WO2008041934A1

WO2008041934A1 - A teatcup liner, and a teatcup

Info

Publication number: WO2008041934A1
Application number: PCT/SE2007/050693
Authority: WO
Inventors: Jan Kassibrahim
Original assignee: Delaval Holding Ab
Priority date: 2006-10-02
Filing date: 2007-10-01
Publication date: 2008-04-10
Also published as: SE530858C2; SE0602050L

Abstract

The invention concerns a teatcup and a teatcup liner (2) adapted to be mounted in a shell (3) of the teatcup (1) to be applied to a teat of an animal. The liner (2) comprises a head portion (8), a tubular barrel portion (9), and a primary engagement member (16). The primary engagement member is engaged by a secondary engagement member (17) of the shell (3) when the liner is in a mounted state in the shell (3). A part of the teatcup liner is designed to break when the teatcup liner is moved from the mounted state.

Description

A teatcup liner, and a teatcup

TECHNICAL FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention refers to a teatcup liner adapted to be mounted in a shell to form a teatcup to be applied to a teat of an animal in accordance with the pre-characterizing portion of claim 1. Such a teatcup liner is disclosed in WO2005/120216. The invention also refers to a teatcup.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION AND PRIOR ART

WO2005/120216 discloses a teatcup liner of the kind initially defined, which is mounted in a shell to form a teatcup to be applied to a teat of an animal. The teatcup liner defines an inner space for receiving the teat and a longitudinal centre axis extending through and along the inner space. The teatcup liner comprises a head portion, a tubular barrel portion having an inner surface towards the inner space and opposite outer surface, and a primary engagement member provided on the outer surface of tubular barrel portion. The primary engagement member is in engagement with a secondary engagement member of the shell in a mounted state when the teatcup liner is mounted in the shell. The primary engagement member is bendable towards the head portion to permit the primary engagement member to slide over the secondary engagement member when the teacup liner during a mounting state is moved in a mounting direction along the centre axis to the mounted state.

Teatcup liners are typically manufactured in a natural or synthetic rubber material. Rubber materials have many advantages connected to the elastic properties of rubber. These elastic properties are advantageous both during the manufacturing of the teatcup liner and during milking. The teatcup liner formed in a mould can easily be removed from the mould and the core shaping the inner space of the teatcup liner after the vulcanisation. However, the vulcanisation of the rubber requires a significant vulcanisation time before the rubber can be removed from the mould and the core. This is a limiting factor in the manufacturing of teatcup liners. It is desirable to be able to shorten the vulcanisation time. In WO2005/120216 mentioned above it is proposed to manufacture teatcup liners in a thermoformed material, i.e. Thermo Plastic Elastomers, TPE. By using such plastic materials, the manufacturing time needed can be significantly reduced.

However, TPE may be somewhat less elastic than corresponding rubber materials. This means that when mounting the teatcup liner in a shell to form a teatcup, the force to be applied to the liner for pulling the liner to a proper engaged position in the shell will be rather high with TPE liners. In order to overcome this problem, WO2005/120216 proposes to include a disengageable grip member at the lower end of the teatcup liner.

Furthermore, it is frequently difficult to remove a teatcup liner from the shell of the teatcup when the teatcup liner is to be replaced. This can be the case especially when the teatcup liner, or at least a portion thereof, is manufactured in a less elastic material. The resistance, when pressing or pulling the teatcup liner in a dismounting direction being opposite to the above mentioned mounting direction, can be significant, which necessitates the use of a considerable time and possibly also some kind of dismounting tools. During such circumstances, there is a risk that the teatcup liner is mistreated, which can give rise to defects negatively influencing the properties and functioning of the teatcup liner during a possible future continued use thereof.

Irrespective of the material of the teatcup liner, it is important to follow the prescribed maximum time of use or prescribed maximum number of milking operations performed. Every teatcup liner has a certain optimum lifetime. When the optimum lifetime has been exceeded, the milking properties, and thus the efficiency, of the teatcup liner will be gradually reduced. SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The object of the present invention is to provide a teatcup liner and a teacup which overcomes the problems mentioned above. A further object is to facilitate dismounting and replacement of the teatcup liner in the teatcup. A still further object is to guarantee high efficiency and hygiene of the teatcup liner, and to ensure an optimum period of use of the teatcup liner, and especially to reduce the risk for an exaggerated use of a teatcup liner.

This object is achieved by the teatcup liner initially defined, which is characterised in that a part of the teatcup liner is designed to break when the teatcup liner is moved from the mounted state.

Due to such a designed breaking, the dismounting of the teatcup liner from the shell can be facilitated. Such a part, e.g. the primary engagement member, can be designed to require a predetermined appropriate force, i.e. a force, which in an easy manner can be provided by the operator without the use of additional tools. Consequently, also replacement of the teatcup liner is facilitated. Furthermore, a consequence of the breaking of such a part is that the teatcup liner, which has been dismounted and removed from the shell, can not be used any more. This is advantageous since teatcup liners, which are dismounted and removed, in most case have been used for such a long time that they due to a lower efficiency and for hygienic reasons should not be remounted in a teatcup to be attached to a teat. In addition, by breaking the primary engagement member, the risk that the used teatcup liner will be mistaken for with a new teatcup liner can be fully avoided.

According to an embodiment of the invention, the part is designed to break when the teatcup liner is moved in a dismounting direction along the centre axis.

According to a further embodiment of the invention, wherein the primary engagement member is designed to break when the teatcup liner is moved from the mounted state. Advantageously, the primary engagement member may be designed to break when the primary engagement member passes over the secondary engagement member in the dismounting direction. Consequently, the deformation generated by passing the secondary engagement member may be utilised for breaking the primary engagement member.

According to a further embodiment of the invention, the primary engagement member is adapted to break along a peripheral direction around the tubular barrel portion. Such a breaking can occur along the whole periphery, or along a part of the periphery of the tubular barrel portion as long as the primary engagement member can pass the secondary engagement member in the dismounting direction.

According to an alternative embodiment of the invention, the primary engagement member is adapted to break along a radial direction with regard to the centre axis.

According to a further embodiment of the invention, the primary engagement member comprises at least one weakened portion adapted to break when the teatcup liner is moved from the mounted state in the dismounting direction. By such a weakened portion, a controlled breaking at a predetermined force may be easily designed. For instance, the weakened portion may be formed by a portion having a smaller material thickness than areas immediately adjoining the weakened portion.

According to a further embodiment of the invention, the weakened portion is provided immediately adjacent to the outer surface of the tubular barrel portion. Advantageously, the weakened portion may extend in a peripheral direction around the tubular barrel portion.

According to a further embodiment of the invention, the primary engagement member is provided on the outer surface of tubular barrel portion and bendable towards the head portion to permit the primary engagement member to slide over the secondary engagement member when the teacup liner during a mounting state is moved in a mounting direction along the centre axis to the mounted state.

According to a further embodiment of the invention, a hindering member is provided on the outer surface of the tubular barrel portion at a small distance from the primary engagement member. Such a hindering member will render the primary engagement member less prone to bend away from the head portion than to bend towards the head portion. Furthermore, such a hindering member may advantageously be adapted to facilitate the breaking of the primary engagement member when the teatcup liner is moved from the mounted state in the dismounting direction. More specifically, the hindering member and the secondary engagement member may be designed to co-act to break the primary engagement member.

According to a further embodiment of the invention, the primary engagement member comprises a flexible ring surrounding the tubular barrel portion.

According to a further embodiment of the invention, the tubular barrel portion comprises a tubular upper portion and a tubular lower portion at a lower end of the tubular barrel portion and wherein the primary engagement member is provided on the tubular lower portion.

According to a further embodiment of the invention, the tubular upper portion is manufactured in a first material and the tubular lower portion is manufactured in a second material, wherein the first material is more elastic than the second material, and wherein the second material of the tubular lower portion is substantially permanently joined to the first material of the tubular barrel portion. Thereby both the hindering member and the primary engagement member may be manufactured in the second material. The object is also achieved by the teatcup initially defined, which comprises a teatcup liner as defined above.

Preferred embodiments of the teatcup are defined in the dependent claims 20 and 21.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The present invention is now to be explained more closely by the description of preferred embodiments and with reference to the drawings attached hereto.

Fig. 1 discloses a longitudinal sectional view of a teatcup comprising a teatcup liner according to the present invention.

Fig. 2 discloses a longitudinal sectional view of the teatcup in

Fig. 1 with the teatcup liner in a mounted state. Fig. 3 discloses a sectional view of a lower part of the teatcup liner in Fig. 1 with the grip member in an active state. Fig. 4 discloses a side view of a lower part of the teatcup liner in Fig. 1 with the grip member in the inactive state. Fig. 5 discloses a side view of the lower part of the teatcup liner mounted in a shell of the teatcup.

Fig. 6 discloses a side view of the lower part of the teatcup liner during a dismounting state.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF VARIOUS EMBODIMENTS OF THE INVENTION

Fig. 1 and 2 discloses a teatcup 1 comprising a teatcup liner 2 and a shell. Fig. 1 discloses the teatcup liner 2 introduced into the shell but not finally engaged therein. Fig. 2 discloses a mounted state, in which the teatcup liner 2 is engaged in the shell 3. The teatcup liner 2 includes an inner space 4 adapted to receive a teat of an animal to be milked. The teatcup liner 2 and the inner space 4 extend along a longitudinal centre axis x. The teat is introduced into the inner space 4 via an upper opening 5. A pulsation chamber 6 is formed between the shell 3 and the teatcup liner 2. The pulsation chamber 6 is accessible via an aperture, e.g. formed by a pipe nipple (not disclosed). In the mounted stated, the teatcup liner 2 comprises an upper head portion δ and a lower tubular barrel portion 9. The shell 3 has an upper end 1 1 and a lower end 12.

The head portion 8 and the tubular barrel portion 9 may be formed by two separate parts. A possible connection between the head portion 8 and the tubular barrel portion 9 is described more closely in WO2005/120216, which is referred to above.

The tubular barrel portion 9 has an inner surface facing the inner space 4 and opposite outer surface facing an inner surface of the shell 3. Moreover, the tubular barrel portion 9 comprises a tubular upper portion 14 and a tubular lower portion 15. The tubular lower portion 15 has a surrounding periphery and a cross-section defined by the surrounding periphery and seen along the longitudinal centre axis x.

The tubular lower portion 15 comprises a primary engagement member 16 adapted to be in engagement with a secondary engagement member 17 on the inner wall surface of the shell 3. The primary engagement member 16 is bendable towards the head portion 8 so that the primary engagement member 16 can slide over and pass the secondary engagement member 17 when the teatcup liner 2, during mounting, is pulled into the engagement in the shell 3. During mounting, the teatcup liner 2 is thus moved in a mounting direction along the longitudinal centre axis x to a mounted state, where the primary engagement member 16 is in engagement with the secondary engagement member 17 as can be seen in Figs 2 and 5.

A hindering member 18 is arranged on the outer side of the tubular lower portion 15, see Figs 3-5. The hindering member 18 is positioned at a small distance from the primary engagement member 16. The hindering member 18 is provided on the lower side of the primary engagement member 16, i.e. on the side of the primary engagement member 16 far from the head portion 8. Thanks to the hindering member 18, the primary engagement member 16 is less prone to bend away from the head portion 8 than to bend towards the head portion 8. The primary engagement member 16 has an extension a perpendicular to the centre axis x. The hindering member 18 has an extension b perpendicular to the longitudinal centre axis x, wherein the extension a is greater the extension b. The distance c between the primary engagement member 16 and the hindering member 18 in parallel to the longitudinal centre axis x is smaller than the extension a of the primary engagement member 16 perpendicular to the longitudinal centre axis x.

The primary engagement member 16 comprises or consists of a flexible ring extending from and surrounding the tubular lower portion 15. The flexible ring of the primary engagement member 16 forms an integral part of the tubular lower portion 15. The secondary engagement member 17 comprises or consists substantially of a ring attached to and extending inwardly from the inner surface of the shell 3. The hindering member 18 comprises or consists of a relatively rigid ring extending from and surrounding the tubular lower portion 15. The ring of the hindering member 18 forms an integral part of the tubular lower portion 15. The primary engagement member 16 and the hindering member 18 may be a respective integral part of the tubular lower portion 15.

The teatcup liner 2 has a part, which is designed to break when the teatcup liner 2 is dismounted. In the embodiments disclosed, this part is formed by the primary engagement 16 member, which is designed to break when the teatcup liner 2, during a dismounting state, is moved from the mounted state in a dismounting direction along the centre axis x, see Fig 6. The dismounting direction is opposite to the mounting direction. The breaking of the primary engagement 16 member is designed to occur when the primary engagement member 16 passes over the secondary engagement member 17. In the embodiments disclosed, the primary engagement member is adapted to break along a peripheral direction around the tubular barrel portion. In Fig 6 it is indicated that the primary engagement member 16 is broken along the whole periphery of the tubular lower portion 15. It should be noted, however, that the primary engagement member 16 may be broken along a part of the periphery and still permit the teatcup liner 2 to be removed from the shell along the dismounting direction.

As can be seen in Fig 5, the primary engagement member 16 comprises a weakened portion 19 adapted to break when the teatcup liner 2 is moved from the mounted state in the dismounting direction. The weakened portion 19 is formed by a portion having a smaller material thickness than areas immediately adjoining the weakened portion 19. The weakened portion 19 extends along a peripheral direction around the tubular lower portion 15 and is in the embodiments disclosed provided immediately adjacent to the outer surface of the tubular lower portion 15.

It should also be noted that as an alternative, the primary engagement member 16 may be adapted to break along one radial direction or several radial directions with regard to the centre axis x. The primary engagement member 16 may then comprise one or more weakened portions extending a radial directions. Of course the weakened portions may also extend outwardly in directions deviating from a radial direction.

The hindering member 18 provided below and at the above mentioned small distance c from the primary engagement member 16, will engage the primary engagement member 16 during the dismounting state when the teatcup liner 2 is moved from the mounted state in the dismounting direction. The hindering member 18 will then facilitate the breaking of the primary engagement member 16 during the dismounting state.

As can be seen in Fig 5, the tubular lower portion 15 of the tubular barrel portion 9 extends with the length d beyond the lower end 12 of the shell 3 when the teatcup liner 2 is in the mounted state.

When the teatcup liner 2 is to be dismounted, the teatcup 1 may be gripped by the operator, who hits the tubular lower portion 15 against any stable surface, such as a floor. The teatcup liner 2 is then pressed upwardly in the dismounting direction in relation to the shell 3. The force generated will then break the primary engagement member 16, as illustrated in Fig 6. Such a dismounting operation can be performed in an easy manner and very quickly.

The tubular upper portion 14 is preferably manufactured in a first material comprising or substantially consisting of an elastic material, such as rubber or TPE, whereas the tubular lower portion 15 is manufactured in a second material, which may comprise or substantially consist of, for instance polypropylen, or any other suitable material which preferably is more rigid than the first material. The primary engagement member 16 and the hindering member 18 may both be manufactured in the second, relatively rigid material. The second material of the tubular lower portion 15 is substantially permanently or permanently joined to the first material of the tubular upper portion 14 through a melting process.

The teatcup liner 2 also comprises a grip member 30 extending from the tubular lower portion 9 and adapted to be griped by an operator during mounting, see Fig. 1 , when the teatcup liner 2 is to be mounted in the shell 3. In the embodiments disclosed, the grip member 30 comprises two grip elements 31 , 32 which are movable from an inactive position, see Fig. 4 to an active position see Fig. 3. In the active position, the grip member 30 defines a force application zone 34 on which a pulling force is to be applied by the operator. The force application zone 34 is, seen along the longitudinal centre axis x, located within the cross-section of the lower tubular portion 15.

When the teatcup liner 2, i.e. the tubular barrel portion 9 and the tubular lower portion 15 are introduced into the shell 3, the grip elements 31 , 32 are bent from the inactive position shown in Fig. 4 to the active position shown in Fig. 3. When the teatcup liner 2 has reached the position shown in Fig. 1 the grip elements 31 , 32 may flex out to the inactive position due to their elasticity. From the position shown in Fig. 1 , the operator will move the grip elements 31 , 32 to the active position and then exert a pulling and/or rotating movement onto the teatcup liner 2 in relation to the shell 3 in such a way that the tubular barrel portion 9 is stretched and the primary engagement member 16 is engaged by the secondary engagement member 17. In the active position, the grip member 30 will form the force application zone 34 so that it, as mentioned above, is located within the cross-section of the tubular lower portion 15. In the inactive position, the grip elements 31 , 32 will be located outside the cross-section of the tubular lower portion 15. In the embodiments disclosed, each grip element 31 , 32 defines a grip in the form of at least one aperture.

In the embodiments disclosed, each grip element 31 , 32 is connected to the tubular lower portion 15 via a respective flexible strip 35, 36. The flexible strips 35, 36 provide the flexibility permitting the grip elements 31 , 32 to be moved from the inactive position to the active position and from the active position to the inactive position. In the embodiments disclosed, each flexible strip 35, 36 has an angled shape including a first leg, extending in parallel or substantially in parallel with the longitudinal centre axis x, and a second leg which is perpendicular or substantially perpendicular to the first leg. The flexibility providing the movability from the inactive position to the active position is in the embodiments disclosed located at a part immediately adjoining a lower edge of the tubular lower portion 15.

The grip member 30 is disengageable from the tubular lower portion 15 when the teatcup liner 2 has been mounted in the shell 3. More specifically, in the embodiments disclosed each grip element 31 , 32 is disengageable from the tubular lower portion 15 when the teatcup liner 2 has been mounted in the shell 3. Such disengagement is facilitated by means of a weakened portion 37, 38 of each flexible strip 35, 36. The respective weakened portion 37, 38 is located immediately adjacent to the tubular lower portion 15 see Fig.4. In the embodiments disclosed, the weakened portion 37, 38 also forms the part which provides the flexibility permitting the movability from the inactive position to the active position of the grip element 31 , 32.

The grip member 30 aiso comprises a iock member by means of which the two grip elements 31 , 32 can be locked together in the active position shown in Fig. 2. In the embodiments disclosed, the lock member comprises a locking pin 41 arranged on one of the grip elements 31 and adapted to be introduced into a locking hole 42 on the other grip element 32, see Figs. 3 and 4. The locking pin 41 may advantageously have a slight wedge-like shape in order to permit a relatively firm locking of the two grip elements 31 , 32 to each other. It should be noted that the lock member can be designed in many various ways. For instance a lock member including a hook arranged on one of the grip elements 31 , 32 and adapted to enclose and/or grip the other grip element 32.

It should be noted that the part that is designed to break during dismounting of the teatcup liner 2 as an alternative may be formed by other parts of the teatcup liner 2 than the primary engagement member 16. For instance, the tubular lower portion 15 may be provided with one or several suitable weakened portions, which break the tubular lower portion 15 from the tubular upper portion 14 when the teatcup liner 2 or a part thereof is moved along the longitudinal centre axis x, or even rotated. The broken parts of the tubular lower portion 15 may then be removed from the lower end of the shell, whereas the tubular upper portion 14 is removed in the dismounting direction through the upper end 1 1 of the shell 3. Furthermore, one or several weakened portions may be provided in an upper part of the teatcup liner 2. The upper head portion 8 may then e.g. be broken from the tubular barrel portion 9, wherein the head portion 8 is removed in the dismounting direction and the tubular barrel portion 9 is removed in the opposite mounting direction through the lower end 12 of the shell 3.

The present invention is not limited to the embodiments disclosed but may be varied and modified within the scope of the following claims.

Claims

1. A teatcup liner (2) adapted to be mounted in a shell (3) to form a teatcup (1 ) to be applied to a teat of an animal, the teatcup liner (2) defining an inner space (4) for receiving the teat and a longitudinal centre axis (x) extending through and along the inner space (4), the teatcup liner (2) comprising a head portion (8), a tubular barrel portion (9) having an inner surface towards the inner space and an opposite outer surface, and a primary engagement member (16) adapted to be in engagement with a secondary engagement member (17) of the shell (3) in a mounted state when the teatcup liner (2) is mounted in the shell (3), characterised in that a part of the teatcup liner (2) is designed to break when the teatcup liner (2) is moved from the mounted state.

2. A teatcup liner according to claim 1 , wherein the part is designed to break when the teatcup liner (2) is moved in a dismounting direction along the centre axis (x).

3. A teatcup liner according to any one of claims 1 and 2, wherein the primary engagement member (16) is designed to break when the teatcup liner (2) is moved from the mounted state.

4. A teatcup liner according to claims 2 and 3, wherein the primary engagement member (16) is designed to break when the primary engagement member (16) passes over the secondary engagement member (17) in the dismounting direction.

5. A teatcup liner according to any one of claims 3 and 4, wherein the primary engagement member (16) is adapted to break along a peripheral direction around the tubular barrel portion (9).

6. A teatcup liner according to any one of claims 3 and 4, wherein the primary engagement member (16) is adapted to break along a radial direction with regard to the centre axis (x).

7. A teatcup liner according to any one of claims 3 to 6, wherein the primary engagement member (16) comprises at least one weakened portion (19) adapted to break when the teatcup liner (2) is moved from the mounted state in the dismounting direction.

8. A teatcup liner according to claim 7, wherein the weakened portion (19) is formed by a portion having a smaller material thickness than areas immediately adjoining the weakened portion (19).

9. A teatcup liner according to any one of claims 7 and 8, wherein the weakened portion (19) is provided immediately adjacent to the outer surface of the tubular barrel portion (9).

10. A teatcup liner according to any one of claims 7 and 8, wherein the weakened portion (19) extends in a peripheral direction around the tubular barrel portion (9).

11. A teatcup liner according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the primary engagement member (16) is provided on the outer surface of the tubular barrel portion (9) and bendable towards the head portion (8) to permit the primary engagement member (16) to slide over the secondary engagement member (17), when the teacup liner (2) during a mounting state is moved in a mounting direction along the centre axis (x) to the mounted state.

12. A teatcup liner according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein a hindering member (18) is provided on the outer surface of the tubular barrel portion (9) at a small distance from the primary engagement member (16).

13. A teatcup liner according to claims 3 and 12, wherein the hindering member (18) is adapted to facilitate the breaking of the primary engagement member (16) when the teatcup liner (2) is moved from the mounted state in the dismounting direction.

14. A teatcup liner according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the primary engagement member (16) comprises a flexible ring surrounding the tubular barrel portion (9).

15. A teatcup liner according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the tubular barrel portion (9) comprises a tubular upper portion (14) and a tubular lower portion (15) at a lower end of the tubular barrel portion (9) and wherein the primary engagement member (16) is provided on the tubular lower portion (15).

16. A teatcup liner according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the tubular upper portion (14) is manufactured in a first material and the tubular lower portion (15) is manufactured in a second material, wherein the first material is more elastic than the second material, and wherein the second material of the tubular lower portion (15) is substantially permanently joined to the first material of the tubular barrel portion (9).

17. A teatcup liner according to claims 12 and 16, wherein the hindering member (18) is manufactured in the second material.

18. A teatcup liner according to any one of claims 16 and 17, wherein the primary engagement member (16) is manufactured in the second material.

19. A teatcup to be applied to a teat of an animal, comprising a shell and a teatcup liner (2) according to any one of claims 1 to 18 to be mounted in the shell (3).

20. A teatcup according to claim 19, wherein the secondary engagement member (17) comprises a ring attached to and extending from the inner surface of the shell (3).

21. A teatcup according to any one of claims 19 and 20, wherein the tubular barrel portion (9) extends beyond the lower end (12) of the shell (3) when the teatcup liner (2) is in the mounted state.