Patents by Inventor Christopher T. Rich

Christopher T. Rich has filed for patents to protect the following inventions. This listing includes patent applications that are pending as well as patents that have already been granted by the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO).

  • Patent number: 11425897
    Abstract: A remote notification electronic rodent trapping system and method is provided having a plurality of rearming electronic rodent trapping devices configured to wirelessly communicate trap information to a base station that is in communication with a cloud server. When a trap is activated by a rodent trigger it changes from a set state to a kill alert state and initiates a killing cycle. The trap waits a first time period and then sends a notification signal to the base station of trap activation which the base station forwards to the cloud server. The cloud server waits a second predetermined time period before sending a pushed notification to a remote user of the trap's kill alert state. If the trap rearms prior to expiration of the second time period, it alerts the base station which notifies the cloud server. The cloud server updates trap status to the set state and does not send a notification to the user.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 15, 2020
    Date of Patent: August 30, 2022
    Assignee: Woodstream Corporation
    Inventors: Christopher T. Rich, Thomas J. Daly, Jr., Aaron W. Lunger
  • Patent number: 11166449
    Abstract: A cage type animal trap having an enclosure with an animal access opening into a vacant interior sized to receive an animal to be trapped. The access opening is closed by a door that is movable from a closed to an opened position by an actuating mechanism having a flexible actuating member with one end secured to the door and the other end releasably held by a latch mechanism. The latch mechanism is configured to move the door to the opened position by tensioning the actuating member and, in response to a trigger mechanism, to release the second end of the actuating member and allow the door to move from the opened position to the closed position thereby trapping the animal in the animal enclosure. A door lock in abutment with the outer surface of the door prevents the door from being opened by a trapped animal. A part of the actuating mechanism is in engagement with the door lock when the door is closed such that the door lock is automatically disengaged when the actuating member is tensioned.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 19, 2019
    Date of Patent: November 9, 2021
    Assignee: Woodstream Corporation
    Inventors: Christopher T. Rich, Robert Theodore Cruz, Edward J. Holliday, Marko Konstantin Lubic
  • Publication number: 20210051945
    Abstract: A remote notification electronic rodent trapping system and method is provided having a plurality of rearming electronic rodent trapping devices configured to wirelessly communicate trap information to a base station that is in communication with a cloud server. When a trap is activated by a rodent trigger it changes from a set state to a kill alert state and initiates a killing cycle. The trap waits a first time period and then sends a notification signal to the base station of trap activation which the base station forwards to the cloud server. The cloud server waits a second predetermined time period before sending a pushed notification to a remote user of the trap's kill alert state. If the trap rearms prior to expiration of the second time period, it alerts the base station which notifies the cloud server. The cloud server updates trap status to the set state and does not send a notification to the user.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 15, 2020
    Publication date: February 25, 2021
    Applicant: WOODSTREAM CORPORATION
    Inventors: Christopher T. Rich, Thomas J. Daly, JR., Aaron W. Lunger
  • Patent number: 10863732
    Abstract: A remote notification electronic rodent trapping system and method is provided having a plurality of rearming electronic rodent trapping devices configured to wirelessly communicate trap information to a base station that is in communication with a cloud server. When a trap is activated by a rodent trigger it changes from a set state to a kill alert state and initiates a killing cycle. The trap waits a first time period and then sends a notification signal to the base station of trap activation which the base station forwards to the cloud server. The cloud server waits a second predetermined time period before sending a pushed notification to a remote user of the trap's kill alert state. If the trap rearms prior to expiration of the second time period, it alerts the base station which notifies the cloud server. The cloud server updates trap status to the set state and does not send a notification to the user.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 31, 2019
    Date of Patent: December 15, 2020
    Assignee: WOODSTREAM CORPORATION
    Inventors: Christopher T. Rich, Thomas J. Daly, Jr., Aaron W. Lunger
  • Publication number: 20200113173
    Abstract: A remote notification electronic rodent trapping system and method is provided having a plurality of rearming electronic rodent trapping devices configured to wirelessly communicate trap information to a base station that is in communication with a cloud server. When a trap is activated by a rodent trigger it changes from a set state to a kill alert state and initiates a killing cycle. The trap waits a first time period and then sends a notification signal to the base station of trap activation which the base station forwards to the cloud server. The cloud server waits a second predetermined time period before sending a pushed notification to a remote user of the trap's kill alert state. If the trap rearms prior to expiration of the second time period, it alerts the base station which notifies the cloud server. The cloud server updates trap status to the set state and does not send a notification to the user.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 31, 2019
    Publication date: April 16, 2020
    Applicant: WOODSTREAM CORPORATION
    Inventors: Christopher T. Rich, Thomas J. Daly, JR., Aaron W. Lunger
  • Publication number: 20200077638
    Abstract: A cage type animal trap having an enclosure with an animal access opening into a vacant interior sized to receive an animal to be trapped. The access opening is closed by a door that is movable from a closed to an opened position by an actuating mechanism having a flexible actuating member with one end secured to the door and the other end releasably held by a latch mechanism. The latch mechanism is configured to move the door to the opened position by tensioning the actuating member and, in response to a trigger mechanism, to release the second end of the actuating member and allow the door to move from the opened position to the closed position thereby trapping the animal in the animal enclosure. A door lock in abutment with the outer surface of the door prevents the door from being opened by a trapped animal. A part of the actuating mechanism is in engagement with the door lock when the door is closed such that the door lock is automatically disengaged when the actuating member is tensioned.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 19, 2019
    Publication date: March 12, 2020
    Applicant: Woodstream Corporation
    Inventors: Christopher T. Rich, Robert Theodore Cruz, Edward J. Holliday, Marko Konstantin Lubic
  • Patent number: 10499633
    Abstract: A remote notification electronic rodent trapping system and method is provided having a plurality of rearming electronic rodent trapping devices configured to wirelessly communicate trap information to a base station that is in communication with a cloud server. When a trap is activated by a rodent trigger it changes from a set state to a kill alert state and initiates a killing cycle. The trap waits a first time period and then sends a notification signal to the base station of trap activation which the base station forwards to the cloud server. The cloud server waits a second predetermined time period before sending a pushed notification to a remote user of the trap's kill alert state. If the trap rearms prior to expiration of the second time period, it alerts the base station which notifies the cloud server. The cloud server updates trap status to the set state and does not send a notification to the user.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 15, 2018
    Date of Patent: December 10, 2019
    Assignee: WOODSTREAM CORPORATION
    Inventors: Christopher T. Rich, Thomas J. Daly, Jr., Aaron W. Lunger
  • Patent number: 10455827
    Abstract: A cage type animal trap having an enclosure with an animal access opening into a vacant interior sized to receive an animal to be trapped. The access opening is closed by a door that is movable from a closed to an opened position by an actuating mechanism having a flexible actuating member with one end secured to the door and the other end releasably held by a latch mechanism. The latch mechanism is configured to move the door to the opened position by tensioning the actuating member and, in response to a trigger mechanism, to release the second end of the actuating member and allow the door to move from the opened position to the closed position thereby trapping the animal in the animal enclosure. A door lock in abutment with the outer surface of the door prevents the door from being opened by a trapped animal. A part of the actuating mechanism is in engagement with the door lock when the door is closed such that the door lock is automatically disengaged when the actuating member is tensioned.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 27, 2017
    Date of Patent: October 29, 2019
    Assignee: WOODSTREAM CORPORATION
    Inventors: Christopher T. Rich, Robert Theodore Cruz, Edward J. Holliday, Marko Konstantin Lubic
  • Publication number: 20190216076
    Abstract: A remote notification electronic rodent trapping system and method is provided having a plurality of rearming electronic rodent trapping devices configured to wirelessly communicate trap information to a base station that is in communication with a cloud server. When a trap is activated by a rodent trigger it changes from a set state to a kill alert state and initiates a killing cycle. The trap waits a first time period and then sends a notification signal to the base station of trap activation which the base station forwards to the cloud server. The cloud server waits a second predetermined time period before sending a pushed notification to a remote user of the trap's kill alert state. If the trap rearms prior to expiration of the second time period, it alerts the base station which notifies the cloud server. The cloud server updates trap status to the set state and does not send a notification to the user.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 15, 2018
    Publication date: July 18, 2019
    Applicant: WOODSTREAM CORPORATION
    Inventors: Christopher T. Rich, Thomas J. Daly, JR., Aaron W. Lunger
  • Patent number: 10172343
    Abstract: A cage-type animal trap with two opposed animal access openings that can operate in a one-door-opening configuration or a two-door-opening configuration. The trap has a set mechanism for holding one or both doors open to allow access through the corresponding trap access openings. The set mechanism includes a set lever that is movable from a set position to a tripped position and that is coupled to the doors of the trap by an actuating member. Upon actuation, the set lever moves from the set to the tripped position to allow movement of the actuating member which enables one of the doors to move from an opened position to a closed position when the trap is operating in a one-door-opening configuration, and both of the doors to move from the opened position to the closed position when the trap is operating in the two-door-opening configuration.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 11, 2016
    Date of Patent: January 8, 2019
    Assignee: WOODSTREAM CORPORATION
    Inventors: Joseph A. Radesky, Christopher J. Kamery, Marko Konstantin Lubic, Christopher T. Rich
  • Patent number: 10111416
    Abstract: A remote notification electronic rodent trapping system and method is provided having a plurality of rearming electronic rodent trapping devices configured to wirelessly communicate trap information to a base station that is in communication with a cloud server. When a trap is activated by a rodent trigger it changes from a set state to a kill alert state and initiates a killing cycle. The trap waits a first time period and then sends a notification signal to the base station of trap activation which the base station forwards to the cloud server. The cloud server waits a second predetermined time period before sending a pushed notification to a remote user of the trap's kill alert state. If the trap rearms prior to expiration of the second time period, it alerts the base station which notifies the cloud server. The cloud server updates trap status to the set state and does not send a notification to the user.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 4, 2017
    Date of Patent: October 30, 2018
    Assignee: WOODSTREAM CORPORATION
    Inventors: Christopher T. Rich, Thomas J. Daly, Jr., Aaron W. Lunger
  • Publication number: 20180116200
    Abstract: A remote notification electronic rodent trapping system and method is provided having a plurality of rearming electronic rodent trapping devices configured to wirelessly communicate trap information to a base station that is in communication with a cloud server. When a trap is activated by a rodent trigger it changes from a set state to a kill alert state and initiates a killing cycle. The trap waits a first time period and then sends a notification signal to the base station of trap activation which the base station forwards to the cloud server. The cloud server waits a second predetermined time period before sending a pushed notification to a remote user of the trap's kill alert state. If the trap rearms prior to expiration of the second time period, it alerts the base station which notifies the cloud server. The cloud server updates trap status to the set state and does not send a notification to the user.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 4, 2017
    Publication date: May 3, 2018
    Applicant: WOODSTREAM CORPORATION
    Inventors: Christopher T. Rich, Thomas J. Daly, JR., Aaron W. Lunger
  • Publication number: 20180042216
    Abstract: A cage type animal trap having an enclosure with an animal access opening into a vacant interior sized to receive an animal to be trapped. The access opening is closed by a door that is movable from a closed to an opened position by an actuating mechanism having a flexible actuating member with one end secured to the door and the other end releasably held by a latch mechanism. The latch mechanism is configured to move the door to the opened position by tensioning the actuating member and, in response to a trigger mechanism, to release the second end of the actuating member and allow the door to move from the opened position to the closed position thereby trapping the animal in the animal enclosure. A door lock in abutment with the outer surface of the door prevents the door from being opened by a trapped animal. A part of the actuating mechanism is in engagement with the door lock when the door is closed such that the door lock is automatically disengaged when the actuating member is tensioned.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 27, 2017
    Publication date: February 15, 2018
    Applicant: Woodstream Corporation
    Inventors: Christopher T. Rich, Robert Theodore Cruz, Edward J. Holliday, Marko Konstantin Lubic
  • Patent number: 9807998
    Abstract: A remotely activated door-opening mechanism is provided for a cage trap having an animal enclosure, preferably a cage trap as disclosed in U.S. Publ. No. US2008/0115405. The mechanism is mounted outside the enclosure of the trap and is preferably remotely activated by an IR or RF transmitter to open a door of the trap and release a trapped animal when the operator is at a safe distance away. The mechanism may also be manually set with a time delay and may be associated with either a main entry door to the trap or with a secondary escape door located at an opposite end of the trap.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 2, 2014
    Date of Patent: November 7, 2017
    Assignee: WOODSTREAM CORPORATION
    Inventors: Christopher Kamery, Marko Lubic, Christopher T. Rich
  • Patent number: 9743657
    Abstract: A remote notification electronic rodent trapping system and method is provided having a plurality of rearming electronic rodent trapping devices configured to wirelessly communicate trap information to a base station that is in communication with a cloud server. When a trap is activated by a rodent trigger it changes from a set state to a kill alert state and initiates a killing cycle. The trap waits a first time period and then sends a notification signal to the base station of trap activation which the base station forwards to the cloud server. The cloud server waits a second predetermined time period before sending a pushed notification to a remote user of the trap's kill alert state. If the trap rearms prior to expiration of the second time period, it alerts the base station which notifies the cloud server. The cloud server updates trap status to the set state and does not send a notification to the user.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 31, 2015
    Date of Patent: August 29, 2017
    Assignee: WOODSTREAM CORPORATION
    Inventors: Christopher T. Rich, Thomas J. Daly, Aaron W. Lunger
  • Patent number: 9717229
    Abstract: A cage type animal trap having an enclosure with an animal access opening into a vacant interior sized to receive an animal to be trapped. The access opening is closed by a door that is movable from a closed to an opened position by an actuating mechanism having a flexible actuating member with one end secured to the door and the other end releasably held by a latch mechanism. The latch mechanism is configured to move the door to the opened position by tensioning the actuating member and, in response to a trigger mechanism, to release the second end of the actuating member and allow the door to move from the opened position to the closed position thereby trapping the animal in the animal enclosure. A door lock in abutment with the outer surface of the door prevents the door from being opened by a trapped animal. A part of the actuating mechanism is in engagement with the door lock when the door is closed such that the door lock is automatically disengaged when the actuating member is tensioned.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 12, 2015
    Date of Patent: August 1, 2017
    Assignee: WOODSTREAM CORPORATION
    Inventors: Christopher T. Rich, Robert T. Cruz, Edward J. Holliday, Marko Lubic
  • Publication number: 20170156307
    Abstract: A cage-type animal trap with two opposed animal access openings that can operate in a one-door-opening configuration or a two-door-opening configuration. The trap has a set mechanism for holding one or both doors open to allow access through the corresponding trap access openings. The set mechanism includes a set lever that is movable from a set position to a tripped position and that is coupled to the doors of the trap by an actuating member. Upon actuation, the set lever moves from the set to the tripped position to allow movement of the actuating member which enables one of the doors to move from an opened position to a closed position when the trap is operating in a one-door-opening configuration, and both of the doors to move from the opened position to the closed position when the trap is operating in the two-door-opening configuration.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 11, 2016
    Publication date: June 8, 2017
    Applicant: WOODSTREAM CORPORATION
    Inventors: Joseph A. RADESKY, Christopher J. KAMERY, Marko Konstantin LUBIC, Christopher T. RICH
  • Patent number: 9630198
    Abstract: A motion activated water repellant sprinkler device for repelling animals that can be remotely controlled is provided. When the device is in on mode, the user can remotely adjust the sensitivity setting of the motion detector, set a time period for which the sprinkler will continually spray, and turn off the device so that the user can approach the device without being sprayed. The ability to set a particular time period for continuous sprinkler activity allows the motion activated water repellant sprinkler device to be used not only as an animal deterring device but also as a watering device for grass and other plants. Remote control by IR signals and RF signals is disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 13, 2016
    Date of Patent: April 25, 2017
    Assignee: WOODSTREAM CORPORATION
    Inventors: Christopher T. Rich, Thomas J. Daly, Jr.
  • Patent number: 9622466
    Abstract: A motion activated water repellant sprinkler device for repelling animals that can be remotely controlled is provided. When the device is in on mode, the user can remotely adjust the sensitivity setting of the motion detector, set a time period for which the sprinkler will continually spray, and turn off the device so that the user can approach the device without being sprayed. The ability to set a particular time period for continuous sprinkler activity allows the motion activated water repellant sprinkler device to be used not only as an animal deterring device but also as a watering device for grass and other plants.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 28, 2016
    Date of Patent: April 18, 2017
    Assignee: WOODSTREAM CORPORATION
    Inventors: Christopher T. Rich, Thomas J. Daly, Jr.
  • Patent number: 9615545
    Abstract: A custom-shaped wireless fence system is provided that contains one or more dogs in a user-defined containment area without the need for a physical fence or underground wire. The system, which is easy to set up and use, includes at least three base units and at least one collar and, preferably, a remote controller. A virtual fence is defined around the containment area, as well as around optional exclusion zones within the containment area, during system set up through communication between the base units and a trackable device as the user walks around the desired border. Visualization software enables the user to verify that the location of the fence is as desired and that the system is operating properly using a computing device having a display screen. In use, the system employs improved filtering of consecutive distance measurement values taken between the base units and the collar to discount errant measurement values in terms of their contribution to the current calculation of the dog's location.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 3, 2015
    Date of Patent: April 11, 2017
    Assignee: Radio Systems Corporation
    Inventors: Christopher T. Rich, Christopher Kamery, Marko Lubic, Wade Patterson, Steve Conrad, Jason S. Gurley, Terry G. Phillips, John J. White