Ear tag with mechanical security feature

Abstract: An ear tag for establishing the identity of an animal comprises at least one plate element (1), a pin (3), attached to the plate element (1), for accommodating in a hole in the ear (2) of the animal, and a counter-element (12) for locking the plate element (1) with pin (3) to the ear (2), which plate element comprises a plastic plate (15) plus a metal retaining element (9), into which the pin (3) is fastened, located in said plastic plate (15). The metal retaining element (9) is covered by a protective element (11) which is located in line with an opening with the pin (3) therein, which protective element (11) is incorporated in the plastic material of the plate element (1) in such a way that forcing of the ear tag by pushing out the pin (3) is counteracted.

Description: The invention relates to an ear tag for establishing the identity of an animal, comprising at least one plate element, a pin, attached to the plate element, for accommodating in a hole in the ear of the animal, and a counter-element for locking the plate element with pin to the ear, which plate element comprises a plastic plate plus a metal retaining element, into which the pin is fastened, and a protective element, located in said plastic plate. The protective element is incorporated in the plastic material of the plate element in such a way that forcing of the ear tag by pushing out the pin is counteracted. Such ear tags are known. They are used in cattle for identification of the individual animals. The aim of such identification is to provide insight into the origin of each individual animal. By this means the "family ties" can be traced, as can the hereditary characteristics of an animal. These data can play an important role in tracking down and combating abnormalities which are dangerous not only for the animal itself but also for the consumer who uses products originating from these animals. Moreover, in this context it is important that the owner, or previous owner, of the animal can be traced. The intention is that the data of animals are stored and kept up to date in a central facility. To this end the authority which administers the register concerned must be informed immediately of changes such as birth, death and the like. In practice, however, it is found that a not inappreciable proportion of the cattle population is nevertheless incorrectly registered. Because of the substantial economic interest associated with the health of the animals, fraud in ear tag registration is a fact. As a consequence of this the usefulness of ear tag registration has been limited to date because definite answers with regard to the condition, history and the like of each individual animal cannot be obtained with certainty. Despite the robust joint between the pin with the plate element and the counter-element, fraud by means of replacing ear tags proves not to be too difficult. For instance, the pin can be pushed out of the plate element or counter-element using suitable tongs. Another ear tag carrying false information can then be fitted. The aim of the invention is to provide an ear tag which is better able to resist this form of fraud by replacement. This aim is achieved in that the retaining element is joined via at least one bend line to an auxiliary part that extends along the retaining element and has a passage through which the pin extends, and in that the protective element is joined to the auxiliary part via at least one further bend line, the said protective element extending along the auxiliary part. Reference is made to FR-A-2577380 which discloses a brace for mounting to the leg of an animal. Said brace has a metal retaining element which is joined via at least one bend line to that extends along the retaining element and also has a passage through which a pin extends. However, an auxiliary part is lacking. Due to the fact that the auxiliary part according to the invention is integral with the retaining element, the most effective position of the auxiliary part with respect to the retaining element is always guaranteed, including during injection moulding of the plate element. In order to make forcing by means of a drill more difficult, the protective element is rounded on the side facing away from the pin. Forcing by sawing through the pin is virtually impossible if the pin is surrounded by a rotatable sleeve, which is preferably diabolo-shaped, over the region between the plate element and the counter-element. The pin then turns as the saw is moved back and forth and the saw also has the tendency to slide towards the middle of the pin as a consequence of the diabolo shape. However, this is the location of the ear of the animal, as a result of which sawing is made even more difficult. Furthermore, the plate element can be widened in the direction away from the pin and reinforced at the widened end to prevent rolling up. As a result it is no longer possible to reduce the size of the plate element to such an extent that this can easily be removed through the hole in the ear of the animal. The plastic plate can bear one or more symbols, which may or may not be detectable to the naked eye, at the location of the protective element. If an attempt is made to force the ear tag, these symbols are damaged, which has a preventive effect or in any event brings fraud to light. The invention will be explained in more detail below with reference to an illustrative embodiment shown in the figure. The figure shows an ear tag 1 in the assembled state, the ear 2 being indicated by broken lines. The ear tag comprises a plate element 1 and an identical counter-element 12, joined to one another by means of a pin 3. The plate element 1 comprises a metal element 33 that is incorporated in a plastic plate 15. The metal element 33 comprises the retaining element 9, the auxiliary part 7 and the protective element 11. The pin 3 has a conical head 4 at both ends, the shoulder 5 of each head 4 being fixed in place in the hole 6 of each of the auxiliary parts 7 by snap-fitting. Said auxiliary part 7 forms an integral whole with the retaining element 9 via bend line 8 and an integral whole with protective element 11 via bend lines 10. The purpose of retaining element 9 is to provide robust anchoring of pin 3 in the plate element 1 and, respectively, in the counter-element 12 via the auxiliary part 7 forming an integral whole therewith. According to the invention the head 4 of the pin 3 is protected by the protective element 11 against forcing by means of tongs. The tongs, one jaw of which would engage beneath the plate element 1, and one jaw on the top thereof, would merely compress the plastic material present between the protective element 11, the auxiliary part 7 and the retaining element 9 to some extent, without this, however, leading to the head 4 being pushed out of the hole 6. The protective element 11 also has a rounded shape 13 at the location of the head 4. If an attempt were to be made to reach the pin and to force it using a drill, this rounded shape would cause the drill to slip. The pin 3 is also preferably rotatable with respect to the plate element (and the counter-element 12, respectively) so that any engagement by a drill would lead to the pin 3 turning with the drill and no hole, with weakening as the result, would be obtained. The description given above essentially relates to the plate element 1, but also applies to the identical counter-element 12. The pin 3 is surrounded by a diabolo-shaped rotatable sleeve 14. If an attempt were to be made to force the pin 3/sleeve 4 by sawing, first of all the sleeve 14, and when this failed the pin 3 as well, would turn with the movement of the saw. The effect of a saw is virtually eliminated as a result. As a consequence of the diabolo shape of the sleeve 14, the saw also has the tendency to slide towards the middle of the sleeve 14. However, the presence of the ear 2 prevents this movement to some extent, as a result of which forcing is made even more difficult. Both the plate element 1 and the counter-element 12 can have an edge reinforced by means of one or more ribs 30. These ribs prevent said elements 1, 12 being rolled up and subsequent removal of the ear tag via the hole in the ear of the animal. An elongated transponder or chip can, for example, have been accommodated in the rib(s). Removal of said rib(s) would then result in damage to the transponder or chip, as a result of which fraud is made additionally difficult. The ear tag can then no longer be detected electronically. Drilling out of the pin and the like is made additionally more difficult if the elements 1, 12 have corrugations and/or holographic images at the location of their mutual snap-fit joint. In the case of attempted manipulation such corrugations/images would be irreparably damaged. The symbols 31 on the plastic plate 15 can, for example, also comprise a barcode, which is damaged if an attempt is made to force the ear tag. In this case the symbols are then also no longer readable, such that the fraud comes to light in any event.

Claims: Ear tag for establishing the identity of an animal, comprising at least one plate element (1), a pin (3), attached to the plate element (1), for accommodating in a hole in the ear (2) of the animal, and a counter-element (12) for locking the plate element (1) with pin (3) to the ear (2), which plate element (1) comprises a plastic plate (15) plus a metal retaining element (9), into which the pin (3) is fastened, and a protective element, located in said plastic plate (15), protective element (11) is incorporated in the plastic material of the plate element (1) in such a way that forcing of the ear tag by pushing out the pin (3) is counteracted characterised in that the retaining element (9) is joined via at least one bend line (8) to an auxiliary part (7) that extends along the retaining element (9) and has a passage (6) through which the pin (3) extends, and in that the protective element (11) is joined to the auxiliary part (7) via at least one further bend line (10), the said protective element (9) extending along the auxiliary part (7). Ear tag according to claim 1, wherein the protective element (11) is partially rounded (13) on the side facing away from the pin (3). Ear tag according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the pin (3) has been snapped home in the opening (6). Ear tag according to claim 1, 2 or 3 wherein the pin (3) is surrounded by a rotatable sleeve (14) over the region between the plate element (1) and the counter-element (12). Ear tag according to Claim 4, wherein the rotatable sleeve (14) is diabolo-shaped. Ear tag according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the plate element (1) is widened in the direction away from the pin and reinforced (30) at the widened end to prevent rolling up. Ear tag according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the plate element (1) bears an identifier, such as a number, barcode and the like. Ear tag according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the counter-element (12) is identical to the plate element (1). Ear tag according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the plastic plate (15) bears one or more symbols (31), which may or may not be detectable to the naked eye, at the location of the protective element (11).

Inventors: HENDRIKX JACOBUS GERARDUS MARI, HENDRIKX, JACOBUS GERARDUS MARIA
Applicants: HENDRIKX JACOBUS GERARDUS MARI, PRAGMATIC NETWORK CREATIONS ET, HENDRIKX, JACOBUS GERARDUS MARIA, PRAGMATIC NETWORK CREATIONS ETS.
Application year: 2000
Main classification: A01K11
IPC codes: A01K11