# US 4,393,811 A · Weighted teat cup shell and assembly > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 4,393,811 A - Document ID: US4393811A - Status: Granted - Kind: A - Application number: 06/259,715 - Filed: 1981-05-01 - Granted: 1983-07-19 - Earliest claimed: 1981-03-24 - Assignees: Mae Lois Moore - Inventors: Syd E. Bodmin - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US4393811A ## CPC - A01J 5/08: Teat-cups with two chambers - A01J: MANUFACTURE OF DAIRY PRODUCTS ## Abstract This invention provides a weighted teat cup shell and an assembly of the weighted teat cup shell with a teat cup inflation. The weighted teat cup shell includes at least one weight of a non-homogenous material in an upper portion thereof and the teat cup shell and inflation are provided with locating arrangement to prevent twisting of the inflation in the assembly. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A teat cup shell comprising a body having an upper portion with an open end arranged to receive a complimentary upper portion of a teat cup inflation and a lower portion including an aperture through which a lower portion of the teat cup inflation may pass wherein the body of the teat cup shell is formed in a mouldable material and includes at least one internally moulded and inset weight, said internally moulded and inset weight being positioned in the upper regions of the teat cup shell and extending in length substantially throughout the upper portion of the teat cup shell where the walls thereof are thicker such that the centre of mass of the teat cup shell due to the presence of the inset weight in the upper region is within the upper region; wherein the upper region of said teat cup body is provided with a substantially circular outer surface and the lower region of the body is provided with a substantially oval outer surface and the internal bore of the teat cup shell is such that the width in a first plane is greater than the width in a second plane at right angles to the first plane. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) A teat cup shell as claimed in claim 1 wherein the inset weight is shaped to be complimentary with the shape of the upper region of the teat cup shell and is arranged to be positioned coaxially therein. ### Claim 3 (depends on 2) A teat cup shell as claimed in claim 2 wherein the inset weight is a ring having a plurality of holes in an upper edge thereof such that the inset can be supported from one end coaxially in a die whilst mouldable material is injected into the die. ### Claim 4 (depends on 3) A teat cup shell as claimed in claim 3 wherein the mouldable material is a plastic. ### Claim 5 (depends on 2, 3) A teat cup shell as claimed in claims 2 or 3 wherein the inset weight is made of a metal. ### Claim 6 A teat cup shell assembly comprising a teat cup shell including a body having an upper portion with an open end arranged to receive a complimentary upper portion of a teat cup inflation and a lower portion including an aperture through which a lower portion of the teat cup inflation may pass wherein the body of the teat cup shell is formed in a mouldable plastic material and includes at least one internally moulded and inset metal weight said metal inset weight being positioned in the upper regions of the teat cup shell and extending in length substantially throughout the upper portion of the teat cup shell where the walls thereof are thicker such that the centre of the mass of the teat cup shell due to the presence of said metal inset weight in the upper region is within the upper region and said teat cup inflation including an upper downwardly foldable flange arranged to engage over the outer surfaces of the teat cup shell and a lower portion including engagement means arranged to engage with the aperture in the lower portions of the teat cup shell wherein there is provided locating means between the teat cup inflation and the teat cup shell such that in use there is no radial twisting or a minimal amount of twisting of the inflation. ### Claim 7 (depends on 6) A teat cup assembly as claimed in claim 6 wherein the inflation is of substantially circular cross-section and the bore of the teat cup shell is such that the width in a first plane is greater than the width in a second plane at right angles to the first plane such that expansion of the inflation within the bore of the teat cup shell is controlled by the shape of the bore. ### Claim 8 (depends on 6) A teat cup assembly as claimed in claim 6 wherein the locating means comprises notches in the inflation engageable with a complimentary flange or other raised portions of the shell or vice versa. ### Claim 9 (depends on 6) A teat cup assembly as claimed in claim 6 wherein the locating means are positioned at or adjacent to top and bottom of the teat cup shell in regions where the inflation and shell are in contact.