Amusement devices: toys – Balanced or self-righting
Reexamination Certificate
1999-06-29
2001-04-17
Ackun, Jacob K. (Department: 3712)
Amusement devices: toys
Balanced or self-righting
C119S707000, C119S709000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06217408
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates in general to chewable pet toys, and in particular to such toys which bounce, roll, spin, oscillate and wobble and always return to an upright orientation when used on a level surface.
2. Description of Prior Developments
Pet toys have long been available in numerous sizes and shapes for providing amusement to various pets. Chewable rubber toys are particularly popular with dogs. Many of these chewable toys remain static when dropped or thrown on a playing surface and, as such, are not particularly interesting to a pet such as a dog.
Although some toys have been designed to bounce and roll, and some have even been designed to remain upright, these conventional toys typically have a multi-component construction which involves assembly of the various parts and are generally expensive to produce.
Accordingly, a need exists for a self-righting, chewable pet toy which is of simple, economical construction and which produces a wide variety of motions, including rolling, bouncing, spinning, oscillating and wobbling.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The present invention has been designed to fulfill the needs noted above and therefore has as an object the provision of a chewable, self-righting pet toy which has a simple, economical construction and which produces a wide variety of motions including rolling, bouncing, spinning, swaying and oscillating, as well as complex combinations of these movements.
Another object of the invention is to provide a chewable, one-piece, molded rubber pet toy which wobbles and rolls about for a considerable time before standing still in an upright position.
These and other objects are met by the present invention which is directed to a one-piece, homogeneous, chewable rubber pet toy which is constructed with a low center of gravity located within a hemispherical base. A central shaft extends upwardly from the center of the base and is formed with a rounded bumper on its free end. An array of spokes or arms extends radially outwardly from a middle portion of the shaft to prevent the base from tipping over.
The self-righting feature of the invention is provided by limiting the weight of the toy above its hemispherical base to a value less than the weight of the hemispherical base. In this manner, a self-righting restorative moment will always be present to align the toy upright and centered on its hemispherical base.
REFERENCES:
patent: 901762 (1908-11-01), Wetzel
patent: 1425945 (1922-08-01), Congdon
patent: 1630137 (1927-05-01), Ruwwe
patent: 3442045 (1969-05-01), Green
patent: 3921331 (1975-11-01), Schatz
Ackun Jacob K.
Carlson Jeffrey D.
Helfgott & Karas P.C.
JW Pet Company Inc.
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