Teatcup liner series with varying mouthpiece flexibility

1. A teatcup liner series comprising in combination a plurality of related teatcup liners, each liner having an upper mouthpiece, an intermediate barrel and a lower connecting tube, wherein the upper mouthpiece further comprises a mouthpiece transition and a mouthpiece lip, said barrel extending along an axial direction for receiving a teat inserted axially thereinto through said mouthpiece, said teatcup liner series comprising n said liners L 1 through L n wherein:

said mouthpiece transition has a transverse thickness measured perpendicular to said axial direction;

said mouthpiece lip has an axial thickness measured parallel to said axial direction; and

in combination both of the following conditions are satisfied:

said transverse thickness of said mouthpiece transition decreases from L 1 through L n ; and

said axial thickness of said mouthpiece lip decreases from L 1 through L n .

2. The series of liners according to claim 1 , wherein the change in mouthpiece transition thickness is achieved by maintaining an inner dimension of the upper mouthpiece while varying an outer dimension of the upper mouthpiece.

3. The series of liners according to claim 1 , wherein the change in mouthpiece transition thickness is achieved by maintaining an inner dimension and an outer dimension of the upper mouthpiece and by adding a groove to the outside of the upper mouthpiece.

4. The series of liners according to claim 3 , wherein an inner dimension of the upper mouthpiece defines a cavity bore and the groove is located substantially in line with the largest diameter of the cavity bore.

5. The series of liners according to the claim 3 , wherein the groove has a depth that may be adjusted to change the mouthpiece transition thickness.

6. The series of liners according to claim 3 , wherein the groove has a depth that may be adjusted to change the flexibility of the upper mouthpiece.

7. The series of liners according to claim 3 , wherein the groove has a width that may be adjusted to change the flexibility of the upper mouthpiece.

8. A teatcup liner series comprising in combination a plurality of related teatcup liners, each liner having an upper mouthpiece, an intermediate barrel and a lower connecting tube, wherein the upper mouthpiece further comprises a mouthpiece transition and a mouthpiece lip, said barrel extending along an axial direction for receiving a teat inserted axially thereinto through said mouthpiece, said teatcup liner series comprising n said liners L 1 through L n wherein:

said mouthpiece transition has a transverse thickness measured perpendicular to said axial direction; and

said transverse thickness of said mouthpiece transition decreases from L 1 through L n .

9. The series of liners according to claim 8 , wherein the change in mouthpiece transition thickness is achieved by maintaining an inner dimension of the upper mouthpiece while varying an outer dimension of the upper mouthpiece.

10. The series of liners according to claim 8 , wherein the change in mouthpiece transition thickness is achieved by maintaining an inner dimension and an outer dimension of the upper mouthpiece and by adding a groove to an outside surface of the upper mouthpiece.

11. The series of liners according to claim 10 , wherein an inner dimension of the upper mouthpiece defines a cavity bore and the groove is located substantially in line with the largest diameter of the cavity bore.

12. The series of liners according to the claim 10 , wherein the groove has a depth that may be adjusted to change the mouthpiece transition thickness.

13. The series of liners according to claim 10 , wherein the groove has a depth that may be adjusted to change the flexibility of the upper mouthpiece.

14. The series of liners according to claim 10 , wherein the groove has a width that may be adjusted to change the flexibility of the upper mouthpiece.

15. A teatcup liner series comprising in combination a plurality of related teatcup liners, each liner having an upper mouthpiece, an intermediate barrel and a lower connecting tube, wherein the upper mouthpiece further comprises a mouthpiece transition and a mouthpiece lip, said barrel extending along an axial direction for receiving a teat inserted axially thereinto through said mouthpiece, said teatcup liner series comprising n said liners L 1 through L n wherein:

said mouthpiece lip has an axial thickness measured parallel to said axial direction; and

said axial thickness of said mouthpiece lip decreases from L 1 through L n .