Patent ID: 6742475
Filing Date: 2004-06-01
Classification: A01J

Abstract:
A flexible teat cup liner of a resilient material adapted for mounting a teat cup and coupling to a milking claw, the liner including a wall having an exterior and defining a channel for the passage of fluid therethrough, the liner being configured for placement on an animal's teat during milking, the liner comprising:a mouthpiece including a mouth adapted for receipt of an animal's teat therethrough; a barrel extending longitudinally from the mouthpiece and being configured for receiving at least a part of the animal's teat therein; and a tube extending longitudinally from the barrel and having an end axially remote from the mouthpiece configured for coupling to the milking claw, said tube including a segment between the end and the barrel, said segment being positioned relatively more proximate the end than said barrel, said segment including a multiplicity of discrete, axially spaced circumscribing grooves in the wall wherein the axial spacing between one adjacent pair of said circumscribing grooves is greater than the axial spacing between another adjacent pair of said circumscribing grooves, wherein said circumscribing grooves define a plurality of lugs in said segment, said lugs extending circumferentially along the segment, and wherein said lugs are circumferentially discontinuous.