Warning device

• US 6,111,508 A
• Filed: 02/26/1999
• Issued: 08/29/2000
• Est. Priority Date: 04/21/1996
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Shoof International Limited
• Original Assignee: Shoof International Limited
• Inventors: Law, Grant David, Stothers, John Bryce, Ensor, David John
• Primary Examiner(s): Wu, Daniel J.
• Assistant Examiner(s): LA, ANH V
• Application Number:
  US09/171,444
• Time in Patent Office: 550 Days
• Field of Search: 340/573.2, 340/573.1, 340/539, 340/693.1, 119/51.02, 119/51.15
• US Class Current: 340/573.2
• CPC Class Codes: A01K 11/006 Automatic identification systems for animals, e.g. electronic devices, transponders for animals identification systems for access to feeding pens A01K1/0209; ear tags with electronic identification means A01K11/004

Abstract

The invention relates to a method of Identifying an animal within a group, the method of identification being characterised by the steps of: a) attaching an identification (21) to the animal, and b) locating an activation device (23) at a location, and c) activating an indicator (25) when the identification device Is near the activation device.

Claims

1. A method of identifying a livestock animal within a group, characterised by the steps of:

a) attaching an identification device to a livestock animal within the group, and

b) locating an activation device at a location, and

c) activating an alarm indicator when the identification device is near and within a range of the activation device,

wherein activation of an alarm indicator will alert a person near the location.

2. A method of identifying an animal as claimed in claim 1, wherein the animal is a dairy cow.

3. A method of identifying an animal as claimed in claim 1, wherein the activation of the indicator causes the indicator to emit an audible signal.

4. A method of identifying an animal as claimed in claim 1, wherein the activation device and alarm indicator are located within the same housing.

5. A method of identifying an animal as claimed in claim 1, wherein the identification device continually emits an identification signal once the identification device has been activated.

6. A method of identifying an animal as claimed in claim 1, wherein the identification device is attached to the leg of an animal to be identified.

7. A method of identifying an animal as claimed in claim 1, wherein the identification device includes a radio frequency transmitter.

8. A method of identifying an animal as in claim 7, wherein the identification device includes an aerial, wherein the aerial provides a substantially regular radiation pattern over a 360°

radius.

9. A method of identifying an animal as claimed in claim 8, wherein the identification device includes a self contained power supply.

10. A method of identifying an animal as claimed in claim 9, wherein the identification device is housed within a waterproof container.

11. A method of identifying an animal as claimed in claim 9 or 10 wherein the identification device is capable of transmitting a signal which indicates a low energy level of the self contained power supply.

12. A method of identifying an animal as claimed in claim 11, wherein the identification device is capable of transmitting only one type of identification signal, and only one type of low energy supply signal.

13. A method of identifying an animal as claimed in claim 10, wherein the identification device includes energy supply monitoring components.

14. A method of identifying an animal as claimed in claim 1, wherein the activation device is housed within a waterproof container.

15. A method of identifying an animal as claimed in claim 1, wherein the activation device includes a self contained power supply.

16. A method of identifying an animal as claimed in claim 15, wherein the activation device includes power supply monitoring components.

17. A method of identifying an animal as claimed in claim 1, wherein the activation device is located on the body of the identification system'"'"'s operator.

18. A method of identifying an animal as claimed in claim 1, wherein location of the activation device on the body of an operator is via forming the activation device into a necklace.

19. A method of identifying an animal as claimed in claim 1, wherein the activation device includes a radio frequency receiver.

20. A method of identifying an animal as claimed in claim 1, wherein the indicator will always be activated when the identification device is within 0.5 meters of the activation device.

21. A method of identifying an animal as claimed in claim 20, wherein the indicator will not be activated when the identification device is more than 1.5 meters distant from the activation device.

22. An identification system, for identifying a livestock animal within a group, wherein the identification system includes,

an identification device attached to an animal, an activation device, and an alarm indicator, characterised in that the location of the activation device near and within a range of the identification device activates the alarm indicator, and the activated alarm indicator can alert a person near the location of the activation device.

23. An identification system as claimed in claim 22, wherein the farm animal is a dairy cow.

24. An identification system as claimed in claim 22, wherein the activation of the indicator causes the indicator to emit an audible noise.

25. An identification system as claimed in claim 22, wherein the activator and indicator are located within the same housing.

26. An identification system as claimed in claim 22, wherein the identification device continually emits an identification signal once the identification device has been activated.

27. An identification system as claimed in claim 22, wherein the identification device includes a radio frequency transmitter.

28. An identification system as claimed in claim 22, wherein the identification device is attached to the leg of an animal to be identified.

29. An identification system as claimed in claim 22, wherein the identification device includes a radio frequency transmitter and aerial, wherein the aerial provides a substantially regular radiation pattern over a 360°

radius.

30. An identification system as claimed in claim 29, wherein the identification device includes a self contained power supply.

31. An identification system as claimed in claim 30, wherein the identification device is housed within a waterproof container.

32. An identification system as claimed in claim 30, wherein the identification device is capable of transmitting a signal which indicates a low energy level of the self contained power supply.

33. An identification system as claimed in claim 32, wherein the identification device is capable of transmitting only one type of identification signal, and only one type of low energy supply signal.

34. An identification system as claimed in claim 33 wherein the identification device includes energy supply monitoring components.

35. An identification system as claimed in claim 34, wherein the activation device is housed within a waterproof container.

36. An identification system as claimed in claim 22, wherein the activation device includes a self contained power supply.

37. An identification system as claimed in claim 36, wherein the activation device includes power supply monitoring components.

38. An identification system as claimed in claim 37, wherein the activation device is located on the body of the identification system'"'"'s operator.

39. An identification system as claimed in claim 38, wherein location of the activation device on the body of an operator is via forming the activation device into a necklace.

40. An identification system as claimed in claim 22, wherein the activation device includes a radio frequency receiver.

41. An identification system as claimed in claim 40, wherein the indicator will always be activated when the identification device is within 0.5 meters of the activation device.

42. An identification system as claimed in claim 41, wherein the indicator will not be activated when the identification device is more than 1.5 meters distant from the activation device.