Abstract: A system for identifying a lost pet and locating its owner includes a central clearing house and a pet collar or tag having a telephone number and a unique code number imprinted thereon. Information about the pet and its owner is stored at the central clearing house under the unique number and is retrievable in response to a telephone call from a finder of the pet.

Abstract: A display container includes a receptacle housing defining an enclosure therein, the receptacle housing including a front wall, rear wall, side walls and a bottom wall, the receptacle housing including an upper opening through which articles can be deposited into and removed from the enclosure; the front wall having a downwardly and inwardly extending incline so that articles deposited in the enclosure are compactly and orderly arranged therein; bump-like separators on the bottom wall and grip-like separators at the front portion of the opening for separating elongated articles deposited in the enclosure and extending from the bottom wall out of the opening; and an L-shaped securing assembly at the upper part of the rear wall for supporting the display container on a vertical slat board.

Abstract: Method and apparatus for monitoring migration of tagged fish which also facilitates their retrieval, including a selectively activated floatation device and securing member and a method for employing them.

Abstract: A fish tag includes a monofilament having a retention member on one end and a flexible indicia bearing tube positioned about the monofilament. The second end of the monofilament extends beyond the end of the tube. A second monofilament having an enlarged end is also inserted into the tube. The enlarged end is positioned adjacent the second end of the first monofilament. The monofilaments and the tube are adhesively secured to each other. In addition, the two ends of the monofilament are secured to each other by a heat shrinkable tube that is placed about the monofilament ends and then shrunk to secure them together.

Abstract: An animal identification system for swine or other livestock employs an identification implant or pellet consisting of food grade material and imprinted with information to identify the source of the animal and its carcass after slaughter. The pellet is implanted under the hide or skin of the animal for purposes of identification. In the case of swine, the identification pellet is located in the fat layer of the shoulder area underneath its hide or skin. The pellet and the imprinted information consist of food grade material which is capable of being dissolved with the fat layer or disintegrated into cracklings in a rendering process. The pellet remains in the carcass after the animal is slaughtered until its removal to permit identification of the source of the animal. If the pellet is not removed, it is either dissolved with the fat of the animal or disintegrated into cracklings in the rendering process.

Abstract: A tail tag assembly for attachment to the tail switch of an animal including an engaging member having a slotted head which gathers animal hair as it is urged into an elongated member having a narrow passage therein. A retention shoulder is contained in the elongated member so that when the engaging member is urged into the elongated member it is retained. A pest-control strip is positioned between a flange on the engaging member and the adjacent portion of the elongated member so as to contact the animal body as the tail moves.

Abstract: An invasive anchor of a fish tag includes an anchor element for initial mechanical attachment and an element of inert material for adherence with the tissue of the fish through cellular growth.

Abstract: The invention comprises an animal identification tag. The tag is a plastic sheet preformed into a sspiral shape to form several overlapping spiral layers from one end to the other. The sheet is formed of resilient material whereby the outer spiral layer may be separated from the next adjacent layer along its outer edge so that a cow's tail of conventional size may be slipped between laterally of the length of the tail and the tag may be rotated to slide the tail between the spiral layers until the tail is located inside the innermost spiral layer. The tag has a preformed spiral shape wherein the innermost spiral layer has a diameter when unstraightened that is slightly smaller than the outside diameter of a small cow's tail so that the tag will compress back, after straightening, toward its smaller diameter and thereby snuggly engage the tail of cows of varying sizes to retain the tag on the tail. The tag has indicia along its outermost spiral layer to identify the cow.

Abstract: In a method for tagging members of a large homogenous group of macro-organisms so that each macro-organism is assigned to a respective one of a plurality of statistically equivalent subgroups, successive segments of wire are cut from a continuous length of wire indelibly marked along the length thereof with a plurality of identification codes at least equal in number to the members of the large homogenous group to be tagged. Each identification code includes a plurality of longitudinally extending multidigit binary words and a circumferentially extending multidigit binary word. The circumferentially extending binary word in any identification code has one of a plurality of different values, each of the values occurring in a number of the identification codes substantially equal to the total number of macro-organisms divided by the number of the subgroups.

Abstract: In the identification of fish, tags having on at least one side visually detectable markings encoding information pertaining to a fish are shallowly implanted within transparent or semi-transparent tissues of respective specimens. Upon release and subsequent capture of the fish specimens, the locations of the tags are optically determined by a visual inspection of the fish. The information is retrieved from the tags by either reading the information from the implanted tags through the transparent or semi-transparent tissue or excising the tags and thereupon reading the information. In either case, the specimens are not significantly harmed or injured by virtue of the implantation and reading operations. The implanted tags also have a minimum effect on survival and other biological traits and behavior.

Abstract: A livestock data indicator is made up of two parallel plastic members adapted to be folded together by plastic hinges disposed between and joining the two members, the plastic members being held together by studs on one of the members which fit into corresponding holes in the other so as to secure hairs, for example of the mane of a horse or the tail of a cow, therebetween and not be brushed off the animal on which used by switching of the tail against a fence or other obstructive object or rubbing the mane against a gate or the like. For additional security the inside of each of the two members, that is, the sides or surfaces which are folded and attached together, preferably have rows of teeth thereon which aid in holding or locking the hairs in place when the two members are snapped together.

Abstract: A tag for attachment to the ear of an animal, said tag comprising in combination a male component having a headed stem and a female component having a base portion 11 with an upper surface and a lower surface, a panel 10 projecting upwardly from the upper surface. An opening 12 is formed in the base portion 11 and the headed portion of the stem of the male component is able to pass through the opening 12 to effect coupling of the male and female components. The lower surface of the base 11 includes an engagement surface 16 which in use of the tag engages with the upper outer surface of an animal's ear. The engagement surface 16 has a profile which relative to the panel is transverse to the plane of the panel and follows the contour of the upper outer surface of the animal's ear to which the tag is to be applied to resist swivelling movement of the tag about the axis of coupling between the male and female components.

Abstract: In a method and apparatus for magnetizing an identification tag prior to insertion thereof into a host macro-organism, the tag is provided with a magnetic field having an orientation opposed to the magnetic field of an injection wire from which the tag has been cut. The tag and the leading end of the wire repel one another and facilitate implantation of the tag into the macro-organism by preventing withdrawal of the tag with the wire upon termination of an injection operation.

Abstract: This invention relates to an animal identification tag and in particular to tags such as ear tags for use with animals. The identification tag includes one or more components, at least one of which is adapted to engage with the skin of an animal so as to engage an identification portion with and relative to, the animal. One or more holes or slots are formed or provided in and passing through, at least one of the components; which component will, in use, be positioned or located over and adjacent a cut or slit formed in the skin of the animal, so as to allow for location of the identification tag. The arrangement of the invention is such that the one or more holes or slots are provided in said tag, so that air and/or light have access to the cut or slit formed in the skin of the animal.

Abstract: A reciprocating tool in the nature of a dental handpiece is modified to carry a needle/cone assembly for use as a tattooing device. The needle/cone assembly includes a needle assembly trapped in a cone structure. The needle assembly includes a cap portion which is held by fingers in the handpiece to prevent rotation of the needle assembly, and a frangible neck which is broken on removal of the needle/cone assembly from the handpiece to prevent reuse of the needle assembly. A removable protective tube around the needles acts also as an insertion tool for the needle assembly.

Abstract: A locking insert for a two-component animal ear tag, such as an identification tag or an insecticide tag which uses a flexible, resilient plastic for insecticide or other pest-controlling active ingredient, includes a hollow cylindrical part, a flexible locking ring which is convexly deformed to grasp and resist withdrawal of the male tag component, and an outer flange. The locking insert is positioned in a female tag body component prior to insertion of the male tag component.

Abstract: A plastic or like indicator for containing livestock treatment data has at one end thereof a flexible fastener of either an injury-proof snap-tight or lock-band type for encircling the tail near its bushy end. To prevent detachment the tag has a second fastener at its other end with parallel members thereof adapted to be bent and fastened together so as to hold tail hairs tightly therebetween. The indicator may contain a color-coded label adhered thereto to show, for example, dry and lactating milk cows. It may have thereon an insecticide compartment. These and other indicator components such as the label may be parts of a kit which may also contain a marker and can or syringe for putting insecticide into the compartment.

Abstract: A flat tag has a marking on an outside surface, and adhesive on an inside surface that will adhere the tag to an animal. The tag is mounted on a dart with the outside surface against a disc and an end of the dart. A gun, preferably spring actuated, propels the dart, disc first, 10 to 30 feet to impact on a target animal. After the tag is adhered to the animal, the dart disengages from the tag. The tag is mounted on the disc with tabs of the tag folded around the disc, or with adhesive.

Abstract: Bar codes are shown for measurement of volumes of liquids, e.g., the amount of milk collected in a dairy milking operation, and correlation therewith to identification of the source of the liquid, such as a cow. In the preferred embodiment, infrared or laser scanners are used to scan the two bar codes to provide an input to a computer for correlating the container or the source of liquid with the volume of liquid, whereby complex volume measuring devices and operator measurements can be substantially eliminated. Similar techniques can be used to provide computer input data representing a wide variety of analog inputs; e.g., by providing a bar code scale for juxtaposition to a thermometer, the segments of the code along the scale being selected in accordance with the mercury level at a given temperature, simple analog-to-digital temperature data conversion and input is obtained.

Abstract: A label comprises a region in which are marked with intelligible items of information. Another region includes a semi-conductor circuit in which are stored data relating to the object to be identified. A device for putting the semi-conductor circuit in communication with a device of utilization includes a glove, a finger of which glove is provided with a device for establishing contact with the semi-conductor circuit.

Abstract: A tattooing device comprises a needle carrier (1) having a plurality of hollow needles (2), an exchangeable program carrier (11,26,31,39) and control means having a jaw (7). The program carrier has an assembly of cylindrical cavities (13,28,33,40) with a fluid (23), each of which can be put into open communication with a needle, in which cavities pistons (6,18,34,38) are movable for pressing out the fluid and which cavities are at least partly closed at an axial end by a closing element (18,29,34,41) in dependence on the force exerted by the jaw for transfer to the needle. The closing element is at least partly deformable, the deformation of the closing element requiring a heavier force than that required for inserting the needle into the tissue so that owing to the force exerted by the jaw on the program carrier first the needle is inserted into the tissue and subsequently by the deformation of the closing element the piston can move into the cavity.

Abstract: A kit having components capable of being assembled and permanently attached to an object or animal appendage for identification purposes. The kit comprises a collar, an identification plate having a needle extending therethrough and outward therefrom, and a locking device adapted to permanently receive the needle therein. The locking device comprises a first locking plate and a second locking plate connected to the first locking plate in axial alignment therewith. The first locking plate has a pocket within which to receive a retention plate and the base of a needle guard. The needle guard extends outward through a bore in the plate pocket to permit maximum visibility of the needle guard and covers the point of the needle. A method of assembling and attaching the kit is also disclosed.

Abstract: A tag, particularly an ear tag for marking animals such as cattle which have passed an official test, comprises a strip formed into two limbs and a hollow rivet, preferably of brass, perpendicular to one of the limbs, the rivet comprising a stock portion which may be frusto-conical or cylindrical surmounted by a narrower neck portion of reduced wall thickness surmounted by an enlarged head portion preferably in the form of a cylindrical punch having a sharp cutting edge. The wall thickness is at a minimum adjacent a shoulder which forms the transition from the stock portion to the neck portion. There is a receiver hole in the other limb of the strip to receive the rivet head. As the tag is being closed, the head punches a hole in the animal's flesh, and passes through the receiver hole after which the head is splayed outwardly. A spring clip may be secured over the receiver hole or the metal of the strip around the receiver hole may be hardened e.g. by stamping.

Abstract: An animal marking system for cattle and the like comprises a flexible strap (14) designed to be secured around the neck of an animal. One set of patches (22) bearing numbers and another set of patches (20) bearing a color are replaceably secured at two separate locations to the strap (14) so that the numbers and colors are clearly visible from a distance and from each of the two sides of the animal. The system includes sets of patches (20) bearing different identifiable colors to indicate the condition of the cow with respect to health, breeding condition or lactation. The patches are secured to the sides of the strap through a Velcro fastening system.

Abstract: The invention relates to animal ear tags.Ear tags for attachment to ears of animals such as cattle in accordance with the invention are made at least in part from a material comprising a solid organic polymeric macromolecular substance having a molecular weight above 1000 and a pesticidally-active compound having the general formula: ##STR1## wherein R.sub.1 and R.sub.2 are independently selected from fluorine, chlorine and bromine; X is hydrogen, cyano or ethynyl; and Z is hydrogen, chlorine, fluorine or bromine. The invention also provides a method for making the tags by mixing the macromolecular substance and the compound of formula I and forming the tag by injection moulding, and further provides a method of controlling fly and tick populations in the vicinity of an animal by affixing to an ear of the animal a tag in accordance with the invention.The ear tags are surprisingly effective in the control of insects and ticks on animals, such as cattle.

Abstract: A holder for supporting a pair of pet tags while preventing rattling therebetween comprising an elongated base member having means at one end for connection to a pet collar and carrying a post on a second end for engaging a hole in pet tags. A pair of spring arms are carried by the base member and have free ends spaced in opposition about the post to urge the tags against the base member to thereby prevent rattling. In a preferred form the base member comprises a flat plate having dimensions comparable to a pet tag and providing a surface for carrying identifying indicia.

Abstract: Heart-shaped tag formed by a pair of translucent, reddish plastic pieces having flanges secured together. One plastic piece has retroreflective facets and the other is transparent. An identification member sandwiched between the plastic pieces so that material thereon can be read through the transparent piece. The identification member being installed through a slot in the plastic pieces and snapping into locked position. The identification member having a portion extending out of the slot and an opening in that portion for securing to another object to tag the same.

Abstract: The method and means for placing an identification mark on a hog is described wherein a tattoo ink is injected simultaneously in and under the skin of the hog to permanently identify the animal or its carcass through skinning or scalding. The method comprises the steps: (1) providing a marking fluid under pressure; (2) providing an identification indicia which is in fluid communication with the marking fluid; (3) injecting the marking fluid in and under the skin of the hog. The apparatus comprises an indicia support means having a plurality of hollow needles mounted therein arranged in a numerical fashion. The needles are in communication with the marking fluid or tattoo ink which is supplied thereto under pressure. The needles may be easily interchanged or replaced as required.

Abstract: A record keeping and tagging system made possible by a machine readable tag implanted in an animal by a tagging gun. The tag comprises a portion which is both visually readable and machine readable, and a portion which includes barbs or spring-biased tines which lock it to the animal. The tagging gun comprises cocking means for moving the tag-like article into a firing position, releasing means for releasing the article from the cocking means, means for firing the article, and triggering means for activating the cocking means and releasing means in sequence by applying a force in a single direction. An information retrieval station features a chute with compressible sides and a weighing and measuring platform, and a machine reader which is automatically positioned with respect to the tag when the animal triggers a photoelectric sensing device, so as to read out the information coded therein while the animal is weighed and/or measured.