Abstract:
The applicator comprises a container for containing a liquid including a foaming agent, a cup mounted on the container, means for supplying gas at an elevated pressure into the liquid in the container to cause the liquid to foam and passage means between the container and the cup and through which foam can pass from the container to the cup.

Description:
INTRODUCTION  
         [0001]    This invention relates to an applicator for treating the teats of animals, typically cows, such as with a disinfectant.  
           [0002]    It is known to provide applicators for treating the teats of animals, typically cows, with a liquid disinfectant immediately prior to and/or immediately after milking. Some known applicators comprise a compressible container and a rigid cup threadably engaged with the open end of the container. The cup of known applicators is frustoconical and has an opening in its base. Liquid in the container can be discharged through the opening into the cup by compressing the container and, whilst holding the container in the compressed state, the cup can be placed over teats to dip the teats in the disinfectant. The liquid will return to the container when the container is no longer held in a compressed condition.  
           [0003]    These known applicators work quite satisfactorily but there are conceived advantages in dipping the teats in a foam rather than a liquid. Firstly, foam is more visible to the eye than liquid and, therefore, the use of foam will provide a user with visible confirmation that all teats have been dipped. Also, it is thought that by using foam, less disinfectant will be used. Foam may also have a greater residue on the teat of its active ingredients, which will therefore remain on the teat for a longer period of time. Other versions include a non return system that prevents used chemical returning to the container.  
           [0004]    It is known from GB-A-2299011 to provide an applicator comprising a compressible container for containing a liquid including a foaming agent, a cup mounted on the container, foaming means for drawing air into liquid in the container as the container expands from a compressed state to cause the liquid to foam, and passage means between the container and the cup and through which foam can pass from the container to the cup as the container is compressed. This however suffers from the drawback that the operator has to continually squeeze the container to produce sufficient foam to dip each teat. Herd sizes are increasing making hand squeezing more onerous.  
         SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
         [0005]    According to the present invention, there is provided an applicator comprising a container for containing a liquid including a foaming agent, a cup mounted on the container, means for supplying gas at an elevated pressure into liquid in the container to cause the liquid to foam and passage means between the container and the cup and through which foam can pass from the container to the cup.  
           [0006]    Preferred and/or optional features of the invention are set forth in claims 2 to 9 inclusive.  
           [0007]    The invention will now be more particularly described, by way of example, with reference to the accompanying drawings. 
       
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       [0008]    [0008]FIG. 1 is a schematic view of a foaming system including three applicators embodying the present invention,  
         [0009]    [0009]FIG. 2 is a side view of one of the applicators shown in FIG. 1, and  
         [0010]    [0010]FIG. 3 is a sectional view of part of one of the applicators shown in FIG. 2. 
     
    
     DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT  
       [0011]    Referring firstly to FIG. 1, there is shown therein a foaming system comprising a source of compressed gas, typically air,  10 , a shut off valve  11 , a pressure regulator  12  for reducing the pressure from the compressed gas source  10  to 3 to 6 p.s.i. and pipework  13  connecting the gas source  10 , in the example shown, to three applicators  14 .  
         [0012]    As shown in FIG. 2, each applicator  14  comprises a container, in the form of an open top bottle  15 , and a plastics cup  16  which is threadably engaged with the open upper end of the bottle  15 .  
         [0013]    The cup  16  has a generally cylindrical base portion  16   a  which threadably engages with the open end of the bottle  15  and an upper, generally frustoconical portion  16  b which is inclined at a small angle with respect to the base portion  16   a.  The applicator also comprises a gun  17  having a body part  18  and a manually operable trigger  19  which is operable to open and close a valve in the body part  18  of the gun. The gun  17  is releasably connected to the cup  16  by a bayonet fixing  20 .  
         [0014]    As shown in FIG. 3, the base portion  16   a  of the cup has an internal annular flange  21  which fits inside the upper externally threaded portion of the bottle  15  to give the connection between the bottle and the cup added rigidity. The base portion  16   a  of the cup also has a depending central collar  22  which defines an opening  23 . A short tube  23   a  is fitted in the opening  23  and projects downwards into the bottle. A diffuser  23   b  may be located in the upper end of the tube  23   a.  This diffuser regulates the size of bubbles produced as foam. A valve member  24  seats against the upper end of the opening  23  and has a boss that locates into that opening. An apertured disc  25  is snap fittably engaged with the base portion  16   a  and this disc serves to limit upward displacement of the valve member  24  away from its seated position and to evenly distribute foam into the cup.  
         [0015]    A gas inlet  26  is moulded into the side wall of the cup  16 , emerging in the centre of the bayonet fitting  20 . A plastics restrictor  28  is provided in the gas inlet  26  to regulate the volume of gas entering the applicator. Sealed communication with the gun  17  is effected by means of an “O” ring  29 . A spigot  26   a  projects downwards between the annular flange  21  and the collar  22 .  
         [0016]    A flexible tube  27  is connected to the spigot  26   a  permitting gas from the inlet  26  to be directed to the bottom of the bottle. A moulded foaming head  30  is connected to the lower end of the tube  27  and comprises a non return valve and a series of fine holes.  
         [0017]    In use, the bottle  15  is partially filled with a liquid, typically a liquid disinfectant, containing a foaming agent. In order to cause the liquid to foam up, the trigger  19  of the gun  17  is compressed to allow gas at an elevated pressure to enter the bottle via the foaming head  30  and into the liquid through the fine holes of the foaming head so producing bubbles in the liquid and foam above its top level. This foam passes up through the tube  23   a,  through the diffuser  23   b,  past the valve member  24  which is unseated and through the apertures in the disc  25 . The valve member  24  prevents the return of foam to the bottle and the foam therefore collects within the cup  16 . After sufficient foam has been collected in the cup, the cup can be placed over teats so that the teats are disinfected by the foam.  
         [0018]    The embodiment described above is given by way of example only and various modifications will be apparent to persons skilled in the art without departing from the scope of the invention.