| 主权项 |
1. A teatcup liner configured to be mounted in a shell (4) of a teatcup to be applied to a teat of an animal during a milking operation, and having a longitudinal shape extending along a central longitudinal axis (x), the teatcup liner comprising:
a barrel (2) having a length (L) along the longitudinal axis (x) and defining an inner space (21) that receives the teat during the milking operation, wherein the barrel (2), in a rest state, has a cross-sectional shape transversely to the longitudinal axis (x), the cross-sectional shape defining a plurality of corner portions (23) and a plurality of side portions (24-1, 24-2), each side portion (24-1, 24-2) connecting two of said corner portions (23), wherein, a first of the side portions (24-1) is a weak side and each remaining side portion (24-2) is a strong side, the weak side having a greater flexibility than each strong side such that during a collapse phase of the milking operation, the weak side collapses towards the longitudinal axis (x) before each strong side collapses and a displacement of the weak side towards the longitudinal axis (x) is greater than a corresponding collapse displacement of each strong side towards the longitudinal axis (x), the greater displacement of the weak side creating an asymmetric pressure distribution against an end of the teat located within the barrel with a greater pressurized area against the teat end across a first surface region of the cross-sectional shape opposite the weak side as compared to a remainder of the cross-sectional shape resulting in a prolonged contact surface across the first region between an outer surface of the teat end and an adjacent interior surface of the teatcup liner, the increased pressurized area and prolonged contact surface across the first surface region providing an enhanced teat massage during the collapse phase. |
