GB2393833A

GB2393833A - Pet-flaps and apparatus for use therewith

Info

Publication number: GB2393833A
Application number: GB0319737A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Roger Huffadine
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2002-08-24
Filing date: 2003-08-22
Publication date: 2004-04-07
Also published as: GB0219831D0; GB0319737D0

Abstract

An apparatus for use in combination with a pet-flap 100 such as a cat-flap, comprising a frame which defines an opening through which the pet may pass, a flap moveably fixed to the frame and which is adapted to be moved by the pet on passing through the frame between a closed position in which it covers the opening defined by the frame and an open position in which the opening is uncovered, the apparatus comprising a direction determining means, which is adapted to produce an output signal indicative of the direction the pet is passing through the opening and a communication means which is adapted to transmit a signal dependent upon the output signal from the determining means to a remote display 201 to indicate to a viewer of the display the movement of the pet though the opening. The apparatus may also record the time at which the pet passes, and the identity of the pet as determined by a radio frequency identification device or similar. The display may be a remote communication device such as a mobile phone, and the signal may be of the form of a Short Message Service (SMS) message.

Description

PET-FLAPS AND APPARATUS FOR USE THEREWITH

This invention relates to improvements in openings such as may be provided within a wall, door or window or the like for the entry and exit 5 of pets to a dwelling, hereinafter referred to as "pet-flaps", typically cat-

flaps. In particular, it relates to an apparatus for use in combination with a pet-flap or the like, and an improved pet-flap apparatus.

It is well known to provide a frame surrounding an opening in a door to a 10 house or other building which permits a cat or other pet to enter and exit the building at will. The opening is usually large enough to allow the pet to pass but too small for a person to pass through. To prevent draughts the opening is typically provided with a hinged panel, usually swinging from a horizontal hinge extending across the top of the opening. A latch 15 may be provided to fix the flap in a closed position for when the owner of the pet wishes to be sure that the pet is kept inside or outside of the building, for example at night or when the owner is on holiday.

Most cat (and other pet) owners care greatly for their pets and it can be 20 most distressing to the owner if they do not know where the pet is. For example, considerable time and energy may be spent at night making sure the pet is inside before the owner can relax and go to sleep. With a standard cat flap, it is not possible to tell if the pet is inside or outside of the house and a search may be needed to check.

An object of the present invention is to provide an improved cat-flap, which at least partially ameliorates this problem.

According to a first aspect the invention provides apparatus for use in 30 combination with a pet-flap, such as a cat-flap, comprising a frame which

i defines an opening through which the pet may pass, a flap moveably fixed to the frame and which is adapted to be moved by the pet on passing through the frame between a closed position in which it covers the opening defined by the frame and an open position in which the opening is 5 uncovered, the apparatus comprising: a direction determining means, which is adapted to produce an output signal indicative of the direction the pet is passing through the opening; and a communication means which is adapted to transmit a signal dependent 10 upon the output signal from the determining means to a remote display to indicate to a viewer of the display the movement of the pet though the opening. The apparatus may include a time logging means adapted to log the time 15 at which a pet is passing through the flap. This time may be displayed by the display means.

The apparatus of the invention therefore determines which way a pet is passing through the flap and time stamps this information and transmits 20 this information to a remote display. If the owner of the pet is at the same location as the remote display, the invention can provide the owner with information about the whereabouts of the pet without them having to search for the pet. The provision of time information is especially useful to a concerned owner.

The time logging means may produce a time stamp, which indicates when a cat passes through the flap. It may include a clock, and means for reading the time from the clock whenever the direction determining means indicates that a pet has passed through the flap. It may also log the day 30 on which the event occurred, perhaps as a number indicating the day of

the month on which the event occurred.

The remote display may be connected to the communication means by a physical connection such as an electrical or optical cable. The 5 communication means may therefore transmit its information across this cable to the display. Alternatively, the display may be connected to the communication means by a wireless link such as a radio link or an infra-

red connection.

10 In an alternative, the communication means may transmit information to a remote display, which forms a part of a portable device such as a mobile telephone. It may communicate directly with the portable device across a network or may transmit indirectly to the portable device by transmitting information to an intermediary device, which in turn transmits 15 information to the remote display.

The communication means may comprise an SMS (short message service) modem, which is adapted to transmit short message service (SMS) messages to a unit which includes the remote display.

The apparatus may include a receiver means, which is adapted to receive incoming signals from a remote transmitter, and the communication means may be adapted to transmit information (directly or indirectly) to the remote display whenever a prompt signal is received by the receiver 25 means.

The remote transmitter and remote receiver may form a part of a single device such as a mobile telephone or a modem connected to a lap top computer.

The incoming signal may comprise an SMS message, often referred to as a "text message". Most conveniently, this message may include a portion of prompt text, such as a predetermined string of characters or password, at the start of the message. The receiver may search any incoming signals 5 for the prompt text and only transmit signals out to the remote receiver if the prompt text is identified. This prevents signals received on accident causing a signal to be sent out.

Where the communication means transmits to the remote display through 10 an intermediate means the intermediate means may include a transmitter which sends the prompts to the receiver of the cat flap apparatus. Thus, in use the owner of a portable device including a display may send a message to the intermediate device asking for updated information from the catflap. The intermediate then sends a prompt to the receiver at the 15 cat flap and a return signal is sent from the cat flap to the intermediate device. Finally, the intermediate device sends the return signal on to the remote display.

It is envisaged that the communication means may send/receive signals 20 to/from the intermediate means via a modem across a telephone network, and the remote device, such as a portable telephone or laptop computer including a suitable modem, may communicate with each other using the short message service (SMS) data transmission format. Of course, any other similar data transmission format may be used.

The direction detecting means may include a sensor which detects movement of the flap relative to the surround. It may comprise a proximity sensor. For example, one or more reed switches may be provided together with at least one magnet, the sensors being operated in 30 sequence when the flap is moved by movement of the magnet across the

l switch. The magnet may be fixed to the flap and the reed switches may be fixed to the frame or vice versa. The output signal from the sensor or sensors may be stored in an area of memory.

5 A further sensor may also be provided which is adapted to read information contained in a radio frequency identification device which is embedded under the skin of a pet. This device, which contains a unique identification code for the pet, can therefore be read by the apparatus, which permits it to identify which pet is passing through the flap. The 10 device may be configured in accordance with ISO 11784 and/or ISO 1 1785.

The identity information may also be logged in the memory by the device alongside the direction information and transmitted to the remote receiver.

It may, of course be possible to identify the pet which is passing through the flap in another, different, way. For example, the pet may be provided with a coded tag attached to or forming a part of a collar, and the flap may be adapted to read the code from the tag.

In a most preferred arrangement, the transmitter may send a signal which includes the last time the pet went in or out through the flap, along with (optionally) the identity of the pet. It may transmit the last 2, or 3 or 4 or perhaps more activities logged by the apparatus (an activity comprising 25 an event in which a pet passed in or out thorough the flap as indicated by the output signal from the direction detecting means).

The communication means may transmit a signal to the remote display, directly or indirectly, whenever a request for a signal is received.

30 Alternatively or additionally, the apparatus may be adapted to transmit

messages at predetermined times. The or each predetermined time may be selected by a user. For example, a signal may be sent at 9am, at 1pm, at 5pm and at llpm as chosen by a user.

5 The apparatus may be adapted to send a message to any remote device from which a request has been made. To do this, the identity of the remote device which makes the request may be recorded by the apparatus.

It is proposed that the communication means may be provided within a 10 housing, which includes a microprocessor, a clock and an area of memory. One or more leads may extend from the housing to the or each sensor provided at the catnap, allowing the housing to be fixed safely to a wall or other fixed point away from the catflap. The remote display may take the form of a display panel which may be provided on the housing or 15 in its own separate enclosure. As well as this remote display which receives signals from the communication means, the communication means within the housing may be connected to a telephone line for transmission of signals to a second remote display, or may include an SMS modem for the direct transmission of SMS signals to a remote 20 display. In the later case, an aerial may be provided within or outside of the housing.

The apparatus may include means for fixing the direction determining means in position relative to the cat flap.

In accordance with a second aspect the invention provides a pet-flap apparatus, such as a cat flap, comprising a frame which defines an opening through which the pet may pass, a flap moveably fixed to the frame and which is adapted to be moved by the pet on passing through the 30 frame between a closed position in which it covers the opening defined by

the frame and an open position in which the opening is uncovered, a direction determining means which is adapted to produce an output signal indicative of the direction the pet is passing through the cat-flap, and a communication means which is adapted to transmit a signal 5 dependent upon the output signal from the determining means to a remote display to indicate to a viewer of the display the movement of the pet though the opening.

It may also include a time logging means, which records the time (and 10 optionally the date) at which a pet passes through the flap.

There will now be described, by way of example only, three embodiments of the present invention of which: 15 Figure 1 is an enlarged view of a catflap and associated sensor which form a part of an apparatus of the present invention; Figure 2 is an overview of a first, simple, embodiment of apparatus of the present invention; Figure 3 is an overview of a second, intermediate, embodiment of apparatus of the present invention; Figure 4 is an overview of an advanced embodiment of an apparatus in 25 accordance with the present invention; As illustrated in Figure 1 of the accompanying drawings a catflap apparatus 100 comprises a frame 101 of rectangular section which is fitted around an opening 102 provided in a door fitted to a house or the like.

30 The frame 101 is secured to the door by screws 103, which pass through

the frame 101 at spaced locations and into the door below. A flap 104 is connected to a top edge of the frame 101 by a hinged fastening 105 such as a piano hinge and is sized such that it completely obstructs the opening defined by the frame 101 when it is hanging freely from the hinge. It is 5 notable that the hinge supports the flap 104 in such a manner that the flap can be swung freely relative to the frame either into the plane of or out of the plane of Figure 1 of the accompanying drawings as shown by marker arrows 106 and 107. For the purpose of this example it is convenient to consider that the front face of the flap (visible in the drawings) is on the 10 side of the door that is outside of the house and the obscured side is on the inside of the house.

At the bottom of the frame 101 a direction determining means taking the form of a sensor 108 is connected to the frame 101 that detects which 15 direction the flap is moved in (i.e. into or out of the house).

The sensor comprises two reed switches, which are mounted in the framework of the surround at the bottom of the frame. A magnet is attached to the bottom of the flap and as the flap swings to and for this 20 magnet passes the switches. Each of the two sensors 108 is operated as the flap is moved to a predetermined angle away from the vertical in either an inwards or outwards direction as occurs when a pet, such as a cat, tries to pass through the opening defined by the frame.

25 An additional sensor 109 for detecting the identity of pets which pass through the opening defined by the frame 101 is provided. For convenience, all those features which are present in this embodiment that are also present in the first embodiment are identified by like reference numerals.

The identification sensor 109 comprises a radio frequency identification device (RFID) transceiver, which is adapted to read the code from a tag provided under the skin of a pet as it passes through the opening. It also provides power to the tag so that it can respond to interrogation. Since 5 most vets insert the tag under the skin at the back of a cat's neck, locating the receiver at the top of the frame by the hinge ensures that the tag is easily read whenever a cat (or other tagged pet) moves the flap.

The output signal of the direction detecting sensor 108 and the (optional 10 REID) 109 is/are passed to a communication means 110 which permits the monitoring of the movement of the flap 104 by a user and optionally monitoring of the identity of pets passing through the opening.

Three main embodiments of the present invention are envisaged, as 15 illustrated in Figures 2 to 4 of the present invention. Each differs in the arrangement of the communication means 110 and its functionality.

However, in all three embodiments the communication means 110 comprises a microprocessor 111, an area of memory 112 attached to the microprocessor 111, a clock 113 which produces a time signal that is 20 passed to the microprocessor 111 and a transmitter/receiver 114- which may be a simple hardwired output port, a modem compatible with a standard telephone line, or a SMS- modem compatible with a mobile telephone network.

25 In each case, the microprocessor 111 receives the information output from the sensor(s) and records a message in the memory each time the motion detection sensor detects a pet moving into or out of the house along with the time of the activity as indicated by the clock 113 and (optionally) the identity of the pet. The recorded messages are stored in the area of 30 memory. The number of messages that can be recorded is dependent upon

the amount of memory provided. Most conveniently, the last eight recorded messages are stored in the memory. Each message may be of the form: 5 Pet (identity) - action (in/out)- time (clock value, date value) Where the pet identity may be a string of characters (e.g. the pets name), the clock value is a time of day (e.g. 11.30am) and the date value is the number of the date in the month (e.g. 23 for 23td August).

In the basic system shown in Figure 2, the remote display comprises a display panel 200. The panel 201, which may be mounted to a wall, is hardwired 202 to an output of the microprocessor 111 and receives signals "transmitted" by the microprocessor 111 through the output and which 15 drive the display 201 to illustrate information gathered from the sensors associated with the catflap. This information, which is presented as textual information, includes all of the data relating to events stored in the memory, i.e. time, direction, identity. From this, an pet owner can tell by looking at the screen whether a pet is inside or outside of the house, 20 and if more than one pet uses the flap which pet is inside or outside at any time. A second embodiment of an intermediate system is illustrated in Figure of the accompanying drawings. This also includes a transmitter 300, which 25 comprises a modem that is connected to a telephone line 301 from the house to a telephone network. All of the information that is presented on the display 201 is transmitted by the modem 300 to a dedicated computer server 400, which also includes a modem 401 connected to the telephone network. Upon receiving the information passed across the network the 30 server in turn sends the information as a secondary signal to a remote

device carried by the owner or other person. The server includes an SMS modem 402, which allows it to transmit SMS messages to the user.

It is envisaged that the cost savings of providing a simple modem at the 5 catflap and generating textual SMS messages at the dedicated computer server would allow for a low cost device to be provided. A fee may be levied by the provider of the dedicated server to the person making the request and/or the owner of the catnap, which would cover the cost of the SMS service.

The dedicated computer server 400 may also be configured to receive prompts (such as a short SMS message including a predetermined keyword) from the users telephone and send requests to the modem at the house for information whenever a prompt is received. The modem at the 15 house will then only transmit the information stored in the associated memory when a prompt has been received, and subsequently this information is passed on as an SMS message to the user by the dedicated server. 20 In a final, advanced, embodiment as illustrated in Figure 4 of the accompanying drawings, the dedicated server may be omitted and the modem provided at the communication means at the house may comprise an SMS modem 501. This permits the communication means to send SMS messages directly to a remote device carried by the owner of the flap or 25 any other person who may wish to monitor the movement of pets through the flap. As with the second, intermediate, embodiment, messages may be sent only in response to a prompt SMS sent by the user. Alternatively, or additionally, they may be sent out at preset times of the day as chosen by the user. An aerial 502 may be provided for the modem.

Claims

1. Apparatus for use in combination with a pet-flap comprising a frame which defines an opening through which the pet may pass, a flap 5 moveably fixed to the frame and which is adapted to be moved by the pet on passing through the frame between a closed position in which it covers the opening defined by the frame and an open position in which the opening is uncovered, the apparatus comprising: a direction determining means, which is adapted to produce an output 10 signal indicative of the direction the pet is passing through the opening; and a communication means which is adapted to transmit a signal dependent upon the output signal from the determining means to a remote display to indicate to a viewer of the display the movement of the pet though the 15 opening.

2. The apparatus of claim 1, in which the apparatus includes a time logging means adapted to log the time at which a pet is passing through the flap, in which the time is displayed by the display means.

3. The apparatus of claim 1 or claim 2 in which the remote display is connected to the communication means by a physical connection.

4. The apparatus of claim 1 or claim 2 in which the display is 25 connected to the communication means by a wireless link.

5. The apparatus of claim 4 in which the remote display forms a part of a portable device.

30

6. The apparatus of claim 5 in which the portable device is a mobile

telephone.

7. The apparatus of claim 5 or claim 6 in which the communication means communicates directly with the portable device across a network.

8. The apparatus of claim 5 or claim 6 in which the communication means transmits indirectly to the portable device by transmitting information to an intermediary device, which in turn transmits information to the remote display.

9. The apparatus of any one of claims 5 to 8 in which the communication means comprises a short message service modem, which is adapted to transmit short message service messages to a unit which includes the remote display.

10. The apparatus of any preceding claim in which the apparatus includes a receiver means, which is adapted to receive incoming signals from a remote transmitter, and the communication means is adapted to transmit information to the remote display whenever a prompt signal is 20 received by the receiver means.

11. The apparatus of claim 10 in which the remote transmitter and remote receiver form a part of a single device.

25

12. The apparatus of claim 11 in which the incoming signal comprises an SMS message.

13. The apparatus of claim 12 in which the incoming signal message includes a portion of prompt text at the start of the message, and the 30 receiver searches any incoming signals for the prompt text and only

transmits signals out to the remote receiver if the prompt text is identified.

14. The apparatus of any one of claims 10 to 13 in which the apparatus 5 is adapted to send a message to any remote device from which a request has been made.

15. The apparatus of any one of claims 10 to 14 when dependent upon claim >3 in which the intermediate means includes a transmitter, which 10 sends the prompts to the receiver of the cat flap apparatus.

16. The apparatus of any preceding claim, in which the direction detecting means includes a sensor, which detects movement of the flap relative to the surround.

17. The apparatus of any preceding claim, in which the apparatus is provided with a further sensor, which is adapted to identify a pet which is passing through the flap.

20

18. The apparatus of claim 17, in which the further sensor is adapted to read information contained in a radio frequency identification device, which is embedded under the skin of a pet.

19. The apparatus of claim 17, in which the further sensor is adapted to 25 read information contained in a coded tag attached to or forming a part of a collar of the pet.

20. The apparatus of any one of claims 17 to 19 in which the identity information is also logged in the memory by the device alongside the 30 direction information and transmitted to the remote receiver.

21. A pet-flap apparatus comprising a frame which defines an opening through which the pet may pass, a flap moveably fixed to the frame and which is adapted to be moved by the pet on passing through the frame 5 between a closed position in which it covers the opening defined by the frame and an open position in which the opening is uncovered, a direction determining means which is adapted to produce an output signal indicative of the direction the pet is passing through the cat-flap, and a communication means which is adapted to transmit a signal 10 dependent upon the output signal from the determining means to a remote display to indicate to a viewer of the display the movement of the pet though the opening.

22. The apparatus of claim 21, further comprising a time logging 15 means, which records the time at which a pet passes through the flap.