Teat cup inflation

Abstract

An inflation for an automatic milking machine is molded as an integral unit from an elastomeric material. The inflation is formed to have an elongate, hollow barrel. The barrel has a substantially triangular cross-sectional shape and terminates in open upper and lower ends. A substantially cylindrical head is molded integrally to the upper end of the barrel. The head has a substantially cylindrical side wall. A diaphragm-like mouthpart is positioned across the otherwise open, upper end of the cylindrical side wall, with the mouthpart having a central opening that is adapted to accommodate the teat of an animal to be milked. A transition section is molded in the head so as to connect the upper end of the barrel with an inner surface of the side wall to form an internal, mouthpiece chamber between the transition section and the mouthpart. Each of the three longitudinal sidewalls of the triangular-shaped barrel has at least one elongate reinforcement element comprising a relatively narrow raised rib molded integrally along the outer surface thereof. The raised ribs provide added integrity for the sidewalls and greatly improved massage to the teat tissue.

Description

THE DRAWINGS

Preferred embodiments of the present invention representing the best mode presently contemplated of carrying out the invention are illustrated in the accompanying drawings in which:

FIG. 1 is an elevation view of a triangular-shaped inflation incorporating the improvements of the present invention, with the inflation being viewed looking at a substantially flat sidewall of the barrel as shown by line 1-1 of FIG. 2;

FIG. 2 is a horizontal cross section through the inflation of FIG. 1 taken along line 2-2 of FIG. 1; and

FIG. 3 is a vertical cross section through the inflation of FIG. 1 taken along line 3-3 of FIG. 2 showing the rib portion of one sidewall of the inflation in elevation, and FIG. 3 also shows the transition sections of the inflation between the barrel and the cylindrical head of the inflation and the mouth.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE ILLUSTRATED EMBODIMENTS

In accordance with the present invention, an improved inflation is provided for a teat cup assembly of a milking machine. The inflation is molded as an integral unit from an elastomeric material. The inflation comprises an elongate, hollow barrel 12 that has a substantially triangular cross-sectional shape and terminates in open upper and lower ends. A substantially cylindrical head 14 is molded integrally to the upper end of the barrel 12. The head 14 is substantially cylindrical, with the cylindrical sidewall of the head 14 having an inner diameter that is greater than a diameter of a circle drawn through the three apexes of the triangular-shaped barrel 12. A diaphragm-like mouthpart 20 is positioned across the otherwise open, upper end of the cylindrical sidewall of the head 14. The mouthpart 20 has a central opening that is adapted to accommodate the teat of an animal to be milked.

The cylindrical sidewall of the head 14 is connected to the barrel 12 by a transition section 22 that is molded in the head 14 so as to connect the upper end of the barrel 12 with an inner surface of the cylindrical sidewall of the head 14. An internal, mouthpiece chamber is formed between the transition section and the mouthpart 20. The transition section 22 has an outwardly curved surface that curves from the upper end of the barrel 12 and joins the inner surface of the cylindrical sidewall of the head 14. An elongate, cylindrical, hollow tailpiece 24 extends from the lower end of the barrel 12. A second transition section 22 has an outwardly curved surface that curves from the lower end of the barrel 12 and joins the inner surface of the triangular sidewall 30 of the barrel 12 to the cylindrical sidewall of the tailpiece 24.

Each of the three longitudinal sidewalls 30 of the hollow barrel 12 has at least one relatively narrow raised rib 32 molded integrally along an outer surface of each of the sidewalls 30. Each raised rib 32 has an upper end that is located adjacent to the open upper end of the hollow barrel 12. Each raised rib 32 extends downwardly toward the lower end of the hollow barrel 12, with each raised rib 32 having a uniform or constant thickness in a radial direction extending away from the outer surface of a respective sidewall 30. That thickness can be between about 1/16 of an inch and 3/16 of an inch, and preferably about ⅛ of an inch. The width of the raised ribs is preferably uniform or constant, and like the thickness can be between about 1/16 of an inch and 3/16 of an inch, and preferably about ⅛ of an inch.

Each raised rib 32 extends downwardly from its upper end to a lower end that is located about 7/16 to about 9/16 way down the longitudinal length of the respective sidewall 30 of the hollow barrel 12. Preferably, each raised rib 32 extends downwardly to a position about ½ way down the longitudinal length of the respective sidewall 30 of the hollow barrel 12. A short, tapered terminal end 34 is formed integrally with and extends downwardly from the lower end of each raised rib 32. The terminal end 34 tapers so that its lower end joins the surface of the respective sidewall 30. The terminal end 34 has a length such that the lower end of the terminal end 32 will be spaced no more than about ¾ of the longitudinal length of the hollow barrel 12 from the open upper end of the hollow barrel 12. As mentioned previously, the tapered terminal end 34 is provided simply to facilitate removal of the inflation from the mold cavity in which the inflation is formed. If the inflation is formed without being molded in a mold cavity, or if a mold cavity can be formed which will readily allow release of the ribs 32 and sidewalls 30, then the terminal end 34 of the ribs 32 can be eliminated.

Two or three, spaced apart, raised ribs 32 can be formed on each sidewall 30 if desired, but it has been found that one such rib 32 is sufficient. If multiple ribs are used, they should be spaced relatively close to each other. When a single raised rib 32 is used, it is preferably oriented so as to be substantially parallel to longitudinal side edges of its respective sidewall 30. It is further advantageous to position the single raised rib 32 in the near vicinity of a longitudinal axis that is substantially equidistant from the longitudinal side edges of its respective sidewall 30. If two or three raised ribs 32 are formed on each sidewall 30, they should be oriented so as to be substantially parallel to longitudinal side edges of the respective sidewall 30, and the group of raised ribs should be located centrally along the sidewall 30 so that the outer ribs of each group are spaced equidistant from the opposed side edges of the respective sidewall 30.

Claims

1. An improvement in an inflation for an automatic milking machine in which the inflation has an elongate, hollow barrel that terminates in open upper and lower ends and a head is formed at the upper end of the barrel, with the head having a mouthpart positioned across the otherwise open, upper end of the head and the mouthpart has a central opening that is adapted to accommodate the teat of an animal to be milked, said improvement comprising at least one elongate reinforcement element comprising a relatively narrow raised rib molded integrally along a surface of said barrel;each said raised rib having an upper end that is located adjacent to said upper end of said barrel; andeach said raised rib extending along a longitudinal length of said barrel, with a lower end of each said rib being spaced from said upper end of said barrel by a distance of between about one-half to three-fourths of said longitudinal length of said barrel.

2. The improved inflation in accordance with claim 1 wherein each said raised rib is molded integrally along an outer surface of said barrel.

3. The improved inflation in accordance with claim 1 wherein each said raised rib has a uniform thickness in a radial direction extending away from said outer surface of said barrel.

4. The improved inflation in accordance with claim 3 wherein said thickness is between about 1/16 inch and 3/16 inch.

5. The improved inflation in accordance with claim 3 wherein each said raised rib has a uniform width.

6. The improved inflation in accordance with claim 5 wherein said width is between about 1/16 inch and 3/16 inch.

7. The improved inflation in accordance with claim 1 wherein each said raised rib has first and second sections; said first section extending a distance of between 7/16 and 9/16 of said longitudinal length of said barrel; andsaid second section extending from a lower end of said first section;said second section being tapered so that its lower end joins said surface of said barrel; andsaid lower end of said second section is spaced from the upper end of said barrel by no more than about ¾ of said longitudinal length of said barrel.

8. The improved inflation in accordance with claim 7 wherein said first section of each said raised rib has a uniform thickness in a radial direction extending away from said surface of said barrel.

9. The improved inflation in accordance with claim 8 wherein said thickness is between about 1/16 inch and 3/16 inch.

10. The improved inflation in accordance with claim 8 wherein said first section of each said raised rib has a uniform width.

11. The improved inflation in accordance with claim 10 wherein said width is between about 1/16 inch and 3/16 inch.

12. An improvement in an inflation for an automatic milking machine in which the inflation has an elongate, hollow barrel that terminates in open upper and lower ends and a head is formed at the upper end of the barrel, with the head having a mouthpart positioned across the otherwise open, upper end of the head and the mouthpart has a central opening that is adapted to accommodate the teat of an animal to be milked, said improvement comprising said barrel has a substantially triangular cross-section so that said barrel has three longitudinal sidewalls;each of said longitudinal sidewalls having at least one elongate reinforcement element, said reinforcement element comprising a relatively narrow raised rib molded integrally along a surface of each of said longitudinal sidewalls;each said raised rib having an upper end that is located adjacent to said upper end of said barrel; andeach said raised rib extending along a longitudinal length of said barrel, with a lower end of each said rib being spaced from said upper end of said barrel by a distance of between about ½ to ¾ of said longitudinal length of said barrel.

13. The improved inflation in accordance with claim 12 wherein each said raised rib is molded integrally along an outer surface of said barrel.

14. The improved inflation in accordance with claim 12 wherein each said raised rib has a uniform thickness in a radial direction extending away from said surface of each of said longitudinal sidewalls of said barrel.

15. The improved inflation in accordance with claim 12 wherein said thickness is between about 1/16 inch and 3/16 inch.

16. The improved inflation in accordance with claim 14 wherein each said raised rib has a uniform width.

17. The improved inflation in accordance with claim 16 wherein said width is between about 1/16 inch and 3/16 inch.

18. The improved inflation in accordance with claim 12 wherein each said raised rib has first and second sections; said first section extending a distance of between 7/16 and 9/16 of said longitudinal length of said barrel; andsaid second section extending from a lower end of said first section;said second section being tapered so that its lower end joins said surface of a respective longitudinal sidewall of said barrel; andsaid lower end of said second section is spaced from the upper end of said barrel by no more than about ¾ of said longitudinal length of said barrel.

19. The improved inflation in accordance with claim 18 wherein said first section of each said raised rib has a uniform thickness in a radial direction extending away from said surface of said barrel.

20. The improved inflation in accordance with claim 19 wherein said thickness is between about 1/16 inch and 3/16 inch.

21. The improved inflation in accordance with claim 20 wherein said first section of each said raised rib has a uniform width.

22. The improved inflation in accordance with claim 21 wherein said width is between about 1/16 inch and 3/16 inch.