Abstract:
A non powered, canine barking suppression device that can rapidly altering a dog&#39;s behavior so as to visibly reduce anxiousness and unwanted barking. 
     The device subjects the dog to random vibrations and audible tones generated by an enclosed tuning fork that is worn around the dog&#39;s neck. The tuning forks when struck, emit a selected frequency selected for a specific purpose and or specific breed of canine. This frequency lies between 0 and 200,000 Hz, which is the range of sound that has been shown that most canines can hear. Since it is non powered it is not prone to failure in wet or cold environments, is durable and inexpensive. The device has claims of additional therapeutic properties and the general physical structure has applications elsewhere, although the preferred embodiment and best mode are directed to stopping unnecessary barking.

Description:
[0001]    This patent application claims domestic priority from and is a continuation in part patent application of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 12/868,674, entitled “NON-POWERED CANINE BARKING SUPPRESSION DEVICE” filed on Aug. 25, 2010. All of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 12/868,674 is incorporated by reference herein. 
     
    
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0002]    The present invention relates to a new and improved volume adjustable canine barking suppression device capable of rapidly altering a dog&#39;s behavior so as to visibly reduce their anxiousness, calm the dog and drastically reduce their barking. 
         [0003]    There are several systems utilized to calm an anxious dog or to stop needless, annoying barking. To date, these systems all work by subjecting the dog to an unpleasant stimuli at the time of the bark initiation. These may be in the form of a high voltage electric shock applied to the dog&#39;s neck or a puff of disagreeably smelling aerosol expelled in close proximity to the dog&#39;s nose. They require expensive systems and a DC power source to operate. In rain or water they malfunction and may fail permanently. Other behavior training systems that rely on sound emit a repeatable sound upon the detection of such unwanted behavior as barking. This is generally loud and can frighten sensitive dogs. Lastly, many owners feel that such systems of canine behavior modification are cruel, and while needed will not likely be purchased or used by them. 
         [0004]    Henceforth, a non powered interactive canine barking suppression system that had a volume adjustment and that not hurt the dog, would not fail in wet or cold environments and would be durable and inexpensive, would fulfill a long felt need in the field of canine behavior modification. This new invention utilizes and combines known and new technologies in a unique and novel configuration to overcome the aforementioned problems and accomplish this. 
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0005]    The general purpose of the present invention, which will be described subsequently in greater detail, is to provide a non-powered, economical, durable, canine behavior modification device that is not hurtful to a dog. In addition, to providing dog behavior modification such as cessation of barking the present invention has claims of additional therapeutic properties and the general physical structure has applications elsewhere, although the preferred embodiment and best mode are tied to stopping unnecessary barking. 
         [0006]    It has many of the advantages mentioned heretofore and many novel features that result in a new and improved canine bark suppression system which is not anticipated, rendered obvious, suggested, or even implied by any of the prior art, either alone or in any combination thereof. 
         [0007]    In accordance with the invention, an object of the present invention is to provide an improved interactive non-powered, canine bark suppression device capable of rapid correction of unnecessary barking. 
         [0008]    It is another object of this invention to provide an improved canine bark suppression device that is durable and will not fail in adverse weather conditions or if immersed underwater. 
         [0009]    It is a further object of this invention to provide an improved canine bark suppression device that is inexpensive to produce and has an extremely low failure rate. 
         [0010]    It is still a further object of this invention to provide an improved canine bark suppression device that has additional therapeutic qualities. 
         [0011]    It is yet another object of this invention to provide an improved canine bark suppression device that is based on the emission on an audible tone that has the ability for volume control of the audible tone. 
         [0012]    The subject matter of the present invention is particularly pointed out and distinctly claimed in the concluding portion of this specification. However, both the organization and method of operation, together with further advantages and objects thereof, may best be understood by reference to the following description taken in connection with accompanying drawings wherein like reference characters refer to like elements. Other objects, features and aspects of the present invention are discussed in greater detail below. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0013]      FIG. 1  is a front perspective view of the interior cavity of the canine bark suppression device showing the general arrangement of the components in the preferred embodiment; 
           [0014]      FIG. 2  is a front perspective view of the interior cavity of the canine bark suppression device showing the general arrangement of the components in the first alternate embodiment; 
           [0015]      FIG. 3  is a front perspective view of the interior cavity of the canine bark suppression device showing the general arrangement of the components in the second alternate embodiment; 
           [0016]      FIG. 4  is a front perspective view of the interior cavity of the canine bark suppression device showing the general arrangement of the components in the third alternate embodiment; 
           [0017]      FIG. 5  is a front perspective view of the interior cavity of the canine bark suppression device showing the general arrangement of the components in the fourth alternate embodiment; 
           [0018]      FIG. 6  is a front perspective view of the canine bark suppression device&#39;s enclosure; and 
           [0019]      FIG. 7  is an interior front perspective view of a fifth alternate embodiment; 
           [0020]      FIG. 8  is a exterior front perspective view of a fifth alternate embodiment; 
           [0021]      FIG. 9  is a cross sectional front perspective view of a sixth alternate embodiment, and 
           [0022]      FIG. 10  is a is a front perspective view of the interior cavity of the canine bark suppression device showing the general arrangement of the components in the second alternate embodiment with the optional volume adjustment control. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
       [0023]    There has thus been outlined, rather broadly, the more important features of the canine bark suppression device in order that the detailed description thereof that follows may be better understood and in order that the present contribution to the art may be better appreciated. There are, of course, additional features of the invention that will be described hereinafter and which will form the subject matter of the claims appended hereto. 
         [0024]    In this respect, before explaining at least one embodiment of the canine bark suppression device in detail, it is to be understood that the invention is not limited in its application to the details of construction and to the arrangements of the components set forth in the following description or illustrated in the drawings. The invention is capable of other embodiments and of being practiced and carried out in various ways. For example, although throughout the alert fob is associated with a key ring and the alert card is associated with the wallet, it is known that these alert devices may be physically connected to other items such as an MP3 player, an article of clothing, a camera, etc. Also, it is to be understood that the phraseology and terminology employed herein are for the purpose of descriptions and should not be regarded as limiting. 
         [0025]    Looking at  FIGS. 1 and 6  it can be seen that the improved canine bark suppression device  2  has the general shape of a dog bone made from the assembly of a concave first half  4  and a concave second half  6 . In the concavity  8  of the first half  4  there is formed on the inner surface two bosses  10  that are matingly threaded to accept taper headed screws  12  that extend from the surface of the second half  6  and through an orifice in the second half so as to facilitate the mechanically coupling of the two halves. It is known that there area plethora of additional methods of connecting these two halves as would be well known in the art. The periphery of the assembled device  2  has numerous ports  24  formed there through to allow enhanced transmission of the audible frequency emitted from within the internal cavity of the device  2 . The device  2  has a hanging tab  12  extending from the exterior surface of the device  2 . This tab allows for the attachment of the device  2  to a dog collar, clothing or leash. As can be seen in  FIG. 1  and  FIG. 3 , this tab  12  may cause the device to hang with its longitudinal axis in a horizontal or vertical orientation. The location of the hanging tab  12  determines the orientation of the internal components of the device  2 . (It is to be noted that the designation of first and second half is of no consequence as any of the internal components can be interchangeably connected to or formed on either of these halves.) 
         [0026]    Looking at  FIG. 1  it can be seen that there is a mounting means  14  extending from the internal surface of the device&#39;s cavity from which an audible frequency generator or tuning fork  16  is operationally connected. Although a tuning fork  16  is shown in all the figures a tuning rod has also been employed successfully as an audible frequency generator. In the preferred embodiment the tuning fork  16  is freely connected to the mounting means  14  by a suspension means  18 . Here the suspension means is a ring. In  FIG. 2  the first alternate embodiment the suspension means is a longitudinal member which is a wire  20 . In  FIG. 3  the second alternate embodiment it can be seen that the suspension means is a wound spring. There are numerous type of suspension means  20  that will work including but not limited to wires, springs, string, cable, pivotable rods, link chains etc. 
         [0027]    The suspension means  20  serves to hold the tuning fork  16  away from the inside of the device  2  or away from the striking means  22  when the device is in its resting or non-jostled position. It may serve to hold the tuning fork  16  rigid in embodiments where there is a striking means  22  that moves to collide with the tuning fork  16  or it may allow the tunning fork to swing freely to contact a striking means  20  or the inside of the device itself in other embodiments. 
         [0028]    The suspension means  20  generally will have a distal end and a proximate end wherein one of these ends is connected to the mounting means  14  and the other end is connected to the tuning fork  16 . As can be seen in  FIGS. 1 and 2  the device  2  has the hanging tab  12  located such that the device  2  will be oriented vertically when on the dog. Here the suspension means (ring and wire)  20  allows the tuning fork  16  to freely swing as the device  2  is jostled with the dog&#39;s movements, such as is caused by barking. This causes the tuning fork  16  to strike the inside of the device  2  causing the tuning fork to vibrate at its specific frequency emitting that frequency of sound and vibration. This emitted sound traverses through the ports  24  to the dog&#39;s ears. Experimentation has shown that using a tuning fork that has a frequency up to 200,000 Hz will reduce the dog&#39;s desire to bark and generally calm him. The vibrations caused by the tuning fork 
         [0029]    are also reported to have therapeutic effects such as flea riddance, toxic riddance, increasing blood flow, and simulating blood cells. 
         [0030]    As can be seen in  FIGS. 3 and 4  the device  2  has the hanging tab  12  located such that the device  2  will be oriented horizontally when on the dog. Here the suspension means  20  allows the tuning fork  16  to be suspended within the cavity and upon overcoming a certain amount of jostling motion will allow the tuning fork  16  to swing enough to have a collision and then return to its suspended position so as to maintain the tuning fork&#39;s vibration. When the tuning fork  16  is in continued contact with any physical body there can be no vibration of the tuning fork  16 . 
         [0031]      FIG. 4  shows a third alternate embodiment that employs the same basic structure and operation as the previous devices  2  except that it utilizes more than one tuning fork  16  and suspension means  20  and mounting means  14 . 
         [0032]    In the fourth alternate embodiment shown in  FIG. 5  it can be seen that the tuning fork  16  is rigidly held in a mounting block  14  and a striking means  22  is moveably mounted in another mounting block  14  by a second suspension means. In this embodiment the striking means  22  is jostled by the dog&#39;s movements to collide with and begin the vibration and resonation of the tuning fork  16 . When struck the tanning fork  16  will resonate at a frequency (with a decreasing amplitude and volume) that is less than 200,000 Hz. This is the complete range of audible frequencies in the hearing range of most canines. 
         [0033]      FIGS. 7 and 8  illustrate another physical geometry of the enclosure of the device  2  made from the assembly of the concave first half  4  and concave second half  6 . Here it is a heart. Such shapes in different sizes would also allow a pendant, necklace or set of earrings to be fabricated for therapeutic use in humans. Similarly such a device  2  could be hung from a vehicle&#39;s interior possibly from the rear view mirror or added to a key chain. It is also envisioned that a plethora of such devices could be assembled into a hanging mobile or wind chime arrangement. 
         [0034]      FIG. 9  shows a sixth alternate embodiment wherein the audible frequency generator  16  (whether a tuning fork, tuning rod tube or equivalent device) is held rigid to the hanging tab  12  and a modified hollow enclosure  40  is operably connected to said hanging tab  12  by a pin  42  so as to allow it to move and strike the audible frequency generator  16 . This is almost the reverse principle of operation of the above mentioned embodiments. Here a volume adjustment control device (not illustrated) may optionally be used to limit the range of motion that the enclosure  40  can swing in with respect to the audible frequency generator  16 . 
         [0035]      FIG. 10  is a is a front perspective view of the interior cavity of the canine bark suppression device of the second alternate embodiment incorporating an optional volume sensitivity adjustment control. The volume adjustment control operates on a physical method of constraining the range of motion of the tuning fork  16  within the internal void created between the concave first half  4  and a concave second half  6  of the device. In the second alternate embodiment, suspension means wire  20  holds the tanning fork  16  suspended in the approximate center of the void. As the dog barks and sharply opens and closes his jaws the audible frequency generator  16  (tuning fork) swings upward within the void and then downward to strike the conjoined halves of the device  2 . The resulting collision results in the emission of the aforementioned frequency. The larger the back swing of the audible frequency generator  16 , the louder the emitted sound. The volume adjustment control is a means of adjusting the amount of back swing. The volume adjustment control is a threaded boss  44  extending from the inside surface of one of the concave halves in an area that wont interfere with the physical contact of the audible frequency generator  16 . The threaded section  48  extends from the exterior surface of the concave half completely through the body of the boss  44 . A matingly conformed set or grub screw  46  is threadingly engaged with the threaded boss such that it can be advanced to restrict the back swing and thus reduce the level or volume of sound emitted from the collisions. On the outside of the concave half aligned about the threaded section  48  of the boss  44  is a directional guide  50  showing which direction of rotation will increase the volume (+) and which direction of rotation will reduce the volume (−). 
         [0036]    Although it can take several different forms, the volume adjustment control function is just to regulate the force of these collisions buy constraining the movement of the audible frequency generator  16  before each collision. The volume adjustment control has an adjustable back swing dampening member (set screw  46  in the above embodiment) that can be advanced toward a portion of the audible frequency generator  16  or as illustrated in the above embodiment, toward the suspension means  20  that allows its movement, so as to reduce the force of the collision and the resulting volume. 
         [0037]    In the fourth alternate embodiment of  FIG. 5  the volume adjustment control would not change its physical configuration but rather would reside adjacent the second suspension means to restrict the motion of the striking means  22  so as to minimize the collision between the striking means  22  and the tuning fork  16 . 
         [0038]    In the embodiments discussed it is intended that the device  2  would be waterproof in the meaning of the word that immersion in water will not have any detrimental effects on the device  2 . The majority of the components of the preferred embodiment are made of a stainless steel, aluminum, bronze brass or other non water corrodable metal or metal alloy. The choice of a material for the two halves must be resilient yet rigid to transmit the overtones resonating from the vibrating tuning fork. The size of the ports may be adjusted to increase or dampen the emitted sound. 
         [0039]    The above description will enable any person skilled in the art to make and use this invention. It also sets forth the best modes for carrying out this invention. There are numerous variations and modifications thereof that will also remain readily apparent to others skilled in the art, now that the general principles of the present invention have been disclosed. As such, those skilled in the art will appreciate that the conception, upon which this disclosure is based, may readily be utilized as a basis for the designing of other structures, methods and systems for carrying out the several purposes of the present invention. It is important, therefore, that the claims be regarded as including such equivalent constructions insofar as they do not depart from the spirit and scope of the present invention. 
         [0040]    Having thus described the invention, what is claimed as new and desired to be secured by Letters Patent is as follows: