Animal husbandry – Feeding device – Suckling appliances
Patent
1995-02-13
1997-02-04
Swiatek, Robert P.
Animal husbandry
Feeding device
Suckling appliances
215 111, A01K 900, A61J 1100
Patent
active
055988091
DESCRIPTION:
BRIEF SUMMARY
TECHNICAL FIELD
This invention relates to an improved teat. Where animals are to be artificially reared on milk or other liquids, teats are usually the preferred means of facilitating a young animal to self-feed.
BACKGROUND ART
For example, in order to feed numerous calves at one time, there may be a row of teats projecting horizontally around the top perimeter of a container and those teats would normally be connected to tubes equipped with one-way valves to enable liquid to be drawn up from the bottom of the container when the teat is sucked. Obviously in such a construction, as long as the teat level is above the liquid level, there is no danger of appreciable quantities of the liquid leaking out of the teat under gravitational pressure.
However, where the teats are to be gravity fed they may be situated, for example, at the base of a container so that there is a head of liquid above the teats of perhaps up to 2 metres, and it then becomes imperative that the teats be self-sealing and able to resist that amount of pressure.
DISCLOSURE OF INVENTION
The present invention consists in a teat having fastening means enabling the teat to be fastened to a source of liquid in use to project outwardly from the source, the teat having an outer end which is closed apart from a slit in it which slit is itself normally adapted to be closed to provide a sufficient liquid seal, the outer end of the teat being made of a resilient material with reinforcing means on either side of the slit so that if the end of the teat is squashed or compressed by forces with components along the direction of slit, the reinforcing means causes the slit to be opened, thereby allowing liquid to flow out of it in use.
The advantage of the present invention is that a small slit can be used with better sealing characteristics while ensuring a high volume of liquid is released through the slit by stretching it open when sucking occurs.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS
The preferred forms of the present invention will now be described with reference to the accompanying drawings in which:
FIG. 1 shows a central longitudinal cross-section of one form of teat, the section being at right angles to the slit,
FIG. 2 shows a central longitudinal cross-section through the end of the teat, at right angles to that shown in FIG. 1,
FIG. 3 shows a cross-sectional view on the plane III--III of FIG. 1.
FIG. 4 shows a central longitudinal cross-section of a second form of teat, the section being at right angles to the slit,
FIG. 5 shows a central longitudinal cross-section through the end of the teat of FIG. 4, at right angles to the cross-section shown in FIG. 4,
FIG. 6 shows a cross-sectional view on the plane VI--VI of FIG. 4,
FIG. 7 shows a central longitudinal cross-section of a further preferred form of teat, the section being aligned with the slit,
FIG. 8 shows a side elevation of the teat of FIG. 7,
FIG. 9 shows a longitudinal cross-section of the teat of
FIG. 7 at right angles to the cross-section of FIG. 7,
FIG. 10 shows a cross-sectional view on the plane X--X of FIG. 8,
FIG. 11 shows an end view in the direction XI--XI of FIG. 8, and
FIG. 12 shows an end view in the direction XII--XII of FIG. 8.
MODES FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION
As shown in FIG. 1, the teat is preferably substantially cylindrical, having a hollow center 1 and the thickness of the wall 2 is thinner at what will be the outer end of the teat in use, compared to the thickness of the inner portion 3 which will abut the liquid source--usually a container. A flange 4 is adapted to lie against the inner surface of the liquid container so that surface 5 will abut the inside wall of the container. The cylindrical surface 6 will pass through a hole in the wall of the container, there being a tight fit at this point, and a locking means, which may be in the form of a circumferential rib 7 of semi-circular cross-section, is adapted to abut against the outer wall of the container to lock the teat in place. The teat will normally project horizontally, but in some instances the teat
REFERENCES:
patent: 605161 (1898-06-01), Clement et al.
patent: 1605427 (1926-11-01), Delmas
patent: 2223179 (1940-11-01), Lougheed
patent: 2533643 (1950-12-01), Verner
patent: 3042002 (1962-07-01), Liell
patent: 3995596 (1976-12-01), Andersson
patent: 4623069 (1986-11-01), White
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