base portion 32 of second member 14 is of similar diameter to first member 12. Further reference to Fig 3 shows top surface 26 carrying indicia 29 which are for specific animal identification.

In Figs 4 to 9 like numbers are used to refer to like parts.

Referring to Fig 4 there is seen a second embodiment where tag 108 has a peripheral edge 130 rather than arris 30 seen in Fig 1. Peripheral edge 130 is not sufficiently deep enough to allow a grip to be obtained by the mouth of another pig. Also, base portion 132 is not of the same dimensions as bottom surface 28, seen in Fig 1.

Referring to Fig 5 there is seen a third embodiment where tag 208 has a cavity 222 in first member 212 which extends through top surface 226 thereof. Plug 234 fits tightly into the top of cavity 222 to give tag 208 a similar appearance to tag 108 of Fig 4 and tag 8 of Figs 1 to 3.

Referring to Figs 6 and 7 there is seen a fourth embodiment where first member 312 is pyramidal , in particular, a square pyramid, whereby to provide four flat surfaces on tag 308 which may carry information relative to the animal it is placed on.

Referring to Figs 8 and 9 there is seen a fifth embodiment where first member 412 has a convex peripheral edge 430 and a flat part 425 on top surface 426. Again, part 425 is suitable for carrying information relative to the animal on which tag 408 is positioned.

For ease of description the means to secure the first and second members of the tags described with reference to the drawings, have been kept the same. However, the invention encompasses all known means of attaching tags to an animal, not only those which have a two part securing system.

Because of the shape and means of positioning of the tags of the invention and their close fitting capability to the animal, the loss of tags from animals fitted with tags of this invention has been shown to be greatly reduced from the losses experienced by the use of existing conventional tags. While this invention has been described in connection with specific embodiments thereof, it will be understood that it is capable of further modification(s). The present invention is intended to cover any variations, uses or adaptations of the invention following in general, the principles of the invention and including such departures from the present disclosure as come within known or customary practice within the art to which the invention pertains and as may be applied to the essential features hereinbefore set forth.

Where the terms "comprise", "comprises", "comprised" or "comprising" are used in this specification, they are to be interpreted as specifying the presence of the stated features, integers, steps or components referred to, but not to preclude the presence or addition of one or more other features, integers, steps or components to be grouped therewith.

Claims

CLAIMS:

1. A marking tag for an animal comprising first and second members; the first member being adapted to carry information thereon relating to the animal; said first and second members being adapted to engage with each other to secure the marking tag to the animal; wherein said first member has an underneath portion, at least part of which may be placed on a first side of the part of the animal to which the tag is to be attached; and, a top portion having a top surface thereon, said top surface being either convex in shape, at least in the area of the periphery of the tag, or, said top surface together with said underneath portion form a thin edge, or an arris, at the periphery of said marking tag.

2. A marking tag as claimed in claim 1 wherein said top surface is at least partly convex.

3. A marking tag as claimed in claim 1 wherein said top surface is completely convex.

4. A marking tag as claimed in claim 1 wherein said top surface is pyramidal.

5. A marking tag as claimed in claim 1 wherein said top surface meets said underneath portion to form an arris.

6. A marking tag as claimed in claim 1 wherein said first member has a thin edge at its periphery.

7. A marking tag as claimed in claim 1 wherein said first member is a hollow skirt having a central post extending thereinto from the top portion thereof, the bottom end of said post forming part of said underneath portion of said first member.

8. A marking tag substantially as herein described and with reference to the drawings.