The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document.
The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge covers the following: Patent number, Date patent was issued, Date patent was filed, Title of the patent, Applicant, Inventor, Assignee, Attorney firm, Primary examiner, Assistant examiner, CPCs, and Abstract. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document (in Adobe Acrobat format, aka pdf). To download or print any patent click here.
Patent No.:
Date of Patent:
Mar. 09, 2004
Filed:
Sep. 17, 2002
Lennart G. Petersson, Douglas, MA (US);
IBA Inc., Millbury, MA (US);
Abstract
A milking inflation fits over the upper end of a teat cup shell, with a peripheral shoulder and cuff adapted to surround and sealingly engage the upper rim of the shell. A substantially flat, relatively thin section (mouthpiece) extends radially inwardly from the shoulder and toward a center portion which defines a circular central opening or mouth for receiving a teat of a lactating animal. A plurality of geometrically-shaped indentations are aligned in a circumferentially extending pattern around the mouth. The indentations are formed integrally in a broad surface of the mouthpiece and extend radially inwardly from the shoulder and cuff toward the center portion and central opening. The inward tips of the geometrical indentations leave a substantially raised portion around the center opening, and due to the alignment of the geometrical indentations there is an immediate raised portion around the central opening of the mouthpiece. The indentations provide improved flexibility for the mouthpiece which allows the mouthpiece to better adapt to various sizes of animal's teats. The immediate portion around the opening, with its raised portion, provides increased integrity and stability during the use of the milking inflation.