Wearable animal information device

Abstract

The sensor device is configured to attach to a collar worn by an animal. The sensor device may include a housing having a first connection mechanism configured to couple the sensor device to a first type of animal collar. The first connection mechanism may be an integral part of the housing. The housing may define a recess. The sensor device may further include an adapter assembly configured to couple to the housing. The adapter assembly may include a second connection mechanism configured to couple the sensor device to a second type of animal collar different from the first type of animal collar. For example, the first type of animal collar may be a nylon collar and the second type of animal collar may be a metal collar. An electronic circuit may be located within the recess of the housing to store information and / or collect data.

Description

[Technical Field]

[0001] CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS This application claims priority to U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 63 / 433,142, filed December 16, 2022, which is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety. Technical Field The present disclosure relates to sensor devices that can be used in animal collars and wearable animal information devices. [Background technology]

[0002] Animal collars are used for a variety of reasons, such as allowing an animal to be restrained or controlled by its owner. Because animal collars are worn regularly by the animal, they may provide identification for the animal wearing the collar. Such information may include the animal's name, the animal's owner information, and other information related to the animal or the animal's owner. Information may be provided via non-electronic or electronic devices. However, non-electronic devices are typically limited in the amount of information they can convey. Furthermore, such devices are prone to degradation over time.

[0003] Electronic devices have been provided to overcome some of the deficiencies of non-electronic tags. For example, electronic devices have been used to store information about animals or animal owners. However, conventional electronic devices can only be used with certain types of collars, which can make them difficult to use. Therefore, there is a need for a sensor device or wearable animal information device that can be used with different types of animal collars. Summary of the Invention

[0004] The sensor device is configured to attach to a collar worn by an animal. The sensor device may include a housing having a first connection mechanism configured to couple the sensor device to a first type of animal collar. The first connection mechanism may be an integral part of the housing. The housing may define a recess. The sensor device may further include an adapter assembly configured to couple to the housing. The adapter assembly may include a second connection mechanism configured to couple the sensor device to a second type of animal collar different from the first type of animal collar. For example, the first type of animal collar may be a nylon collar and the second type of animal collar may be a metal collar. An electronic circuit may be located within the recess of the housing to store information and / or collect data.

[0005] In one aspect, the invention may be a sensor device configured to attach to a collar worn by an animal, the sensor device comprising: a housing including a first connection mechanism configured to couple the sensor device to a first type of animal collar, the housing defining a recess; electronic circuitry located within the housing recess, the electronic circuitry configured to store information and collect data; and an adapter assembly configured to couple to the housing, the adapter assembly including a second connection mechanism configured to couple the sensor device to a second type of animal collar different from the first type of animal collar.

[0006] In another aspect, the present invention may be a wearable animal information device comprising: a sensor device comprising a housing having a first attachment mechanism; an adapter assembly configured to couple to the housing, the adapter assembly having a second attachment mechanism; and electronic circuitry disposed within a recess in the housing, the electronic circuitry configured to store information and collect data; a first type of collar configured to be coupled to the sensor device using the first attachment mechanism of the housing, the first type of collar not being attachable to the second attachment mechanism of the adapter assembly; and a second type of collar configured to be coupled to the sensor device using the second attachment mechanism of the adapter assembly, the second type of collar not being attachable to the first attachment mechanism of the housing. [Brief explanation of the drawings]

[0007] The present disclosure will become more fully understood from the detailed description and the accompanying drawings.

[0008] [Figure 1] FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a sensor device according to an embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 2] FIG. 2 is an exploded perspective view of the sensor device of FIG. [Figure 3] FIG. 3 is an electronic diagram of the electronic components of the sensor device of FIG. 1, according to an embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 4A] 4A is a top front perspective view of the housing of the sensor device of FIG. 1. FIG. [Figure 4B] FIG. 4B is a perspective view of the bottom underside of the housing of FIG. 4A. [Figure 4C] FIG. 4C is a top view of the housing of FIG. 4A. [Figure 4D] FIG. 4D is a cross-sectional view taken along line IV in FIG. 4C. [Figure 5A]FIG. 5A is a perspective view of the housing of FIGS. 4A-4D coupled to a first type of animal collar. [Figure 5B] FIG. 5B is a cross-sectional view taken along line VV in FIG. 5A. [Figure 6A] 6A is a front perspective view of the plug of the adapter assembly of the sensor device of FIG. 1. FIG. [Figure 6B] FIG. 6B is a rear perspective view of the plug of FIG. 6A. [Figure 7A] 7A is a top perspective view of a bracket of the adapter assembly of the sensor apparatus of FIG. 1. FIG. [Figure 7B] FIG. 7B is a top view of the bracket of FIG. 7A. [Figure 7C] FIG. 7C is a front view of the bracket of FIG. 7A. [Figure 8A] FIG. 8A is a diagram illustrating the housing and plug of the sensor device of FIG. 1 with dashed lines showing how they are assembled. [Figure 8B] FIG. 8B is a diagram illustrating the housing with the plug attached as shown in FIG. 8A, and further illustrating how the bracket of the adapter assembly is coupled. [Figure 8C] 8C is a bottom perspective view of the sensor device of FIG. 1. FIG. [Figure 9] FIG. 9 is a perspective view of the sensor of FIG. 1 coupled to a second type of animal collar. [Figure 10] FIG. 10 is a perspective view of a sensor device according to another embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 11] FIG. 11 is a front view of the sensor device of FIG. [Figure 12] FIG. 12 is a perspective view of a sensor device according to yet another embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 13] 13 is an exploded perspective view of the sensor apparatus of FIG. 12 showing the housing and its adapter assembly. [Figure 14] FIG. 14 is an enlarged view of region XIV in FIG. [Figure 15]FIG. 15 is a perspective view of the sensor device of FIG. 11 coupled to a second type of animal collar. [Figure 16] FIG. 16 is a perspective view of a sensor device according to yet another embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 17] 17 is an exploded perspective view of the sensor device of FIG. 16 showing the housing and its adapter assembly. [Figure 18] 18 is a bottom perspective view of the sensor device of FIG. 16. FIG. [Figure 19] FIG. 19 is a perspective view of the sensor device of FIG. 16 coupled to a second type of animal collar. [Figure 20-21] 20 and 21 illustrate a housing of a sensor device and a band coupled thereto that may cover its charging port, according to one embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 22-23] 22 and 23 illustrate a housing of a sensor device and a band coupled thereto that may cover its charging port, according to another embodiment of the present invention. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0009] The following description of preferred embodiments is merely exemplary in nature and is not intended to limit the invention in any way. The description of the exemplary embodiments is intended to be read in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, which should be considered part of the entire written description. Any reference to direction or orientation in the description of the exemplary embodiments disclosed in this disclosure is intended merely for convenience of description and is not intended to limit the scope of the invention in any way. Relative terms such as "lower," "upper," "horizontal," "vertical," "upper," "below," "top," "lower," "left," "right," "top," "bottom," "front," and "rear," as well as terms derived therefrom (e.g., "horizontally," "below," "upward," etc.), should be construed as referring to the orientations shown in the drawings described or discussed therein. These relative terms are merely for convenience of description and do not require a particular orientation unless expressly so indicated. Terms such as "attached," "fixed," "connected," "coupled," "interconnected," "fixed," and other similar terms refer to relationships, where structures are fixed or attached to one another, directly or indirectly, through intervening structures, and both movable and fixed attachments or relationships, unless expressly stated otherwise.

[0010] The description in this disclosure describes and illustrates several possible non-limiting combinations of configurations that may exist alone or in other combinations. Furthermore, as used in this disclosure, the term "or" should be interpreted as a logical operator that yields true whenever one or more of its operands are true. Furthermore, as used in this disclosure, the term "based on" should be interpreted as meaning "based at least in part on" and therefore is not limited to being interpreted as "based entirely on."

[0011] As used throughout, ranges are used as shorthand for describing each and every value within the range. Any value within a range can be selected as the upper or lower limit of the range. Furthermore, all references cited herein are hereby incorporated by reference in their entirety. In the event of a discrepancy between the definitions in this disclosure and those in the cited references, this disclosure shall control.

[0012] The configurations of the present invention may be implemented in software, hardware, firmware, or a combination thereof. The computer programs described in this disclosure are not limited to any particular embodiment and may be implemented in an operating system, an application program, a foreground or background process, a driver, or any combination thereof. The computer programs may run on a single computer or server processor, or on multiple computer or server processors.

[0013] A processor as described in this disclosure may be any central processing unit (CPU), microprocessor, microcontroller, computational or programmable device or circuitry configured to execute computer program instructions (e.g., code). Various processors may be embodied in any suitable type of computer and / or server hardware (e.g., desktop, laptop, notebook, tablet, mobile phone, etc.) and may be configured to include all the usual ancillary components necessary to form a functional data processing device, including, but not limited to, buses, software and data storage such as volatile and non-volatile memory, input / output devices, graphical user interfaces (GUIs), removable data storage, and wired and / or wireless communication interface devices such as Wi-Fi, Bluetooth (e.g., Bluetooth Classic, Bluetooth Low Energy), LAN, etc.

[0014] In particular embodiments, the invention may comprise computer-implemented processes and apparatus, such as processor-based data processing and communication systems or computer systems for performing those processes. The invention may also encompass software or computer program code embodied in a non-transitory computer-readable storage medium such that, when loaded and executed in a data processing and communication system or computer system, the computer program code segments configure a processor to create specific logic circuits configured to perform the processes.

[0015] Referring now to FIGS. 1 and 2 , a sensor device 1000 is illustrated in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention. The sensor device 1000 may be designed and configured to facilitate attachment to different types or styles of animal collars. Briefly, an animal collar is a loop-like structure configured to be placed around an animal's neck. Collars are often used as an attachment point for a leash or lead so that an animal's owner can walk with the animal in an outdoor environment without fear of the animal escaping. Collars may also be configured with a physical tag attached to it that contains information about the animal (name), information about the animal's owner (name, phone number, address), and any other information desired to be conveyed. The sensor device 1000 may be attached to a collar instead of, or in addition to, any non-electronic identification information located on the collar. As described in this disclosure, the sensor device 1000 may be designed in a manner that allows it to be attached to different types of collars. For example, a nylon collar may be configured to be attached to the sensor device 1000 in a specific manner, while a metal collar may not be able to be attached to the sensor device 1000 in the same manner. Thus, the sensor device 1000 includes configurations that allow for its attachment to, for example, nylon and metal collars using different structural configurations of the sensor device 1000, as further described in this disclosure.

[0016] Sensor device 1000 may include a housing 100 and an adapter assembly 200 configured to attach to housing 100. Housing 100 may be configured to couple to a first type of animal collar without adapter assembly 200. That is, if it is desired to use sensor device 1000 with a first type of animal collar (e.g., one formed from a material such as nylon, polyester, neoprene, rubber, elastomer, and leather), this may be accomplished without coupling adapter assembly 200 to housing 100. However, if it is desired to use sensor device 1000 with a second type of animal collar (e.g., one formed from a metal), adapter assembly 200 may first be coupled to housing 100, and the second type of animal collar may be coupled to sensor device 1000 via adapter assembly 200 or a portion thereof.

[0017] The housing 100 may include a housing body 101 and a housing cover 102. The housing body 101 may define a recess 107, as best shown in FIG. 4D . The electronic circuitry 300 may be disposed or housed within the recess. The electronic circuitry 300 is generally shown in FIG. 2 and will be described in more detail with reference to FIG. 3 . The housing 100 and the electronic circuitry 300 may be collectively referred to as a sensor assembly in this disclosure. Thus, the sensor device 1000 may include a sensor assembly that includes the housing 100 and the electronic circuitry 300, and the sensor device 1000 may further include an adapter assembly 200.

[0018] The housing cover 102 may be removably coupled to the housing body 101 to selectively open and close the open bottom end of the recess 107. The housing body 101 and the housing cover 102 may include various engagement mechanisms to facilitate attaching the two parts together, as is known in the art. This configuration may be useful for placing various electronic components inside the recess and / or for replacing components that require replacement. For example, the electronic circuit 300 may include a power source, such as a battery, that may need to be replaced. In alternative embodiments, the housing 100 may be a single, monolithic structure, and the recess may be inaccessible to the consumer after purchase. That is, in alternative embodiments, the recess may be sealed and closed at the time of manufacture, and the electronic components housed therein may not be replaceable. In such an embodiment, the power source for the electronic circuit 300 may be a rechargeable battery that may be capable of being charged by a charging module that may be plugged into a charging port on the sensor device 1000.

[0019] The adapter assembly 200 may include a first plug 210, a second plug 220, and a bracket 230. The first and second plugs 210, 220 may be coupled to the housing 100, and then the bracket 230 may be coupled to the first and second plugs 210, 220. In an exemplary embodiment, the bracket 230 may be coupled to the first and second plugs 210, 220 using fasteners 201, such as screws. The first and second plugs 210, 220 may be used to cover holes / nesting areas in the housing 100 to prevent their use and / or to prevent an animal from getting its teeth caught in the empty space when the first and second plugs 210, 220 are not in use. The first and second plugs 210, 220 may also be color-coded to serve as an indicator. In an alternative embodiment, the bracket 230 may be directly connected to the housing 100 using fasteners, such as screws. In such embodiments, plugs 210, 220 may be omitted but may still be included to provide a seamless housing 100 that may prevent snagging by the animal's teeth and may provide other benefits. As described above, housing 100 of sensor device 1000 may be coupled directly to a first type of collar without attaching adapter assembly 200 to housing 100. Adapter assembly 200 may be coupled to housing 100 to enable sensor device 1000 to be coupled to a second type of collar that differs in at least one characteristic from the first type of collar. Further details about housing 100, plugs 210, 220, bracket 230, and electronic circuitry 300 are provided below.

[0020] FIG. 3 is a schematic diagram of components of an electronic circuit 300 that may be housed within the recess 107 of the housing 100 of the sensor device 1000. The electronic device 200 may be configured to store animal information and / or collect animal data. For example, the electronic device 200 may be configured to store information about an animal, including the animal's name, address, owner's name, breed, color, size, and other identifying information. The electronic device 200 may be configured to collect animal data, which may be any data about the animal, including, but not limited to, data regarding the animal's behavior, movement, geographic location, feeding habits, sleeping habits, exercise habits, etc. The electronic circuit 300 may be configured to determine, receive (e.g., actively receive, such as collect), and / or transmit information about the animal and / or the animal's parent, including identification information, location information, medical information, biometric information, movement information, behavior information, etc. The information may be real-time information. The electronic circuit 300 may be configured to include one or more processors, sensors, transponders, or combinations thereof.

[0021] The electronic circuit 300 may be attached to a collar as described herein. The electronic circuit 300 may be configured to store information about an animal wearing a collar to which the sensor device 1000 including the electronic circuit 300 is attached, and / or may be configured to track the animal's movements and / or location. The electronic circuit 300 may include, but is not limited to, an accelerometer 302, a gyroscope 304, a global positioning system (GPS) 306, a Wi-Fi module 308, a wireless communication module 310 (e.g., cellular, Bluetooth, ultra-wideband), a memory 312, a power source 314, and a processor 316. The aforementioned components may be operatively coupled together. In one embodiment, each of the components may be coupled to a processor 316 that can direct the function and operation of the electronic circuit 300. In other embodiments, the various components may be coupled together in other ways. The electronic circuitry 300 may also include indicators, such as a speaker, vibration elements, and / or light elements, that may be activated to indicate various information to the animal owner, such as remaining battery power, memory storage, data transmission information, and the like. Such indicators may also be used to aid in locating the animal.

[0022] The electronic circuitry 300 may be configured for wireless communication with a base station that may provide the animal's location and / or proximity. A global positioning system (GPS) may be used to locate the animal at a given time or to provide information related to the animal's previous locations and geographic locations. The memory 312 may be configured to store information about the animal's current location over time. The electronic circuitry 300 may be configured to locate the animal via one or more other tracking methods, such as Wi-Fi location tracking, cellular location tracking, etc.

[0023] The electronic circuitry 300 may be configured to communicate with devices and / or objects other than the server and base station, as described herein. For example, the electronic circuitry 300 may be configured to communicate with other items, such as items in a home. Such items may include, for example, animal beds, animal feeders, litter boxes, water bowls, etc. Additionally or alternatively, the electronic circuitry 300 may include (e.g., store) information related to the animal and / or pet owner. The information may be related to location information or may be independent of location information. The information may be electronically stored and retrieved once the animal's location is detected.

[0024] The electronic circuit 300 may be configured to identify biometric data of the animal, such as the animal's heart rate, blood pressure, body temperature, hydration status, and blood oxygen level, to determine and / or transmit the animal's health status. The electronic circuit 300 may be configured to determine and / or transmit location information of the animal, for example, to determine when the animal is inside / outside the animal's home. The electronic circuit 300 may be used to determine environmental conditions related to the animal, such as weather, temperature, and pollen in the environment in which the animal is located. The electronic circuit 300 may be configured with a microphone, speaker, camera, and / or audio recording capabilities. In an embodiment, the camera may be a video / photographic camera or other type of optical sensing device configured to capture images. The camera may be configured to capture a single still image of an area and / or a video image of the area. The electronic circuit 300 may be configured with cellular, Bluetooth, Wi-Fi, or other WAN transmission capabilities, which may provide communication capabilities with external devices, such as smartphones, tablets, and servers.

[0025] The electronic circuit 300 may be configured to communicate with one or more components external to the sensor device 1000 via a Bluetooth connection using a wireless communication module. Of course, other wireless communication protocols besides Bluetooth may be used in other embodiments, including, but not limited to, Zigbee, Z-wave, RFID, NFC, etc.

[0026] The accelerometer 302 and / or the gyroscope 304 may be configured to measure the activity and / or movement of the animal. The gyroscope 304 may be configured to measure the orientation of the animal. The accelerometer 302 and the gyroscope 304 together may be configured to provide six-axis motion detection. In some embodiments, only one of the accelerometer 302 and the gyroscope 304 may be included in the electronic circuit 300.

[0027] A temperature sensor may be included as part of the electronic circuit 300 to measure the body temperature of the animal. A GSR sensor may be included to measure galvanic skin resistance (GSR). For example, the GSR sensor may be configured to measure the amount of sweat or moisture detected on the animal's body. The GPS 306 may be configured to identify and / or determine the location of the animal (e.g., current location or past locations). The memory 312 may be of any size. The memory 312 may be coupled to each of the sensors to store data acquired by the sensors. The memory 312 may be operably coupled to the processor 316 and / or the transmitter to transmit data acquired by the sensors to an external device. The external device may be a software application on a computer, smartphone, or the like.

[0028] The power source 314 may include one or more batteries housed within (e.g., built into) the recess 107 of the housing 100. The power source 314 may provide power to each of the components of the electronic circuit 300. The power source 314 may be a rechargeable battery that can be charged by a power cord connected to a wall outlet, a vehicle power source, or the like. The power source 314 may be removable and / or modular. The power source 314 may be rechargeable while the sensor device 1000 is attached to an animal. For example, an interface may be provided through the housing 100 of the electronic circuit 300 to allow the power source 314 to be charged while the sensor device 1000 is mounted in a collar that is placed around the animal's neck. The interface may be, for example, a USB interface, a guide pin, wireless charging, wireless communication, or the like, that allows the power source 314 to be accessed and charged while the sensor device 1000 is mounted in a collar. While a Li-Po battery may be used, such a battery is illustrative only, and any type of battery may be used.

[0029] The electronic circuit 300 may be configured to store, receive (e.g., actively receive), and / or transmit identification information of the animal and / or pet owner. For example, the processor 316 may be configured to store, receive (e.g., actively receive), and / or transmit real-time information of the animal and / or pet owner. The processor 316 may be configured to convert and / or store data from components housed within the electronic circuit 300 (e.g., the accelerometer 202, the gyroscope 206, the magnetometer, the GPS 306, etc.). The processor 316 may be configured to enable the electronic circuit 300 of the sensor device 1000 to function and / or assist in one or more modes, such as an active mode, a sleep mode, a transmitting mode, an onboarding mode, etc. The processor 316 may be configured to identify the animal and / or pet owner, track the location of the animal, monitor the animal's biometric information or activity (e.g., heart rate, steps, calories burned, etc.), and / or environmental conditions related to the animal. The electronic circuit 300 may be configured to identify such information via one or more sensors, such as an accelerometer, a gyroscope, a temperature sensor, a heart rate sensor, a magnetometer, electrocardiogram (EKG, also known as ECG) electrodes, a photoplethysmography (PPG) and / or reflectance-mode PPG (PPGr) sensor, or one or more other sensors within the electronic circuit 300 or other sensors external to the electronic circuit 300 that sense information about the animal. For example, the electronic circuit 300 may be configured to identify biometric data of the animal via a biosensor to measure indicators of the animal's health, such as glucose, cortisol, serotonin, serum symmetric dimethylarginine (SDMA), and other indicators of the animal. The processor 316 may be configured to track such data over a particular period of time. For example, the processor 316 may be an ARM Cortex M0-M3 or similar.

[0030] The electronic circuit 300 may include one or more components, such as a light source. The light source may be, for example, an LED light source. The light source may be an indicator. The light source may be configured to provide one or more indicators with one or more colors and other effects. For example, the light source may have one or more light indicators, which may be different colors, the same color, or a combination of the two. The light indicator may be configured to flash at different rates (e.g., fast intervals, slow intervals), etc. The light indicator may represent an aspect of the animal, such as the animal's activity (e.g., eating / drinking activity, sleeping activity, movement activity, etc.). The light indicator may represent an aspect of the environment surrounding the sensor device 1000, such as weather, precipitation, moisture, humidity, etc. The light indicator may represent an aspect of the sensor device 1000, such as an indication of sufficient or no charge in the power source 314, an indication of the power source 314 being charged, etc. The light indicator may represent data reception and / or transmission. For example, the light indicator may represent successful data reception and / or transmission and / or unsuccessful data reception and / or transmission. Instead of or in addition to a light indicator, the electronic circuit 300 may be configured with a speaker or vibrating element to achieve the display functions described in this disclosure.

[0031] Thus, the electronic circuitry 300 of the sensor device 1000 is configured to store information and / or collect data using various sensors, power sources, processors, etc. The stored information may be information about the animal wearing the sensor device 1000 or the animal's owner. The collected data may include data regarding the geographic location of the animal at a particular time or over a period of time, data regarding the animal's behavior, data regarding the animal's biometrics and daily habits, etc. There are many functions that may be accomplished by the electronic circuitry 300, and the invention described in this disclosure is not intended to be limited by those functions in all embodiments.

[0032] The housing 100 will be described with reference to FIGS. 4A to 4C. As described above, the housing 100 includes a housing main body 101 and a housing cover 102. The housing main body 101 further includes a front surface 103, a rear surface 104, a top surface 105, and a bottom surface 106. The housing main body 101 may include a main body portion 110 and a first connection mechanism 150. The main body portion 110 and the first connection mechanism 150 may be integrally connected to each other and formed as a single monolithic component. The main body portion 110 may include a first end 111 and a second end 112, each extending generally between the front surface 103 and the rear surface 104. The first connection mechanism 150 may include a first connector 160 extending from the first end 111 of the main body portion 110 and a second connector 180 extending from the second end 112 of the main body portion 110. Both the first and second connectors 160, 180 of the first connecting mechanism portion 150 may be utilized to facilitate attachment of the housing 100 to a first type of animal collar, as described in this disclosure.

[0033] The first connector 160 may include a first flange 161 extending from the first end 111 of the body portion 110 adjacent the front surface 103 of the housing body 101, and a second flange 162 extending from the first end 111 of the body portion 110 adjacent the back surface 104 of the housing body 101. The first flange 161 may have an inner surface 163 and an outer surface 164, where the outer surface 164 is generally flush with the front surface 103 of the housing body 101. The second flange 162 may have an inner surface 165 and an outer surface 166, where the outer surface 166 is generally flush with the back surface 104 of the housing body 101. First flange 161 and second flange 162 may be configured to extend generally perpendicularly from first end 111 of body portion 110 in a spaced apart manner, with inner surfaces 163, 165 facing each other and spaced apart from each other. The various flanges described in this disclosure may be configured with various widths to accommodate different size collars, from small / thin collars to very wide collars.

[0034] The first arm 167 may extend from the inner surface 163 of the first flange 161 toward the second flange 162. The first arm 167 may extend from the first flange 161 at an end of the first flange 161 that is farthest from the first end 111 of the body portion 110. The first arm 167 may terminate at a distal end 168. The first arm 167 may be oriented perpendicular to the first flange 161. The second arm 169 may extend from the inner surface 165 of the second flange 162 toward the first flange 161. The second arm 169 may extend from the second flange 162 at an end of the second flange 162 that is farthest from the first end 111 of the body portion 110. The second arm 169 may terminate at a distal end 170.

[0035] Distal ends 168, 170 of first and second arms 167, 169 may be spaced apart by a gap 174. First arm 167 includes an inner surface 171 facing first end 111 of body portion 110 of housing 100, and second arm 169 has an inner surface 172 facing first end 111 of body portion 110. Inner surfaces 171, 172 of first and second arms 167, 169 may be spaced apart from first end 111 of body portion 110 such that a first nesting region 175 is defined between first and second arms 167, 169 of first connector 160 and first end 111 of body portion 110 of housing 100. A portion of the collar may be positioned within first nesting region 175 when housing 100 is coupled to the collar. The inner surfaces 171, 172 of the first and second arms 167, 169 may have gripping protrusions 173 extending inwardly toward the first end 111 of the body portion 110. The gripping protrusions 173 may be configured to contact a collar to which the housing 100 is attached to prevent substantial movement of the housing 100 along the collar during use. The gripping protrusions 173 may be formed on or adjacent the distal ends 168, 170 of the first and second arms 167, 169, respectively. In one embodiment, the gripping protrusions 173 may have one or more stepped portions, each having a tip configured to contact the collar 10 in the assembled configuration to inhibit lateral movement of the collar 10 relative to the housing 100. Alternatively, the gripping protrusions 173 may have a smooth, linear or arcuate interior shape and / or may be complemented with a coating, material, or finish configured to enhance gripping.

[0036] The second connector 180 may include a third flange 181 extending from the second end 112 of the body portion 110 adjacent the front surface 103 of the housing body 101, and a fourth flange 182 extending from the second end 112 of the body portion 110 adjacent the back surface 104 of the housing body 101. The third flange 181 may have an inner surface 183 and an outer surface 184, where the outer surface 184 is generally flush with the front surface 103 of the housing body 101. The fourth flange 182 may have an inner surface 185 and an outer surface 186, where the outer surface 186 is generally flush with the back surface 104 of the housing body 101. The third and fourth flanges 181, 182 may be configured to extend generally perpendicularly from the second end 112 of the main body portion 110 in a spaced apart manner with inner surfaces 183, 185 facing each other and spaced apart from each other.

[0037] The third arm 187 may extend from the inner surface 183 of the third flange 181 in a direction toward the fourth flange 182. The third arm 187 may extend from the third flange 181 at an end of the third flange 181 that is farthest from the second end 112 of the body portion 110. The third arm 187 may terminate at a distal end 188. The third arm 187 may be oriented perpendicular to the third flange 181. The fourth arm 189 may extend from the inner surface 185 of the fourth flange 182 in a direction toward the third flange 181. The fourth arm 189 may extend from the fourth flange 182 at an end of the fourth flange 182 that is farthest from the second end 112 of the body portion 110. The fourth arm 189 may terminate at a distal end 190.

[0038] Distal ends 188, 190 of third and fourth arms 187, 189 may be spaced apart by a gap 194. Third arm 187 includes an inner surface 191 facing second end 112 of body portion 110 of housing 100, and fourth arm 189 has an inner surface 192 facing second end 112 of body portion 110. Inner surfaces 191, 192 of third and fourth arms 187, 189 may be spaced apart from second end 112 of body portion 110 such that a second nesting region 195 is defined between third and fourth arms 187, 189 of second connector 180 and second end 112 of body portion 110 of housing 100. A portion of the collar may be positioned within second nesting region 195 when housing 100 is coupled to the collar. Inner surfaces 191, 192 of third and fourth arms 187, 189 may have gripping protrusions 193 extending inwardly toward second end 112 of body portion 110. Gripping protrusions 193 may be configured to contact a collar to which housing 100 is attached to prevent substantial movement of housing 100 along the collar during use. Gripping protrusions 193 may be formed on or adjacent distal ends 188, 190 of third and fourth arms 187, 189, respectively, and may be configured substantially similar to gripping protrusions 173.

[0039] First and second arms 167, 169 collectively form a first arm structure that is spaced from first end 111 of body portion 110 of housing 100 by a first nesting region 175. First nesting region 175 is defined by first end 111 of body portion 110, inner surfaces 171, 172 of first and second arms 167, 169, and inner surfaces 163, 165 of first and second flanges 161, 162. Third and fourth arms 187, 189 collectively form a second arm structure that is spaced from second end 112 of body portion 110 of housing 100 by a second nesting region 195. Second nest region 195 is defined by second end 112 of body portion 110 , inner surfaces 191 , 192 of third and fourth arms 187 , 189 , and inner surfaces 183 , 185 of third and fourth flanges 181 , 182 .

[0040] Referring to FIG. 4D , as previously described, the housing body 101 defines a recess 107 that houses the electronic circuitry 300 of the sensor device 1000. As previously described, the housing cover 102 may be removable from the housing body 101 to expose the recess 107, although this configuration is not required in all embodiments. As best shown in FIG. 4D , the bottom surface 106 of the housing body 101 may be arcuate, or more specifically, concave. This may ensure that the bottom surface 106 of the housing body 101 naturally conforms to the curvature of the animal's neck when the animal is wearing a collar to which the housing 100 is attached. The bottom surface 106 of the housing body 101 may be flat / planar in other embodiments, one of which will be described later in this document.

[0041] 5A and 5B illustrate the housing 100 of the sensor device 1000 coupled to a first type of animal collar 10. More specifically, the sensor assembly, including the housing 100 and the electronic circuit 300, is coupled to the first type of animal collar 10. That is, when the first type of animal collar 10 is in use, the housing 100 may be configured to be coupled to the animal collar 10 without first coupling the adapter assembly 200 to the housing 100. Indeed, in some embodiments, when the adapter assembly 200 is coupled to the housing 100, the first type of animal collar 10 may be prevented from being coupled to the housing 100 or the sensor device 1000. As previously mentioned, the first type of animal collar 10 may be formed from a material selected from the group consisting of nylon, polyester, neoprene, rubber, elastomer, and leather, combinations of these materials, or these materials coated or covered with other materials. In some embodiments, the first type of animal collar 10 may be formed from a woven material.

[0042] The first type of animal collar 10 may be configured to couple to the housing 100 by wrapping over and around the arm structure and extending along the bottom of the housing 100. More specifically, the first portion 11 of the first type of animal collar 10 may be configured to nest within the first nesting region 175 of the housing 100, the second portion 12 of the first type of animal collar 10 may be configured to nest within the second nesting region 195 of the housing 100, and the third portion 13 of the first type of animal collar 10, which extends between the first and second portions 11, 12 of the first type of animal collar 10, may be configured to extend along the bottom of the housing 100. Thus, the first type of animal collar 10 may be configured to couple to the housing 100 via the first connection mechanism 150 of the housing 100, which includes the first and second connectors 160, 180, as described above.

[0043] The first type of animal collar 10 may include a clasp mechanism 15 to facilitate attachment and detachment of the first type of animal collar 10 to an animal. The clasp mechanism 15 may be a conventional buckle having interlocking male and female parts. Alternatively, the clasp mechanism 15 may take other forms, including a breakaway mechanism that automatically separates upon application of force to prevent choking. The exact structure and type of the clasp mechanism 15 are not limiting of the present invention in all embodiments. When the clasp mechanism 15 is in the attached state, as shown in FIG. 5A , the collar 10 forms a loop structure configured to be positioned around the neck of an animal. Additionally, a housing 100 is supported on the first type of animal collar 10 and performs its function as described below.

[0044] Thus, housing 100 may be a one-piece monolithic structure that can be used by itself (i.e., without adapter assembly 200) when sensor device 1000 is coupled to a first type animal collar 10. First connection mechanism 160 is integral with housing 100, and thus housing 100 includes all of the features necessary to attach sensor device 1000 to a first type animal collar 10.

[0045] As described further below, adapter assembly 200 (or at least bracket member 230 of adapter assembly 200) may be configured to first be coupled to housing 100 to enable sensor device 1000 to be coupled to a second type of animal collar. FIGS. 6A and 6B are front and rear perspective views of first and second plugs 210, 220 of adapter assembly 200. First and second plugs 210, 220 are identical, and therefore the following description refers only to first plug 210 but is applicable to both first and second plugs 210, 220. First plug 210 may be configured to be positioned within first nest region 175 of housing 100, and second plug 220 may be configured to be positioned within second nest region 195 of housing 100, as described in more detail below.

[0046] The first plug 210 includes a front portion 211, a rear portion 212, a top portion 213, and a bottom portion 214. The rear portion 212 may be flat to allow it to rest in abutting contact with the first end wall 111 of the body portion 110 of the housing 100 when coupled thereto. The front portion 211 may have various contours necessary to allow the first plug 210 to engage with the first arm 171 and the second arm 172 of the first connector 160 when the first plug 210 is nested within the first nest region 175. The front portion 211 may have a top portion 215 extending from the top portion 213 to a transition region 216, and a bottom portion 217 extending from the transition region 216 to the bottom portion 214. While the top portion 215 may be planar in some embodiments, in the illustrated embodiment it is arcuate, and more specifically, convex, to match the contour of the portion of the housing 100 adjacent to the first plug 210 when the first plug 210 is positioned within the first nest region 175. The bottom portion 217 may be arcuate along at least a portion thereof, and more specifically, concave. An upper region of the bottom portion 217 may be configured to form a downward shoulder 225 that may engage or contact an arm structure of the housing 100 to hold the first plug 210 in place when assembled / coupled to the housing 100.

[0047] The central region 218 of the bottom portion 217 may include a recess 219. Within the recess 219 may be a rib 222 configured to mate with the gripping protrusion 173 of the housing 100 described above. Additionally, a protrusion 221 may be provided that protrudes from the recess 219. The protrusion 221 may be configured to protrude beyond the outer surface of the bottom portion 217 of the front portion 211. The protrusion 221 may be centrally located along the recess 219 such that there are two portions of the recess 219 located on opposite sides of the protrusion 221. Thus, when the first plug 210 is positioned within the first nest region, the protrusion 221 extends into the gap 174 between the first and second arms 167, 169 of the first connector 160, and the gripping protrusions 173 on the inner surfaces of the first and second arms 167, 169 align with the two portions of the recess 219. The first plug 210 may be specially sized and shaped to fit snugly within the first nest area 175. The second plug 220 may be specially sized and shaped to fit snugly within the second nest area 195.

[0048] The bottom 214 of the first plug 210 may be configured with two openings 223. While two openings 223 are shown in the exemplary embodiment, in other embodiments there may be one opening or more than two openings. The openings 223 may be configured to receive the screws 201 described above with reference to FIG. 2 to facilitate coupling the bracket 230 thereto.

[0049] 7A-7C, bracket 230 will be described. Bracket 230 includes plate member 231. Plate member 231 may be rectangular as shown, but in other embodiments, may be other shapes, such as square, triangular, or other polygonal shapes. Plate member 231 may define or form a frame surrounding central opening 232. Plate member 231 includes first and second side edges 233 and 234. Plate member 231 may be elongated in a direction between first and second side edges 233 and 234. Plate member 231 may have a planar top surface 235 and a planar bottom surface 245.

[0050] Plate member 231 may include a first linear section 236 having a first side edge 233 and a second linear section 237 having a second side edge 234. Plate member 231 may further include a third linear section 238 and a fourth linear section 239, each extending between first linear section 236 and second linear section 237. Plate member 231 may be configured with a plurality of openings 240a-d, including a first opening 240a located along first linear section 236 adjacent to third linear section 238, a second opening 240b located along first linear section 236 adjacent to fourth linear section 239, a third opening 240c located along second linear section 237 adjacent to third linear section 238, and a fourth opening 240d located along second linear section 237 adjacent to fourth linear section 239. Each of openings 240a-d may be configured to align with one of openings 223 of one of first and second plugs 210, 220 when adapter assembly 200 is assembled on housing 100, such that a fastener (e.g., a screw) can be inserted through each of the pair of openings 240a-d and openings 223 that align with one another.

[0051] Adapter assembly 200, and more specifically bracket 230 thereof, may include a second connection mechanism configured to couple sensor device 1000 to a second type of animal collar, as described further below. Bracket 230 may include a first connector portion 241 extending obliquely from a first side edge 233 of plate member 231 and a second connector portion 242 extending obliquely from a second side edge 234 of plate member 231. Each of first and second connector portions 241, 242 may extend away from bottom surface 245 of plate member 231 such that an inner surface of connector portion 241, 242 forms an oblique angle of greater than 90° with bottom surface 245 of plate member 231. In alternative embodiments, the first and second connector portions 241, 242 may be configured to extend perpendicularly from the plate member 231, although in angled embodiments they may provide a more conforming fit to the contours of the animal's neck.

[0052] First connector portion 241 may have a first elongated opening 243. Second connector portion 242 may have a second elongated opening 244. Elongated openings 243, 244 may be elongated in a direction between a leading edge 246 and a trailing edge 247 of bracket 230. First and second connector portions 241, 242, and more specifically, first and second elongated openings 243, 244, may form a second connection mechanism portion of adapter assembly 200.

[0053] Attachment and detachment of adapter assembly 200 to housing 100 will be described with reference to FIGS. 8A-8C in order. It will be understood that in some embodiments, sensor device 1000 may be a kit including housing 100 and adapter assembly 200. It may be up to the user or consumer to decide whether to attach adapter assembly 200 to housing 100, depending on whether a first type of collar or a second type of collar is intended to be used with sensor device 1000. Sensor device 1000 may be configured with housing 100 having electronic circuitry 300 housed therein, or sensor device 1000 may be configured with housing 100 having electronic circuitry 300 housed therein and having adapter assembly 200 coupled thereto. These are both different forms of sensor device 1000 that are used depending on the type of collar to which sensor device 1000 is attached.

[0054] Adapter assembly 200 may be sold together with housing 100 and electronic circuitry 300. Alternatively, housing 100 and electronic circuitry 300 may be sold together, and adapter assembly 200 may be an accessory sold separately from housing 100 and electronic circuitry 300 when it is desired to use sensor device 1000 with a second type of animal collar.

[0055] 8A , the first step in coupling the adapter assembly 200 to the housing 100 may include inserting the first plug 210 into the first nest region 175 of the housing 100 and inserting the second plug 220 into the second nest region 195 of the housing 100. This may include translating or moving the first and second plugs 210, 220 downward into the first and second nest regions 175, 195, respectively. In doing so, the body portion of the first plug 210 is positioned within the first nest region 175, and the protrusion 221 of the first plug 210 is positioned within the gap 174 between the first and second arms 167, 169. Additionally, the rib 222 of the first plug 210 mates with the gripping protrusions 173 on the inner surfaces of the first and second arms 167, 169. 1 shows the second plug 220 nested with the second nest region 195 and the position of the protrusion of the second plug 220 within the gap 194 between the arms 187 and 189. The same structural arrangement is achieved with the first plug 210 in the first nest region 175. As noted in this disclosure, in some embodiments, the first and second plugs 210, 220 may not be used; instead, the mounting bracket 230 may be attached directly to the housing 100.

[0056] The first and second plugs 210, 220 may be configured to be flush with the exterior surface of the device. Additionally, as shown in FIG. 1 , the first and second plugs 210, 220 may be configured to completely block the first and second nesting areas 175, 195, thereby preventing the first type of collar 10 from utilizing this space to attach to the sensor device 1000. Thus, in this embodiment, the first connection mechanism 150 (including the first and second nesting areas 175, 195) is inaccessible for coupling the sensor device 1000 to the first type of animal collar 10 when the plugs 210, 220 are coupled to the housing 100. When the first and second plugs 210, 220 are coupled to the housing 100, the downwardly facing shoulder 225 of the first plug 210 engages or contacts the upper edges of the first and second arms 167, 169 (or the third and fourth arms 187, 189 of the second plug 220). This engagement forms a stop mechanism that prevents the first plug 210 from passing completely through the first nest area 175 (and prevents the second plug 220 from passing completely through the second nest area 195). That is, the abutting contact between the downwardly facing shoulder 225 of the first plug 210 and the first and second arms 167, 169 prevents the first plug 210 from moving / translating further. The first plug 210 can only be removed from the first nest area 175 by moving / translating the first plug 210 upward from where it came from.

[0057] 8B illustrates the housing 100 with the first and second plugs 210, 220 positioned within the first and second nest regions 175, 195, as described above. When so positioned, the bottom surfaces 214 of the first and second plugs 210, 220 are exposed. Therefore, the openings 223 in the bottom surfaces 214 of the first and second plugs 210, 220 are also exposed and accessible. Next, the bracket 230 is positioned adjacent the bottom of the housing 100 and moved toward the housing 100 until the first and second linear sections 236, 237 of the bracket 230 abut the bottom surfaces 214 of the first and second plugs 210, 220, respectively. When the bracket 230 is so positioned, the openings 240a-d of the bracket 230 align with the openings 223 in the plugs 210, 220. Fasteners 201 (eg, screws) may then be inserted through the aligned openings 240a-d, 223 to couple the bracket 230 to the first and second plugs 210, 220.

[0058] As described herein, the first and second plugs 210, 220 may be omitted in some embodiments, and the bracket 230 may be directly coupled to the housing 100. In other embodiments, the first and second plugs 210, 220 may be included in and attached to the housing 100, as described herein, and the bracket 230 may be coupled to the housing 100 in place of the first and second plugs 210, 220. For example, the housing 100 may be configured with threaded openings or negative spaces formed therein to receive the screws 201 for attaching or coupling the bracket 230 to the housing 100. The locations of the holes 240a-d along the bracket 230 may be varied from the locations shown to ensure alignment between the holes 240a-d and any threaded openings formed in the housing 100. In one embodiment in which the bracket 230 is directly coupled to the housing 100, the first and second plugs 210, 220 may be configured to be held in place via a friction or interference fit with the housing 100, adhesive, mechanical engagement features, recess / detent type engagement, or the like.

[0059] At this point, the adapter assembly 200 is coupled to the housing 100 and cannot be separated from the housing 100 without first removing the fastener 201. This condition is shown in FIG. 8C. As previously described, the first and second plugs 210, 220 are prevented from moving further downward due to the abutting contact between the downwardly facing shoulders 225 of the first and second plugs 210, 220 and the arm structures of the first and second connectors 160, 180. Additionally, the bracket 230 prevents the mounting structure 200 from moving in the opposite direction (i.e., toward the top 105 of the housing 100) due to its abutment against the bottom of the housing 100.

[0060] FIG. 9 illustrates a second type of animal collar 20 coupled to the sensor device 1000 when the sensor device 1000 includes an adapter assembly 200 coupled to the housing 100. The second type of animal collar 20 may differ from the first type of animal collar 10 in at least one characteristic. The at least one characteristic may be material. The second type of animal collar 20 may be made of metal, while the first type of animal collar 10 may not be made of metal. The second type of animal collar 20 may be made of metal, for example, and therefore bite-resistant. The second type of animal collar 20 may include multiple metal linkages 21 attached together. Each of the linkages 21 may have a hook portion and an opening portion such that the hook portion of one linkage 21 can be inserted into the opening portion of an adjacent linkage 21.

[0061] The second type animal collar 20 may have a first end link mechanism 22 and a second end link mechanism 23. The hook portion of the first end link mechanism 22 may be configured to be inserted into a first elongated opening 243 of a first connector portion 241 of the adapter assembly 200. The hook portion of the second end link mechanism 23 may be configured to be inserted into a second elongated opening 244 of a second connector portion 242 of the adapter assembly 200. The first and second end link mechanisms 22, 23 may be configured to be removable from the adapter assembly 200 by pivoting to remove the hook portions from the first and second elongated openings 243, 244. The second type animal collar 20 may further include a clasp mechanism 25, which may be a breakaway mechanism to prevent choking, a buckle mechanism, a clasp, or any other type of mechanism that allows a person to place or remove the second type animal collar 20 around an animal's neck.

[0062] 10 and 11 illustrate an alternative embodiment of a sensor apparatus 2000 in accordance with the present invention as disclosed in this disclosure. The sensor apparatus 2000 comprises a housing 400 and an adapter assembly 410, which comprises first and second plugs 420 (only one is visible, but the description of the first and second plugs 210, 220 of the previous embodiment is applicable) and a bracket 430. The sensor apparatus 2000 is identical to the sensor apparatus 1000, except that the bottom surface of the housing 400 is flat rather than arcuate / concave. Other than this, the description of the sensor apparatus 1000 is fully applicable to the sensor apparatus 2000.

[0063] 12-14 illustrate yet another embodiment of a sensor device 3000 in accordance with the present invention as disclosed herein. The sensor device 3000 includes a housing 500 and an adapter assembly 600. The housing 500 is identical to the previously described housing 100, except for the addition of a slot on the inner surface of the flange of its connection mechanism, as described further below. Other than the slot, the housing 500 is completely identical to the housing 100, and therefore the description of the housing 100 applies. Additionally, the sensor device 3000 (and all other sensor devices described herein) includes electronic circuitry that is identical to the electronic circuitry 300, but is not specifically shown or described with respect to this embodiment. It should be understood that each sensor device described herein includes electronic circuitry, and therefore the description of the electronic circuitry 300 is applicable to each embodiment described herein.

[0064] Similar to the previous embodiment, the housing 500 includes a body portion 501 having a first end 502 and a second end 503 and a first connecting mechanism 510. The first connecting mechanism 510 includes a first connector 511 located at the first end 502 of the body portion 501 and a second connector (not shown) located at the second end 503 of the body portion 501. Although the second connector is not shown in the drawings, it is identical to the first connector 511, and therefore the description of the first connector 511 is applicable to the second connector.

[0065] The first connector 511 includes a first flange 512 and a second flange 513 extending from a first end 502 of the main body portion 501 of the housing 500 in a direction generally perpendicular to the first end 502. The first flange 512 may be adjacent to the front of the housing 500, and the second flange 513 may be adjacent to the rear of the housing 500. The first flange 512 may have an inner surface 514, and the second flange 513 may have an inner surface 515. The inner surfaces 514, 515 may face each other. The first connector 511 may further include a first arm 516 extending from an end of the first flange 512 toward the second flange 513, and a second arm 517 extending from an end of the second flange 513 toward the first flange 512. The structure of the first and second flanges 512, 513 and the arms 516, 517 of the first and second arms is identical to the structure of the same components described above with reference to sensor device 1000, and therefore any additional descriptions of those components provided above are also applicable to this embodiment.

[0066] The differences between this embodiment and the previous embodiments are as follows: A first slot 520 is formed in the inner surface 514 of the first flange 512, and a second slot 521 is formed in the inner surface 515 of the second flange 513. The first and second slots 520, 521 may be vertically elongated. The first slot 520 may extend from an upper edge 522 of the first flange 512 to a floor 523 spaced above a lower edge 524 of the first flange 512. The second slot 521 may extend from an upper edge 525 of the second flange 513 to a floor (not visible, but identical to the floor 523) spaced above a lower edge 526 of the second flange 513. Thus, the first and second slots 520, 521 may open at the upper edges 522, 525 of the first and second flanges 512, 513. The body 501 of the housing 500 also has a second connector at a second end 503 that has the same structure including flanges, arms, and slots as described.

[0067] Adapter assembly 600 includes two identical mounting structures 605, 606, one for mounting to a first connector 511 on a first side of body 501 and one for mounting to a second connector (not visible) on a second side of body 501. Thus, adapter assembly 600 includes a first pin 610, a first plate member 620 configured to be coupled to first pin 610, a second pin 630, and a second plate member 640 configured to be coupled to the second pin. First pin 610 and first plate member 620 form first mounting structure 605, and second pin 630 and second plate member 640 form second mounting structure 606.

[0068] The first and second pins 610, 630 are elongated, cylindrically shaped structures that may be formed from metal, or alternatively, plastic or other rigid material. The first plate member 620 includes a loop portion 621 and a plate portion 622 extending from the loop portion 621. The first plate member 620 includes a front surface 626, a rear surface 627, a first side edge 628, and a second side edge 629. The loop portion 621 defines an elongated through hole 623 that extends from the first side edge 628 to the second side edge 629. The first pin 610 is positioned within the elongated through hole 623 when the first pin 610 is coupled to the first plate member 620. A first end 611 of the first pin 610 protrudes from a first side edge 628, and a second end 612 of the first pin 610 protrudes from a second side edge 629 when the pin 610 is positioned in the through hole 623. The plate portion 622 has an opening 624 extending from a front surface 626 to a rear surface 627. The opening 624 may be elongated and oval in shape. The first plate member 620 may be a unitary structure formed from sheet metal that is bent into the shape shown in the drawings.

[0069] The second plate member 640 includes a loop portion 641 and a plate portion 642 extending from the loop portion 641. The first plate member 640 includes a front surface 646, a rear surface 647, a first side edge 648, and a second side edge 649. The loop portion 641 defines an elongated through hole 643 extending from the first side edge 648 to the second side edge 649. The second pin 630 is positioned within the elongated through hole 643 when the second pin 630 is coupled to the second plate member 640. A first end 631 of the second pin 630 protrudes from the first side edge 648, and a second end 632 of the second pin 630 protrudes from the second side edge 649 when the pin 630 is positioned within the through hole 643. Plate portion 642 includes an opening 644 extending from a front surface 646 to a rear surface 647. Opening 644 may be elongated and oval in shape. Second plate member 640 may be a unitary structure formed from sheet metal that is bent into the shape shown in the drawings.

[0070] The adapter assembly 600 is coupled to the housing 500 as follows. First, each mounting structure 605, 606 is assembled by inserting the first and second pins 610, 630 through the through-holes of the respective first and second plate members 620, 640. The first and second pins 610, 630 have lengths greater than the lengths of the through-holes 623, 643 such that the first and second ends 611, 612, 631, 632 of the first and second pins 610, 630 protrude from the first and second ends of the first and second plate members 620, 640. Next, the first and second ends 611, 612, 631, 632 are inserted into the aforementioned slots. Referring specifically to the first connector 511 only because the second connector is not visible in the drawings, the first end 611 of the first pin 610 is inserted into the slot 521, while the second end 612 of the first pin 610 is simultaneously inserted into the slot 520. The first pin 610 then moves downward within the slot 520, 521 until the first and second ends 611, 612 abut the floor 523 of the slot 520, 521. Once so positioned, the pins 610, 620 may be locked into place. This may be achieved using a spring mechanism on the pins 610, 620, by the slots 520, 521 having a recess located adjacent their floor 523, or by the slots being extended to include an angled portion at the bottom of the slot (which may extend at an angle relative to the rest of the slot to prevent the pin from falling out). Other techniques for achieving this locking engagement are also contemplated.

[0071] When so assembled, the first and second plate members 620, 640 are pivotable relative to the first and second pins 610, 630 to which they are coupled. The first plate member 620 depends from the first pin 610 and is located within a first nest region. Thus, the first plate member 620 is positioned within the first nest region of the housing and can pivot therein. The second plate member 640 depends from the second pin 630 and is located within a second nest region. Thus, the second plate member 640 is positioned within the second nest region of the housing and can pivot therein.

[0072] Referring to FIG. 15 , the sensor device 3000 may be configured to couple to the second type of collar 20 in a manner similar to that described above. In particular, the end linkages 22, 23 may be configured to engage with the openings 624, 644 in the first and second plate members 620, 640 of the first and second mounting structures 605, 606. Of course, if it is desired to use the sensor device 3000 with the first type of animal collar 10, the first and second mounting structures 605, 606 of the adapter assembly 600 are removed / detached from the housing 500, and the first type of animal collar 10 is directly connected to the housing 500 in the manner described above with reference to FIGS. 5A and 5B . Thus, the adapter assembly 600 may be attached to and / or detached from the housing 500 depending on whether the first type of animal collar 10 or the second type of animal collar 20 is being used.

[0073] 16-18, another embodiment of sensor device 4000 is illustrated in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention. Sensor device 4000 includes housing 700 and adapter assembly 800 configured to couple to housing 700. Housing 700 is identical to housing 100 except for the differences described herein. Thus, the description of housing 100 is applicable to housing 700 with minor modifications described herein intended to facilitate coupling of adapter assembly 800 to housing 700.

[0074] In this embodiment, housing 700 includes a main body 701 and a connection mechanism including a first connector 702 on a first side of main body 701 and a second connector 703 on a second side of main body 701. First connector 702 includes first and second flanges 710, 712 and first and second arms 711, 713 on the first side of main body 701. Second connector 703 includes third and fourth flanges 730, 732 and third and fourth arms 731, 733 on the second side of main body 701. The changes in housing 700 compared to housing 100 are the addition of a first hole 750 extending through first flange 710, a second hole 751 extending through second flange 712, a third hole 752 extending through third flange 730, and a fourth hole 753 extending through fourth flange 732.

[0075] The adapter assembly 800 includes a first rod 810 and a second rod 820. Each of the first and second rods 810, 820 is an elongated cylindrical structure. The first rod 810 has an end portion located within the first and second holes 750, 751, and the remainder of the first rod 810 extends across the first nest region. The first rod 810 may extend across the first nest region below the first and second arms 711, 713. The second rod 820 has an end portion located within the third and fourth holes 752, 753. The remainder of the second rod 820 extends across the second nest region. The second rod 820 may extend across the second nest region below the third and fourth arms 731, 733.

[0076] 19 shows a second type of collar 20 coupled to first and second rods 810, 820 of an adapter assembly 800 of a sensor device 4000. In this embodiment, even while the adapter assembly 800 is coupled to the housing 700, it may be possible to couple the sensor device 4000 to the first type of collar 10 using the connection mechanism of the housing 700. That is, the adapter assembly 800 may be configured so as not to interfere with the ability to attach the first type of collar 10 to the housing 700 in the manner described with reference to FIGS. 5A and 5B.

[0077] 20 and 21, a sensor device 5000 is illustrated. The sensor device 5000 includes a housing 900 that houses the electrical circuitry described above. The housing 900 is identical to the housing 100, except that it includes a charging port 901 located on the exterior of the housing 900. The charging port 901 may be a USB port or any other type of port intended to accept a charging adapter plug. The charging port 901 may be located within a recess 902 formed in the housing 900.

[0078] The sensor device 5000 further includes a band 910 configured to fit and wrap around the housing 900 to cover the charging port 901. The band may be formed from an elastomeric material, such as silicone. The band 910 may have a color outside the canine visible spectrum. For example, without limitation, the band 910 may be magenta, red, or cyan. The band 910 may have a loop-shaped structure that can wrap completely around a portion of the housing 900 when coupled. Thus, the band 910 may be configured to cover the charging port 901 when the band 910 is coupled to the housing 900. The band 910 may include a nub designed to fit within the charging port 901 to hold the band 910 in place and prevent debris from entering the charging port 901. The band 910 may be elastic enough to be stretchable enough to fit and wrap around the housing 900, but stable enough so that it can be slid along the housing 900 to expose the charging port 901 when charging is desired.

[0079] 22 and 23 illustrate sensor device 5000 with minor modifications to housing 900. In particular, housing 900 includes an annular recess 920 in which band 910 is intended to be positioned when band 910 is coupled to housing 900. Therefore, when band 910 is coupled to housing 900 with this modification, the outer surface of band 910 is flush with the outer surface of housing 900. This results in seamless aesthetics for the final product. Band 910 shown in FIGS. 21-24 may be incorporated into any of the embodiments of sensor devices described herein.

[0080] While the present invention has been described in terms of specific examples, including presently preferred embodiments thereof, those skilled in the art will recognize that there are numerous variations and permutations of the above-described systems and techniques. It is to be understood that other embodiments may be utilized, and structural and functional modifications may be made without departing from the scope of the present invention. Accordingly, the spirit and scope of the present invention should be construed broadly as set forth in the appended claims.

Claims

1. 1. A sensor device configured to be attached to a collar worn by an animal, comprising:

1. A sensor assembly comprising: a housing including a first connection mechanism configured to couple the sensor assembly to a first type of animal collar, the housing defining a recess; a sensor assembly comprising: electronic circuitry located within the cavity of the housing, the electronic circuitry configured to store information and collect data; an adapter assembly configured to be coupled to the sensor assembly, the adapter assembly including a second connection mechanism configured to couple the sensor device to a second type of animal collar different from the first type of animal collar.

2. 2. The sensor device of claim 1, wherein the first connection mechanism is integral with the housing such that when the adapter assembly is coupled to the housing, the first connection mechanism is inaccessible for coupling the sensor device to the first type of animal collar.

3. The sensor device according to claim 1 or 2, a housing including a body portion having a first end and a second end; The first connection mechanism, a first connector extending from the first end of the body portion such that a first nesting area is defined between the first connector of the first connecting mechanism and the first end of the housing; a second connector extending from the second end of the body portion such that a second nesting area is defined between the second connector of the first connection mechanism and the second end of the housing; When the sensor device is coupled to the first type of animal collar, a first portion of the first type of animal collar nests within the first nesting area, a second portion of the first type of animal collar nests within the second nesting area, and a third portion of the first type of animal collar located between the first and second portions of the first type of animal collar extends along the bottom of the housing.

4. 4. The sensor device of claim 3, wherein the adapter assembly comprises: a first plug configured for insertion into the first nest region; a second plug configured for insertion into the second nest region; a bracket configured to be coupled to either (1) each of the first and second plugs or (2) the housing; The bracket includes the second connection mechanism.

5. 5. The sensor device of claim 4, wherein the bracket comprises: a plate member adjacent a bottom of the housing when the adapter assembly is coupled to the housing; a first connector portion extending obliquely from a first side edge of the plate member and having a first opening; and a second connector portion extending obliquely from a second side edge of the plate member and having a second opening, wherein the second type of animal collar is configured to mate with the first and second openings to couple the sensor device to the second type of animal collar.

6. The sensor device according to claim 4 or claim 5, The first connector comprises: a first flange extending from the first end of the body portion adjacent a front portion of the body portion; a second flange extending from the first end of the body portion adjacent the rear of the body portion; a first arm extending from the first flange toward the second flange, the first arm terminating at a first distal end; a second arm extending from the second flange toward the first flange, the second arm terminating in a second distal end spaced from the first distal end by a first gap; The second connector comprises: a third flange extending from the second end of the body portion adjacent the front portion of the body portion; and a fourth flange extending from the second end of the body portion adjacent the rear portion of the body portion; a third arm extending from the third flange toward the fourth flange, the third arm terminating at a third distal end; a fourth arm extending from the fourth flange toward the third flange, the fourth arm terminating in a fourth distal end spaced apart from the third distal end by a second gap.

7. 7. The sensor apparatus of claim 6, wherein the first plug comprises a first body portion nested within the first nest region and a first protrusion nested within the first gap, and the second plug comprises a second body portion nested within the second nest region and a second protrusion nested within the second gap.

8. 3. The sensor device of claim 1, wherein the housing comprises a body portion having a first end and a second end, and the first connection mechanism comprises a first arm structure spaced apart from the first end of the body portion of the housing by a first nesting region, and a second arm structure spaced apart from the second end of the body portion of the housing by a second nesting region.

9. 9. The sensor apparatus of claim 8, wherein the adapter assembly comprises: a first plug configured for insertion into the first nest region; a second plug configured for insertion into the second nest region; a bracket configured to be coupled to either (1) each of the first and second plugs or (2) the housing; The bracket includes the second connection mechanism.

10. The sensor device according to claim 8, further comprising: The first connection mechanism is a first flange and a second flange extending from the first end of the body portion of the housing and having inner surfaces facing each other, the first arm structure extending between the first flange and the second flange; third and fourth flanges extending from the second end of the body portion of the housing and having inner surfaces facing each other, the second arm structure extending between the third and fourth flanges; the inner surface of each of the first, second, third, and fourth flanges has a slot; the adapter assembly a first pin disposed within the slots of the first and second flanges and extending across the first nest region; a first plate member coupled to the first pin and positioned at least partially within the first nest area, the first plate member having a first opening; a second pin disposed within the slots of the third and fourth flanges and extending across the second nest region; and a second plate member coupled to the second pin and located at least partially within the second nest region, the second plate member having a second opening; The second type of animal collar is configured to mate with the first and second openings to couple the sensor device to the second type of animal collar.

11. 11. The sensor apparatus of claim 10, wherein the first plate member is pivotable relative to the first pin in the first nest region and the second plate member is pivotable relative to the second pin in the second nest region.

12. 9. The sensor apparatus of claim 8, wherein the adapter assembly comprises: a first rod extending across the first nest region at a location between the first arm structure and a bottom end of the housing; a second rod extending across the second nest region at a location between the second arm structure and the bottom end of the housing; The second type of animal collar is configured to engage the first and second rods to couple the sensor device to the second type of animal collar.

13. 13. The sensor device of claim 1, wherein the housing comprises a charging port for charging a power source for the electronic circuit, and further comprises a band coupled to the housing to cover the charging port, the band being movable relative to the housing to expose the charging port for charging the power source.

14. The sensor apparatus of claim 13 , wherein the band is formed from an elastomeric material, and the band wraps around a portion of the housing.

15. The sensor device of any preceding claim, wherein the electronic circuitry comprises a power source and at least one sensor for collecting data relating to the animal.

16. 16. The sensor device of any one of claims 1 to 15, wherein the second type of animal collar is made of metal and the first type of animal collar is not made of metal.

17. 17. The sensor apparatus of claim 16, wherein the first type of animal collar is formed from a material selected from the group consisting of nylon, polyester, neoprene, rubber, elastomers, and leather.

18. A wearable animal information device, A sensor device, a housing including a first connection mechanism; an adapter assembly configured to couple to the housing, the adapter assembly including a second connection mechanism; a sensor device comprising: an electronic circuit disposed within the cavity of the housing, the electronic circuit configured to store information and collect data; a first type of collar configured to be coupled to the sensor device using the first connection mechanism of the housing, the first type of collar not being attachable to the second connection mechanism of the adapter assembly; a second type of collar configured to be coupled to the sensor device using the second connection mechanism of the adapter assembly, wherein the second type of collar cannot be attached to the first connection mechanism of the housing; and

19. 20. The wearable animal information device of claim 18, wherein the first type of collar is prevented from being coupled to the sensor device using the first connection mechanism when the adapter assembly is coupled to the housing.

20. 20. The wearable animal information device of claim 18 or claim 19, wherein the first type of collar is formed from a material selected from the group consisting of nylon, polyester, neoprene, rubber, elastomer, and leather, and the second type of collar is formed from metal.

21. 21. The wearable animal information device of any one of claims 18 to 20, wherein the first connection mechanism comprises a pair of nesting areas into which portions of the first type of collar are placed when the first type of collar is coupled to the sensor device using the first connection mechanism of the housing, and at least a portion of the adapter assembly is located within the pair of nesting areas when the adapter assembly is coupled to the housing.

22. 22. The wearable animal information device according to any one of claims 18 to 21, wherein the first connection mechanism comprises a pair of nesting regions into which portions of the first type of collar are placed when the first type of collar is coupled to the sensor device using the first connection mechanism of the housing, and the adapter assembly further comprises: a first plug positioned within the first nest region when the adapter assembly is coupled to the housing; a second plug positioned within the second nest region when the adapter assembly is coupled to the housing; a bracket located along a bottom of the housing and configured to be coupled to either (1) each of the first and second plugs or (2) the housing; A wearable animal information device, wherein the bracket includes the second connection mechanism portion.

23. 23. The wearable animal information device of claim 22, wherein when the first and second plugs are positioned within the first and second nest areas, respectively, and the bracket is coupled to the first and second plugs, the adapter assembly is prevented from being separated from the housing without first removing the adapter assembly from the first and second plugs.

24. 25. The wearable animal information device of claim 24, wherein the first and second plugs have stop surfaces that abut against the first and second arm structures of the first connection mechanism when the adapter assembly is coupled to the housing.

25. 23. The wearable animal information device of claim 22, wherein the bracket is configured to be directly coupled to the housing with screws.

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