WO2010016779A1 - An animal tag - Google Patents

An animal tag Download PDF

Info

Publication number
WO2010016779A1
WO2010016779A1 PCT/NZ2009/000166 NZ2009000166W WO2010016779A1 WO 2010016779 A1 WO2010016779 A1 WO 2010016779A1 NZ 2009000166 W NZ2009000166 W NZ 2009000166W WO 2010016779 A1 WO2010016779 A1 WO 2010016779A1
Authority
WO
WIPO (PCT)
Prior art keywords
tag
animal
piece
head portion
female
Prior art date
Application number
PCT/NZ2009/000166
Other languages
French (fr)
Inventor
Roy Victor Bladen
Michael Stuart Gardner
Original Assignee
Tagam Limited
Priority date (The priority date is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the date listed.)
Filing date
Publication date
Application filed by Tagam Limited filed Critical Tagam Limited
Publication of WO2010016779A1 publication Critical patent/WO2010016779A1/en

Links

Classifications

    • GPHYSICS
    • G09EDUCATION; CRYPTOGRAPHY; DISPLAY; ADVERTISING; SEALS
    • G09FDISPLAYING; ADVERTISING; SIGNS; LABELS OR NAME-PLATES; SEALS
    • G09F3/00Labels, tag tickets, or similar identification or indication means; Seals; Postage or like stamps
    • G09F3/08Fastening or securing by means not forming part of the material of the label itself
    • G09F3/12Fastening or securing by means not forming part of the material of the label itself by pins, staples, or the like
    • AHUMAN NECESSITIES
    • A01AGRICULTURE; FORESTRY; ANIMAL HUSBANDRY; HUNTING; TRAPPING; FISHING
    • A01KANIMAL HUSBANDRY; CARE OF BIRDS, FISHES, INSECTS; FISHING; REARING OR BREEDING ANIMALS, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR; NEW BREEDS OF ANIMALS
    • A01K11/00Marking of animals
    • A01K11/001Ear-tags

Definitions

  • This invention relates to an animal tag and more particularly but not exclusively to an animal ear tag in that such tags are generally applied to the animal's ear but may be applied elsewhere.
  • animal tags are predominantly either a one-piece or "stand- alone” tag or a two-piece tag.
  • a one-piece tag the tag has no separate anchoring means so that once it has been applied to the animal by a suitable applicator it will be retained in position by virtue of its inherent construction.
  • tags consist of a flexible panel on which the animal identification indicia will be featured and a head portion which is able to be inserted through the animal's ear on one side and once on the other side of the animal's ear will be held in position by the head incorporating its own inherent anchoring means.
  • New Zealand patent number 226296/228456 in the name of Michael Stuart Gardner, a co-inventor of the present invention.
  • a disadvantage of one piece tags is that the animal identification is only visible from one side of the animal's ear. Many livestock owners therefore need to use the alternative two piece tags where a male tag on one side of the animal's ear, pierces the animal's ear to engage with a female tag on the other side, with both the male and female tags being able to provide animal identification. Typically this may consist of substantial panel portions on which identification indicia can be included. For an example of such a two piece tag, reference may be made to New Zealand patent number 312228, also in the name of the above mentioned Michael Stuart Gardner.
  • the present invention therefore seeks to provide the benefits of the two piece tag but utilising a one piece tag in combination with a female tag adapted to be engageable therewith, for this purpose, and in so doing the invention will enable a tag user, such as a livestock owner, to have the option of using an existing stock of one piece tags but also the option of using them as two piece tags as and when the need may arise.
  • a further object of at least one embodiment of the invention is to provide a method of providing an animal tag in which the user is provided with the option of either a one piece or a two piece tag.
  • a further object is to at least provide the public with a useful choice.
  • an animal tag including in combination: a male tag having; i. a main body portion; ii. a neck portion extending from the main body portion; iii. a distal end of the neck portion from the body portion provided with a head portion; iv. said head portion adapted to be insertable through one side of a part of an animal to which the tag is to be applied; v. said head portion further being adapted to be engageable in use with an opposite side of the part of the animal and retain the tag in position as a one piece tag; and a female tag including an engagement portion adapted to be engageable in use with said head portion on said opposite side to provide a two piece tag.
  • a male tag having:
  • a main body portion i. a neck portion extending from the main body portion; iii. a head portion at a distal end of the neck portion from the body portion; iv. said head portion being insertable in use through one side of a part of an animal to be engageable with an opposite side of the part of the animal and be retained in position after insertion as a one piece tag; said method further including providing a female tag and adapting an engagement portion thereof to be engageable with said head portion on said opposite side when a two piece tag is required.
  • an animal tag and/or a method of providing a tag substantially as herein described and/or with reference to the accompanying drawings.
  • Figure 1 Shows one possible embodiment of the invention with a one piece tag about to be engaged with a female tag portion to form a two piece tag;
  • Figure 2 Shows a side view of Figure 1 ;
  • Figure 3 Shows an end view of Figure 1 from behind the female tag portion
  • Figure 4 Shows an end view of Figure 2 from behind the one piece tag
  • Figure 5 Shows a plan view of Figure 2
  • Figure 6 Shows a side view of the one piece tag of Figure 1 after the engagement of the female tag portion
  • Figure 7 Shows an end view of Figure 6 from behind the female tag portion
  • Figure 8 Shows an end view of Figure 6 from behind the one piece tag
  • Figure 9 Shows a plan view of Figure 6;
  • Figure 10 Shows a perspective view of Figure 6 from behind the female tag portion; and Figure 11 Shows a perspective view of Figure 6 from behind the one piece tag.
  • a one piece tag 1 has a body 2 and a neck 3 extending at its distal end to a head 4 including the tip 5.
  • the neck 3 is typically hollow, having an aperture 6 to enable the entry of the pin 11 of an applicator, shown partially in Figure 2, when the tip 5, with its cutting edges, can be forced through an animal's ear in applying the one piece tag 1.
  • the body 2 and neck 3 will be of a soft plastics material whereas the tip 5 will be of a hard plastics material.
  • the head 4 In use as a one piece tag, after the tip 5 has been forced through the animal's ear and the applicator pin removed, the head 4 will regain its normal position, substantially at right angles to the neck 3, which prevents the removal of the tag 1 from the animal's ear.
  • a female tag 7 is shown, although this may of any suitable type, not necessarily with a large body portion 10 as illustrated.
  • the female tag 7 may, for example, feature a relatively small, colour coded, button and/or may optionally accommodate a suitable RFID device.
  • the female tag 7, of whatever type, has an engagement portion adapted to be engageable with the head 4 of the one piece tag when a two piece tag is required by the user.
  • a female tag, for use with a two piece tag would not, of course, be normally useable with a one piece tag in that the respective heads of the male tags of one piece and two piece tags are different, being required to achieve different purposes.
  • the female tag 7 has a body 10 of a suitable soft plastics and in the embodiment shown the head engagement portion is a substantially disk-shaped portion 8 including an aperture 9 of a size to allow the entry, passage and retention of the tip 5 and head 4 after insertion through the animal's ear, so that the one piece tag 1 becomes a two piece tag in combination with the female tag 7.
  • the portion 8, as shown is of a greater thickness than the body 10 so as to improve its durability and ability to retain the male tag 1.
  • the portion 8 may preferably be of the same soft plasties material of the body 10 and will therefore be expandable to allow the male head 4 to pass through.
  • a one part moulding may be used for the female flag 7, although it is envisaged that a two part moulding in which portion 8 was of a different, harder, material than that of body 10 could be used.
  • body portion 2 will be on one side of the animal's ear and body portion 10 on the opposite side, and with both body portions featuring appropriate indicia 12.
  • the female tag 7 may be a loose fit on the neck 3 so as to allow it to rotate.
  • the present invention provides an ear tag user with the option of either using the tag as a one piece tag or, when appropriate, readily converting it for use as a two piece tag with a female tag specially adapted for this purpose.

Abstract

An animal tag includes a male tag (1) which is able to function as a one piece tag, having a head (4) with a tip (5) which is able to be inserted through one side of an animal's ear to engage with, and be retained on the opposite side. A female tag (7) however has its engagement portion (8) adapted to be engageable with the head portion (4) when a two piece tag is required.

Description

AN ANIMAL TAG
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
This invention relates to an animal tag and more particularly but not exclusively to an animal ear tag in that such tags are generally applied to the animal's ear but may be applied elsewhere.
To the present time animal tags are predominantly either a one-piece or "stand- alone" tag or a two-piece tag.
In a one-piece tag the tag has no separate anchoring means so that once it has been applied to the animal by a suitable applicator it will be retained in position by virtue of its inherent construction. Such tags consist of a flexible panel on which the animal identification indicia will be featured and a head portion which is able to be inserted through the animal's ear on one side and once on the other side of the animal's ear will be held in position by the head incorporating its own inherent anchoring means. As an example of such a one piece tag reference may be made to New Zealand patent number 226296/228456 in the name of Michael Stuart Gardner, a co-inventor of the present invention.
A disadvantage of one piece tags is that the animal identification is only visible from one side of the animal's ear. Many livestock owners therefore need to use the alternative two piece tags where a male tag on one side of the animal's ear, pierces the animal's ear to engage with a female tag on the other side, with both the male and female tags being able to provide animal identification. Typically this may consist of substantial panel portions on which identification indicia can be included. For an example of such a two piece tag, reference may be made to New Zealand patent number 312228, also in the name of the above mentioned Michael Stuart Gardner.
In applying one piece or two piece tags, various forms of applicators are used and for an example reference may be made to New Zealand patent number 335702, also in the name of the above mentioned Michael Stuart Gardner. Insofar as may be appropriate the above patents are herein incorporated by way of reference.
The present invention therefore seeks to provide the benefits of the two piece tag but utilising a one piece tag in combination with a female tag adapted to be engageable therewith, for this purpose, and in so doing the invention will enable a tag user, such as a livestock owner, to have the option of using an existing stock of one piece tags but also the option of using them as two piece tags as and when the need may arise.
OBJECTS OF THE INVENTION
It is therefore an object of at least one embodiment of the invention to provide an animal tag which is able to provide the user with an option of using it as a one piece or two piece tag.
A further object of at least one embodiment of the invention is to provide a method of providing an animal tag in which the user is provided with the option of either a one piece or a two piece tag.
A further object is to at least provide the public with a useful choice.
Further objects of the invention, all objects being considered disjunctively, will be apparent from the following description.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
According to one aspect of the present invention there is provided an animal tag including in combination: a male tag having; i. a main body portion; ii. a neck portion extending from the main body portion; iii. a distal end of the neck portion from the body portion provided with a head portion; iv. said head portion adapted to be insertable through one side of a part of an animal to which the tag is to be applied; v. said head portion further being adapted to be engageable in use with an opposite side of the part of the animal and retain the tag in position as a one piece tag; and a female tag including an engagement portion adapted to be engageable in use with said head portion on said opposite side to provide a two piece tag.
According to a second aspect of the present invention there is provided a method of providing a one piece and a two piece tag, including providing a male tag having:
i. a main body portion; ii. a neck portion extending from the main body portion; iii. a head portion at a distal end of the neck portion from the body portion; iv. said head portion being insertable in use through one side of a part of an animal to be engageable with an opposite side of the part of the animal and be retained in position after insertion as a one piece tag; said method further including providing a female tag and adapting an engagement portion thereof to be engageable with said head portion on said opposite side when a two piece tag is required.
According to a further aspect of the present invention there is provided an animal tag and/or a method of providing a tag, substantially as herein described and/or with reference to the accompanying drawings.
Further aspects of this invention, which should be considered in all its novel aspects, will become apparent from the following description, given by way of example of possible embodiments of the invention and in which reference is made the accompanying drawings.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
Figure 1 : Shows one possible embodiment of the invention with a one piece tag about to be engaged with a female tag portion to form a two piece tag;
Figure 2: Shows a side view of Figure 1 ;
Figure 3: Shows an end view of Figure 1 from behind the female tag portion; Figure 4: Shows an end view of Figure 2 from behind the one piece tag;
Figure 5: Shows a plan view of Figure 2; Figure 6: Shows a side view of the one piece tag of Figure 1 after the engagement of the female tag portion;
Figure 7: Shows an end view of Figure 6 from behind the female tag portion; Figure 8: Shows an end view of Figure 6 from behind the one piece tag; Figure 9: Shows a plan view of Figure 6;
Figure 10 Shows a perspective view of Figure 6 from behind the female tag portion; and Figure 11 Shows a perspective view of Figure 6 from behind the one piece tag.
DESCRIPTION OF POSSIBLE EMBODIMENTS
Referring to the accompanying drawings, a one piece tag 1 has a body 2 and a neck 3 extending at its distal end to a head 4 including the tip 5. The neck 3 is typically hollow, having an aperture 6 to enable the entry of the pin 11 of an applicator, shown partially in Figure 2, when the tip 5, with its cutting edges, can be forced through an animal's ear in applying the one piece tag 1. Typically the body 2 and neck 3 will be of a soft plastics material whereas the tip 5 will be of a hard plastics material. In use as a one piece tag, after the tip 5 has been forced through the animal's ear and the applicator pin removed, the head 4 will regain its normal position, substantially at right angles to the neck 3, which prevents the removal of the tag 1 from the animal's ear.
A female tag 7 is shown, although this may of any suitable type, not necessarily with a large body portion 10 as illustrated. In an alternative embodiment the female tag 7 may, for example, feature a relatively small, colour coded, button and/or may optionally accommodate a suitable RFID device. The female tag 7, of whatever type, has an engagement portion adapted to be engageable with the head 4 of the one piece tag when a two piece tag is required by the user. A female tag, for use with a two piece tag would not, of course, be normally useable with a one piece tag in that the respective heads of the male tags of one piece and two piece tags are different, being required to achieve different purposes. As shown, however, the female tag 7 has a body 10 of a suitable soft plastics and in the embodiment shown the head engagement portion is a substantially disk-shaped portion 8 including an aperture 9 of a size to allow the entry, passage and retention of the tip 5 and head 4 after insertion through the animal's ear, so that the one piece tag 1 becomes a two piece tag in combination with the female tag 7. Typically the portion 8, as shown, is of a greater thickness than the body 10 so as to improve its durability and ability to retain the male tag 1. The portion 8 may preferably be of the same soft plasties material of the body 10 and will therefore be expandable to allow the male head 4 to pass through. In this way a one part moulding may be used for the female flag 7, although it is envisaged that a two part moulding in which portion 8 was of a different, harder, material than that of body 10 could be used. As seen particularly in figures 10 and 11 , once retained on the animal's ear, in this embodiment, body portion 2 will be on one side of the animal's ear and body portion 10 on the opposite side, and with both body portions featuring appropriate indicia 12. Suitably the female tag 7 may be a loose fit on the neck 3 so as to allow it to rotate.
It is seen therefore that the present invention provides an ear tag user with the option of either using the tag as a one piece tag or, when appropriate, readily converting it for use as a two piece tag with a female tag specially adapted for this purpose.
Where in the foregoing description reference has been made to any specific features or integers having known equivalents then such equivalents are herein incorporated, as if individually set forth.
Although this invention has been described by way of example and with reference to possible embodiments thereof it is to be understood that modifications or improvements may be made thereto without departing from the scope of the invention as defined in the appended claims.

Claims

CLAIMS:
1. An animal tag including in combination: a male tag having: i a main body portion; ii a neck portion extending from the main body portion; iii a distal end of the neck portion from the body portion provided with a head portion; iv said head portion adapted to be insertable through one side of a part of an animal to which the tag is to be applied; v said head portion further being adapted to be engageable in use with an opposite side of the part of the animal and retain the tag in position as a one piece tag; and a female tag including an engagement portion adapted to be engageable with said head portion on said opposite side to provide a two piece tag.
2. An animal tag as claimed in claim 1 , in which the said engagement portion is substantially disk-shaped and includes an aperture adapted to allow the entry, passage and retention of the head portion.
3. An animal tag as claimed in claim 1 or claim 2 in which the engagement portion is of a softer material than that of the head portion and is expandable to facilitate its engagement with said head portion.
4. An animal tag as claimed in claim 3 in which the female tag includes a body portion of the same material as said engagement portion.
5. An animal tag as claimed in claim 1 , in which the female tag includes an RFID device.
6. An animal tag substantially as herein described with reference to the accompanying drawings.
7. A method of providing a one piece and a two piece tag including providing a male tag having: i a main body portion; ii a neck portion extending from the main body portion; iii a head portion at a distal end of the neck portion from the body portion; iv said head portion being insertable in use through one side of a part of an animal to be engageable with an opposite side of the part of the animal and be retained in position after insertion as a one piece tag; said method further including providing a female tag and adapting an engagement portion thereof to be engageable with said head portion on said opposite side when a two piece tag is required.
PCT/NZ2009/000166 2008-08-04 2009-07-30 An animal tag WO2010016779A1 (en)

Applications Claiming Priority (2)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
NZ570302 2008-08-04
NZ57030208 2008-08-04

Publications (1)

Publication Number Publication Date
WO2010016779A1 true WO2010016779A1 (en) 2010-02-11

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ID=41663870

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PCT/NZ2009/000166 WO2010016779A1 (en) 2008-08-04 2009-07-30 An animal tag

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Cited By (1)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
WO2014089277A1 (en) * 2012-12-06 2014-06-12 Y-Tex Corporation Tag hanger

Citations (4)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US4597208A (en) * 1983-08-25 1986-07-01 Chevillot Cattle identification tag
US6439169B1 (en) * 1998-12-09 2002-08-27 Surge Miyawaki Co., Ltd. Ear marks for livestock registration, printing method for ear mark, and identification method using the ear mark
US6598326B2 (en) * 1997-10-31 2003-07-29 Os Husdyrmerkefabrikk A/S Livestock tag locking system
WO2007095684A1 (en) * 2006-02-24 2007-08-30 Drover's Ay-One Pty. Ltd. Animal identification tag and method of manufacturing same

Patent Citations (4)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US4597208A (en) * 1983-08-25 1986-07-01 Chevillot Cattle identification tag
US6598326B2 (en) * 1997-10-31 2003-07-29 Os Husdyrmerkefabrikk A/S Livestock tag locking system
US6439169B1 (en) * 1998-12-09 2002-08-27 Surge Miyawaki Co., Ltd. Ear marks for livestock registration, printing method for ear mark, and identification method using the ear mark
WO2007095684A1 (en) * 2006-02-24 2007-08-30 Drover's Ay-One Pty. Ltd. Animal identification tag and method of manufacturing same

Cited By (2)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
WO2014089277A1 (en) * 2012-12-06 2014-06-12 Y-Tex Corporation Tag hanger
US9226549B2 (en) 2012-12-06 2016-01-05 Y-Tex Corporation Tag hanger

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