Apparatus and method for controlling an animal
OwnerWayne D. Schwartzinventor
Life of this patent
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Abstract
An apparatus and method for controlling an animal includes a motorized and programmable actuator unit that is coupled to a bridle on the horse. The actuator unit includes a motor and a pulley to control tension on lines leading to the horse, the tension providing a control stimulus to the animal. A clutch coupling the motor and pulley provides a release function to automatically release tension on the lines once the motor is deactivated. A remote signal unit sends control signals to a controller in the actuator unit for controlling the animal remotely from the horse
Claims19
An apparatus for controlling a horse comprising:
- a) a housing disposed on the horse in a non-interfering relationship with a seating position of a human rider;
- b) an actuator disposed in the housing, the actuator being mechanically coupled to the horse by a line, the actuator being adapted to exert a force on the line as a control stimulus for controlling the horse;
- c) a release device coupled to the actuator for autonomously removing the force applied to the line;
- d) a control unit coupled to the actuator for converting a signal representing a desired command to an actuator command used by the actuator for controlling the force applied to the line;
- and
- e) a remote signal unit for transmitting the signal to the control unit.
A method of controlling an animal comprising:
- a) providing a set of reins for use by a rider as a first animal control, said reins being coupled to the animal;
- b) providing a control stimulus to the animal by applying force to a line coupled to the animal using an actuation unit, the actuation unit including a motor and a reel, wherein the line is wound on the reel;
- c) operating the actuation unit using a remote signal;
- d) autonomously releasing the control stimulus using a release device to remove the applied force.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.