Patent Publication Number: US-2007101923-A1

Title: Poochie-bells

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
      1. Field of the Invention  
      The present invention relates to pet alarms in general and, more particularly, to lightweight, low-cost mechanical alarms for pets.  
      2. Brief Description of Related Technology  
      Current devices that allow a pet to communicate its need to go outside or inside include doormats wherein the pet steps on the doormat to alert its owner. The doormat typically contains electrical wiring, which sends an auditory signal when the pet steps on the doormat. These doormat devices may be used outside or inside a door. If used outside a door, the doormats may be exposed to weather and elements, and thus the internal electrical wiring may be susceptible to weather damage. The doormats typically require battery power, which must be replaced at certain intervals of time. Moreover, the doormats can be expensive. Therefore, a need in the art exists for a non-powered, inexpensive pet alarm device that is not susceptible to weather damage.  
      Pet chimes are yet another device whereby pets may communicate their need to go outside with their owner. The pet chime device is battery operated and includes a wireless doorbell and a remote control transmitter. In operation, the pet owner places the remote control transmitter on the floor or wall near a door. The pet is then trained to place its paw or mouth on the remote control transmitter, which sends a radio frequency signal to activate the wireless doorbell up to a distance of 100 feet. Several disadvantages are inherent in the pet chime device. Like the doormat device, the pet chime device is battery powered, and is susceptible to discontinued operation when the battery dies. Also like the doormat device, the pet chime device is relatively expensive. Finally, the remote control transmitter must be placed within  100  feet from the wireless doorbell in order to activate the wireless doorbell. Large homes with multiple doors may require more than one pet chime device.  
      In addition to doormats and door chime devices, pet owners may hang hotel bells on door handles and train their pets to activate the hotel bell. Alternatively, the pet owners can place the hotel bell on the floor for their pet to step on. The hotel bell is comprised of a simple loop of rigid material that is fixedly attached to a single bell.  
      Several disadvantages exist to a hotel bells used as a pet alarm device. For example, the fixed nature of the loop enables the bell to be slipped over a simple knob-shaped door handle, but does not enable the loop to be opened, slid through a D-shaped door handle and closed around the D-shaped door handle. In addition, the hotel bells include only one bell, which is located near the door handle when the bell is hung on the door handle. Small pets are unable to reach and activate the hotel bells. Another disadvantage is that the door could be scratched and damaged if the pet tugs on the bell. Moreover, the loop could break because the loop is rigid and provides no yield when the pet tugs on the bell. Furthermore, the hotel bell is fixedly attached to the loop and is not replaceable, and thus a broken loop would render the entire device useless. Additionally, the loop of the hotel bell may be large enough for the pet to inadvertently slip its neck or a paw through the loop, resulting in injury to the pet. If the hotel bell is placed on the grounds, the pet or pet owner could trip on the hotel bell, and the device could become lost. Finally, the bells utilized in hotel bells are not designed especially for pets, and thus are not reinforced to prevent against being crushed by the pet.  
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
      According to the present invention, a pet alarm device for alerting pet owners includes a main body adapted to hang from a door handle and at least one signal device secured onto the main body and adapted to alarm pet owners. The main body of the pet alarm device includes an elongate flexible support and a first loop adapted to being hung from a door handle. One or more signal devices can be bells which are substantially spherical and preferably fabricated from reinforced steel. The main body is fabricated from either ribbon, cord or elastic material and is adapted to provide yield should the pet tug on the device.  
      According to feature of the present invention, a replacement main body for the pet alarm device can be provided. The replacement main body includes a main body adapted to be hung from a door handle.  
      These and other features, objects, and advantages of the present invention will be better understood in view of the drawings and detailed description. 
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       FIG. 1  is a front view of one embodiment of the device according to the present invention;  
       FIG. 2  is a side view of the device shown in  FIG. 1 ;  
       FIG. 3  is a perspective view of the device shown in  FIG. 1 , as used by a small pet;  
       FIG. 4  is a perspective view of the device shown in  FIG. 1 , as used by a large pet;  
       FIG. 5  is a front view of a replacement ribbon; and  
       FIG. 6  is a side view of the replacement ribbon of  FIG. 5 . 
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENTS  
      Referring to  FIGS. 1-4 , a pet alarm device  10  includes a main body  11  comprised of a flexible support  12  adapted to being hung on a door handle  13  of a door  14 . The flexible support  12  is preferably elongate and is preferably fabricated of grosgrain ribbon, which provides aesthetic qualities to the pet alarm device  10 . As may be appreciated, any type of flexible support  12  may be used, including, but not limited to, rope, fabric, cordage, belting, elastic, and leather. The flexible support  12  should be a length that clears the floor yet allows the pet alarm device  10  to be accessible to pets of different size. For example, a good length for the pet alarm device  10  is approximately 25 inches because this length prevents the pet alarm device  10  from hitting the floor when hung on a door handle  13 , while allowing pets of different size to reach the pet alarm device  10 , as shown in  FIGS. 3 and 4 .  
      As shown in  FIGS. 1 and 2 , the flexible support  12  includes a first loop  18  adapted for securing the pet alarm device  10  to the door handle  13 . Alternatively, the first loop  18  may be adapted to being hung from a hook mounted to a wall, or to any suitable surface. Preferably, the first loop  18  is provided by securing a detachable fastener  16  to the flexible support  12  at approximately 12 inches from the top of the flexible support  12 , thereby resulting in an approximate 6 inch loop. The detachable fastener  16  is disengageable, and provides a means for attaching the pet alarm device  10  to a variety of door handle shapes. For example, the detachable fastener  16  may be disengaged to slide the pet alarm device  10  through a D-shaped door handle  13  and reengaged to secure the first loop  18  around the D-shaped door handle  13 .  
      The flexible support  12  may also include one or more additional loops  20 ,  22 . The additional loops  20  and  22  are provided by securing detachable fasteners  16  to the pet alarm device  10  at different lengths relative to the floor. The detachable fasteners  16  are disengageable, thereby lengthening the pet alarm device  10  when open. Moreover, in the event that the pet tugs or pulls on the pet alarm device  10 , the detachable fasteners  16  will disengage, thereby providing yield to the pet alarm device  10 . Disengagement of the detachable fasteners  16  prevents the pet alarm device  10  from tearing or breaking. Suitable detachable fasteners  16  include, but are not limited to, snaps, hook-and-loop fasteners such as Velcro® fasteners (Velcro is a registered trademark of Velcro Industries B.V.), and buttons.  
      Referring to  FIGS. 1 through 4 , the pet alarm device  10  also includes one or more signal devices  26  that may be activated by the pet. As shown in  FIGS. 1 and 2 , the signal devices  26  in the preferred embodiment are bells. More particularly, the signal devices  26  utilized in the present invention may be bells made of reinforced steel. The reinforced steel prevents the pet from crushing the bells with its mouth. In addition, the signal devices  26  may be bells of spherical shape. The spherical shape of the bells prevents the pet from damaging the door  14  when the bells come into contact with the door  14 . It may be readily appreciated, however, that the signal devices  26  may be any type of device that make noise when activated and provides a means for a pet to indicate a need to go outside to its pet owner.  
      The signal devices  26  may be attached to the pet alarm device  10  at any suitable length, that is, at any length accessible by the pet. Preferably, the signal devices  26  are attached to the pet alarm device  10  at approximately 8 inches and 18 inches from the floor, thereby providing access to pets of different size. As shown in  FIGS. 3 and 4 , smaller pets may use the lower set of signal devices  26  and larger pets may use the higher set of signal devices  26 . Moreover, since the pet alarm device  10  is flexible, a pet can use the device by batting with its paws or by pulling with its mouth.  
      As shown in  FIGS. 1 and 2 , the signal devices  26  may be fastened to the main body  11  by detachable members  24 . The flexible support  12  of the main body  11  includes one or more openings  28  that are adapted to receive the detachable members  24 . Providing the signal devices  26  on detachable members  24  allows the signal devices  26  to be removed from the main body  11 . The detachable members  24  may be slid into or out of the openings  28 . This may be desirable if the main body  11  is damaged for any reason, or if the pet owner wishes to use a main body  11  of different aesthetic appearance. As shown in  FIGS. 1 and 2 , the detachable members  24  are split rings. It may be appreciated, however, that the detachable members may be any type of device that allows the signal devices  26  to be attached to and removed from main body  11 . It may also be appreciated that the signal devices  26  may be fastened directly to the main body  11 , thereby eliminating the need for detachable members  24 . For example, the signal devices  26  may be sewn directly onto the flexible support  12  of the main body  11 .  
      Referring to  FIGS. 5-6 , the present invention includes a replacement main body  11   a . The replacement main body  11   a  is comprised of an elongate flexible support  12 . Preferably, the flexible support  12  is a grosgrain ribbon having a first loop  18  for securing the pet alarm device  10  to a door handle  13 . The first loop  18  may be provided by securing a detachable fastener  16  to the flexible support  12  at approximately 12 inches from the top of the flexible support  12 , thereby resulting in a 6 inch loop that may be disengaged and slid through a variety of door handle shapes. The replacement main body  11   a  may also include one or more additional loops  20 ,  22  provided by securing detachable fasteners  16  to the flexible support  12 . The additional loops  20 ,  22  provide yield to the replacement main body  11   a  when the pet tugs on the flexible support  12 . The replacement main body  11   a  includes one or more openings  28  adapted to receive one or more detachable members  24 , such as split rings, which provide a means for securing the signal devices  26  to the replacement main body  11   a . Providing a replacement main body  11   a  allows the pet owner to change the aesthetic appearance of the existing main body  11 . Additionally, providing a replacement main body  11   a  is also beneficial in the event that the main body  11  becomes overly worn or the pet chews on or otherwise destroys the main body  11 .  
      In operation, the pet owner provides the pet access to the pet alarm device  10  by sliding the first loop  18  over a knob-shaped door handle  13 , as shown in  FIGS. 3 and 4 . The first loop  18  may also be hung on a hook mounted to a wall. Alternatively, the pet owner may secure the pet alarm device  10  to a D-shaped door handle  13  by disengaging the detachable fastener  16 , sliding the main body  11  through the D-shaped door handle  13  and reengaging the detachable fastener  16 . The pet alarm device  10  may be hung inside or outside a door  14 , as shown in  FIGS. 3 and 4 . A pet with a desire to go inside or outside may approach the pet alarm device  10  and put its nose, paw, mouth or other body part into contact with the pet alarm device  10 . By contacting the pet alarm device  10 , the pet activates one or more signal devices  26 . Activation of the signal devices  26  sends an auditory signal to the pet owner, who is alerted of the pet&#39;s desire to enter or exit the house. Preferably, as shown in  FIGS. 3 and 4 , at least two sets of signal devices  26  are provided at different heights relative to the floor so that both small and large pets can activate the signal devices  26 . Additionally, a replacement main body  11   a  is provided so the pet owner may optionally change the aesthetic appearance of the pet alarm device  10 . The replacement main body  11   a  also prevents the device from becoming useless in the event that the pet chews on or otherwise destroys the main body  11 . Preferably, the signal devices  26  are disposed on detachable members  24  to allow the signal devices to be removed from the main body and secured onto the replacement main body  11   a.    
      The present invention offers many advantages over existing devices that allow pets to alert their owners of a need to go inside or outside. The primary advantage to the present invention is its lightweight, low-cost properties. For example, unlike battery-powered devices that lose functionality when the power source is depleted, the present invention is operable by mechanical means and therefore is not dependent on a power source. Other advantages of the present invention are certain safety features. For example, the first loop  18  and additional loops  20 ,  22  are too small for a pet to inadvertently slip its neck or paws through, thereby preventing strangulation or other forms of injury. Yet another advantage to the present invention is that it will not scratch or otherwise damage the door  14 . For example, the signal devices  26  of the preferred embodiment are spherical shaped bells made of reinforced steel that will not scratch the door  14  if they come into contact with the door  14 . Moreover, the detachable fasteners  16  provide yield to the pet alarm device  10 . For example, in the event that the pet tugs on the pet alarm device  10 , the detachable fasteners  16  will disengage, thereby reducing force on, and preventing damage to, the door handle  13 . Still another advantage to the present invention is its accessibility to pets of different size. For example, as shown in  FIGS. 3 and 4 , the preferred embodiment of the present invention includes at least two sets of signal devices  26 . The two sets of signal devices  26  are provided at different heights relative to the floor so that both small and large pets can easily contact the signal devices  26 . Finally, providing a replacement main body  11   a  is another advantage to the present invention. For example, the pet alarm device  10  is not rendered useless if the main body  11  becomes damaged or worn. Moreover, providing a replacement main body  11   a  allows the pet owner to change the aesthetic appearance of the pet alarm device  10  according to his or her preference.  
      While the present invention has been described with reference to the preferred embodiments, it will be understood by those skilled in the art that various obvious changes may be made, and equivalents may be substituted for elements thereof, without departing from the essential scope of the present invention. Therefore, it is intended that the invention include all embodiments falling within the scope of the appended claims.