US3696790A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Teat cup assembly
Assignee: Zero Manufacturing Co
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Filing: 1970-01-08
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Granted: 1972-10-10
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Expires: 1990-01-08
Abstract
Abstract A flexible liner known as an inflation for a teat cup of a milking machine wherein the opening for receiving the cow''s teat has radially extending corrugations about its edge so as to be expansible, such capacity to expand being augmented by a distensible knuckle spaced from and substantially parallel to the edge of the opening. In a preferred embodiment, the corrugations have a spiral configuration so as to form means spaced from the opening for distending as the opening is expanded. The spiral corrugations serve a purpose of causing washing and/or rinsing fluid to swirl as it passes through the inflation whereby a more effective cleaning results. The shell for the inflation includes means at the upper edge for swirling the washing and/or rinsing fluid and also for centering the inflation during the washing operation. The conduit for admitting air pulsations in the milking operation and washing fluid in the washing operation joins the shell at a tangent so as to direct washing and/or rinsing fluid into a helical swirling path in the annular space between the inflation and the shell. Optionally the shell may be convoluted to guide the fluid in a helical through the annular space and, further, to provide additional strength to the shell.
Inventors
- 👤 Penrose Lucas Albright
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-28 02:45
CPC Classifications
A; A01; A01J; A01J5/00; A01J5/04; A01J5/08
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 21
Claim 1
Independent Claim
63 words
An inflation for a teat cup assembly, said inflation having a portion with a centrally located aperture for receiving the teat of a farm animal, a plurality of channels extending outwardly in the underside of said portion from said aperture, said channels being canted relative to said aperture whereby fluid flowing out of said aperture from the underside of said portion is swirled.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
63 words
An inflation for a teat cup assembly, said inflation having a portion with a centrally located aperture for receiving the teat of a farm animal, a plurality of channels extending outwardly in the underside of said portion from said aperture, said channels being canted relative to said aperture whereby fluid flowing out of said aperture from the underside of said portion is swirled.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
12 words
An inflation in accordance with claim 1 wherein said channels are spiral-shaped.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
12 words
An inflation in accordance with claim 2 wherein said portion is resilient.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
15 words
An inflation in accordance with claim 3 wherein said channels comprise a plurality of corrugations.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
57 words
An inflation for a teat cup assembly, said inflation having a portion with a centrally located aperture for receiving the teat of a farm animal, a plurality of corrugations included in said portions extending outwardly from said aperture, said corrugations being curved whereby fluid flowing out of said aperture from the interior of said inflation is swirled.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
57 words
An inflation for a teat cup assembly, said inflation having a portion with a centrally located aperture for receiving the teat of a farm animal, a plurality of corrugations included in said portions extending outwardly from said aperture, said corrugations being curved whereby fluid flowing out of said aperture from the interior of said inflation is swirled.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
26 words
An inflation in accordance with claim 5 wherein at least five of said corrugations are provided which are spaced an equal amount apart about said aperture.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
16 words
An inflation in accordance with claim 5 wherein said portion is composed of a resilient material.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
48 words
An inflation in accordance with claim 7 wherein the included angle between a tangent to the side of each of said corrugations at a location on said portion opposite said aperture and a line through said location and the center of said aperture is at least about 45*.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
118 words
An inflation for a teat cup assembly, said inflation being composed of resilient material and comprising an integral relatively thin upper portion including a centrally located expansible aperture for receiving the teat of a farm animal, a plurality of corrugation means extending outwardly in an irregular path from an edge defining said aperture whereby, when said aperture is dilated, said corrugation means tends to flatten in a first direction to grip an animal''s teat in a substantially air tight seal, and distention means including passages in the underside of said portion, spaced from the edge of said aperture adapted to extend outwardly and in a second direction substantially transverse to said first direction when said aperture is dilated.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
118 words
An inflation for a teat cup assembly, said inflation being composed of resilient material and comprising an integral relatively thin upper portion including a centrally located expansible aperture for receiving the teat of a farm animal, a plurality of corrugation means extending outwardly in an irregular path from an edge defining said aperture whereby, when said aperture is dilated, said corrugation means tends to flatten in a first direction to grip an animal''s teat in a substantially air tight seal, and distention means including passages in the underside of said portion, spaced from the edge of said aperture adapted to extend outwardly and in a second direction substantially transverse to said first direction when said aperture is dilated.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
28 words
An inflation in accordance with claim 9 wherein said distention means comprises corrugations which at least in part are substantially parallel to the nearest portion of said edGe.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
31 words
An inflation in accordance with claim 9, wherein further corrugation means in said upper portion extends substantially radially from said aperture, said first mentioned corrugation means joining said further corrugation means.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
86 words
An inflation for a teat cup assembly, said inflation being composed of resilient material and having a relatively thin upper portion including a centrally located expansible aperture for receiving the teat of a farm animal in a substantially air tight seal, and distention means including passages in the underside of said portion, spaced from the edge of said aperture adapted to distend outwardly when said aperture is dilated, said passages being curved in a general spiral configuration, whereby washing and/or rinsing fluid is swirled during cleaning.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
86 words
An inflation for a teat cup assembly, said inflation being composed of resilient material and having a relatively thin upper portion including a centrally located expansible aperture for receiving the teat of a farm animal in a substantially air tight seal, and distention means including passages in the underside of said portion, spaced from the edge of said aperture adapted to distend outwardly when said aperture is dilated, said passages being curved in a general spiral configuration, whereby washing and/or rinsing fluid is swirled during cleaning.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
15 words
The inflation of claim 12 wherein the edge of said aperture includes an upright flange.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
25 words
In an apparatus in accordance with claim 13, wherein said first mentioned corrugation means and said further corrugation means join to form a spiral-shaped member.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
18 words
In an apparatus in accordance with claim 14 wherein said web includes a plurality of said spiral-shaped members.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
27 words
In an apparatus in accordance with claim 13 wherein said first mentioned corrugation means encircles said opening and there are a plurality of said further corrugation means.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
14 words
Edge means in accordance with claim 11 wherein said flange is rounded in cross-section.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1975-10-10 | 1976-04-10 | 1976-10-10 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1979-10-10 | 1980-04-10 | 1980-10-10 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1983-10-10 | 1984-04-10 | 1984-10-10 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |