Rubber teat element with flexible head geometry

Abstract

The invention relates to a rubber teat element ( 1 ) having a head part ( 2 ) and a shank part ( 3 ), which is connected to the head part ( 2 ). The head part ( 2 ) has a lateral surface ( 5 ) and an introduction opening ( 6 ) for an animal's teat, wherein the introduction opening ( 6 ) is delimited by an inwardly oriented lip ( 4 ). The lateral surface ( 5 ) has at least one expansion region ( 7 ), which extends over at least part of a lateral-surface circumference ( 8 ) and at least part of a head-part length ( 9 ), wherein the lateral surface ( 5 ) is of undulating form, as seen in cross section, in the expansion region ( 7 ). The invention also relates to a teat cup and a milking cluster having a corresponding rubber teat element. The present invention provides a rubber teat element which, in particular in the case of small, thin and short animal teats, can be adapted to different teat geometries on account of the radial expansion capability of the head part.

1 . A rubber teat element comprising:
 a head part; and   a shank part connected to the head part;   wherein the head part has a lateral surface and an insertion opening for a teat of an animal, wherein the insertion opening is delimited by an inwardly extending lip, and the lateral surface includes an expansion region which extends over at least part of a lateral surface circumference and at least part of a head part length, wherein the lateral surface is at least partially formed with an undulatory cross section in the expansion region.   
     
     
         2 . The rubber teat element as of  claim 1 , wherein the lateral surface comprises a plurality of spaced apart and inwardly directed first indentations in the expansion region, and wherein the expansion region has an expansion region outside surface and wherein each first indentation has a first indentation surface and a ratio of the sum of all the first indentation surfaces to the expansion region outside surface is less than or equal to one. 
     
     
         3 . The rubber teat element of  claim 2 , wherein the lateral surface expansion region, comprises a substantially constant lateral surface thickness, and wherein each first indentation has a first depth and a ratio of the first depth to lateral surface thickness is less than or equal to one. 
     
     
         4 . The rubber teat element of  claim 2 , wherein the lateral surface expansion region, comprises a substantially constant lateral surface thickness, and wherein each first indentation has a first depth and a ratio of the first depth to the lateral surface thickness is greater than one. 
     
     
         5 . The rubber teat element of  claim 2 , wherein each first indentation has a first depth and the lip has a lip depth, and a ratio of the first depth to the lip depth is less than or equal to one. 
     
     
         6 . The rubber teat element of  claim 2 , wherein the head part defines a head part length and each first indentation has a first indentation length, wherein a ratio of the first indentation length to the head part length is less than or equal to one. 
     
     
         7 . The rubber teat element of  claim 2 , wherein each first indentation defines a first indentation length and the expansion region defines an expansion region length, wherein a ratio of the first indentation length to the expansion region length is less than or equal to one. 
     
     
         8 . The rubber teat element of  claim 2 , wherein the first indentations are arranged equidistantly with respect to one another in the circumferential direction. 
     
     
         9 . The rubber teat element of  claim 1 , wherein the lateral surface further comprises:
 a plurality of outwardly directed and circumferentially spaced apart second indentations in the expansion region, wherein the second indentations are directed outwardly from an expansion region inside circumference, and wherein the expansion region has an expansion region inside surface and wherein each second indentation has a second indentation surface, and a ratio of the sum of all the second indentation surfaces to the expansion region inside surface is less than or equal to one.   
     
     
         10 . The rubber teat element of  claim 9 , wherein the lateral surface expansion region, comprises a substantially constant lateral surface thickness, and wherein each second indentation has a second depth, a ratio of the second depth to the lateral surface thickness is less than or equal to one. 
     
     
         11 . The rubber teat element of  claim 9 , wherein the lateral surface expansion region, comprises a substantially constant lateral surface thickness, and wherein each second indentation has a second depth, and wherein a ratio of the second depth to the lateral surface thickness is greater than one. 
     
     
         12 . The rubber teat element of  claim 9 , wherein each second indentation has a second depth and the lip has a lip depth, and a ratio of the second depth to the lip depth is less than or equal to one. 
     
     
         13 . The rubber teat element of  claim 9 , wherein the head part defines a head part length and each second indentation has a second indentation length, wherein a ratio of the second indentation length to the head part length is less than or equal to one. 
     
     
         14 . The rubber teat element of  claim 9 , wherein each second indentation defines a second indentation length and the expansion region defines an expansion region length, wherein a ratio of the second indentation length to the expansion region length is less than or equal to one. 
     
     
         15 . The rubber teat element of  claim 9 , wherein the second indentations are arranged equidistantly with respect to one another in the circumferential direction. 
     
     
         16 . The rubber teat element of  claim 1 , wherein the lateral surface expansion region, comprises a substantially constant lateral surface thickness. 
     
     
         17 . The rubber teat element of  claim 1 , wherein the head part defines a head part length and the expansion region defines an expansion region length, and wherein a ratio of the expansion region length to the head part length is less than or equal to one. 
     
     
         18 . The rubber teat element of  claim 1 , wherein the shank part is formed integrally with a short milk tube on a shank part end located opposite to the head part. 
     
     
         19 . A teat cup assembly comprising:
 a rubber teat element with a head part; and   a shank part connected to the head part;   wherein the head part has a lateral surface and an insertion opening for a teat of an animal, wherein the insertion opening is delimited by an inwardly extending lip, and the lateral surface includes an expansion region which extends over at least part of a lateral surface circumference and at least part of a head part length, wherein the lateral surface is at least partially formed with an undulatory cross section in the expansion region.   
     
     
         20 . (canceled) 
     
     
         21 . A milking cluster having a claw and at least two teat cups, wherein at least one of the teat cups includes a rubber teat element comprising:
 a head part; and   a shank part which is connected to the head part;   wherein the head part has a lateral surface and an insertion opening for a teat of an animal, wherein the insertion opening is delimited by a inwardly extending lip, and the lateral surface includes an expansion region which extends over at least part of a lateral surface circumference and at least part of a head part length, wherein the lateral surface is at least partially formed with an undulatory cross section in the expansion region.   
     
     
         22 . (canceled) 
     
     
         23 . The teat cup assembly of  claim 19 , wherein the lateral surface further comprises:
 a plurality of outwardly directed and circumferentially spaced apart second indentations in the expansion region, wherein the second indentations are directed outwardly from an expansion region inside circumference, and wherein the expansion region has an expansion region inside surface and each second indentation has a second indentation surface, and a ratio of the sum of all the second indentation surfaces to the expansion region inside surface is less than or equal to one.   
     
     
         24 . The milking cluster of  claim 21 , wherein the lateral surface further comprises:
 a plurality of outwardly directed and circumferentially spaced apart second indentations in the expansion region, wherein the second indentations are directed outwardly from an expansion region inside circumference, and wherein the expansion region has an expansion region inside surface and each second indentation has a second indentation surface, and a ratio of the sum of all the second indentation surfaces to the expansion region inside surface is less than or equal to one.