Electromagnetically locked and unlocked collar or harness for a pet

Abstract

The invention relates to a collar or harness for a pet, the collar or harness comprising: - a female connector having a base (1) comprising a retaining tab (3) projecting from a contact face (2) and comprising a hole (4); - an elongate male connector provided with an electromagnet (11) having a movable rod (12) and comprising a locking and unlocking longitudinal end (17) having a raised portion (8), the raised portion (8) comprising: • a transverse hole (10) intended to receive the retaining tab (3) of the female connector; • a contact face (9) intended to come into contact with the contact face (2) of the female connector; • a longitudinal hole (13), the hole (4) of the female connector and the longitudinal hole (13) of the male connector being intended to be coaxial and able to be penetrated by the movable rod (12) of the electromagnet (11) when the two contact faces (2, 9) are in contact with one another; - a collar or harness body (6) having one end (5) intended to be pivotably mounted on the female connector and another end (74) intended to be pivotably mounted on the male connector.

Description

[0001] ELECTRICALLY CONTROLLED PET COLLAR OR HARNESS

[0002] The invention relates to a collar or harness for a pet, generally a female or male dog, comprising electromagnetic locking and unlocking means.

[0003] Background of the invention

[0004] The international application published under number WO2024100508 mentions the attachment of a collar or harness to a pet using locking / unlocking means powered by electrical energy either by electrical wires or by electromagnetic waves.

[0005] Summary of the invention

[0006] The main purpose of the invention is to provide a pet collar or harness equipped with electrically controlled locking and unlocking means.

[0007] According to the invention, this purpose is achieved by a collar or harness conforming to the following statement 1:

[0008] 1. Pet collar or harness including:

[0009] - a female connector having a base comprising a retaining tab protruding from a contact face and comprising a hole;

[0010] - an elongated male connector equipped with a movable-rod electromagnet and having a longitudinal locking and unlocking end with a raised portion comprising:

[0011] • a transverse hole designed to receive the retaining tab of the female connector,

[0012] • a contact face designed to come into contact with the contact face of the female connector,

[0013] • a longitudinal hole, the hole of the female connector and the longitudinal hole of the male connector being designed to be coaxial and suitable for penetration or passage by the moving rod of the electromagnet when the two contact faces are in contact with each other,

[0014] - a collar or harness body having one end designed to be pivotally mounted on the female connector and another end designed to be pivotally mounted on the male connector.

[0015] Advantageous features of the collar or harness mentioned in statement 1 above are indicated in statements 2 to 10 below:

[0016] 2.- Collar or harness according to statement 1, in which the female connector has a lower face and the longitudinal locking and unlocking end of the male connector has a lower face on its non-raised part, the lower faces of the female and male connectors being provided to be at the same level when the contact faces of the female and male connectors are in contact with each other.

[0017] 3.- Collar or harness according to one of statements 1 and 2, in which the male connector further includes means of attachment to a leash.

[0018] 4.- Collar or harness according to statement 3, in which the means of attachment to a leash include a screw and a nut suitable for cooperating with this screw and the male connector has a recess provided for the screw to pass through and to accommodate one end of the leash.

[0019] 5.- Secure pet collar or harness according to statement 3, in which the means of attachment to a leash include at least one tube cooperating with a fitting intended to be attached to the leash and they are capable of pivoting relative to the male connector.

[0020] 6.- Collar or harness according to statement 5, in which the tube(s) and the fitting are capable of making both a mechanical and electrical connection between the leash and the male connector.

[0021] 7. Collar or harness as per statement 5 or 6, in which each tube presents:

[0022] - an upper end portion intended to be located inside the fitting;

[0023] - a lower end portion intended to be located inside the male connector; and - an intermediate portion connecting the upper and lower end portions;

[0024] - possibly a transverse portion; the fitting and the male connector having holes for the passage of the tubes.

[0025] 8.- Collar or harness according to one of the statements 5 to 7, in which the fitting comprises two mirror-symmetric half-shells.

[0026] 9.- Collar or harness according to one of the statements 5 to 8, in which the fitting includes an end intended to be attached to the leash which is rotating on itself.

[0027] 10.- Collar or harness according to one of the statements 3 to 9, in which the end of the collar body which is pivotally mounted on the male connector, is so at the level of the longitudinal locking and unlocking end of the male connector.

[0028] 11.- Collar or harness according to one of the statements 3 to 10, in which the means of attachment to a leash are suitable for pivoting on the male connector at a longitudinal end of the male connector other than the locking and unlocking longitudinal end.

[0029] Other features and advantages of the invention will now be described in detail in the following exposition, which is given with reference to the attached figures, which schematically represent:

[0030] [Fig. 1]: a female connector of a collar or harness according to the invention, in front view;

[0031] [Fig. 2]: the connector from figure 1, in left view;

[0032] [Fig. 3]: the connector from figure 1, top view;

[0033] [Fig. 4]: a male connector for a collar or harness according to the invention, in cross-sectional front view;

[0034] [Fig. 5]: the male connector of figure 4, in top view;

[0035] [Fig. 6]: a first preferred embodiment of the male connector;

[0036] [Fig. 7]: a housing for the male connector of figure 6 before folding; and

[0037] [Fig. 8]: a mini protective tube intended to cooperate with the male connector of Figure 6 and the housing of Figure 7; [Fig. 9]: two tubes for a second embodiment of the male connector; [Fig. 10]: a second preferred embodiment of a male connector according to the invention;

[0038] [Fig. 11]: a housing for the male connector of figure 10 in the folded state;

[0039] [Fig. 12]: the casing of figure 11 before folding;

[0040] [Fig. 13]: a fixing flange for the male connector of figure 10;

[0041] [Fig. 14]: a counter flange for the male connector of figure 10, intended to cooperate with the fixing flange of figure 13;

[0042] [Fig. 15]: a fitting for a male connector, front view;

[0043] [Fig. 16]: a fitting for male connector, according to a preferred embodiment, in cross-sectional top view;

[0044] [Fig. 17]: the connection of figures 16 and 17, in front view in section, with a connecting tube;

[0045] [Fig. 18]: a coil of the fitting in Figure 17; and

[0046] [Fig. 19]: a pet collar according to the invention, in the locked state, but without the leash attachment of figure 17.

[0047] Detailed description of the invention

[0048] Female connector

[0049] Figures 1 to 3 show an embodiment of a female connector of the collar or harness according to the invention.

[0050] The female connector is preferably made of a hard material such as a metal or a metal alloy and, as can be seen in the figures, it has a base 1 having a contact face 2, preferably flat, and a retaining tab 3 projecting, preferably perpendicularly, from the contact face 2 and pierced with a hole 4 extending preferably parallel to the contact face 2.

[0051] One end 5 of a collar body 6 is pivotally mounted on the female connector. Male connector

[0052] Figures 4 and 5 show a male connector of the collar or harness according to the invention.

[0053] As can be seen in these figures, this male connector has an elongated shape extending along a longitudinal axis and it includes an electromagnet 11 whose rod 12 is movable parallel to this longitudinal axis.

[0054] This male connector, with the exception of the electromagnet, is preferably made of a hard material such as a metal or a metal alloy and it has a longitudinal locking and unlocking end 17 having a raised end portion 8 having a transverse hole 10, a longitudinal hole 13, through or not, and a contact face 9 preferably flat.

[0055] The electromagnet 11 is arranged so that its movable rod 12 can move inside the longitudinal hole 13 and cross the transverse hole 10. When the female connector and the male connector couple, the contact faces 2 and 9 are in contact with each other, the retaining tab 3 of the female connector enters the transverse hole 10 of the raised part 8, the hole 4 of the female connector and the longitudinal hole 13 of the male connector become coaxial and can be penetrated or even crossed by the movable rod 12 of the electromagnet 11.

[0056] The electromagnet used is preferably a "pull" electromagnet, meaning that its rod is normally extended to its maximum position when the electromagnet is not powered. As can be seen in the figure, a ring 75 is fixed to the rod 12, and a helical spring 76 is wound between this ring 75 and the body of the electromagnet. In the deactivated state, the spring 76 exerts pressure on the ring 75 and holds the rod 12 in its maximum extended position. When the electromagnet is activated, the rod 12 retracts at least partially into the body of the electromagnet 11 against the force of the spring 76 and remains there as long as an electric current is supplied to the electromagnet 11. When this electric current is removed, the spring 76 presses on the ring 75 and returns the rod 12 to its maximum extended position.The expression "maximum extracted position" is used because a part of the rod 12 remains permanently outside the body of the electromagnet 11, even when the latter is activated.

[0057] The retraction of the movable rod 12 must be sufficient so that the transverse hole 10 is completely clear so that the retaining tab 3 of the female connector can engage in it.

[0058] When the movable rod 12 is in the maximum extracted position, it is desirable that it crosses the entire transverse hole 10 and penetrates as much as possible into the rest of the longitudinal hole 13 (on the left in figure 4).

[0059] As a "pulling" electromagnet, one can for example use an electromagnet such as the one marketed under the brand BUBQD™ and the reference "2PCS Mini Push Pull Linear Solenoid Electromagnet 5mm Stroke DC 5V-12V 25Q Open Frame Mini Frames Actuator Electric DC Magnet Solenoid DS-0420S".

[0060] Preferably, the longitudinal locking and unlocking end 17 has a lower face 73 on its non-raised portion that is flush with the lower face 72 of the female connector when the contact faces 2 and 9 of the female and male connectors are in contact with each other. This feature provides a substantially continuous surface and avoids creating a raised area that could inconvenience the pet. The end 74 of the collar body 6 (other than the one mounted on the female connector) is pivotally mounted on the male connector (see Fig. 10).

[0061] The male connector itself is designed to be attached to the end of a leash, and advantageously includes means for this purpose.

[0062] Preferably, the collar body 6 is pivotally mounted on the male connector at the longitudinal locking and unlocking end 17 of the male connector. In this way, if the electromagnet 11 is long, it does not disrupt the roundness of the collar or harness and therefore does not cause discomfort to the pet, as shown in Figure 19.

[0063] The leash attachment means are pivotally mounted on the male connector, preferably at the other longitudinal end 16 of the male connector. First preferred embodiment of the male connector

[0064] According to a first preferred embodiment shown in Figure 6, the means for attaching to a leash include a screw 14 and a nut 15 suitable for cooperating with the screw 14.

[0065] The male connector then has, at a longitudinal end 16 opposite its longitudinal locking and unlocking end 17, a recess 18 provided to be passed through by the screw 14 and to house the end of the leash 19 held by this screw 14.

[0066] Figure 7 shows a casing 20 in the form of a plate designed to be folded and having a central part 31, two lateral flaps 21 and a longitudinal flap 22 having a narrow end 23 allowing it to fit inside the recess 18.

[0067] This housing 20, visible in figure 7, is intended to protect the electromagnet 11 and it can be fixed in particular by means of small screws passing through holes 24.

[0068] At least one notch, preferably two notches 25, are provided in the longitudinal flap 22 to allow the passage of electrical wires, in particular those 69, 70 coming from the lead 19. Advantageously, two twisted mini-tubes, visible in Figure 8, are provided to connect the inside and outside of the housing, with the electrical wires 69, 70 passing through and protecting them. These mini-tubes can be held in place by gluing, welding, mini-clamps, or any other suitable means.

[0069] Wires 69, 70 are intended to be connected to the power supply wires of electromagnet 11.

[0070] Second preferred embodiment of the male connector

[0071] According to a second preferred embodiment, the means for attaching to a leash 19 are at least a tube and a fitting suitable for being connected preferably in a pivotal manner to the male connector.

[0072] Advantageously, this fitting is suitable for being connected to the male connector by both a mechanical and electrical link.

[0073] One way to achieve such a connection is to use two tubes 30, visible in Figure 9, each capable of carrying an electrical wire. The fitting and the male connector, particularly its housing, then include holes for these tubes to pass through.

[0074] Each electrical wire is designed to be connected, on one side, to the electromagnet and on the other, inside the fitting.

[0075] If the electromagnet's electrical wires are long enough, they can then pass through the tubes and it is not necessary to provide two wires going from the electromagnet to inside the fitting.

[0076] The tubes 30 that connect the fitting to the male connector are shown in Figure 9. Each one has:

[0077] - an upper end portion 26 intended to be located inside the fitting;

[0078] - a lower end portion 27 intended to be located inside the male connector; and

[0079] - an intermediate portion 28 connecting the upper and lower end portions.

[0080] Preferably, transverse portions 29 are provided between the upper end portions 26 and the intermediate portions 28 and between the lower end portions 27 and the intermediate portions 28.

[0081] One could consider having the end portions 26, 27 simply form an angle with the intermediate portions, but rotation would be more difficult. Therefore, the cross portions 29 are designed to facilitate the rotation of the tubes 30 relative to the fitting on one side and the male connector on the other.

[0082] Figure 10 shows the male connector of the second preferred embodiment of the invention.

[0083] It features a housing 32 which is slightly different from the housing 20 of the first embodiment, which can be seen in detail in figures 11 and 12.

[0084] It comprises a central part 33, two lateral flaps 34 and two longitudinal flaps 35 with oblong holes 36.

[0085] The housing 32 can be fixed, in particular, by small screws passing through holes 37. The holes 36 are oblong to allow easy installation of the tubes 30. Once these are in place, the housing 32 is fixed by the small screws or any other suitable means; it is necessary to prevent the ends 27 of the tubes 30 from protruding from the housing 32. For this purpose, a flange 38, visible in Figure 13, is fixed on each side, against which a counter-flange 39, visible in Figure 14, is pressed and fixed.

[0086] A notch 40 formed in each flange 38 prevents the movement of a tube 30 in one direction, and a notch 41 formed in each counter-flange 39 prevents the movement of the tube 30 in the other direction. The notches 40 and 41 extend in opposite directions so that their overlapping combination results in a circular hole through which the tube 30 passes, where applicable, through its transverse portion 29.

[0087] Of course, the diameter of the holes 36 and the complementary shape of the notches 40 and 41 must allow freedom of rotation of the tubes 30 relative to the housing 32.

[0088] The tubes 30 are then firmly held by the two flanges 38 and the two counter-flanges 39.

[0089] With the first ends of the tubes 30 connected to the male connector, it is now necessary to connect the second ends of these tubes 30 to the fitting.

[0090] Preferred fitting

[0091] A preferred embodiment of the connection is visible in Figure 15.

[0092] This is a fitting 50 preferably composed of two mirror-image hollow half-shells 44, 45, for example, in the shape of hollow half-cylinders, with half-holes 46, 47 for the tubes 30, normally diametrically opposed. The half-holes 46 and 47 must allow rotation of the tubes 30 relative to the fitting 50. The thickness of the half-shells 44, 45 may be greater at the half-holes 46, 47, or eyelets may be provided to increase tensile strength and prevent deformation or tearing in the area surrounding the half-holes 46, 47. The fitting 50 can rotate relative to the tubes 30, and the tubes 30 can rotate relative to the housing 32, thus providing considerable flexibility to the fitting-male connector connection.

[0093] The leash 19 can be attached to the end of the fitting 50 opposite the male connector in a known manner. For example, the fitting 50 may have an opening for the passage of the end of the leash 19, and means (screws, etc.) may then be provided for attaching the leash 19 to the fitting 50.

[0094] The leash 19 can also be attached to a half-shell 44, the wires or electrical conductors from the leash are connected to the wires 69,70 (fig. 17) coming out of the tubes 30, then the other half-shell 45 closes the whole.

[0095] Mounting lugs 48, 49 can be provided on each of the two longitudinal edges of each shell 44, 45. The mounting lugs 48 of one half-shell 44 then come into contact with the mounting lugs 49 of the other half-shell 45, and the attachment can then be made, for example, by screwing. Preferably, the fitting 50 includes an end intended to be opposite the male connector and which is rotatable while being fixed to the lanyard 19.

[0096] The structure of this preferred fitting 50 may be that shown in figures 16 to 18. This fitting 50 includes an internal coil 51 capable of rotating by connection to the half-shells 44,45.

[0097] This coil 51 is made of a non-electrically conductive material, for example plastic. It comprises a cylindrical central part 53 and, at its longitudinal ends, discoidal parts 54, 55 whose diameter is greater than that of the cylindrical central part 53.

[0098] The half-discs of each half-shell 44,45 closing the upper side of the fitting 50 each have a semi-circular hole so that together they form a circular hole with a diameter slightly larger than that of the cylindrical central part 53 of the coil 51.

[0099] As can be seen in Figure 17, the coil 51 is held, on the leash side, by its upper discoid part 54 located outside the fitting 50 and which butts against the two half-discs closing the upper side of the fitting 50. At the other end, on the male connector side, the coil 51 is held by a ring 56 visible in Figure 16 and formed by two half-rings formed in the half-shells 44, 45, which are, after assembly, around the cylindrical central part 53 of the coil 51, and whose inner diameter is slightly greater than the diameter of the cylindrical central part 53 - to allow rotation of the coil 51 - but less than that of the lower discoid part 55 of the coil 51, to hold the latter.

[0100] Thus, the only degree of freedom of the coil 51 is rotation about itself. Furthermore, referring to Figure 18, it can be seen that the coil 51 has two longitudinal holes 57 and 58 along its entire length, each intended to receive, at one end, a wire or electrical conductor from the lead 19. Screws 59 are screwed into the central part 53 of the coil 51 and open into the longitudinal holes 57 and 58 in order to secure the wires or electrical conductors from the lead 19.

[0101] At the other end of the longitudinal holes 57 and 58 are screwed metal screws 60 and 61 designed to be long enough to come into contact with the wires or electrical conductors and thus establish an electrical connection.

[0102] Furthermore, in the central part 53 of the coil 51, two other metal screws 62 and 63 are screwed in at different axial positions. One of the screws, screw 62, comes into contact with screw 60 in the longitudinal hole 57, and the other screw, screw 63, comes into contact with screw 61 in the longitudinal hole 58.

[0103] Each of the metal screws 62 and 63 also holds a circular metal blade (not shown in the figures) over a short axial length of the central part 53 of the coil 51.

[0104] These circular metal blades therefore go around the entire central part 53, but at different axial positions so as not to touch each other and cause a short circuit.

[0105] Returning now to figures 16 and 17, we see that studs 64 and 65 are mounted on either side of the longitudinal axis of the fitting 50, on the ring 56. Stud 64 is provided with a brush 67 intended to be in contact with the circular blade held by the screw 63 and stud 65 is provided with a brush 66 intended to be in contact with the circular blade held by the screw 62.

[0106] Thus, current can be transmitted from the wire or conductor present in the longitudinal hole 57 of the coil 51, to the brush 66 and from the wire or conductor present in the longitudinal hole 58 of the coil 51, to the brush 67.

[0107] An electrical wire 69 is connected to the brush 66, then it passes through a tube 30 to reach the male connector and then a wire of the electromagnet 11 (see figure 6). Similarly, another electrical wire 70 is connected to the brush 67, then it passes through the other tube 30 to reach the male connector and then the other wire of the electromagnet 11 (see figure 6).

[0108] It follows from all the above that the wires or electrical conductors of the leash can transmit current from the leash to the electromagnet in order to activate it.

[0109] Leash suitable for use with the collar or harness according to the invention

[0110] This can include any leash accompanied by electrical wires or containing electrical conductors, such as that described in the aforementioned international application published under number WO2024100508.

[0111] Collar or harness body

[0112] The body of the collar or harness can, for example, be made of genuine leather or imitation leather, one or more plastic materials and / or an assembly of plastic and / or metallic materials.

[0113] It is possible to use as a necklace body an assembly of metal or non-metal links, similar to a watch bracelet.

[0114] The attachment of the collar body 6 to the female and male connectors can be carried out in a known manner, for example using a screw-nut system, or like the attachment of a bracelet to a watch case, with bars 7.

[0115] The connectors may also have lugs like a watch case. The collar body 6 or harness may also have lugs at its end 5 and / or 74 that can be attached to each transverse side of the male and / or female connector.

[0116] Functioning

[0117] The collar or harness according to the invention is grasped by a user, placed around the neck or chest of the pet.

[0118] As explained previously, it is preferable to use a "pull" type electromagnet. The electromagnet is then activated by connecting the wires or conductors of the lead 19 to a suitable electrical power source, which causes the retraction of the movable rod 12, which, by sliding inside the longitudinal hole 13 towards the body of the electromagnet 11, withdraws from the transverse hole 10.

[0119] The male connector can then be placed on the female connector so that the contact faces 2,9 of the connectors come into contact with each other and the retaining tab 3 of the female connector fits into the transverse hole 10 of the male connector.

[0120] The electromagnet 11 is then deactivated by removing the electrical power supply to the wires or conductors of the lead 19, which results in its movable rod 12, under the effect of the spring 76 acting on the ring 75, being partially extracted from the body of the electromagnet 11 and its free end passing through both the hole 4 of the retaining tab 3 of the female connector and the transverse hole 10 of the male connector.

[0121] As a result, the female connector is immobilized both by the axial walls of the transverse hole 10 and by the rod 12.

[0122] A safety collar according to the second embodiment of the invention is shown in Figure 19 in the locked state, with the electromagnet 11 not powered if it is a normally extended ("pulling") rod electromagnet, or powered if it is a normally retracted rod electromagnet (the least advantageous solution because in this case, for the collar to remain locked, the electromagnet must be constantly powered). The pet's neck is normally located at the center 71 of the collar body 6.

[0123] The assembly of the male and female connectors is locked until the next power supply to the "pulling" electromagnet. At that moment, the end of the rod 12 will retract towards the body of the electromagnet 11, and, in doing so, it will release the retaining tab 3. The male connector can then be detached from the female connector, or vice versa, and the collar or harness can be removed from the pet.

[0124] In the preceding description, the electrical power supply comes from the leash 19. However, as mentioned in the aforementioned international application WO2024100508, it is possible that the electrical power does not pass through the leash but comes from a battery placed next to the electromagnet and connected to a mini electronic circuit capable of communicating by electromagnetic waves (Bluetooth®, WIFI...) or sound (ultrasound...) with an appropriate device emitting commands to it, for example, a smartphone with an application managing the sending of signals to order the mini electronic circuit to power or not the electromagnet.

Claims

Demands 1. Pet collar or harness, including: - a female connector having a base (1) comprising a retaining tab (3) protruding from a contact face (2) and comprising a hole (4); - an elongated male connector provided with an electromagnet (11) with a movable rod (12) and having a longitudinal locking and unlocking end (17) having a raised portion (8) comprising: • a transverse hole (10) provided to receive the retaining tab (3) of the female connector, • a contact face (9) designed to come into contact with the contact face (2) of the female connector, • a longitudinal hole (13), the hole (4) of the female connector and the longitudinal hole (13) of the male connector being provided to be coaxial and suitable for penetration by the movable rod (12) of the electromagnet (11) when the two contact faces (2,9) are in contact with each other, - a collar or harness body (6) having one end (5) designed to be pivotally mounted on the female connector and another end (74) designed to be pivotally mounted on the male connector.

2. Collar or harness according to claim 1, wherein the female connector has a lower face (72) and the longitudinal locking and unlocking end (17) of the male connector has a lower face (73) on its non-raised part, the lower faces (72,73) of the female and male connectors being provided to be at the same level when the contact faces (2,9) of the female and male connectors are in contact with each other.

3. Collar or harness according to any one of claims 1 and 2, wherein the male connector further comprising means for attachment (14,15,18; 30,50) to a leash (19).

4. Collar or harness according to claim 3, wherein the means for attaching to a leash comprise a screw (14) and a nut (15) adapted to cooperate with this screw (14) and the male connector has a recess (18) provided to be passed through by the screw (14) and to house one end of the leash (19).

5. Secure pet collar or harness according to claim 3, wherein the means for attaching to a leash comprise at least one tube (30) cooperating with a fitting (50) intended to be attached to the leash (19) and are capable of pivoting relative to the male connector.

6. Collar or harness according to claim 5, wherein the tube(s) (30) and the fitting (50) are suitable for making both a mechanical and electrical connection between the leash (19) and the male connector.

7. Collar or harness according to claim 5 or 6, wherein each tube (30) has: - an upper end portion (26) intended to be located inside the fitting; - a lower end portion (27) intended to be located inside the male connector; and - an intermediate portion (28) connecting the upper and lower end portions; - possibly a transverse portion (29); the fitting (50) and the male connector having holes for the passage of the tubes (30).

8. Collar or harness according to any one of claims 5 to 7, wherein the fitting (50) comprises two mirror-symmetric half-shells (44,45).

9. Collar or harness according to any one of claims 5 to 8, wherein the fitting (50) includes an end intended to be attached to the leash (19) which is rotatable on itself.

10. Collar or harness according to any one of claims 3 to 9, wherein the end (74) of the collar body (6) is able to be pivotally mounted on the male connector at the longitudinal locking and unlocking end (17) of the male connector.

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