Note: Descriptions are shown in the official language in which they were submitted.
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.. BACKGROG'ND
This invention relates to animaJ_ ear tags and a
method of applying such ear tags ar..d, in particular,
although not necessarily solely, ear tags provided as a
single piece without a separate engaging- portion with
which the ear tag cooperates on opposed sides of the
animal's ear.
Previous patents for ear tags have included some
direct to ear tags in which a main body portion, neck
portion and head portion are provided so the a driving
pin of an applicator may engage the head portion through
the neck portion and both the neck and head portions are
passed through the ani.mal'g ear. These such as the
apparatus described in New Zealand patent. na. 226296/
228456 go to some lengths to ensure that the applicator
pin or driving means is protecr_ed from contact with the
animal's ear through being sheathed within the ner_k and
head portions of the tag. This leads to some difficulty
in manipulation of the tag onto the driving means. This
difficulty is particularly apparent i_n cold weather
during which the material from which. the tag is made may
be less flexible. Further, this trethod is somewhat
slower than bay be necessary.
It is also apparent that such a method of fitm.ent
to avoid contact with the animal's ear and, thereby
reducing the risk of cross infection is no longer as
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important when considering ear tags for temporary stock
such as feedlot stock.
In the case of such temporary stock, an easier
insertion process ma~~ be desirable through the use of an
alternative tag and method of application.
OBJECT OF TiiE INVENTION
Therefore, it is an object of the preser_t invention
to provide an animal Ear tag and method of application
which overcomes some of these disadvantages of the prior
art or at least provides the public with a useful. '
choice.
SUMMARY OF THE IN'JENTION
Acccrdingly, in a first aspect, the invention
consists in an animal ear tag comprising:
a main body portion;
a neck portion extending from said main body
portion;
a head portion connected to or adjacent a distal
end of said neck portion from said body portion; and
said head portion having an aperture therein to
receive a driving means of an applicator to drive said
head portion through animal's ear during application and
draw at least a portion of said neck portion into said
animal's ear such that said head portion may be disposed
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on one side of the animal's ear and the main body
portion on the opposed side of the ear.
Accordingly, in a second aspect, the invention
consists in a method of applying an ear 'tag including a
main body portion, neck: portion and a head portion to an
animal including the steps of:
engaging driving means of an ear tag applicator
with the head portion of an ear tag through an aperture
provided in said head portion rearward of a front end of
said head portion and extending towards said front end
of said head portion;
positioning said driving means and said ear tag
adjacent an ear of an animal;
actuating said driving means such that said head
portion and at least a portion of said neck portion are
driven into and through said ear; and
removing said driving means to leave said eax tag
located in said ear with said head portions and said
main body portions of said ear tag disposed on opposed
sides of said ear.
Further aspects of this invention may become
apparent frcm those skilled in the art to which the
invention relates upon reading the following
description.
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BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
The description will now be provided with reference
to the drawings in which:
Ficture.. 1 shows a perspective view 'of an ear t.ag
and an applicatcr ire accordance with one
embodiment of this invention in. a first
position;
Figure 2 shows a perspective view of the apparatus
of Figure 1 in a second position; anti
Figure 3 shows a perspective vi.eo-r of an ear r.ag
and a portion of the applicator engaging
an anima7.'s ear in accordance with this
invention.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS
Referring to Figure 1, an animal ear tag 1 can be
seen located in an applicator 2 ready for use.
The ear tag 1 has a main body portion 3, a neck
and a head portion 5 such that the haad portion 5 is
arranged at or adjacent a distal end of the neck A from
that to which the main body portion 3 is attached. Sur_h
an ear tag 1 is arranged so that the main body portion 3
and head 5 can be disposed on opposed side9 of the
animal's ear once fitted.
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w As can be seen from Figure 1, the applicator 2 has
a driving means 6 to engage within an aperture in the
head 5 such that the driving means 6 may drive the head
through an animal's ear. Although a variety of
applicators 2 may be used in conjunction with this
invention, the preferred form uses an applicator having
a driving means comprising a pin 5 as shown in Figure 1.
The head S may be of any suitable form and may
include such forms whereby the driving means 6 extends
entirely through the head 5 or, as shown in this
preferred form, the driving means 6 may locate in an
aperture 7 and extend towards a front end 8 of the head
portion 5. The driving means 6 and the bore extending
from the aperture 7 may terminate short of the front end
8 and not extend entirE:ly throughout the head 5.
In accordance with some cor_ventional designs of ear
tags, the head 5 may be provided with a cutting portion
9 adjacent that front end 8 to pierce the animal's ear
so that the remainder of the head portion 5 and at least
a portion of the neck portion 4 can be placed through
the opening made in the ear by the cutting means 9.
Turning now to Figure 2, the applicator 2 car_ be
seen with the driving means 6 rotated to lie
substantially parallel with the upper jaw 10 of the
applicator 2. This is in accordance with a number of
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.- existing applicators 2 although this does not
necessarily have to be provided in an applicator urea in
conjunction with this invention.
When used with this preferred form of applyc;ator 2,
the ear tag 2 may be relatively easily engaged with the
driving means 6 through fitment of the head portion 5
onto the driving means 6 through the aperture 7. To
facilitate easy engagement of the driving means 6 with
the head 5, the aperture 7 into which the driving means
6 is placed is provided, in this preferred form, on a
distal face 11 of the head 5 from the main body portion
3. Alternatively, the aperture 7 could be placed on
side faces or a rear face of the head 5, however, it is
preferred that the aperture 7 is nor_ placed c:n the side
of the head 5 f.ron; whic.:n the neck 4 exter_ca as this
aperture would be more difficult to locate by user o~
the apparatus in placing the driving means 6 in the
aperture 7.
TZeferring now to Figure 3, it can be seer. that tl~ae
applicator ? and~ear tag 1 are placed adjacent an
anima7.'s ear 12. It can be seen that the main body
portion 3 and neck portion 4 are preferably provided
with sufficient flexibility so that they may fold
against the driving means 6 to reduce the size of the
pierced aperture required in the ear 12 to place the tag
1. In this embod?ment it can by seen that the ear tag 1
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and, in particular, the main body poxti.~an 3 is provided
with a recess 13 or otherwise shaped and configured so
that the driving means 6 can be located relatively
closely to the juncture 14 between the neck 4 and the
main body portion 3. This allows the eax tag 3 to fold
about the driving means 6 as desired to reduce the ~ize
of the aperture necessary in the ear 12 during t;.he
fitment sequence.
Figure 3 also shcws an aperture 15 which is
traditionaJ.ly provided in an ear tag l for the nor_ma~.
fitment procedure of the driving means 6 through the
neck 4 and then into an aperture provided in the head 5.
This aperture 15 itself may more preferably be sealed to
prevent engagement in that manner and to force a user to
correctly position the driving means 6 through the new
aperture 7 provided in the head 5. However, although
the apertuxe 15 may be sealed, the neck 4 itself is
still preferably constructed with a hollow core to
increase the flexibility of the neck 4 so ~t can assume
the position as shown in Figure 3.
The construction of an ear ta.g . may be through any
suitable form of construction and the materials may be
of any suitable form including the current materials
used for such ear tags being a range of plastic
materials. It is preferred that the neck 4 and main
body portion 3 are made from a relatively soft material
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for flexibility and the head 5 or at least the cutting
portion 9 may be made f~.~om a firmer material. As is the
case with current ear tags l, the cutting means 9 may be
provided as a sepa-Rate piece made from a different
material which is then fitted to the head 5 or, in an
alternative form, could be provided as part of a unitary
construction of the head 5.
Thus is can be seen that the invention provides an
ear tag which may be particularly useful for fitment to
animals outside of those used for breeding or long term
retention such than the contact between the driving
means 6 and the ear 12 during the driving of the head 5
and at least a port=ion of the neck 4 through the ear 12
is not avoided due to the decreased concern over cross
infection in stock of these types.
Such a method allows a faster application of the
tag and easier man~.pulation of the tag. Although
particularly usefu_ in cold weather, the increased speed
of fitment may be an advantage in all conditions.
Where in the foregoing description, reference has
been made to specific components or integers of the
i ~G n t ~ v n ~ r i n r-r ,-, r, m N ~ ,~, ~ ~ V 1.
nz a' ~ k~~.,V.~ ey i a a e..~s, :.re:~ uc»
equivalents are hez-ein incorporated as if individually
set forth.
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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 or spirit of the invention as~de~ined in the
appended claims.
