WO2006066578A2

WO2006066578A2 - Identification tag

Info

Publication number: WO2006066578A2
Application number: PCT/DK2005/000781
Authority: WO
Inventors: Ivan Kristensen
Original assignee: Jørgen Kruuse A/S
Priority date: 2004-12-21
Filing date: 2005-12-09
Publication date: 2006-06-29
Also published as: DK200501377A; WO2006066578A3

Abstract

The present invention relates to an identification plate meaning an ID-tag for pets, in particular for dogs (dog name signs) and cats (cat name signs) where said signs has one or more integrated active and/or passive impulse producer(s), which quickly can reveal to the companion if the pet continuously is wearing the ID-tag or not.

Description

IDENTIFICATION TAG

The present invention relates to an identification plate meaning an ID-tag i.e. for pets, in particular for dogs (dog name plates) and cats (cat name plates). The identification plate quickly informs the companion if the pet continuously is wearing the ID-tag or not.

Globally it is a major problem that pets, dogs in particular, lose their ID-tags without the companion's knowledge. An ID-tag which as a minimum i.e. in the form of a phone number and/or an email address unambiguously states, who is to be contacted if the dog is found straying around.

In particular it is a problem if the dog - for whatever reason - happens to be far away from the person responsible, i.e. the companion and/or the owner, and is not wearing an identification plate. A dog which is caught as a stray dog is in imminent danger of being put down if it is not wearing a ID-tag, which is statutory in many countries.

The seriousness of the problem with dogs, which are caught without ID-tags and therefore are named stray dogs, is in an alarming way supported by official statistics.

For instance in Great Britain 111.000 stray dogs were caught in

2003, but due to the lack of identification such as ID-tags, only 52.000 of the stray dogs were returned to their owners.

In the USA, which has 5 times as many inhabitants as Great Britain, the problem is even bigger. Here 15 million stray dogs were captured in 2003. It is 27 times as many stray dogs per inhabitant than in Great Britain. Less than 15% of the 15 million stray dogs were returned to their owners.

The major problem with stray dogs in the USA is so enormous that there is far from enough capacity to place the uncollected dogs in new private homes. Therefore the persons responsible are forced to destroy many million stray dogs every year, thus about 56% of the stray dogs, meaning 8 million dogs, were destroyed in 2003. You find a similar number of stray cats in the USA. In 2003 9 million stray cats were caught. Only 2% were returned to their owners and approximately 71% of the stray cats, meaning 6 million cats, were destroyed.

Therefore it is important that the pet constantly is wearing its ID- tag.

The reason why more dogs than cats, calculated in percent, are returned to their owners is that the dogs more often are wearing an ID-tag.

Domestic animals, horses and pets in particular, lead chancy lives with many latent dangers not surprisingly considering the fact that many of these animals can cause and/or get involved in traffic accidents, because car drivers discover the animals too late.

Many inventions have been made in this field.

One of the very first initiatives was concerning reflexes, later light sources were used to send out a constant light, and recently light sources which periodically send out light impulses (gleams) are being used. Further the same arrangements give the companion the opportunity to know the whereabouts of his pet. For instance if he is walking with the dog without a leash in the evening or when his sight is diminished due to rain or fog. Never the less none of the said arrangements take into account the necessity that the person responsible, i.e. the companion and/or the owner, at all times must know whether or not the pet, dogs and cats in particular, is wearing an ID-tag.

Therefore by integrating a reflector and/or an impulse producer in the pet's ID-tag the pet companion is immediately informed if the pet loses the said ID-tag. Furthermore the possibility of finding a lost ID-tag is improved due to the integrated reflector and/or impulse producer(s). The spontaneous finding of the ID-tag can be due to its great visibility caused by its integrated reflector and/or light impulse producers and/or due to the ID-tag's sound producers and/or electromagnetic impulse producers which can be traced.

The general description of the invention:

An identification sign with one or more integrated active and/or passive impulse producer(s), where one or more chosen impulse producers include but are not limited to a reflector and/or a light source and/or sonic source and/or a GPS transmitter.

Any of the integrated impulse transmitters can be dedicated to the actual need and so the duration, wavelength, frequency and intensity of the active impulses can be combined and adjusted adequately.

Below examples of both the general and the more specific advantages obtainable from each of the said impulse producers are stated. By integrating one or more impulse producers into an identification plate of a pet - fastening the plate to the pet's collar - where the said impulse producers include but are not restricted to one of four basic types of active and/or passive impulse producers.

Namely a reflector, a light source, a sonic source, and a GPS- transmitter.

Reflector:

A (light) reflector can reflect light and the effect of the passive impulse producer presupposes thus that there is an entering light which can be reflected. When the conditions are right, a reflector can make a great difference when wanting to locate an animal in the dark.

When the ID-tag of the pet has been integrated with an impulse producer, especially a light reflector, where the reflector can be colored and/or metallic, the pet owner and/or companion have a better possibility of knowing if the pet is indeed wearing the ID- tag.

However, great visibility of reflectors depends on the amount of light the reflector can reflect. Thus, the effect of reflectors is very limited in the daytime, when it is cloudy. The effect is extremely limited when it is raining or when it is foggy.

If the pet loses its ID-tag the chance of finding the tag increases significantly when the ID-tag has an integrated impulse producer in the form of a (light) reflector, especially if the reflecting surface of the tag is being exposed to the person, who is trying to locate the ID-tag.

Besides having a great significance for the pet owner and/or companion the integration of a passive impulse producer in the ID- tag in the form of a light reflector can have an importance regarding road safety: The pet is more noticeable for car drivers. Bikers, who can be heavily injured from collisions, can also benefit from the passive impulse producer.

A light source: When the ID-tag of the pet is integrated with a light source, preferably a light source which sends out periodically light impulses, the favorable consequences for the pet owner and/or companion is that he very quickly and directly can be given the ID- tag of his pet and thus whether the animal is indeed wearing the tag. This can be of crucial significance when the pet is not within the owner's or a companion's reach, because it is not kept on a short leash.

In case the pet loses its identification plate it will be rather easy to relocate the tag because of the integrated light source, especially when the light source is sending out periodically light impulses.

Besides having a great significance to the pet owner and/or companion, the fact that the ID-tag of the pet has been integrated with an active impulse producer in the form of a light source, preferably a light source which sends out periodically light impulses, can have great significance concerning road safety: As mentioned in the part about passive impulse producers in the form of a light reflector, pets become more noticeable for road users.

A sound source:

When the ID-tag of a pet has been integrated with a sound source, preferably a sound source which transmits periodically sound impulses, the favorable consequence for the pet and/or companion is that he very quickly and directly can be given the ID-tag of his pet and thus whether the animal is indeed wearing the tag. This acoustic quality has especially a great importance for the pet owner and/or companion when these people are visually impaired. An even more, so when the pet is not within the reach of the owner or a companion, i.e. because there is no leash on the pet.

Due to the integrated sound source it will be rather easy even for visually impaired people to relocate a lost identification plate. Furthermore the tag can be found in places, where the identification plate cannot be seen with the naked eye.

Many birds, including songbirds, become prey for pets. It will be possible to prevent this to a great extend when the ID-tag of the pet have an integrated sound source. Because the sound from said ID- tag will give away the pet the bird will be alarmed and fly away.

A GPS-transmitter:

When the ID-tag of the pet has been integrated with a GPS- transmitter it will be rather easy to relocate the identification plate using a corresponding receiver, because the sender will be able to locate the identification plate's whereabouts even from a long distance.

The preferred embodiment for a dog name plate regards the combination of an ID-tag, especially a dog name plate, with three integrated impulse producers (see the drawing), where the first integrated impulse producer is a reflector (I)₅ where the second is a light source, preferably a diode (5), which diode is set to send out a gleam 2-10 times per second, every gleam lasting 0,05-0,20 seconds, and where the third integrated impulse producer is a GPS- transmitter (6). When a light diode and a GPS-transmitter according to the invention have been integrated into the identification plate the tag will with great advantage be used attached to young children, if the adult responsible is alone with the child in a deserted area. If the child is lost out of sight or disappears the consequences may be tremendous. Likewise, it will be very advantageous to use an ID-tag on a minor child, when the adult responsible is accompanying the child in a crowd, especially if the child is lacking linguistic skills.

It will be possible to program an alarm on the GPS-transmitter which is activated when the ID-tag with the integrated GPS- transmitter passes a certain distance from the GPS-receiver.

The invention can be used in other contexts with advantageous consequences: As a key ring or for retaining and assembling of keys or the like and with the same technical functions especially light source and sound source, and with a GPS-installation. However, information about identification should preferably be obscured or coded so that only authorized people or the authorities can identify the owner.

The risk of the keys coming into the wrong hands and being used with shady intentions is obvious if name and phone number is stated on the ID-card.

The most significant function is that a lost set of keys with the key ring of this invention is more than likely to be found. If the finder is not the owner, he hands in the keys with the key ring to i.e. the police, who then identify the owner. The functionality of the invention also includes using it as a torch.

The pulsating light will furthermore make sure that the carrier is visible - i.e. walking on a dark road.

Drawing

Figure 1 The invention containing a light diode, separated and where the component parts are numbered. Numbering

1. reflector 2. the foremost plastic house

3. steel band - rustproof steel

4. battery

5. light diode

6. chip (printed circuit board) 7. print card

8. metal bracket

9. house - backmost plate

10. dog name plate

The specific description of the invention:

The object of the present invention is to provide a pet identification which has one or more integrated active or passive impulse producers, where the chosen impulse producer(s) include(s) but is not restricted to a reflector and/or a light source and/or a sound source and/or a GPS-transmitter which secure(s) that the pet concerned continuously has its ID-tag and secure(s) a quick relocation of the pet's identification plate if it is lost.

It is furthermore the object of the invention to use the identification plate in contexts, where it is very important that whomever or whatever the ID-tag is attached to is not lost (of sight). In one embodiment the provided pet identification has one integrated active or passive impulse producer, where the chosen impulse producer(s) is/are a reflector or a light source or a sound source or a GPS-transmitter, which secure(s) that the pet concerned continuously is wearing its ID-tag. In another embodiment the provided pet identification 2 integrated active and/or passive impulse producers, where the chosen impulse producers include, but are not restricted to, a reflector and/or a light source and/or a sound source and/or a GPS-transniitter, which secure that pet concerned continuously has its ID-tag.

The two integrated impulse producers can be a reflector and a pulsating light source; a reflector and a pulsating sound source ; a reflector and a GPS-transmitter; a sound source and a pulsating light source; a sound source and a GPS-transmitter or a pulsating light source and a GPS-transmitter.

In a third embodiment the provided pet identification has 3 integrated impulse producers, which are a reflector, a sound source and a pulsating light source; a GPS-transmitter, a sound source and a pulsating light source; a reflector, a GPS-transmitter and a pulsating light source or a reflector, a sound source and a GPS- transmitter.

In a fourth embodiment the provided pet identification has 4 integrated impulse producers, which are a reflector, a sound source, a pulsating light source and a GPS-transmitter.

The provided ID-tag can especially be usable for a dog.

The provided ID-tag can especially be usable for a cat. The provided ID-tag can especially be usable for a person. The provided ID-tag can especially be usable for an object.

Claims

PATENT CLAIMS

1. Identification sign preferably for pets characterized in that said sign has one or more integrated active and/or passive impulse producers), where one or more chosen impulse producer(s) includes but is not limited to a reflector and/or a light source and/or sonic source and/or a GPS transmitter.

2. Identification sign preferably for pets according to claim 1 characterized in that said sign has only one active and/or passive integrated impulse producer, where said impulse producer is a reflector, a light source, a sonic source or a GPS transmitter

3. Identification sign preferably for pets according to claim 1 characterized in that said sign has an active integrated impulse producer, where said impulse producer is a pulsating light source.

4. Identification sign preferably for pets according to claim 1 characterized in that said sign has an active integrated impulse producer, where said impulse producer is a sonic source.

5. Identification sign preferably for pets according to claim 1 characterized in that said sign has an active integrated impulse producer, where said impulse producer is a GPS transmitter.

6. Identification sign preferably for pets according to claim 1 characterized in that said sign has at least 2 integrated active and/or passive impulse producers.

7. Identification sign preferably for pets according to claim 6 characterized in that the sign has 2 integrated impulse producers, where said impulse producers is a reflector and a pulsating light source.

8. Identification sign preferably for pets according to claim 6 characterized in that the sign has 2 integrated impulse producers, where said impulse producers is a reflector and a pulsating sonic source.

9. Identification sign preferably for pets according to claim 6 characterized in that the sign has 2 integrated impulse producers, where said impulse producers is a reflector and a GPS transmitter.

10. Identification sign preferably for pets according to claim 6 characterized in that the sign has 2 integrated impulse producers, where said impulse producers is a sonic source and a pulsating light source.

11. Identification sign preferably for pets according to claim 6 characterized in that the sign has 2 integrated impulse producers, where said impulse producers is a sonic source and a GPS transmitter.

12. Identification sign preferably for pets according to claim 6 characterized in that the sign has 2 integrated impulse producers, where said impulse producers is a pulsating light source and a GPS transmitter.

13. Identification sign preferably for pets according to claim 1 characterized in that said sign has at 3 integrated active and/or passive impulse producers.

14. Identification sign preferably for pets according to claim 13 characterized in that the sign has 3 integrated impulse producers, where said impulse producers is a reflector, a sonic source and a pulsating light source.

15. Identification sign preferably for pets according to claim 13 characterized in that the sign has 3 integrated impulse producers, where said impulse producers is a GPS transmitter, a sonic source and a pulsating light source.

16. Identification sign preferably for pets according to claim 13 characterized in that the sign has 3 integrated impulse producers, where said impulse producers is a reflector, a GPS transmitter and a pulsating light source.

17. Identification sign preferably for pets according to claim 13 characterized in that the sign has 3 integrated impulse producers, where said impulse producers is a reflector, a sonic source and a GPS transmitter.

18. Identification sign preferably for pets according to any of the preceding claims characterized in that the sign is attached to a dog.

19. Identification sign preferably for pets according to any of the preceding claims characterized in that the sign is attached to a cat.

20. Identification sign preferably for pets according to any of the preceding claims characterized in that the sign is attached to a person.

21. Identification sign preferably for pets according to any of the preceding claims characterized in that the sign is attached to an object.

22. Identification sign preferably for pets according to any of the preceding claims characterized in that the sign is attached to keys or the like.