Pet protection collar and defense system

Abstract

A pet protection collar and defense system for a dog, or other animal, includes a collar with at least two electrodes on the exterior side of the collar, an electronics unit and a power supply that may be located on the collar, or in an attached vest, that are operable to create a potential voltage difference between the first and second electrodes when at least one pressure sensing pad in the collar, or vest, detects an external force being applied to it. The electronics unit may provide a wirelessly adjustable countdown delay. The delay is between the time of detecting the external force to the time of creating the potential difference between the electrodes, to allow a pet to engage in normal rough-and-tumble play without shocking a playful second dog that contacts the electrodes.

Description

Pet Protection Collar and Defense SystemFederally Sponsored Research or Development

[0001] Not applicable.Field of the Invention

[0002] The invention relates to an animal defense garment to disrupt an attack between animals, and more specifically a pet protection collar and defense system to deliver a potential electric shock to an animal attacking a pct utilizing the pct protection collar and defense system.Background

[0003] Many people take their dog to public “dog parks” where the dog is allowed play with other dogs off leash. Aggressive dogs are not allowed in these parks, and signs are posted on fences and gates surrounding the parks to notify owners of an aggressive dog not to bring their aggressive dog to the park. Notwithstanding these signs, people still bring their aggressive dogs and release them into the parks where they harm other dogs (e.g. the aggressive dog will bite another dog’s neck). This danger to friendly dogs makes a dog park like a “prison yard” in that violence can break out quickly at any time.

[0004] The owner of a dog being attacked cannot merely reach in with his hand to pull off the aggressive dog, because the aggressive dog, or even the owner’s now stressed dog, may bite the owner’s hand. Also, the owner of the aggressive dog may be too far away to call off, or pull his dog off, before the attacked dog is injured.

[0005] In addition to the dangers of dog parks, another danger to pets is coyotes. Coyotes eat cats, and occasionally dogs. There are pet collars that emit noise, lights, etc., but they only temporarily startle the coyote. Therefore, there remains a need to provide a better defense collar for pet dogs and cats against coyotes.

[0006] Attempts to use an electrical shock to protect animals from another animal’s attacks include “Collar to ward off foreign animals” (Edith Nemeczek, DE20015743U1) that provides outward facing electrodes on a collar, that are connected to different terminals of a high voltage power supply, to shock an attacking dog that bites the throat of a dog wearing the collar. “Anti-Attack Shock Collar” (Peter Antoniou, US12171194B2) that allows a user to activate an animal’s collar remotely to shock another animal biting the collar. The collar may receive an instruction to switch from an off state, a standby state, or an armed state and includes a water sensor. Also, a “Predator deterrent vest” (Paul Mott, et al US 10,264,763 B2) that is configured to employ bristles and spikes as a deterrent to an attack by a predator. Conductors for an electric shock can also be included.

[0007] During play, dogs rough house with each other. They often bite, nip and mouth each other. Further, they may knock each other over onto their side / back, climb on top of each other, etc. An armed electronic shock collar designed to shock a dog not wearing the collar can indiscriminately shock a playful dog if the collar is armed (i.e., a power supply has created an electric potential difference between two electrodes) during normal play. However, an aggressive dog at play can quickly turn it’s play into a serious attack when it pins down a second dog and mauls its neck or throat. Therefore, there remains a need for a pet protection collar and system that automatically discriminates between likely non-dangerous play and an impending serious attack to deliver a potential electrical shock to prevent / disrupt the serious attack by the aggressive dog.Summary of Certain Inventive Aspects

[0008] To provide an animal protection collar and pet defense system that discriminates between rough play and an impending attack between animals, before arming electrodes on a collar and / or vest, disclosed is a pet protection collar and system that considers that most serious injuries between dogs occur when an aggressive first dog has pinned down a second dog and bites the second dog’s throat, neck or abdomen. In describing the collar and system a “dog”, or “dogs” will be used, but it is to be understood that the collar and system can be used to protect other animals such as a cat, a goat, etc. The pinned down dog may be held down on its back, side, or belly. When the aggressive first dog is much heavier than the pinned down second dog, the second dog may not be able to regain it’s footing to escape or effectively fight back. Further, while the invention will be described as a “collar”, other wearable animal garments / accoutrements (e.g., a muzzle, a harness, etc.) are intended to be included.

[0009] In a preferred embodiment, the invention comprises a collar to protect an animal’s throat, wherein the collar further comprises a length, a width, a thickness, an exterior side, an interior side; and at least two exposed electrodes located on the exterior side of the collar that are automatically aimed by an electronics unit when a pressure sensing pad that is in communication with the electronics unit has an external force applied to the pressure sensing pad.

[0010] In an alternate embodiment, the invention comprises a vest for an animal, the vest comprising a power source, an electronics unit; and a pressure sensing pad that is in communication with the electronics unit that is configured to automatically arm at least two exposed electrodes that are located on an exterior surface of the vest when an external force is applied to the pressure sensing pad.

[0011] In yet another alternate embodiment, the invention comprises an animal collar, wherein the collar comprises at least two electrodes that are at least partially exposed on an exterior surface of the collar; and a second wearable pet garment that is removably attachable to the collar, that further comprises a battery and an electronics unit that automatically arms the two electrodes of the collar when a pressure sensing pad of the second wearable pet garment has an external force applied to the pressure sensing pad.

[0012] In addition to the at least two electrodes, the collar may comprise one or more elements, including an electronics unit, a high voltage rechargeable battery, receiver, transmitter, and a pressure sensing pad. When the collar is part of a pet defense system, one or more of these elements (e.g., a battery) may be located in the second wearable pet garment worn by the dog. A cable (e.g., charging cable, connector cable, etc.) that is removably attachable to the collar, that is preferably substantially covered by a sleeve of the second wearable garment, carries power to the electrodes on the collar from the battery’s terminals. A benefit of this configuration is that the collar is not obvious to a casual observer that the dog is wearing an electronic deterrent, so as not to aggravate / worry other dog owners. Further, the sleeve can hold the collar' in such a way (e.g., sleeve tethered between two electrodes) to prevent it from rotating, so as to keep the electrodes in place, proximate to the dog’s throat.Brief Description of the Drawings

[0013] FIG. 1 shows a perspective view of a pet protection collar.

[0014] FIG. 2 shows a top perspective view of the collar of FIG. 1 unbuckled.

[0015] FIG. 3A shows a remote control in accordance with aspects of the invention.

[0016] FIG. 3B shows a front view of a mobile app to control the collar’s electronic unit.

[0017] FIG. 4 shows a cable of a second wearable pet garment’s sleeve connected to the collar of FIG. 1.

[0018] FIG. 5 shows a top view of the lower half of a second protective garment.

[0019] FIG. 6 shows a top view of the upper half of a second protective garment.

[0020] FIG. 7 shows a side view of a dog wearing a defense system.Detailed Description

[0021] FIG. 1 shows a perspective view of a pet protection collar 100 for a dog with its two ends secured by a buckle 140. The collar 100 comprises an exterior side 110, an interior side 120, a width, a thickness 130, a length, two ends, and a buckle 140 to fasten the two ends together. The collar 100 can be made of a natural substance (e.g. leather), synthetic material (e.g. nylon), or a combination of them. An electronics unit 150 is shown on the exterior side 110 of the collar 100, but the electronics unit 150 may be located on the interior surface 120, or between layers of the collar’s 100 thickness 130 when the collar 100 is constructed of two or more layers of material joined together, or one layer folded over on itself. The electronics unit 150 is a metal or plastic casing which may house sensitive electronics such as a microprocessor, a receiver, and other logic devices to protect them from damage. The electronics unit 150 may be water resistant to protect these components from water damage. The exterior side 110 of the collar 100 preferably includes a group of two or more exposed electrodes 160, 170 that arc substantially centered along the exterior side 110 of the collar 100. The electrodes 160, 170 are preferably of auniform height. As a safety feature, the width of the collar 100 is preferably at least twice the height of an electrode 160, 170, so that a dog wearing the collar 100 will not accidentally be shocked by a fold of their flesh coming into contact with the electrodes 160, 170.

[0022] The electronics unit 150 may include, or be in communication with, a pressure sensing pad 180 that is at least partially exposed on the exterior side 110 of the collar 100. The pressure sensing pad 180 is in communication with the electronics unit 150 to arm the at least two electrodes 160, 170 when an external force is applied to the pressure sensing pad 180. While the pressure sensing pad 180 is shown on the electronics unit 150, the pad 180 may be located on another part of the collar' 100, or in a second wearable pet garment in communication with the electronics unit 150. Further, the electronics unit 150 may have a rechargeable battery (not shown) as a power supply to provide electrical power to arm / create a potential difference (voltage) in the at least two electrodes 160, 170 to deliver a potential shock to an attacking dog that comes into contact with them. Preferably, each terminal of the power supply is connected to a plurality of electrodes in the collar 100. The electronics unit 150 further comprises a charging port 190 (e.g., a USB charging port) to recharge the battery. When the battery is in a second garment worn by the pet, the port 190 may allow a cable to connect to the collar 100 to transmit electricity to the at least two electrodes 160, 170. The electronics unit 150 may include an on button 200 (e.g., marked with a “lightning bolt” to visually communicate with a user) to push with a finger to turn the electronic unit 150 on, so that it can react to a pressure sensing pad’s 180 detection of an external force, and an off button 210 (e.g., marked with an “X”) to push with a finger to turn the electronics unit 150 off. The buttons 200, 210 may light (e.g., LED) to display which state of the electronics unit 150 is in effect.

[0023] FIG. 2 shows a top perspective view of the collar 100 in FIG. 1 unbuckled and straightened. The electronics unit 150 is shown on the exterior side 110 of the collar 100 and includes an on button 200, an off button 210, and a charging port 190. The collar 100 includes a group of at least two electrodes 160, 170 to deliver a potential electronic shock to a dog that is attacking a dog wearing the collar 100 and contacts the at least two electrodes 160, 170. In a preferred embodiment, the electronics unit 150 includes a microprocessor to provide a delay between the time an external force is detected being applied to a pressure sensing pad 180 and the time of creating a potential voltage difference between the at least two electrodes 160, 170 to arm them in preparation to provide a shock to an aggressive dog. For example, an arming delay (i.e. a countdown to arming the electrodes 160, 170) may be measurable in seconds and / or a fraction of a second (“SI”). In this way, a pet owner can wirelessly (e.g., via a mobile phone app) select a countdown (the delay between detecting and arming) that the pet owner thinks poses little risk of an attack on his dog wearing the collar 100. When the pressure sensing pad 180 detects a prolonged (e.g., more than 2 seconds) external force being applied to the pressure sensing pad 180, thus implying that the dog wearing the collar 100 may be in danger, the electrodes 160, 170 are armed. This delay allows a pet owner’s dog to play rough with otherdogs, without immediately shocking them, while protecting his pet if it becomes pinned down by an aggressive dog and is placed in imminent danger of a serious attack.

[0024] Preferably the electronics unit 150 begins a countdown to arming the electrodes 160, 170 when an external force is detected being applied to a pressure sensing pad 180 of the collar 100, or of another garment worn by the dog. Alternatively, instead of a countdown reaching zero, the electronics unit 150 may immediately arm the at least two electrodes 160, 170 when an external force is applied to the pressure sensing pad 180. Once the countdown ends, the delay ends and the electronics unit 150 automatically arms the at least two electrodes 160, 170 to deliver a potential shock to an attacking animal. If the external force to the pressure sensing pad 180 is removed before the countdown ends the electronics unit 150 may automatically cancel the potential arming of the at least two electrodes 160, 170. Likewise, the arming of the at least two electrodes 160, 170 is preferably temporary. For example, once the countdown is completed and the two electrodes 160, 170 are armed, they may stay armed for 3-7 seconds, before resetting to begin a new cycle of the pressure pad 180 detecting an external force. However, in alternate embodiment, the electrodes 160, 170, once armed, may continue to stay armed as long as an external force is detected being applied to the pressure sensing pad 180. Further, the amount of voltage may automatically increase (e.g., incrementally, or in multiple steps up by a lOOv a second) to repel an attack up to a maximum amount. The external force may be the force of an attacking animal’s bite on the pressure sensing pad 180, or the weight of the attacking animal on the pressure sensing pad 180, or the weight of the animal wearing the collar 100 when it is knocked against the pressure sensing pad 180.

[0025] FIG. 3A shows a top view of a remote 220 that may be used with the electronics unit 150 in accordance with further aspects of the invention, when the electronics unit 150 of the collar 100 comprises a receiver. The remote 220 comprises a transmitter (e.g., a Bluetooth component that syncs with the electronics unit 150, not shown) capable of transmitting instructions to turn the electronics unit 150 on or off by pushing an on button 200 or off button 210. The remote 220 further comprises a battery that may be rechargeable. When the collar 100 is operated by a remote 220, the collar 100 may have preset voltages (e.g. a range of preset values between 600v-8000v, to match the environment. For example, dog park 600v- wilderness camping 8000v).

[0026] FIG. 3B shows a mobile application (app) 230 on a screen 240 of a mobile phone 250. The app 230 may comprise a soft on button 200 and a soft off button 210. Additionally, the app 230 may offer a soft button(s) to select a time delay 260 in seconds, in fractions of a second 270 and / or to select a voltage 280. To select a fraction of a second may require that an SI button 290 be turned on first. Additionally, each of the selection buttons 260, 270, and 280 may have a corresponding display 300, 310, and 320 respectively, so a user can see what they are choosing. Alternatively, or in addition to, times / voltage levels may be preset for a user to choose from.

[0027] A time delay may be a countdown from the time an external force is detected being applied to pressure sensing pad 150 of the collar 100 (or of a different garment worn by the dog) to the time the electrodes 160, 170 are armed. The time selected may be measured in seconds 300, and / or fractions of a second 310 (e.g., when the SI button 290 is turned on). By selecting a time delay 260, a pet owner can allow his dog to engage in normal play without shocking another dog, while at the same time having a defensive shock ready to repel a likely serious attack when another dog has pinned the collar wearing pet for any appreciable amount of time (e.g., 3 seconds or greater). Likewise, the time delay may be set to zero to immediately arm the electrodes 160, 170. For example, when the owner has taken his dog camping and there is a risk of a coyote or wolf, attacking the dog.

[0028] FIG. 4 shows the collar 100 of FIG. 1 connected to a cable 330 of a second protective garment’s 332 sleeve 340 that is removably attachable to the collar 100, when the collar 100 is part of a pet protection system. The sleeve 340 serves to protect the cable 330 and hides the fact that the dog is wearing an electronic deterrent. The sleeve 340 may include hook and loop fastener(s) 350, 360 (or a different suitable fastener) to secure the sleeve 340 to the collar 100 and keep the collar 100 in a fixed position when in use, and / or protect the electronics unit 150 on the collar 100. When a collar 100 is connectable to the cable 330 (e.g., via a charging port 190) that carries electricity to the collar’s 100 at least two electrodes 160, 170, the electronics unit 150 does not need to house a battery. Likewise, when the collar 100 is part of a system, a pressure sensing pad 180 on the collar 100 becomes optional, as will be discussed below.

[0029] FIG. 5 shows a top view of a second protective garment’s bottom portion 332. The bottom portion 332 comprises a sleeve 340 that connects the bottom portion 332 to a collar 100 (not shown). The sleeve 340 may removably attach to the collar 100 (not shown) with hook and loop fasteners 350, 360 and protects a connector cable 330 that may be attached to an electronics unit 380 and / or battery of the bottom portion 332. The bottom portion’s 332 electronics unit 380 may further comprise a receiver / transmitter 382 to communicate with the remote control 220 in FIG. 3 A, or mobile app 230 in FIG. 3B. Additionally, the bottom portion 332 may comprise a removeable, rechargeable battery (not shown) a resealable compartment 384, at least a group of two electrodes 333, 337 on the exterior of the bottom portion 332 (e.g., to protects a pet’s belly), and a second connector cable 386 to allow electrical communication (e.g., transmit information from a pressure sensing pad (not shown)) between the bottom portion 332 and a top portion (not shown) of the second protective garment. The bottom 332 and top portion may be held together by one or more straps 388, 390, 391 and 392 to form a single wearable second garment when the second garment comprises more than one-piece. When the bottom portion 332 is worn by a law enforcement / military K-9 dog it may have a pressure sensing pad (not shown) and the electrodes 333, 337 may be longer and located higher on the chest of a dog in use to counter an enemy’s push. Likewise, pressure pads on the bottom portion 332 may dissuade a dognapper (i.e., pet thief) from carrying away a pet.

[0030] FIG. 6 shows a top view of a second protective garment’s top portion of 394. The top potion 394 may comprise at least one pressure sensing pad 396, but preferably has many sensing pads 396, 398, 400, 402, 404, 406, and 408 to detect an external force, such as an attacking dog jumping on the back of the dog wearing the top portion 394. A pressure sensing pad 410 may also be located in a handle 412 connected to the top of the top portion 394, so that when a pet owner separates his dog from another dog by pulling his dog away, the attacking dog will not be able to effectively launch a dangerous attack against the pet owner’s restrained dog.

[0031] A pressure sensing pad 396 (for example) may be located in a section of the top portion 394 that at least partially covers the nape, neck 398, throat, scruff, withers / shoulder 396, 400, back 404, 408 of a pet in use, so when the dog wearing the top portion 394 is jumped on by another dog, or knocked down, a pressure sensing pad 396 (for example) will detect the force caused by that dog, and / or sense the weight of the dog wearing the top portion 394 crushing a pad 396 (for example) to activate electrodes 160, 170 (for example). Additionally, the top portion 394 may comprise at least a group of two exposed electrodes 414, 416 on an exterior surface. The electrodes 414, 416 are shown distal from where the animal’s head would be in use, but may be located anywhere on the exterior surface of the second protective garment 394. A cable 418 connected to the plurality of pressure sensing pads 396, 398, 400, 402, 404, 406, 408, 410 and / or electrodes 414, 416 electrically connects the bottom 332 and top 394 portions to a power source 432 and / or electronics unit 380 of the second wearable garment 332 and 394. As shown, the top portion 394 may be used to prevent unwanted dog mating. Straps 420, 422, 424, 426 connect the two portions 332, 394 together to form a complete / single second wearable pet garment.

[0032] The assembled second garment 332 & 394 may be used as a standalone (i.e., no pet collar), wearable, pet defense apparatus, or be part of a pet defense system when it is connected to a pet defense collar 100. For example, when the collar 100 has two electrodes 160, 170, but no battery, etc. A pressure sensing pad 396, 400, 402, 404, 406, 408 of the top portion 394 in communication with the electronics unit 380 of the assembled wearable garment 332 & 394 can arm the collar’s 100 electrodes 160, 170. Alternatively, the collar’s 100 pressure sensing pad 180, electronics unit 150, etc., may be capable of arming the electrodes 414, 416 (for example) of the second wearable pet protective garment 332 & 394. Another use of the second garment 332 & 394 may be to prevent dogs from mating. For example, when an owner has a male and female dog and does not want them to mate, the owner may have the female wear the second garment 332 & 394 to deter the male dog from mounting and mating with her.

[0033] FIG. 7 shows a side view of a pet defense system 428 on a dog 430. The pet defense system 428 is shown to comprise a collar 100 and at least two exposed electrodes 160, 170 that are connected to different terminals of a high voltage power supply 432 held in an assembled second wearable garment 332 & 394. Both the top and bottom portions 394, 332 of the second wearable garment may have at least a group of two exposed electrodes 333, 337 and 414, 416. The top portion 394 may have one or more pressure sensing pads 396, 398, 400 (not shown), 402, 406 (not shown) 410, 404, 408, 402 (in a handle’s 412 grip) that cause anelectronics unit 380 of the second garment 332 & 394 to initiate a countdown to arming the electrodes 333, 337 and 414, 416 of the assembled second garment 332, 394 and / or the collar’s 100 electrodes 160, 170 to repel a second dog’s potential attack. While the second garment is shown as two portions (top 394 and bottom 332) joined together, the second garment 332 & 394 may be of one-piece construction, or constructed of more than two portions.

[0034] The disclosed invention teaches a new pet protection collar and system to protect a dog from another dog’s attack, while allowing the dog to play roughly with other dogs without unnecessarily shocking a playful dog that contacts the collar or system’s electrodes. Many alterations and modifications may be made by those having ordinary skill in the art without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention. The Applicant intends to encompass any structure presently existing or developed in the future that performs the same function.

[0035] Therefore, it must be understood that the illustrated embodiments have been set forth only for the purposes of examples and that they should not be taken as limiting the invention as defined by the following claims. For example, notwithstanding the fact that the elements of a claim are set forth below in certain combinations, it must be expressly understood that the invention includes other combinations of fewer, more, or different ones of the disclosed elements.

[0036] Insubstantial changes from the claimed subject matter as viewed by a person with ordinary skill in the art, now known or later devised, are expressly contemplated as being equivalent within the scope of the claims. Therefore, obvious substitutions now or later known to one with ordinary skill in the art are defined to be within the scope of the defined elements.

[0037] The claims are thus to be understood to include what is specifically illustrated and described above, what is conceptually equivalent, what can be obviously substituted, and what incorporates the essential idea of the invention.

Claims

ClaimsI Claim:

1. An animal protection apparatus, the apparatus comprising: a collar to protect an animal’s throat, wherein the collar further comprises a length, a width, a thickness, an exterior side, an interior side; and at least two exposed electrodes located on the exterior side of the collar that are automatically armed by an electronics unit when a pressure sensing pad that is in communication with the electronics unit has an external force applied to the pressure sensing pad.

2. The collar of claim 1, further comprising a rechargeable battery.

3. The collar of claim 1, further comprising an electronics unit.

4. The collar of claim 1, further comprising a pressure sensing pad.

5. The electronics unit of claim 1, further comprising a port to receive a connecting cable.

6. The at least two electrodes of claim 1, wherein the at least two electrodes are further capable of being armed via a wireless communication.

7. The electronics unit of claim 1, further being in a second apparatus wearable by the animal.

8. The second wearable apparatus of claim 7, further comprising a rechargeable battery in a resealable battery compartment.

9. The second wearable apparatus of claim 7, further comprising a pressure sensing pad.

10. The second wearable apparatus of claim 7, further comprising at least two electrodes that are at least partially exposed on an exterior surface of the second apparatus that are automatically armed by an electronics unit when a pressure sensing pad that is in communication with the electronics unit has an external force applied to the pressure sensing pad.

11. The pressure sensing pad of claim 9, further being located on the second wearable apparatus that at least partially covers at least one part of an animal in use, the part is one of a group, the group comprising a nape, neck, throat, scruff, withers, back, shoulder, or abdomen of the animal.

12. The electronics unit of claim 1, further configured to automatically arm the at least two electrodes when a countdown ends.

13. The countdown of claim 12 further beginning when the external force is detected being applied to the pressure sensing pad14. The electronics unit of claim 1, further configured to automatically cancel the arming of the at least two electrodes when the application of the external force to the pressure sensing pad is removed before a countdown ends.

15. The arming of the at least two electrodes of claim 1, wherein the arming is temporary.

16. The collar width of claim 1 , wherein the width of the collar is at least equal to twice the height of an electrode to prevent a fold of flesh of an animal that is wearing the collar from accidentally contacting an electrode.

17. The external force of claim 1, further comprising a force generated by an animal wearing the collar pressing against a pressure sensing pad.

18. An animal protection garment, comprising: a vest for an animal, the vest comprising a power source, an electronics unit; and a pressure sensing pad that is in communication with the electronics unit that is configured to automatically arm at least two exposed electrodes that are located on an exterior surface of the vest when an external force is applied to the pressure sensing pad.

19. The pressure sensing pad of claim 18, further being in a part of the vest that covers at least a part of an animal’s back or side in use.

20. A pet protection system, comprising: an animal collar, wherein the collar comprises at least two electrodes that are at least partially exposed on an exterior surface of the collar; and a second wearable pet garment that is removably attachable to the collar, that further comprises a battery and an electronics unit that automatically arms the two electrodes of the collar when a pressure sensing pad of the second wearable pet garment has an external force applied to the pressure sensing pad.

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