Ruminant Nose Ring With Convex Bearing Plates for Mucosal Protection
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing nose rings for ruminants often cause injuries to the nasal mucosa due to their design not accounting for the bovine nose morphology, hinder muzzle cleaning, can contaminate feed, and pose a risk of being pulled out, leading to further injuries.
Innovation Solution
A nose ring design featuring elongate, convex bearing plates with a larger contact surface area to distribute pressure evenly, reducing the risk of injury and allowing for easier feeding, drinking, and muzzle cleaning, while being less likely to snag and pull out.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If traditional ball-shaped or disc-shaped terminal portions are used, then the nose ring can be easily inserted by pinching the nasal septum, but the terminal portions cause injuries to the fragile and highly vascularized nasal mucosa due to high stresses applied
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies local quality by designing bearing plates with specific geometric features (convex shape, elongate form, enlarged ends) that are optimized for their specific function of bearing against the nasal septum. The plates have a surface area of at least 500 mm² with a convex front face that distributes pressure locally across the nasal wall, reducing stress concentration at specific points while maintaining effective bearing contact.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent implements preliminary action by designing the bearing plates with pre-formed convex shapes and elongate structures that are prepared in advance to match the conical appearance of nostril inlets. The plates are configured beforehand with surface areas of at least 500 mm² to ensure proper pressure distribution from the start, preventing mucosal injury before it can occur during insertion or wear.
2Reliability
If the nose ring is placed at the center of the muzzle or on the upper lip, then it provides secure positioning, but it prevents satisfactory cleaning of the muzzle and interferes with feeding and drinking activities
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies dimensionality change by transitioning from traditional nose rings placed at the center of the muzzle to a design where bearing plates are positioned within the nostrils themselves. This spatial repositioning moves the device from the horizontal plane of the muzzle surface to the vertical dimension of the nasal cavity, allowing the muzzle to remain accessible for cleaning and feeding while maintaining secure positioning through intra-nasal placement.
3Strength
If large rings with circular or rectangular cross-sections are used, then they provide structural strength, but they are likely to snag on external elements and be pulled suddenly from the animal's nostrils causing injuries
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements spheroidality by designing the bearing plates with convex, curved front faces that match the conical shape of nostril inlets. This curvature allows the plates to follow the natural contours of the nasal passages, reducing the likelihood of snagging on external elements. The rounded geometry distributes mechanical stresses more evenly and prevents the sharp angles that would catch on vegetation or other objects during the animal's movements.
Data Source
AI summary
The present invention relates to a nose ring for ruminants such as cattle, comprising a ring body (1) having an extra-nasal part (2) and intra-nasal parts (3) extending on either side of this extra-nasal part (2), each of these intra-nasal parts (3) carrying a plate (4, 5) intended to bear against the nasal septum separating the nasal cavities of a ruminant, said bearing plates (4, 5) thus being placed at the ends of said nose ring. According to the invention, each bearing plate has an elongate shape and comprises opposite ends, at least one of which is wider than the central region thereof placed between said two ends, each plate being convex and having a front face intended to come into contact with the nasal wall of the animal, the surface area of which front face is at least equal to 500 mm2 and preferably at least equal to 1500 mm2, and even more preferably at least equal to 2000 mm2, each bearing plate thus being capable of maximising the contact surface with the nasal septum for different nasal morphologies in order to ensure that this ring is retained without injuring the animal.