Animal Training Collar with Segmented Cinch Strap

Solution Overview

Problem

Conventional animal training collars often cause discomfort and pain, and can be difficult to put on or adjust, leading to safety risks and reduced trainer control.

Innovation Solution

A collar design featuring a cinch strap that can be partially pulled away from the main strap, with a wider band under the main strap to disperse pulling forces and minimize discomfort, allowing for adjustable and safer training.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Ease of operation

If a standard flat collar is used to control the animal's neck, then the trainer can direct the animal's movements, but the collar puts uncomfortable pressure on the animal's neck when the animal attempts to move away

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvetrainer controlVSAvoidneck pressure discomfort

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of operationVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The collar is divided into a main strap and a separate cinch strap that can be pulled away from the main strap. This segmentation allows the cinch strap to be pulled for a distance before tightening forces are applied to the animal's neck through the main strap, reducing uncomfortable pressure while maintaining trainer control.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

A band wider than the main strap is positioned under the main strap to disperse pulling forces. This dimensional change from a narrow strap to a wider band distributes the pressure over a larger area, reducing discomfort on the animal's neck while the main strap maintains control functionality.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #17Another dimension (Dimensionality change)

2Adaptability or versatility

If a cinch strap is pulled away from the main strap, then the pulling distance increases before forces are applied to the animal's neck, but the collar structure becomes more complex

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvepulling distance adjustmentVSAvoidcollar structure

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The collar is divided into a main strap and a separate cinch strap that can be pulled away from the main strap. This segmentation allows the cinch strap to be pulled for a distance before tightening forces are applied to the animal's neck through the main strap, reducing uncomfortable pressure while maintaining trainer control.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

3Object-affected harmful factors

If a wider band is placed under the main strap to disperse forces, then the animal's discomfort is minimized, but the collar design becomes more complex

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvepulling force concentrationVSAvoidcollar design

Core Design Contradiction:

Object-affected harmful factorsVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

A band wider than the main strap is positioned under the main strap to disperse pulling forces. This dimensional change from a narrow strap to a wider band distributes the pressure over a larger area, reducing discomfort on the animal's neck while the main strap maintains control functionality.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #17Another dimension (Dimensionality change)

Data Source

PatentUS10226030B2Animal training system

Publication Date: 2019.03.12 DURRANT CHRISTINE

AI summary

A collar with a cinch strap that can be at least partially pulled away from the collar's main strap, such that the cinch strap can be pulled for a distance before pulling or tightening forces are applied to an animal's neck through the main strap. The collar also has a band under the main strap that is wider than the main strap, such that any pulling or tightening forces applied to the main strap are dispersed over a wider area than the main strap to minimize discomfort in an animal wearing the strap.