The present invention relates to behavior modification of animals, such as pets.
Various implementations include training systems and methods. In some implementations, the systems and methods may modify the behavior of an animal, such as a pet.
Pets, in particular dogs, tend to require training and behavior modification for a variety of reasons. For example, dogs are often kept indoors and require house training. Pet owners may use various disciplinary techniques to train pets such as, for example, confining the pet in a particular room or bathroom for a short period of time. When confined in a room, dogs tend to scratch and damage doors and other enclosures in an attempt to escape or get the owner's attention. Repairs to such doors and enclosures may be relatively expensive and bothersome especially if the repairs need to be made often.
What is needed is a system and method of training or modifying the behavior of pets to generally protect the integrity of doors and enclosures.
[[Note: once the claims have been finalized, this section will be amended to include language similar to the claims]]
In some implementations, a pet behavior modification system may include a covering and an additive associated with the covering. The covering may include an adhesive to couple the covering to a surface. The additive may have a deterrent effect on the pet.
One or more implementations may include the following features. The deterrent effect may include an unpleasant scent, an unpleasant taste, and/or an unpleasant texture. The deterrent effect may be activated when the covering is touched. The additive may be reapplied to the covering, for example, when the deterrent effect is diminished in strength (e.g., relative to the original deterrent effect of the additive on the covering). The additive may be disposed throughout the thickness of the covering, and/or disposed along at least a portion of one side of the covering. In some implementations, the surface may include a door surface, a couch surface, a table surface, rug surface, a slipcover surface, a sheet surface, other furniture surfaces, floor surface, and/or portions thereof. The adhesive may provide a temporary coupling and/or removable between the covering and the surface, in some implementations.
In some implementations, the pet behavior modification system may include a covering that includes an adhesive to removably couple the covering to a surface of a door. The system may also include an additive associated with the covering. The additive may have a deterrent effect to a pet. The additive may be activated when the covering is touched by the pet.
One or more implementations may include the following features. The deterrent effect may include an unpleasant scent, unpleasant texture, and/or an unpleasant taste. The additive may be reapplied to the covering, for example, when the deterrent effect diminished in strength. The additive may be disposed through the covering (e.g., through dispersed through a thickness of the covering).
In some implementations, a pet behavior modification system may include a covering that includes an adhesive to couple the covering to a surface of a door. The system may include an additive associated with the covering. The additive may release an unpleasant scent when the covering is touched by the pet.
One or more implementations may include the following features. The additive may be reapplied to the covering, for example, when the deterrent effect diminished in strength. The additive may be disposed through the covering (e.g., through dispersed through a thickness of the covering). In some implementations, the adhesive may removably couple the covering to the surface.
The details of one or more implementations are set forth in the accompanying drawings and the description below. Other features, objects, and advantages of the implementations will be apparent from the description and drawings.
For a more complete understanding of this disclosure and its features, reference is now made to the following description, taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which:
Like reference symbols in the various drawings indicate like elements.
In various implementations, the described systems and methods may modify the behavior of pets (e.g., dogs). Modifying pet behavior may train the pet. For example, a pet may be trained to not scratch doors and/or other furniture, not jump on couches and/or other chairs, not scratch floors and/or other surfaces, etc. Thus, by providing a low cost, effective pet behavior system and associated method, user satisfaction with living with pets and pet training may be increased (e.g., relative to untrained pets).
In various implementations, the pet behavior modification system may include a covering. The covering may include a substrate and an additive layer coupled to the substrate, in some implementations.
The additive layer 20 may be disposed on and/or coupled to at least a portion of the first side 15 of the substrate 10, in some implementations. The additive layer may be dispersed at least partially through the substrate (e.g., to form the covering). The additive layer 20 may have any appropriate length 21, any appropriate width 22, and any appropriate thickness 23. The additive layer may include additive. Additive may include any suitable concentration of deterrent, natural or organic deterrent, repellent, scent, citrus scent, citronella, foul-smelling material, herbal mixture, botanical material, oil, mineral, lotion, cream, sprayable material, other suitable deterrent, or any combination thereof in some implementations. In some implementations, additive may include a treated surface, touch-sensitive scented material, scratchable material, scratch-resistant material, grooved surface, other suitable tactile material, or any combination thereof.
As illustrated in
The additive layer may or may not include more than one sublayer. For example, the additive layer may include first sublayer(s), second sublayer(s) that include the additive, and/or third sublayer(s). The second sublayer and/or the third sublayer may be disposed proximate the first side of the substrate. The first sublayer may facilitate inadvertent release upon light touching (e.g., touching than applies less than a predetermined force) and/or tasting. For example, the additive may be released when the first sublayer is broken. In some implementations, the additive layer may be dispersed throughout the additive layer.
The additive may include any appropriate additive that has a deterrent effect on a pet. In some implementations, the deterrent effect may be for a first period of time, and after the first period of time the deterrent effect may be inactivated. For example, the unpleasant scent and/or unpleasant taste may diminish such that the unpleasant scent and/or unpleasant taste is not unpleasant. The deterrent effect may be reactivated by later scratches and/or touches by a pet. The additive may not be activated unless the additive layer (e.g., a layer that includes additive) is touched and/or scratched by the pet. In some implementations, the pet must apply a predetermined force prior to releasing the additive. For example, the additive layer may be configured such that scratching and/or other touches that apply greater than a predetermined force (e.g., biting, rubbing hard against, etc.) may release the additive from the additive layer and/or light touches (e.g., a pet passing by a piece of furniture) may not release the additive from an additive layer. In some implementations, the additive may be released (e.g., not activated) by a pet licking and/or otherwise tasting the additive layer. For example, the adhesive may not be activated by light touches (e.g., touches less than a predetermined force such as scratching) and so tasting may not activate the release of adhesive from the adhesive layer.
The pet behavior modification system may or may not include an adhesive layer 30. The adhesive layer may be disposed on at least a portion of the second side 16 of the substrate 10 (e.g., to form an adhesive covering). The adhesive layer may include any appropriate adhesive. The adhesive may be temporary, removable, and/or repositionable. For example, the adhesive layer may allow a user to remove the covering (e.g., uncouple the covering) from a first location to which the covering is coupled, and reposition and couple the covering at a different location (e.g., overlapping and/or not overlapping with the first location). User costs associated with use and/or ease of use may be increased by providing coverings with removable and/or repositionable adhesive layers.
The layers of the pet behavior modification system may be coupled together by any appropriate manner (e.g., screen printing, ink printing, adhesives, fasteners, bonding, etc.). In some implementations, one or more layers may be replaceable. For example, new adhesive layer(s) and/or additive layer(s) may be coupled to the covering (e.g., on top of the existing adhesive layer and/or additive layer). In some implementations, at least a portion of existing adhesive layer(s) and/or additive layer(s) may be removed prior to coupling new adhesive layer(s) and/or additive layer(s) to the covering. Allowing replacement of the adhesive layer and/or additive layer may decrease overall costs for a lifetime of the product, increase user satisfaction, and/or decrease the environmental footprint of the product.
In some implementations, the pet behavior modification system and/or portions thereof (e.g., substrate and/or covering) may be clear, transparent, and/or translucent. User aesthetics may be increased by utilizing clear, transparent, and/or translucent pet behavior modification system or portions thereof. For example, the pet behavior modification system may be less visible to users on flooring and/or furniture if it is clear, transparent, and/or translucent. In some implementations, the pet behavior modification system or portions thereof may include embellishments (e.g., for easy identification, more seamless blending with an object to which it is coupled, and/or to make the pet behavior modification system more fanciful and/or increase aesthetics to some users).
In various implementations, the described pet behavior modification system may be utilized in a variety of applications. In some implementations, the covering of the pet behavior modification may be coupled to another object. For example, the pet behavior modification system (e.g., the covering) may be mounted on doors as a door protector (e.g., to inhibit pet behavior of door scratching). The pet behavior modification system may be coupled to furniture of portions thereof (e.g., couch, chair, furniture legs, etc.). The pet behavior modification system may be applied to portions of a residence and/or venue (e.g., public or private), such as walls, windows, widow sills, baseboards, railing, and/or portions thereof. In some implementations, the pet behavior modification system may be applied to flooring, such as hardwood flooring, tile flooring, composition flooring, concrete flooring, and/or portions thereof. In some implementations, covering may be applied to flooring proximate an area that is restricted to pet access and/or in combination with coverings applied to other objects. For example, the pet behavior modification system may be applied on the floor proximate a door that includes the pet behavior modification system and/or furniture that includes the pet behavior modification system. The additional use of the pet behavior modification system on the floor in combination with other applications of the pet behavior modification system may increase the speed of pet behavior modification, in some implementations.
In some implementations, the covering may not be coupled to another object. For example, the covering may be used as a rug (e.g., the rug and/or portions thereof such as a border), slipcover (e.g., for a sofa and/or chair), a bed (e.g., blanket, duvet, etc.), pillow, sheet, or portions thereof.
In some implementations, the pet behavior modification system may include using a scratch-resistant door protector having an adhesive, additive, or both to protect the integrity of the door. The adhesive may generally provide a securing or coupling relationship between the door and the protector, while the additive may provide a material that canines find unpleasant to smell, taste, touch, or scratch. In some implementations, the additive may be reapplied if the additive wears off or otherwise diminishes in strength, quantity, quality, or overall effectiveness.
System 100 may include door 102 and protector 104 in some implementations. Door 102 may include a track operated door, a trackless door, an overhead door, a sectional door, a rolling door, a roll-up door, a swing door, a panel door, a retractable door, a collapsible door, a canopy-like door, a ball-bearing door, a sliding door, a magnetic door, a push-pull door, a rack and pin controlled door, a remote controlled door, a car door, a car seat, a wall, a drywall, a movable wall, a movable window, a movable panel, a piece of furniture, a floor, a window sill, a ledge, a countertop, a table top, a curtain, a divider, a controllable opening, a configurable aperture, other door-like apparatus, or any suitable combination thereof.
In
In some implementations, door protector 104 may generally be secured or otherwise coupled to door 102 and provide door 102 protection from scratches, marks, or other forms of disfigurement caused by pets and, in particular, canines. Door protector 104 may be secured or otherwise coupled with any suitable surface of door 102 including, for example, a surface that includes glass, wood, metal, plastic, any suitable material, or any combination thereof. In some implementations, door protector 104 may be secured or otherwise coupled to a smooth, grooved, beveled, painted, coated, sealed, or treated surface of door 102 in some implementations.
In some implementations, door protector 104 may include nylon, polyurethane, polyethylene, polyvinyl chloride (PVC), polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE), polyester, high-gloss polyester, laminate, synthetic rubber, natural rubber, plastic, plexiglass, polymer, other suitable materials, or any combination thereof.
Door protector 104 may include any number of suitable coatings, layers, or additives to an entire surface, layer, sub-layer, or structure of door protector 104 or to a portion of a surface, layer, sub-layer, or structure of door protector 104 in some implementations, for example as illustrated
In some implementations, door protector 104 may be made of a clear material, a colored material, or any appropriate material to enhance or otherwise suit the décor of door 102 or the room (or other enclosure or area) associated with door 102. In some implementations, door protector 104 may be embellished with different colors, stickers, removable stickers, paints, stencils, erasable markers, chalks, designs, patterns, images, wood grain patterns, novelty items, ornamental items, other decorative materials, or any combination thereof. For example, user satisfaction may be increased by providing the door protector with different embellishments. In some implementations, these embellishments may deter the pet from approaching, touching, or scratching door 102.
Door protector 104 may be cut, reconfigured, or otherwise resized to custom fit door 102 or portions of door 102 in some implementations. For example, door protector 104 may be customized to any suitable shape, size, thickness, or configuration, as appropriate. In some implementations, door protector 104 may be placed over a lower portion of a surface of door 102 as shown in
Door protector 200 shown in
Adhesive 202 may be disposed on or otherwise coupled to door protector 200 in some implementations. Adhesive 202 may be a layer, part of a layer, sub-layer, strip, a discrete portion of door protector 200, or entire thickness of door protector 200 to generally aid in securing door protector 200 to a door such as, for example, door 102 shown in
Door protector 300 shown in
Additive 302 may be impregnated or dispersed in a layer, part of a layer, sub-layer, strip, a discrete portion of door protector 200, or entire thickness of door protector 200 to generally aid in securing door protector 200 to a door such as, for example, door 102 shown in
Additive 302 may include any suitable concentration of deterrent, natural or organic deterrent, repellent, scent, citrus scent, citronella, foul-smelling material, herbal mixture, botanical material, oil, mineral, lotion, cream, sprayable material, other suitable deterrent, or any combination thereof in some implementations. In some implementations, additive 302 may include a treated surface, touch-sensitive scented material, scratchable material, scratch-resistant material, grooved surface, other suitable tactile material, or any combination thereof.
Door protector 400 shown in
Adhesive 402 may be similar to adhesive 202 shown in
Door protector 500 shown in
Additive 502 may be generally dispersed through the thickness of door protector 500 and may be similar to additive 302 shown in
Door protector 600 shown in
Adhesive 602 may be similar to adhesive 202 shown in
Door protector 700 shown in
Additive 702 and additive 704 may be similar to additive 302 shown in
Door protector 800 shown in
Adhesive 802 may be similar to adhesive 202 shown in
In some implementations, step 902 may include a user of a pet behavioral modification system such as, for example, system 100 shown in
After choosing door 102, a door protector such as, for example, door protector 104 shown in
In step 906, the user ascertains whether an additive associated with door protector 104 needs replenishing or reapplication. If the amount of additive such as, for example, additive 302 shown in
Although several implementations have been described in terms of door protection, one or more of the described features may be utilized with other applications of the pet behavior modification system. For example, as illustrated in
Although the pet behavior modification system has been described in terms of pets such as dogs, the behavior of other pets (e.g., cats and/or other animals that bite, scratch, or are capable of applying greater than a predetermined force to surfaces) may be modified.
Although users have been described as a human, a user may be a person or a group of people.
Various described processes or portions thereof may be implemented by various described pet behavior modification systems. In some implementations, various operations may be added, deleted, and/or modified. In some implementations, described processes may be performed in combination with other processes or portions thereof.
It is to be understood the implementations are not limited to particular systems or processes described which may, of course, vary. It is also to be understood that the terminology used herein is for the purpose of describing particular implementations only, and is not intended to be limiting. For example, the term coupling describes direct and indirect coupling, unless the content clearly indicates otherwise. As used in this specification, the singular forms “a”, “an” and “the” include plural referents unless the content clearly indicates otherwise. Thus, for example, reference to “an additive” includes a combination of two or more additives and reference to “a covering” includes different types and/or combinations of coverings.
Although the present disclosure has been described in detail, it should be understood that various changes, substitutions and alterations may be made herein without departing from the spirit and scope of the disclosure as defined by the appended claims. Moreover, the scope of the present application is not intended to be limited to the particular implementaitons of the process, machine, manufacture, composition of matter, means, methods and steps described in the specification. As one of ordinary skill in the art will readily appreciate from the disclosure, processes, machines, manufacture, compositions of matter, means, methods, or steps, presently existing or later to be developed that perform substantially the same function or achieve substantially the same result as the corresponding implementaitons described herein may be utilized according to the present disclosure. Accordingly, the appended claims are intended to include within their scope such processes, machines, manufacture, compositions of matter, means, methods, or steps.
This application is a continuation in part of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 12/872,186, entitled “System and Method of Pet Behavior Modification” filed on Aug. 31, 2010 and now issued as U.S. patent Ser. No. ______, which claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Patent Application 60/238,827 entitled “System and Method of Pet Behavior Modification” filed on Sep. 1, 2009, all of which are hereby incorporated by reference.
Number | Date | Country | |
---|---|---|---|
61238827 | Sep 2009 | US |
Number | Date | Country | |
---|---|---|---|
Parent | 12872186 | Aug 2010 | US |
Child | 15594781 | US |