Abstract:
An animal training system including a translator having at least one receiver and at least one transmitter. The receiver receives a first signal and the transmitter is communicatively coupled to the receiver. The transmitter transmits a second signal dependent on the first signal.

Description:
CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS  
       [0001]     This is a non-provisional application based upon U.S. provisional patent application Ser. No. 60/620,469, entitled “CLIP-ON TRANSLATOR FOR AN ANIMAL CORRECTION COLLAR”, filed Oct. 20, 2004. 
     
    
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
       [0002]     1. Field of the Invention  
         [0003]     The present invention relates to a correction collar system, and, more particularly, to a device to expand the functionality of an animal correction collar.  
         [0004]     2. Description of the Related Art  
         [0005]     An animal behavior modification system, such as an electrical training system, no-bark collar or containment system typically includes a collar-mounted receiver worn by the animal and a wireless transmitter. The wireless transmitter may include a radio frequency transmitter having a wire loop transmitting a radio frequency signal. The wire loop antenna may define the boundary in which the animal is to be confined. The animal wears the receiving unit attached to its collar. When the animal gets within a predetermined distance of the wire loop antenna, the receiver unit detects the radio frequency signal transmitted from the loop antenna, whereupon a correcting stimulus, such as a good tone/bad tone, electrical stimulation, vibration, citronella spray, etc., is administered to the animal.  
         [0006]     The receiver unit, which may apply an electrical stimulation to the animal, typically includes a pair of electrode probes, which extend from the receiver unit, through the collar and contact the skin of the animal. An electrical potential is applied between the electrode probes resulting in electrical current flowing through the skin of the animal to thereby apply an electrical stimulation to the animal.  
         [0007]     Animal training systems may also include a handheld transmitter allowing an operator to interact with the animal to ensure compliance with verbal or other instructions. The system may also be self-contained such as a no-bark collar that detects behavior and applies stimulation to the animal  
         [0008]     What is needed in the art is a method of expanding the flexibility of an animal correction system.  
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
       [0009]     The present invention relates to an animal training system for translating a signal that the correction system would not normally respond to into a signal which the correction system will respond to.  
         [0010]     One embodiment of the present invention consists of an animal training system including a translator having at least one receiver that receives a first signal and at least one transmitter coupled to the at least one receiver. The at least one transmitter transmits a second signal to the animal training system. The second signal being based on the first signal.  
         [0011]     An advantage of the present invention is that it expands the flexibility of current animal correction collars.  
         [0012]     Another advantage of the present invention is that it is easily connected to the collar of a present correction system.  
         [0013]     Yet another advantage of the present system is that correction levels associated with the correction system are maintained while the control signals are modified by way of the translator.  
         [0014]     Yet another advantage of the present invention is that it receives and processes/translates one type of signal, converts the signal to another type of signal and transmits the process/translated signal to an existing correction collar receiver and/or stimulator.  
         [0015]     Still yet another advantage of the present invention is that it is a cost effective way to modify the functionality of a correction collar without any other modification to the collar. 
     
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       [0016]     The above-mentioned and other features and advantages of this invention, and the manner of attaining them, will become more apparent and the invention will be better understood by reference to the following description of an embodiment of the invention taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, wherein:  
         [0017]      FIG. 1  is a perspective view of an example of an animal correction collar with an embodiment of a clip-on translator of the present invention clipped thereto;  
         [0018]      FIG. 2  is a perspective view including at least part of the next side of the collar of  FIG. 1  and showing the attachment of the clip-on translator of  FIG. 1  to the collar;  
         [0019]      FIG. 3  is a front view of the clip-on translator of  FIGS. 1 and 2  being shown as it is coupled together;  
         [0020]      FIG. 4  is a perspective view of the clip-on translator of  FIGS. 1-3 ;  
         [0021]      FIG. 5  is a top view of the clip-on translator of  FIGS. 1-4 ; and  
         [0022]      FIG. 6  is a perspective view of the clip-on translator of  FIGS. 1-5 . 
     
    
       [0023]     Corresponding reference characters indicate corresponding parts throughout the several views. The exemplification set out herein illustrates one preferred embodiment of the invention, in one form, and such exemplification is not to be construed as limiting the scope of the invention in any manner.  
       DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION  
       [0024]     Referring now to the drawings, and more particularly to  FIG. 1 , there is shown an animal training system  10  including a collar  12 , a training device  14  and a translator assembly  16 . Collar  12  fits around the neck of an animal and is representative of an apparatus that connects a training system to any portion of an animal. Attached to collar  12  is training device  14 , which may include electrodes, not shown, that protrude toward the neck of the animal. Training device  14 , also known as a behavior modification device  14 , is activated by a signal that is received by a receiver unit therein and provides an appropriate training stimulus to the animal in order to modify the behavior of the animal. Training device  14  may be an Invisible Fence™ containment collar, which responds to a signal transmitted from the buried wire that transmits a signal therefrom.  
         [0025]     Translator assembly  16  includes two separate portions which are separable and are defined as first portion  18  and second portion  20 . Portions  18  and  20  are separated and are connected to attach translator assembly  16  to collar  12 , in a clip-on manner, when portions  18  and  20  are reassembled.  
         [0026]     Now, additionally referring to  FIGS. 2-6 , there is shown a coupling mechanism  22  that is rotated to a locked position to couple first portion  18  with second portion  20 , once they are assembled about collar  12 . Additionally, coupling mechanism  22  can be moved to an unlocked position in order to separate first portion  18  from second portion  20  to thereby remove translator assembly  16  from collar  12 . Prongs  24  and  26  are associated with first portion  18  and prong  28  is associated with second portion  20 . Although prongs  24 ,  26  and  28  are shown having similar forms, shapes different from that shown, as well as shapes which may be otherwise spaced and located, are also contemplated in the present invention. In installing translator assembly  16  to collar  12  prongs  24  and  26  are slipped over an edge of collar  12  and second portion  20  is assembled to first portion  18  while prong  28  also is positioned on the neck side of collar  12 .  
         [0027]     Contained within translator assembly  16  is a receiver  30 , a transmitter  32  and a translator device  34 . Receiver  30  receives a signal, which is a signal that training device  14  would not normally respond to and that signal is modified by translator device  34 . The information in the signal received by receiver  30  is translated into a second signal, which is subsequently transmitted by transmitter  32 . The second signal is a signal that training device  14  is responsive to. The transmission can be in the form of a wireless transmission and examples of the translation of signals are shown in the following table (which is not meant to be an inclusive list, other applications are contemplated and not contained therein):  
                                       Current Collar   Clip On   Function                   Containment   Remote Sensor (RF)   Allows containment to be               activated via remote control       Containment   Bark Sensor   Allows containment to be               activated via a dogs bark       Containment   “Zones”   Allows a normal containment               receiver to be activated by a               “Zones” Indoor avoidance               transmitter       Remote Receiver   Containment   Allows remote collar to be       (RF trainer)       activated by exposure to               containment field       Remote Receiver   “Zones”   Allows remote collar to be       (RF trainer)       activated by exposure to               “Zones” Indoor avoidance               transmitter       Remote Receiver   Bark Sensor   Allows remote to be activated       (RF trainer)       via a dogs bark       “Zones” Receiver   Containment   Allows a Zones receiver to be               activated by a standard               containment signal       “Zones” Receiver   Remote Sensor   Allows a Zones receiver to be               activated via remote control       “Zones” Receiver   Bark Sensor   Allows a Zones receiver to be               activated via a dogs bark                  
 
         [0028]     References to ‘containment’ are referring to animal containment systems of an Invisible Fence™ type configuration. References to ‘remote receivers’ are referring to system responsive to transmitters, usually hand-held, that are activated by trainers for training dogs. References to ‘zones’ are referring to systems which warn dogs away from certain zones, which can be established by transmitters located in the zone.  
         [0029]     Training device  14  is containment type collar, which responds to an Invisible Fence™ type configuration. Training device  14  responds to a radio frequency (RF) signal when the animal approaches the border defined by a buried transmitting wire. If translator assembly  16  includes a RF receiver then translator assembly  16  can receive a signal activated by a trainer by way of a remote control and translate the activated signal by translating it into a signal that causes the containment device to activate the stimulus, thereby converting a containment collar into one that responds to remote control.  
         [0030]     In a like manner translator assembly  16  may include a bark sensor  30 , which is an embodiment of a receiver  30  that detects audio signals. Bark sensor  30  detects the barking of the animal and causes transmitter  32  to emit a signal causing training device  14 , in this example a containment collar, to provide a stimulus to the animal.  
         [0031]     In a similar fashion a remote receiver embodiment of training device  14 , also known as an RF trainer can be modified to become a containment collar.  
         [0032]     Advantageously the present invention allows the pet owner to customize the training device to take on new rolls in a cost effective manner. This allows a trainer to modify animal training system  10  to be as responsive as necessary for the training of an animal.  
         [0033]     Although just one translator assembly  16  has been discussed, more than one can be added to a collar  12  to provide greater functionality of training system  10 . Additionally although only one function has been discussed relative to a translator assembly  16 , it is also contemplated that a single translator assembly  16  may perform multiple functions, such as, receiving multiple signals, translating those signals and transmitting an appropriate signal to training device  14 .  
         [0034]     The table above gives some examples of the dual purposes that are possible utilizing a translator assembly  16 . Translator assembly  16  can be easily removed, if desired, to return training device  14  to its original configuration so as to function as originally purposed.  
         [0035]     Although not shown, translator assembly  16  contains a power source that is replaceable and can be inserted therein to power receiver  30 , transmitter  32  and translator  34 . Additionally, translator  34  has been described as a device, but can be implemented as an algorithm and integrated into either receiver  30  or transmitter  32 . Also receiver  30  and transmitter  32  have been largely described as RF type receiver transmitters yet other mediums of communication are also contemplated such as optical, audio and mechanical.  
         [0036]     While this invention has been described as having a preferred design, the present invention can be further modified within the spirit and scope of this disclosure. This application is therefore intended to cover any variations, uses, or adaptations of the invention using its general principles. Further, this application is intended to cover such departures from the present disclosure as come within known or customary practice in the art to which this invention pertains and which fall within the limits of the appended claims.