Animal tracking system with transmitter attachable to an animal's collar

• US 5,603,094 A
• Filed: 07/28/1994
• Issued: 02/11/1997
• Est. Priority Date: 07/28/1994
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Willie J. Greear Jr
• Original Assignee: Willie J. Greear Jr
• Inventors: Greear, Willie J. Jr.
• Primary Examiner(s): Urban, Edward F.
• Application Number:
  US08/281,595
• Time in Patent Office: 929 Days
• Field of Search: 455/100, 455/127, 455/128, 455/89, 455/66, 340/573, 340/539, 340/636, 24/308
• US Class Current: 455/66.1
• CPC Class Codes: A01K 15/021 Electronic training devices specially adapted for dogs or cats
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 17/23 Indication means, e.g. displays, alarms, audible means
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 17/27 for locating or positioning the transmitter
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 17/318 Received signal strength

Abstract

A radio tracking system adapted for domestic pets wearing collars. A transmitting unit slips over the animal'"'"'s collar, and has accommodation for a variety of collar dimensions. A hand held receiver unit indicates strength of signals sent from the transmitting unit through illumination of a plurality of LED lamps. The receiver is pointed in a variety of directions, until a direction is identified which results in the strongest indicated signal, which illuminates more lamps than are illuminated when the receiver is pointed in other directions. This indicates location of the transmitter, and hence the animal, regardless of distance between the transmitter and receiver. Periodic monitoring of signal strength assures that the owner is successfully tracking the animal. Both transmitter and receiver have their own battery power sources and power switches. The transmitter has a battery power level indicator for ascertaining reliability thereof.

Claims

1. A tracking system for indicating the direction of an animal fitted with a collar with respect to a person seeking the animal, comprising:

a radio frequency transmitting unit having means for attachment to the animal'"'"'s collar, having a housing containing a miniature radio frequency transmitter transmitting a constant signal of predetermined transmission characteristics, a battery cell power source connected to said transmitter, an external battery power level indicator operably connected to said battery cell power source, and a externally accessible power switch controlling power to said transmitter and to said power level indicator, said means for attachment to the animal'"'"'s collar including means defining an inlet located at one end of said housing and defining an outlet located at an opposite end of said housing with respect to said outlet, each of said inlet and said outlet comprising a rigid U-shaped loop having means for pivotally mounting the ends of said rigid U-shaped loops to the sides of said housing, wherein said means for pivotally mounting rotates said inlet and said outlet longitudinally thereby adjusting for collars of different thickness dimensions; and

a radio receiving unit including a receiver having means for tuning to the frequency of said constant signal, a signal strength indicator responsive to reception of said constant signal and also responsive to the strength of said constant signal, said signal strength indicator comprising a plurality of LED lamps and means for individually illuminating said LED lamps, said signal strength indicator arranged to indicate signal strength by illuminating a relatively great number of said LED lamps by a relatively strong signal, and illuminating progressively fewer said LED lamps by progressively weaker signals, said receiving unit comprising a second battery cell power source operably connected to said receiver and to said signal strength indicator, and a second externally accessible power switch controlling power to said receiver and to said signal strength indicator, said receiving unit further including indicia indicating the direction resulting in reception of the strongest signal, and hence the direction of said transmitting unit.