Abstract:
A comfort adapter for electronic collars that replaces the standard post electrodes normally found on electronic training collars with a plurality of acorn nut electrodes. This design ensures proper electrical contact with the dog&#39;s skin while increasing the comfort of these collars on small dogs, which have smaller necks. The adapter can be utilized with different types of electronic training collars, such as those used to facilitate training, to curb aggressive behavior and barking, and to confine dogs by means of an invisible fence.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
   It is well known to use electronic collars as aids for training for dogs. Such collars provide a mild electric shock to the animal as a correction technique to discourage actions such as aggressive behavior and barking, or to deter a dog from leaving a designated area bounded by what commonly is known as an invisible fence. While these are the most common uses for electronic collars, this invention also applies to electronic collars having other uses. The collars can be operated manually by means of a controller in the hands of an owner or a trainer, or automatically in response to the dog barking or moving within a specified distance of the invisible fence. 
   Electronic training collars comprise battery powered circuitry that can supply an electric charge across two electrode contact elements. Typically, the electrode contact elements comprise upstanding electrically conductive posts that are about one-half inch in length and terminate in a substantially pointed end, and are spaced about one and one-fourth inches apart. The posts must be pressed against the dog&#39;s skin to such an extent as to establish an area of contact that is of sufficient size to complete the circuit. This is accomplished by suitably tightening the collar about the dog&#39;s neck. Owing to the fact that this area of contact must be established with two relatively long and narrow posts, the tightening causes some discomfort to any dog upon which the collar is fitted. However, it can cause considerable discomfort to dogs with small necks, which can result in a reluctance of small dogs to submit to having the collar placed around their necks, as well as possible skin injury or irritation. 
   SUMMARY 
   The present invention provides a comfort adapter for use with electronic dog collars having a housing containing means for selectively generating an electrical charge and first and second external electrode connections on a housing inner face. Mounted on an electrically non-conductive base plate are first and second electrodes, Each electrode comprises an electrically conductive plate and a plurality of electrically conductive contact elements upstanding on the plate and in electrical communication with the plate. Means are provided for placing the first electrode in electrical communication with the first external electrode connection and for placing the second electrode in electrical communication with the second external electrode connection. Means also are provided for attaching the base plate, the first electrode and the second electrode to the housing inner face. 
   The present invention also provides a comfort adapter for use with electronic dog collars having a housing containing means for selectively generating an electrical charge and first and second external electrode connections on a housing inner face. Mounted on an electrically non-conductive base plate are first and second electrodes. Each electrode comprises an electrically conductive plate and a pair of electrically conductive acorn nuts upstanding on the plate and in electrical communication with the plate. A pair of electrically non-conductive upstanding acorn nuts mounted on the base plate interposed between the first and second electrodes. Means are provided for placing the first electrode in electrical communication with the first external electrode connection and for placing the second electrode in electrical communication with the second external electrode connection. Means also are provided for attaching the base plate, the first electrode, and the second electrode to the housing inner face. 

   
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     The drawings, when considered in conjunction with the following description, are presented for the purpose of facilitating an understanding of the invention sought to be protected. 
       FIG. 1  is a perspective view of a prior art electronic collar showing the two electrode contact posts in an exploded view. 
       FIG. 2  is an exploded view of the components of an embodiment of the inventive small dog comfort adapter for electronic collars. 
       FIG. 3  is a perspective view of the assembled small dog comfort adapter. 
       FIG. 4  is a perspective view of an electronic dog collar with the small dog comfort adapter in an exploded view. 
   

   While the present invention has been described in connection with what is considered the most practical and preferred embodiments, it is to be understood that it is not to be limited to the disclosed arrangements, but is intended to cover various arrangements which are included within the spirit and scope of the broadest possible interpretation of the appended claims so as to encompass all modifications and equivalent arrangements. 
   DESCRIPTION 
   A typical prior art electronic dog training collar is shown in  FIG. 1 . It comprises a housing  1  having an inner face  2 , adjustable collar straps  3 , and a pair of spaced electrically conductive electrode contact elements in the form of elongated posts  4  and  5 . Within housing  1  are an antenna, a battery, and the electronic circuitry that will generate an electrical charge. Posts  4  and  5  are provided with screw bases  7  which are received in threaded electrical connections  8  and  9  located on inner face  2 . Threaded electrical connections  8  and  9  are of opposite electrical polarity as, it follows, are posts  4  and  5 . The circuit is completed through the dog&#39;s skin, and therefore when the electronic circuitry is activated, a charge flows between posts  4  and  5  through the dog&#39;s skin, causing the dog to receive a mild electrical shock. Posts  4  and  5  typically are made of metal, are about one-half inch in length and terminate in a substantially pointed end, and are spaced apart by about one and one-fourth inches. Although posts  4  and  5  are shown in  FIG. 1  as having threaded bases  7  which are received in threaded recesses  8  and  9 , the opposite arrangement can be present, that is, threaded posts extending from inner surface  2  of housing  1  with threaded recesses being present at the base of each of posts  4  and  5 . 
   The inventive small dog comfort adapter replaces electrode posts  4  and  5  shown in  FIG. 1  with an arrangement that is more comfortable for small dogs.  FIG. 2  illustrates the components of the invention in an exploded view, and  FIG. 3  after assembly. The adapter comprises a base plate  10  of electrically non-conductive material such as Lexan.™ Base plate  10  is shaped to fit on inner face  2  of housing  1 , and includes cut-out portions  13  to accommodate threaded receptacles  8  and  9 , as well as six holes  15 . A pair of electrically non-conductive acorn nuts  14  of material such as nylon, are attached to the center portion of base plate  10  by means of six screws  16  extending through two of the holes  15 . 
   A first electrode  11  (seen in  FIG. 3 ) comprises an electrically conductive oblong-shaped plate  20  and two electrically conductive upstanding contact elements in the form of a pair of acorn nuts  21 . Two more screws  16  attach together acorn nuts  21 , plate  20 , and base plate  10 , passing through holes  22  in plate  20  and two of the holes  15  in base plate  10 . This places plate  20  in electrical communication with acorn nuts  21 . Plate  20  also has another hole  23 , which will be used to attach electrode  11  to housing  1 . A second electrode  12  (seen in  FIG. 3 ) comprises an electrically conductive oblong-shaped plate  24  and two electrically conductive upstanding contact elements in the form of acorn nuts  25 . As was the case with first electrode  11 , acorn nuts  25  are held in electrical communication with plate  24  by means of two more screws  16 , which also fasten plate  24  and acorn nuts  25  to base plate  10  via holes  27  in plate  24  and two of the holes  15  in base plate  10 . Plate  24  also has another hole  28 , which is to be used to attach electrode  12  to housing  1 . Plates  20  and  24  are made of a conductive material such as aluminum, and acorn nuts  21  and  25  are of conductive material such as brass. Screws  16  also are advantageously made of conductive metal. Acorn nuts  21  and  25  are of conventional construction, having a dome-like shape, and can be expected to be about one-half of the length of prior art posts  4  and  5 . 
   As is evident from  FIG. 3 , electrically conductive plates  20  and  24  are spaced from one another on electrically non-conductive base plate  10 , with non-conductive acorn nuts  14  being interposed therebetween. As shown in  FIG. 4 , the inventive adapter is attached to housing  1  by a pair of electrically conductive screws  29  which pass through holes  23  and  28 , respectively, in plates  20  and  24 , and are screwed into threaded connections  8  and  9 . This also electrically connects electrodes  11  and  12  to the electrical circuit within housing  1 . While  FIG. 4  illustrates a housing where electrical connections  8  and  9  constitute threaded recesses, threaded posts also could be used, in which case plates  20  and  24  would be attached by nuts screwed onto the threaded posts. Furthermore, while the drawings show the plates  20  and  24  being mounted on inner surface  30  of base plate  10 , they also can be mounted on the outer surface  31  of base plate  10 , in which case electrically conductive metal screws  16  must be used to place acorn nuts  21  and  25  in electrical communication with plates  20  and  24 . 
   Among the reasons why the inventive adapter is more comfortable for the dog to wear than the prior art two post system are the following: The lesser height of the acorn nuts results in less intrusion into the skin on the dog&#39;s neck when the collar is tightened to the extent necessary to complete the electrical circuit when the collar is activated. The rounded ends of acorn nuts also contribute to less intrusion and provide more comfort than the upstanding posts used on the prior art devices. The presence of two electrically conductive acorn nuts rather than a single post for each electrode provides a greater area of electrical contact with the dog&#39;s skin, thus facilitating the flow of the electrical charge though the dog&#39;s skin and smoothing out the application stimulation provided by the electrical charge. The electrically non-conductive acorn nuts eliminate the large gap that would otherwise be present between the upstanding acorn nuts of the two electrodes, and the symmetrical arrangement of the six acorn nuts spreads the force applied to the dog&#39;s neck by the collar over a much larger area than the prior art system, thus increasing comfort and reducing skin irritation. 
   While the present disclosure has been described in connection with what is considered the most practical and preferred embodiments, it is understood that this disclosure is not limited to the disclosed embodiments, but is intended to cover various modifications and arrangements included within the spirit and scope of the broadest interpretation so as to encompass all such modifications and equivalent arrangements.