Locator and Safety Halter

A lighted horse halter includes a number of halter pieces and a portable electric power source is supported by one of the halter pieces. A light source supported by one of the halter pieces is responsive to electrical power received from the portable electric power source for outputting light. A side-glow optical fiber supported by one of the halter pieces is responsive to the light output by the light source for outputting light transverse to a side wall of the optical fiber. The optical fiber can be sandwiched between the nose band and a protective cover that can include fluorescent material.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to a lighted horse halter and, more particularly, to a horse halter that includes a battery powered light source to increase the visibility of a horse at night or in low lighting conditions.

Description of Related Art

At night or in low light conditions, it is difficult if not impossible to locate horses in a pasture under normal circumstances. Moreover, in times of natural or manmade disasters, such as floods or forest fires, it is not uncommon for horses to be set free in the hope that the horses can move freely and survive such disasters. A problem with locating a horse at night or in low light conditions, either in a pasture or when set free, is the ability to accurately locate the horse, either visually, electronically, or both visually and electronically.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Various preferred and non-limiting examples or aspects of the present invention will now be described and set forth in the following numbered clauses:

Clause 1: A lighted horse halter comprises: halter pieces including a head piece, a nose band, a pair of cheek pieces in spaced relation between the nose band and the head piece, a throat latch between the cheek pieces, and a connecting strap between the nose band and the throat latch; a portable electric power source supported by one of the halter pieces; a light source supported by one of the halter pieces and responsive to electrical power received from the portable electric power source for outputting light; and a side-glow optical fiber supported by one of the halter pieces and responsive to the light output by the light source for outputting light transverse to a side wall of the optical fiber.

Clause 2: The lighted horse halter of clause 1, further including a protective cover covering the optical fiber.

Clause 3: The lighted horse halter of clause 1 or 2, wherein the protective cover comprises fluorescent material.

Clause 4: The lighted horse halter of any of clauses 1-3, wherein the optical fiber is sandwiched between the nose band and the protective cover.

Clause 5: The lighted horse halter of any of clauses 1-4, wherein the protective cover is made from ballistic nylon.

Clause 6: The lighted horse halter of any of clauses 1-5, further including a solar cell supported by one of the halter pieces and responsive to ambient light for charging the portable electric power source.

Clause 7: The lighted horse halter of any of clauses 1-6, further including a communications circuit supported by one of the halter pieces and operative for wirelessly transmitting a signal.

Clause 8: The lighted horse halter of any of clauses 1-7, wherein the signal includes a unique identifier that is programmed into the communications circuit.

Clause 9: The lighted horse halter of any of clauses 1-8, further including a GPS circuit operative for supplying the GPS coordinates of the halter to the communications circuit, wherein the signal includes the GPS coordinates.

Clause 10: The lighted horse halter of any of clauses 1-9, further including a light sensor responsive to ambient light for causing electrical power of the portable electric power source to be delivered to or withheld from the light source based on an intensity of the ambient light.

DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

Disclosed herein is a method and apparatus to visually and/or electronically locate horses if they were to be loose on private or public lands and throughways with example devices described below with reference to the accompanyingFIGS. 1-4where like reference numbers correspond to like or functionally equivalent elements.

With reference toFIGS. 1A and 1B, a first example horse halter2includes one or more LEDs4that are operatively coupled to a side-view (or side glow) light-emitting optical fiber column (or cable)6that is configured to emit input LED light from each LED4transverse to a side wall of optical fiber column6(as shown by arrows8). In an example shown inFIG. 1B, fiber optic column6is affixed (e.g., via an adhesive) to a noseband18of the halter2and can be covered with a ballistic nylon protective cover10that allows the light to pass through yet is durable to anticipated conditions. In an example, the ballistic nylon cover10comprises fluorescent material. In response to light from the optical fiber column6passing therethrough, the fluorescent material of ballistic nylon protective cover10emits light by the well-known process of fluorescence. In an example, LED4and optical fiber column6are desirably positioned on noseband18such that horse H cannot see the light output thereby. Each LED4can be powered by one or more batteries12and/or any other suitable and/or desirable source of portable electrical power.

An optional GPS circuit14(described further in Example 4) can be provided that is powered by the one or more batteries12. GPS circuit14can be coupled to halter2to aid in locating halter2via its GPS coordinates via an application on a smartphone or computer (laptop, desktop, or pad), in a manner described hereinafter. GPS circuit14can include or can be operatively coupled to a communication circuit16that can be coupled to halter2and which can be configured and operative for wirelessly broadcasting or transmitting GPS data generated by GPS circuit14in a manner known in the art in a wireless signal via any known or hereinafter developed wireless protocol, including, but not limited to, cellular telephone, Wi-Fi, and/or Bluetooth. After suitable processing, e.g., via a cellular network, a Wi-Fi network, and/or a Bluetooth chip of a receiving device, such as a smartphone or computer (laptop, desktop, or pad), the GPS data embedded in the wireless signal can be displayed as an icon on a virtual map displayed on a display of a smartphone or computer in a manner known in the art to facilitate identifying the GPS location of halter2and, hence, horse H. An optional enclosure (not shown) can be provided to house any one or combination of batteries12, GPS circuit14, communications circuit16, and on/off switch24. This optional enclosure can be water and/or humidity tight.

In an example of halter2coupled to horse H, halter2includes two LEDs4located on a noseband portion18that extends, for example, between cheek pieces20(only one of which is shown in the figures). Across noseband portion18is disposed optical fiber column6with one LED4at each end. Optical fiber column6is configured to emit input LED light from LEDs4transverse to a side wall of optical fiber column6(as shown by arrows8). The one or more batteries12can be located on a connecting strap22where batteries12are most protected against contact and moisture and as far from horse H as possible. The one or more batteries12can be coupled to a manually operated on/off switch24which can set as desired by a user. In an example, on/off switch24enables a user to selectively control the application or withholding of electrical power from batteries12to LEDs4, GPS circuit14, and/or communication circuit16. Ballistic nylon protective cover10covering fiber optic column6of different instances of halter2used with different horses H can optionally be of different colors (fluorescent or not) to facilitate identifying different horses H via the different colors, where each horse H is optionally associated with a unique color and, optionally, GPS circuit14.

In an example, batteries12and LEDs4are configured whereupon batteries have sufficient power to power LEDs to emit light for an extended period of time, for example, no less than 30 days. Batteries12can be one-time use batteries or can be rechargeable batteries.

With reference toFIG. 2, in another example further or alternative to halter2described in Example 1 above, one or more solar cells26can be coupled to halter2, e.g., to the exterior of one or both cheek pieces20of halter2, to receive light and charge batteries12in a manner known in the art while maintaining a relatively safe location to avoid potential damage inflicted by horse H.

A light sensor28, such as a photodiode, can be provided for causing LEDs4to receive power from batteries12upon light sensor28not detecting sufficient light and for causing LEDs4to not receive power from batteries12upon light sensor28detecting sufficient light. In an example, it is envisioned that the sensitivity of light sensor28can be selected or adjusted to a desired level of ambient light that causes LEDs4to receive power from batteries12or causes electrical power from batteries12to be withheld from LEDs4. In an example, the sensitivity of light sensor28can be set whereupon power from batteries12is withheld from LEDs4when there is sufficient ambient light to see horse H in the ambient light without the aid of light output via optical fiber column6in response to illumination of the LEDs4with power from the batteries12. In another example, the sensitivity of light sensor28can be set whereupon, when there is insufficient ambient light to see horse H, light sensor28can be operative for coupling LEDs4to receive electrical power from batteries12. In an example, the capacity of batteries12can be selected to supply sufficient power to LEDs4to emit light to side view optical fiber column6for an extended period of time, for example, one day, or one week, or one or more months, without batteries12being recharged, e.g., from solar cells26.

With reference toFIG. 3, in another example further or alternative to halter2described in any one or both of Examples 1 and 2 above, communications circuit16can include a wireless (RF) transmitter which can wirelessly broadcast signals30of any suitable and/or desirable frequency. In an example, these frequencies can include, without limitation, cellular telephone frequencies, RFID frequencies, FM frequencies, Wi-Fi frequencies, television broadcast frequencies, or any other suitable and/or desirable frequency capable of being transmitted without having a detrimental effect on horse H. These example frequencies, however, are not to be construed in a limiting sense.

In an example, a base station32can include or be coupled to receiving circuitry36that is operative for receiving (either directly or indirectly) the signals30output by communication circuit16and base station32can be programmed to periodically or aperiodically check whether a signal30from communication circuit has been received by receiving circuitry36. In an example, receiving circuitry36is positioned within range of the signals30broadcast by communication circuit16. However, this is not to be construed in a limiting sense.

In an example, base station32can be configured to check for the receipt of a signal30from communication circuit16on a preprogrammed interval or period, for example, every 5 minutes, 10 minutes, ½ hour, one hour, or any other suitable and/or desirable interval. Correspondingly, communication circuit16can be programmed to output a signal30at least once every said interval or period. Upon determining that a signal30from communication circuit16has been received during any predetermined interval or period, base station32takes no action. In contrast, if the signal30is not received during the predetermined interval or period, indicative of a failure of communication circuit16to transmit signal30or communication circuit16and, hence, horse H moving out of range of receiving circuitry36coupled to the base station32, base station32can generate an alarm signal.

This alarm signal can be communicated by base station32via a wired and/or wireless connection to one or more receiving devices38, such as a smartphone or computer (laptop, desktop, or pad) which can be programmed to convert the alarm signal from base station32into an audible and/or visual display associated with the alarm signal thereby acting to notify a user of each receiving device38that a communication circuit16coupled to an issued halter2and, hence, horse H wearing halter2, may be outside of an acceptable perimeter.

In an example, base station32can be used to monitor halters on multiple horses H. In this example, the communication circuit16of each halter2can be programmed with a unique identifier that can be modulated onto signal30output by said communication circuit16, which unique identifier can be forwarded by base station32to the one or more receiving devices38to facilitate a user(s) thereof determining which communication circuit16coupled to halter2and, hence, horse H, is within or outside of the range of receiving circuitry36in the manner described above.

In an example, base station32can optionally be programmed with the unique identifier of each communication circuit16coupled to a halter2to be monitored by base station32whereupon in the absence of receiving a signal30within the predetermined interval or period, base station32can generate an alarm. However, this is not to be construed in a limiting sense since it is envisioned that base station32can be operative for processing and reporting any unique identifier received by base station32and if a unique identifier is received in one predetermined interval or period and not in another, base station32can generate an alarm signal.

Thus, communication circuit16of each halter2can be programmed with a unique identifier associated with horse H being monitored. Communication circuit16can periodically or aperiodically broadcast wireless signal30that can include the unique identifier. Receiving circuitry36associated with base station32can be configured to receive (directly or indirectly) the signal30output by each communication circuit16. In response to receiving the signal30output by a particular communication circuit16within the preprogrammed interval or period, base station32can be programmed to interpret this receipt as horse H associated with the unique identifier being within the range of receiving circuitry36and, hence, within an acceptable perimeter of receiving circuitry36. However, if base station32does not receive signal30from a particular communication circuit16within the preprogrammed interval or period of time, base station32can be configured to interpret this as horse H associated with the unique identifier being monitored being outside of the acceptable perimeter of receiving circuitry36or, alternatively, a failure of the communication circuit16to broadcast the signal30.

With reference toFIG. 4, in an example further or alternative to halter2described in any one or all of Examples 1-3, halter2can include GPS circuit14that can be configured to continuously, periodically, or aperiodically broadcast via communication circuit16one or more signals30that include GPS coordinates34of halter2to base station32via receiving circuitry36. In this example, base station32or receiving circuitry36can be configured to decode GPS coordinates34of halter2from signals30received by receiving circuitry36, which signals30can also include a unique identifier associated with halter2. The decoded GPS coordinates34and, optionally, the unique identifier, can then be forwarded to a suitable receiving device, e.g., a smartphone or computer, in any suitable and/or desirable manner, for example, via a wired or wireless communication channel or connection, for receipt and analysis by a user of the receiving device. In an example, the receiving device can display the GPS coordinates of the halter as an icon associated with the halter on a virtual map and can optionally display as part of the icon (e.g., the color of the icon) or adjacent the icon the unique identifier associated with the halter.

Various aspects and features have been described with reference to the foregoing examples. Obvious modifications and alterations will occur to others upon reading and understanding the foregoing examples. It is intended that the examples be construed broadly as including all such modifications and alterations.