Patent Application
20150264912
The present disclosure relates to an insecticide-carrying device for treating livestock and in particular to a multi-piece insecticide-carrying device.
This section provides background information related to the present disclosure which is not necessarily prior art.
It is well known in the livestock industry to impregnate articles such as tags with an insecticide. Generally, such tags are attached to the livestock in order to control biting and nuisance flies, and other ectoparasites. For example, an insecticide-carrying tag may be applied to one or both ears of the animal. As such, conventional insecticide-carrying tags typically include a tag and a tag hanger. An example of a known insecticide tag is shown in U.S. Pat. No. 4,581,834.
Insecticide-carrying devices are also used in and around livestock feeders and other locations where livestock might otherwise congregate to likewise control ectoparasites. For example, an insecticide-carrying bag may be hung from, or otherwise fastened to, a livestock feeder. While such bags adequately support and position an insecticide material near livestock feeders and other locations where livestock congregate, such bags are cumbersome and often are formed from materials that are susceptible to weather conditions, thereby reducing the effectiveness of the device.
This section provides a general summary of the disclosure, and is not a comprehensive disclosure of its full scope or all of its features.
An insecticide-carrying device is provided and may include a first insecticide-carrying strip and a second insecticide carrying strip. The second insecticide carrying strip may be rotatably coupled to the first insecticide-carrying strip to permit relative movement between the first insecticide-carrying strip and the second insecticide-carrying strip.
In another configuration, an insecticide-carrying device is provided and may include a first insecticide-carrying strip and a second insecticide carrying strip. The second insecticide carrying strip may be moveably attached to the first insecticide-carrying strip to permit relative movement between the first insecticide-carrying strip and the second insecticide-carrying strip.
Further areas of applicability will become apparent from the description provided herein. The description and specific examples in this summary are intended for purposes of illustration only and are not intended to limit the scope of the present disclosure.
The drawings described herein are for illustrative purposes only of selected embodiments and not all possible implementations, and are not intended to limit the scope of the present disclosure.
Corresponding reference numerals indicate corresponding parts throughout the several views of the drawings.
Example embodiments will now be described more fully with reference to the accompanying drawings.
Example embodiments are provided so that this disclosure will be thorough, and will fully convey the scope to those who are skilled in the art. Numerous specific details are set forth such as examples of specific components, devices, and methods, to provide a thorough understanding of embodiments of the present disclosure. It will be apparent to those skilled in the art that specific details need not be employed, that example embodiments may be embodied in many different forms and that neither should be construed to limit the scope of the disclosure. In some example embodiments, well-known processes, well-known device structures, and well-known technologies are not described in detail.
The terminology used herein is for the purpose of describing particular example embodiments only and is not intended to be limiting. As used herein, the singular forms “a,” “an,” and “the” may be intended to include the plural forms as well, unless the context clearly indicates otherwise. The terms “comprises,” “comprising,” “including,” and “having,” are inclusive and therefore specify the presence of stated features, integers, steps, operations, elements, and/or components, but do not preclude the presence or addition of one or more other features, integers, steps, operations, elements, components, and/or groups thereof. The method steps, processes, and operations described herein are not to be construed as necessarily requiring their performance in the particular order discussed or illustrated, unless specifically identified as an order of performance. It is also to be understood that additional or alternative steps may be employed.
When an element or layer is referred to as being “on,” “engaged to,” “connected to,” or “coupled to” another element or layer, it may be directly on, engaged, connected or coupled to the other element or layer, or intervening elements or layers may be present. In contrast, when an element is referred to as being “directly on,” “directly engaged to,” “directly connected to,” or “directly coupled to” another element or layer, there may be no intervening elements or layers present. Other words used to describe the relationship between elements should be interpreted in a like fashion (e.g., “between” versus “directly between,” “adjacent” versus “directly adjacent,” etc.). As used herein, the term “and/or” includes any and all combinations of one or more of the associated listed items.
Although the terms first, second, third, etc. may be used herein to describe various elements, components, regions, layers and/or sections, these elements, components, regions, layers and/or sections should not be limited by these terms. These terms may be only used to distinguish one element, component, region, layer or section from another region, layer or section. Terms such as “first,” “second,” and other numerical terms when used herein do not imply a sequence or order unless clearly indicated by the context. Thus, a first element, component, region, layer or section discussed below could be termed a second element, component, region, layer or section without departing from the teachings of the example embodiments.
Spatially relative terms, such as “inner,” “outer,” “beneath,” “below,” “lower,” “above,” “upper,” and the like, may be used herein for ease of description to describe one element or feature's relationship to another element(s) or feature(s) as illustrated in the figures. Spatially relative terms may be intended to encompass different orientations of the device in use or operation in addition to the orientation depicted in the figures. For example, if the device in the figures is turned over, elements described as “below” or “beneath” other elements or features would then be oriented “above” the other elements or features. Thus, the example term “below” can encompass both an orientation of above and below. The device may be otherwise oriented (rotated 90 degrees or at other orientations) and the spatially relative descriptors used herein interpreted accordingly.
Referring to
In one configuration, the first insecticide-carrying strip 12a may be similar to the insecticide-carrying strip described in assignee's commonly-owned U.S. patent application Ser. Nos. 13/799,685 and 13/799,468, filed on Mar. 13, 2013, the disclosures of which are incorporated herein by reference. Further, the second insecticide-carrying strip 12b may be substantially similar to the first insecticide-carrying strip 12a, and preferably identical thereto. Accordingly, references herein to the strip 12 will be understood to apply equally to the first and second insecticide-carrying strips 12a, 12b, and like reference numerals will be used to describe like features.
The strip 12 includes an elongated substantially flat strap having first and second rounded end portions 20 and 22, respectively. With reference to
As illustrated in
As illustrated in
The second end portion 22 of the strip 12 may include a “key-hole” shaped aperture 34 having a circular hole 36 and a downwardly extending slit 38 that is in communication with the circular hole 36. Note, the strip 12 may be formed during the injection molding process with a thin frangible web connecting the adjoining sides of the slit 38 of aperture 34.
The circular hole 36 of the aperture 34 may be centered on the longitudinal axis 29 of the strip 12 with the slit 38 extending along the axis 29. A diameter of the hole 36 may be sized to be slightly larger than a diameter of an attachment feature 39 of the hanger 16 (
Alternatively, the aperture 34 in the second end portion 22 of the strip 12 may comprise a circular hole 36 only, without an adjoining slit portion.
The boundary of the key-hole shaped aperture 34 is completely closed and may be reinforced by the formation of a thickened border area 40 immediately surrounding the entire boundary of the aperture 34. The reinforced border area 40 may be formed on both sides of the strip 12 so that the overall thickness of the plastic material in the border area 40 is approximately twice the thickness of the remainder of the strip 12. The increased thickness of the strip 12 at the boundary of the aperture 34 reinforces the strip 12 and therefore protects against tearing of the strip 12 at the aperture 34. In addition, the boundary of the aperture 30 in the first end portion 20 of the strip 12 may be similarly reinforced with a thickened border area (not shown) to further protect against tearing of the strip 12 at aperture 30 as well.
The strip 12 may be impregnated with insecticide compounds having a variety of EPA-approved active ingredients, including without limitation, pyrethroid, permethrin, zeta-cypermethrin, ivermectin, avermectin, abamectin, milbemectin, diazinon and chlorpyrifos, or any combination thereof.
The hinge assembly 14 may include a male component 44 and a female component 46. The male component 44 may include a first flange portion 48, a stem portion 50, and a head portion 52. The first flange portion 48 may define a substantially circular disk having a diameter D2 and including a first or inner surface 49 and a second or outer surface 51. The diameter D2 is substantially greater than the diameter D1 of the aperture 30.
The stem portion 50 may be integrally and monolithically formed with the first flange portion 48. The stem portion 50 may be substantially cylindrical and may include an outer diameter D3. Further, the stem portion 50 may be concentrically located relative to the first flange portion 48. The head portion 52 may extend from the stem portion 50 such that the stem portion 50 extends between the first flange portion 48 and the head portion 52. In one configuration, the head portion 52 includes a frustoconical shape, defining a base diameter D4 and a tip diameter D5. The diameter D4 is larger than the tip diameter D5 and is larger than the diameter D3 of the stem portion 50, such that the head portion 52 defines a stop surface 57 that is substantially parallel to the inner surface 49 of the first flange portion 48. In this regard, the tip diameter D5 may be substantially equal to the diameter D3 of the stem portion 50, and the diameter D4 may be between approximately twenty percent and fifty percent larger than each of the diameters D3 and D5. As will be explained in more detail below, the foregoing configuration of the male component 44 allows for easier assembly and coupling of the male component 44 to the female component 46.
The female component 46 may include a second flange portion 56 and a mounting portion 58. The second flange portion 56 may define a substantially circular disk including a first or inner surface 60, a second or outer surface 62, and a substantially circular through-hole or aperture 64. The aperture 64 may define a diameter D6 and may be concentrically located relative to the second flange portion 56.
The mounting portion 58 may define a substantially cylindrical hub, including a plurality of flexible locking elements 68. In one configuration, the mounting portion 58 may be integrally and monolithically formed with the second flange portion 56. In this regard, the mounting portion 58 may be concentrically located relative to the second flange portion 56 and may extend from the inner surface 60 of the second flange portion 56 along a second longitudinal axis 70. The mounting portion 58 may include an outer surface 74 defining a diameter D7 that is slightly less than the diameter D1 of the aperture 30.
The locking elements 68 may extend from an inner surface 72 of the mounting portion 58. In one configuration, the locking elements 68 define a profile having a wide base 76 that narrows down to a tip 78. The locking elements 68 may include a concave surface 77 generally facing the second longitudinal axis 70. As illustrated in
The hanger 16 may be used for pivotably supporting the first insecticide-carrying strip 12a relative to a feeding apparatus or other suitable structure. In this regard, as will be described in more detail below, the hanger 16 may be pivotably coupled to the first insecticide-carrying strip 12a. One example of a hanger 16 is described in assignee's commonly-owned U.S. patent application Ser. No. 13/707,154 filed on Dec. 6, 2012, the disclosure of which is incorporated herein by reference.
To assemble the device 10, the mounting portion 58 of the female component 46 may be positioned within the apertures 30 of the first and second insecticide-carrying strips 12a and 12b when the apertures 30 of the respective strips 12a, 12b are aligned with one another. The male component 44 may positioned relative to the female component 46 such that the inner surface 49 of the male component 44 faces the inner surface 60 of the female component 46. The male component 44 may be coupled to the female component 46 by extending the head portion 52 through and between the locking elements 68, and into the aperture 64. In this way, the locking elements 68 flex or otherwise bend to receive the base diameter D4 of the head portion 52 until the tips 78 of the locking elements 68 are adjacent the stop surface 57 of the head portion. The stop surface 57 and the diameter D4 of the head portion 52 cooperate to restrict the male component 44 from dislodging or otherwise uncoupling from the female component 46. In so doing, the insecticide-carrying strips 12a, 12b are retained between the first flange portion 48 and the second flange portion 56 and are permitted to rotate relative to one another about the outer surface 74 of the mounting portion 58.
The attachment feature 39 of the hanger 16 may be positioned within the hole 36 of the second insecticide-carrying strip 12b. Accordingly, the second insecticide-carrying strip 12b is rotatably coupled to the hanger 16 and the first and second insecticide-carrying strips 12a, 12b are rotatably or otherwise movably coupled to one another via the hinge assembly 14.
As discussed above and illustrated in
As illustrated in
As described above, the device 10 is rotatably attached to the hanger 16 such that the second insecticide-carrying strip 12b is permitted to rotate about axis 26 and relative to the attachment feature 39 of the hanger 16.
The first insecticide-carrying strip 12a is likewise rotatably attached to the second insecticide-carrying strip 12b to permit the first insecticide-carrying strip 12a to rotate about axis 24 relative to the second insecticide-carrying strip 12b. Namely, the first insecticide-carrying strip 12a is rotatably attached to the second insecticide-carrying strip 12b via the hinge assembly 14.
When an animal uses the feeding apparatus, the animal inserts its head into the feeding apparatus and, in so doing, encounters the device 10. For example, the head of the animal may engage one or both of the first insecticide-carrying strip 12a and the second insecticide-carrying strip 12b. Contacting one or both of the strips 12a, 12b causes the insecticide impregnated in the strips 12a, 12b to be transferred onto the animal.
The forces associated with the animal's head contacting one or both of the strips 12a, 12b may cause one or both of the strips 12a, 12b to move relative to one another and relative to the external structure 100 and/or hanger 16. For example, if the head of the animal contacts the first insecticide-carrying strip 12a, a force may be applied to the first insecticide-carrying strip 12a, thereby causing the first insecticide-carrying strip 12a to rotate relative to the second insecticide-carrying strip 12b, as the second insecticide-carrying strip 12b is rotatably attached to the first insecticide-carrying strip 12a at the hinge assembly 14. The foregoing operation of the device 10 is shown in
If the force exerted on the second insecticide-carrying strip 12b is sufficient and/or is likewise applied to the first insecticide-carrying strip 12a, the first insecticide-carrying strip 12a may likewise rotate relative to the external structure 100 via the hanger 16. Namely, the first insecticide-carrying strip 12a may rotate about the attachment feature 39 of the hanger 16, thereby causing the first insecticide-carrying strip 12a and the second insecticide-carrying strip 12b to rotate relative to the hanger 16 and relative to the external device 100.
Allowing relative movement between the first insecticide-carrying strip 12a, the second insecticide-carrying strip 12b, the hanger 16, and the external device 100 allows the device 10 to contact an animal's head when using the feeding apparatus while concurrently permitting the device 10 to flex and move in response to forces received from the animal's head. Allowing the device 10 to rotate and move in response to a force applied thereto protects the device 10 and decreases the likelihood that any portion of the device 10 will tear in response to receipt of such a force. In addition, the pivoting action of the device 10 also enhances the effectiveness of insecticide transfer from the strips 12 to the animal.
Furthermore, as will be appreciated by those skilled in the art, the configuration of the device 10 as two identical strips 12a and 12b hinged together, each of which approximately 6 inches in length, is significantly easier and less expensive to mold than a comparable single strip approximately 10-11 inches in length. Moreover, the hinged design of the present device 10 also simplifies packaging for the device 10. In particular, the present device 10 can be placed into the orientation shown in
The foregoing description of the embodiments has been provided for purposes of illustration and description. It is not intended to be exhaustive or to limit the disclosure. Individual elements or features of a particular embodiment are generally not limited to that particular embodiment, but, where applicable, are interchangeable and can be used in a selected embodiment, even if not specifically shown or described. The same may also be varied in many ways. Such variations are not to be regarded as a departure from the disclosure, and all such modifications are intended to be included within the scope of the disclosure.
This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Application No. 61/955,969, filed Mar. 20, 2014. The entire disclosure of the above application is incorporated herein by reference.
| Number | Date | Country | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 61955969 | Mar 2014 | US |
