Remote control system for controlling a remote animal collar

• US 8,365,684 B2
• Filed: 02/13/2008
• Issued: 02/05/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 02/13/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Alpine Trust, Dogtra Co., Ltd.
• Original Assignee: Apline Trust
• Inventors: Lalor, Tom
• Primary Examiner(s): Hayes, Kristen C
• Application Number:
  US12/030,549
• Publication Number:
  US 20090199786A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,819 Days
• Field of Search: 119/720, 119/712, 119/719
• US Class Current: 119/720
• CPC Class Codes: A01K 15/021 Electronic training devices specially adapted for dogs or cats
• CPC Class Codes: F41C 27/00 Accessories; Details or attachments not otherwise provided for

Abstract

A remote control system is disclosed for controlling a remote animal collar of the type which includes one or more electrodes or sensors which protrude from the inside surface of the collar for contacting the neck of the animal and electronic devices located within the body of the collar to receive electronic control signals or sensor input and to generate a stimulus, which is transmitted to the animal through the electrodes or by a speaker or other devices on the collar. The remote control system uses a master and slave remote transmitter combination.

Claims

1. A remote control system controlling a remote animal collar, the remote animal collar comprising one or more stimulation devices for providing a stimulation to the animal and animal collar receiver circuits receiving master control signals for controlling the stimulation devices, the remote control system comprising:

a slave transmitter having slave transmitter circuits; and

a master transmitter having master receiver circuits and master transmitter circuits,

wherein said slave transmitter circuits transmit slave control signals corresponding to at least one of a selected type, a selected level, and a selected duration of the stimulation to said master transmitter;

and wherein said master receiver circuits receive said slave control signals from said slave transmitter and said master transmitter circuits transmit the master control signals to the remote animal collar for controlling the stimulation devices, the master control signals corresponding to said at least one of said selected type, said selected level and said selected duration of the stimulation in accordance with slave control signals.

2. The remote control system of claim 1, wherein the master transmitter has a transmission range that is longer than the transmission range of the slave transmitter.

3. The remote control system of claim 2, wherein the master transmitter has a transmission range of up to about one mile.

4. The remote control system of claim 2, wherein the slave transmitter has a transmission range of up to about 30 feet.

5. The remote control system of claim 1, wherein the slave transmitter is mountable on a portable device.

6. The remote control system of claim 5, wherein the slave transmitter is adapted for mounting in a convenient location on the portable device held by a user so that the user may easily activate the slave transmitter to send the slave control signals without releasing the user'"'"'s hold on the portable device.

7. The remote control system of claim 1, wherein the slave transmitter includes an animal collar selector switch for selecting between one of multiple animal collars to control.

8. The remote control system of claim 1, wherein the slave transmitter includes a keypad for selecting a type of the stimulation.

9. The remote control system of claim 1, wherein the slave transmitter includes a keypad for selecting a level of the stimulation.

10. The remote control system of claim 1, wherein the slave transmitter includes a keypad for selecting a duration of the stimulation.

11. The remote control system of claim 1, wherein the slave transmitter is mounted on a portable device.

12. The remote control system of claim 5, wherein the portable device is selected from any one of a hand held hunting weapon, a key chain, a handling stick, or a watch.

13. A remote control system for controlling an animal, the remote control system comprising:

an animal collar for attachment to the animal, said animal collar comprising at least one stimulation device for providing a stimulation to the animal and animal collar receiver circuits for receiving master control signals for controlling said at least one stimulation device;

a slave transmitter having slave transmitter circuits; and

a master transmitter having master receiver circuits and master transmitter circuits,

wherein said slave transmitter circuits transmit slave control signals corresponding to at least one of a selected type, a selected level, and a selected duration of said stimulation to said master transmitter,

and wherein said master receiver circuits receive said slave control signals from said slave transmitter and said master transmitter circuits transmit said master control signals to said animal collar for controlling said at least one stimulation device, the master control signals corresponding to said at least one of said selected type, said selected level and said selected duration of said stimulation in accordance with said slave control signals.