NL2019568B1 - Animal ear tag system - Google Patents

Abstract

An animal ear tag system further comprises an adapter member adapted to be secured onto the body of the female tag part at the inner side thereof. The body has an ear contacting face 5 and a female tag part adjoining face as well as a hole adapted to pass there through the head of the pin of the ear tag system. The system further comprises fastening members that are each adapted to fasten the adapter member to the female tag part. These members are embodied to extend through a corresponding air passage in the body of the female tag part and have dimensions such that a portion of the respective air passage remains open for 10 passage of air. The adapter member body is provided with one or more air passages that are in communication with said remaining portions of the air passages and that have one or more openings in the ear contacting face.

Description

Patent center

Θ 2019568

Application number: 2019568

Application submitted: 18 September 2017

Int. CL:

A01K 11/00 (2017.01)

0 Application registered: 0 Patent holder (s): March 28, 2019 Reinhard Nehls in BOCHOLT, Federal Republic of Germany, DE. 0 Request published: 0 Inventor (s): 0 Patent granted: Reinhard Nehls in BOCHOLT (DE). March 28, 2019 0 Patent issued: 0 Authorized representative: May 27, 2019 ir. J.C. Volmer et al. In Rijswijk.

ANIMAL EAR TAG SYSTEM

An animal ear tag system further comprises an adapter member adapted to be secured on the body of the female tag part on the inner side thereof. The body has an ear contacting and a female tag part adjoining face as well as a hole adapted to pass through the head of the pin of the ear tag system. The system further comprises fastening members that are each adapted to fasten the adapter member to the female tag part. These members are embodied to extend through a corresponding air passage in the body of the female tag part and have dimensions such that a portion of the respective air passage remains open for passage of air. The adapter member body is provided with one or more air passages that are in communication with said remaining portions of the air passages and that have one or more opening in the ear contacting face.

NL B1 2019568

This patent has been granted regardless of the attached result of the research into the state of the art and written opinion. The patent corresponds to the documents originally submitted.

P33314NL00

ANIMAL EAR TAG SYSTEM

The present invention relates to an animal ear tag system.

For example from US 4646455 an ear tag system is known to comprise a male tag part, a female tag part, distinct and separate from the male tag part, and a pin. The pin is integrated at a first end with the male tag part and has a second end that is provided with a conical head. The female tag has a body including a socket portion delimiting a bore with an introduction opening. This bore is adapted to receive therein the head of the pin. The body further comprises a housing portion that extends about and is integral with the socket portion. In use, so as the ear tag system is applied to the ear of an animal, the pin is pressed through the ear of the animal using a suitable tool. Once penetrated through the ear the conical head of the pin enters the bore in the female tag part and becomes locked therein so that the ear tag is fitted on the ear. So the body of the female tag has an inner side that is directed towards the ear and an opposite outer side. The application of the ear tag causes some wound to the ear and said reason primarily the body of the female tag is provided with air passages through the body, which passages extend between the outer side and the inner side, preferably in proximity of the socket portion.

An ear tag system having the features identified above with reference to US 4646455 is currently marketed by Caisley GmbH, Germany. This known ear tag system is adapted for electronic identification in addition to visual identification present on the male and female tag part. This is done by the housing portion or the female tag part being embodied as a transponder housing portion that extends about and is integral with the socket portion. A transponder is encapsulated in the transponder housing portion or the body of the female tag part, which transponder comprises a chip and antenna.

Whilst the ear tag systems discussed above are generally satisfactory, it is desirable to provide a system that has enhanced versatility, e.g., allows for easy adaptation or the ear tag system to various practical situations.

A first aspect of the present invention therefore proposes an ear tag system according to claim 1, the animal ear tag system further comprises an adapter member, said adapter member being adapted to be secured on the inner side of the female tag part on the inner side Nam, the body of the adapter member has an ear contacting face that

-2 is adapted to contact the ear and has a female tag part adjoining face that is adapted to adjoin the inner side of the female tag part, has the body of the adapter member has a hole adapted to pass through the head of the pin, include the ear tag system further comprises fastening members that are each adapted to fasten the adapter member to the female tag part, which fastening members are embodied to extend through a corresponding air passage in the body of the female tag part, and are the fastening members have dimensions such that a portion of the respective air passage remains open for passage of air, and provided adapter member body is provided with one or more air passages that are in communication with said remaining portions of the air passages and that have one or more opening in the ear contacting face.

The first aspect of the present invention is based on the insight that the air passages in the body of the female tag can be used to receive the fastening members while still ensuring that some portion of the air passages remains open for its task of exchange or air as the adapter member is provided with its own air passages that communicate with the air passages in the female tag part.

The adapter may be embodied for various functionalities, depending on the demand. As such a production method could include the production of one type or female ear tag part and multiple differently designed adapters members, eg having different functionalities, and fastening members that allow for selective securement or a selected adapter member to the one type of female ear tag part.

As the adapter member is secured to the female tag part by the fastening members a unit is formed and relative motion of the adapter member and the female tag part is avoided, which is seen as beneficial to the animal.

The fastening of the adapter member on the female tag part may be done at the production facility of the ear tag system. In another embodiment the fastening step is done just prior to application or the ear tag to the animal ear, e.g. by the farmer.

The fastening members may be designed to create a permanent mounting or adapter on the female tag part, e.g. allowing disconnection only by breaking or damaging one or more of the components involved. In another embodiment, the fastening members may create a user-releasable fastening or the adapter member to the female tag part.

-3 In the body of the adapter member is provided with protruding fastening members that extend away from the female tag part adjoining face and are each adapted to be received in a corresponding air passage in the body of the female tag part, said protruding fastening members have dimensions such that a portion of the respective air passage remains, and its adapter member body is provided with air passages that are in communication with said remaining portions of the air passages and that have opening in the ear contacting face.

For example the body adapter member is injection molded or plastic material, and for example the protruding fastening members that extend away from the female tag part are integrally molded with said body.

Into the fastening members are embodied as resilient hook members having a shank protruding from the female tag part adjoining face and having a hook portion at the free end of the shank, so that the adapter member can be snap fitted onto the female tag part with the resilient hook members securing the adapter member to the female tag part.

In the ear tag system further comprises a sensor part distinct from any or said male tag part, female tag part, pin, and adapter member. This sensor part is provided with at least a wireless communicating sensor, e.g., a motion sensor adapted to sense motion of the animal, e.g., or the ear, and an energy source for said wireless communicating sensor, e.g., a battery. Herein the sensor part and the adapter part are adapted to directly secure the sensor part to the adapter part alone or to the united female tag part and adapter part together.

In an embodiment the sensor part comprises a sensor part body housing the wireless communicating sensor and the energy source for said wireless communicating sensor, the body comprises a loop part defining a mounting opening that is dimensioned to receive therein the adapter part alone or the united female tag part transponder housing and the adapter member together.

In an embodiment at least the loop portion is made of a flexible and resilient material, eg or polyurethane plastic material, eg allowing the loop portion to be resiliently stretched in order to secure the loop portion tightly about a perimeter defined by the united female tag part and the adapter member.

-4 In the female tag part has a round button type body with a circular outer perimeter of the transponder housing portion that is concentric with the socket portion, and the adapter member has a circular outer perimeter having a diameter corresponding to the diameter of the circular outer perimeter or the round button type female ear tag part.

In an embodiment the adapter member has a stepped diameter outer perimeter, where a first zone or the perimeter has a first diameter corresponding to the circular outer perimeter or the transponder housing portion, and a second zone or the perimeter has a narrower second diameter. For example the loop portion of the sensor part has a stepped mounting opening mating with the outer perimeters or the united transponder housing portion and the adapter member.

In embodiment the female tag part has a round button body type with a circular outer perimeter or the transponder housing portion that is concentric with the socket portion.

In variant the ear contact side or the adapted member is convex.

In variant the female tag part has three resilient hook members that protrude from the female part adjoining face thereof, e.g. integrally molded resilient hook fingers.

In the body of the adapter member has an annular transponder housing portion that is radially spaced from the socket portion with spoke portions interconnecting the socket portion to the annular transponder housing portion. These spoke portions define between them the air passages or the female tag part.

Into the spoke portions have an exterior side that lies recessed relative to the exterior surface of the annular transponder housing portion so as to form a recessed space, eg an annular recessed groove, the hook portions of the hook shaped fastening members are dimensioned so as to be fully received within said recessed space and do not protrude out of said recessed space.

In vary the adapter member has a circular outer perimeter having a diameter corresponding to the diameter of the circular outer perimeter or the round button type female ear tag part.

Into the socket part comprises a hard cover member at least partially closing the bore opposite the introduction opening.

-5 In the head the head is a pointed head, e.g. conical head.

A second aspect of the present invention relates to an animal ear tag system including:

- a male tag part,

- a female tag part,

- a pin, having a first end and a second end, the first end is connected to the male tag part and the second end part is provided with a head, the female tag part has a body including a socket portion delimiting a bore with an introduction opening, said bore being adapted to receive therein the head of the pin, the body further including an transponder housing portion extending about and integral with the socket portion, where a transponder is encapsulated in the transponder housing portion of the body of the female tag part, said transponder including a chip and antenna, the system - in use - allowing the pin to be pressed through the ear of an animal with the head following entering the bore in the female tag part, with the body of the female tag part has an inner side that is directed towards the ear and has an opposite outer side, and bearing the body of the female tag is provided with passages through the body and extending between the outer side and the inner side, preferably in the proximity of the socket portion, the animal ear tag system further comprises an adapter member, said adapter member being adapted to be secured on the body or the female tag or the adapter member has an ear contacting face that is adapted to contact the ear and has a female tag part adjoining face that is adapted to adjoin the inner side of the female tag part, and the body of the adapter member has a hole adapted to pass through the head of the pin, the ear tag system further comprises fastening members that are each adapted to fasten the adapter member to the female tag part, which fastening members are embodied to extend through a corresponding passage in the body of the female tag part.

It will be appreciated that in this configuration of the second aspect of the invention the passages may, for example, be effectively occluded when the adapter member has been

-6united by the adapter member so that no exchange or air will take place as in the configuration of claim 1.

The second aspect, may in await, provide for enhanced access or air to the wound through another path than in the configuration of claim 1. For example the adapter member is provided with an undulating ear contacting face so as to provide air access gaps between the ear and the ear contacting face. In alternative, or in combination herewith, one or more air passages are provided in the adapter member that extend through the adapter member body between one or more opening in the ear contacting face and one or more opening in the perimeter of the adapter.

For example, the fastening members are embodied as resilient hook members, each having a shank protruding from the female tag part adjoining face and having a hook portion at the free end of the shank, so that the adapter member can be or has been snap fitted onto the female tag part with the resilient hook members securing the adapter member to the female tag part.

For example the body of the adapter member has an annular transponder housing portion that is radially spaced from the socket portion with a reduced thickness web portion interconnecting the socket portion to the annular transponder housing portion. This web portion is provided with the passages through which the fastening members are arranged.

It will be appreciated that the system of the second aspect of the invention may further include one or more of the features discussed in the context of the first aspect of the invention.

A third aspect of the invention relates to an animal ear tag system including:

- a male tag part,

- a female tag part,

- a pin, having a first end and a second end, the first end is connected to the male tag part and the second end part is provided with a head, the female tag part has a body including a socket portion delimiting a bore with an introduction opening, said bore being adapted to receive therein the head of the pin, the body further including an transponder housing portion extending about and integral with the socket portion, where a transponder is encapsulated in the transponder housing portion of the body of said female tag part, said transponder including a chip and antenna,

-7the system - in use - allowing the pin to be pressed through the ear of an animal with the head following entering the bore in the female tag part, the body of the female tag part has an inner side that is directed towards the ear and has an opposed outer side,

Such an animal ear tag systems are known, for example, in the body of the female tag part has no passages that extend between the inner side and the opposed outer side, so that no air can pass through the body via any such passages in the body.

In view of providing air to the location of the wound, it is known to have a pin that is hollow and provided with small bores to connect the open ended hollow interior or the pin to the outer surface or the pin to the location of the wound , so as to create an air passage. Examples hereof are shown in WO9525427. This approach reduces the strength of the pin compared to a solid cross-section pin, which may be seen as less preferred.

The third aspect of the invention aims to provide an alternative manner to establish an ear tag system with air passages, e.g. allowing to dispense with the mentioned pin with integrated air passages.

According to the third aspect of the invention an animal ear tag system is provided:

- a male tag part,

- a female tag part,

- a pin, having a first end and a second end, the first end is connected to the male tag part and the second end part is provided with a head, the female tag part has a body including a socket portion delimiting a bore with an introduction opening, said bore being adapted to receive therein the head of the pin, the body further including an transponder housing portion extending about and integral with the socket portion, where a transponder is encapsulated in the transponder housing portion of the body of the female tag part, said transponder including a chip and antenna, the system - in use - allowing the pin to be pressed through the ear of an animal with the head following entering the bore in the female tag part, with the body of the female tag part has an inner side that is directed towards the ear and has an opposite outer side,

-8wherein the animal ear tag system further comprises an adapter member, said adapter member being adapted to be secured onto the body of the female tag part at the inner side thereof, being the body of the adapter member has an ear contacting face that is adapted to contact the ear and has a female tag part adjoining face that is adapted to adjoin the inner side of the female tag part, and the body of the adapter member has a hole adapted to pass through the head of the pin.

One or more air passages are defined by, eg are provided in, the body of adapter member, said one or more air passages extend from the perimeter of the adapter body or from where the perimeter of the adapter body adjoins the perimeter of the female tag part body, to, eg through the adapter member body, one or more opening in the ear contacting face.

This system allows air to reach the location of the wound through a path that does not extend through any passages in the body or the female tag part. So a female tag part lacking such passages, eg for reasons of strength, ease of manufacture, application or visual coding thereon, etc., may be enhanced by uniting said female tag part with the adapter body in the manner of the third aspect of the invention.

In a preferred embodiment of the third aspect of the invention, the adapter member is provided with snap fit fastening portions that are configured to snap over the outer perimeter or the body of the female tag part, eg the circular outer perimeter, in order to fasten the adapter member onto the body or the female tag part.

In a preferred embodiment of the third aspect the body of the female tag part as well as the adapter member body have a circular outer perimeter, for example the outer perimeter or the adapter member being formed by an annular snap fit rim adapted to snap over the perimeter of the body or the female tag part.

A fourth aspect of the present invention relates to an animal ear tag system including:

- a male tag part,

- a female tag part,

- a pin, having a first end and a second end, the first end is connected to the male tag part and the second end part is provided with a head, the female tag part has a body including a socket portion delimiting a bore with an introduction opening, said bore being adapted to receive therein the head of the pin, the body

-9further including a transponder housing portion extending over and integral with the socket portion, providing a transponder is encapsulated in the transponder housing portion of the body of the female tag part, said transponder including a chip and antenna, the system - in use - allowing the pin to be pressed through the ear of an animal with the head following entering the bore in the female tag part, the body of the female tag part has an inner side that is directed towards the ear and has an opposite outer side, with the body of the female tag part has a circular perimeter.

As mentioned here such round button type female tag parts, with our without any air passages extending through the body, are well know in the field and widely adopted.

The fourth aspect of the invention aims to provide such an ear tag system with enhanced versatility, e.g. the mentioned air passage to the wound when the body of the female part lacks such air passages, or some other functionality.

The fourth aspect of the invention provides an animal ear tag system including:

- a male tag part,

- a female tag part,

- a pin, having a first end and a second end, the first end is connected to the male tag part and the second end part is provided with a head, the female tag part has a body including a socket portion delimiting a bore with an introduction opening, said bore being adapted to receive therein the head of the pin, the body further including an transponder housing portion extending about and integral with the socket portion, where a transponder is encapsulated in the transponder housing portion of the body of the female tag part, said transponder including a chip and antenna, the system - in use - allowing the pin to be pressed through the ear of an animal with the head following entering the bore in the female tag part, with the body of the female tag part has an inner side that is directed towards the ear and has an opposite outer side, featuring the body of the female tag part has a circular perimeter, featuring the animal ear tag system further comprises a n adapter member, said adapter member being adapted to be secured on the inner side

-10thereof, the body of the adapter member has an ear contacting face that is adapted to contact the ear and has a female tag part adjoining face that is adapted to adjoin the inner side of the female tag part and the body of the adapter member has a hole adapted to pass through the head of the pin, adapter adapter body has a circular outer perimeter, and said adapter member body is provided at said circular outer perimeter with one or snap fit fastening members configured to snap over the circular outer perimeter of the female tag part body, for example the outer perimeter of the adapter member being formed by an annular snap fit rim adapted to snap over the perimeter of the body of the female tag part.

The present invention also relates to a method to tag an animal, use is made of an ear tag system as described, for example in an explanation to provide the animal with a wireless communicating sensor, e.g. a motion sensor.

It will be appreciated that one or more features discussed with reference to one aspect of the invention may be combined with another aspect of the invention unless conflicting with the primary structure or said other aspect of the invention.

For example use is made of a system, the adapter member is or has already been fastened to the female tag part by means of the fastening members, and a loop portion or a sensor part housing is resiliently stretched to secure the loop portion tightly about the circular perimeter or the united female tag part and adapter part.

The invention will now be discussed with reference to the drawings. In the drawings:

- fig. 1 shows an example of a male tag part with integrated pin and a female tag part having air passages,

figs. 2a, b shows the female tag part or figure 1 in rear view and from the side,

figs. 3a - f show an adapter member to be united with the female tag part or figures 1 and 2 so as to form part or an embodiment of the inventive ear tag system,

- fig. 4 illustrates in cross-sectional view the head of the pin being locked in the bore of the female tag part united with the adapter member of figs. 3a-f;

- figs 5a, b illustrate in perspective view another embodiment of the inventive ear tag system in which a sensor part is fitted onto the united female tag part and adapter member or figs. 3a-f,

figs. 6a, b illustrate the sensor part fitted onto the united female tag part and adapter member as in figures 5a, b,

- fig. 7 illustrates in cross-sectional view the head of the pin being locked in the bore of the female tag part united with the adapter member and sensor part of figs. 5a, b and 6a, b,

- Fig. 8 shows an example of an ear tag system according to the second aspect of the invention,

- Fig. 9 shows an alternative version of Figure 8,

- Fig. 10 shows an example or an ear tag system according to the third and fourth aspect of the invention.

In the figures an animal ear tag system is illustrated:

- a male tag part 1, as preferred or plastic material,

- a female tag part 2,

- a pin 3, here integrally molded with the plastic male tag part so that its first end is permanently integrated with the male tag part 1 that has a flap provided with visual identifiers.

The pin 3 has a vote 3a that extends from the male tag part 1 to a second end of the pin 3 that is provided with a pointed, here generally conical head 4. The conical head 4 may include a hard plastic insert, eg as known in the art, eg from US6021592.

The female tag part 2 has a body which is here or the round button body type.

The body of the female tag part 2 including a socket portion 5 delimiting a bore 6 that is, in this example, at least partially closed at one end by a hard plastic cover member 7a to hinder tampering with the ear tag. In figures 5a, 6b the cover member 7a is not depicted.

At the inner end of the bore 6 there is an introduction opening 8 for the head 4 of the pin 3. The bore 6, or well, is adapted to receive therein the head of the pin 3, preferably said head 4 becoming locked therein as the, preferably hard plastic, rim defining the introduction opening 8 resiliently snaps behind the outward shoulder or the head 4 as is generally known in the field. Other locking structures for the head in the bore can also be envisaged.

The body of the female tag part 2 further comprises an annular transponder housing portion 9 that is radially spaced from the socket portion 5 with spoke portions 10 permanently interconnecting the socket portion 5 to the annular transponder housing portion 9. These spoke portions 10 define between them air passages 11 of the female tag part.

-12In this example, as preferred, the spoke portions 10 have an exterior side that lies recessed relative to the exterior surface face of the annular transponder housing portion 9 so as to form a recessed space, here an annular recessed groove 13.

So the transponder housing portion 9 extends about and is integral with the socket portion 5.

A transponder, e.g., failure of an identification code or the like, is encapsulated in the transponder housing portion 9 or the body of the female tag part 2. As is known this transponder includes a chip 14 and antenna 15.

During application of the ear tag system, the pin 3 is pressed through the ear of an animal with the pointed head 4 subsequently entering the bore 7 in the female tag part 2 and being locked therein by some locking arrangement.

The body of the female tag part 2 has an inner side that is directed towards the ear and has an opposite outer side. The mentioned air passages 12 extend through the body and extend between the outer side and the inner side, preferably in proximity or the socket portion 5 as shown here.

As illustrated the inner side of the female tag part 2 may be convex, is known in the art.

The above described male tag part with pin and female tag part with air passages as shown in figures 1, 2a, 2b, is currently marketed by Caisley GmbH, Germany.

As illustrated the inventive animal ear tag system further comprises an adapter member 20, here a monolithic adapter member 20 that has been molded or plastic material.

The adapter member 20 is adapted to be secured on the body or the female tag part 2 on the inner side thereof.

The body of the adapter member 20 has an ear contacting face 21 that is adapted to contact the ear. It also has an opposed female tag part adjoining face 22 that is adapted to adjoin the inner side of the body of the female tag part 2.

Generally the body of the adapter member 20 has a hole 23 that is adapted to pass through the head 4 of the pin 3, preferably the hole being larger in diameter than the head 4

-13so that said head can pass without hindrance through the hole 23 in order to reach the aligned bore 7 in the socket portion 5.

In the depicted embodiment the adapter member 20 has multiple integrally molded resilient hook members 24, each having a shank protruding from the female tag part adjoining face 22 or the adapter member 20 and each having a hook portion 25 at the free end of the shank, in this example inwardly directed towards the center line through the hole 23. This arrangement of multiple resilient hook members 24 allows for the adapter member 20 to be snap fitted onto the female tag part 2 with the resilient hook members 24 securing the adapter member to the female tag part.

These hook members 24 are arranged and dimensioned to each extend through a corresponding air passage 12 in the body of the female tag part 2, so from the inner side of the body to the outer side of the body of the tag part 2.

These hook members 24 have dimensions such that a portion of the respective air passage 12 remains open for passage or air between the inner side and the outer side of the female tag part 2.

The adapter member body is provided with one or more air passages that are arranged to be in communication with these remaining portions of the air passages 12 and to provide further communication to the ear contact side of the adapter member 20.

In this example air passages 26 through the adapter member, here each in proximity or the location of the resilient hook members 24, have opening 27 in the ear contacting face 21 or the adapter member, see arrow A in figure 4. This arrangement provides for a remaining functionality of the air passages 12 in providing air communication between the ear, preferably the region where the application of the ear tag caused some wound, and the outside, eg to enhance healing of the wound.

A further and / or alternative air passage is provided by the female tag part adjoining face of the adapter member 20 being locally spaced from the female tag part 2 so that air may pass through said space forming air passage 33, the space or passage 33 being in communication with the annular portion 23a that remains open of the original hole 23 for the head 4 of the pin 3 in the adapter member. As the pin 3, when the ear tag system has been applied to the animal ear, does not fill this hole, a further and / or alternative air passage, see arrow B in

-14 Figure 4, has been established that is in communication with the portions of the air passages 12 that have remained.

As preferred the hook portions 25 of the hook shaped fastening members 24 are dimensioned so as to be fully received within the recessed space, here groove 13, and do not protrude out of said recessed space. This e.g. avoids undesired loosening of the adapter member 20 as the animal may scratch the ear along a hard surface.

The illustrated adapter member 20 is primarily designed to allow for further inclusion of a sensor part 30 into the ear tag system as will be elucidated below.

The sensor part 30 is distinct from any of the male tag part 1, female tag part 2, pin 3, and adapter member 20. For example the sensor part is embodied as developed by Agis Automatisering, The Netherlands, and marketed under the name CowManager by said company.

The sensor part 30 is provided with at least a wireless communicating sensor 31, e.g., a motion sensor adapted to sense motion of the animal, e.g., or the ear, and an energy source for said wireless communicating sensor, e.g., a battery 32.

The sensor part comprises a sensor part body accommodating the wireless communicating sensor 31 and the electrical energy source 32 for the wireless communicating sensor 31.

The body of the sensor part 30 further comprises a loop portion 33 defining a mounting opening 34. This mounting opening 34 is configured to receive therein the unit formed by the female tag part 2 and the adapter member 20, so as to secure the sensor directly part 30 to the united female tag part and adapter part together.

At least the loop portion 33 or the body of the sensor part is made of a flexible and resilient material, e.g., or polyurethane plastic material. This allows the loop portion to be resiliently stretched in order to secure the loop portion tightly about a perimeter defined by the united female tag part 2 and the adapter member 20.

In figure 8 the alternative adapter member 120 occludes the passages 12 in the female tag part 2 so that no air will pass through. However, one or more air passages 121 are provided in the body or adapter member that extend through the adapter member body between one or more opening 122 in the ear contacting face and one or more opening 123 in the perimeter of the adapter. So air can still rear the ear near or at the location of the wound via path C.

-15 Figure 9 shows an alternative version of figure 8, the opening 123 are not within the body of the adapter member 120, yet one or more opening 123 are formed at the interface of the female tag part 2 and the adapter member 120, to form one or more opening at the location where the perimeter of the female tag part body adjoins the perimeter of the adapter member body having substantially the same diameter or size.

Figure 10 shows an example of an ear tag system according to the third and fourth aspect of the invention.

The female tag part body 120 now lacks any air passages therein. The female tag part is the well-known round button type and has a circular perimeter.

The adapter member 120 is secured onto the body or the female tag part 2 at the inner side thereof. The body of the adapter member has an ear contacting face that is adapted to contact the ear and has a female tag part adjoining face that is adapted to adjoin the inner side of the female tag part. The body of the adapter member has a hole adapted to pass through the head 4 of the pin.

The adapter member body 120 has a circular outer perimeter, which is formed by an annular snap fit rim 125 that is adapted to snap over the perimeter of the body of the female tag part 2. So the unit formed by the female tag part 2 and the adapter member 120 is again the round button type, with the adapter member 120 offering the potential for an enhanced functionality of the ear tag system.

As will be readily recognized in this example of figure 9 it is illustrated that the adapter member provides for the air passage functionality that is not offered here by the body of the female tag part as air passages therein are lacking. As in figure 8 one or more air passages 121 are provided in the body or adapter member that extend through the adapter member body between one or more opening 122 in the ear contacting face and one or more opening 123 in the perimeter of the adapter. So air can still rear the ear near or at the location of the wound via path C.

Instead of, or in combination with, the provision of one or more air passages the adapter member could also provide another functionality. For example the adapter member can accommodate therein one or more of a GPS sensor, a motion sensor, a temperature sensor, eg to be linked to a temperature probe that is insertable into the ear canal of the animal, a second transponder, wireless communication circuitry , a battery, a battery charging mechanism, a light, etc.

Claims (10)

CONCLUSIONS An ear tag system for animals comprising: - a male brand part (1), - a female brand part (2), - a pin (3) having a first end and a second end, the first end being connected to the male tag part and wherein the second end part is provided with a head (4), the female tag part having a body that has a socket portion (5) which defines a bore (7) with an introduction opening (8), the bore being adapted to receive therein the head (4) of the pin, the body further comprising a transponder housing portion (9) which surrounds the socket portion extends and is integral therewith, wherein a transponder is embedded in the transponder housing portion of the body of the female tag, which transponder comprises a chip (14) and an antenna (15), the system allowing - during use - the pin by pressing the ear of an animal, the head (4) then entering the bore (7) in the female tag, the body of the female tag having an inner side facing the ear and an opposite exterior, and wherein the body of the female tag is provided with air passages (12) through the body extending between the exterior and the interior, preferably in the vicinity of the socket portion (5), characterized in that the animal ear tag system further comprises an adapter member (20), which adapter member is adapted to be secured to the body of the female tag part (2) on the inside thereof, the body of the adapter member having an ear contacting surface that is arranged to make contact with the ear and has a surface adjacent to the female tag part adapted to abut the inside of the female tag part, and wherein the body of the adapter member has a hole (23) arranged to allowing the head (4) of the pin to pass therethrough, the ear tag system further comprising fasteners (24, 25) each adapted to attach the adapter member attaching the female tag part, which fixing members are adapted to extend through an associated air passage (12) in the body of the female tag part, the fixing members having dimensions such that a portion of the relevant air passage (12) remains open to the passage of air, and wherein the adapter member body is provided with one or more air passages (26, 33, 23a) which are in communication with said remaining portions of the air passages (12) in the female ear tag part (2) and which have one or more have openings in the face contacting face. An animal ear tag system according to claim 1, wherein the body of the adapter member is provided with protruding fasteners (24, 25) extending from the plane adjoining the female tag part and each adapted to be received in an associated air passage (12) ) in the body of the female tag, the protruding fasteners having dimensions such that a portion of the respective air passage (12) of the female tag remains, and wherein the adapter member body is provided with one or more air passages (26, 33, 23a) which are in communication with said remaining portions of the air passages (12) of the female tag part (2) and which have one or more openings in the ear contacting face. An animal ear tag system according to claim 2, wherein the fastening members are formed as elastic hook members (24), each having a shaft extending from the face adjacent to the female tag and having a hook portion (25) at the free end of the shaft, so that the adapter member (20) can be snap-fitted or is attached to the female tag, the elastic hook members securing the adapter member to the female tag. The animal ear tag system according to any of claims 1-3, wherein the system further comprises a sensor part (30) that is different from each of said male tag part, the female tag part, the pin, and the adapter member, the sensor part being provided with at least one wireless communicating sensor (31), for example a motion sensor adapted to detect the movement of the animal, for example the ear thereof, and an energy source for the wireless communicating sensor, for example an electric battery (32) wherein the sensor part and the adapter part are adapted to fix the sensor part directly on only the adapter part or on the combined female tag part and the adapter part together. The animal ear tag system according to claim 4, wherein the sensor part comprises a sensor part body that receives said wireless communicating sensor (31) and said energy source (32) for the wireless communicating sensor, and wherein the body comprises a loop part (33) which defines aperture (34) dimensioned to receive therein the adapter part alone or the unified female tag part transponder housing (9) and the adapter member (20) together therein. An animal ear tag system according to claim 5, wherein at least the loop portion (33) is made of a flexible and elastic material, for example of polyurethane plastic material, for example whereby it is possible to stretch the loop portion elastically around the loop portion defined tightly around a circumference by stretching the united female brand part and the adapter member. The animal ear tag system according to any of claims 1-6, wherein the female tag part (2) has a round-knot type body with a circular outer circumference of the transponder housing portion (9) that is concentric with the socket portion (5), and wherein the adapter member has a circular outer circumference with a diameter corresponding to the diameter of the circular outer circumference of the round-knot type female ear tag part. A method for marking an animal, wherein use is made of an ear tag system according to any of claims 1-7. A method for marking an animal and providing the animal with a wirelessly communicating sensor, wherein use is made of a system according to at least claim 4. 10. Method according to claim 9, wherein use is made of a system according to at least claims 4, 5 and 6, wherein the adapter member (20) is mounted on or has already been mounted on the female tag part by means of the mounting members (24, 25) and wherein the loop portion (33) of the sensor portion housing is elastically stretched to tightly attach the loop portion around the circular periphery of the assembled female tag and adapter member.