Animal husbandry – Exercise or amusement device – Toy – lure – fetch – or related device
Reexamination Certificate
1998-10-09
2001-04-17
Price, Thomas (Department: 3643)
Animal husbandry
Exercise or amusement device
Toy, lure, fetch, or related device
Reexamination Certificate
active
06216640
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates in general to chewable pet toys and in particular to a dog toy having a pair of ball sockets for gripping and holding a pair of elastic balls.
2. Description of Prior Developments
Pet toys are available in many shapes and sizes for entertaining and amusing many different types of animals. Toys intended for use by dogs are often formed of a relatively tough chewable material such as leather or hard rubber. Although these conventional toys are enjoyed by most dogs, after a period of time, these toys are often ignored as a dog loses interest.
Accordingly, a need exists for a pet toy which keeps the interest of a pet and is used over and over.
A further need exists for a pet toy which provides a chewable resilient surface particularly adapted for dogs.
Another need exists for a chewable dog toy which incorporates commercially available balls having a resistance and flexibility that dogs enjoy gripping and biting.
A further need exists for a pet toy which can be used with or without one or more play balls.
Still a further need exists for a dog toy which allows for the removal of one or more detachable balls so as to allow a pet to play with the balls alone, to play with the toy without the ball(s) or to play with the combination of the toy and the ball(s).
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The present invention has been developed to fulfill the needs noted above and therefore has as an object the provision of a dog toy which provides one or more chewable portions having a resilient elasticity particularly adapted for biting and chewing by a dog.
A further object of the invention is the provision of a dog toy having gripping portions which resiliently and removably grip and hold a pair of play balls.
Another object of the invention is the provision of a dog toy which can be scented for increasing a pet's interest and enjoyment.
Still another object of the invention is the provision of a dog toy that generates a sound, such as a squeak, when it is chewed.
Yet another object of the invention is the provision of a bone-shaped elastic toy having a resilient hemispherical socket forced at opposite end portions for receiving and holding play balls such as tennis balls, with the aid of a set of gripping fingers extending around each socket.
Still another object of the invention is the provision of a pet toy which includes one or more removable balls which allows a pet to play with the ball or balls alone, with the toy with the balls removed or with the combined toy and ball(s) assembly.
These and other objects are met by the present invention which is directed to a chewable, bone-shaped dog toy having a pair of resilient sockets for receiving, gripping and holding a pair of toy balls such as tennis balls. The sockets may include a set of spring fingers having high-friction roughened gripping surfaces for positively gripping the surface of the play balls.
The surface of the toy may be flocked or partially wrapped with a sleeve of fibrous material for enhancing the texture and feel of the toy as a dog bites and chews the toy. A scent can be added to the flocking or fibrous textured material to further increase a pet's interest and satisfaction. The flocked material as well as the fibrous surface of the tennis balls absorbs a dog's saliva and tends to attract the dog to play again and again.
The balls may be snapped into and out of the sockets in the toy to allow a pet to play with the balls by themselves, or to play with the toy with one or two balls snapped in the sockets or to play with the toy with both balls removed. When both balls are removed, dogs enjoy biting, chewing and rubbing on the empty resilient fingers which normally hold the balls in their sockets.
The aforementioned objects, features and advantages of the invention will, in part, be pointed out with particularity, and will, in part, become obvious from the following more detailed description of the invention, taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, which form an integral part thereof.
REFERENCES:
patent: 4309038 (1982-01-01), Spoon
patent: 4993712 (1991-02-01), Urwin
patent: 5769681 (1998-06-01), Greenwood, Sr. et al.
patent: 5857431 (1999-01-01), Peterson
patent: 5897417 (1999-04-01), Grey
Ethical Products Inc.
Helfgott & Karas, PC
Price Thomas
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