Oestrus Detector

Abstract

An oestrus detector includes a reservoir portion which contains a coloured liquid. The detector further includes a generally planar portion that is attached to and sealed from the reservoir portion, except for an open or closed passage in a seal line separating the reservoir portion and the generally planar portion. In use the liquid is squeezed from the reservoir portion, through the passage, and into the generally planar portion, when the reservoir portion receives pressure.

1 . An oestrus detector, including:
 a reservoir portion which contains a flowable substance; and   at least one generally planar portion that is attached to and sealed from the reservoir portion, except for an open or closed passage in a seal line separating the reservoir portion and the at least one generally planar portion;   wherein in use, a pressure upon the reservoir portion causes flowable substance to be squeezed through the passage and into the at least one planar portion.   
     
     
         2 . An oestrus detector as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein:
 the at least one generally planar portion comprises a plurality of generally planar portions.   
     
     
         3 . An oestrus detector as claimed in  claim 2 , wherein:
 the plurality of generally planar portions are located on opposite sides of the reservoir portion.   
     
     
         4 . An oestrus detector as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein:
 the at least one generally planar portion comprises two generally planar portions, the second generally planar portion being attached to and sealed from said reservoir portion, except for a second open or closed passage in a second seal line separating said reservoir portion and said second generally planar portion.   
     
     
         5 . An oestrus detector as claimed in  claim 4 , wherein:
 said passage and said second passage are both located on or near one end of said reservoir portion.   
     
     
         6 . An oestrus detector as claimed in  claim 1 , further comprising:
 a vial for holding the flowable substance, said vial being located inside said reservoir portion.   
     
     
         7 . An oestrus detector as claimed in  claim 6 , wherein:
 said vial is closed by a valve head having a vial head opening, and in use, flowable substance is squeezed through said valve head opening by pressure.   
     
     
         8 . An oestrus detector as claimed in  claim 7 , wherein:
 said passage in said seal line is located near or at an end of said reservoir portion so as to be away from said valve head opening.   
     
     
         9 . An oestrus detector as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein:
 said at least one generally planar portion includes at least one internal seal line.   
     
     
         10 . An oestrus detector as claimed in  claim 9 , wherein:
 said at least one internal seal line forms an internal pathway for the flowable substance to travel inside said at least one generally planar portion, wherein said internal pathway is adapted to facilitate a generally incremental spreading of the flowable substance inside said at least one generally planar portion and/or said internal pathway includes a series of compartments that are generally separated from each other by said at least one internal seal line.   
     
     
         11 . An oestrus detector as claimed in  claim 2 , wherein:
 said plurality of generally planar portions each have at least one internal seal line.   
     
     
         12 . An oestrus detector as claimed in  claim 11 , wherein:
 the at least one internal seal line in said plurality of generally planar portions are the same as those in said at least one generally planar portion.   
     
     
         13 . An oestrus detector as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein:
 said flowable substance is a dye, and said at least one generally planar portion have at least one internal surface, said at least one internal surface being lined with a fibrous material.   
     
     
         14 . An oestrus detector as claimed in  claim 13 , wherein:
 said fibrous material is at least one of the following: a synthetic short fiber material, a hydrophobic material, and a hydrophilic material.   
     
     
         15 . An oestrus detector as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein:
 said flowable substance causes a material contained in said generally planar portion to change color via a physical or a chemical reaction.   
     
     
         16 . An oestrus detector as claimed in  claim 2 , wherein:
 a path of said flowable substance throughout said detector leads from said reservoir portion and then to each of said plurality of generally planar portions in sequence.   
     
     
         17 . An oestrus detector as claimed in  claim 1 , further comprising:
 at least one interface between said reservoir portion and said at least one generally planar portion that is configured to allow said detector to follow the contour of an animal's body portion which will receive said device.   
     
     
         18 . An oestrus detector as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein:
 said passage is closed by a valve that is openable by pressure, or a frangible means that can be broken by pressure.   
     
     
         19 . An oestrus detector as claimed in  claim 4 , wherein:
 said second passage is also closed by a valve that is openable by pressure, or a frangible means that can be broken by pressure.   
     
     
         20 . An oestrus detector as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein:
 said flowable substance is one of or a mixture of two or more of the following: a gel, a paste, a jelly, a cream, a slurry, a liquid of high, medium or low viscosity, a flowable powder.   
     
     
         21 . An oestrus detector comprising:
 a reservoir portion which contains a flowable substance; and   a portion that is sealed from the reservoir portion, except for an open or closed passage in a seal line separating the reservoir portion and from the rest of the detector; wherein in use, a pressure upon the reservoir portion causes flowable substance to be squeezed through the passage and into a flow path in the rest of the detector.