Butchering – Modelling – Visceral cavity closure
Reexamination Certificate
2000-02-23
2001-02-20
Little, Willis (Department: 3643)
Butchering
Modelling
Visceral cavity closure
C024S339000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06190249
ABSTRACT:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
This invention relates to a clip used to close the weasand (oesophagus) of slaughtered animals such as cattle or sheep. More particularly, the invention comprises a weasand clip structured so that the clip can be moved to a sealed position on the weasand with a single stroke of the tool used to slide the clip along the weasand to a sealed position.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
In the meat packing industry standard common practice is to suspend cattle or sheep in an upside down position and to then close off the weasand, the tube (also know as the oesophagus) connecting the throat of the animal to its stomach or paunch. The weasand is closed off to prevent the contents of the stomach, or ingesta, from causing contamination from leakage of the stomach contents once the weasand is cut.
A common practice for closing off the weasand includes use of a tool called a rodder which is used to push the weasand clip to the closed or sealed position. In use, the rodder slips around the outside of the weasand and then two strokes of the rodder are required. The first stroke is necessary for the rodder to cut the sinews or membranes attached to the outside of the weasand to clear the way for the second step of moving the clip to the sealed position. After the first stroke the rodder is retracted, and the clip is then locked around the weasand in front of the rodder prior to the second stroke in which the clip is moved to the sealed position.
One weasand clip commonly used today comprises a flexible plastic split ring made by ADEPT Limited of Auckland, New Zealand. This weasand clip has a generally C-shaped base with flexible teeth projecting into the interior of the clip. When the ends of the clip are locked around the weasand, the flexible teeth apply pressure to seal off the weasand. After the first stroke of the rodder is used to clear the vicinity of the weasand, the second stroke of the rodder is used to force the closed ring up along the length of the weasand. The flexible teeth maintain a sliding seal when the ring is pushed along the weasand to the closed or sealed position in the vicinity of the stomach or paunch. The sliding seal provided by the locked weasand clip pushes any ingesta contained in the weasand back into the stomach of the animal.
The present invention is based on the recognition that a properly structured weasand clip can be used to cut the sinews or membranes along the length of the weasand while at the same time maintaining a sliding seal as the clip is pushed up along the length of the weasand by the rodder. Thus, only a single stroke of the rodder is necessary to clear the weasand-attached sinews and move the weasand clip to the sealed or closed position once the weasand is initially exposed. By reducing the amount of work required to seal off the weasand, worker fatigue is greatly reduced and production rate is increased.
The present invention is also based on the recognition that the weasand clip must be strong enough to both clear the weasand area while at the same time maintaining a reliable seal in a single stroke of the rodder, without structural failure to the weasand clip. A weasand clip made from a strong plastic material may be unsuitable since it can be brittle and prone to cracking or other fatigue failure.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The present invention comprises a weasand clip used to close the weasand (oesophagus) of slaughtered animals. The clip has a leading edge with a sharply configured knife edge for breaking the sinews or membranes along the length of the weasand in a single stroke of the rodder used to push the closed clip along the weasand to the sealed position protecting against leakage of ingesta into the weasand.
Briefly, one embodiment of the weasand clip comprises a unitary piece of flexible plastic material in which the clip has a base of generally C-shaped configuration with an open end, in an open position of the clip. The base has an outside wall, an inside wall facing toward an interior region of the base, and a pair of first and second locking ends at the open end of the base adapted for locking engagement for holding the clip in a closed ring configuration in the locked position. A first and second set of flexible teeth integrally formed with the inside wall of the base project into the interior region and are adapted for interlocking when the clip is moved to the locked position. The base has a leading edge at an end of the base facing away from the direction in which the teeth project. A knife edge is formed integrally with and projects away from the leading edge of the base. The knife edge is sufficiently sharp and positioned so as to break sinews and membranes present along the exterior length of the weasand when the clip is held in its locked position around the weasand and is pushed up along the length of the weasand in a single stroke with the interlocking flexible teeth trailing the knife edge.
In one embodiment of the invention the weasand clip is made from a soft, flexible plastic material such as polypropylene which avoids breakage problems common with the prior art weasand device described above, while also maintaining the weasand clip at a sufficient level of strength to enable the clip to be moved to the sealed position in a single stroke of the rodder.
These and other aspects of the invention are more fully understood by referring to the following detailed description and the accompanying drawings.
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Christie Parker & Hale LLP
Little Willis
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