WO2012042205A1

WO2012042205A1 - An animal training aid

Info

Publication number: WO2012042205A1
Application number: PCT/GB2011/001404
Authority: WO
Inventors: Duncan Rolinson
Original assignee: Duncan Rolinson
Priority date: 2010-09-27
Filing date: 2011-09-27
Publication date: 2012-04-05
Also published as: GB2498673A; GB201016184D0; GB201307667D0; GB2498673B; WO2012042205A9

Abstract

An animal training aid ( 1 ) e.g. for dogs that can be affixed into a soft ground surface area with a cork screw mechanism that penetrates the centre of the device and is rotated using a hollow cylinder screw handle. A leash can be extended outwards from the device and attached to a dog collar with its leash clasp. The training aid is remotely operated by a compact sized key fob ( 100 ) that enables the leash to be extended or locked by exerting pressure upon either its circular leash button located at the top of the fob or the lock button located at the front of the key fob. This transmits signals to the electronic components box located within the fixed training aid which will either release from its internally located leash roll or prevent it from extending any further with the assistance of a spring mechanism that is located within the device.

Description

An Animal Training Aid

Background of the Invention

The present invention relates to a training aid that can be quickly and easily attached to an animal (e.g. dog) collar. More particularly, but not exclusively, the training aid is designed to operate from a remote controlled device, such as a hand held unit, which may be a key fob, so allowing for the animals movement to be monitored and/or controlled from a distance.

Dog training aids can be used in outdoor environments such as gardens, parks, training centres and the like to allow for the effective command of animal behaviour through such devices.

Prior Art

Published International Patent Application WO-A-2009108925 (Lupusnak et al) discloses a retractable leash, having a spherical housing in which a line and a mechanism for retracting the line is provided. The line includes a clasp for connecting to an animal via its collar. The mechanism includes a rotatable gear rotating in a first direction to retract the line into the housing; and rotatable in a second direction when the line extends out of the housing. The leash can include a button which a user depresses to stop or restrict the retraction and extension of the line, and preferably includes a locked position in which the restriction of the line can be maintained even if the user releases the button.

Furthermore, French Patent Application FR-A-2 906 391 (Nicoise) discloses a dog training and communicating device comprising: a key fob shaped case provided with a selection button, a recording button and a button pressed for transmitting orders in adjustable miniature loudspeakers on a collar. A dictating machine of the case perfectly records person voice, where the case operates with a round cell. A wireless transmitter transfers data towards the collar, and a receiver receives information given by the case. The loudspeakers are connected to the case by the transmitter and the receiver. Another example of a leash is described in Japanese Patent Application JP-A- 2007175038 (Totsuka) which discloses an extending and contracting lead with an attached lock for pets. This lead is provided by attaching a joining belt and a dial type lock at the tip end of an extending and contracting lead for preventing the lead from being stolen: improving safety by forming the lead part of the extending and contracting lead with a stainless steel wire (which cannot be easily cut); and by winding the lead with a vinyl coat. Also by attaching the dial type lock at the upper part of the handle of the extending and contracting lead main body, a user is able to tie it by winding the lead on a supporting pole and locking the arrangement with the dial type lock at the handle part.

Published International Patent Application WO-A-8903173 (Lacey) discloses a remotely detachable animal leash whereby the jaws of the catch on the leash are latched by a yieldable biased sleeve, which is retractable by a pull cord extending rearward to the handle of the leash.

Published International Patent Application WO-A-200007436 (Miller) discloses a quick connector leash and collar whereby the collar is disconnected from the leash by activating the mechanism in the handle assembly of the leash. The collar is fitted with a short cable which extends generally radially from the collar. A small cylinder or sphere is attached to the free end of this cable. There is a flared fitting at the end of the leash opposite to the handle end. The collar and leash are connected by trapping the cylinder or sphere in the flared fitting.

Summary of the Invention

According to a first aspect of the present invention there is provided an animal training aid comprising: a main body and an extendible and retractable leash attached to said main body, wherein one end of the leash is connectable to said animal or a collar therfor, and wherein the extension and/or retraction of said leash from said main body is remotely controlled.

Ideally an actuator is energised by way of a motor, having its own electrical supply or a mechanical device which stores potential energy, such as a stiff mechanical member, such as a clockwork mechanism.

Preferably the invention includes means to be inserted into the ground. Preferably a means is also provided to affix or connect the training aid to an external surface.

The distal end of the leash may include or be attachable to an animal collar.

The aid may be controlled by wireless signals from a portable device, such as a key fob, may also act to direct the length of the leash.

The training aid may be radio or infra red controlled. It is ideally powered by battery means and the battery may be rechargeable.

The training aid preferably includes means to attach it to the ground, such as a stake, a screw, or a corkscrew means.

Preferably the leash is automatically retracted if said leash is slackened. The leash may be wound within said housing.

In a preferred embodiment the length of the leash is controlled remotely.

The invention also comprises a remote device which is capable of controlling said aid. The aid may be for any animal and preferably dogs.

The invention also includes a method of training or controlling dogs using such an aid.

Optionally software may be provided, which may be downloaded, for example upon payment of a fee or on supply of a code, from a website or the software may be supplied separately, so that a user can configure a mobile personal communication device, such as a mobile telephone (cell phone) so as to mimic the appearance of a key fob or hand-held control unit.

The aid optionally comprises: a key fob, screw handle, screw, top cover, electronic components box, lock, spring holder, spring, leash roll, leash, bottom cover, leash cover, battery plug, key fob button, key fob lock button and a leash clasp. These may be supplied in a presentation case.

The training aid may be used in gardens, parks or dog training centres.

The aid is preferably remotely operated by the said key fob transmitting a Bluetooth (Trade Mark) signal to the said electronic components box. The aid may have the capability of being charged through its battery plug outlet located on the device.

The training aid such as key fob may be inserted into the said screw handle when it is not in use.

The aid may be a circular shaped device that is fixed into the ground by rotating the said screw handle in a clockwise motion.

The aid may be have the said screw handle attached to a screw that extends through the centre of the said training aid to affix the device into the ground surface.

The aid may have said leash which is adapted to be clamped onto the animal's collar in order for the user to assume control over the animal's movement

Preferably the leash is unwound from within the leash roll that is inserted within the leash cover,

The portable/remote device such as key fob may include a button placed depressed to transmit the wireless signal to the said electronic components box that releases the said leash that is unwound from the internally located leash roll. It may contain the said remote device (key fob) lock button which operates to prevent the device from extending the leash any further than is permitted.

Preferably the leash is able to retract back into the internally located leash roll when the animal moves towards the aid device.

The preceding demonstrates an evident need for a leash controlled training device attachable to an animal e.g. via a dog collar that is controlled by a remote controlled device allowing the user to command/control the animal from a distance for the purposes of instructing or training the animal.

Ideally the dog training aid is able to be fixed into e.g. soft ground by a cork screw mechanism operated by its screw handle. Alternatively, if this is not practical, the training aid can be attached to an external element securing the leash and device firmly into place. Alternatively any screw means or even stake means may be used. Preferably the distal end of the leash is secured or attached to the dog's collar using a locking member in order to control the animal's mobility for training purposes. The leash may be attached or clamped firmly to the collar whilst wound around internally within the dog stay aid.

Advantageously the training aid is able to be operated remotely by a device (e.g. key) fob which transmits a wireless or infra red signal to control the length of the leash or its retraction /extension.

Ideally the dog training aid is able to lock the leash at a desired length by control (e.g. via a switch/button) from the remote device and the lease can be released by similar means e.g. by operation of another or the same switch/button. In this way the user can control the animal's (dog's) movement.

Preferably the dog training aid is formed from components consisting principally from synthetic plastics materials, such as nylon and/or polythene.

The leash is ideally adapted to retract automatically when the animal moves closer or towards a specific location, which may be the dog trainer, thereby enabling the training aid to take up slack automatically.

The remote device (e.g. key fob) is preferably dimensioned and arranged to be inserted within the handle of the aid device, allowing it to be compactly incorporated as part of the aid member when not in use.

A preferred example of the invention will now be described, by referring to the drawings, in which:

Brief Descriptions of the Drawings

Figure 1 shows an exploded view of a dog training aid featuring its internal components;

Figure 2 is a rear isometric view of the dog training aid; Figure 3 is a front isometric view of the dog training aid; Figure 4 is a top view of the dog training aid; Figure 5 is a front isometric view of the key fob; and Figure 6 is an overall diagrammatical view of a kit that includes the training aid. Detailed Description of the Drawings

Referring to the Figures, there is shown a dog training aid kit comprises: a key fob 100, a training aid 1 having a handle 12, a top cover 14, electronic components box 50, a locking means, a spring holder and spring, a leash roll on which a leash is stored when a drive mechanism retracts; a leash, a bottom cover, a leash cover, a battery for powering a plug, key fob button, key fob lock button and a leash clasp.

Figure 1 shows an exploded view of a dog training aid featuring its internal components.

Figure 5 shows an alternative key fob device 1 1 which is in the form of a small cylindrical form and is removable from within a hollow cylindrical shaped polyethylene synthetic plastics screw handle 12 that is optionally located externally, around the top of the training aid 1 when the dog training aid 10 is to be operated. The handle is used to retract a leash 20 or to energise a clockwork energy store (not shown).

In use, the dog training aid 1 is inserted into soft ground or connected to a surface of a structure, by way of its helical mechanism whereby an aluminium helical screw 13, located generally in the centre of the circular shaped housing 21 is twisted around its axis. This can be achieved for example by rotating the handle 12. When this occurs the helical screw 13 extends (as shown in Figure 3), through the centre of the training aid 1 and emerges from a base of the training aid, allowing the training aid to be located fixedly upon the ground.

Leash 20 can then be extended from within the training aid 1 where it can be unravelled from a stowed roll of leash roll 19. The leash 20 emerges from a leash cover outlet 22 which is then attached to a dog collar (not shown) with its leash clasp 26 that is located at the end of the leash 20 appearing externally from the training aid device, as seen from above in Figure 4.

Once the dog is attached to the clasp 26 via its retractable leash the dog owner is then at liberty to operate the training aid from a distance by pressing down the circular shaped button located at the top centre of the cylinder shaped key fob 24 which then allows the leash 20 to release from the housing. This is ideally achieved by radio frequency (RF) or wireless transmitter 200 (shown in Figure 6) which is housed in the key fob 24 and powered by battery 202. The wireless signals transmitted from the key fob 24 are received by an antenna 204 (shown in Figure 6) and amplified and relayed to electronic processing components, such as a microprocessor 206, located in a component box 50 which receives the RF signals and is located inside the training aid 1 .

The electronic components box 50 is located beneath the top cover and is formed from a polyethylene plastics material. Box 50 includes the RF receiver 204, a battery 208 and an actuator 210 which controls the release of release mechanism 18. The release mechanism may include a resilient spring, which further allows for the extension of the leash 20 outwards from leash roll 19. When released this allows the dog to travel as much as the trainer permits the leash to extend. Optionally the actuator may include a motor (not shown) for retracting the leash. Suitable gears may be provided for retracting the leash when larger dogs are tethered.

When depressed button 25 causes a radio frequency (RF) signal to be transmitted to the electronic component box 50 located within the dog training aid and allows for the devices internal mechanism to prevent any further extension of the leash so that the user can assume control over the dogs movement. This permits the leash automatically to retract back into the training aid device into the leash roll.

To lock the leash 20, at a predetermined length, the user transmits a second signal. This may be, for example, triggered by releasing the sprung button 99 in the key fob 24 so that it stops transmitting RF signals to the receiver 204. When received by RF receiver 204, this signal is interpreted as a lock signal by microprocessor 206.

The invention has been described, by way of example only, and it will be appreciated that variation may ne made to the preferred embodiment described, without departing form the scope of the claims. For example variation may be made to the invention, by providing fobs of different colours for different training aids. Signals may be encoded so that several users may operate within the same vicinity. Types of encoding that may be used as well known to those skilled in the art and include frequency division coding and pulsed amplitude and other forms of amplitude modulation. The antenna 204 may be formed on the external surface of the housing of the training aid 1. Likewise the antenna on transmitter 200 may be formed on the housing of the key fob 24.

Housings may be formed from stainless steel, aluminium or a combination of synthetic plastics and metal components parts.

Lights light emitting diodes (LEDs) may be located in the training aid in order indicate its status - ie active, off or locked. Similarly a sound generator, such as a beeper, loudspeaker or buzzer may be included so as to train a dog to associate a specific command with a specific sound or sound combination.

Claims

1. An animal training aid comprising a main body and an extendible and retractable leach attached to said main body, wherein one end of the leash is connectable to said animal or a collar therefor, and wherein the extension and/or retraction of said leash from said main body is remotely controlled.

2. An animal training aid as claimed in claim 1 including means to be inserted into the ground.

3. An animal training aid as claimed in claim 1 wherein said aid has means to affix to an external surface.

4. An animal training aid as claimed in any preceding claim wherein the distal end of the leash includes or is attachable to an animal collar.

5. An animal training aid as claimed in any preceding claim which is controlled by wireless signals from a portable device.

6. An animal training aid as claimed in any preceding claim which is radio or infra red controlled.

7. An animal training aid as claimed in any preceding claim which is powered by battery means.

8. An animal training aid as claimed in any preceding claim wherein said means to attach to ground includes stake, screw, or corkscrew means.

9. An animal training aid as claimed in any preceding claim wherein said leash can be automatically retracted if said leash is slackened.

10. An animal training aid as claimed in any preceding claim wherein said leash is wound within said housing.

11. An animal training aid as claimed in any preceding claim wherein the length of the leash is controlled remotely.

12. An animal training aid as claimed in any preceding claim comprising a key fob, screw handle, screw, top cover, electronic components box, lock, spring holder, spring, leash roll, leash, bottom cover, leash cover, battery plug, key fob button, key fob lock button and a leash clasp.

13. An animal training aid as claimed in any preceding claim wherein the said dog training aid can be used in gardens, parks or dog training centres.

14. An animal training aid as claimed in any preceding claim wherein the said training aid is remotely operated by the said key fob transmitting a Bluetooth (Trade Mark) signal to the said electronic components box.

15. An animal training aid as claimed in any preceding claim wherein the said fixed training aid has the capability of being charged through its battery plug outlet located on the device.

16. An animal training aid as claimed in any preceding claim wherein the said key fob can be inserted into the said screw handle when it is not in use.

17. An animal training aid as claimed in any preceding claim wherein the said training aid is a circular shaped device that is fixed into the ground by rotating the said screw handle in a clockwise motion.

18. An animal training aid as claimed in any preceding claim wherein the said screw handle is attached to a screw that extends through the centre of the said training aid to affix the device into the ground surface.

19. An animal training aid as claimed in any preceding claim wherein the said leash is clamped onto the animal's collar in order for the user to assume control over the animal's movement.

20. An animal training aid as claimed in any preceding claim wherein the said leash is unwound from within the leash roll that is inserted within the leash cover.

21. An animal training aid as claimed in any preceding claim wherein the said leash is able to retract back into the internally located leash roll when the animal moves towards the aid device.

22. An animal training aid as claimed in any preceding claim wherein which is for dogs.

23. An animal training aid includes a remote device which is capable of controlling an aid according to any preceding claim.

24. A device as claimed in claim 23 which includes a button placed depressed to transmit the wireless signal to the said electronic components box that releases the said leash that is unwound from the internally located leash roll.

25. A device as claimed in claim 23 or 24 contains the said button or another button which is operable to prevent the aid from extending the leash any further than a predetermined length.

26. A method of training animals including using an aid or device as claimed in any preceding claim.