Dog training device

• US 7,677,204 B1
• Filed: 11/21/2006
• Issued: 03/16/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 07/01/2002
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Safe Retrieve, LLC
• Original Assignee: CJE Products, LLC
• Inventors: James, Chad
• Primary Examiner(s): Parsley; David J
• Application Number:
  US11/603,346
• Time in Patent Office: 1,211 Days
• Field of Search: 119/712, 119/720, 119/765, 119/822, 119/859, 119/905, 119/908, 231/7
• US Class Current: 119/712
• 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: A01K 27/009 with electric-shock, sound, magnetic- or radio-waves emitting devices
• CPC Class Codes: A41D 13/0015 Sports garments other than provided for in groups A41D13/0007 - A41D13/088
• CPC Class Codes: A41D 13/08 Arm or hand protective gloves A41D19/015 ; protectors for the hands of players or sportsmen A63B71/14
• CPC Class Codes: A41D 27/10 Sleeves; Armholes
• CPC Class Codes: A41D 27/12 Shields or protectors
• CPC Class Codes: A41D 31/18 Elastic
• CPC Class Codes: A41D 31/185 using layered materials
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 21/4005 to the shoulder
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 21/4007 to the chest region, e.g. to the back chest
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 21/4025 Resistance devices worn on the user's body A63B21/065 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 71/12 for the body or the legs , e.g. for the shoulders A63B71/081 takes precedence

Abstract

An animal training device utilizes electrical voltage pulses applied between spaced electrical conductors placed in close proximity to the skin of the animal to provide a stimulus useful in training the animal. The conductors, are exposed and are substantially flat; and these spaced conductors may be placed side-by-side in a localized area, around the entire inner surface of a collar or strap on an animal'"'"'s neck, or spaced on the body of the animal in different locations. Alternatively, the conductors may be located on the end of a livestock prod.

Claims

1. A device comprising:

a housing for use as an animal training device designed to be worn on a strap close to the skin of an animal on the interior surface of the strap, the housing being electrically connected to a positive polarity output terminal of an electrical circuit and to a negative polarity output terminal of the electrical circuit, the housing comprising;

a nonconductive member with multiple spaced holes for exposed surface conductors; and

multiple exposed surface conductors which are exposed through the spaced holes;

wherein the exposed surface conductors are interconnected such that one or more of the exposed surface conductors are connected to a positive polarity input terminal and separately, one or more of the exposed surface conductors are connected to a negative polarity input terminal such that the positive polarity input terminal and the negative polarity input terminal are electrically insulated from each other;

wherein the spaced holes and the exposed surface conductors are arranged to provide a distance of approximately ⅛

inch to approximately ¾

inch from any of the exposed surface conductors connected to the positive polarity input terminal, to the closest of the surface conductors connected to the negative polarity input terminal, such that many possible electrical paths are made between the one or more exposed surface conductors connected to the positive polarity input terminal, and the one or more exposed surface conductors connected to the negative polarity input terminal;

wherein the positive polarity input terminal has means for connecting to the positive polarity output terminal of the electrical circuit and the negative polarity input terminal has means for connecting to the negative polarity output terminal of the electrical circuit;

wherein the multiple exposed surface conductors are formed by two separate wires, the first of said wires having an end spaced from the non conductive member, forming either of said positive polarity input terminal or said negative polarity input terminal, the first wire extending from its terminal end toward said non conductive member and below said non conductive member, where said first wire extends alternately upwardly through and then downwardly through said spaced holes in said non conductive member a plurality of times to form the exposed surface conductors of said first wire, said second wire having an end forming either of the positive polarity input terminal or the negative polarity input terminal, the second wire extending from its terminal end towards said non conductive member and below said non conductive member to an outer peripheral portion proximate the outer edge of the non conductive member the second wire extending alternately upwardly through and then downwardly through said spaced holes in said non conductive member a plurality of times to form the exposed surface conductors of said second wire, and wherein the first and second wires are substantially covered by insulation except for the exposed surface conductors.

2. A device comprising:

a replacement housing for replacing electrodes on an animal training device designed to be worn on a strap close to the skin of an animal on the interior surface of the strap, the electrodes are connected to a positive polarity output terminal of an electrical circuit and to a negative polarity output terminal of the electrical circuit, the electrical circuit being connected to a battery, the replacement housing comprising;

a nonconductive structure with multiple spaced holes for exposed surface conductors; and

multiple exposed surface conductors which are exposed through the spaced holes;

wherein the exposed surface conductors are interconnected such that one or more of the exposed surface conductors are connected to a positive polarity input terminal and separately, one or more of the exposed surface conductors are connected to a negative polarity input terminal such that the positive polarity input terminal and the negative polarity input terminal are electrically insulated from each other;

wherein the spaced holes and the exposed surface conductors are arranged with a distance of approximately ⅛

inch to approximately ¾

inch from any of the exposed surface conductors connected to the positive polarity input terminal, to the closest of the surface conductors connected to the negative polarity input terminal, such that many possible electrical paths are made between the one or more exposed surface conductors connected to the positive polarity input terminal, and the one or more exposed surface conductors connected to the negative polarity input terminal;

wherein the non conductive structure comprises an upper circular plate having a first diameter and multiple spaced holes and a lower circular plate having a second diameter, the first diameter being greater than the second diameter, and

wherein the multiple exposed surface conductors are formed by two separate wires, the first of said wires having an end spaced from the circular plates, forming either of said positive polarity input terminal or said negative polarity input terminal, the first wire extending from its terminal end in a straight section extending from said terminal towards said plates and below said upper plate to a central portion of the upper plate, at the end of said straight section of said first wire said first wire forming a central circular portion at an interior portion of said upper plate, where said first wire extends alternately upwardly through and then downwardly through said spaced holes in said upper plate a plurality of times to form the exposed surface conductors at said central circular portion of said first wire, said second wire having an end spaced from the circular plates, forming either of the positive polarity input terminal or the negative polarity input terminal, the second wire extending from its terminal end in a straight section extending from said terminal towards said plates and below said upper plate to an outer peripheral portion proximate the outer edge of the upper plate, said straight section of said second wire being shorter than said straight section of said first wire, at the end of said straight section of said second wire said second wire forming an outer circular portion outwardly spaced from and concentric with said central circular portion of said first wire, where the second wire extends alternately upwardly through and then downwardly through said spaced holes in said upper plate a plurality of times to form the exposed surface conductors at said outer peripheral portion of said second wire.

3. A device according to claim 2 wherein the surface conductors are arranged in a pattern with the furthest distance between any of the surface conductors within the housing being approximately 2 inches or less.

4. A device according to claim 2 wherein the exposed surface conductors are conductor pins.

5. A device according to claim 2 wherein the exposed surface conductors are conductor wire segments.

6. A device comprising:

a housing for use as an animal training device designed to be worn on a strap close to the skin of an animal on the interior surface of the strap, the housing being electrically connected to a positive polarity output terminal of an electrical circuit and to a negative polarity output terminal of the electrical circuit, the electrical circuit being connected to a battery, the housing comprising;

a nonconductive structure with multiple spaced holes for exposed surface conductors; and

multiple exposed surface conductors which are exposed through the spaced holes;

wherein the exposed surface conductors are interconnected such that one or more of the exposed surface conductors are connected to a positive polarity input terminal and separately, one or more of the exposed surface conductors are connected to a negative polarity input terminal such that the positive polarity input terminal and the negative polarity input terminal are electrically insulated from each other;

wherein the spaced holes and the exposed surface conductors are arranged with a distance of approximately ⅛

inch to approximately ¾

inch from any of the exposed surface conductors connected to the positive polarity input terminal, to the closest of the surface conductors connected to the negative polarity input terminal, such that many possible electrical paths are made between the one or more exposed surface conductors connected to the positive polarity input terminal, and the one or more exposed surface conductors connected to the negative polarity input terminal;

wherein the positive polarity input terminal has means for connecting to the positive polarity output terminal of the electrical circuit and the negative polarity input terminal has means for connecting to the negative polarity output terminal of the electrical circuit;

wherein the non conductive structure comprises an upper circular plate having a first diameter and multiple spaced holes and a lower circular plate having a second diameter, the first diameter being greater than the second diameter, and wherein the multiple exposed surface conductors are formed by two separate wires, the first of said wires having an end spaced from the circular plates, forming either of said positive polarity input terminal or said negative polarity input terminal, the first wire extending from its terminal end in a straight section extending from said terminal towards said plates and below said upper plate to a central portion of the upper plate, at the end of said straight section of said first wire said first wire forming a central circular portion at an interior portion of said upper plate, where said first wire extends alternately upwardly through and then downwardly through said spaced holes in said upper plate a plurality of times to form the exposed surface conductors at said central circular portion of said first wire, said second wire having an end spaced from the circular plates, forming either of the positive polarity input terminal or the negative polarity input terminal, the second wire extending from its terminal end in a straight section extending from said terminal towards said plates and below said upper plate to an outer peripheral portion proximate the outer edge of the upper plate, said straight section of said second wire being shorter than said straight section of said first wire, at the end of said straight section of said second wire said second wire forming an outer circular portion outwardly spaced from and concentric with said central circular portion of said first wire, where the second wire extends alternately upwardly through and then downwardly through said spaced holes in said upper plate a plurality of times to form the exposed surface conductors at said outer peripheral portion of said second wire.