Floating pet toy

A pet toy to aid a pet in developing retrieval skills comprising a first member at least partially encapsulated within a second member; wherein the first member is formed of a first member polymer composition having a density less than 1.0 gram/cubic centimeter; wherein the second member is formed of a second member polymer composition having a density greater than 1.0 gram/cubic centimeter; wherein the first member and the second member are provided at a weight ratio such that the pet toy floats when placed in water; and wherein the second member weighs down a second end of the pet toy in water such that a first end of the pet toy rises above the second end of the pet toy.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present disclosure relates to a floating pet toy, and more particularly to a floating pet toy which may float in a particular orientation so that the pet toy may be easily grasped and retrieved by a pet such as a dog.

BACKGROUND

A floating pet toy may enable pet owners to play fetch their pets, particularly dogs, in the water as well as on land. In addition, a floating pet toy may be used by certain pet owners to train their dogs to retrieve wild game/animals shot during hunting, particularly water fowl which have been shot over water.

As such, the pet toy must be sufficiently buoyant for the animal to locate, as well as sufficiently durable to be repeated used.

U.S. Pat. No. 5,904,118 to Markham discloses a floatable pet toy including a hollow deformable body with a buoyant material in the form of a closed cell foam inside of the body. Markham sets forth that the foam increases the pet toy's buoyancy and resistance to deformation for durability. However, while Markham may set forth that the foam increases resistance to deformation, the resistance offered by the foam may be understood to be limited, particularly given then foam is easily compressible as shown inFIG. 3and may comprise light weight packing material such as packing peanuts.

U.S. Pat. No. 8,011,325 to Jager discloses a floatable pet toy which makes use of an airtight buoyant floatation bladder. However, if the bladder is punctured the toy may be understood to lose its floatation ability.

U.S. Pat. No. 8,474,410 to Oblack discloses a resilient animal throw-toy with a buoyant interior member. The throw-toys are disc-shaped as well as boomerang-shaped. However, due to the shape of the throw-toys such may be expected to be difficult for a pet to locate in the water.

As such, there is still a need to improve upon floating pet toys. What is need is a floating pet toy which is durable and easy for a pet to locate in the water.

SUMMARY

The present disclosure provides various embodiments of floating pet toys which may offer certain benefits as compared to pet toys known in the art.

In one embodiment, a pet toy to aid a pet in developing retrieval skills may be provided, comprising a first member at least partially encapsulated within a second member; wherein the first member is formed of a first member polymer composition having a density less than 1.0 gram/cubic centimeter; wherein the second member is formed of a second member polymer composition having a density greater than 1.0 gram/cubic centimeter; wherein the first member and the second member are provided at a weight ratio such that the pet toy floats when placed in water; and wherein the second member weighs down a second end of the pet toy in water such that a first end of the pet toy rises above the second end of the pet toy.

In another embodiment, a method of providing a floating pet toy is provided comprising forming a first member, wherein the first member is formed of a first member polymer composition having a density less than 1.0 gram/cubic centimeter; forming a second member which at least partially encapsulates the first member within the second member, wherein the second member is formed of a second member polymer composition having a density greater than 1.0 gram/cubic centimeter; providing the first member and the second member at a weight ratio such that the pet toy floats when placed in water; and forming the first member and the second member such that the second member weighs down a second end of the pet toy in water and a first end of the pet toy rises above the second end of the pet toy.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

In an exemplary embodiment, as illustrated inFIGS. 1-2, a floating pet toy10according to the present disclosure may comprise a first member12and a second member20. As shown, first member12may form at least two enclosed rings, a first elongated ring14and a second circular ring16, with the rings14,16arranged planar and lateral to one another, and both having a cylindrical cross-section. Similarly, second member20includes ring shape21.

First member12and second member20may each be formed of a resilient, pliable polymer composition, which may comprise one or more natural and/or synthetic polymers, such as a thermoplastic polymer or a thermoset polymer. More particularly, the first member12and the second member20may each be injection molded from a same or a different polymer composition which may comprise, essentially consists of, or consist of a thermoplastic elastomer and/or a thermoset elastomer. The polymer compositions may be differing with regards to chemical composition and/or one or more physical properties.

As used herein, an elastomer may include any polymer material with a glass transition temperature Tg below room temperature and which is at most, 50% crystalline (i.e., the material contains an amorphous phase of 50% or greater, up to 100% amorphous phase). The elastomer may also be characterized as a material that has an elongation at 23° C. of at least 100%, and which, after being stretched to twice its original length and being held at such for one minute, may recover in a range of 50% to 100% within one minute after release from the stress. More particularly, the elastomer may recover in a range of 75% to 100% within one minute after release from the stress, and even more particularly recover in a range of 90% to 100% within one minute after release from the stress.

In certain embodiments, first member12may be formed of at least 90% by weight of styrene-ethylene/butylene-styrene (SEBS) terpolymer. Even more particularly, the first member polymer composition may comprise at least 95% by weight of styrene-ethylene/butylene-styrene (SEBS) terpolymer. The styrene-ethylene/butylene-styrene (SEBS) terpolymer may have a Shore A hardness, as measured by ASTM D2240-05 (2010), in a range of 35 to 85. Furthermore, the first member polymer composition may have a molded density of less than 1.0 gram/cubic centimeter, and more particularly less than 0.95 grams/cubic centimeter. The first member polymer composition may have a molded density in a range of 0.89 to 0.99 grams/cubic centimeter, and even more particularly in a range of 0.89 to 0.95 grams/cubic centimeter.

In certain embodiments, second member20which overlies second circular ring16may be formed of at least 90% by weight of natural rubber. Even more particularly, the second member polymer composition may comprise at least 95% by weight natural rubber. The rubber may have a Shore A hardness, as measured by ASTM D2240-05 (2010), in a range of 60 to 100, and may have a hardness in a range of 5-20 Shore A units greater than the first member12. Furthermore, the second member polymer composition may have a molded density greater of than 1.0 gram/cubic centimeter, and more particularly in a range of 1.01 to 1.2 grams/cubic centimeter.

The polymer compositions which provide first member12and second member20may particularly be un-foamed or non-cellular. In other words, the polymer compositions may not be molded with numerous cells of gas distributed throughout the composition, such as by a chemical or physical blowing agent. Cellular compositions may be understood to be less durable than a non-cellular composition as the cellular composition may generally be understood to exhibit a lower tear strength than the non-cellular composition and thus more quickly damaged by a pet biting thereon.

As set forth above, first member12and the second member20may each be injection molded. More particularly, after first member12is formed from injection molding, second member20may be overmolded over at least a portion of first member12. As shown, second member20may at least partially encapsulate first member12and, as shown, second member20may fully encapsulate the circular ring16of first member12. The first member12may have a thickness (e.g. diameter) measured through either ring14,16in a range of 2 mm to 6 mm. The second member20overmolded over the first member12may also have a thickness in a range of 2 mm to 6 mm. Given the arrangement as shown inFIGS. 1 and 2, first member12may also be referred to as the inner member, and second member20may be referred to as the outer member.

Depending on the compatibility of the two polymer compositions, as well as related processing temperatures, first member12and second member20may or may not be melt bonded together during the injection molding of the second member20over the first member12. If no melt bonding occurs, the second member20may simply be mechanically joined to the first member12due to their respective geometries.

With the foregoing construction as shown, floating pet toy10may be understood to float in water having a density of 1.0 grams/cubic centimeter, particularly when the density of the first member12is less that 1.0 gram/cubic centimeter and the weight of the first member12and the second member20are provided in a suitable weight ratio for the pet toy10to float.

More particularly, floating pet toy10may provide a first end22and a second end24, particularly arranged at opposing longitudinal ends of the toy10(i.e. relative to the longitudinal axis LA of the toy10), with different floating characteristics. In addition, when in water, the floating pet toy10may float in a particular orientation.

More particularly, as shown inFIG. 3, when in water30, the second member20may weigh down a second end24of the floating pet toy10in relation to a first end22, such that the first end22of the pet toy10rises above the second end24and is closer to the surface of the water than the second end24. In this manner, the distal (terminal) end portion18of the elongated ring14of first member12at the first end22may rise above the surface of the water to become more visible to a pet, such as a dog, seeking to retrieve floating pet toy10in the water. Furthermore, the distal end portion18is arranged horizontally such that the dog may easily grasp such between the upper and lower jaw by placing the upper jaw above distal end portion18and the lower jaw in the aperture26of elongated ring14below distal end portion18and thereafter closing his jaw thereon. Conversely, if floating pet toy10was only formed of first member12, the toy10may be expected to float in the water with both rings14,16planar with the surface, making it difficult to see by the dog as the toy10.

With the foregoing construction, floating pet toy10may also provide a first end22and a second end24with different levels of hardness, texture and durability, which may provide different biting characteristics to entice a pet. For example, first end22may have a first biting characteristic provided, for example, by a first hardness of first member12, while second end24has a second biting characteristic provided, for example, by a different hardness (i.e. combined hardness of the second member20overlying first member12) than the first end22.

When the first member12is formed of styrene-ethylene/butylene-styrene (SEBS) terpolymer, and the second member20is formed of natural rubber, the styrene-ethylene/butylene-styrene (SEBS) terpolymer of the first member12may have a lower hardness than the natural rubber of the second member20, and the first end22may provide a softer biting characteristic to a pet than second end24.

However, while the second end24may have a harder biting characteristic than first end22, the lower hardness of the first member14beneath second member20ensures that the second end portion will not be so hard that a pet completely avoids biting on second end24. Further, in addition to the natural rubber having a greater hardness than the styrene-ethylene/butylene-styrene (SEBS), the natural rubber also may have greater durability (e.g. tear strength) than the styrene-ethylene/butylene-styrene (SEBS). As such, the second end24of the floating pet toy10may be better suited for pets which are more aggressive biters.

Referring now toFIG. 4-5, there is shown a second embodiment of the present disclosure with ring16of the first member12being replaced with a (hemi) spherical portion40. In addition to second member20encapsulating spherical portion40, second member40also provides a second (hemi) spherical portion42which, when combined with first spherical portion30forms the second end24of floating pet toy10into a bulbous end and more particularly a sphere.

Similar to the first embodiment, the second member20, and more particularly the second spherical portion42may weigh down second end24of the floating pet toy10in relation to a first end22, such that the first end22of the pet toy10rises above the second end24and is closer to the surface of the water than the second end24. Again, in this manner, the terminal end portion18of the elongated ring14of first member12at the first end22may rise above the surface of the water to become more visible to a pet, such as a dog, seeking to retrieve floating pet toy10in the water.

Referring now toFIG. 6, there is shown a third embodiment of the present disclosure with the first member12comprising enlarged bulbous, and more particularly spherical, longitudinal ends50and52joined by a medial shaft portion54. In the foregoing manner, longitudinal ends50,52may simulate condyle portions of a bone. As with the previous embodiments, floating pet toy10may provide a first end22and a second end24, particularly arranged at opposing longitudinal ends of the toy10(i.e. relative to the longitudinal axis LA of the toy10), with different floating characteristics.

More particularly, as shown inFIG. 6, when in water30, the second member20may weigh down a second end24of the floating pet toy10in relation to a first end22, such that the first end22of the pet toy10rises above the second end24and is closer to the surface of the water than the second end24.

Referring now toFIG. 7, there is shown a fourth embodiment of the present disclosure with the first member12comprising an enlarged, and more particularly spherical longitudinal end50at one end of medial shaft54, and a (hemi) spherical portion60at the other end of medial shaft54. Unlike the previous embodiments, the second member20may completely encapsulate first member12, while at the same time providing a second (hemi) spherical portion62which, when combined with first spherical portion60forms second end24of floating pet toy10into a bulbous end and more particularly a sphere.

As with the previous embodiments, floating pet toy10may provide a first end22and a second end24, particularly arranged at opposing longitudinal ends of the toy10(i.e. relative to the longitudinal axis LA of the toy10), with different floating characteristics.

More particularly, as shown inFIG. 7, when in water30, the second member20may weigh down a second end24of the floating pet toy10in relation to a first end22(which is only formed of first member12), such that the first end22of the pet toy10rises above the second end24and is closer to the surface of the water than the second end24.

Thus, in light of the foregoing a pet toy to aid a pet in developing retrieval skills may be provided, comprising a first member at least partially encapsulated within a second member; wherein the first member is formed of a first member polymer composition having a density less than 1.0 gram/cubic centimeter; wherein the second member is formed of a second member polymer composition having a density greater than 1.0 gram/cubic centimeter; wherein the first member and the second member are provided at a weight ratio such that the pet toy floats when placed in water; and wherein the second member weighs down a second end of the pet toy in water such that a first end of the pet toy rises above the second end of the pet toy.

Additionally, a method of providing a floating pet toy is provided comprising forming a first member, wherein the first member is formed of a first member polymer composition having a density less than 1.0 gram/cubic centimeter; forming a second member which at least partially encapsulates the first member within the second member, wherein the second member is formed of a second member polymer composition having a density greater than 1.0 gram/cubic centimeter; providing the first member and the second member at a weight ratio such that the pet toy floats when placed in water; and forming the first member and the second member such that the second member weighs down a second end of the pet toy in water and a first end of the pet toy rises above the second end of the pet toy.

While a preferred embodiment of the present invention(s) has been described, it should be understood that various changes, adaptations and modifications can be made therein without departing from the spirit of the invention(s) and the scope of the appended claims. The scope of the invention(s) should, therefore, be determined not with reference to the above description, but instead should be determined with reference to the appended claims along with their full scope of equivalents. Furthermore, it should be understood that the appended claims do not necessarily comprise the broadest scope of the invention(s) which the applicant is entitled to claim, or the only manner(s) in which the invention(s) may be claimed, or that all recited features are necessary.