GB2395435A

GB2395435A - Teat sanitising device

Info

Publication number: GB2395435A
Application number: GB0227019A
Authority: GB
Inventors: David Harvey
Original assignee: GLAMPRINT Ltd; VORDIN Ltd
Current assignee: GLAMPRINT LIMITED
Priority date: 2002-11-19
Filing date: 2002-11-19
Publication date: 2004-05-26
Anticipated expiration: 2022-11-19
Also published as: GB0227019D0; GB2395435B

Abstract

A teat sanitising device comprising a resiliently compressible, hollow body part 2 and a cup 4 into which the teat of an animal may be dipped. The cup has a first aperture 10 at or adjacent its base which communicates with a lower region of the interior of the body part via a duct 14,16, with an aperture 22 in the side-wall of the duct communicating with an upper region of the interior of the body part. The cup has a second aperture 12 at or adjacent its mouth which communicates with the interior of the body part via a non-return valve 24 , arranged to close the second aperture when the body part is compressed. By compressing the hollow body part of the device, a foam may be established within the cup, an overflow of foam from the cup being prevented by the aperture at or adjacent the mouth of the cup, through which any excess foam will be drawn as the body part expands from a compressed state.

Description

J TEAT SANITISING DEVICE

The present invention relates to a teat sanitising device and, more particularly to a bovine teat sanitising device. It is common practice to sanitise the teats of an 5 animal, such as a cow, immediately prior to and/or after milking, by dipping each teat in turn into a sanitising fluid.

A known teat sanitising device comprises a resiliently compressible, hollow body part and a cup into which the teat of an animal may be dipped. An aperture formed in the base of 10 the cup communicates with the interior of the body part via a pipe which extends to a lower region of the body part, so that, by compressing the body part, a quantity of sanitising fluid collected in the base of the body part will be driven up the pipe and into the cup.

15 To provide a more uniform and distributed coating of sanitising fluid upon a teat, an aperture formed in the side wall of the tube allows air to enter the tube from the interior of the body part as the body part is compressed, to agitate the flow of sanitising fluid through the duct, thereby creating a 20 foam within the cup. The foaming effect is further enhanced by positioning a fine mesh within the duct, slightly upstream of the aperture.

A non-return valve provided in the side wall of the body part allows replacement air from the exterior of the 25 device to enter the body part as it expands from a compressed state. However, a significant drawback of such an arrangement is that repeated compression of the body part may cause an excessive build-up of foam in the cup, which may overspill the 30 rim of the cup and be wasted.

We have now devised an arrangement which overcomes this limitation of existing teat sanitising devices.

In accordance with the present invention, there is provided a teat sanitising device comprising a resiliently 35 compressible, hollow body part and a cup into which the teat of an animal may be dipped, the cup having a first aperture at

or adjacent the base of the cup and communicating with a lower region of the interior of the body part via a duct, an aperture in the side-wall of the duct communicating with an upper region of the interior of the body part, and a second aperture at or 5 adjacent the mouth of the cup and communicating with the interior of the body part via a non-return valve, arranged to close the second aperture when the body part is compressed.

From the aforementioned description of a prior art

device, it will be appreciated that by compressing the hollow 10 body part of the device of the present invention, a foam may be established within the cup thereof.

However, unlike the prior art device, an overflow of

foam from the cup is prevented by the aperture at or adjacent the mouth of the cup, through which any excess foam will be 15 drawn as the body part expands from a compressed state.

Preferably the duct comprises a tube connected to the aperture at or adjacent the base of the cup via a tubular connector, the connector being formed with a flange intermediate the openings at its opposite ends and against 20 which the proximal end of the tube abuts, with at least one slit extending axially inwards from the distal end of the connector and through the flange, to provide said aperture in the side-wall of the duct.

Preferably the connector incorporates a mesh extending 25 transversely across the channel therethrough. Preferably the mesh is positioned upstream of the aperture formed by the slit in the connector, towards the aperture at or adjacent the base of the cup. The connector may also or otherwise comprise a non-

return valve, arranged to close the aperture at or adjacent the 30 base of the when the body part expands from a compressed state.

An embodiment of the present invention will now be described by way of an example only and with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: Figure 1 is a perspective view of an embodiment of teat 35 sanitising device in accordance with the present invention; Figure 2 to 6 are, respectively, a side elevation, front elevation, rear elevation, top and bottom plan views of

the device of Figure 1; Figure 7 is a perspective sectional view through the device in a disassembled state; Figures 8 and 9 are respectively sectional side 5 elevations of the device in disassembled and assembled states; and Figures 10 and 11 are enlarged perspectives view of a connector of the device.

Referring to Figures 1 to 6 of the drawings, a teat 10 sanitizing device is shown comprising a hollow, resiliently compressible body part 2 and a substantially frusto-conical cup 4 secured to the inclined neck 6 of the body part by an annular collar 8.

As can be seen in more detail in Figures 7 to 9, the 15 conical cup is formed with two separate apertures 10,12, communicating with the interior of the body part 2, the first aperture 10 being situated in the base of the cup and the second aperture 12 being situated at the mouth of the cup 4.

The aperture 10 situated in the base of the cup 4 20 communicates with a lower region of the interior of the body part 2 via a duct comprising an elongate tube 14 connected to the aperture 10 via a tubular connector 16, the connector 16, shown in detail in Figures 10 and 11, being formed with a flange 18 intermediate its opposite ends, against which the 25 proximal end of the tube 14 abuts. A slit 20 extends axially inwards from the distal end of the connector 16 and through the flange 18 and provide an aperture 22 in the side-wall of the connector 16 when the device is assembled.

The aperture 12 situated at the mouth of the cup 4 30 communicates with the interior of the body part 2 via a non-

return valve 24, arranged to close the aperture 12 when the body part is compressed.

In use of the device, with the body part 2 is filled with a quantity of sanitising fluid, preferably containing a 35 foaming agent, the body part 2 is repeatedly compressed, to drive successive charges of fluid through the tube 14, connector 16 and into the cup 4, the flow of fluid to the cup

4 being agitated by air introduced into the connector 16 via aperture 22, thereby causing foam to accumulate in the cup.

Foaming is encouraged by a mesh 24 positioned upstream of the aperture 22 formed by the slit in the connector, towards the 5 aperture 10 at or adjacent the base of the cup 4.

Each time that the body part 2 is allowed to expand from its compressed state, replacement air is drawn into the body part 2 via the aperture 12 situated at the mouth of the cup 4. Also drawn back into the body part 2 via the same 10 aperture 12 is any foam which may have accumulated adjacent the aperture, thus preventing the level of foam within the cup 2 from exceeding that of the aperture 12 and overflowing from the mouth of the cup.

The device thus described provides a convenient means 15 for sanitizing animal teats, which is more economical in its use of sanitising fluid than known devices.

Claims

1) A teat sanitising device comprising a resiliently compressible, hollow body part and a cup into which the teat of an animal may be dipped, the cup having a first aperture at 5 or adjacent the base of the cup and communicating with a lower region of the interior of the body part via a duct, an aperture in the side-wall of the duct communicating with an upper region of the interior of the body part, and a second aperture at or adjacent the mouth of the cup and communicating with the 10 interior of the body part via a non-return valve, arranged to close the second aperture when the body part is compressed.

2) A teat sanitizing device as claimed in Claim 1, wherein

the duct comprises a tube connected to the aperture at or 15 adjacent the base of the cup via a tubular connector, the connector being formed with a flange intermediate the openings at its opposite ends and against which the proximal end of the tube abuts, with at least one slit extending axially inwards from the distal end of the connector and through the flange, 20 to provide said aperture in the side-wall of the duct.

3) A teat sanitizing device as claimed in Claim 2, wherein the connector incorporates a mesh extending transversely across the channel therethrough.

4) A teat sanitising device as claimed in Claim 3, wherein 25 the mesh is positioned upstream of the aperture formed by the slit in the connector, towards the aperture at or adjacent the base of the cup.

5) A teat sanitising device as claimed in any of Claims 2 to 4, wherein the connector comprises a non-return valve, 30 arranged to close the aperture at or adjacent the base of the when the body part expands from a compressed state.

6) A teat sanitizing device substantially as described with reference to the accompanying drawings.

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c c. À. c. c À c À À À c Amendments to the claims have been filed as follows 1) A teat sanitising device comprising a resiliently compressible, hollow body part and a cup into which the teat of an animal may be dipped, the cup having a first aperture at 5 or adjacent the base of the cup and communicating with a lower region of the interior of the body part via a duct, an aperture in the side-wall of the duct communicating with an upper region of the interior of the body part, and a further aperture at or adjacent the mouth of the cup and communicating with the 10 interior of the body part via a non-return valve, arranged to close said further aperture when the body part is compressed.

2) A teat sanitizing device as claimed in Claim 1, wherein the duct comprises a tubular connector and a tube connected 15 to said first aperture via said tubular connector, the connector being formed with a flange intermediate openings at its opposite ends and against which the proximal end of the tube abuts, with at least one slit extending axially inwards from the distal end of the connector and through the flange, 20 to provide said aperture in the side-wall of the duct.

3) A teat sanitising device as claimed in Claim 2, wherein the connector incorporates a mesh extending transversely across the channel therethrough.

4) A teat sanitizing device as claimed in Claim 3, wherein 25 the mesh is positioned upstream of the aperture formed by the slit in the connector, towards said first aperture.

5) A teat sanitising device as claimed in any of Claims 2 to 4, wherein the connector comprises a non-return valve, arranged to close said first aperture when the body part 30 expands from a compressed state.

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