Marking device

Abstract: A method and apparatus of marking livestock, objects and surfaces comprising: selecting a marker cartridge (2) containing a marking means (31) of a selected type, colour or design; securely engaging the marker cartridge (2) into a marker cartridge receiver (3); attaching the cartridge receiver (3) to a user's wrist with a strap (4); and marking livestock, objects and surfaces with the selected marking means (31) in the marker cartridge (2).

Description: This invention relates to a method and device for marking, and in particular but not limited to, for marking livestock. The device also has application for marking objects in the forestry, packaging and processing industries. Stock marking can be a cumbersome and time consuming task, particularly where the device employed for marking must be hand held. With such devices the user has at best only one hand available for controlling animals or performing other functions. Thus, it is an object of the present invention to provide a method and apparatus for marking items, and particularly livestock, which leaves the user the substantial free use of both hands, and which therefore reduces the abovementioned problem, or which at least provides the public with a useful alternative. U.S. Patent No. 2 678 622 discloses a stock marking device in which a marker cartridge is carried by a marker cartridge receiver attached to a harness which fits around the neck of a ram, for marking ewes during mating. U.S. Patent No. 3 158 094 discloses a reciprocating marking stamp having a removable printing element cartridge which is a sliding, friction fit in a cartridge receiver. Finally, U.S. Patent No. 1 382 015 discloses a marker device in the form of a cuff which fits closely to the back of the hand of the user, including the back of the fingers, and which carries a series of marking stamps by which a carton or a can can be stamped when the hand is curled up. According to one aspect of the present invention there is provided a marking device for attachment to a user's wrist or other appendage comprising: a cartridge receiver adapted for attachment of at least one strap and for securely engaging a marker cartridge, and a marker cartridge adapted to securely engage into the marker cartridge receiver and to securely retain a marking means, characterised in that the cartridge receiver has a base with an orifice to permit access to the marker cartridge when the cartridge is in place in the receptacle. In a preferred form the container may have a base plate adapted to provide a securing means for the marking means. Preferably the base plate may be movable and may form a friction fit within the container but can slide vertically within the container when pressure is applied to the base plate. In a preferred form the interlocking means of the cartridge receiver may comprise at least one segment of the receptacle which protrudes into the receptacle and forms a substantially horizontal slot between a lower surface of the segment and an upper surface of a partial base of the receptacle, and the locking means of the marker cartridge may comprise at least one flange at a lower edge of the container, and wherein the at least one flange can fit between or around the at least one segment and engage the slot beneath the segment(s), thus interlocking the marker cartridge in the cartridge receiver. The receptacle and container of the marking device may be cylindrical. In a further preferred form the partial base of the receptacle may have a central orifice which permits access to the movable base plate of the container when the marker cartridge is securely interlocked with the cartridge receiver. In a further preferred form of the invention the securing means for the marking means may comprise a recess at a lower inner part of a hollow centre of the base plate. The marking means may be wax. In a further aspect the present invention provides a marker device comprising a cartridge comprising a container with at least one locking means for securely engaging the container in a cartridge receiver, and with a removable base plate adapted to provide a securing means for a marking means and to form a friction fit within the container but be capable of being forced up or down the container by the application of pressure to the base plate, characterised in that the device further comprises a cartridge receiver comprising a receptacle with at least one strap arrangement means at a lower outer part thereof and an interlocking means for securely engaging the marker cartridge locking means to locate the cartridge in the receptacle. A modification may include a screw design to vertically raise and lower the marker cartridge. Still a further aspect of the present invention comprises a method of marking livestock, objects and surface comprising: selecting a marker cartridge containing a marking means of a selected type, colour or design; securely engaging the marker cartridge into a cartridge receiver; attaching the cartridge receiver to a user's wrist with a strap secured to the receiver; and with the cartridge receiver carrying the cartridge attached to the user's wrist, marking stock or any item with the selected marking means in the marker cartridge. Other aspects of the present invention will become apparent from the following description which is given by way of example only and with reference to the accompanying drawings in which: Figure 1 : shows a cross-section through a preferred embodiment of a marking device of the present invention. Figure 2 : is a view from above of the preferred embodiment of Figure 1. Figure 3 : is a view from above of a preferred form of a cartridge receiver of the present invention. Figure 4 : is a side view through the cartridge receiver of Figure 3 cut in half and showing the inner part of the receptacle of this cartridge receiver. Figure 5 : is a side view of a preferred embodiment of a marker cartridge of the present invention. Figure 6 : is a view from above of a container of the marker cartridge of Figure 5. Figure 7 : is a side view from A of the container in Figure 6. Figure 8 : shows a cross-section through a base plate of the marker cartridge of Figure 5, (a) empty and (b) with wax marker in place. Figures 1 and 2 show a preferred embodiment of the marking device 1 of the present invention comprising the marker cartridge 2 securely fastened in a marker cartridge receiver 3 and with Velcro (Trade Mark) strap 4 for attaching the device to a user's wrist. A removable sealing lid 19 is shown in position in Figure 1. Although the preferred embodiments presented in the drawings show a single Velcro (Trade Mark) strap, it will be appreciated that separate straps may be attached to each attachment means of the marker cartridge receiver. Further, while the preferred form of strap may be of Velcro (Trade Mark) it will be appreciated that any other forms of strap with appropriate buckles or connection means are also envisaged. The cartridge receiver 3 has a strap attachment means 5 located on each of two flanges 6 protruding from a lower part 7 of the cartridge receiver 3. The upper part 8 of the cartridge receiver 3 forms a cylindrical receptacle 9 with a partial base 10. There is an orifice 11 in the centre of the partial base 10. Now referring to Figures 3 and 4, it can be seen that the cylindrical receptacle 9 has segments 12 which protrude into the receptacle from the upper edge 13 to a point 14 above the partial base 10, i.e. leaving a slot 15 between the partial base 10 and the lower surface 16 of the segments 12. In the preferred embodiment shown in Figure 3 the lower surface 16 of the segments 12 are angled in relation to the horizontal partial base 10. In Figure 5 it may be seen that the marker cartridge 2 comprises a container 17 and a base plate 18. Optionally there is also a sealing lid 19 (as shown in Figure 1). The container 17 has flanges 20 protruding from a lower part 21. The preferred embodiment shown in the Figures has three flanges 20 which can slide between the three corresponding segments 12 of the marker cartridge receiver 3. Viewed from the side, as shown in Figure 7 the flanges 20 have an angled upper surface 22. This angled upper surface 22 is the inverse of the angled lower face 16 of the segments 12 of the cartridge receiver 3. Thus, the marker cartridge 2 may be interlocked in the cartridge receiver 3 by sliding the flanges 20 between the segments 12 until the lower surface 30 of the container 17 rests on the partial base 10 of the receptacle 9. The cartridge 2 is then twisted to interlock the upper angled surfaces 22 of the flanges 20 of the container 17 with the lower angled surfaces 16 of the segments 12 of the cartridge receiver 3, (i.e. the flanges 20 slide into the slots 15). The marker cartridge 2 may be readily removed by twisting it in the opposite direction to release the flanges 20 of the container 17 from the slots 15 of the cartridge receiver 3 and then lifting the cartridge 2 from the receiver 3. The base plate 18 of the marker cartridge 2, as shown in Figures 5 and 8, has sealing rings 23 on the outer circumference which form a friction fit between the base plate 18 and the inner surface 24 of the container 17. The base plate 18 has a base 25, side walls 26 and a hollow centre 27. The side walls 26 are recessed 28 at a lower part 29 of the hollow centre 27. This recess 28 provides a means for securing a marking means (shown in Figure 8(b) as a wax marker 31) to the base plate 18 and therefore within the container 17 when the base plate 18 is in place in the container 17. The preferred marking means used in the embodiment of the present invention shown in the Figures is a marker of wax. Thus, with the base plate 18 in position at the base of the container 17 molten wax may be poured into the container 17, or heated soft wax may be forced into the container 17. When the wax solidifies a ridge of wax is trapped in the recess 28 to securely hold the wax on the base plate 18. It will be appreciated that a wax marker is only one type of marking means which may be used with the marking device of the present invention. Other types of marking means are envisaged and may be adapted to fit in the marker cartridge of the present invention. For example, a dye or ink marker with a gauze covered adsorbent pad is one such alternative marking means envisaged. Although the base plate 18 forms a friction fit in the container 17, the application of pressure to the base 25 of the base plate 18 will force the base plate 18 up inside the container 17, raising the level of a marking means securely attached to the base plate. Thus, when the marking means is of wax, which wears down with use, adequate marking of stock or any item is ensured by raising the level of the marking means in the container as and when necessary. The orifice 11 in the partial base 10 of the cartridge receiver 3 enables the base plate 18 of the cartridge 2 to be pushed up the container 17 without removal of the marker cartridge 2 from the cartridge receiver 3. The marker cartridge employed in the marking device of the present invention is designed to be removable to enable simple replacement of the cartridge either for the purposes of refill or to allow the selection of a cartridge containing a marking means of different colour, design or type. Although the invention has been described by way of example, and with particular reference to the preferred embodiment shown in the accompanying drawings, it should be appreciated that variations and modifications may be made thereto, without departing from the scope of the invention as defined in the following claims. For example, the preferred embodiment shows the receptacle of the cartridge receiver and container of the marker cartridge to be cylindrical, but other shapes would be equally suitable providing that the receptacle and container are of compatible shapes, and the means for interlocking the two are appropriately adapted. Furthermore, any number of variations in the means of interlocking the marker cartridge and the cartridge receiver are envisaged without departing from the scope of the invention, as defined in the following claims.

Claims: A marking device for attachment to a user's wrist or other appendage comprising: a cartridge receiver (3) adapted for attachment of at least one strap and for securely engaging a marker cartridge (2), and a marker cartridge (2) adapted to securely engage into the marker cartridge receiver (3) and to securely retain a marking means (31), characterised in that the cartridge receiver (3) has a base (10) with an orifice (11) to permit access to the marker cartridge (2) when the cartridge is in place in the receiver (3). A marking device according to claim 1, characterised in that the cartridge receiver (3) comprises a receptacle (9) with at least one strap attachment means (5) at a lower outer part thereof and an interlocking means (12) for cooperation with the marker cartridge locking means (20). A marking device according to claim 2, characterised in that the receptacle (9) is cylindrical and has a partial base (10) at a lower inner part. A marking device according to claim 3, characterised in that the partial base (10) has a central orifice (11) to permit access to the marker cartridge (2). A marking device according to any one of the previous claims, characterised in that the marker cartridge (2) comprises a container (17) with at least one locking means (20) for securely engaging the container (17) in the cartridge receiver (3) and a securing means (28) for the marking means. A marking device according to claim 6, characterised in that the container (17) has a base plate (18) comprising a base (25), side walls (26) and a hollow centre (27), and in that the side walls have recesses (28) at a lower part (29) of the hollow centre to create the securing means. A marking device according to claim 6, characterised in that the base plate (18) is removable, and when inserted into the container (17) it forms a friction fit therein and is capable of being forced up or down the container by the application of pressure to the base plate, movement of the base plate adjusting the level of any contents of the container. A marking device according to any one of the previous claims, characterised in that the marking means is a wax marker (31). A marking device according to any one of claims 5 to 8, characterised in that the interlocking means (12) of the cartridge receiver comprises at least one segment (12) of the receptacle (9) which protrudes into the receptacle and forms a substantially horizontal slot (15) between a lower surface (16) of the segment (12) and an upper surface of the partial base (10), the locking means of the marker cartridge container comprises at least one flange (20) at a lower edge thereof; and in that the at least one flange (20) can fit between or around the at least one segment (12) and engage into the slot (15) beneath the segment(s), thus interlocking the marker cartridge in the cartridge receiver. A marking device according to any one of the previous claims, characterised in that the marker cartridge (2) further comprises a removable seal (19) adapted to cover an upper part thereof. A marking device according to any one of the previous claims further characterised by at least one strap (4) attached to the marker cartridge receiver (3), adapted to hold the marking device to a wrist of a user. A marking device comprising a cartridge (2) comprising a container (17) with at least one locking means (20) for securely engaging the container in a cartridge receiver (3), and with a removable base plate (18) adapted to provide a securing means (28) for a marking means (31) and to form a friction fit within the container but be capable of being forced up or down the container by the application of pressure to the base plate (18), characterised in that the device further comprises a cartridge receiver (3) comprising a receptacle (9) with at least one strap attachment means (5) at a lower outer part thereof and an interlocking means (12) for securely engaging the marker cartridge locking means (20) to locate the cartridge in the receptacle. A method of marking stock comprising: selecting a marker cartridge (2) containing a marking means (31) of a selected type, colour or design; securely engaging the marker cartridge (2) into a cartridge receiver (3); attaching the cartridge receiver (3) to a user's wrist with a strap secured to the receiver; and with the cartridge receiver (3) carrying the cartridge (2) attached to the user's wrist, marking stock or any item with the selected marking means in the marker cartridge.

Inventors: WINDERS GERARD B, WINDERS, GERARD B.
Applicants: GENESIS IND INC, GENESIS INDUSTRIES INCORPORATED
Application year: 1995
Main classification: A01K11
IPC codes: A01K11, B41K1