US1260466A - Teat-cup. - Google Patents

Description

D. T. SHARPLES.

TEAT CUP.

APPLICATION FILED MAY lo. 1911.

Patented Mar. 26,1918.

DAVID TOWN SEND SHARPLES, OF WEST CHESTER,

PENNSYLVANIA.

TEAT-CUP.

rasa/lee.

Application filed May 10, 191'?.

To all whom t may concern:

Be it known that l, DAvrD TowNsLND Srmnrnns, a citizen of the United States, residing at W est Chester, in the county of Chester and State of `linnnsylvania, have invented certain Improvements in "feat-Cups, of which the following is a specication.

My invention is a teat cup having improved means'for frictionally engaging the teat, to hold the cup in the desired operative posit-ion whileV permitting il to be removed with ease when desired. My improved means are characterized by the use of flexible devices within the cup adapted for frictionally engaging the teat to bold the cup firmly thereon and adapted for being deflected from their normal engagement so as to permit the removal of the cup readily when desired.

The nature and characteristic features of my improvements are fully disclosed in the following description and the accompany` ing drawings in illustration thereof.

ln the drawings, Figure 1 is a longitudinal sectional view of a teat cup embodying my invention; Fig. 2 is a plan view of a detached flexible ring used therein; Fig. 3 is a broken longitudinal sectional view of features of the construction shown in Fig. 1 represented on .an enlarged scale in the position in use; Fig. 4 is a sectional view taken on the line 4 4: of Fig. 3 showing the relation of features of the mechanism in the operation of removing the cup; Fig. 5 is a longitudinal sectional view of a part of a teat cup embodying a modified construction of my invention with the parts in the relation occupied in use; Fig. 6 is a longitudinal sectional view of a part of a teat cup embodying a further modified construction of my invention with the parts in the relation occupied in use; Fig. 7 is a plan View of a detached ring used in the construction shown in Fig. 6, and Fier. 8 is a sectional view on the line 8 8 of Fig. 6 showing the relation of the fingers to the teat in the Y operation of removing the cup.

My improved teat cup comprises a shell body l having a detachable section 1 connected and disconnected with relation thereto by the coperative threads 1a and 1", the body of the shell being provided with the internal flange 1c and with the nipples 1d and le. A rubber tube 2, having the Specification of Letters Eatent.

Patented Mar., 26, 19155.. Serial No. 167,663.

tapered bottom 2- with the slit 2b therein, is provided at its top-with the exterior .annulus C which rests on the flange 1c.

As illustrated in Figs. 1 to 4e inclusive, a ring 8 is placed in the top of the section or sleeve 1 against the shoulder 1 thereof; soft rubber rings 1l, containing peripheral metal stiffening rings 4u and radial slits 4t forming the prehensile fingers l, are placed in the sleeve 1 against the ring 3 with their respective slits staggered; .a second ring 3 is placed in the sleeve against the bottom ring Ll; additional rings 4 are placed in the sleeve against the second ring 3; and a ring 3 is placed in the sleeve against the last named ring 1, the ring 8 being firmly engaged with the annulus 2c by screwing down the sleeve 1 upon the body 1 and the rings 3 and 4t being thereby held in place.

The animals teat 5, being entered through the top of the teat cup and passing through the rings l, deflects the fingers or sections l downwardly and outwardly, with the result that such fingers or segments are not only frictionally engaged with the teat but are so dispose-d as to be placed under longitudinal compression, acting as tentacles or struts against the surface of the teat to hold the cups thereon firmly in the proper position.

While these ngers or sections act strongly when in normally deflected positions to hold the cup upon the teat, it will be understood that by twisting or turning the cup the torsional action deflects the lingers or tentacles laterally as shown in Fiff. l and permits the cup to be drawn off the teat without difhculty.

As illustrated in Fig. 5, placed rings a may be directly against the shoulder or seat in the top of the cup and held in place by rings 3, when the greater force applied to the fingers or tentacles l, due to the reduced number of rings l used, will, through tending to buckle the ngers, hold the teat cup in place satisfactorily.

As illustrated in Figs. 6, 7, and 8, the sleeve 1 may be provided with a ring 6 clamped between the shoulder 1 and a ring 3 and with a second ring 6 clamped between rings 3, the rings 6 having peripheral stiffening rings 6a and radial fingers or tentacles 6 of flexible character.

These prehensile fingers, upon the insertion of the teat 5 through the top of the cup and through the rings, are deflected downwardly and outwardly, as illustrated in Fig. 6, so that they are disposed angularly to the teat, similarly to the elements of a cone. Therefore the weight of the cup is carried longitudinally7 through these lingers to the teat, the lingers acting as struts to resist the tendency of the cup to fall off or nieve from its correct position. In this, as in the previous forms, the cup is removed by turning it upon the teatand deflecting the fingers 6 to the position shown in Fig. S.

It will be understood that while sof't rub- Vber is well ada atedrfor irovidine the annular brush or ring having tentacles for grasping the teat, any suitable material, as bristles, may be substituted i'or the rubber tentacles.

Having described my invention, I claim:

l. A teatcup'having independently movable' flexible members adapted to be deflected by the insertion of the teat into the cup and to frictionally engage the teat to hold the cup thereon. 2. A teat cup "having flexible tentacles therein adapted to be deflected by the insertion of the teat into the cup and to grasp the teat to hold the cup thereon.

A teat cup having 'flexible interior members adapted to be deflected downwardly and outwardly by the insertion of the teat in said cup, to frictionally engage teat.

the teat to hold said cup thereon, and to be deflected laterally by turning the cup so as to permit its ready detachment Jfrom the t. A teat cup having an interior brush like device comprisinga ring provided with inwardly projecting flexible members adapted to be deflected downwardly Vand outwardly by the insertion of the teat into said cup and to grasp the teat so as to hold said cup thereon, said members being adapted for lateral deflection by turning said cup.

5. A teat cup having therein a rubber ring containing radial slots forming segments adapted for grasping a teat inserted in said cup and movable laterally to permit the re'- lease of said teat from said cup.V Y

(i. A teat cup comprising a shell containing, in the upper end thereof, a plurality oi rings having flexible members, the separations between the members of 'the respective rings being staggered.

7. A teat cup comprising a shell having separable sections, one' of saidse'ctions being provided' with an interior flange, a flexible tube engaging said flange, and Vmeans comprising a ring and tentacles disposed above said tube for grasping a teat inserted in said c up, the other of said sections having al shoulder for pressing said means' against said tube. p Y

In testimony whereof` I have hereunto set my name this 8th day Vof May, 1917. 'y

DAVID TOINSEND SHARPLES.

VCopies of this patentlmay be obtained for ve cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents,

. Washington, D. G.

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