WO2009117764A1

WO2009117764A1 - Tag applicator

Info

Publication number: WO2009117764A1
Application number: PCT/AU2009/000331
Authority: WO
Inventors: John James Steinfort
Original assignee: John James Steinfort
Priority date: 2008-03-27
Filing date: 2009-03-24
Publication date: 2009-10-01

Abstract

An applicator (39) for an animal tag (115), the animal tag (115) having a male portion (100) and a female portion (101), the applicator (39) comprising, a first limb (32) comprising a first handle (1) and a first jaw member (23) with a support block (23) for supporting the female portion (101); a second limb (33) comprising a second handle (2) and a second jaw member (24) with at least one projecting support pin (19) engageable with the male portion (100), and a swivel assembly (49, 35, 40, 50, 36, 51, 18, 41, 16, 52, 3,) arranged to cause the support block (23) and support pin (19) to move towards each other to cause the male and female portions (100 & 101) to engage in response to the handles (1 & 2) being squeezed together.

Description

TAG APPLICATOR

Field of the Invention

The invention relates to an applicator for an animal tag.

Background of the Invention

Tags for animals such as ear tags are commonly applied to animals such as cows, sheep and goats for purposes of identification of the animal and tracking or monitoring the animal's movements. Animal identification can be important in controlling disease outbreaks. In some jurisdictions tagging of animals is necessary to meet legislative requirements.

Given the commonness and importance of identification tags, the present invention seeks to provide a new and useful tag applicator which is suitable for applying a tag to an animal, especially the ear of an animal.

Disclosure of the Invention

The invention provides an applicator for an animal tag, the animal tag having a male portion and a female portion, the applicator comprising, a first limb comprising a first handle and a first jaw member with a support block for supporting the female portion; - a second limb comprising a second handle and a second jaw member with at least one projecting support pin engageable with the male portion, and - a swivel assembly arranged to cause the support block and support pin to move towards each other to cause the male and female portions to engage in response to the handles being squeezed together.

The first jaw may be fixed to, or integral with, the first handle.

The second jaw may be fixed to, or integral with, the second handle.

The first and second limbs may cross each other. The limbs may swivel in opposite directions to each other as the handles are squeezed or released.

The second jaw member may have a projecting support pin. It may have a pair of projecting support pins. The pair of projecting support pins may be adjustable in order to alter the distance therebetween. A pair of slots may allow adjustment of the pins therein. The second jaw member may have a first configuration in which it is arranged to have only a single projecting support pin, and a second configuration in which it is arranged to have a pair of projecting support pins.

At least one of the handles may be adapted to store a spare projecting support pin.

The support block may comprise a recess for receiving the female portion. It may comprise a pair of recesses for receiving the female portion. There may be several different recesses, or pairs of recesses, each being adapted to receive a different female portion arrangement. Therefore different female portion arrangements may be independently fitted on the support block. For example, there may be a recess or pair of recesses suitable for fitting a cow tag, as well as a separate recess or pair of recesses suitable for fitting a sheep tag. The support block may be adjustable so as to allow the different recesses or pairs of recesses to be aligned with the projecting support pin or pins.

The recess or recesses may be shaped so as to receive one or more locking portions of the female portion. They may provide a friction fit with each locking portion.

The first and second jaw members may form a mouth. The mouth may be deep enough to receive a flag extending from the male or female portions of the animal tag.

The applicator may be spring loaded so that the support block and the support pin automatically move away from each other when the handles are released after having been squeezed together.

The applicator may comprise a handle spring extending between the first and second handles.

The applicator may comprise a locking member for locking the swivel assembly when the handles are in a predetermined squeezed position.

A toggleable clip may be disposed on the first jaw member. The clip may be adapted to hold the female portion on the support block. The clip may be spring loaded. Thus a clip spring may work to urge the clip against the female portion. A user may toggle the clip off the female portion, thereby causing compression of the clip spring.

The swivel assembly may comprise, a first slot defined by the first limb, a second slot defined by the second limb, a first swivel member attached to the first limb and projecting into the second slot, and a second swivel member attached to the second limb and projecting into the first slot.

The swivel members may be considered as being part of their respective limbs. Each swivel member may comprise a swivel pin.

By projecting into the second slot, the first swivel member may connect the second limb to the first limb. Likewise, by projecting into the first slot, the second swivel member may connect the first limb to the second limb.

The first slot may swivel about the second swivel member and the second slot may swivel about the first swivel member when the handles are being squeezed together or released. Thus movement of the handles may be controlled by the size or shape of the slots.

The swivel assembly may comprise a pair of first and second bushes which are in flat abutment and are adapted to slide on each other when the handles are being squeezed together. The first and second bushes may be attached to the first and second limbs respectively. They may be considered as being part of their respective limbs. Inclusion of the bushes may help to reduce friction between the limbs during squeezing of the handles together. Brief Description of the Drawings

By way of example only, embodiments of the invention are described more fully hereinafter with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:-

Figure 1 is an axonometric view of an animal tag for use with a tag applicator in accordance with the invention;

Figure 2 is an exploded axonometric view of a tag applicator according to a preferred embodiment of the invention; Figure 3 is a top view of the tag applicator of Figure 2;

Figure 4 is a left side view of the tag applicator of Figure 2;

Figure 5 is a sectional view through A-A in Figure 6;

Figure 6 is a bottom view of the tag applicator of Figure 2;

Figure 7 is a right side view of the tag applicator of Figure 2; and Figure 8 is an axonometric view a first limb of the tag applicator of Figure 2;

Detailed Description of the Drawings

The various elements identified by integers in the drawings are listed in the following integer list.

Integer List

1 First handle portion 2 Second handle portion 3 Swivel pin

4 First side cap

5 Second side cap

6 Toggle pin

7 Toggle retainer

8 Toggle spring

9 Main spring

10 Handle cover

11 Spring pin

12 Locking toggle

13 Roll pin

14 Tag block screw

15 Toggle screw

16 Pin retainer

17 Toggle clip

18 Swivel bush

19 Head pin

20 Tag block

21 Head pin retainer 22 Locking toggle spring

23 First jaw portion

24 Second j aw portion

25 Recess for double stemmed cow tag

26 Recess for single stemmed cow tag 27 Recess for sheep tag 28 Head pin slot for double stemmed tag

29 Head pin aperture for single stemmed tag 30 Head of first j aw portion

31 Head of second j aw portion 32 First limb

33 Second limb

34 Tag block aperture

35 First slot

36 Second slot 37 Spare head pin recess

38 Spare head pin retainer

39 Tag applicator

40 Swivel pin hole in first limb

41 Swivel pin hole in bush 42 Roll pin hole in second handle portion

43 Threaded hole for tag block screw

44 Threaded hole for toggle screw

45 Aperture in retainer for toggle screw

46 Aperture in retainer for toggle pin 47 Aperture in clip for toggle pin

48 Aperture in spring for toggle pin

49 First swivel disc

50 Second swivel disc

51 Swivel pin hole in second limb 52 Hole in retainer for swivel pin 53 Hole in handle portion for spring pin

54 Roll pin hole in locking toggle

55 Notch

100 Male portion 101 Female portion

104 Piercing heads

105 Tubular stem

106 Panel

107 Opening 110 Locking portions

112 Slot

114 Flag

115 Cow tag

Referring to Figure 1, there is shown an animal tag 115 adapted for attachment to the ear of a cow. The cow tag 115 has separate male and female portions, 100 and 101 respectively, which become interconnected when the tag 115 is attached to the cow's ear.

The male portion 100 comprises a panel 106, a pair of tubular stems 105 extending from opposite edges of the panel 106, and a pair of conical piercing heads 104 located at the end of respective stems 105. The panel 106 defines a pair of openings 107 which open into respective tubular stems 105. The female portion 101 comprises an identification flag 114 which hangs from a locking segment having a pair of slots 112 which open into a pair of locking portions 110.

The male and female portions, 100 and 101 respectively, are interconnected by forcing the piercing heads 104 of the male portion 100 (leading with the apices) through respective slots 112 and into respective locking portions 110 of the female portion 101. The hollow area of the locking portion 110 which receives the piercing head 104 is slightly larger in circumference than the respective slots. Thus, given the conical shape of the piercing head 104, once the piercing head 104 has been forced apex first through the slot 112 into the locking portion 110 it is unable to be pulled back as the base of the piercing head 104 will abut the inner opening of the slot 112.

Figures 2 to 8 show a tag applicator 39, or parts thereof, in accordance with the invention. The applicator 39 comprises a first limb 32 and a second limb 33, the first limb being connected to and crossing the second limb when the applicator is assembled for use.

The first limb 32 has a first jaw portion 23 extending back from one end toward a first handle portion 1 which extends back from the other end. Similarly, the second limb 33 has a second jaw portion 24 extending back from one end toward a second handle portion 2 which extends back from the other end. The first and second jaw portions, 23 and 24 respectively, form a mouth when the handles 1, 2 are connected. The mouth is of sufficient depth to allow the tag flag 114 to extend back therein. A tag block 20 is attached to the head 30 of the first jaw portion 23. The tag block 20 is attached to the head 30 by a pair of screws 14. The screws pass through apertures 34 defined by the tag block 20 and into threaded holes 43 in the head 30.

The tag block 20 has a pair of recesses 25 which are adapted to receive respective locking portions 110 of the cow tag 115 in order to support the female portion 101 of the cow tag 15 on the tag block 20. A differently shaped central recess 26, located between the pair of recesses 25, is also present in the tag block 20. The central recess 26 is adapted to receive a locking portion of an alternative single stemmed cow tag (not shown) which has only a single locking portion present in a female portion of the tag.

The tag also has another pair of recesses 27 which are shaped differently and located on the opposite side of the tag to recesses 25 and 26. The recesses 27 are adapted to receive respective locking portions of a double stemmed sheep tag (not shown) which has a pair of locking portions present in a female portion of the tag. In order to mount the female portion of the sheep tag on the tag block 20, the tag block must be rotated 180 degrees on the head 30 of the first jaw portion 23. Repositioning of the tag block 20 is easily achieved by unscrewing screws 14 and then rescrewing once the tag block has been moved to the desired position on the head 30.

A retainer 7 for a toggle clip 17 is mounted on the head 30 of the first jaw portion 23, deep to the tag block 20, by a pair of screws 15. The toggle screws 15 pass through respective apertures 45 in the toggle retainer 7 and into threaded holes 44 in the head 30. The retainer 7 holds on to the toggle clip 17 via a pin 6 which passes through: retainer apertures 46 defined by the retainer 7, a clip aperture 47 defined by the clip 17, and a spring aperture 48 defined by a spring 8.

The toggle clip 17 pivots about the pin 6, being urged by the spring 8 into a clamping position over the locking segment of the female portion 101 of the cow tag 115 when the tag 115 is mounted on the block 20.

The second jaw 24 has a head portion 31 which defines a pair of slots 28. The slots receive respective removable head pins 19 which are insertable into respective openings 107 of the female portion 101 of the double stemmed animal tag 115. The head pins 19 are held in slots 28 by respective screwable retainers 21. The shape of the slots 28 also allows the position of the head pins to be adjusted depending on the type of tag to be applied. For example, when applying the cow tag 115 the head pins are positioned at the outer ends of their respective slots. However, when applying a sheep tag it may be necessary to move the head pins 29 closer together, positioning them at the inner ends of their respective slots 28.

The head 31 of the second jaw potion 24 also defines a single aperture 29 located between the pair of slots 28. The single aperture 29 receives a removable head pin which is suitable for insertion into an opening of a female portion of a single stemmed animal tag (not shown). The single removable head pin is held in aperture 29 by a screwable retainer (not shown). When applying a single stemmed animal tag, the pair of head pins 19 located on each side of the central head pin should be removed from their respective slots 28 by unscrewing their respective retainers 21.

The first and second handle portions, 1 and 2 respectively, each define a recess 37 for storing a head pin. The stored head pins may be spare head pins 19 or alternative head pins which are specifically suited for use with a sheep tag. The pair of recesses 37 is closed by respective covers 10 which each have retainers 38 for holding the spare head pins.

The first handle portion 1 and first jaw portion 23 come together to form a first swivel disc 49. The first swivel disc defines a first slot 35 and a swivel pin hole 40.

Similarly, the second handle portion 2 and second jaw portion 24 come together to form a second swivel disc 50. The second swivel disc defines a second slot 36 and a swivel pin hole 51.

Each disc 49, 50 is arranged face to face. The opposing disc faces are each lined with a swivel bush 18 to reduce frictional wearing of the disc faces when they are swivelled on each other. Each swivel bush has a swivel pin hole 41 which is aligned with the ipsilateral limb's swivel pin hole, 40 or 51, and the contralateral limb's slot, 35 or 36.

A swivel pin retainer 16 slidably nests in each of the slots 35, 36. Each swivel pin retainer has a hole 52 which aligns with the contralateral limb's swivel pin hole, 40 or 51. The retainers 16 each hold a swivel pin 3 which is screwed through the aligned holes and slots (52, 35, 41, 51 or 52, 36, 41, 40) thereby interconnecting the first and second limbs. The swivel pins 3 are adapted to slide with their respective retainers 16 in their respective slots 35, 36.

A first side cap 4 covers the outer face of the first swivel disc 49. Similarly a second side cap 5 covers the outer face of the second swivel disc 50.

When the handles 1, 2 are moved together, the discs 49, 50 swivel on each other causing the swivel pins 3 to slide in their respective slots 35, 36, and the jaws 23, 24 to move closer together. The pair of swivel bushes 18 which are in abutment serve to provide opposing low friction surfaces to ensure a smooth swivel action. The amount the handles 1, 2 may be moved together is limited by abutment of the swivel pins 3 against an end of their respective slots, or abutment of the first handle portion 1 with the second handle portion 2.

Moving apart the handles 1,2 causes the swivel pins 3 to slide in the slots in the reverse direction (compared to when the handles are moved together) while the discs 49, 50 swivel on each other and the jaws 23, 24 move apart. This movement is limited by abutment of the swivel pins 3 against the opposite end of their respective slots (compared to when the handles are moved together), or abutment of the first handle portion 1 with the second jaw portion 24 and abutment of the second handle portion 2 with the first jaw portion 23. A pair of spring pins 11 screws into respective holes 53 in the handle portions 1, 2. The spring pins 11 project up into the ends of a main spring 9 which extends between the handle portions 1, 2. The main spring 9 urges the handles 1, 2 apart to their end of range when they are not being squeezed together. Thus the jaws 23, 24 are open at rest.

A locking toggle 12 is held by, and pivots about, a roll pin 13 which passes through a hole 54 in the locking toggle and a pair of holes 42 in the second handle portion 2. A toggle spring 22 urges the toggle upward at rest.

A notch 55 is present in the outer edge of each disc 49, 50. When the handles 1, 2 are brought together the notches 55 align, allowing a user to push and rotate the toggle downwardly into the gap formed by alignment of the notches. Whilst holding down the locking toggle 12, the user releases the handles 1, 2. As the handles are urged apart by the main spring 9, the depressed locking toggle catches on the shoulder of one of the notches 55, thereby locking the handles 1, 2 close together. The main spring 9 continues to force the locking toggle 12 into abutment with the shoulder until the handles are again squeezed together and the toggle 12 moves away from the shoulder. Once off the shoulder, the toggle 12 pops upwardly due to action of the toggle spring 8, and the handles 1, 2 are unlocked.

A preferred process for using the applicator 37 is described below:

• The head pins 19 are inserted into the openings 107 of the male portion 100 of the cow tag 115, thereby mounting the male portion 100 on the head pins 19; • The user depresses the toggle clip 17 so that the end of the clip 17 is cleared from the tag block 20;

• The female portion 101 of the cow tag 115 is mounted on the tag block 20 so that the flag 114 extends back into the mouth of the applicator 37 and the locking portions 110 are supported in the tag recesses 25;

• The toggle clip 17 is released by the user so that the end of the clip 17 clamps down on the locking segment of the female portion 101 mounted on the tag block 20;

• The head pins 19 are inserted into the openings 107 of the male portion 100 of the cow tag 115, thereby mounting the male portion 100 on the head pins 19;

• The cow's ear is placed in the gap between the male portion 100 and the female portion 101 of the tag 115;

• Squeezing of the handles 1, 2 together concomitantly brings the jaws 23, 24 together so that the heads 104 of the male portion 100 pierce through the cow's ear, squeeze through the slots 112 of the female portion 101, and lock into the locking portions 110;

• The handles 1, 2 are then released while pulling away from the ear, causing the jaws 23, 24 to move apart and the toggle clip initially holds the female portion whilst the male portion disengages from the pins. It then pivots out of engagement with the female portion 101 thus leaving the tag 115 attached to the ear.

Whilst the above description includes the preferred embodiments of the invention, it is to be understood that many variations, alterations, modifications and/or additions may be introduced into the constructions and arrangements of parts previously described without departing from the essential features or the spirit or ambit of the invention.

It will be also understood that where the word "comprise", and variations such as "comprises" and "comprising", are used in this specification, unless the context requires otherwise such use is intended to imply the inclusion of a stated feature or features but is not to be taken as excluding the presence of another feature or features.

The reference to any prior art in this specification is not, and should not be taken as, an acknowledgement or any form of suggestion that such prior art forms part of the common general knowledge in Australia.

Claims

1. An applicator for an animal tag, the animal tag having a male portion and a female portion, the applicator comprising, - a first limb comprising a first handle and a first jaw member with a support block for supporting the female portion; a second limb comprising a second handle and a second jaw member with at least one projecting support pin engageable with the male portion, and a swivel assembly arranged to cause the support block and support pin to move towards each other to cause the male and female portions to engage in response to the handles being squeezed together.

2. The applicator according to claim 1 wherein the first and second limbs cross each other and swivel in opposite directions to each other as the handles are squeezed or released.

3. The applicator according to claim 1 or claim 2 wherein the position of the at least one projecting support pin is adjustable on the second jaw member.

4. The applicator according to any one of the preceding claims wherein the second jaw member has a pair of projecting support pins which are adjustable in order to alter the distance therebetween.

5. The applicatory according to claim 4 wherein the second jaw member comprises a pair of slots which allow adjustment of the pins therein.

6. The applicator according to any one of the preceding claims wherein the second jaw member has a first configuration in which it is arranged to have only a single projecting support pin, and a second configuration in which it is arranged to have a pair of projecting support pins.

7. The applicator according to any one of the preceding claims wherein at least one of the handles is adapted to store a projecting support pin.

8. The applicator according to any one of the preceding claims wherein the support block comprises a recess or pair of recesses for receiving the female portion.

9. The applicator according to any one of the preceding claims wherein the support block comprises several different recesses, or pairs of recesses, each being adapted to receive a different female portion arrangement.

10. The applicator according to claim 9 wherein the support block is adjustable so as to allow the different recesses or pairs of recesses to be independently aligned with the projecting support pin or pins.

11. The applicator according to any one of the preceding claims wherein the first and second jaw members form a mouth which is deep enough to receive a flag extending from the male or female portions of the animal tag.

12. The applicator according to any one of the preceding claims wherein the applicator is spring loaded so that the support block and the support pin automatically move away from each other when the handles are released after having been squeezed together.

13. The applicator according to any one of the preceding claims comprising a handle spring extending between the first and second handles.

14. The applicator according to any one of the preceding claims comprising a locking member for locking the swivel assembly when the handles are in a predetermined squeezed position.

15. The applicator according to any one of the preceding claims comprising a toggleable clip disposed on the first jaw member, the clip being adapted to hold the female portion on the support block.

16. The applicator according to claim 15 wherein the clip is spring loaded.

17. The applicator according to any one of the preceding claims wherein the swivel assembly comprises, a first slot defined by the first limb, a second slot defined by the second limb, a first swivel member attached to the first limb and projecting into the second slot, and a second swivel member attached to the second limb and projecting into the first slot.

18. The applicator according to claim 17 wherein the first slot swivels about the second swivel member and the second slot swivels about the first swivel member when the handles are being squeezed together or released.

19. The applicator according to any one of the preceding claims wherein the swivel assembly comprises a pair of first and second bushes attached to the first and second limbs respectively, wherein the first and second bushes are in flat abutment with each other and are adapted to slide on each other when the handles are being squeezed together.

20. An applicator substantially as herein described and with reference to the accompanying drawings.