Ear tag

Details Ear tag Ear tag

1992-03-05

1994-05-03

Pellegrino, Stephen C.

Surgery

Instruments

Means for marking animals

606117, 40300, 40301, G09F 300

Patent

active

053083512

DESCRIPTION:

BRIEF SUMMARY
FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to an ear tag for marking an animal.


BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

In European Patent Specification No: 92,408 B1, there is described an ear tag comprising a first button having an aperture, a pin having a head and a heel and being attached to the first button via engagement of the heel in the aperture prior to application of the tag to an animal, and a second button which is separate from the pin prior to application of the tag, the second button having an aperture in which the head of the pin is engaged on application of the tag.
On the prior tag, the buttons are of flexible plastics material, whereas the pin is of rigid plastics material. These material choices enable the tag to be readily applied to an animal's ear, and yet enable the tag to resist snagging in fences, gates etc., as can happen with tags of all rigid material. However, the prior tag and indeed other prior tags can on occasion be torn apart for illicit retagging of animals with the wrong tags.


THE INVENTION

The object of the invention is to provide a tamperproof ear tag.
An ear tag according to the invention is characterized in that at least one of the buttons has an additional ring at the button's aperture and via which the pin engages the said button.
Whilst it is envisageable that the pin may be deformable on application of the tag, for instance by slitting, and that the additional ring may be rigid; the additional ring is preferably of resilient material and includes an internal bore of a size to permit passage of the head of the pin with resilient deformation of the additional ring on fitting of the pin to the said button and an axially facing seat for engagement behind the head or the heel of the pin when the additional ring recovers its shape after passage of the head.
The additional ring may be incorporated in the first button at the first button's aperture for engagement of the heel of the pin and/or in the second button at the second button's aperture for engagement of the head of the pin on application of the tag.
Conveniently the additional ring is an insert placed in its button's mold and around which the button is moulded.
In accordance with a particularly preferred feature, the additional ring comprises a separable annular element, which separates from the said button if excessive force is applied to remove the pin from the button and includes means for connecting the separable annular element to the said button adapted and arranged for separation of the annular element from the said button on application of excessive, pin removal force to the said button.
It is envisaged that the entire additional ring may be separable from tis button and constitute the separable annular element,. For its normal securement in its button, the additional ring may have a textured mating surface, providing a key for the button's material.
Alternatively as is preferred the additional ring has a weak region at which the separable annular element is frangible for separation of the said button from the pin on application of the excessive force.
In the preferred embodiment, the weak region is combined with an external contour of the additional ring adapted for engagement thereof in the said button.
In accordance with an important preferred feature, the weak region is provided at the outer diameter of the seat and the separable annular element has substantially this diameter whereby a bore at least as large as the head or heel of the pin is left it eh said button after separation.
Conveniently the additional ring extends to the outer surface of the said button, whereby axial force on the element during application of the tag is reacted to the fitting tool.
In the preferred embodiments, the additional ring has the effect of reinforcing the material of the button at its aperture where the pin is secured therein.
In accordance with a further improvement the additional ring has an outer enclosure member, whereby the head or heel of the pin, with whichever of which the additional ring is engaged,

REFERENCES:
patent: 3184874 (1965-05-01), Schofield
patent: 3826030 (1974-07-01), Read
patent: 3958353 (1976-05-01), Hayes
patent: 4581834 (1986-04-01), Zatkos et al.
patent: 4646455 (1987-03-01), Gardner
patent: 4694781 (1987-09-01), Howe et al.
patent: 4920671 (1990-05-01), Zatkos

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