Communications: electrical – Condition responsive indicating system – Specific condition
Patent
1998-08-05
2000-07-25
Hofsass, Jeffery A.
Communications: electrical
Condition responsive indicating system
Specific condition
34028611, 340328, G08B 2300
Patent
active
060941391
DESCRIPTION:
BRIEF SUMMARY
This invention relates to a door bell for pets, especially dogs and cats and more especially dogs.
When pets are released into the garden and return to be let into the house, it is not uncommon for the animal to scratch and over a period of time damage the door. The problem can be overcome in the case of cats by means of so-called cat flaps, but this is not a practical solution for many dogs, especially large dogs.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,924,214 discloses a door mat alarm having a matrix of pressure switches incorporated therein, whereby when the mat is stepped upon a transmitter is activated to operate an alarm.
According to one aspect of the invention, there is provided a door bell for pets comprising two units in the form of an activating unit incorporating a radio transmitter for transmitting a limited range operating signal for a remote bell unit incorporating a receiver and a bell or buzzer, characterised in that the activating unit comprises a housing having a base plate provided with means for securing it to the ground and a main housing part detachably fitting to the base plate, the housing having on top a depressible platform occupying at least a major part of the top surface area of the housing and depression of which causes the radio transmitter to transmit the operating signal.
Preferably, the platform covers the entirety of the top surface area of the housing of the activating unit.
The platform is preferably provided with an antislip surface.
The base unit may be securable to the ground, by elongate slots engageable beneath the heads of two screws inserted into a doorstep or other ground surface adjacent the door. The main part of the housing may detachably fit to the base unit, either directly or via a floating intermediate plate, so as to be depressible relative to the base unit.
In one embodiment, the platform takes the form of a cover hinged on one side to the main part of the housing.
In another embodiment, the cover part of the housing, having the platform as its top wall, floats on one or more springs interposed between a bottom wall of said housing part and the base unit.
According to a second aspect of the invention, there is provided a door bell for pets comprising two units in the form of an activating unit incorporating a radio transmitter for transmitting a limited range operating signal for a remote bell unit incorporating a receiver and a bell or buzzer, characterised in that the activating unit comprises a housing having a base unit for securing to the ground, a floating plate supported on the base unit, and a cover having the platform on its upper side, said cover being coupled to the floating plate and depression of the cover causing the radio transmitter to transmit the operating signal.
The housing preferably encloses a switch, e.g. contact pair, operable by depression of the platform, battery compartment and the transmitter. The battery compartment may conveniently be exposed by detaching the main part of the housing from the base unit or floating plate, or, for example, by hinging open the platform when the latter takes the form of a hinged cover. When a floating plate is employed, the switch may be interposed either between the base unit and the housing cover or between the base unit and the floating plate or directly between the base unit and the transmitter when the latter is supported on the floating plate.
When a hinged cover is employed, this may be held closed in a depressible condition by a slot and spring detent means on the side opposite to the hinge.
The bell unit is preferably devoid of means for fixing, as it is intended to be portable from room to room in the house, or even into a shed, garage or garden.
The bell unit may also have an openable compartment, preferably on its underside, for housing not only the battery but also a code switch, the latter being set to avoid activation of a neighbour's bell. The unit may also have an exposed volume control.
Further features of the invention will be apparent from the following description of a practical embodiment of p
REFERENCES:
patent: 4323883 (1982-04-01), Sowards
patent: 4400696 (1983-08-01), Klingensmith
patent: 4551713 (1985-11-01), Aossey
patent: 4686504 (1987-08-01), German
patent: 4777474 (1988-10-01), Clayton
patent: 4924214 (1990-05-01), Hill
patent: 5264824 (1993-11-01), Hour
patent: 5303677 (1994-04-01), Jones
patent: 5369907 (1994-12-01), Lee
patent: 5475369 (1995-12-01), Baker
patent: 5604478 (1997-02-01), Grady et al.
Hofsass Jeffery A.
Schindler Edwin D.
Tweel , Jr. John
LandOfFree
Door bell for pets does not yet have a rating. At this time, there are no reviews or comments for this patent.
If you have personal experience with Door bell for pets, we encourage you to share that experience with our LandOfFree.com community. Your opinion is very important and Door bell for pets will most certainly appreciate the feedback.
Profile ID: LFUS-PAI-O-1339494