Animal ear tags and applicators therefor

Abstract

An animal ear tag comprising two components formed of a plastics or other resilient material, a first component having a hollow stem with a flanged end which has a spike of hard plastic or other rigid material shaped from its back end with a hole for the reception of a guide pin of a reusable back plate, and the second component having a boss with a hole for fitting over such end whereby with each component detachably mounted on a jaw of a pliers like applicator and the pin of the backplate inserted through the hollow stem of the first component and into the hole of the rigid spike, on a closing of the jaws of the applicator, the spike and stem of the first component is forced through the ear of an animal, and through the hole in the second component, and on an opening of the jaws of the applicator, the rigid pin and its backplate is left within the hollow stem of the first component, and the second component retained on the hollow stem and the spike on the end of the first component, the reusable backing plate with the pin being now withdrawn from the applied tag.

What is claimed is: 
     
       1. An animal ear tag comprising a first component formed of resilient material having a hollow stem with a flanged outer end; a hollowed spike of hard material fitted on the flanged end of the hollow stem; and a second component formed of a resilient material having a boss with a hole of smaller cross-sectional size than the largest cross-sectional size of the hollowed spike, the second component being positionable on the stem adjacent the hollowed spike, the hollow in said stem and said spike being adapted to receive a support rod for positioning said stem within said hole in said boss during installation of said tag. 
     
     
       2. A animal ear tag as claimed in claim 1 wherein each component is of tab-like configuration, each component having a flat thin panel, the panel of the first component extending from the hollow stem, and the panel of the second component extending from the boss. 
     
     
       3. An animal ear tag as claimed in claim 2 wherein the hollow stem of the first component is upstanding from one surface of and is moulded with the panel of the component, the stem having a bore of constant diameter extending through it, and outer end of the stem being enlarged to provide the flanged end with an inner shoulder extending from the external surface of the stem. 
     
     
       4. An animal ear tag as claimed in claim 3 wherein the enlarged end is moulded around the hollowed spike to become an integral part thereof. 
     
     
       5. An animal ear tag as claimed in claim 4 including a seat in the hole in the boss of the second component, the flanged end of the hollow stem with the spike fitted thereon being supported upon the seat within the hole. 
     
     
       6. An animal ear tag as claimed in claim 5 wherein the hollowed spike is of a conical formation with its hole passing through the apex providing a cutting edge about the hole. 
     
     
       7. An animal ear tag as claimed in claim 1 wherein each component is formed of a resilient elastomeric plastics material. 
     
     
       8. The animal ear tag as claimed in claim 7 wherein said plastic material is polyurethane. 
     
     
       9. An animal ear tag as claimed in claim 1 wherein: the first component has a further hollow stem with a flanged end and a fitted hollowed spike, and the second component has a further boss with a hole for fitting on the flanged end of the first component.