Mechanically compliant probe for delivering an electrical stimulus to an animal

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9615542-B2
Application number	US-71274910-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Feb 25, 2010
Priority date	Feb 25, 2010
Publication date	Apr 11, 2017
Grant date	Apr 11, 2017

Abstract

Described is a mechanically compliant stimulus delivery probe for delivering an electrical stimulus to an animal. The stimulus delivery probe is mechanically secured to an animal training device that is adapted to be carried by the animal and to generate the electrical stimulus. When the animal training device is carried by the animal, the stimulus delivery probe is positioned in physical contact with the animal such that the stimulus delivery probe delivers the electrical stimulus to the animal. The stimulus delivery probe is also mechanically compliant to the extent that the force applied by the animal training device against the stimulus delivery probe is substantially absorbed by the stimulus delivery probe, reducing the localized force realized by the animal. The reduction of the force realized by the animal promotes safety and comfort for the animal.

First claim

Having thus described the aforementioned invention, what is claimed is:

1. A stimulus delivery probe adapted to be mechanically secured to an animal training device and adapted to deliver an electrical stimulus to an animal, said stimulus delivery probe comprising:
a compliant member in electrical communication with the animal training device when said stimulus delivery probe is mechanically secured to the animal training device, the animal training device being adapted to be carried by the animal and to generate the electrical stimulus, said compliant member being electrically conductive to the extent that said compliant member is capable of transferring the electrical stimulus, said compliant member being mechanically compliant to a force applied against said stimulus delivery probe between the animal training device and the animal when the animal training device is carried by the animal;
a tip member mechanically secured to said compliant member such that said tip member is positioned in physical contact with the animal when the animal training device is carried by the animal, said tip member being electrically conductive and in electrical communication with said compliant member such that said tip member delivers the electrical stimulus to the animal when the animal training system generates the electrical stimulus; and
a compliant member covering disposed about said compliant member, said compliant member covering being electrically insulative and flexible to the extent that it does not restrict the mechanical compliance of said compliant member.

2. The stimulus delivery probe of claim 1 wherein said compliant member covering encloses said compliant member such that said compliant member is not exposed to environmental elements exterior to said stimulus delivery probe.

3. The stimulus delivery probe of claim 1 wherein said compliant member covering is constructed of an elastomer.

4. The stimulus delivery probe of claim 1 wherein said compliant member is at least partially constructed of a metallic material.

5. The stimulus delivery probe of claim 1 wherein said compliant member includes a mechanical spring.

6. The stimulus delivery probe of claim 1 wherein said compliant member includes a conductive elastomer.

7. The stimulus delivery probe of claim 1 wherein said compliant member is mechanically secured to the animal training device.

8. The stimulus delivery probe of claim 1 further comprising a base member adapted to be mechanically secured to the animal training device, said compliant member being mechanically secured to said base member.

9. The stimulus delivery probe of claim 8 wherein said base member is adapted to be removably secured to the animal training device.

10. The stimulus delivery probe of claim 1 wherein said tip member is constructed of stainless steel.

11. A stimulus delivery probe for delivering an electrical stimulus to an animal, said stimulus delivery probe comprising:
a base member adapted to be mechanically secured to an animal training device, the animal training device being adapted to be carried by the animal and capable of generating the electrical stimulus;
a compliant member mechanically secured to said base member, said compliant member being in electrical communication with the animal training device when said base member is mechanically secured to the animal training device, said compliant member being electrically conductive and mechanically compliant to a force between the base member and the animal; and
a tip member mechanically secured to and in electrical communication with said compliant member, said tip member being positioned in physical contact with the animal when the animal training device is carried by the animal, said tip member delivering the electrical stimulus to the animal when the animal training system generates the electrical stimulus a compliant member covering disposed about said compliant member, said compliant member covering being electrically insulative and flexible to the extent that it does not restrict the mechanical compliance of said compliant member.

12. The stimulus delivery probe of claim 11 wherein said base member is adapted to be removably secured to the animal training device.

13. The stimulus delivery probe of claim 11 wherein said compliant member is mechanically compliant in response to a force applied against said stimulus delivery probe by the animal training device when the animal training device is carried by the animal.

14. The stimulus delivery probe of claim 11 wherein said compliant member is longitudinally compressible.

15. The stimulus delivery probe of claim 11 wherein said compliant member substantially absorbs the force applied by the animal training system against said stimulus delivery probe such that the force, as realized by the animal, is reduced.

16. The stimulus delivery probe of claim 11 wherein said compliant member is at least partially constructed of a metallic material.

17. The stimulus delivery probe of claim 11 wherein said compliant member includes a mechanical spring.

18. The stimulus delivery probe of claim 11 wherein said tip member is constructed of stainless steel.

19. An animal training system for delivering an electrical stimulus to an animal, said animal training system comprising:
a housing adapted to be carried by the animal;
a stimulus generation unit disposed within said housing, said stimulus generation unit being adapted to generate the electrical stimulus;
at least one stimulus delivery probe comprising:
a base member adapted to be mechanically secured to said housing,
a compliant member mechanically secured to said base member, said compliant member being electrically conductive and in electrical communication with said stimulus generation unit when said base member is secured to said housing, said compliant member being mechanically compliant in response to a force applied against said stimulus delivery probe between said animal training system and said animal when said animal training system is carried by the animal;
a compliant member covering disposed about said compliant member, said compliant member covering being flexible to the extent that said compliant member covering does not restrict the mechanical compliance of said compliant member; and
a tip member mechanically secured to said compliant member, said tip member being electrically conductive and in electrical communication with said compliant member, said tip member being positioned in physical contact with the animal when said animal training device is carried by the animal, said tip member delivers the electrical stimulus to the animal when said stimulus generation unit generates the electrical stimulus.

20. The stimulus delivery probe of claim 19 wherein said compliant member is longitudinally compressible.

21. The stimulus delivery probe of claim 19 wherein said compliant member includes a mechanical spring.

22. The stimulus delivery probe of claim 19 wherein said compliant member includes a conductive elastomer.

Assignees

• Mainini Christopher E
• Brick Clifton P
• Radio Systems Corp

Inventors

• Mainini Christopher E
• Brick Clifton P

Classifications

• A01K15/02 Primary

  Training or exercising equipment, e.g. mazes or labyrinths for animals (A01K15/04 takes precedence) {; Electric shock devices; Toys specially adapted for animals} · CPC title

• A01K27/009

  with electric-shock, sound, magnetic- or radio-waves emitting devices · CPC title