Antenna for animal training receiver unit mounted beneath collar

Claim 1

An electronic training apparatus comprising in combination: (a) a collar adapted to be placed around an animal's neck; (b) a receiver unit attached to a lower portion of the collar; (c) a pair of electrodes attached to an inner surface of the lower portion of the collar and operatively coupled to the receiver unit and conducting electrical stimulus from the receiver unit to the neck of the animal; (d) means designed for providing a solution to problems of extending signal reception range of the receiver unit, and antenna damage and distraction of the animal caused by antenna contact with external objects as the animal moves through brush, under fences, etc., comprising i. a helically wound antenna having a conductive base, an elongated lower section including a helical, elastic first conductor having a first number of turns, a lower end of the first conductor being rigidly attached to and electrically connected to the conductive base, and an elongated upper section including a helical second conductor having a second number of turns, a lower end of the second conductor being electrically connected to an upper end of the first conductor, ii. a rigid antenna support base attached to one side of the receiver unit and extending outwardly therefrom, the antenna support base having an upper surface and antenna connecting means for rigidly, and electrically connecting the conductive base to the antenna support base, the helically wound antenna extending along side of the animal's neck in close predetermined spaced relationship thereto; and (e) means for coupling the antenna connecting means to an input of the receiver unit.