Animal husbandry – Exercise or amusement device – Toy – lure – fetch – or related device
Reexamination Certificate
1999-10-22
2001-01-16
Carone, Michael J. (Department: 3643)
Animal husbandry
Exercise or amusement device
Toy, lure, fetch, or related device
C482S085000, C446S325000, C472S102000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06173678
ABSTRACT:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to an amusement device, and particularly to an amusement device for an animal such as a horse.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
Horses, particularly domestic horses, typically spend considerable time in a solitary environment such as a paddock or corral.
In the applicants' experience, a horse is generally a social animal, and time spent in a solitary environment such as a paddock or corral can have a significant effect on the horse's psyche. Thus, applicants believe there is a significant need for devices that can at least partially relieve the effects of such a solitary environment. Specifically, applicants believe there is a need for devices that can (i) occupy and amuse a horse, (ii) condition the horse against startling events (e.g. a foreign object appearing in the paddock or corral), (iii) enable the horse to exercise by providing an object the horse can nuzzle, push, step on, bite and/or chew, and (iv) otherwise enable the horse to amuse itself.
Moreover, applicants believe that an amusement device for a horse should be rugged and durable enough to withstand the environmental conditions of a paddock or corral, as well as flexible enough to substantially retain its shape despite the physical abuse of being played with by a horse over a period of time.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The present invention provides a new and useful amusement device for an animal such as a horse, which is designed to (i) occupy and amuse an animal such as a horse which is confined to an enclosure (e.g. a paddock or corral), and (ii) enable the animal to exercise by playing with the device in various ways. Moreover, an amusement device according to the invention is designed to be rugged and durable enough to withstand environmental conditions of an animal enclosure such as a paddock or corral, and flexible enough to retain its shape despite the physical abuse associated with being played with by an animal such as a horse over a period of time.
According to a preferred embodiment, a device is provided for amusing and occupying a horse, and comprises an article having
a. a horse play value comprising a shape and size which encourages a horse to play with the article by (i) biting or chewing the article, (ii) gripping the article in its mouth and tossing the article and/or (iii) stepping on the article, and
b. a flexibility and durability such that the article will retain its horse play value for a predetermined period of time in an outdoor environment such as a horse corral and being repeatedly bitten, chewed, tossed and/or stepped on by a horse over that predetermined period of time.
Moreover, according to the preferred embodiment, the article is shaped to simulate a horse head. Additionally, the article is hollow, and has a configuration such as a simulated snout, mane and/or forelock which provides a convenient biting, chewing and/or gripping shape for a horse.
According to an additional feature of the preferred embodiment, the outer surface of the amusement device is textured, and selected portions of the amusement device (e.g., the simulated mane and simulated forelock) have configurations designed to receive and retain paint, so that the outer surface of the device and the selected portions can be painted a selected color or with a customized design. This provides the owner of the device an opportunity to customize the article, to look like the owner's horse and/or to otherwise suit the owner's artistic preferences.
Still further, according to the preferred embodiment, the article is formed of a low density polyethylene material or a vinyl material. Low density polyethylene is preferred for an amusement device for an animal such as a horse. Low density polyethylene is generally more rugged and durable than vinyl, but vinyl is believed to be more flexible than low density polyethylene, so the material of choice for a particular animal species would depend on which characteristic is more important for the particular species. Also, it is preferred that the article is configured with UV protection designed to prevent significant UV degradation of the toy article over a predetermined period of time (e.g. three months or more).
In the following detailed description, several versions of an amusement device for a horse are shown. In one version, the simulated horse head is designed to be placed on the ground in an enclosure such as a paddock or corral, so that a horse can pick up the article and play with it in various ways. In another version the simulated horse head is configured to be coupled to the upper portion of an upstanding base member, and the base member is weighted so as to function as a rocker. When the simulated horse head is coupled to the base member the simulated horse head and base member combine to form an amusement device which is biased toward an upright position in which the simulated horse head is at its upper end. In that upright position, the simulated horse head is about the height of the head of a horse. The weighted base portion enables the amusement device to rock when the device is pushed or nuzzled by a horse. However, when the horse leaves the device alone, the weighted base will bias the device toward its upright position.
Additionally, since the simulated horse head and base member are separate members, a different article (e.g., a different simulated horse head, or even a simulated animal head other than a horse head) can be coupled to the base member, to change the look of the amusement device.
In this application, the “flexibility” of an amusement device for an animal such as a horse is the ability of the article substantially to retain its original shape after being deformed due to being bitten, tossed and/or stepped on by a horse. The “durability” of the article is the ability of the article to withstand environment conditions of a horse corral and to retain its flexibility for a significant period of time under normal horse play conditions (a significant period of time meaning repeated play by a horse daily for at least a month).
Further features of the present invention will become apparent from the following detailed description and the accompanying drawings.
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Bambauer Sheila
Reisen JoAnn
Carone Michael J.
Nguyen Son T.
Reibam, Inc.
Snell & Wilmer L.L.P.
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