Abstract:
An improved mirrored bird toy is provided that includes an interior multiple reflecting capacity that can reflect multiple reflections of a pet bird in multiple directions. Exterior exposed edges of the various mirrors may be plastic coated for safety. The lower or bottom mirror may include a cut-out whereby the bird can gain better access to the toy. The toy is mountable, within a cage, to the cage bars using a screw and nut. An orienting gage is disposed on the reverse side below the screw nub.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
       [0001]     1. Field of the Invention  
         [0002]     The invention relates generally to pet entertainment equipment and, more particularly, to a mirrored toy capable of attracting and generating interaction with a pet animal.  
         [0003]     2. Discussion of the Related Art  
         [0004]     Most of the birds kept as pets and sold in the pet trade as companion birds belong to the Psittacine family of birds. The family includes the most popular bird, the parakeet, also called budgerigar or simply budgie, as well as lovebirds, cockatiels and parrots. These birds are highly inquisitive, agile, manipulative and easily trained. Being confined in cages, they are often perceived as suffering from boredom unless provided with some objects that arouse their interest.  
         [0005]     Many so-called toys are being sold to keep these birds busy, but few of the toys seem to really challenge the bird&#39;s natural curiosity. Most toys are made for either chewing or climbing—certainly activities which these birds should engage in—but are not necessarily challenging to the bird&#39;s inquisitive mind. Other toys can merely be set swinging or turning if the bird simply pecks at them and will return to their original state or position once the bird loses interest.  
         [0006]     Many birds initially find a conventional mirror engaging and may spend considerable amount of time observing their own image. Some birds seem to believe that their own reflection is actually another bird and may attempt to interact with their reflection. However, birds may become bored with a simple mirror and once the novelty wears off, may completely ignore the mirror.  
         [0007]     Accordingly, a need exists for a mirrored toy that offers pet birds a more engaging interactive experience and presents the pet birds with a new experience over conventional mirrors.  
         [0008]     A further need exists for a toy that continues to challenge pet birds&#39; natural curiosity.  
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
       [0009]     In accordance with the invention, an improved mirrored bird toy is provided. The inventive bird toy includes an interior multiple reflecting capacity, similar to that of a three-panel dressing room mirror. Exterior exposed edges of the various mirrors may be plastic coated for safety. The lower or bottom mirror may include a cut-out whereby the bird can gain better access to the toy. The toy is mountable, within a cage, to the cage bars using a screw and nut. An orienting gage is disposed on the reverse side below the screw nub.  
         [0010]     More specifically, in a first aspect of the invention, a bird toy is provided that includes a plurality of mirrors disposed to create infinite reflections of a bird in multiple directions and an enclosure supporting the plurality of mirrors. In a second aspect of the invention, a bird toy is provided that includes five reflective surfaces disposed to each reflect multiple reflections from the other surfaces and an enclosure supporting the five reflective surfaces. The multiple reflections are oriented in multiple directions and at least one of the five reflective surfaces is adapted to allow a pet bird to approach the five reflective surfaces so that the pet bird is able to perceive multiple images of itself. In a third aspect of the present invention, a method of manufacturing a bird toy is provided that includes constructing an enclosure adapted to receive a plurality of mirrors and inserting mirrors within the enclosure such that the mirrors are disposed to reflect multiple reflections off of each other in multiple directions. According to this aspect, inserting the mirrors includes adapting at least one mirror to enable a pet bird to approach the mirrors so that the pet bird is able to perceive multiple images of itself.  
         [0011]     The above and other features of the invention will become more readily apparent from the following detailed description accompanied by the following drawings. 
     
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       [0012]      FIG. 1  is a perspective view of a preferred embodiment of the inventive toy according to the present invention;  
         [0013]      FIG. 2  is a front elevational view of the inventive toy of  FIG. 1 ;  
         [0014]      FIG. 3  is a top elevational view of the inventive toy shown in  FIG. 1 ;  
         [0015]      FIG. 4  is a bottom elevational view of the inventive toy of  FIG. 1 ;  
         [0016]      FIG. 5  is a side elevational view of the inventive toy of  FIG. 1 ;  
         [0017]      FIG. 6  is a rear elevational view of the inventive toy of  FIG. 1 ; and  
         [0018]      FIG. 7  is a perspective view of the inventive toy of  FIG. 1  shown mounted on the bars of a cage behind a pet bird interacting with the toy.  
     
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION  
       [0019]     Reference will now be made in detail to several embodiments of the invention that are illustrated in the accompanying drawings. Wherever possible, same or similar reference numerals are used in the drawings and the description to refer to the same or like parts or steps. The drawings are in simplified form and are not to precise scale. For purposes of convenience and clarity only, directional terms, such as top, bottom, left, right, up, down, over, above, below, beneath, rear, and front may be used with respect to the drawings. These and similar directional terms should not be construed to limit the scope of the invention in any manner. The words “connect,” “couple,” and similar terms with their inflectional morphemes do not necessarily denote direct and immediate connections, but also include connections through mediate elements or devices. Furthermore, such terms as “toy,” “mirrored toy,” “bird toy,” and “mirrored bird toy” are used interchangeably. The following detailed description is of the best mode or modes of the invention presently contemplated. Such description is not intended to be understood in a limiting sense, but to be an example of the invention presented solely for illustration thereof, and by reference to which in connection with the following description and the accompanying drawings one skilled in the art may be advised of the advantages and construction of the invention.  
         [0020]     Turning to  FIG. 1 , a perspective view of the front of bird toy  100  is depicted. Bird toy  100  may include two or more mirrors  102 ,  104 ,  106 ,  108 ,  110  within a concave housing and disposed relative to each other so as to create multiple reflections (e.g., infinite reflections of reflections) in multiple directions (e.g., up, down, front, side to side). The effect of the toy  100  may make a pet bird think it is seeing many other birds rather than merely the bird&#39;s own reflections. Although only five mirrors  102 ,  104 ,  106 ,  108 ,  110  are shown in the example of  FIG. 1  (e.g., a top, a front, a bottom, and two side mirrors), many additional mirrors may be used. For example, mirror  106  may be replaced by three mirrors angled to create additional reflections. Bird toy  100  may also include edging  112  and retaining bars  114 A,  114 B surrounding mirrors  102 ,  104 ,  106 ,  108 ,  110 .  
         [0021]     In some embodiments, mirrors  102 ,  104 ,  106 ,  108 ,  110  may be manufactured from any material with reflective characteristics including for example, highly polished metal, acrylic and/or glass. In addition, materials used to manufacture the mirrors  102 ,  104 ,  106 ,  108 ,  110  may be bird-safe (e.g., shatter resistant and/or impervious to all forces a bird can generate) and/or shatter proof. This feature of the present invention may prevent damage to the mirror or harm to the bird resulting from scratching, clawing, chewing, and/or pecking at the reflections by the pet bird. In some embodiments, the positioning of some or all of the mirrors  102 ,  104 ,  106 ,  108 ,  110  may be fixed or adjustable. Adjustable mirrors may each pivot or slide on a bracket behind the mirrors and may allow a caretaker to vary the bird&#39;s experience with the toy  100  to continually challenge pet bird&#39;s natural curiosity. In some embodiments, the pet bird may be able to change the mirror positions, alignment, or orientations.  
         [0022]     In some embodiments, as shown in  FIG. 1 , the bottom mirror  110  may include a concave cutout  116  to allow the bird better access (e.g., allowing the bird to move deeper into the toy  100 ) and proximity to the mirrors  102 ,  104 ,  106 ,  108 ,  110  of bird toy  100 . Positioning itself in cutout  116  may provide the bird with greater interaction with mirrors  102 ,  104 ,  106 ,  108 ,  110  and the associated reflections. In some embodiments, the cutout may be in a mirror other than the bottom mirror  110 .  
         [0023]     The edging  112  may serve to protect the pet bird from sharp edges of the mirrors  102 ,  104 ,  106 ,  108 ,  110  as well as to help retain the mirrors within the toy  100 . The edging  112  may be rounded and made from plastic or any suitable, practicable material. Further the edging  112  may be of any color or combination of colors. In some embodiments, the edging may not be used in which case the mirrors  102 ,  104 ,  106 ,  108 ,  110  may have beveled or rounded edges.  
         [0024]     Embodiments of the bird toy  100  may include mirror retaining bars  114 A,  114 B to hold mirrors  102 ,  104 ,  106 ,  108 ,  110  in place within the toy  100 . The retaining bars  114 A,  114 B may snap in and out of the toy  100  so as to allow removal of the mirrors  102 ,  104 ,  106 ,  108 ,  110  for cleaning or repair/replacement. In some embodiments, the mirrors  102 ,  104 ,  106 ,  108 ,  110  may be replaceable with distorted “fun house” type mirrors to further challenge pet bird&#39;s natural curiosity.  
         [0025]     In some embodiments, bird toy  100  may include sound-generating (e.g., bird song, chirping, pet owner&#39;s recorded voice, pet&#39;s recorded voice, etc.) and/or light-generating electronic devices (not shown) activated either manually (e.g., via a caretaker controlled on/off switch) or automatically in response to a pet bird pecking at its reflection and/or by tripping a sensor as the bird approaches the toy  100 .  
         [0026]     Referring now to  FIGS. 2 through 6 , front, top, bottom, side, and back elevational views of bird toy  100  are respectively depicted. From the top, bottom, side, and rear views, the exterior surface of the enclosure  302  of the toy  100  is visible. Enclosure  302  may be formed from plastic or any suitable material sufficiently rigid to support the mirrors  102 ,  104 ,  106 ,  108 ,  110  and to withstand pecking, clawing, and chewing of the toy  100 . In some embodiments, the mirrored bird toy  100  may be approximately 3.25″ wide×4.25″ wide×1.25″ deep to accommodate birds such as parakeets, lovebirds, cockatiels, parrots, and the like. However, bird toys  100  of other sizes, orientations, and/or proportions may be employed for larger and/or smaller birds. In some embodiments, the enclosure  302  may include deeper sides and/or a front such that a pet bird entering the toy  100  (e.g., via a bottom cut-out) may be completely surrounded on all sides by reflecting surfaces.  
         [0027]     Protruding from the back surface of enclosure  302 , a nub screw  306  may be adapted to receive a retaining nut  304 . The retaining nut  304  and nub screw  306  may be used to mount the bird toy  100  to the bars of a bird cage. The enclosure  302  may also include edging  112 , described above with respect to  FIG. 1 . The enclosure  302 , including the edging  112 , the retaining bars  114 A,  114 B, and/or the nub screw  306  may be formed from a single piece of molded material. Alternatively, any or all of the edging  112 , the retaining bars  114 A,  114 B, and/or the nub screw  306  may be attached to the enclosure  302  during manufacturing of the toy  100 . In some embodiments, the component parts may be sold as a kit that the pet caretaker assembles.  
         [0028]     From the views depicted in FIGS.  4  though  6 , (i.e., the bottom, side and rear elevational views, respectively) a gage  402  may be seen protruding from the back of the enclosure  302 . In conjunction with the retaining nut  304  and nub screw  306 , the gage  402  may be used to secure the mirrored bird toy to the bars of a bird cage in either a vertical or horizontal orientation. In some embodiments, other orientations may be used. The gage  402  and nub screw  306  are fit between the bars of the cage and the retaining nut  304  is then fastened to the nub screw  306 . The gage  402  prevents the toy  100  from rotating and loosening the retaining nut  306  as the pet bird interacts with the mirror.  
         [0029]     Turning now to  FIG. 7 , the mirrored bird toy  100  is depicted in a perspective view mounted to the horizontal bars  702  of a bird cage. Note that the toy  100  may alternatively be mounted to vertical bird cage bars. A bird  704  is shown interacting with its multiple reflected images  706 ,  708  in  FIG. 7 .  
         [0030]     This document describes the inventive toy  100  for illustration purposes only. Neither the specific embodiments of the invention as a whole, nor those of its features limit the general principles underlying the invention. In particular, the invention is not limited to any specific configuration of mirrors  102 ,  104 ,  106 ,  108 ,  110 , shapes or sizes of enclosure  302 , edging  112 , and retaining bars  114 A,  114 B. The specific features described herein may be used in some embodiments, but not in others, without departure from the spirit and scope of the invention as set forth. Many additional modifications are intended in the foregoing disclosure, and it will be appreciated by those of ordinary skill in the art that in some instances some features of the invention will be employed in the absence of a corresponding use of other features. The illustrative examples therefore do not define the metes and bounds of the invention and the legal protection afforded the invention.  
         [0031]     Further, while the present invention has been described at some length and with some particularity with respect to the several described embodiments, it is not intended that it should be limited to any such particulars or embodiments or any particular embodiment, but it is to be construed with references to the appended claims so as to provide the broadest possible interpretation of such claims in view of the prior art and, therefore, to effectively encompass the intended scope of the invention. Furthermore, the foregoing describes the invention in terms of embodiments foreseen by the inventor for which an enabling description was available, notwithstanding that insubstantial modifications of the invention, not presently foreseen, may nonetheless represent equivalents thereto.