Animal containment system with monitor

• US 20070096929A1
• Filed: 12/19/2006
• Published: 05/03/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 10/15/2002
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Eric Bach, Steven Bach
• Original Assignee: Eric Bach, Steven Bach
• Inventors: Bach, Steven, Bach, Eric
• Granted Patent: US 7,477,155 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 340/573.3
• CPC Class Codes: A01K 15/023 Anti-evasion devices
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 21/0244 System arrangements wherein the alarm criteria uses signal delay or phase shift
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 21/0261 System arrangements wherein the object is to detect trespassing over a fixed physical boundary, e.g. the end of a garden

Abstract

A system is provided for containing an animal in a defined area. The system comprises first, second, and third communicating units. One of the first two units defines a containment area, and the other unit is operatively associated with the animal. One of the first two units transmits an ultrasonic timing signal at a periodic interval, and the other unit receives the timing signal, and determining a distance between the first and second units. If the distance corresponds to the animal being outside the containment area, one of the first two units generates a warning signal. A third unit monitors whether or not the animal is within the defined area.

Claims

1. A system for containing an animal in a defined area, said system comprising first, second, and third communicating units:

one of said first and second units defining the containment area;

one of said first and second units being operatively associated with the animal;

one of said first and second units transmitting an ultrasonic signal at a periodic interval;

one of said first and second units receiving said ultrasonic signal, and determining a distance between said first and second units;

one of said first and second units generating a warning signal; and

said third unit monitoring whether the animal is within the defined area.

2. The system of claim 1 wherein said third unit detects said warning signal and generates an output to indicate the status of the animal relative to the defined area.

3. The system of claim 1 wherein said third unit activates and deactivates at least one of said first and second units.

4. The system of claim 1 wherein said third unit detects a signal generated by said first unit or said second unit to convey status of the animal relative to the defined area to said monitoring unit.

5. The system of claim 3 wherein said warning signal is a sound audible to the animal.

6. A method of containing an animal, said method comprising the steps of:

defining an area by setting a radius from a first unit;

generating a timing signal at a first unit;

receiving said timing signal at a second unit;

measuring the time of transmission for said timing signal;

calculating a distance between said first unit and said second using said time of transmission;

generating a warning signal when said distance exceeds said radius; and

displaying a status of the animal relative to the defined area on a monitoring unit.

7. The method of claim 6 further comprising the step of transmitting a status signal to the monitoring unit.