US 12,419,266 B2
Devices and methods for managing animals in an enclosure
Robert Christenson, Milford, IN (US); and James R. Kraft, Milford, IN (US)
Assigned to CTB, Inc., Milford, IN (US)
Filed by CTB, Inc., Milford, IN (US)
Filed on Apr. 22, 2024, as Appl. No. 18/641,857.
Application 18/641,857 is a continuation of application No. 17/496,672, filed on Oct. 7, 2021, granted, now 12,004,477.
Claims priority of provisional application 63/088,962, filed on Oct. 7, 2020.
Prior Publication US 2024/0268330 A1, Aug. 15, 2024
This patent is subject to a terminal disclaimer.
Int. Cl. A01K 1/00 (2006.01); A01K 31/18 (2006.01)
CPC A01K 1/0047 (2013.01) [A01K 31/18 (2013.01); A01K 2227/30 (2013.01)] 16 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A system for controlling environmental conditions within and/or around an animal enclosure, the system comprising:
an animal enclosure having a first climate;
a climate control system connected to the animal enclosure and comprising a climate conditioning device and a processor;
one or more sensors connected to the climate control system and disposed within and/or around the animal enclosure;
wherein the animal enclosure is configured to house one or more animals each having a one or more detectable parameters or measurable features and each having a head and vent;
wherein the one or more sensors are configured to detect the one or more parameters or measurable features: (i) at the vent of at least one of the one or more animals, or (ii) at both the head of a first of the one or more animals and at the vent of a second of the one or more animals, or (iii) at both the head and at the vent of the same one of the one or more animals; and convey information about the one or more parameters or measurable features to the processor;
wherein the processor is configured to cause the climate conditioning device to change the first climate to a determined second climate in and/or around the animal enclosure; and
wherein the determined second climate is determined using calculations of the processor that are based on the one or more parameters or measurable features detected by the one or more sensors.