ELECTRIC SHOCK TRAINING DEVICE FOR ANIMALS

DISPOSITIF THERAPEUTIQUE PAR CHOC ELECTRIQUE POUR PROTEGER LES ANIMAUX BLESSES

English Abstract

ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE
An electric shock protective device for animals to protect, for
example, a bandage affixed to one of the animal's legs. The device is positioned
on or around the bandage, and if the animal attempts to bite or chew on the band-
age, or the sore or wound on its leg, its mouth and tongue will come into contact
with the protective device causing it to produce a mild electric shock. The
device includes a flexible mounting band dimensioned to surround the leg of an
animal for which it is intended, a plurality of electrical conductors such as thin
copper bus bars mounted thereon in substantially parallel relationship, an elec-
trical power source such as one or more electrically connected batteries having
a negative and a positive terminal, a first one of said electrical conductors
connected to said negative terminal and a second one of said electrical conductors
connected to said positive terminal. The electrical conductors face outwardly
when the protective device is wrapped around the bandaged leg, whereby the
animal's tongue or mouth contacts both the said first and second conductors
which completes an electrical circuit and produces an electrical shock to the
portion of the tongue or mouth in contact with the conductors. More than two
conductors may be mounted in parallel spaced apart relationship on the flexible
mounting band, in which case they are connected so each adjacent one is of
opposite polarity.

Claims

The embodiments of the invention in which an exclusive property or
privilege is claimed are defined as follows:
1. An electrical shock training device for animals, including an
electrical power source having a first terminal of one polarity and a second
terminal of opposite polarity at any given instant in time, a first conductor
connected directly to said first terminal, a second conductor connected directly
to said second terminal, an elongated, flexible non-conductive supporter, said
power source and terminals being mounted on said elongated flexible non-conduc-
tive supporter, said first conductor including a first bared portion, said second
conductor including a second bared portion, said first and second conductors
being normally non-conducting, said first and second bared portions being
elongated and spaced apart a pre-selected distance to enable contact with both
of said bared portions simultaneously by an electrically conductive portion of an
animal on which it is used, said conductors becoming electrically conducting
when both of said first and second bared portions of said normally non-conducting
conductors are contacted simultaneously by said electrically conductive portion of
said animal, said elongated, flexible, non-conductive supporter including
fastening means to enable affixing said device to a portion of an animal for use
thereon.
2. An electric shock training device for animals as set forth in
claim 1, including a third conductor, said third conductor being normally
non-conducting, said third conductor including a third bared portion, said
third bared portion being elongated and spaced from said second bared portion
substantially the same pre-selected distance as said first and second bared
portions are spaced apart, said third conductor being electrically connected to
said first terminal of said electrical power source and having the same polarity
as said first conductor, said third conductor becoming electrically conducting
when both of said second and third bared portions of said normally non-conducting
second and third conductors are contacted simultaneously by said electrically
conductive portion of said animal, said first, second and third conductors being
electrically connected so each adjacent one is of opposite polarity, said first,
second and third conductors and their respective bared portions being mounted
in spaced apart substantially parallel relationship on said non-conductive
supporter.

3. An electric shock training device as set forth in claim 1,
wherein said first and second conductors are flat, thin flexible bus bars.
4. An electric shock training device for animals as set forth in
claim 2, wherein said electric power source includes a battery, said first
terminal thereof is positive and said second terminal thereof is negative, said
first and third conductors are electrically connected to one of said terminals,
said second conductor is electrically connected to the other of said terminals,
the electric shock provided when the bared portion of said second conductor
and that of one of said first and third conductors is contacted simultaneously by
an electrically conductive portion of said animal being localized and limited to
that portion of the animal's body which lies between the points of contact with
said bared portions of said conductors connected respectively to said positive
and negative terminals of said battery, and to those portions of said animal's
body in the vicinity of such contacts and the area therebetween.
5. An electric shock training device for animals as set forth in
claim 2, wherein said electric power source includes a battery, said first
terminal thereof is positive and said second terminal thereof is negative, said
first and third conductors are electrically connected to said negative terminal,
said second conductor is electrically connected to said positive terminal.
6. An electric shock training device for animals as set forth in
claim 2, wherein said electric power source includes a plurality of batteries
connected in series, said first terminal of one polarity being on a first of said
plurality of batteries, said second terminal of opposite polarity being on a
second of said plurality of batteries, said first and third conductors are
electrically connected to said first terminal, said second conductor is electri-
cally connected to said second terminal.
7. An electric shock training device for animals as set forth in
claim 1, wherein said first and second conductors are mounted on said flexible
supporter in substantially parallel relationship, said first and second bared
portions comprising substantially that part of the entire length of said first and
second conductors respectively which extends outwardly from said power source.
8. An electric shock training device for animals as set forth in
claim 2, wherein said first, second and third conductors are flat, thin flexiblebus bars and are mounted on said flexible supporter in substantially parallel

relationship, said first, second and third bared portions comprising substan-
tially that part of the entire length of said first, second and third conductors
respectively which extends outwardly from said power source.
9. An electric shock training device for animals as set forth in
claim 1, wherein said power source has an output voltage of no less than nine
volts.
10. An electric shock training device for animals as set forth in
claim 1, wherein said power source has an output voltage within a range of
between nine volts and sixty-nine volts.

Description

1 1~3~4
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
This invention relates to the field o~ an electric shock device to
prevent an animal from doing something it ought not do.
In the broader field of training apparatus in general, a number of
devices which produce an electric shock are known. The following United
States patents disclose various types of apparatus for such purpose.
United States Patent No. 3,874,3349 discloses a training collar
having an electrical device to produce a shock when the dog, or other animal,
strains at its leash. The pull on the leash closes a switch to energize the
circuit.
United States Patent No. 3,827,403 discloses an electrical shock
device attached to an animal~s tail which produces a shock depending on the
angular position of the tail, such as when raised. The electric shock circuit
is energized in this device by means of a magnetic field produced by AC current
flowing in conductors which surround a defined area, and a battery powered
circuit carried on the animalls tail which includes a tail direction sensor,
electronic switches, and an amplifier responsive to the aforesaid magnetic
field. Upon sensing a particular change in the direction of the animal~s tail,
the circuit applies an input signal to the amplifier which if within the area of the
magnetic ~ield produces an output sufficient to drive a shocking mechanism.
United States Patent No. 3,753,421 discloses a device having a high
voltage, iow powered, receiving circuit attachecl to a dog~s collar, which picks
up a signal from a boundary wire emitting electrical signals, so when the dog
gets near the wire it receives a shock.
United States Patent No. 3,687,112 discloses an e!ectric shock
apparatus mounted on a reck strap to deliver an electrical shock to horses when
their neck expands or swells as they engage in the undesirable habit of cribbin~
or windsucking. A ribbon switch closes when the horse~s neck is swelled, to
complete the electric circuit which produces the shock.
United States Patent No. 2,996,043 discloses a training co!lar for
animals, such as hunting dogs7 having batteries mounted on one side of the collar
and a coil assemb!y on the other side to deliver a shock to the animal after a tirne
delay. In this device, the energizing switch is closed manually~ and a timing
device is set to deliver the electric shock after a selected time lapse has expired.

1~3~
United States Patent No. 2,741,224 discloses a device which includes
a microphone to pick up the sound of a dog when barking, causing current to flow
through a relay connected to a battery. The battery then delivers current to an
electrode which provides an electrical shock in response to the bark. The micro-
phones described are throat microphones.
United States Patent No. 2, 579,178 discloses a shocking apparatus
powered by the electrical system of an automobile with conductors attached to
a dead animal which the trainer desires to teach a dog not to chase, such as a
rabbi t.
lS) United States Patent No. 487,461 discloses another neck strap device
which delivers an electric shock to a horse when it indulges in the bad habit of
cribbing. When the horse's neck expands, a pressure plate type of switch
mounted in the neck strap makes contact and closes an electrical circuit which
delivers a shock to the horse.
Prior art devices of the type disclosed in the foregoing United States
patents require the use of a switch mechanism to close the circuit which provides
the electrical shock, or magnetic or radic~ frequency emitting and pick-up devices
to accomplish the objective, or other independent means to complete the eiectrical
circuit which produces an electrical shock. Such switches or other mechanisms
ar e subject to damage and failure which renders the device inoperative. The
present invention overcomes such problem by eliminatiny the need for a switch or
other component to close the circuit which produces a shock to the animal. The
device in accordance with this invention includes parallel bared conductors
connected to respective positive ar.d negative terminals of a low voltage source
in open circuit arrangement. The circuit is closed by the animal on which it is
mounted touching both conductors with its tongue or lips, thereby causing current
to flvw momentarily and delivering a rnild electrical shock. The shock is localized
and confined to that area of the animalis body between its point of contact with the
negative conductor and its point of con~act with the positive conductor. Current
flow ceases immediately when the animal~s tongue or o.her bod~/ portion is with-
drawn out of contact w jth the conductors.
SUMMA2Y OF THE INVENTION
It is an object of the invention to provide 2 siinplified el*ctric shock
training device ,Or animais.

~3~4
It is an object of the invention to provide an electric shock trainin~3
device for animals comprising a portable low power source of electrical energy
and conductors of opposite polarity leading therefrom in open circuit condition,
at least a portion of each of said conductors being bared, said bared portions
being spaced apart a pre-selected relatively short distance to enable a part of
an animal's body to contact both of said bared portions simultaneously and thus
close an electrical circuit energized by said power source.
It is an object of the invention to provide a durable electric shock
training device which is portable, mounted and carried on the body of an animal,
having a rninimum of component parts subject to damage.
It is a principal object of the inventior, to provide an electrical shock
training device for animals, including an electrical power source having a first
terminal of one polarity and a second terminal of opposite polarity at any given
instant in time, a first conductor connected directly to said first terminal, a
second conductor connected directly to said second terminal, an elongated,
flexible non-conductive supporter, said power source and terminals being
mounted on said elongated flexible non-conductive supporter, said first conductor
including a first bared portion, said second conductor including a second bared
portion, said first and second conductors being normally non-conducting, said
first and second bared portions being elongated and spaced apart a pre-selectecl
distance to enable contact with both of said bared portions simultaneously by an
electrically conductive portion of an animal on which it is used, said corductors
becoming electrically conducting when both of said first and second bared portion
of said normaily non-conducting conductors are contacted simultaneously by said
electricalIy conductive portion of said animal, said elongated, flexible, non-con-
ductive supporter including fastening means ts~ enable aTfixing said device to a
portion of an anirrlal for use thereon.
BRIE~ DESCRIPTION OF Ti~ FIAWINGS
Figure 1 is a plan vie~,v of an electric shock traininCJ clevice in
accordance with this invention, showing the battery power sou^ce and termirla
connections exposed;
Figure 2 i5 an end view of the device shown in Figure l;
F`iyure 3 is a pian view of the device ot Fi~,ure 1, shown ~Nith a
prolective enclosure over the batter ies and termina, -c~nn~ctior)s; and

33~
Figure 4 is a fragmentary view of an animal~s leg showing the device
of Figure 3 mounted thereon over a bandage which the device is intended to
p rot ect .
DESCRIPTI~N OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENT
The electric shock training device in accordance with this invention
includes a flexible mounting band l of electrically insulating material, wide
enough to carry at least two electrical conductors such as the thin copper bus
bars 2, 3 and 4 shown in the drawing, and long enough to be wrapped around the
leg or other body portion of an animal on which it is going to be used.
The bus bars 2, 3 and 4 are mounted on the flexible mounting band 1
in closely spaced apart substantially parallel relationship. Bus bars Z and 4
which are adjacent the opposite longitudinal edges of the mounting band l are
positive as shown in Figure 1, and the centralIy positioned bus bar 3 is negative.
The bus bars are secured to the mounting band 1 by any convenient means, such
as the brads 5.
The electrical power source for this invention preferably consists of
low voltage batteries, such as one or more nine volt transistor batteries. The
batteries shown and described herein are two nine volt transistor batteries 6 and
7, connected in series by a conductor 8 which is connected to the negative terminal
Z 9 of battery 6 and to the positive terminal 10 of battery 7.
As shown in the drawing, bus bar 2 is connected to the positive
terminal l 1 of battery 6 by means of conductor 12. Bus bar 3 is connected to the
negative terminal 13 of battery 7 by means of conductor 14. Bus bar 4 is con-
nected to the bus bar 2 by means of conductor i~, thereby making both bus bar 2
and bus bar 4 positive while bus bar 3 is negati~/e. The connections may be made
by use of screw terminals or by soldering.
The batteries 6 and 7 are secured to the fle~<ible mounting band 1 by
means of a strap 16. The batteries and terminal connections are enclosed by
any suitable protective enclosure~ such as the case 17 which may be of hard
3~) rubber or plastic. A satisfactory covering may also be electrical tape wound
tightiy around the batteries and terminal end portion.
The mounting band 1 includes securing apertures 1~3 and l~ at each
opposi~e end, through which a tie band or cord may be inserted to dra~N each
opposite end to~3ether when the device is wrapped around the bandage 2~) as sho~Nn
-4-

~3~
in Figure 4 on an animal~s leg.
A primary use for the device is to prevent an animal from chewing or
gnawing at a bandage, or sore, on its leg. The device is mounted over such
bandage as shown in Figure 4 by wrapping the mounting band 1 around the band-
aged portion of the leg and securing it in place by means of a tie band or cord,
with the bus bars 2, 3 and 4 facing outwardly and being exposed for contact.
When the animal attempts to gnaw at the bandage, its lips and/or tongue come
into contact with bus bars 2 and 3, or 3 and 4, thus making a connection between
a positive and negative conductor causing a current to flow. The current is
sufficient to create a mild electrical shock, thus causing the animal to quickly
withdraw its mouth and tongue. After a few such experiences, the animal learns
to ieave the bandage alone.
The electrical shock produced by this device is localized and limited
to that portion of the animal~s body which lies between the points of contact with
the positive and negative terminals, and those portions in the vicinity of such
contacts and area therebetween.
By way of illustration and not limitation, it has been found that
batteries having an output of up to sixty-nine volts do nvt produce a harmful
shock. At the other end of the scale, it has been found that a battery source
having an output of as little as nine volts produces an effective shock when used
in accordance with this invention. A convenient power source is two nine volt
transistor batteries connected in series.
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