Udder and teat cleansing apparatus and sanitizer

Claim 1

For use on and in conjunction with a cow''s udder just prior to initiating the milking step, a portable manually held and actuatable udder and teat cleansing apparatus designed and expressly capable of washing and cleansing one teat at a time comprising: a non-corrodible and washable teat cup of a depth and cross-sectional dimension to receive and wholly enclose the teat which is to be cleansed and sanitized, said cup being rigid, open at its top and contoured to fittingly accommodate not only the depending teat but that portion of the udder immediately surrounding the selected teat, the bottom of said cup having first means by way of which the cup can be applied, removed, and effectually handled by a single hand and by way of which a washing and disinfectant solution is fed into the receptacle portion of said cup, said means embodying a solution delivering and feeding line, said bottom also having second means for draining and emptying said cup, whereby each teat acted on is effectually cleansed, said first means embodying a valve mounted on and supported by the bottom of said cup, said valve having a nozzle confined to the lower part of the receptacle portion of said cup in a manner to focus the stream of solution upon the mouth of the teat which is being acted on, a major part of the said valve having a body portion depending below an axial portion of the bottom of said cup and being provided on one side with a radially projecting branch for communicative connection thereto of a solution delivering hose, said body having normally closed valving means therein, and a valve actuating lever pivotally mounted intermediate its ends on said hose connecting branch and having one end operatively joined with the valving means and its other end fashioned into a handle which is proximal to and parallel with said branch to facilitate simultaneously catching hold of said handle and branch for conveniently handling of the overall apparatus.