Short milk tube

1. A short milk tube for providing a milk and air conduit between a teat cup and a milker claw, the short milk tube comprising:

a teat cup end;

a milker claw end;

a mid-section spanning between the teat cup end and the milker claw end, and having an internal bore through which fluid can flow; and

a plurality of annular ribs joined to the mid-section and extending at least partially around an annular surface of the mid-section; and

an undercut portion of reduced tube wall thickness disposed opposite a portion of full tube wall thickness; in the mid-section such that the short milk tube is asymmetrical about a longitudinal axis and about which the short milk tube bends about the undercut portion when in a non-milking position.

2. The short milk tube of claim 1 , wherein the undercut portion extends at least partially around the annular surface of the mid-section.

3. The short milk tube of claim 1 , wherein the ribs are joined to an exterior surface of the mid-section.

4. The short milk tube of claim 1 , wherein the ribs are formed integrally with the mid-section.

5. The short milk tube of claim 1 , and further comprising:

a plurality of spaced apart annular ribs joined to an exterior surface of the mid-section.

6. A short milk tube of claim 1 , wherein the ribs extend along about one half of an annular exterior surface of the mid-section.

7. The short milk tube of claim 1 , wherein the teat cup end is shaped to interface with an automatic teat dip applicator.

8. The short milk tube of claim 1 , wherein the short milk tube is bendable about the undercut portion to form a seal between the teat cup end and the milker claw end when in the non-milking position.

9. An automatic teat dip applicator for applying teat dip via a teat cup assembly on a milking machine, and comprising a short milk tube for providing a conduit between the teat dip applicator and a milker claw, the short milk tube comprising:

a teat cup end;

a milker claw end;

a mid-section spanning between the teat cup end and the milker claw end, and having an internal bore diameter through which fluid can flow;

a plurality of ribs joined to the mid-section and extending at least partially around an annular surface of the mid-section; and

an undercut portion of reduced tube wall thickness disposed opposite a portion of full tube wall thickness in the mid-section such that the short milk tube is asymmetrical about a longitudinal axis and the short milk tube bends about the undercut portion when in a non-milking position.

10. The short milk tube of claim 9 , wherein the undercut portion extends at least partially around the annular surface of the mid-section.

11. The short milk tube of claim 9 , wherein the ribs are joined to an exterior surface of the mid-section.

12. The short milk tube of claim 9 , wherein the ribs are formed integrally with the mid-section.

13. The short milk tube of claim 9 , and further comprising:

a plurality of spaced apart annular ribs joined to an exterior surface of the mid-section.

14. A short milk tube of claim 9 , wherein the ribs extend along about one half of an annular exterior surface of the mid-section.

15. The short milk tube of claim 9 , wherein the teat cup end is shaped to interface with the automatic teat dip applicator.

16. The short milk tube of claim 9 , wherein the short milk tube is bendable at the undercut portion to form a seal between the teat cup end and the milker claw end in the non-milking position.

17. A short milk tube for providing a milk and air conduit between a teat cup and a milker claw, the short milk tube comprising:

a teat cup end;

a milker claw end;

a mid-section spanning between the teat cup end and the milker claw end, and having an internal bore through which fluid can flow;

a plurality of annular ribs joined to the mid-section and extending around an annular surface of the mid-section; and

a short rib joined to at least one side of the annular ribs such that the short milk tube is asymmetrical about a longitudinal axis.

18. The short milk tube of claim 17 , wherein the ribs are joined to an exterior surface of the mid-section.

19. The short milk tube of claim 17 , wherein the teat cup end is adapted to interface with an automatic teat dip applicator.

20. A short milk tube for providing a milk and air conduit between

a teat cup and a milker claw, the short milk tube comprising:

a teat cup end;

a milker claw end;

a mid-section spanning between the teat cup end and the milker claw end, and having an internal bore through which fluid can flow; and

an undercut portion of reduced tube wall thickness disposed opposite a portion of full tube wall thickness in the mid-section such that the short milk tube is asymmetrical about a longitudinal axis and the short milk tube bends about the undercut portion when in a non-milking position.

21. The short milk tube of claim 20 , wherein the undercut portion extends at least partially around the annular surface of the mid-section.

22. The short milk tube of claim 20 , wherein the ribs are joined to an exterior surface of the mid-section.

23. The short milk tube of claim 20 , wherein the ribs are formed integrally with the mid-section.

24. The short milk tube of claim 20 , and further comprising:

a plurality of spaced apart annular ribs joined to an exterior surface of the mid-section.

25. A short milk tube of claim 20 , wherein the ribs extend along about one half of an annular exterior surface of the mid-section.

26. The short milk tube of claim 20 , wherein the teat cup end is shaped to interface with an automatic teat dip applicator.

27. The short milk tube of claim 20 , wherein the short milk tube is bendable about the undercut portion to form a seal between the teat cup end and the milker claw end when in the non-milking position.