Abstract:
A self-propelled pet toy is configured to include an attract, such as, for example, catnip. The pet toy is provided with a drive unit that may store energy for later release thereby providing movement to the pet toy and amusement to the pet. The self-propelled pet toy may be configured to look like an animal, such as a mouse, by its shape and also by the optional use of an outer layer of synthetic fur, facial components and/or a tail.

Description:
REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS  
       [0001]     This application claims priority to U.S. Provisional Application No. 60/444,782, filed Feb. 4, 2003 and entitled “Toy for Cat Using Pull-Back Chassis and Embedded Catnip.” The contents of the provisional application are also incorporated herein by reference. 
     
    
     TECHNICAL FIELD  
       [0002]     The present invention relates to a mobile toy having an attractant for use with a pet.  
       BACKGROUND  
       [0003]     Pets have often played with small toys, often batting them around and/or chewing on them. In order to enhance the experience for pets, an attractant may be incorporated into the toy. For example, toys that are intended for use with cats may incorporate catnip to attract the cat and provide additional stimulation for the cat.  
         [0004]     Catnip is a perennial herb belonging to the mint family Labiatae. Catnip is known in scientific nomenclature as “ Napeta cateria .” The plant is a weed-like mint that is now native in North America and Canada after being introduced from the Mediterranean. The active ingredient in catnip is called nepetalactone. The response to this chemical is mediated through the olfactory system (vomeronasal organ) for which cats have a special receptor. Napetalactone induces a harmless, exciting, physiological reaction in some cats. This reaction has been studied in the art extensively, and has been found to induce a psychosexual response in both male and female cats.  
         [0005]     However, the small toy that the pet is interacting with typically only moves upon being batted about by the pet during play. A need exists in the art to enhance the experience for pets when interacting with small toys and/or attractants, such as catnip.  
       SUMMARY  
       [0006]     The present invention is intended to enhance a pet&#39;s playtime experience by providing a self-propelled pet toy that is configured to include an attract. The self-propelled pet toy is provided with a drive unit that may store energy for later release thereby providing movement to the pet toy and amusement to the pet. The self-propelled pet toy may be configured to look like an animal, such as a mouse.  
         [0007]     According to an illustrative embodiment of the invention, a pet toy is provided having a housing with a pet attractant coupled to the housing. A drive unit is also coupled to the housing and is capable of moving the housing.  
         [0008]     According to further embodiment of the invention, a pet toy is provided having a drive unit coupled to a chassis. The drive unit is capable of moving the chassis. A storage unit is also coupled to the chassis, and an attractant is located in the storage unit. The attractant, such as catnip, is designed to attract the pet.  
         [0009]     A further embodiment of the invention is a method of providing a pet toy. The method includes a step of providing a mobile housing having a drive unit and locating a pet attractant within the housing. The method may have an option to include further steps of providing energy to the drive unit and releasing the pet toy direct the energy through at least one wheel to propel the pet toy. 
     
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       [0010]     The invention will be apparent from the description herein and the accompanying drawings, in which like reference characters refer to the same parts throughout the different views.  
         [0011]      FIG. 1  is an illustration of a pet toy according to an illustrative embodiment of the invention;  
         [0012]      FIG. 2  is an illustration of a pet toy according to a further embodiment of the invention;  
         [0013]      FIG. 3  is a front view of the pet toy of  FIG. 1 ; and  
         [0014]      FIG. 4  depicts a method according to a further embodiment of the invention.  
     
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION  
       [0015]      FIG. 1  illustrates an example of a pet toy  100  according to an embodiment of the invention. The pet toy  100  has a housing  110  configured in the shape of an animal. A drive unit  120  is located within the housing and is capable of moving the housing. The pet attractant  130 , such as catnip, is also located within the housing  110 .  
         [0016]     The housing  110  may be formed of plastic, metal, wood or other similar materials. The housing  110  may be assembled in a variety of ways, such as by forming two portions to enable access to an interior of the housing  110  to enable locating the drive unit  120  and pet attractant  130  in the housing  110 . The portions may then be mated together with an adhesive or fastening device, such as a screw. In this example, the portions may be left/right, top/bottom or front/back. The housing  110  may be configured to be separable and reattachable by the user, to allow for replacement of the attractant. For example a replaceable fastener, such as a screw, may be used to attach housing components.  
         [0017]      FIG. 2  illustrates a further embodiment of a pet toy  200 . The pet toy  200  of  FIG. 2  made be incorporated within the pet toy  100  of  FIG. 1 . The pet toy  200  includes a chassis  240  and a drive unit  220 . The drive unit may include wheels  222  and axles  224 , along with an energy storage device. The axles  224  maybe attached to chassis  240  in a variety of ways, such as clips, screws, adhesives or other means apparent others skilled in the art. The energy storage device of the drive unit  220  may involve one or more gears  221  coupled to a biased member, such as a spring. After storing energy in the drive unit  200  and upon release of the pet toy  200  to provide rotation of one or more wheels  222 , thereby propelling the pet toy  200 . By way of examples, the wheel  222  may be rotated by rotation of an axle  224  or may be driven directly by a gear operating on the wheel  222 .  
         [0018]     According to the illustrative embodiment of  FIG. 2 , an attractant  230 , such as catnip, is intended to attract the pet to the pet toy  200 . A storage unit  250  is coupled to the chassis  240  to provide for storage of the attractant  230 . The storage unit  250  may be a box, as illustrated, a bag or other container, or may be a device to simply couple the attractant  230  to the chassis  240 . Examples of such devices could include adhesive, a fastener, such as a staple, a screw, nail or band. An attractant  230  may be located within the storage unit  250 . As used herein, the phrase, “located in the storage unit” is intended to include examples in which the attractant is coupled to the storage unit, even if only a portion of the attractant may physically be in a container, under a fastener or in contact with an adhesive.  
         [0019]     The drive unit  220  may be formed of a wide variety of energy storage devices. Examples of drive units include, but are not limited to, spring drives similar to those shown in U.S. Pat. No. 3,961,440 to Saito, U.S. Pat. No. 3,981,098 to Darda, U.S. Pat. No. 4,077,156 to Asano, U.S. Pat. No. 4,241,534 to Larsson et al., U.S. Pat. No. 4,469,197 to Minoru, U.S. Pat. No. 4,493,671 to Kennedy et al. and U.S. Pat. No. 4,568,308 to Itoh.  
         [0020]     In the example of the drive unit  220  being a full-back spring drive, the drive unit may be provided with energy by moving the drive unit  220  in a direction opposite from the direction of travel of the pet toy  200 . For example, a user may move the pet toy  200  in direction A as shown in  FIG. 2 , thereby rotating wheels  222  rearward. Upon release of the pet toy  200 , the energy stored in the drive unit  220  will be transmitted through one or more axles  220  to one or more wheels  222 , causing the pet toy  200  to be propelled in direction B.  
         [0021]     The pet toy  200  of  FIG. 2  may also be configured with a housing  110 , as illustrated by way of example in  FIGS. 1 and 3 . In this configuration, the storage unit  250  may optionally include anywhere within, or throughout, an interior of the housing  110 . For example, the attractant  230  could be loose within the housing or affixed to the housing by an adhesive, a staple or other fastener. The housing  110  and chassis  240  may be configured to be separable and reattachable by the user, to allow for replacement of the attractant. In one example a screw is used to attach the housing  110  to the chassis  240 .  
         [0022]     Ballast  280  may optionally be provided to increase weight over the drive unit  220 . Examples of ballast  280  include a nut or other device that could be secured to any component of the pet toy to provide weight. If a housing  110  is provided, the ballast  280  may be coupled to the chassis  240  by way of the housing  110 .  
         [0023]     As illustrated in  FIG. 3 , the housing  110  may be provided with additional components to enhance the appearance of the housing  110 . For example, facial components, such as eyes  262 , a nose  264  and ears  266  may be provided. Similarly, a tail  270  may be mounted to the pet toy. An outer layer  250  may also be provided on the housing  110 . The outer layer  250  may be formed of a synthetic fur, cloth or other material to simulate the appearance of an animal.  
         [0024]     According to a further embodiment of the invention, a pet toy is provided according to a method  300 . The method  300  includes the step of providing  310   a  mobile housing having a drive unit. Also, the pet attractant is located  320  within the housing. Optionally, the method may further include the step of providing  330  energy to the drive unit. Also, the optional step of releasing, step  340  the pet toy to direct the energy through at least one wheel to propel the pet toy may be included.  
         [0025]     The present invention has been described by way of example, and modifications and variations of the exemplary embodiments will suggest themselves to skilled artisans in this field without departing from the spirit of the invention. The examples included herein are meant to be illustrative and not limiting. Features and characteristics of the above-described embodiments may be used in combination. The preferred embodiments are merely illustrative and should not be considered restrictive in any way. The scope of the invention is to be measured by the appended claims, rather than the preceding description, and all variations and equivalents that fall within the range of the claims are intended to be embraced therein.