Abstract:
A housing forming a portion of an animal training device having a framing wall adapted to frame an LCD disposed internally of the housing. The framing wall defines an interior surface and a window for viewing of the LCD. A window pane is integrally formed with the window about the outer perimeter of the window and extends laterally outwardly of the perimeter of the window to overlie a portion of the inner surface of the framing wall proximate the window thereby integrating the pane with the framing wall, thereby effecting an extended seal between the pane and the framing wall and simultaneously enhancing the strength and rigidity of the framing wall. In one embodiment, the pane is integrally molded with the framing wall.

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
       [0001]    This application is a divisional of U.S. application Ser. No. 11/782,635, filed Jul. 25, 2007. 
     
    
     STATEMENT REGARDING FEDERALLY-SPONSORED RESEARCH OR DEVELOPMENT 
       [0002]    Not Applicable 
       BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0003]    1. Field of Invention 
         [0004]    This invention pertains to housings for animal training devices. More particularly, this invention pertains to a housing for the receiver/transmitter unit of an animal training device having an internally disposed liquid crystal display (LCD) which desirably is visible from externally of the housing. 
         [0005]    2. Description of the Related Art 
         [0006]    Animal training devices are known for training or other behavior control of an animal, such as a dog. Such animal training devices commonly involve communication between a handheld transmitter of a radio frequency (RF) signal and a receiver attached to a collar worn by the animal. The handheld transmitter is commonly controlled by a user, such as a trainer or owner of the animal. The receiver attached to the collar contains electronic circuitry designed to convert a received RF signal to an electrical stimulation deliverable to the animal through electrodes disposed in physical engagement with the animal. 
         [0007]    In use of these known devices to train an animal, for example, it often becomes necessary to adjust various settings on the animal training device, such as intensity of the electrical stimulation, effective distance of communication between the transmitter and receiver, and the like. For example, when using an animal training device to train various animals of varying size, the electrical stimulation must be sufficient to gain each animal&#39;s attention without injuring the animal. Therefore, the intensity of the electrical stimulation deliverable to the animal must be adjusted to accommodate the specific animal being trained. Furthermore, some training protocols require that a single animal receive varying levels of intensity of electrical stimulation based upon the animal&#39;s behavior. 
         [0008]    In order to assist the user in making adjustments to the animal training device, a display apparatus, such as a liquid crystal display (LCD), is often provided to one or both of a transmitter or a receiver. In the provision of an LCD in a receiver, it is known to mount the LCD within the housing of the receiver. In so doing, the housing commonly includes a window defined in a wall of the housing. Commonly, a transparent pane is provided in covering relationship to the window to allow the user to see into the housing and view the LCD. However, in such prior art devices the interface of the perimeter of the window and its associated pane is troublesome. For example, when the pane is a separate component that is fitted within the window, the association of the outer perimeter of the pane with the inner perimeter of the window often is initially less than adequate to exclude the passage of water, high-humidity air, dust or even debris into the interior of the housing. Even where the pane is initially installed within the window such as to be sufficient to exclude liquids, dust particles, or the like from the interior of the housing, by reason of the nature of use of the training device, it has been found that the relationship of the pane to the window deteriorates to the extent that liquid, dust or the like can pass into the interior of the housing between the aligned perimeters of the window and the pane. Thus, in the prior art, as an animal wearing such a device engages in typical animal behavior, water and debris are allowed to enter the housing along the perimeter of the opening. Such entry of water and debris can cause damage to the internal workings of the receiver and is therefore undesirable. 
       BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0009]    In accordance with one aspect of the present invention, there is provided a housing forming a portion of an animal training device. The housing includes a framing wall adapted to frame an LCD located internally of the housing. The framing wall of the present invention includes an interior surface and a window through which the LCD may be visually observed. In the present invention, the window defined within the framing wall includes a pane which is integrally formed with both the inner surface of the framing wall both in the region of the framing wall surrounding the window and extending outwardly from the inner perimeter of the window. The pane therefore fully covers the window and extends outwardly from the perimeter of the window to define a seal between the exterior and interior of the framing wall, hence between the interior and exterior of the housing. 
         [0010]    In one embodiment, there is provided a depression in the inner planar surface of the framing wall, such depression having a through opening defining a window generally centrally thereof. In the process of forming the pane, the material employed to define the pane fills both the depression and the window opening of the depression and is integrally formed with the inner surface of the framing wall both between the respective perimeters of the window and the pane and between the framing wall and the pane. By integrating the pane with the framing wall, there is developed a unitary barrier between the exterior and interior of the housing which prohibits the ingress of liquid, dust or other undesirable substance into the interior of the housing irrespective of the environment within which the animal training takes place. Moreover, by integrating the pane with window and the framing wall surrounding the window, the pane is not subject to dislodgement during use under adverse circumstances and the framing wall is strengthened by reason of the unity of the pane with the framing wall. 
         [0011]    One embodiment of the method of the present invention comprises the steps of: (a) providing a first mold which defines a void volume for forming a housing including a framing wall having generally planar exterior and interior opposite surfaces, within the interior surface of the first mold defining a depression, and within the depression defining a through opening leading from the exterior to the interior of the housing at a location visually proximate to a LCD disposed interiorly of the housing, (b) introducing into the void volume a quantity of a material which, when cured, defines the housing including the framing wall, (c) providing a second mold including first and second components, the first component being adapted to close off the exterior of the through opening and the second component being disposed interiorly of the housing in alignment with, and spaced apart from, the interior surface of the framing wall thereby defining a generally void volume which extends between the second component and the interior surface of the framing wall and the exteriorly closed through opening, (d) introducing into the void volume a quantity of a material, which, when cured, defines a transparent pane within the through opening, and (e) removing the second mold components and recovering the housing with its transparent integrally formed window and window pane. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0012]    The above-mentioned features of the invention will become more clearly understood from the following detailed description of the invention read together with the drawings in which: 
           [0013]      FIG. 1  is a sectional, exploded perspective view of the part of the housing incorporating a molded window of  FIG. 2  taken along section line  1 - 1 ; 
           [0014]      FIG. 2  is an exploded perspective view of one embodiment of one part of a two-part housing for an animal training device incorporating a molded window according to the present invention; 
           [0015]      FIG. 3  is an exploded perspective view of a two-part mold for fabricating the part of the housing incorporating a molded window of  FIG. 2 ; 
           [0016]      FIG. 4  is a sectional view of the assembled two-part mold taken generally along section line  4 - 4  of  FIG. 3  and showing the injection of uncured moldable material into the assembled two-part mold; 
           [0017]      FIG. 5  is an exploded view showing a second two-part mold for fabricating the window pane and support structure exploded relative to the housing; and 
           [0018]      FIG. 6  is a perspective view showing the assembled second two-part mold of  FIG. 5  fitted on the housing and showing the injection of transparent material within the void to form the window pane and support structure. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
       [0019]    Referring initially to  FIG. 1 , there is depicted a portion of one embodiment of a housing  10  for an animal training device of the present invention. The depicted portion of the housing  10  includes first, second and third walls  14 ,  16 ,  18  which define an open void space therebetween. A first one of these walls defines a framing wall  14  forming one aspect of the present invention, whereas the remaining second and third walls  16 ,  18  define a portion of the geometry of the housing  10  and provide support for the framing wall  14 . The housing  10  further includes a bottom wall disposed in a plane perpendicular to the several walls and defines a floor  20  for the apparatus. The top  54  of the depicted housing  10  is open for purposes referred to hereinafter. 
         [0020]    In the embodiment depicted in  FIG. 1 , the framing wall  14  includes a relatively shallow void depression  12 , such depression  12  having a first planar top portion  22  which is disposed within the plane of the framing wall  14  and a second bottom portion  24  which bends away from the plane of the top portion  22  of the depression  12  in a direction inwardly of the housing  10 , and along a portion of the floor  20  of the housing. This depression  12  includes first and second side walls  26 ,  28  and is open at the top end  30  thereof 
         [0021]    In the embodiment depicted in  FIG. 1 , there is provided a void through opening which defines within the framing wall  14  an open window  32  of generally closed rectangular geometry disposed generally centrally of the top portion  22  of the depression  12 . This window  32  is aligned with the line of sight of an observer located externally of the housing  10 . 
         [0022]    In accordance with one aspect of the present invention, a substantially transparent pane  34  is disposed within the window  32  and extends laterally away from the perimeter of the window  32  along an inner surface of the framing wall  14 . In the embodiment depicted in  FIG. 1 , the pane  34  defines an integrally formed support structure  36  keyed to the top and bottom portions  22 ,  24  of the depression  12 . The support structure  36  is disposed within the depression  12  as the pane  34  is disposed within the window  32 , thereby allowing an operative engagement of the support structure  36 , first and second side walls  26 ,  28  of the framing wall  14 , and the bottom portion  24  of the depression  12  along a portion of the floor  20  to restrain the pane  34  against movement proximate the framing wall  14 . In this manner, the support structure  36  extends in overlying relationship to a portion of the floor  20  of the housing  10  immediately adjacent a bottom end of the framing wall  14 . In another embodiment, the pane  34  is secured in place by at least one independent fastening device, such as an adhesive and/or a plurality of screws. Those skilled in the art will recognize other fastening devices suitable to secure the pane  34  within the window  32 , and such fastening devices may be used without departing from the spirit and scope of the present invention. 
         [0023]      FIG. 2  shows a perspective view of the embodiment of the housing  10  of  FIG. 1 . As shown in  FIG. 2 , the housing  10  has a substantially transparent pane  34  closing at least the window  32  in the framing wall  14 . As noted above, the top  54  of the housing  10  is open. In one embodiment of the present invention, an LCD  50  is received through the housing top  54  and mounted internally of the housing  10  proximate the framing wall  14  so as to be readily visible through the pane  34  within the field of view of an observer located externally of the housing  10 . Furthermore, the housing  10  is adapted to receive other of the well known components employed in animal training devices in electrical association with the LCD  50 . To this extent, the housing  10  defines various openings and voids  52 , such as a power switch opening and the like, and such openings and voids  52  are adapted to carry various components of an animal training device. Following installation and configuration of the various components of the animal training device, including the LCD  50 , a cover (not shown) is provided to substantially close the housing  10 . 
         [0024]    In one embodiment of the present invention, the pane  34  is an independent element which is merely fitted within the through opening  32 . In a preferred embodiment, the pane  34  is formed as an integral part of the housing  10 . In this embodiment, the housing  10  is manufactured by a method as depicted in  FIGS. 3-6 . The method of manufacture of the housing  10  includes first molding a polymeric material to form the plurality of walls  14 ,  16 ,  18 ,  20  as depicted in  FIGS. 1 and 2  including the depression  12  and the window  32  defined within the depression  12 . Referring to  FIG. 3 , a first mold  38  is provided for defining a void  40  shaped and sized to conform to the plurality of walls  14 ,  16 ,  18 ,  20  (see  FIG. 2 ). In  FIG. 4 , a cross-sectional view of the first mold  38  taken along line  4 - 4  of  FIG. 3  is depicted. As illustrated in  FIG. 4 , an amount of uncured moldable material  42  is forced by an injection molding apparatus (not shown) into the void  40 . The uncured moldable material is then cured, forming the plurality of walls  14 ,  16 ,  18 ,  20  including the depression  12  and through opening  32  within the first mold  38 . 
         [0025]      FIG. 5  shows the portion of the housing  10  formed in the operation described hereinabove, including the plurality of walls  14 ,  16 ,  18 ,  20 . Referring to  FIG. 5 , after forming the plurality of walls  14 ,  16 ,  18 ,  20 , at least the framing wall  14  is fitted with a two-part second mold  44 . A first part  56  of the second mold  44  overlies an outer surface of the framing wall  14  and covers the open window  32 . Additionally, an upper portion  58  of the first part  56  of the second mold  44  overlies the top end  30  of the depression  12  and terminates flush with an inner surface of the framing wall  14 . 
         [0026]    A second part  60  of the second mold  44  overlies the upper portion  58  of the first part  56  of the second mold  44  and the inner surface of the framing wall  14 , including covering of the depression  12  and the window  32 . A lower portion  62  of the second part  60  of the second mold  44  terminates at a horizontal location adjacent the floor  20  of the housing. In this configuration, the framing wall  14  cooperates with the floor  20  and the second part of the second mold  44  to define a narrow slit between the lower portion of the second part of the second mold  44  and the bottom portion  24  of the depression  12 , thereby permitting the outflow of a flowable molding material into the portion of the depression  12  defined by the floor  20 . 
         [0027]    Referring now to  FIG. 6 , at the top end of the second mold  44 , there is defined a sprue  64  leading from the exterior of the second mold  44  into the void depression  12  and its window  32 . By these means, the second mold  44  and the plurality of walls  14 ,  16 ,  18 ,  20  cooperate to define a molding cavity  46  which forms the shape of the depression  12  and its window  32 , i.e., the pane  34 . 
         [0028]    Formation of the pane  34  may be accomplished by injection through the sprue  64  and into the depression  12  and its window  32 , an uncured, flowable, transparent material  48 . When the injected transparent material  48  has cured or otherwise solidified, the first and second parts  56 ,  60  of the second mold  44  are removed, leaving the injected material integrally formed within the depression  12  and its window  32 . In the injection process, a portion of the flowable transparent material  48  flows between the lower portion  62  of the second part  60  of the second mold  44  and the floor  20  of the housing  10 . The portion of the transparent material  48  flows into overlying relationship with, and integrally bonds with, a portion of the floor  20  of the housing  10 , thereby ensuring complete closure and integration of the depression  12  and both the inner wall of the framing wall  14  and that portion of the floor  20  of the housing  10  which is adjacent the terminal end of the second part  60  of the second mold  44 . Moreover, in this embodiment of the invention, the extension of the molded transparent material  48  into the depression  12  and onto the floor  20  enhances the strength of the framing wall  14 . Particularly, such extension of the transparent material  48  enhances the torque resistance of the framing wall  14  and aids in the retention of the pane  34  in good sealing relationship with the perimeter of the window  32 . 
         [0029]    Those skilled in the art will appreciate that the exact configuration between the second mold  44  and the plurality of walls  14 ,  16 ,  18 ,  20  may vary without departing from the spirit and scope of the present invention. To this extent, in another embodiment, the molding cavity  46  defined by the two-part second mold  44  takes on the form of the window  32  only, thereby integrating the injected transparent material  48  within the perimeter of the window  32 . 
         [0030]    Referring again to  FIG. 2 , after formation of the pane  34  within the molding cavity  46 , the housing  10  is removed from the second mold  44 . After manufacture of the housing  10 , the pane  34  is configured to interface the framing wall  14  such as to at least integrally seal the perimeters of the pane  34  and the window  32  sufficient to protect the interior of the housing  10  against the entry of dust, moisture, debris, and the like. As noted, the molding operations of  FIGS. 3-6  preferably extend the cured transparent material into, and filling, the depression  12  as well as the window  32 . In either event, in the method of manufacture shown in  FIGS. 3-6 , the molding material  42  integrates with the polymeric material  48  of construction of the housing  10  to form a water-tight, or even air-tight, sealing of the pane  34  within the window  32 . By this means, the interior of the housing  10  is protected against the entry therein of dust, moisture, debris or other unwanted substance which might be injurious to the electrical circuitry disposed within the housing  10 . 
         [0031]    While the present invention has been illustrated by description of several embodiments and while the illustrative embodiments have been described in considerable detail, it is not the intention of the applicant to restrict or in any way limit the scope of the appended claims to such detail. Additional advantages and modifications will readily appear to those skilled in the art. The invention in its broader aspects is therefore not limited to the specific details, representative apparatus and methods, and illustrative examples shown and described. Accordingly, departures may be made from such details without departing from the spirit or scope of applicant&#39;s general inventive concept.