Abstract:
A misting device including a mister configured to mist water and at least one of a sound emitter, configured to generate one or more sounds, and a display, configured to generate one or more images. The generation of the one or more sounds and/or the one or more images is timed based on operation of the mister. The sound and/or images may be used, for example, to mentally prepare a pet for misting and/or to calm a pet during or after misting.

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
       [0001]    Not Applicable. 
       STATEMENT REGARDING FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH OR DEVELOPMENT 
       [0002]    Not Applicable. 
       THE NAMES OF THE PARTIES TO A JOINT RESEARCH AGREEMENT 
       [0003]    Not Applicable. 
       INCORPORATION-BY-REFERENCE OF MATERIAL SUBMITTED ON COMPACT DISC 
       [0004]    Not Applicable. 
       BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0005]    (1) Field of the Invention 
         [0006]    The present invention generally relates to misters. 
         [0007]    (2) Description of Related Art 
         [0008]    Misting devices exist for use in bird cages, terrariums, aviaries, indoor gardens, etc. 
         [0009]    Misting pet birds, for example, can provide multiple benefits. In addition to the general enjoyment experienced by the pet, misting can invigorate the bird&#39;s skin and promote healthy preening of the feathers, leading to reduced feather picking and plucking. Misting is especially important for birds that are molting, as it may help loosen the keratin sheath that covers new pinfeathers, which facilitates sheath removal during normal preening behavior. Misting can also improve a bird&#39;s respiratory health. Notwithstanding these benefits of misting, pet birds may become apprehensive at the onset of misting. 
       BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0010]    A misting device according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention includes a mister configured to mist water, and at least one of: (a) a sound emitter, such as a speaker, configured to generate one or more sounds; and (b) a display, such as a liquid crystal display, an organic light emitting diode display, a monitor, and a television, etc., configured to generate one or more images. The generation of at least one of the one or more sounds and the one or more images may be timed based on operation of the mister. For example, the sounds and images may be generated at least one of: (a) a predetermined period before the mister begins misting; (b) a predetermined period after the mister begins misting; and (c) a predetermined period after the mister stops misting. 
         [0011]    According to an exemplary embodiment, the mister device may be configured to vary misting parameters over a misting session. 
         [0012]    According to an exemplary embodiment, the mister device may further include a fluid source, a pump, and a nozzle. The pump may be configured to draw a fluid from the fluid source and force it through the nozzle so as to form a fluid mist. 
         [0013]    According to an exemplary embodiment, the mister device may further include a controller configured to control operation of the mister and at least one of the sound emitter and display. 
         [0014]    According to an exemplary embodiment, the mister device may further include a memory element used to store at least one of the one or more sounds and the one or more images. 
         [0015]    According to an exemplary embodiment, at least one of the one or more sounds and the one or more images are pre-recorded by a user of the misting device. 
         [0016]    According to an exemplary embodiment, the fluid source may be positioned above the pump so as to minimize the energy required to mist the fluid in the fluid source. 
         [0017]    According to an exemplary embodiment, the misting device may be configured to attach to a cage, e.g., using hooks, Velcro, or suctions cups, such that mist generated by the mister is directed inside the cage. 
         [0018]    According to an exemplary embodiment, the mister device may further include a microphone. The misting device may be configured to store audio picked up by the microphone and play back such audio using the sound emitter. 
         [0019]    According to an exemplary embodiment, the mister device may be configured to generate a mist at predetermined time intervals and further configured to begin playing the audio using the sound emitter a predetermined period prior to the onset of misting. 
         [0020]    According to an exemplary embodiment, the mister device may further include a control panel with a user interface configured to accept input from a user concerning at least one of (a) misting parameters, (b) the one or more sounds, and (c) the one or more images. 
         [0021]    A method for misting according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention includes (i) at least one of displaying an image and playing a sound, and (ii) generating a mist. The timing of the displaying and the playing may be based on a timing of the mist generating. 
         [0022]    According to an exemplary embodiment, at least one of the displaying and playing is one of (i) started a predetermined period before the onset of the mist generating, (ii) started a predetermined period after the onset of the mist generating, and (iii) started a predetermined period of time after the end of the mist generating. 
         [0023]    According to an exemplary embodiment, the method further includes accepting input from a user concerning one or more misting parameters, e.g., such as mist pressure, mist duration, and mist frequency. 
         [0024]    According to an exemplary embodiment, the method further includes recording at least one of the image and sound. 
         [0025]    According to an exemplary embodiment, the method further includes cancelling or minimizing noise created by the pump or other parts of the misting device using sound dampening material around the pump or other parts of the misting device and/or using an active sound cancellation device, which cancels such noise, for example, by creating and sound waveform opposite to the noise. 
         [0026]    A method for training a pet according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention includes at least one of (i) misting the pet upon detection of a predetermined sound generated by the pet, (ii) spraying the pet with a stream of water upon detection of a the predetermined sound. 
         [0027]    Reference throughout this specification to “an embodiment” or “an exemplary embodiment” means that a particular feature, structure, or characteristic described in connection with the embodiment is included in at least one embodiment of the present invention. Thus, the appearances of these phrases in various places throughout this specification are not necessarily all referring to the same embodiment. Furthermore, the particular features, structures, or characteristics may be combined in any suitable manner in one or more embodiments. 
         [0028]    An example embodiment of the present invention is described in more detail below with reference to the appended Figures. The foregoing description and examples have been set forth as mere illustrations and are not intended to be limiting. Each of the disclosed aspects and embodiments may be considered individually or in combination with other aspects, embodiments, and variations thereof. The steps of the methods described herein are not confined to any particular order of performance. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0029]      FIG. 1  is a perspective view of the mister according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention attached to a bird cage. 
           [0030]      FIG. 2  is a block diagram of the mister according to an exemplary embodiment of the present. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
       [0031]      FIG. 1  illustrates a misting device  10  according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention connected in a vertical orientation to the outside of a cage  12 . The misting device is configured to mist an animal, such as bird  14 , a reptile, or a plant in the cage  12 . 
         [0032]    The misting device  10  may also be suspended horizontally from a bottom of the cage  12 , or sit horizontally on top of the cage, e.g., in the domed structure or on top of a flat cage. The misting device  10  includes an electric pump  16  for forcing liquid, such as water, in a reservoir  18  through nozzle  20  so as to form a mist. Alternatively, or in addition to the electric pump  16 , the misting may be generated using a spray bottle. An automated mechanism, for example, may be used to repeatedly squeeze the trigger or handle on the spray bottle, so as to force pressurized fluid through a nozzle and generate a mist. Further, a pressurized fluid source may be used to generate the mist. A valve at the outlet to the pressurized fluid source and in communication with a nozzle may be opened and closed so as to initiate and suspend misting. 
         [0033]    A control panel  22  includes knobs  24 ,  26 , and  28  to control the duration of the mist, the frequency of misting, and the pressure, respectively. The control panel may also include buttons, switches, levers, and/or a touch screen for user interface. The misting device  10  is mounted on the cage  12  using hooks  36  but may be connected using other known connectors, such as suction cups and Velcro. 
         [0034]    The misting device  10  is powered by a power source  23 , e.g., batteries, in battery compartment  34 . Alternatively, misting device  10  may be powered from an exterior source and, may have a jack to accept power from such power source. 
         [0035]    Reservoir  18  includes removable, e.g., screw on, covers  30  and  32  on two sides. Cover  30  may be removed to refill the reservoir  18  when the misting device  10  is in the vertical position of  FIG. 1  and cover  32  may be removed to refill reservoir  18  when the misting device  10  is in the horizontal configuration on top of the cage  12  or suspended from the bottom of the cage  12 . 
         [0036]    Nozzle  20  may have an adjustable head so as to allow a user to direct the mist in a preferred direction. Pump  16  may also be connected to a handheld nozzle accessory connected to the pump  16  via a tube (not shown) allowing the user to direct the mist in a direction of his or her liking both inside and outside of the cage  12 . Additional nozzles may be connected at different positions on the cage  12 . The additional nozzles may be connected to the pump via tubes, which may run along the wall of the cage  12 . For example, one additional nozzle may be connected to a bottom of the cage  12  pointing in an upward direction to mist an underside of the bird  14 . Misting from each nozzle may be simultaneous or staged depending on the needs of the bird  14  and/or the desire of the user. 
         [0037]    To minimize expense and complexity, nozzle  20  may be connected directly to pump  16 , as illustrated in  FIG. 1 . Alternatively, nozzle  20  or may be connected to pump  16  via an intermediary tube, which allows the nozzle to be spaced away from the pump  16 . 
         [0038]      FIG. 2  illustrates a block diagram of the control circuit  38  used to control the pump  16  for misting. A control element  46  in communication with the control panel  22  and the pump  16  controls misting parameters such as the frequency and duration of misting, e.g., by controlling the level of current and/or voltage delivered to the pump  16  or by sending a control signal to the pump  16 . The control element  46  may also control other misting parameters such as the pressure and the fineness of the mist. A microprocessor, for example, such as are well known and commercially available, may be used for the control element  46 . The control circuit  38  is powered by a power source  23 , e.g., batteries. Control element  46  may be used to route power to each of the components requiring power. Alternatively, power source  23  may communicate independently with each component requiring power. 
         [0039]    In an exemplary embodiment of the invention, the control element  46  may also control a level of additive added to the mist. The additive may include, but is not limited to, an oil used to maintain a shiny and healthy plumage. The oil may be stored in an additive reservoir (not shown) and passed into the water in the fluid reservoir via control of a valve in communication with the control element  46 . The valve may be controlled by a knob or button, etc. on the control panel  22 . The additive may also be added manually to the reservoir  18  by a user. 
         [0040]    The misting device  10  may include multiple different nozzles, for example, each having different size apertures and, thus, adapted to achieve a different mist fineness. The control element  46  may control a valve (not shown) to each of these different nozzles so as to allow for flow through only one at a time. Alternatively, flow may be provided through more than one nozzle simultaneously, which may be useful to achieve an intermediary mist fineness or other mist characteristic and also to provide for misting from multiple directions. 
         [0041]    The misting device  10  may further include a sound emitter  40 , such as a speaker, and a display  42 , such as a liquid crystal display, an organic light emitting diode display, a monitor, or television. The display  42  may also be a movable panel, similar to those used in billboards, with multiple images that are swapped periodically by shifting of the panel. The sound emitter  40  and the display  42  communicate with and are controlled by the control element  46 . The control panel  22 , also in communication with the control element  46 , may be employed by a user to enter control preferences for the sound emitter  40  and/or display  42 , both of which may be directed towards the inside of the cage  12  such that the bird  14  can see a light or an image generated on the display  42  and can hear a sound generated by the sound emitter  40 . Pressing a button or turning a knob, for example, on the control panel  22  may cause the sound emitter  40  to play sounds and/or the display  42  to display an image, series of images, or video clips, all of which may be pre-recorded, e.g., by the user. The sounds, images, and video, as well as the user control preferences, may all be stored, for example, in a memory unit  44  also connected to the control element  46 . 
         [0042]    The control element  46  may play the sounds, images, and/or video stored, e.g., on the memory unit  44 , at a predetermined time, at predetermined time intervals, and/or upon a triggering event. The control element  46  may be configured to play the sounds, images, and/or video (“media”) during or a predetermined time before or after the misting. For example, rather than surprise the bird  14  with a sudden misting, the control element  46  can be programmed to play a tranquil pre-recorded sound on the sound emitting device  10 , e.g., birds chirping, leaves rustling, the user&#39;s voice, etc., at a predetermined time period, e.g., 5 seconds, before the onset of misting. The bird  14  may also be provided forewarning as to the ending of the misting by changing the projected sound just prior to the end of misting. The user may choose from multiple pre-recorded sounds and/or images to be played by the display  42  by adjusting settings via the control panel  22 . The user may also choose when the media is played, e.g., randomly, at predetermined time intervals, a predetermined time before the onset of misting, at the onset of misting, a predetermined time period into misting, and a predetermined time period after misting, etc. The media may also be timed in connection with alternate misting session or every predetermined number of misting sessions. For example, to avoid over stimulation, the sound emitting device  10  and/or display  42  may be controlled by the control element  46  to play a pre-recorded message or video from the user just prior to the onset of every third misting session. 
         [0043]    The control element  46  can also be programmed so as to instruct the pump  16  to provide a progressive build up in the mist pressure at the onset of misting and/or a progressive decline in the mist pressure towards the end of misting. The pump  16  may be controlled by varying the power delivered for pumping. The misting can be gradual, starting very fine and building up over a predetermined time period and the misting can then be tapered off so as not to excite or startle the bird  14  with abrupt changes. The control element  46  can also be programmed to cycle the misting through different stages in which the bird  14  is exposed to different water pressure, water volume, etc. The same type of progressive build up and tapering and/or stage cycling can be provided with respect to the media presentation. For example, the pre-recorded sounds can gradually build up in volume and/or taper off. Similarly, the brightness of the display  42  can gradually build up in volume and/or taper off. 
         [0044]    The misting device  10  may include a microphone  48  in communication with the control element  46 , which can be used to record sound pieces to be stored in the memory unit  44 . The user may record sounds, including his or her own voice, via the control panel  22 , to be played back to the bird, e.g., just prior to the onset of misting. The sound of the user&#39;s voice as played by the sound emitter  40  and/or the user&#39;s image as displayed by the display  42  may provide comfort to the bird  14  while the user is absent and, in particular, provide comfort or forewarning to the bird  14  during a change in environment such as a misting. The user&#39;s image may be taken by a digital camera or camcorder (not shown) in communication with control element  46 . The misting device  10  may also have other inputs from sensors, such as a temperature reading from a temperature sensor or a humidity level reading from a humidity sensor. The control element  46  may be programmed to initiate and/or terminate misting depending on conditions such as temperature and humidity, etc. 
         [0045]    Microphone  48  may also be used to pick up sounds generated by the bird  14 . The control element  46  may be programmed to monitor such sound pickup and turn on the misting and/or play the media when a predetermined type of sound is detected. This feature would allow the highly intelligent bird to request, for example, a misting on demand. Further, this feature could be used to foster positive behaviors and to help eliminate negative behaviors. Desirable sounds generated by the bird  14  can be rewarded, for example, by generating a comfortable misting, sounds, and/or lights that comfort or soothe the animal. Undesirable sounds generated by the bird  14 , on the other hand, can be trained away by exposing the bird  14  to unpleasant conditions, e.g., a high pressure water spray or a loud sound, immediately after making the undesirable sound. 
         [0046]    As illustrated in  FIG. 1 , the misting device  10  is hung vertically on the cage  12 . This orientation places the reservoir  18  above the pump  16  and takes advantage of gravity so as to decrease the amount of power necessary to pump the water through the nozzle for misting. The effect of gravity can be further taken advantage of by shifting the pump  16  and nozzle  20  to the bottom of the misting device  10 . 
         [0047]    In order to ensure the longevity of the misting device  10  and to further enhance the leisure time of the bird  14 , a toy (not shown) may be suspended, e.g., from the bottom of the misting device  10 , and hung inside the cage  12 . In an exemplary embodiment, a rod may be connected adjacent one end to the misting device  10  and adjacent an opposite end to the toy. When the misting device  10  is not in the misting mode, the toy should occupy the bird  14 &#39;s attention and prevent preoccupation and pecking by the bird  14  on the misting device  10  itself. 
         [0048]    In an exemplary embodiment, the misting device  10  may be connectable, e.g., wirelessly or via a USB cable, to a computer so as to allow loading of media, including various sounds, images, and videos, etc. either directly onto control element  46  or stored in memory unit  44 . Various misting schedules and cycles may also be loaded into the misting device  10 . 
         [0049]    In an exemplary embodiment, the misting device  10  may include a temperature control device  50  to control the temperature of the fluid in the fluid reservoir  18 . The temperature control device  50  may also be used to control the temperature of the control circuit  38 , e.g., so as to prevent overheating. The temperature control device may include a cooler and/or a heater, e.g., a fan or thermoelectric cooler, such as a Peltier cooler. The control element  46  may communicate with a temperature sensor and the temperature control device and may be programmed to change or maintain the temperature of the fluid according to pre-set instructions or input from the user via the control panel  22 . For example, the control element  46  may be programmed to maintain the fluid reservoir temperature at room temperature or within a predetermined or preset temperature range. The temperature sensor may be used to measure the temperature of the control circuit  38  and/or the temperature of the fluid in the fluid reservoir  18  and communicate such readings to the control element  46 . 
         [0050]    In an exemplary embodiment, the misting device  10  may have pre-stored misting preferences for different animals, e.g., frequency, duration, temperature, media presented before during, or after misting, etc. The user need only identify the particular animal being misted via the control panel  22  and the misting device will automatically mist the animal consistent with such preferences. 
         [0051]    In an exemplary embodiment, the misting device  10  may also include a heating or cooling element inside the cage  12  for heating and/or cooling the bird  14 . Such heating or cooling element may communicate with the control element  46  and be timed based on the misting. For example, the control element  46  may be programmed to turn on a fan or sun/heat lamp, e.g., directed at the bird  14 , for a predetermined period of time upon completion of misting or prior to the onset of misting or during misting, etc. Further, the control element  46  may instruct the sound emitter  40  and/or display  42  to generate the above-described media, e.g., sounds, images, video, a predetermined period prior to, during, and/or after turning on or off the heating and/or cooling element independent of or in conjunction with misting. In other words, as with the misting session, the timing of the heating and/or cooling session can be used as a trigger for generation of the media, e.g., to provide comfort to the bird  14  during a period of transition. 
         [0052]    In an exemplary embodiment, the misting device  10  is used independent of the cage  12 , e.g., to mist a plant. The misting device  10  may, for example, sit on a table adjacent the plant or be supported above by a hook. 
         [0053]    In an exemplary embodiment, the misting device  10  provides for noise cancellation so as to assure an optimum environment for the bird  14 . For example, an active noise cancellation device may be used to cancel noise created by the pump  16  or other parts of the misting device  10 . The noise cancellation device may use any known noise cancellation technology. For example, U.S. Pat. Nos. 6,155,378 and 7,353,908, which relate to noise cancellation, are herein incorporated by reference in their entireties. In an exemplary embodiment, the noise cancellation device may create a sound waveform 180 degrees out-of-phase to that of the noise created by the sound emitting device  10  using, e.g., sound emitter  40 . The sound cancellation device may be incorporated into the control element  46  or may comprise a separate device in communication with the control element  46 . The microphone  48  may be used to sample background noise requiring cancellation. The misting device  10  may also include sound dampening material, e.g., insulation, over the pump  16  or other parts of the misting device  10  so as to muffle noise. 
         [0054]    Those skilled in the art can appreciate from the foregoing description that the present invention can be implemented in a variety of forms. Therefore, while the embodiments of this invention have been described in connection with particular examples thereof, the true scope of the embodiments of the invention should not be so limited since other modifications and variations will become apparent to the skilled practitioner upon a study of the drawings and specification. Such modifications and variations are considered to be within the purview and scope of the appended claims and their equivalents.