Patent Publication Number: US-2005120977-A1

Title: Pet repelling mat

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS  
      This Application is a continuation application of application Ser. No. 10/426,503, filed Apr. 30, 2003. 
    
    
     STATEMENT REGARDING FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH OR DEVELOPMENT  
      Not Applicable  
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
      1. Field of Invention  
      This invention pertains to a device for correcting the undesired behaviors of a pet that are relative to a specific isolated location. More particularly, this invention pertains to a device for restraining a pet from approaching a portable predefined location of restriction by administering a deterrent to the pet as it approaches the predefined location of restriction.  
      2. Description of the Related Art  
      Many domestic pets present undesirable behaviors that are related to and dependent on a particular isolated location. Some examples of this type of behavior include a dog eating the food of a cat or a pet toppling a trashcan. It is understood that restraining the pet from approaching the particular isolated location relating to the undesired behavior would eliminate the behavior. It is also understood that pets without behavior problems need not and, in some situations, cannot be restricted from the particular location of interest. One traditional solution to this issue is to restrain the pet with the undesired behavior from the particular location by positioning a fence, gate, or other physical-type boundary around the particular location. This solution is limited in that it is space consuming, decoratively unappealing, and potentially destroyable or surmountable by the pet under consideration. Additionally, this approach restricts all pets, not just the pet with an undesirable behavior, from accessing the particular location.  
      Another conventional solution to the issue of correcting the undesired behaviors of a pet that are relative to a specific isolated location is the implementation of an invisible restraint, which is typically referred to as an invisible fence. Conventional invisible restraints include an insulated conductive wire, a transmitter, and a receiver. The wire is disposed such that it defines the perimeter of the desired area of restriction and serves as an antenna for the transmitter, which emits a radio signal that produces and electromagnetic field that radiates from the wire. The receiver is worn by a pet and is responsive to the electromagnetic field such that as the equipped pet approaches the wire, the receiver detects the field and administers a deterrent to the pet, thus restraining the pet from continuing toward the restricted area.  
      Conventional invisible restraints are limited in that they require time-consuming installation and become locationally fixed upon installation. The outdoor installation of a conventional invisible restraint typically includes positioning the wire to define the perimeter of the desired area of restriction, digging a trench for the wire, placing the wire in the trench, filling the trench with soil, connecting the wire to the transmitter, inserting batteries into the appropriate components, and attaching the receiver to a pet. Additionally, once the wire is buried, it cannot be repositioned without unearthing the wire. The indoor installation includes manually positioning the wire to define the perimeter of the desired area of restriction, connecting the wire to the transmitter, inserting batteries into the appropriate components, and attaching the receiver to a pet. However, upon installation, an exposed wire surrounds the restricted area. This wire is susceptible to being inadvertently moved from its desired position or tripped over by a passerby.  
      Conventional pet correction mats also propose a solution to the issue of correcting the undesired behaviors of a pet that are relative to a specific isolated location. A pet correction mat discourages a pet from touching the mat by administering a static stimulation to the pet when the pet contacts the mat. Therefore, when a pet correction mat is positioned at the desired area of restriction, a pet cannot access the restricted area without receiving a static stimulus, thus restraining the pet. Because a pet correction mat administers a static stimulus to anything that contacts the mat, a pet correction mat cannot distinguish between the pet with an undesired behavior and a pet that needs no discipline. Therefore, a conventional pet correction mat prevents pets without behavior problems and even humans from accessing the desired area of restriction. This condition limits the pet correction mat from being of value for situations such as the previously discussed examples of a dog eating a cat&#39;s food or a dog toppling a trashcan.  
     BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
      In accordance with the various features of the present invention there is provided a pet-repellent device for correcting undesirable pet behaviors that are associated with a particular location by restraining a pet from approaching a predefined location of restriction, which corresponds to the particular location of issue. The perimeter of the location of restriction is defined by a wire that serves as an antenna for broadcasting a signal that is produced by a signal generating device. The wire is carried by a portable mat such that the mat, for practical purposes, substantially defines the location of restriction. A receiver that is carried by a pet is responsive to the signal produced by the signal generating device such that as the equipped pet approaches the predefined location of restriction, the receiver detects the signal that is broadcast by the wire and administers a deterrent to the pet, thus restraining the pet from continuing toward the location of restriction. Because the wire is carried by a portable mat, the predefined location of restriction is easily relocated in accordance with changing undesired pet behaviors that are associated with a particular location. Additionally, the pet-repellent device requires substantially no installation other than attaching the receiver to a pet and placing the mat at the desired restricted area.  
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWINGS  
      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:  
       FIG. 1  is an illustration of a pet-repellent mat constructed in accordance with various features of the present invention and a dog wearing a receiver collar.  
       FIG. 2  illustrates the pet-repellent device of  FIG. 1  restraining a dog from approaching a cat food bowl.  
       FIG. 3  illustrates the pet-repellent device of  FIG. 1  restraining a dog from approaching a trashcan. 
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION  
      One embodiment of a pet-repellent mat for correcting undesirable pet behaviors that are associated with a particular restricted area and constructed in accordance with various features of the present invention is illustrated generally at  10  in  FIG. 1 . The perimeter of the location of restriction is defined by a wire that serves as an antenna for broadcasting a signal that is produced by a signal generating device. The wire is carried by a portable mat such that the mat, for practical purposes, substantially defines the location of restriction. A receiver that is carried by a pet is responsive to the signal produced by the signal generating device such that as the equipped pet approaches the predefined location of restriction, the receiver detects the signal that is broadcast by the wire and administers a deterrent to the pet, thus restraining the pet from continuing toward the restricted area. Because the wire is carried by a portable mat, the predefined location of restriction is easily relocated in accordance with changing undesired pet behaviors that are associated with a particular location. Additionally, the pet-repellent device  10  requires substantially no installation other than attaching the receiver to a pet and placing the mat at the desired location of restriction.  
      More specifically,  FIG. 1  illustrates a perspective view of the pet-repellent device or mat  10  in accordance with the various features of the present invention. The pet-repellent device  10  includes a signal generating device  12  that is in electrical communication with a wire  16  such that the wire  16  serves as an antenna for broadcasting the signal that is produced by the conventional signal generating device  12 . In this particular embodiment, the signal produced by the signal generating device  12  is a radio signal that generates an electromagnetic field that radiates from the wire  16 . The wire  16  defines the perimeter of the location of restriction and, in the illustrated embodiment, is disposed along the outer edge of a mat  14  such that the mat  14  substantially defines the location of restriction. In the illustrated embodiment, the wire  16  is embedded within the mat  14 , however, those skilled in the art will recognize that other ways of adapting the wire  16  to be carried by the mat  14  can be used without interfering with the scope or spirit of the present invention. Additionally, those skilled in the art will recognize that variations in the geometry of the wire  16  with regard to the mat  14  can be used as desire.  
      The pet-repellent mat  10  also includes a conventional receiver  18  that is carried by a pet. In the illustrated embodiment, the receiver  18  is attached to a pet by way of a collar, however, those skilled in the art will recognize that other ways of attaching the receiver  18  to a pet can be used. The receiver  18  is responsive to the electromagnetic field that radiates from the wire  16  such that as the receiver  18  approaches the wire  16 , the receiver  18  detects the electromagnetic field and administers a deterrent to the equipped pet. The distance between the receiver and the antenna wire required for triggering the pet deterrent signal can be selected by varying the strength of the transmittal signal and/or the sensitivity of the receiver. The type of deterrent signal can be selected and may include the emission of a substantially loud noise, an electric stimulus, or a verbal command that is prerecorded by the pet owner. Therefore, when an equipped pet moves to close to the predefined location of restriction, a deterrent restrains the pet from continuing toward the restricted location. Those skilled in the art will recognize that the type of deterrent, as long as effective and safe for the pet, can be chosen by the user.  
      As an example illustrated in  FIG. 2 , the particular undesired behavior of the illustrated dog is that the dog repeatedly eats the food of the illustrated cat. When the receiver  18  is attached to the dog and the illustrated cat food bowl is placed on the mat  14 , the dog cannot approach the mat  14  without receiving a deterrent, thus restraining the dog from approaching the mat  14  and preventing the dog from eating the food of the cat. Because the cat does not carry a receiver  18 , the cat is able to approach and penetrate the location of restriction defined by the mat  14  without being subject to a deterrent. Similarly, as illustrated in  FIG. 3 , the particular undesired behavior is that the illustrated dog is repeatedly toppling a trashcan. When the receiver  18  is attached to the dog and the illustrated trashcan is placed on the mat  14 , the dog cannot approach the mat  14  without receiving a deterrent, thus restraining the dog from approaching the mat  14  and preventing the dog from toppling the trashcan. Moreover, the illustrated person is able to access the predefined location of restriction without being subject a deterrent.  
      The installation of the pet-repellent device  10  is accomplished by inserting batteries into the appropriate components, attaching the receiver  18  to a pet, and placing the mat  14  at the desired location of restriction. The simplicity of the installation of the pet-repellent device  10  is indicative of the portability of the pet-repellent device  10 . This portability allows a pet owner to easily adjust the location of the pet-repellent device  10  in accordance with the changing needs of the pet owner.  
      From the foregoing description, those skilled in the art will recognize that a device for restraining a pet from a predefined location of restriction offering advantages over the prior art has been provided. The device provides a mat that substantially defines a location of restriction and a receiver that is carried by a pet that administers a deterrent to the pet when the pet approaches the predefined location of restriction. Further, the device provides access to the location of restriction for pets that do not present an undesirable behavior. Finally, the device provides a pet-repellent device that requires substantially no installation, thus providing a highly portable location of restriction.  
      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 invention.