Electronic animal training system

An electro-shock training system including remote voice command capability. The training unit includes a hand-held transmitter which remotely controls a receiver unit attached to a collar worn by the animal to be trained. Positive feedback and voice commands are communicated to the animal via a speaker associated with the receiver unit. Negative reinforcement is provided in the form of a mild electrical shock via electrodes associated with the receiver unit.

TECHNICAL FIELD 
The present invention relates to electronic training aids for animals, and 
more specifically, to an electro-shock training collar for dogs including 
both positive and negative reinforcement features and remote voice command 
capability. 
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
Electronic training systems assist in the training of animals, usually 
domesticated animals such as dogs, primarily by discouraging undesired 
behavior of the animal. One such system is the electro-shock training 
device. Typically, discouragement of undesired behavior from the animal 
comes in the form of a mild electrical shock provided to the animal by a 
system including a receiver worn in some fashion by the animal and a 
transmitter associated with the trainer at some distance from the animal. 
Representative examples of such systems are described in U.S. Pat. Nos. 
5,099,797 (Gonda), 5,193,484 (Gonda) and 4,794,402 (Gonda et al.). 
Several inherent weaknesses are present in these prior art systems. For 
example, although traditional electro-shock training systems are effective 
at discouraging undesired behavior in an animal, there exists no means for 
positive reinforcement of desired behavior of the animal--a key element of 
a complete training regimen. An ideal training device would include both a 
method for positive, as well as negative, reinforcement of the behavior of 
the animal. 
Additionally, voice commands are often a highly effective component in the 
training process. Voice commands from a trainer or master act both to 
communicate the desired behavior to the animal and to provide immediate 
positive and negative reinforcement of the behavior exhibited by the 
animal. The efficacy of this component of a training regimen is not only 
due to the immediacy and flexibility of the reinforcement provided, but is 
also due in part to the desire of the animal to please its trainer. 
Unfortunately, this highly effective tool is unavailable when the trainer 
is out of the hearing range of the animal. 
Thus a need has arisen for a training system including the ability to 
provide both positive and negative reinforcement in response to behavior 
as well as remote command capability. 
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
The present invention overcomes the foregoing and other problems associated 
with the prior art by providing an electronic animal training system which 
includes means for providing both positive and negative reinforcement of 
the behavior of the animal. The present invention also includes means for 
immediate delivery of voice commands from the trainer to the animal, even 
at remote distances. 
The present training system includes a receiver worn on a collar around the 
neck of the animal to be trained and a hand-held transmitter operated by 
the trainer. The transmitter relays voice commands and/or spoken positive 
or negative reinforcement from the trainer to a speaker associated with 
the receiver on the neck of the animal. 
Additionally, in the event the trainer wishes to discourage certain 
behavior exhibited by the animal, the trainer can provide a mild 
electrical shock via two electrodes located on the collar. The transmitter 
allows the trainer to provide varying predetermined levels of electrical 
shock to the animal from a remote distance.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
Referring now to FIG. 1, there is shown an embodiment of the hand-held 
transmitter 10 of the present training system. The transmitter 10 is 
shaped and sized such that it is easily handled and manipulated by the 
human hand. Associated with the top of the transmitter 10 is a telescopic 
antenna 12. The antenna 12 is preferably telescopic, but can also be a 
helical, center-loaded antenna flexible in nature such that 
shape-deforming forces will not damage the antenna or hinder its function. 
FIG. 3 illustrates the transmitter 10 without the telescopic antenna 12 
collapsed into the transmitter 10. 
The system consists of a dual-channel (2 frequency) training system. On the 
face of the transmitter 10 are a series of buttons 14, 16 and 18. Button 
14 controls the remote command feature of the training system. When 
depressed, a small microphone 20 located on the side of the transmitter 10 
is activated and a first signal is generated and transmitted to the 
receiver, allowing the trainer to broadcast spoken commands to the 
receiver unit (FIG. 2). In this embodiment, signals are transmitted at 27 
MHz. Although the embodiment illustrated transmits signals at 27 MHz, it 
should be noted that any appropriate frequency band allowed by the Federal 
Communication Commission could be utilized, if desired. 
Buttons 16 and 18 on the transmitter 10 allow the trainer to provide 
predetermined levels of a mild electrical shock to the animal being 
trained. Button 16 causes the transmitter to generate and transmit a 
signal at a second frequency to the remote receiver unit (FIG. 2) to 
provide a mild shock. If needed, button 18 provides a relatively stronger 
level of electrical shock to the animal. Although only two buttons are 
illustrated, it should be noted that any number of buttons or other 
activation devices could be utilized to provide varying predetermined 
levels of electrical shock to the animal being trained. 
The transmitter 10 is powered by a battery located within the unit (not 
shown). An indicator lamp 22 is provided on the transmitter 10 and is 
illuminated when any button is depressed on the transmitter 10. This 
feature allows the user to identify when a button has been depressed 
successfully as well as instances when the transmitter is without 
sufficient battery power to provide proper signal transmittal. 
FIG. 2 illustrates the remote receiver unit 24 of the present training 
system. Like the transmitter unit 10, the receiver unit 24 is powered by a 
battery located within it (not shown). A small switch (not shown) turns 
the receiver unit 24 off and on. The receiver unit 24 comprises a collar 
portion 26 and a receiver 28. The collar 26 provides a convenient method 
of positioning and securing the receiver unit 24 to the neck of the animal 
being trained (not shown). 
The receiver unit 24 includes a detachable antenna 30, a speaker 32 and two 
electrodes 34. The detachable antenna 30 is preferably of a flexible, 
center-loaded design, but could also be telescopic like the antenna 12 
associated with the transmitter 10 (FIG. 1). The antenna 30 is detachably 
connected to the receiver unit 24 via a positionable mount 36. The 
positionable mount 36 is attached to the receiver unit 24 such that its 
position can be changed via a screw. This feature allows for the antenna 
30 to be fixed at variable angles with respect to the receiver unit 24 for 
maximum range of the training system as well as ease of use for the 
trainer and animal. FIG. 4 illustrate the receiver unit 24 without the 
detachable antenna 30. 
The speaker 32 is used to broadcast spoken commands transmitted from the 
transmitter 10. When button 14 of the transmitter unit 10 is depressed, 
spoken commands of the trainer are transmitted via a signal at a first 
frequency to the receiver unit 24 and broadcast to the animal being 
trained via the speaker 32. 
The electrodes 34 of the receiver unit 24 are positioned adjacent to the 
neck of the animal to be trained when properly secured to the animal. Upon 
receiving a signal at a second frequency from the transmitter 10, the 
electrodes provide a mild electrical shock to the neck of the animal being 
trained. Depressing button 18 on the transmitter 10 will provide a greater 
predetermined level of electrical shock than depressing button 16. The 
electrodes 34 are insulated over a substantial portion of their length, 
leaving only the tips of the electrodes exposed for contact with the skin 
of the animal being trained. This feature allows the proper amount of 
shock to be provided even in the event the animal is wet. 
The collar 26 is attached to the receiver 28 at the electrodes 34 with nuts 
37 shaped to provide the aforementioned insulation of the electrodes 34. 
The collar 26 is of typical construction and can be adjusted to fit a 
large range of neck sizes via a buckle assembly 38. 
In use, the receiver unit 24 of the training system is positioned and 
secured to the neck of the animal being trained via the collar portion 26 
of the receiver unit 24. The buckle assembly 38 allows the collar to be 
easily fitted to a large range of neck sizes. When secured the collar 
portion 26 positions the electrodes 34 of the receiver unit 24 such that 
they contact the skin of the animal being trained. The receiver unit 24 is 
then turned "on" and the animal is released for training. 
From a remote distance, a trainer controls the hand-held transmitter 10. As 
the animal is trained, spoken commands, positive and negative 
reinforcement in the form of speech, and further negative reinforcement in 
the form of a mild electrical shock are selectively transmitted to the 
animal via the transmitter 10. 
Although a preferred embodiment of the invention has been illustrated in 
the accompanying drawings and described in the foregoing Detailed 
Description, it will be understood that the invention is not limited to 
the embodiment disclosed, but is capable of numerous rearrangements and 
modifications of parts and elements without departing from the spirit of 
the invention.