Patent US4503399A successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
US4503399A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Electronic cattle guard
Assignee: Individual
•
Filing: 1983-01-05
•
Granted: 1985-03-05
•
Expires: 2003-01-05
Abstract
Abstract Livestock entering a border zone along a vehicle roadway are deterred by sequentially activated horn, smoke generating and odor emitting devices triggered in response to interruption of one photo-electric beam at that end of the zone from which the cattle enter. Travel of a vehicle through the zone sequentially interrupts the two beams at opposite ends of the zone to reset the deterring apparatus and cancel its operation.
Inventors
- 👤 Jay R. Carr
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-27 11:09
CPC Classifications
A; A01; A01M; A01M29/00; A01M29/06; A01M29/08; A01K; A01K3/00; A01K3/002; A01M29/10; A01M29/12; A01M29/24; A01M31/00; A01M31/002
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 15
Claim 1
Independent Claim
50 words
In a method of discouraging movement of livestock along a vehicle roadway, the steps of: establishing a beam of radiation across said roadway; detecting interruptions of said beam; and generating a deterrent effect in response to elapse of a predetermined delay period following detection of a first of said interruptions.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
50 words
In a method of discouraging movement of livestock along a vehicle roadway, the steps of: establishing a beam of radiation across said roadway; detecting interruptions of said beam; and generating a deterrent effect in response to elapse of a predetermined delay period following detection of a first of said interruptions.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
21 words
The method of claim 1 including the step of: maintaining the deterrent effect until detection of a second of the interruptions.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
66 words
The method of claim 2 including the steps of: establishing a second beam of radiation across the roadway to define a deterrent zone between the first mentioned beam and the second beam; detecting interruptions of the second beam; timing the interval between sequential interruptions of the first and second beams; and cancelling the deterrent effect upon elapse of timed intervals of less than a predetermined duration.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
43 words
The method of claim 3 including the step of: cancelling the deterrent effect upon detection of the second of said interruptions; and preventing said cancellation if said second of the interruptions occurs within a predetermined delay interval following the first of the interruptions.
Claim 6
Independent Claim
76 words
A method of discouraging movement of livestock along a vehicle roadway, including the steps of: establishing at least two beams of radiation across said roadway to define a deterrent zone; detecting sequential interruptions of said beams; generating a deterrent effect within said zone between the sequential interruptions of the same beam; timing the interval between sequential interruptions of different beams; and cancelling the deterrent effect in response to timed intervals of less than a predetermined duration.
Claim 7
Independent Claim
76 words
A method of discouraging movement of livestock along a vehicle roadway, including the steps of: establishing at least two beams of radiation across said roadway to define a deterrent zone; detecting sequential interruptions of said beams; generating a deterrent effect within said zone between the sequential interruptions of the same beam; timing the interval between sequential interruptions of different beams; and cancelling the deterrent effect in response to timed intervals of less than a predetermined duration.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
27 words
The method of claim 5 including the steps of: generating additional deterrent effects upon elapse of predetermined delay periods between said sequential interruptions of the same beam.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
92 words
In combination with apparatus for deterring movement of livestock across a border along a vehicle roadway, a method including the steps of: establishing at least two beams of radiation across the roadway on opposite sides of the border; initiating operation of the deterring apparatus when one of the beams is interrupted; continuing operation of the apparatus until said one of the beams is interrupted again; timing the intervals between sequential interruptions of different beams; and cancelling said operation of the apparatus in response to timed intervals of less than a predetermined duration.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
92 words
In combination with apparatus for deterring movement of livestock across a border along a vehicle roadway, a method including the steps of: establishing at least two beams of radiation across the roadway on opposite sides of the border; initiating operation of the deterring apparatus when one of the beams is interrupted; continuing operation of the apparatus until said one of the beams is interrupted again; timing the intervals between sequential interruptions of different beams; and cancelling said operation of the apparatus in response to timed intervals of less than a predetermined duration.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
29 words
The method of claim 7 wherein the operation of said deterring apparatus includes the steps of: sequentially generating irritants to hearing, visual and smelling senses within the deterrent zone.
Claim 12
Independent Claim
133 words
A system for deterring movement of livestock or the like along a vehicle roadway, including means for establishing at least two beams of radiation across said roadway to define a deterrent zone, means for detecting interruptions of said beams; means responsive to detection of a first interruption of one of the beams for establishing deterrent effects within said zone, time delay means connected to the deterrent establishing means for maintaining operation thereof until detection of a second interruption of said one of the beams, programming means connected to said detecting means for timing intervals between sequential interruptions of the beams, and reset means connected to the programming means for cancelling said operation of the deterrent establishing means in response to timed intervals less than a predetermined duration between the interruptions of different beams.
Claim 13
Independent Claim
133 words
A system for deterring movement of livestock or the like along a vehicle roadway, including means for establishing at least two beams of radiation across said roadway to define a deterrent zone, means for detecting interruptions of said beams; means responsive to detection of a first interruption of one of the beams for establishing deterrent effects within said zone, time delay means connected to the deterrent establishing means for maintaining operation thereof until detection of a second interruption of said one of the beams, programming means connected to said detecting means for timing intervals between sequential interruptions of the beams, and reset means connected to the programming means for cancelling said operation of the deterrent establishing means in response to timed intervals less than a predetermined duration between the interruptions of different beams.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
20 words
The system of claim 9 wherein said deterrent establishing means include sequentially activated horn, smoke generating and odor emitting devices.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
35 words
The system of claim 9 including signal delay means for maintaining operation of the deterrent establishing means when the second interruption of said one of the beams occurs within a delay interval of preset duration.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
US3753421A
Cited
US3753421B1
Cited
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1988-03-04 | 1988-09-03 | 1989-03-05 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1992-03-04 | 1992-09-03 | 1993-03-05 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1996-03-04 | 1996-09-03 | 1997-03-05 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |