Surgery – Diagnostic testing – Monitoring fertility cycle
Reexamination Certificate
1999-10-21
2002-01-29
Nasser, Robert L. (Department: 3736)
Surgery
Diagnostic testing
Monitoring fertility cycle
C119S174000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06342041
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the invention
The present invention concerns a device for detecting estrus in dairy cows. The invention is more particularly concerned with a device of this kind comprising a support for a detector for detecting estrus in cows which is enclosed in a casing and emits luminous signals.
The invention therefore relates to a support for a detector for detecting estrus in cows, a casing for a detector for detecting estrus in cows adapted to be supported by a support of the above kind and the combination of the support and the detector in its casing.
2. Description of the prior art
Every year millions of cows are artificially inseminated worldwide, a great many in France.
It is necessary to detect estrus in animals with the greatest possible precision, especially in dairy cows.
There are many devices for indicating estrus in animals, especially in dairy cows. FR 2 432 300 describes a device for indicating the periods when mammals are in heat, especially cows, by determining the temperature of the milk from the cow. EP 0 705 536 describes a movement sensor depending on the position of the cows.
When they are in estrus, cows are more active. In particular they have a tendency to mount each other.
U.S. Pat. No. 3,844,273, U.S. Pat. No. 5,542,431 and EP-A-0 263 629 describe a device comprising a detector on a support worn by the cow, habitually fixed to the crupper of the animal.
All the prior art devices have drawbacks.
The devices frequently become detached from the animal to which they have been fixed when they mount each other, leading to a significant loss for the farmer.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,111,799 describes a device for detecting estrus in cows and other animals which is implanted under the skin of the cow. A device of this kind remains f fixed to the animal but cannot be conveniently examined or recovered.
Cows also have different physiognomies and these vary considerably from one breed to another. Prior art detector devices do not take account of these differences and are designed only for a specific breed.
An object of the present invention is to propose a device for detecting estrus in cows which remains fixed to the crupper of the animals when they mount each other.
Another object of the present invention is to provide a device for detecting estrus in cows that can be used with any breed of cow.
A further object of the present invention is to provide a device whose detector can easily be examined and recovered.
Other objects and advantages of the invention will become apparent from reading the following description.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The present invention addresses the above objects and provides a support for a detector comprising a casing containing means for detecting estrus in cows, the support comprising a natural fiber patch having a surface area in the range from approximately 0.04 m
2
to approximately 0.06 m
2
adapted to support a substantially rectangular case adapted to receive the detector and placed substantially at the center of the patch.
In a preferred embodiment of the invention the patch is substantially heart-shaped.
The overall width of the support is advantageously in the range from approximately 0.15 m to approximately 0.3 m and its overall height is advantageously in the range from approximately 0.15 m to approximately 0.25 m.
The case generally includes self-gripping closure means with a lug.
The case is usually made from synthetic fibers, for example polyester fibers, such as high-strength polyester fibers.
The case can have one or two observation openings.
In another embodiment of the invention the upper part of the case is sufficiently transparent to enable luminous signals emitted by the detector to be detected and counted.
The support is advantageously made of natural fibers. Crash is a particularly appropriate material for the patch. Other materials can be used, however.
The case can be an integral part of the patch but preferably includes a base which is sewn to the patch.
Optionally, the support includes straps to secure it to the back of a cow.
To facilitate the position finding of the cows, the patch can have a fluorescent color.
The present invention also provides a detector casing adapted to be supported by a support as defined above and to contain means for detecting estrus in cows and comprising a baseplate capped by a cover.
The baseplate has a back wall with two areas of different thickness, namely a relatively thick central area constituting a beam and a thinner peripheral area around the beam, the peripheral area being flanked by a rim on top of which is a peripheral lip, the beam having three housings adapted to receive a sensing system based on pressure sensors.
According to one feature of the invention, optionally combined with the previous feature, the cover comprises ribs and a cover plate carrying a skirt surrounded by a peripheral groove, which skirt and ribs constitute three compartments, namely a first compartment adapted to receive an electrical power supply, a second compartment adapted to receive means for analyzing and processing a signal and a third compartment having a housing adapted to receive a lens for optimum diffusion of luminous signals.
The baseplate and the cover are usually assembled by gluing the peripheral lip of the baseplate into the peripheral groove on the cover.
For relative positioning of the baseplate and the cover and for holding them while the glue sets, pins on the baseplate are clipped into housings on the cover.
The glue is a two-component polyurethane glue, for example.
The cover of the casing is usually made of polycarbonate, generally transparent polycarbonate.
The baseplate, which is generally substantially pyramid-shaped, is advantageously injection molded from flexible polyurethane.
The cover is generally substantially rectangular and the base of the baseplate is also generally substantially rectangular.
The present invention therefore provides a device for detecting estrus in dairy cows, the device comprising a support including a casing adapted to receive means for detecting estrus in cows, the detector means emitting luminous signals, being enclosed in the casing and inserted in the case, the support and the casing being as defined above.
REFERENCES:
patent: 3076431 (1963-02-01), Rule
patent: 3158134 (1964-11-01), Larson
patent: 3844273 (1974-10-01), Polson
patent: 3942475 (1976-03-01), Wassilieff et al.
patent: 4239018 (1980-12-01), Griffin et al.
patent: 4635587 (1987-01-01), Leonardo
patent: 4846106 (1989-07-01), Leonardo
patent: 4895165 (1990-01-01), Blair
patent: 5111799 (1992-05-01), Senger et al.
patent: 5542431 (1996-08-01), Starzl et al.
patent: 5566679 (1996-10-01), Herriott
patent: 5839390 (1998-11-01), Meads
patent: 0 263 629 (1988-04-01), None
patent: 0 705 536 (1998-01-01), None
patent: 2432300 (1979-08-01), None
patent: 2027213 (1979-07-01), None
Houdou Michel
Saint-Ramon Jean-Gerard
Marmor II Charles
Nasser Robert L.
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