Card – picture – or sign exhibiting – Check – label – or tag – Bottle-carried indicia
Patent
1999-02-22
2000-11-14
Davis, Cassandra H.
Card, picture, or sign exhibiting
Check, label, or tag
Bottle-carried indicia
A01K 1100
Patent
active
061452262
DESCRIPTION:
BRIEF SUMMARY
This invention relates to an animal identification device and in particular to an ear tag assembly for attachment to an animal. The invention also relates to an improved attachment means for attaching the animal identification device to the ear of an animal.
DESCRIPTION OF THE PRIOR ART
Modern farming techniques require careful stock control including the ability to recognise individual animals. This has been achieved by tagging animals in identifiable ways. Known tagging methods include ear tags, ear clips and brands (normally applied to the rump). Although these methods provide identification they do not generally identify individual animals, nor do they permit rapid or automatic identification and remote recording.
Electronic identification devices have been developed to provide rapid and automatic identification and remote recording. These devices fall into two broad classes. Devices which are carried within the animal (either sub-cutaneously or internally) and those which are attached to the animal. Of the latter variety, those attached to the ear of animal are probably most prevalent.
An ear tag may serve two purposes. It may provide a visible indication by virtue of a distinctive colouring or numbering, and it may provide electronic identification by virtue of a transponder housed in the ear tag. In our co-pending application, Australian Patent Application Number 36640/95, an attachable transponder housing is disclosed which allows universal attachment of a transponder housing to known ear tag assemblies. Although the attachable transponder housing is useful with conventional numbered ear tags, it is preferable that a suitable ear tag housing and transponder be fitted in the first instance.
A number of ear tag assemblies housing transponders are known in the prior art but each suffers from one or more shortcomings. One such example is disclosed in International Application Number PCT/SE91/00476 in the name of Alfa-laval Agricultural International AB. This application discloses an animal identification device in which a transponder is moulded in a cavity in a hard capsule which in turn is moulded in a soft carrier material. The device is attached to the ear of an animal by a pin which passes through the ear and engages a boss formed in the carrier material.
A major failure mode of transponders is shock due to impact which results in damage to the internal components of the transponder, particularly the ferrite rod. The soft material of the Alfa-Laval device does not prevent damage to the hard casing or shock damage to the transponder. Furthermore, damage to the soft material can result in detachment of the device from the animal. Both situations result in a failure in the purpose of the device.
An ear tag must be able to withstand considerable pressure resulting from:
Another prior art ear tag assembly is described in International Patent Application Number PCT/NZ93/00037 in the name of AlIflex New Zealand Limited. The Allflex ear tag has the transponder in a hard casing which is integrally moulded with a carrier which is preferably the female component of a two part ear tag. As with the Alfa-laval device, the Allflex device is subject to damage to the transponder as it is insufficiently protected in the polyurethane carrier. There is no shock protection provided and thus the electronics of the transponder may be damaged even though the external damage to the ear tag appears minimal.
Similar failure modes due to damage exist for the device described in U.S. Pat. No. 4718697 in the name of Allflex International Limited. The device disclosed in this patent has the transponder moulded in a hard bubble in the middle of rectangular tag. The tag hangs from the ear of an animal such that the transponder is in a position that is particularly susceptible to impact or pressure. The mechanical arrangement of this Allflex device does not provide the protection necessary to ensure long-term, damage-free operation of the transponder contained therein.
Another problem common to prior art ear tags is the tendency
REFERENCES:
patent: D337397 (1993-07-01), Kerola
patent: 3900981 (1975-08-01), Nichols
patent: 4129855 (1978-12-01), Rodrian
patent: 4262632 (1981-04-01), Hanton et al.
patent: 4581834 (1986-04-01), Zatkos et al.
patent: 4694781 (1987-09-01), Howe et al.
patent: 4718697 (1988-01-01), Berardus van Amelsfort
patent: 4798175 (1989-01-01), Townsend et al.
patent: 5308351 (1994-05-01), Nehls
patent: 5357700 (1994-10-01), Schulte
patent: 5461807 (1995-10-01), Johnson
patent: 5891156 (1999-04-01), Gessner et al.
Alfa Laval Agri AB
Davis Cassandra H.
LandOfFree
Ear tag assembly does not yet have a rating. At this time, there are no reviews or comments for this patent.
If you have personal experience with Ear tag assembly, we encourage you to share that experience with our LandOfFree.com community. Your opinion is very important and Ear tag assembly will most certainly appreciate the feedback.
Profile ID: LFUS-PAI-O-2052956