Animal husbandry – Animal controlling or handling – Mechanical wave producing device
Reexamination Certificate
2000-06-09
2004-06-15
Jordan, Charles T. (Department: 3644)
Animal husbandry
Animal controlling or handling
Mechanical wave producing device
C119S721000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06748902
ABSTRACT:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
This invention relates generally to training of animals. More particularly the present invention is a form of electronic leash and training aid for animals.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
Animal training particularly household pets such as dogs requires a great deal of patience. Further the training of dogs in particular has been the subject of many books for both owners as well as professional trainers regarding how to best train an animal to obey the wishes of its owner.
In the field of training, various devices have been invented which are designed to keep animals within a confined area. For example the now ubiquitous “electronic fence” is seen everywhere as a means of keeping animals within a specific area. The electronic fence comprises a wire surrounding an area in which an animal is to be confined. An electronic current placed on the wire giving it a magnetic field and/or the wire is used as an RF transmitter. A collar is then attached to the animal which is capable of sensing the electronic field. When the strength of the electronic field is at a certain level, an audible warning is given to the animal. As the animal gets closer to the buried wire, an electronic shock is administered to the animal thereby providing a physical incentive for the animal to stay away from the buried electrical wire. Over a training period of time, the animal become becomes familiar with the meaning of the audible sound and the general location of the buried wire. In this fashion the animal is trained to stay within a confined area by virtue of the audible signal and the electronic shock in the event that the animal gets too close to the buried wire.
However, animal owners can not carry a buried wire wherever they go. As a result teaching an animal to “heel” must be accomplished by means of leashes and other physical means.
Animal control devices of various types have been the subject of much invention. For example, U.S. Pat. No. 5,425,330 to Touchton, et al. was issued for a “Animal Control Device.” This invention discloses an animal worn radio signal receiver having appropriate electronics to receive a signal from an antenna and to administer both audible stimulation and electrical stimulation.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,898,120 was issued to Brose for an “Animal Training and Restraining System.” This patent also shows a collar worn device having an antenna receiver controller and high voltage generator to administer a shock to an animal. This invention relies upon the fact that electrical field strength with a receiving antenna decreases with distance from a transmitter. This invention relies upon a stationary transmitter to provide the appropriate signal. A shock is administered to the animal that strays beyond a distance from the transmitter.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,642,690 was issued to Calabrease, et al. for a “Animal Containment System.” This invention also relies upon field strength changes to administer a shock to an animal based upon an animal worn device. Transmitters are stationary in defined locations where the animal is permitted and not permitted to go.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,067,441 to Weinstein was issued for a “Electronic Assembly for Restricting Animals to Defined Areas.” This patent describes a form of electronic fence and control device. The control device is worn by the animal and is combined with a radio frequency transmitter for generating radio signals. When the animal strays too close to a wire having a certain field strength a shock is delivered to the animal via an animal worn device. A provision is made for both audible stimulation and electrical stimulation when an animal strays too close to the limits of a defined area.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,353,744 was issued to Custer for an “Animal Control Apparatus.” This represents another invention comprising an animal worn device with an electrode for providing a shock to the animal. This system comprises a perimeter wire placed at the boundary of a defined space which sends a signal through the perimeter wire to generate a coded field. When the animal strays too close to the buried wire the collar delivers a electrical shock stimulus to the animal. This system is generally stationary with the receiver carried by the animal.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,844,489 was delivered to Yarnall, et al. for an “Electronic Confinement System for Animals or People Transmitting Digitally Encoded Signals.” This invention is yet another electronic containment system wherein the animal of person wears a transceiver which also delivers an audible signal, a deterring shock or both when the person or animal leaves a predefined area. A stationary home base station detects and reads data transmitted from the transceiver. Again, one of the embodiments of this invention comprises a buried wire for defining a perimeter. Again a stationary system for transmission with, in this instance a transceiver, being worn by the individual or animal to be controlled.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,868,100 was issued to Marsh for a “Fenceless Animal Control System Using GPS Location Information.” In this case the animal worn unit comprises a GPS receiver, transmitter, and a programming unit that allows a person to program the location for a particular boundary in geographic terms. When a GPS signal is received that indicates the animal is near a predefined boundary, an electrical stimulation is administered. Thus the animal worn device in this instance comprises the stimulation means but also comprises a GPS receiver combined with an audible signal and electrical shock generation means.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,335,682 to Gonda et al. was issued for an “Animal Training Apparatus.” This unit again comprises an animal worn device capable of receiving an electronic signal and applying an adverse electrical stimulus and audible signal to control an animal. This invention discloses a portable transmitter which has certain buttons for administering sound, shock, and combination of both upon a specific actuation by the animal trainer. Various stimuli administered to an animal are administered only in response to push buttons that are depressed.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,802,482 to Gonda was issued for “Method and Apparatus for Remote Control of Animal Training Stimulus.” Again a portable transmitter cooperates with an animal worn receiver which applies stimulation to the skin of the animal. In this instance the portable unit allows a trainer to select a stimulus to be applied to the animal when the trainer desires.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,605,116 was issued to Kim, et al. for an “Electrical Animal Training System.” This invention comprises a hand held transmitter which controls a receiver unit which is attached to a collar worn by an animal to be trained. In this case voice commands are communicated to an animal via a speaker which is associated with the receiving unit which is worn by the animal. In the event that the animal disobeys a particular command, negative reinforcement is provided in the form of a mild electrical shock.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,054,428 was issued to Farkus for a “Method and Apparatus for a is Remote Conditioned Cue Control of Animal Training Stimulus.” Again this particular invention comprises an animal worn device for delivering audible or electrical stimulation to an animal if it fails to conform to expected behavior. A portable transmitter sends the signal that is desired by the animal trainer. Again in this instance the animal trainer takes positive action to transmit a RF control signal to the collar mounted receiver simulator unit.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,857,433 was issued to Files for an “Animal Training and Tracking Device having a Global Positioning Satellite Unit.” This invention is yet another form of a GPS receiver type device. The animal worn GPS receiver comprise both the GPS system and an adverse stimuli administering circuitry to shock the animal wearing the device. Thus not only can animal control be administered but the animal can be tracked as well. Adverse stimuli is applied using a hand held remote control unit to adversely stimulate the animal wearing the collar. The hand held unit determines t
Boesch Brian
Roberts Jon L.
Boesch Brian
Jordan Charles T.
Roberts Abokhair & Mardula LLC
Smith K.
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