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BACKGROUND TO THE INVENTION
This invention relates to animal identification means and in particular to
animal identification means in the form of ear tags for use with such
animals as for example, sheep, cattle, goats and the like. These are
however by way of example only.
Up until this time numerous forms of identification tags have been
provided, all of which involve the forming of a cut or slit in the ear of
an animal so that at least part of an identification means can pass
therethrough, so as to locate the identification means in a predetermined
or desired position; preferably relative to the ear of an animal. The cut
or slit is usually formed in the ear by means of an applicator tool which
can for example by a unitary tool having a shaft with a sharpened end,
provided with means such as lugs, so that at least part of an
identification means is attached thereto, the sharpened end and shaft
thereafter being pushed or passed through the ear of an animal, forming a
cut or slit in the ear, and at the same time passing at least part of the
identification means through the ear so that the identification means is
located in position relative thereto. In other forms, applicator tools are
provided which have jaws which are pivotally movable relative to each
other. An applicator pin, shaft or blade extends downwardly from for
example an upper jaw. At least one component part of an identification
means can be attached to or mounted on the pin, shaft or blade, and the
jaws located about the ear of an animal. The jaws are then brought
together, so that the pin, shaft or blade, (with the identification means
mounted thereon, or attached thereto) passes through the ear of the animal
to attach and mount the identification means. As with the previous
arrangement referred to, the passage of the pin, shaft or blade (and the
tag attached thereto or mounted thereon), causes a cut or slit in the ear
of the animal.
The cut or slit formed in the ear of the animal usually causes bleeding and
thus presents an open wound, which must heal. In the case of animals, the
wound is often subject to infection such as by brushing against other
animals, by brushing against the ground, or by general infection. If the
wound does not heal, in a relatively short period of time, the wound will
become infected and this will effectively rot or eat away the skin and
flesh around the ear, this being particularly unpleasant and
disadvantageous. Not only is the infection irritating for the animal, but
the infection, if it eats away at the flesh and skin surrounding the
wound, will enlarge the cut or slit to such an extent that in some cases,
the identification means will be more easily removed or pulled from the
animal, this detracting from the purpose and efficiency of animal
identification means.
In a large number of ear tags used up until this time, the tags include one
or more components which, on being passed through the ear of an animal, or
on being connected one to the other relative to a cut or slit that has
been formed in the ear of an animal, then sit over or substantially cover
the wound formed by the cut or slit. Thus, the wound, cut or slit is
usually substantially or at least partially covered, over or adjacent the
wound, cut or slit in the ear of an animal, so that air and light do not
have ready access to the wound. As will be appreciated, if air and light
have access to a wound caused by a cut or slit, the air and light will
assist in the healing process. If however, the wound is at least partially
covered by a component of an identification means, extending or passing
thereover, access to air and light is restricted (and in some cases
minimised), so that there is no assistance from air and light in the
healing process. Indeed, in some cases where components rest against the
ear of the animal and over the wound, the component rubbing, moving or
sitting against the wound will tend to irritate the wound further and
perhaps increase the risk of infection. Particularly this is the case in
countries with particularly high temperatures or humidity, where it is
important for a wound formed by the cut or slit to have access to air and
light.
None of the identification means used up until this time have attempted to
provide an effective means of overcoming this problem.
For example, U.S. Pat. No. 3,731,414 (re-issued as U.S. Pat. No. Re.
31,632), to Murphy et al, discloses a well known ear tag arrangement which
involves two components, one component having an elongate hollow shank
extending outwardly therefrom and the other component having a hole or
boss therein. The arrangement is such that the shank is pushed through the
ear of an animal (thus causing a cut or slit in the ear) and engages in a
boss in the other component. The component which has the shank extending
outwardly therefrom, and which shank has caused the cut or slit (and thus
the resultant wound in the ear), then at least partially covers and sits
over the wound. At the same time, the second component also tends to rest
against and cover that area of the ear at and/or immediately surrounding
the cut or slit formed in the ear. In this particular case therefore, the
component parts of a tag, which has been sold under the trade mark
"ALLFLEX" (registered trade mark), substantially covers and passes over
the cut or slit without providing any means for air and/or light to have
access to the wound. Thus, this tag suffers from the problems outlined
above.
A further arrangement is known and described in U.S. Pat. No. 3,552,051 to
Ritchey. In this specification there is disclosed a one piece or unitary
tag which has a main body portion, an elongate neck and a head attached to
the end of the neck, the neck being bent at an angle relative to the main
body portion, and the head being of a substantially arrow shape, having
shoulders which extend outwardly from the sides of the neck, the shoulders
then leading into bottom sides which extend inwardly towards each other so
as to complete the head of the tag. The arrangement of U.S. Pat. No.
3,552,051 to Ritchey, is described as being located in the ear of an
animal by being assocaited with a hand held applicator tool with a pointed
end, which forces the folded head of the tag and at least part of the neck
through a cut or slit formed by the pointed end of the applicator tool.
The applicator tool is then withdrawn and the head of the tag unfolds, so
that the outwardly extending shoulders and head prevent the tag from being
withdrawn. In some forms of the arrangement however, and especially where
the neck is bent or angled, upper or lower faces of the head will at least
partially cover and be positioned over at least part of a wound, cut or
slit formed in the ear by location of the tag. In this particular
arrangement therefore, the cut or slit will again be at least partially
covered by part of the ear tag, so that there will be very little, if any,
access to air and light, in so far as the wound is concerned, this
detracting from healing of the wound.
A further arrangement is described and disclosed in U.S. Pat. No.
3,958,353, to Hayes, this specification disclosing a two-piece "stand up"
tag, which is provided with a first body portion having a section adapted
to receive indicia, and a base, and a second portion having a base with a
pin. The pin is passed through a cut or slit in the ear of the animal from
one side thereof, and engaged with the first body portion, both portions
of the tag then substantially surrounding and covering any wound resulting
from the cut or slit formed in the ear, for location of the tag. Again, no
means are provided for allowing air and/or light to have access to the
wound.
It will be appreciated from the above, that there are substantial
disadvantages with the identification means used up until this time, in
that they do not attempt to provide any answer to the problem of how to
allow air and/or light access to a cut, slit or wound resulting therefrom.
It is an object of this invention to go at least some way towards
overcoming or at least minimising this problem.
Other objects of this invention will become apparent from the following
description.
BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
According to one aspect of this invention there is provided an animal
identification tag including one or more components and wherein one or
more holes or slots are formed or provided in and through at least one
said component, which component will, in use, be positioned or located so
as to at least partially cover and/or be positioned over a cut or slit
formed to allow location of said identification means, the arrangement
being such that said one or more holes or slots are so positioned relative
to said cut or slit that air and light pass therethrough and reach said
cut or slit, such as to prevent or inhibit infection associated therewith.
According to a further aspect of this invention, there is provided an
animal identification tag including a main body portion adapted to receive
indicia; an elongate neck extending outwardly therefrom and having a head
portion at its outer end; the head portion being formed or provided with
one or more holes or slots therein and which are spaced apart from a
connection between the main body portion and the neck; the arrangement
being such that on said head portion and neck being passed through a cut
or slit in animal skin, such as to retain said identification tag in
position relative to said skin; said one or more holes or slots in said
head portion are positioned over and/or adjacent said cut or slit, so as
to allow air and/or light to have access to said cut or slit.
According to a further aspect of this invention, there is provided an
animal identification tag including at least two components; a first
component including an elongate shank extending outwardly therefrom; and a
second component being formed with a bore or hole adapted to receive at
least an end of the shank; the arrangement being such that the first and
second components are engageable one with the other, the elongate shank
being adapted to pass through a cut or slit in animal skin and to
thereafter pass through and engage with said second component; such
engagement retaining the identification tag and position relative to said
animal skin; one or more holes or slots being formed or provided in and
through at least one of said first and second components; said one or more
holes or slots being spaced apart from a join between said first component
and said shank and/or said bore of said second component, the arrangement
being such that in use, and on engagement of said first and second
components, said one or more holes or slots are positioned over or
adjacent said cut or slit, such as to allow air and/or light to have
access to said cut or slit.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE ACCOMPANYING DRAWINGS
This invention will now be described by way of example only, and with
reference to the accompanying drawings, wherein:
FIG. 1 is an arrangement according to one form of the present invention.
FIG. 2 is an arrangement according to a further form of the present
invention.
FIG. 3 is an arrangement according to yet a further form of the present
invention.
FIG. 4 is an arrangement according to one form of the present invention,
showing a tag engaged in an animal's ear.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT
The invention will now be described by way of example only, but it should
be a-preciated that the invention is described by way of example, with
reference to ear tags for identifying and marking animals such as sheep,
cattle goats, camels and the like. This is by way of example only however,
and the identification means can be used for any appropriate animal. If
desired, the identification means can be used for attachment to some part
of the body of an animal other than an ear. The identification means of
the present invention is preferably formed of an appropriate material; for
example a plastics material. This is by way of example only however.
Throughout the specification and claims, reference is made to the term
"holes or slots" as formed or provided in at least one component of an
identification means, such as an animal ear tag. It should be appreciated
that this term covers any one or more holes or slots of any shape,
configuration and size, the requirement being that any one or more such
holes or slots will be of such shape(s), configuration(s) and size(s), as
to be provided and located within that area of the said at least one
component, as defined by the sides thereof.
The disadvantages of the arrangement used up until this time, have been
referred to and described hereinbefore.
The present invention therefore sets out to overcome or at least minimise
the problems associated with ear tags used up until this time, by
providing a means whereby air and/or light are able to obtain at least
limited access to a cut or slit that is formed in the ear of an animal, or
to a wound resulting therefrom, during location of an ear tag. As referred
to hereinbefore, the applicator tool used for applying an ear tag to the
ear of an animal, such as a "push through" type applicator or a "pliers
type" applicator incorporates means in the form of a pointed end, a pin,
shaft or blade, which passes through the ear to locate the remainder of
the tag in position. This cut or slit often forms a wound and it is
therefore important that means be provided whereby an amount of air and/or
light has access to the cut, slit, or wound, or at least to an area
adjacent thereto.
Referring to FIG. 1 of the accompanying drawings, this shows one form of
the invention where the ear tag 1 has two components, being a first
component 2 having a main body portion 3, capable of receiving indicia,
and from which an elongate shank 4 extends outwardly. The shank 4
preferably has a pointed or sharpened end 5. The second component is a
securing tab 6, which has a hole or boss 7 therein so that on the shank 4
of the first component 2 passing through the ear of an animal (such as on
a cut or slit being formed by an applicator member), an end 5 of the shank
4 will move into and be engaged within the hole or boss 7 so as to engage
the two components 2 and 6 one with the other, and in particular so as to
retain the first component 2 and the main body portion 3 thereof in
position relative to the ear. In use the area adjacent and about the upper
body portion 3a and its connection to the shank 4, is positioned over or
substantially covers a cut or slit (and any wound resulting therefrom),
formed in an ear for location of said tag. Likewise, an inner surface of
the tab 6 may tend to rub against or at least partially cover and pass
over the cut or slit on the other side of an ear. Thus, at least the first
component 2 is provided with a plurality of spaced apart holes or slots 10
which extend through the component immediately over and about the cut or
slit, so that air and/or light will have access to the cut or slit. The
holes or slots 10 can be of any configuration and number, and can be of
any size and diameter. If desired, they can merely be a plurality of
juxtaposed pin holes, passing through the component so that they provide a
plurality of holes or bores which give air and/or light access to or about
the cut or slit underneath the component.
In an alternative form of the invention, one or more slots can be provided
such as in that area of the component that will be immediately over or
adjacent the cut or slit, so that air and/or light has access thereto.
In one form of the invention, involving substantially round or circular
components, substantially curved or arcuate slots can be provided such as
shown, thus giving air and/or light access to the cut or slit. As an
alternative or in addition thereto, a plurality of holes can be provided
passing through a component.
If desired, one or more such holes or slots 10 can be formed or provided in
both components 2 and 6.
Referring to FIG. 2 of the accompanying drawings, a tag 15 is disclosed
which is readily available in some countries, and which has a main body
portion 16 and an outwardly extending neck 17, an elongate head portion 18
being formed which is, in one preferred arrangement, about the same width
as the width of the neck 17. Such arrangements are provided with holes 18a
in one or more ends of the elongate head 18, for attachment to lugs of
insertion tools and applicators, so that the neck 17 and head 18 are
generally brought together and passed through a cut or slit formed in the
ear of an animal, the arrangement being such that on the tool being
removed, the head 18 will extend outwardly from the neck 17, so as to form
a substantially "T" bar arrangement, this preventing or withdrawal of the
tag from the ear. It will be appreciated there is a substantial "T"
connection 19, between the neck 17 and head 18, which will tend to at
least partially cover and pass over any cut or slit formed in the ear of
the animal. In this particular form of the ear tag therefore, one or more
holes or slots 20 are formed in the head portion 18, and in particular in
that portion of the head which will be over and adjacent any cut or slit
formed in the ear of the animal. In this way therefore, air and/or light
will have access to the cut or slit.
We refer now to a further form of the invention as shown in FIGS. 3 and 4
of the accompanying drawings.
In this arrangement, a main body portion 25 is provided which is adapted to
receive marking or indicia. An elongate neck 26 extends outwardly from the
main body 25 portion and a head 27 is provided at one end thereof. The
neck 26 is angled or stepped downwardly and the head 27 is attached to or
formed with the outer end of the neck 26, so that it is substantially in
the same plane as but spaced apart from and below, the main body portion
25. Holes, such as 28, may be provided for engagement with lugs of an
applicator tool. In use, an applicator tool is used to pass the head 27
and at least part of the neck 26 through a cut or slit in the ear of an
animal, the tool then being removed and the head 27 extending outwardly
from the sides of the neck 26, preventing withdrawal of the tag from the
ear. In order to pass the head 27 of the tag through the ear of the
animal, the sides 27a thereof are required to be at least semi flexible,
so that they will curve or fold inwardly towards each other, the
arrangement being such that after their passage through the cut or slit in
the ear, they will, due to their flexibility, return to their original
form, in which they extend outwardly of the neck, thus retaining the tag
in position within the ear.
The head 27, as will be appreciated from FIGS. 3 and 4 of the accompanying
drawings, has a substantially pointed or sharpened forward end 29, sides
27 thereafter extending downwardly and inwardly towards each other, to
terminate in a lower edge 30 which is substantially transverse to the
longitudinal axis of the neck and body portion.
It will be appreciated therefore, that when the tag is in position in the
ear of an animal, (such as shown in FIG. 4 of the drawings), a face of the
head 27 will be positioned against and over the ear of the animal,
immediately surrounding a cut or slit formed in the ear, for location of
said tag. Thus, one or more holes or slots 35 are provided in the head,
and in particular in that area of the head which is immediately over
and/or adjacent the cut or slit formed in the ear.
Referring in particular to FIGS. 3 and 4 of the accompanying drawings, at
least one slot 35 is formed in the lower portion 27b of the head 27,
between its join to the neck 26 and the said lower edge portion 30.
The holes or slots can be in the form of a plurality of juxtaposed and
spaced apart holes, or alternatively in a preferred form of the invention,
and as shown in FIGS. 3 and 4 of the accompanying drawings, can be in the
form of one or more elongate and substantially rectangular slots 35.
Thus, referring to FIG. 4 of the accompanying drawings, at least one
elongate slot 35 is formed in the lower portion 27b of the head 27, so
that air and/or light has good and ample access to a cut or slit formed in
an ear 40 (and through which the head and neck have passed).
Preferably, the slot 35 is substantially elongate and it has been found
that by providing such a slot 35 in the head 27 of a tag, such as that
shown in FIG. 4 of the accompanying drawings, the flexibility of the head
is enhanced to such an extent that it assists the sides 27a of the head 27
flexing in towards each other when the head 27 and neck 26 are passing
through a slit or cut in the ear, during location of the tag.
As shown in FIGS. 3 and 4 of the drawings, holes 35a can be provided or
formed in the head 27, either as an alternative, or in addition to, a slot
35.
It will be appreciated therefore that in the arrangement of FIG. 4 of the
accompanying drawings, not only do one or more slots provide an effective
means for allowing air and/or light access to the cut or slit, but said
one or more slots also assist in location of the tag within the ear.
While the embodiment of FIGS. 3 and 4 of the drawings shows a slot 35, it
should be appreciated that a plurality of such slots could be provided.
The one or more holes or slots can be formed or provided in at least one
ear tag component, such as by moulding, cutting, forming or the like.
It is envisaged that in one form of the invention, a relevant part or
portion of a tag component can be formed, moulded or the like with a
section of thin mesh like plastics material. Thus, the holes in and
forming the mesh will allow air and light access to and adjacent any cut,
slit or wound resulting therefrom. Such a mesh-like area will also add
some flexibility to the tag, as referred to herein by way of example.
It should be appreciated that the present invention has been described by
way of example only, and that modifications and improvements may be made
thereto without departing from the scope thereof, as defined by the
appended claims.
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