ILLLUMINATED COLLAR
A collar to which is mounted an illumination source and one or more insets. Each of one or more light-transferring fibers includes a first end coupled for receiving light from the illumination source, and a second end coupled for transmitting light to an inset.
This application is continuation of U.S. Pat. No. 7,140,327, formerly patent application Ser. No. 10/815,601, filed Apr. 1, 2004, and issued on Nov. 28, 2006.
TECHNICAL FIELDThe invention relates generally to collars and, more particularly, to safety collars for pets. Still more particularly, the invention relates to an apparatus and an associated method for illuminating a safety collar for use on pets.
BACKGROUNDIt is often difficult to see domestic or household animals, referred to herein as “pets,” at night or in a dimly lit or unlit area. For that reason, pets frequently pose a safety hazard, not only to themselves, but also to people who occupy the same space. For example, people may trip over pets during the night or in a dark room, resulting in potential harm to the person or to the pet, particularly if the person or pet is elderly or recovering from a medical procedure. An elderly person, furthermore, may not be as agile as a younger person, and may be sensitive to an unexpected impact with a pet, and could potentially suffer from an inadvertent or adverse contact with a pet. Likewise, any person with reduced night vision is at a potentially serious health and safety risk from tripping over a pet.
One solution to the foregoing hazards is to provide additional ambient light in unlit or dimly lit areas. However, people have varying sensitivities to light at night, and it is frequently desirable or necessary to maintain minimal, or no, ambient light at night.
Another solution that has been attempted has been to provide pet collars with light-reflecting strips or elements. However, there is often insufficient light to reflect off of such reflective strips or elements, thereby rendering such strips or elements of little or no effect.
To overcome the problem of a lack of light to reflect off of reflective elements of a collar, some collars have been equipped with fluorescent elements which glow temporarily after being exposed to an external light. However, the radiant glow fades quickly and generally does not last through the night, losing virtually all effect, rendering such solution unreliable.
A band of light may be provided on a collar, but that poses a problem to a pet because light may shine such that the animal's eyes are adversely affected, thus impeding that animal's sensory abilities. Additionally, the lights may constitute a distraction and a source of annoyance and discomfort to the pet and people.
Collars may be provided with noise-generating collar elements, such as a bell or chain. The noise generated from such collars may disturb both the animal and person as the pet moves about the house. Additionally, many people may not find noise or sound an adequate indicator of the animal's precise location or direction of motion.
It is apparent that conventional techniques do not satisfactorily address the aforementioned hazards and shortcomings with attempted solutions to the hazards. Therefore, what is needed is a pet safety collar which does not constitute a burden, and is thereby comfortable, to a pet wearing the collar, while providing at the same time a clear, visible warning effective for enabling a person to identify a specific location of a pet, and to thereby assist in avoiding unwanted contact with such a pet in an unlighted environment.
SUMMARYThe present invention, accordingly, provides a collar to which is mounted an illumination source and one or more insets. Each of one or more light-transferring fibers includes a first end coupled for receiving light from the illumination source, and a second end coupled for transmitting light to an inset.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGSFor a more complete understanding of the present invention, and the advantages thereof, reference is now made to the following descriptions taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which:
In the following discussion, numerous specific details are set forth to provide a thorough understanding of the present invention. However, it will be obvious to those skilled in the art that the present invention may be practiced without such specific details. In other instances, well-known elements have been illustrated in schematic or block diagram form in order not to obscure the present invention in unnecessary detail. Additionally, for the most part, details concerning fiber optics and the like have been omitted inasmuch as such details are not considered necessary to obtain a complete understanding of the present invention, and are considered to be within the skills of persons of ordinary skill in the relevant art.
Referring to
A band 214 is positioned on the exterior surface 210 of the collar 100, and is preferably secured thereto via conventional stitching 215. A number of light-emitting elements, referred to herein as insets, 216 (seven of which are depicted) are mounted on the band 214. The insets 216 may comprise any of a number of different materials, such as glass, plastic, hard plastic simulating precious stones (e.g., cubic zirconium), or the like, effective for permitting light to pass therethrough, and preferably resistant to heat and scratches. The insets 216, furthermore, may be configured in any desirable shape, such as a diamond shape (as exemplified in
In a preferred embodiment, the insets 216 are positioned on the band 214 so as to be directed away from the pet's face and eyes. It is therefore contemplated that the insets 216 are positioned on the generally annular collar base 202 away from the head of the pet and toward its torso. Many household pets are sensitive to light, as are many people; thus, having a constantly glowing element on the animal's neck may constitute a nuisance to the pet.
As shown in
In a preferred embodiment, the number of fiber optic strings 302 corresponds to the number of insets 216, such that one fiber optic string 302 corresponds to a respective inset 216. Each fiber optic string 302 includes a first end 302a and a second end 302b. As described in further detail below with respect to
In operation, the collar 100 is positioned on a pet in a conventional manner. In the embodiment of
The illumination source 218 remains in an activated state until the power supply 1002 is exhausted of power, or until a person deactivates the illumination source 1006 in a manner similar to the aforementioned steps employed to activate the illumination source 218. If the power supply 1002 is exhausted, then it may be replaced by accessing the power supply 1002, in a manner similar to the aforementioned steps employed to activate the illumination source 218, and then replacing the battery in a conventional manner.
By the use of the present invention, an improved collar is provided which does not constitute a burden and is comfortable to a pet wearing the collar, while providing at the same time a clear, visible warning effective for enabling a person to identify the location of a pet, and thereby to assist in avoiding unwanted contact with such a pet in an unlighted environment, which unwanted contact could result in injury to the person and/or the pet.
It is understood that the present invention may take many forms and embodiments. Accordingly, several variations may be made in the foregoing without departing from the spirit or the scope of the invention. For example, the invention may be utilized in connection with specific animal applications or as a component of a medical apparatus, e.g., as a brace, splint, or cast. Certain embodiments may also include automatic activation of the lights by a sensing means on the collar, so that the illumination source 218 is activated when only little ambient light is detected. Other embodiments of the invention may include at least one access point to a harness or leash attached to the collar, to thereby enable lights on the harness or leash to be illuminated along with lights on the collar. In another embodiment, the illumination source 218 may be positioned on the interior surface of the collar base 202, or within an opening cut out of the collar base 202. The illumination source 218 may also be positioned on the exterior surface of the collar base 202 without being enveloped by the band 214. One or more colors of light may be emitted from each inset 216. LED's or light-generating elements may be selected that emit light of colors or frequencies that do not attract, or that even repel, pests, such as insects, fleas, mosquitoes, and the like. In another embodiment of the invention, a transmitter may be configured to activate an alarm to alert a person when a pet has entered a room or crossed a portal, such as when entering or leaving a house.
In a still further embodiment, the illumination source 218 may generate light in an intermittent manner (e.g., repeatedly blinking on and off, wherein the periods of being on and off may or may not be equal) to thereby be more readily perceived and also conserve electrical power. One or more LED's of one or more colors may be positioned within each inset and be electrically connected to a power supply similar to the illumination source 218, but without the light-generating element 1006, and the LED's may generate light continuously or intermittently, and, if intermittently, then the LED's may or may not be synchronized with each other. Multiple light-generating elements 1006 may be connected to one or more insets for displaying light, wherein each light-generating element 1006 may generate light of different color and/or intermittently and, if intermittently, then the light-generating elements 1006 may or may not be synchronized with each other.
The present invention may also be adapted for providing illumination on pet jewelry, clothing, accessories, and the like. Still further, the present invention may be adapted for use on clothing and accessories worn by people. By way of example but not limitation, present invention may also be adapted to enhance safety by providing for illumination on fireman overcoats and hats and on pajamas for young children, to thereby enable firemen and children to be more readily located in dimly lit areas. The present invention may be adapted for aesthetic purposes as well, such as designs on pajamas, watches, and the like.
Having thus described the present invention by reference to certain of its preferred embodiments, it is noted that the embodiments disclosed are illustrative rather than limiting in nature and that a wide range of variations, modifications, changes, and substitutions are contemplated in the foregoing disclosure and, in some instances, some features of the present invention may be employed without a corresponding use of the other features. Many such variations and modifications may be considered obvious and desirable by those skilled in the art based upon a review of the foregoing description of preferred embodiments. Accordingly, it is appropriate that the appended claims be construed broadly and in a manner consistent with the scope of the invention.
Claims
1. A method of illuminating a garment, comprising:
- at least one illumination source mounted on said garment;
- one or more insets mounted on said garment;
- coupling to said at least one illumination source a first end of each of one or more light-transferring fibers for receiving light from said at least one illumination source; and
- coupling to a respective inset a second end of each of said one or more light-transferring fibers for transmitting light to said respective inset.
2. The method of claim 1, wherein said garment comprises at least one of clothing worn by people, clothing worn by pets, overcoats, hats, pajamas, and halters.
3. A method of illuminating jewelry, comprising:
- at least one illumination source mounted on said jewelry;
- one or more insets mounted on said jewelry;
- coupling to said at least one illumination source a first end of each of one or more light-transferring fibers for receiving light from said at least one illumination source; and
- coupling to a respective inset a second end of each of said one or more light-transferring fibers for transmitting light to said respective inset.
4. A method of illuminating a medical apparatus, comprising:
- at least one illumination source mounted on said medical apparatus;
- one or more insets mounted on said medical apparatus;
- coupling to said at least one illumination source a first end of each of one or more light-transferring fibers for receiving light from said at least one illumination source; and
- coupling to a respective inset a second end of each of said one or more light-transferring fibers for transmitting light to said respective inset.
5. The method of claim 4, wherein said medical apparatus comprises at least one of a brace splint, splint, and a cast.
Type: Application
Filed: Nov 28, 2006
Publication Date: May 10, 2007
Inventor: Sondra Morehead (Amarillo, TX)
Application Number: 11/564,202
International Classification: F21V 21/08 (20060101);