Alarm for a livestock trailer and method of use thereof

• US 20060087413A1
• Filed: 10/21/2004
• Published: 04/27/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 10/21/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Richard Lee
• Original Assignee: Richard Lee
• Inventors: Lee, Richard
• Granted Patent: US 7,190,258 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 340/431
• CPC Class Codes: A01K 15/02 Training or exercising equipment, e.g. mazes or labyrinths for animals A01K15/04 takes precedence; Electric shock devices circuits therefor H03K3/537; Toys specially adapted for animals
• CPC Class Codes: B60D 1/242 for supporting braking actions, e.g. braking means integrated with hitches; Braking sensors
• CPC Class Codes: B60D 1/62 involving supply lines, electric circuits, or the like
• CPC Class Codes: B60P 3/04 for transporting animals railway wagons adapted for carrying animals B61D3/163
• CPC Class Codes: B60Q 1/44 for indicating braking action or preparation for braking, e.g. by detection of the foot approaching the brake pedal
• CPC Class Codes: B60Q 1/445 controlled by inertial devices

Abstract

Embodiments of an alarm circuit/device located in a livestock trailer that activates during the braking and/or turning of a trailer and tow vehicle combination is described along with a method of use. Upon activation, livestock in the trailer, such as horses, sheep and cattle, are alerted to further pending deceleration or centrifugal forces and can accordingly brace or otherwise prepare to avoid injury.

Claims

1. A livestock trailer comprising:

a cargo hold adapted to carry livestock; and

one or more alarms positioned to be one or both audible and visible to any livestock within the cargo hold when activated, the alarms adapted to activate upon braking of the trailer.

2. The livestock trailer of claim 1, wherein one or more alarms comprise only audible alarms.

3. The livestock trailer of claim 1, wherein one or more alarms comprise only visual alarms.

4. The livestock trailer of claim 1, wherein the cargo hold is adapted to carry one or more animals.

5. The livestock trailer of claim 1, wherein the one or more alarms are operatively coupled to a brake light circuit of the trailer with activation of a brake light of the trailer also activating the one or more alarms.

6. The livestock trailer of claim 1 wherein (a) the brake light circuit includes:

(i) at least one connector adapted to couple with at least one mating connector of a tow vehicle, (ii) a first electrical trace extending to a first brake light, (iii) a second electrical trace extending to a second brake light, and (iv) the first and second brake lights; and

(b) the one or more alarms are electrically coupled to activate only when current is supplied to both the first and second traces.

7. The livestock trailer of claim 1, further comprising an accelerometer operatively coupled to the one or more alarms wherein accelerometer activates the one or more alarms when the trailer begins to decelerate.

8. A brake light circuit of a trailer, the braking circuit comprising:

one or more brake lights;

an electrical connector adapted to connect with a tow vehicle'"'"'s brake light circuit;

one or more electrical traces extending from the connector to the one or more brake lights; and

at least one audible alarm electrically coupled to the electrical traces and adapted to sound upon activation of the one or more brake lights.

9. The brake circuit of claim 8, wherein the trailer is a livestock trailer

10. The brake circuit of claim 8, wherein the electrical traces comprise electrical wires.

11. The brake circuit of claim 8, further comprising at least one visual alarm.

12. The brake circuit of claim 8, wherein:

(i) the one or more brake lights comprises a left and a right brake light;

(ii) the one or more electrical traces comprises a left trace extending from the electrical connector to the left brake light and a right trace extending from the electrical connector to the right brake light; and

(iii) the at least one audible alarm includes an activation circuit adapted to permit the audible alarm to sound only when both the left and right brake lights are activated.

13. The brake light circuit of claim 12, wherein the activation circuit includes an And gate.

14. The brake light circuit of claim 12, wherein the activation circuit includes a relay.

15. The brake light circuit of claim 12, wherein the activation circuit further includes a timing circuit.

16. A method of transporting an animal in a livestock trailer, the method comprising:

attaching a livestock trailer to a tow vehicle;

placing an animal in the livestock trailer;

driving the tow vehicle and pulling the livestock trailer;

automatically activating an alarm located one or both of in and on the livestock trailer immediately prior to or upon braking of the tow vehicle.

17. The method of claim 16, wherein the alarm is an audible alarm.

18. The method of claim 16, wherein the alarm is automatically activated concurrently with activation of one or more brake lights of the tow vehicle.

19. The method of claim 16, wherein the alarm further includes an accelerometer, the accelerometer adapted to activate the alarm when a de-acceleration g-force of the livestock vehicle exceeds a predetermined level.

20. The method of claim of claim 19, wherein the accelerometer is further adapted to activate the alarm when the g-force generated during the turning of the livestock trailer exceeds a predetermined level.