Patent Publication Number: US-10772302-B2

Title: Animal collar

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
     This application is a continuation of U.S. application Ser. No. 14/725,970, filed May 29, 2015, which claims priority to U.S. Provisional Application No. 62/031,928, filed Aug. 1, 2014, and to U.S. Provisional Application No. 62/006,599, filed Jun. 2, 2014, the entire contents of each of which are incorporated herein by reference. 
    
    
     FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention relates to a collar for an animal, in particular for a dog. 
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     Collars are commonly used on dogs. Dog collars typically include a tag attached to the collar or a name written on the collar to identify the dog, as well as a metal loop for attachment of a leash. Most dog collars also typically include a snap or buckle that fastens two ends of the collar about the neck. 
     SUMMARY 
     In accordance with one construction, a collar for an animal includes an elongate piece of flexible material having a first end and a second end, the first and second ends configured to be releasably coupled together about the neck of an animal. The collar also includes a lighting system coupled to the piece of material. The lighting system includes a power source and an optical element coupled to the power source. The optical element is at least partially embedded within the piece of material and extends along a length direction between the first and second ends. The optical element further includes an LED that is configured to illuminate a portion of the optical element when the power source is turned on. 
     In accordance with another construction, a collar for an animal includes an elongate piece of flexible material having a first end and a second end, the first and second ends configured to be releasably coupled together about the neck of an animal. The collar also includes a lighting system coupled to the piece of material, the lighting system including a power source coupled to the piece of material and an optical element coupled to the power source that is configured to be illuminated by the power source. The piece of material includes bands of different colors along an outer face, the outer face being a side of the collar that is exposed when the collar is worn. The bands of different colors include a first outer band of a first color, a second outer band of second color, and a third, inner band of a third color, the third color being lighter than the first and second colors. The third band is disposed adjacent the optical element. 
     Other aspects of the invention will become apparent by consideration of the detailed description and accompanying drawings. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         FIG. 1  is a perspective view of a collar according to one construction, shown around a dog&#39;s neck. 
         FIG. 2  is a perspective view of the collar of  FIG. 1 . 
         FIG. 3  is a front view of the collar of  FIG. 1 . 
         FIG. 4  is a partial, disassembled view of the collar of  FIG. 1  illustrating a power button on a battery housing of the collar. 
         FIG. 5  is a partial, disassembled view of the collar of  FIG. 1  illustrating a printed circuit board within the battery housing. 
         FIG. 6  is a partial, disassembled view of the collar of  FIG. 1 , illustrating a full length of an optical element  66  of the collar. 
         FIG. 7  is a perspective view of a collar according to another construction, shown around a dog&#39;s neck. 
         FIG. 8  is a perspective view of the collar of  FIG. 7 . 
         FIG. 9  is a front view of the collar of  FIG. 7 . 
         FIG. 10  is a perspective view of the collar of  FIG. 7  shown around a dog&#39;s neck, illustrating a different battery housing. 
         FIG. 11  is a perspective view of the battery housing of  FIG. 10 . 
         FIG. 12  is a front view of the battery housing of  FIG. 10 . 
         FIG. 13  is a back view of the battery housing of  FIG. 10 . 
         FIG. 14  is a front view of a portion of a collar according to another construction. 
         FIG. 15  is a cross-sectional view of the collar of  FIG. 14 . 
         FIG. 16  is a schematic view of the collar of  FIG. 14 . 
     
    
    
     Before any embodiments of the invention are explained in detail, it is to be understood that the invention is not limited in its application to the details of construction and the arrangement of components set forth in the following description or illustrated in the following drawings. The invention is capable of other embodiments and of being practiced or of being carried out in various ways. Also, it is to be understood that the phraseology and terminology used herein is for the purpose of description and should not be regarded as limited. 
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
       FIGS. 1-16  illustrate a collar  10 . While the collar  10  is illustrated in the context of a dog collar, the collar  10  may be used on various other animals, including cats or other pets. 
     As illustrated in  FIG. 3 , the collar  10  includes an elongate piece of material  14  having a first end  18  and a second end  22 . The illustrated piece of material  14  is a flexible, woven fabric. Other constructions use different materials (e.g., plastic) for the piece of material  14 . 
     The collar  10  includes a first buckle portion  26  coupled to the first end  18  and a second buckle portion  30  coupled to the second end  22 . The first buckle portion  26  is a female mating component, and the second buckle portion  30  is a male mating component that includes prongs  34  that releasably engage the first buckle portion  26  to couple the first and second ends  18 ,  22  together about the dog&#39;s neck ( FIG. 1 ). Other constructions include different structures (e.g., snaps) for releasably coupling the first and second ends  18 ,  22  together. 
     The collar  10  also includes an adjustment mechanism  38  coupled to the piece of material  14 . The illustrated adjustment mechanism  38  is a clip through which the piece of material  14  passes that allows a user to adjust an overall length of the collar  10 . Other constructions include different types of adjustment mechanisms  38  (e.g., different types and sizes of clips than that illustrated). In some constructions no adjustment mechanism  38  is provided, such that the length of the collar  10  is fixed. 
     With reference to  FIGS. 4-6 , the collar  10  includes a lighting system  42  that emits light from the collar  10 . The lighting system  10  includes a power source  46 . In the illustrated construction the power source  46  includes a battery housing  50  with a cover  54  and a single battery  56  ( FIG. 5 ) disposed within the battery housing  50 . The illustrated battery housing  50  is generally oval in size and shape, and has a width  58  ( FIG. 3 ) that is approximately equal to (e.g., slightly larger than) a width  62  of the piece of material  14 . In some constructions a portion or portions of the battery housing  50  are coupled to the piece of material  14  (e.g., with adhesive). Other constructions include different sizes and shapes for the battery housing  50 . In a preferred construction, a single battery  56  is disposed in the battery housing  50  and is a common button cell battery, such as that used in watches (e.g., a 1-3 Volt type battery). The single battery  56  by itself advantageously provides sufficient power for the lighting system  42 , without the need for multiple batteries, although other constructions include different numbers and types of batteries. 
     With continued reference to  FIGS. 4-6 , the lighting system  42  further includes an optical element  66  which includes at least one light-emitting diode (“LED”)  68  ( FIG. 6 ) disposed (e.g., embedded) therein. The illustrated optical element  66  is an elongate clear plastic strip or tubular element having a width  70  ( FIG. 6 ) that is smaller than the width  62  ( FIG. 3 ) of the piece of material  14 . The optical element  66 , including the LED  68 , is coupled to a printed circuit board  74  ( FIG. 5 ) of the power source  46  via wires  78 . The optical element  66  has optical properties that internally reflect and/or refract light along the optical element  66 , even when the optical element  66  is bent or curved. The illustrated optical element  66  is semi-perfect and allows light to escape. The optical element  66  is embedded into the piece of material  14 , so that the optical element  66  is partially or entirely hidden within the piece of material  14 , and emits light through openings  82  ( FIG. 5 ) in the woven material of the piece of material  14 . To embed the optical element  66 , a portion of the piece of material  14  is cut, or slit, at a location  84  ( FIGS. 5 and 6 ) along the piece of material  14 , and the optical element  66  is slid behind the portion of the piece of material  14  (e.g. between two strips of woven fabric that form the piece of material  14 ). Other constructions include different arrangements or methods of embedding the optical element  66 . In some constructions the optical element  66  is a fiber optic cable with small openings to allow the light to escape. In some constructions the optical element  66  is a light pipe. 
     With reference to  FIGS. 3-6 , the optical element  66  extends lengthwise along the piece of material  14  between the first and second ends  18 ,  22 . The LED  68  directs light along this lengthwise direction. The optical element  66  extends approximately half of a length  86  ( FIG. 3 ) of the piece of material  14 , so that during use when the collar  10  is coupled to the neck of an animal, the optical element  66  extends approximately 180 degrees around the animal&#39;s neck, in a front-facing region of the neck below the animal&#39;s jaw. Of course, other constructions may include optical elements  66  that extend completely around the collar or that extend different lengths than illustrated and described herein. In addition, some constructions may include optical elements that include dark regions that provide a broken light effect with two or more separated light strips. 
     The optical element  66  provides light through use of one, or more than one, LED  68  within the optical element  66 . In preferred constructions a single LED  68  is used to emit light through the optical element  66 . The use of a single LED  68  requires little battery power, thereby allowing a single battery to provide the necessary power. The light emitted from the LED  68  or LEDs  68  travels along the optical element  66  in a circumferential direction around the dog&#39;s neck, lighting up a portion of the collar  10  and emitting light away from the dog&#39;s neck. The use of an LED  68 , coupled with the optical element  66 , provides excellent light dispersion/bending around the collar  10  and low electrical cost. This provides both a uniform band of light as well as reduced battery drain. 
     With reference to  FIGS. 1-4 and 6 , the lighting system  42  also includes a power button  90  that activates and deactivates the optical element  66  (e.g., activates and deactivates the LED  68  within the optical element  66 ). The power button  90  is a push-button disposed generally in a center of the cover  54 , opposite the printed circuit board  74  and wires  70 . In use, when the power button  90  is pressed a first time the optical element  66  illuminates. When the power button  90  is pressed a second time the optical element  66  turns off. Other constructions include other types and locations for the power button  90 , as well as other processes or steps for activating and deactivating the optical element  66 . In some constructions, the collar  10  includes a remote sensor that detects activation from a remote control to allow remote activation of the optical element  66 . RF, IR or other suitable remote control schemes are possible. In still other constructions, the collar  10  is formed in conjunction with a shock or training collar to allow remote activation using the same remote control as is used for training purposes. In some constructions the collar  10  includes a light sensor that activates the optical element  66  in the collar  10  when ambient light drops below a predefined intensity. 
     With reference to  FIGS. 7-9 , in some constructions the piece of material  14  includes a transparent (e.g., fully transparent or semi-transparent) strip  100 . The optical element  66  is embedded within the piece of material  14  behind or underneath the strip  100 , so that light emitted from the optical element  66  passes through the strip  100 . In the illustrated construction the strip  100  is a woven plastic strip surrounded by woven fabric. The strip  100  provides added light transmission capability to the collar  10 , thereby further reducing the battery power required and/or increasing the intensity of the light emitted from the collar  10 . 
     With reference to  FIG. 7 , the strip  100  extends approximately half of the length  86  of the piece of material  14 , so that during use when the collar  10  is coupled to the neck of an animal, both the strip  100  and the optical element  66  underneath the strip  100  extend approximately 180 degrees around the animal&#39;s neck, in a front-facing region of the neck below the animal&#39;s jaw. With reference to  FIG. 9 , the strip  100  also has a width  104  substantially equivalent to the width  70  ( FIG. 6 ) of the optical element  66 . Other constructions include different shapes and sizes for the strip  100 . 
     With reference to  FIGS. 10-13 , in some constructions the collar  10  includes a back portion  106  ( FIGS. 11 and 13 ) that at least partially covers the piece of material  14  behind the battery housing  50 , such that the piece of material  14  passes between the battery housing  50  and the back portion  106 . The illustrated back portion  106  is a separate piece of material coupled to the piece of material  14  (e.g., with adhesive). In some constructions the back portion  106  is coupled to the battery housing  50  without being fixedly attached to the piece of material  14 . In some constructions the back portion  106  is integrally formed as one piece with at least a portion of the battery housing  50 . In some constructions the back portion  106  is coupled to the battery housing  50  with fasteners or other structures, or is coupled to the piece of material  14  via a friction fit. 
     With reference to  FIGS. 14-16 , in some constructions the elongate piece of material  14  includes bands  110  of different color along an outer face  114  of the collar, the outer face  114  being a side of the collar  10  that is exposed when the collar  10  is worn. For example, and with reference to  FIG. 14 , in some constructions the elongate piece of material  14  includes a first outer band  118  of dark color (e.g., dark green, black, etc.), a second outer band  122  of dark color (e.g., dark green, black, etc.), and a third inner band  126  of lighter or moderate color (e.g., light yellow, yellow, light orange, orange, etc.) disposed between the first and second bands  118 ,  122 . Of course, other constructions include various other colors, darknesses of colors, numbers of bands, and arrangements of bands  110 , to provide different aesthetics to the outer face  114 . In some constructions the collar  10  includes just a single band  126  (e.g., light colored) extending across the entire collar  10 . 
     With reference to  FIG. 15 , in the illustrated construction the third, light-colored band  126  is disposed directly above and adjacent the embedded optical element  66 . The elongate piece of material  14  also includes an inner face  130 , which in conjunction with the outer face  114 , embeds the optical element  66 . 
     With reference to  FIG. 16 , the outer face  114  is comprised of various layers and types of fabric (e.g., thread, yarn, fiber, etc.). In particular, the outer face  114  includes a first type of fabric  134  (e.g., a dark green fabric) that is used for the first and second bands  118 ,  122 . The outer face  114  also includes a second type of fabric  138  (e.g., a light yellow fabric, etc.) that is used for the third band  126 . The first and second types of fabric  134 ,  138  are woven or otherwise formed generally vertically (i.e., along an elongated length of the collar  10 ) as shown in  FIG. 16 . 
     The outer face  114  also includes a third type of fabric  142  that is disposed beneath the first and second types of fabric  134 ,  138 . The third type of fabric  142  is woven or otherwise formed generally horizontally (i.e., along a width of the collar  10 ), in a direction transverse to the first and second types of fabric  134 ,  138 . In the illustrated construction the third type of fabric  142  is a clear plastic thread. The clear plastic thread facilitates transmission of light from the embedded optical element  66  into and through the third band  126 . In other constructions the third type of fabric  142  is a white or other very light colored fabric, or any other type of fabric that facilitates transmission of light. The use of the third type of fabric  142  facilitates transmission of light through various colors of fabrics, yet still permits darker fabrics (e.g., dark green, black, etc.) to be used for the outer first and second bands  118 ,  122 . 
     In some constructions the inner face  136  also has the same construction of layers, bands, and fabrics as the outer face  114  described above, such that the collar may be switched and worn inside out with the same capability to transmit light. 
     Although the invention has been described in detail with reference to certain preferred embodiments, variations and modifications exist within the scope and spirit of one or more independent aspects of the invention as described.