Docking System and Apparatus to Track and Stimulate an Animal

• US 20130141237A1
• Filed: 12/05/2011
• Published: 06/06/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 12/05/2011
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Radio Systems Corporation
• Original Assignee: Radio Systems Corporation
• Inventors: Goetzl, Brent A., Russell, Aaron
• Granted Patent: US 8,803,692 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 340/539.13
• CPC Class Codes: A01K 15/021 Electronic training devices specially adapted for dogs or cats
• CPC Class Codes: A01K 27/009 with electric-shock, sound, magnetic- or radio-waves emitting devices

Abstract

A system and apparatus to track and control an animal, including a tracking unit to track the animal, and a stimulus unit to provide a stimulus to the animal, wherein the tracking unit and stimulus unit are configured to be removably coupled together, and the tracking unit and/or stimulus unit communicate with a common control device.

Claims

1. An animal tracking and control apparatus, comprising:

a tracking unit to track an animal; and

a stimulus unit to provide a stimulus to the animal;

wherein the tracking unit and stimulus unit are configured to be removably coupled together; and

the tracking unit and/or stimulus unit communicate with a common control device.

2. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the tracking unit or the stimulus unit is fixed to an animal encircling device.

3. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the tracking unit is a Global Navigation Satellite Systems (GNSS) device that provides location information to the control device.

4. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the stimulus unit is provided with one or more protrusions to contact a skin surface of the animal.

5. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein one of the tracking unit or the stimulus unit is provided with a receiving portion, and another of the tracking unit or the stimulus unit is provided with an extending portion that is received by the receiving portion to couple the tracking unit and the stimulus unit together.

6. The apparatus of claim 5, wherein the extending portion and receiving portion are provided in a dovetail configuration, and are slidably connected to couple the tracking unit and the stimulus unit together.

7. The apparatus of claim 5, wherein the tracking unit and the stimulus unit are further secured together by one or more adhesion members.

8. The apparatus of claim 7, wherein the one or more adhesion members are one or more screws.

9. The apparatus of claim 5, further comprising a removable cover configured to be at least partially received by the receiving portion if the tracking unit and the stimulus unit are not coupled together.

10. The apparatus of claim 9, wherein the cover is provided with a dovetail protrusion that is slidably received by the receiving portion.

11. The apparatus of claim 9, wherein the cover is secured in the receiving portion by one or more adhesion members.

12. The apparatus of claim 11, wherein the one or more adhesion members are one or more screws.

13. A system to track and control an animal, comprising

a tracking unit to track an animal;

a stimulus unit to provide a stimulus to the animal; and

a control device to communicate with the tracking unit and/or stimulus unit;

wherein the tracking unit and stimulus unit are configured to be removably coupled together.

14. The system of claim 13, wherein the tracking unit or the stimulus unit is fixed to an animal encircling device.

15. The system of claim 13, wherein the tracking unit is a Global Navigation Satellite Systems (GNSS) device that provides location information to the control device.

16. The system of claim 13, wherein the stimulus unit is provided with one or more protrusions to contact a skin surface of the animal.

17. The system of claim 13, wherein one of the tracking unit or the stimulus unit is provided with a receiving portion, and another of the tracking unit or the stimulus unit is provided with an extending portion that is received by the receiving portion to couple the tracking unit and the stimulus unit together.

18. The system of claim 17, wherein the extending portion and receiving portion are provided in a dovetail configuration, and are slidably connected to couple the tracking unit and the stimulus unit together.

19. The system of claim 17, wherein the tracking unit and the stimulus unit are further secured together by one or more adhesion members.

20. The system of claim 19, wherein the one or more adhesion members are one or more screws.

21. The system of claim 17, further comprising a removable cover configured to be at least partially received by the receiving portion if the tracking unit and the stimulus unit are not coupled together.

22. The system of claim 21, wherein the cover is provided with a dovetail protrusion that is slidably received by the receiving portion.

23. The system of claim 21, wherein the cover is secured in the receiving portion by one or more adhesion members.

24. The system of claim 23, wherein the one or more adhesion members are one or more screws.

25. The system of claim 13, wherein the control device is a handheld device.

26. The system of claim 13, wherein the control device is provided with a display to display tracking information and/or stimulus information corresponding to the tracking unit, the stimulus unit, the control device, or any combination thereof.