Pet operable door chime

• US 5,604,478 A
• Filed: 03/06/1995
• Issued: 02/18/1997
• Est. Priority Date: 03/06/1995
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Tamara L. Grady
• Original Assignee: Tamara L. Grady
• Inventors: Krochmal, Andrew, Grady, Tamara L.
• Primary Examiner(s): Hofsass, Jeffery
• Assistant Examiner(s): Lefkowitz, Edward
• Application Number:
  US08/398,741
• Time in Patent Office: 715 Days
• Field of Search: 340/330, 340/573, 340/539, 340/286.11, 340/328, 119/174
• US Class Current: 340/330
• CPC Class Codes: A01K 1/035 Devices for use in keeping domestic animals, e.g. fittings in housings or dog beds
• 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: A01K 15/021 Electronic training devices specially adapted for dogs or cats
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 3/10 using electric transmission; using electromagnetic transmission

Abstract

A portable chime system that is operable by a pet to alert the pet owner that the pet desires something such as to be let in or out of a building. The chime system includes a switch unit that may be placed on the ground or floor near a door and which may be activated by a pet applying pressure to the top of the unit. The switch unit is designed to avoid misfiring or nonfiring. The chime system also includes a remote chime unit that can be positioned in a different room or area than the switch unit. When the pet activates the switch unit, the switch unit sends a signal to the chime unit to sound a chime located within the chime unit.

Claims

1. A pet-operable chime system, comprising:

a switch unit comprising

a base plate,

a movable plate spaced from said base plate, said movable plate having at least one through hole,

a transmitter for transmitting signals,

a switch electrically coupled to said transmitter and mounted to either said base plate or said movable plate,

an actuation member attached to the other of said base plate or said movable plate that does not support said switch, said actuation member being postitioned at a location that is substantially opposite said switch,

at least one spring interconnecting said movable plate and said base plate, wherein said at least one spring is biased to push said movable plate away from said base plate, and

at least one post interconnecting said movable plate and said base plate, said post having a first end and an opposing second end, wherein said first end of said post is fixed to said base plate, and said second end of said post is freely inserted through said at least one hole of said movable plate such that said movable plate is free to slide along said post; and

a remote chime unit comprising

a receiver for receiving signals from said transmitter, and

a chime electrically coupled to said receiver for generating an audible sound;

wherein said movable plate is movable between a neutral position where no pressure is applied to said movable plate and said actuation member does not engage said switch and an activated position where under pressure said movable plate is moved toward said base plate against the bias of said at least one spring such that said actuation member engages and activates said switch, said activated switch causing said transmitter to send a signal to said remote chime unit to sound said chime.

2. A pet-operable chime system according to claim 1, wherein said at least one spring is a spiral spring that encircles said at least one post.

3. A pet-operable chime system according to claim 1, wherein said second end of said post is provided with a bolt head that is wider in diameter than said post near said second end, and wherein over a first portion of said hole of said movable plate the diameter of said hole is slightly larger than the diameter of said post and over a second portion of said hole the diameter of said hole is slightly larger than said bolt head such that said second portion of said hole accommodates said bolt head.

4. A pet-operable chime system according to claim 1, wherein said switch unit has three said posts interconnecting said movable plate and said base plate and has three said springs interconnecting said movable plate and said base plate, and wherein said movable plate has three said through holes for receiving respective second ends of said posts.

5. A pet-operable chime system according to claim 4, wherein said three springs are spiral springs that encircle respective ones of said three posts so that there are three pairs of springs and posts, and wherein each spring and post pair is substantially aligned with a respective vertex of an imaginary equilateral triangle such that each post and spring pair is substantially an equal distance from each of the other two post and spring pairs.

6. A pet-operable chime system according to claim 5, wherein said switch and said actuation member are substantially aligned with the center of said equilateral triangle, said center of said equilateral triangle being located at the angle bisectors of the equilateral triangle.

7. A pet-operable chime system according to claim 1, wherein the exterior of said base plate is provided with nonskid pads to prevent the base plate from moving when positioned on the ground.

8. A pet-operable chime system according to claim 1, wherein said switch unit further comprises an outer shell that covers said movable plate and extends along the side of said switch unit.

9. A pet-operable chime system, comprising:

a portable switch unit comprising

a base stand,

a movable plate spaced from said base stand, said movable plate having at least one through hole,

a transmitter for transmitting signals,

a switch electrically coupled to said transmitter and mounted to either said base stand or said movable plate,

an actuation member attached to the other of said base stand or said movable plate that does not support said switch, said actuation member being postitioned at a location that is substantially opposite said switch,

at least one spring interconnecting said movable plate and said base stand, wherein said at least one spring is biased to push said movable plate away from said base stand, and

at least one post interconnecting said movable plate and said base stand, said post having a first end and an opposing second end, wherein said first end of said post is fixed to said base stand, and said second end of said post is freely inserted through said at least one hole of said movable plate such that said movable plate is free to slide along said post; and

a remote chime unit comprising

a receiver for receiving signals from said transmitter, and

a chime electrically coupled to said receiver for generating an audible sound;

wherein said movable plate is movable between a neutral position where no pressure is applied to said movable plate and said actuation member does not engage said switch and an activated position where under pressure said movable plate is moved toward said base stand against the bias of said at least one spring such that said actuation member engages and activates said switch, said activated switch causing said transmitter to send a signal to said remote chime unit to sound said chime.

10. A pet-operable chime system according to claim 9, wherein said at least one spring is a spiral spring that encircles said at least one post.

11. A pet-operable chime system according to claim 9, wherein said second end of said post is provided with a bolt head that is wider in diameter than said post near said second end, and wherein over a first portion of said hole of said movable plate the diameter of said hole is slightly larger than the diameter of said post and over a second portion of said hole the diameter of said hole is slightly larger than said bolt head such that said second portion of said hole accommodates said bolt head.

12. A pet-operable chime system according to claim 9, wherein said switch unit has three said posts interconnecting said movable plate and said base stand and has three said springs interconnecting said movable plate and said base stand, and wherein said movable plate has three said through holes for receiving respective second ends of said posts.

13. A pet-operable chime system according to claim 12, wherein said three springs are spiral springs that encircle respective ones of said three posts so that there are three pairs of springs and posts, and wherein each spring and post pair is substantially aligned with a respective vertex of an imaginary equilateral triangle such that each post and spring pair is substantially an equal distance from each of the other two post and spring pairs.

14. A pet-operable chime system according to claim 13, wherein said switch and said actuation member are substantially aligned with the center of said equilateral triangle, said center of said equilateral triangle being located at the angle bisectors of the equilateral triangle.

15. A pet-operable chime system according to claim 9, wherein the exterior of said base stand is provided with nonskid pads to prevent the base stand from moving when positioned on the ground.

16. A pet-operable chime system according to claim 9, wherein said switch unit further comprises an outer shell that covers said movable plate and extends along the side of said switch unit.

17. A pet-operable chime system, comprising:

a portable switch unit comprising

a base stand,

a movable plate spaced from said base stand, said movable plate having three through hole,

a transmitter for transmitting radio frequency signals,

a switch electrically coupled to said transmitter and mounted to either said base stand or said movable plate,

an actuation member attached to the other of said base stand or said movable plate that does not support said switch, said actuation member being postitioned at a location that is substantially opposite said switch,

three posts interconnecting said movable plate and said base stand, each said post having a first end and an opposing second end that is provided with a bolt head that is wider in diameter than said post, wherein said first end of each said post is fixed to said base stand, and said second end of each said post is freely inserted through a respective one of said through holes of said movable plate such that said movable plate is free to slide along said posts, said through holes each have a first portion that is slightly larger than the diameter of said post and a second portion that is slightly larger than said bolt head and receives said bolt head,

three spiral springs interconnecting said movable plate and said base stand, said springs being biased to push said movable plate away from said base stand, wherein each said spiral spring encircles a respective support post, and

an outer shell that covers said movable plate and extends along the side of said switch unit; and

a remote chime unit comprising

a receiver for receiving signals from said transmitter, and

a chime electrically coupled to said receiver for generating an audible sound;

wherein said movable plate is movable between a neutral position where no pressure is applied to said movable plate and said actuation member does not engage said switch and an activated position where pressure is applied to said outer shell and said movable plate such that said movable plate is moved toward said base stand against the bias of said springs and said actuation member engages and activates said switch, said activated switch causing said transmitter to send a signal to said remote chime unit to sound said chime.