US3693590A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Animal conditioned avoidance apparatus
Assignee: BOWERS INSTRUMENT CO
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Filing: 1971-04-21
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Granted: 1972-09-26
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Expires: 1991-04-21
Abstract
Abstract The apparatus disclosed includes a cage having a surface on which a small animal can stand. The surface includes a mechanism for stimulating, by means of an electrical shock or otherwise, the animal into activity such that the animal jumps into a nearby escape unit. A sensor detects the animals entry into the escape unit. Counters responsive to the sensors and to the energizing means determine whether the animal has entered into the escape unit prior to or subsequent to the application of the stimulus. An automatic device cuts off the unit in the event the animal does not respond at all to this stimulus after a predetermined number of times. This apparatus permits the characteristic effects of toxic products, mental retardation, various drugs, other pharmaceuticals and the like to be studied entirely automatically without the need for continuously monitoring the operation by a human operator.
Inventors
- 👤 John C Bowers
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-30 18:31
CPC Classifications
A; A01; A01K; A01K1/00; A01K1/02; A01K1/03; A01K1/031; A01K1/0317
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 11
Claim 1
Independent Claim
108 words
Apparatus for testing the response of an animal to a stimulus comprising: an enclosure including a surface having means for effecting said stimulus, an escape region within said enclosure, said escape region being near said stimulus means but separated therefrom, sensing means for sensing the entry of an animal into said escape region, energizing means for periodically energizing said means for effecting said stimulus thereby to stimulate the movement of the animal from the surface into the escape region, whereby such movement or lack thereof can be sensed with the sensing means, and expelling means for periodically expelling an animal from the escape region on to said surface.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
108 words
Apparatus for testing the response of an animal to a stimulus comprising: an enclosure including a surface having means for effecting said stimulus, an escape region within said enclosure, said escape region being near said stimulus means but separated therefrom, sensing means for sensing the entry of an animal into said escape region, energizing means for periodically energizing said means for effecting said stimulus thereby to stimulate the movement of the animal from the surface into the escape region, whereby such movement or lack thereof can be sensed with the sensing means, and expelling means for periodically expelling an animal from the escape region on to said surface.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
40 words
Apparatus according to claim 1 which also includes escape counting means responsive to the sensing means and to the energizing means for counting the number of times an animal escapes from said surface prior to the application of said stimulus.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
39 words
Apparatus according to claim 1 which also includes avoidance counting means responsive to the sensing means and to the energizing means for counting the number of times an animal escapes from said surface after the application of said stimulus.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
45 words
Apparatus according to claim 1 which also includes means to disable the energizing means in response to the sensing means and to the expelling means for sensing the non-entry of the animal into the escape region after a predetermined number of applications of said stimulus.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
48 words
Apparatus according to claim 1 which also includes: total counting means responsive to the sensing means and to the energizing means for counting the number of times an animal escapes from said surface both prior to the application of said stimulus and after the application of said stimulus.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
43 words
Apparatus according to claim 5 wherein said total counting means is responsive to said energizing means to disable the energizing means in the event of the non-entry of the animal into the escape region after a predetermined number of applications of said stimulus.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
34 words
Apparatus according to claim 1 wherein said escape region is in the general form of a bucket pivotally mounted to a portion of said enclosure and adapted to dump the animal to said surface.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
13 words
Apparatus according to claim 1 wherein said sensing means includes a photoelectrical detector.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
39 words
Apparatus according to claim 1 wherein said expelling means is a hollow, semi-cylindrical unit pivoted at its lower edge to a portion of said enclosure and includes a photoconductive element adapted to detect the movement of any animal thereacross.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
33 words
Apparatus according to claim 1 wherein said means for effecting said stimulus includes electrical conductive elements in said surface, and said energizing means includes means for applying an electrical potential across said electrodes.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1975-09-26 | 1976-03-27 | 1976-09-26 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1979-09-26 | 1980-03-27 | 1980-09-26 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1983-09-26 | 1984-03-27 | 1984-09-26 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |