GYROSCOPIC PET TOY

A gyroscopic pet toy having a transparent sphere, a base member, a first magnet, an arm and a winged figure. The base member has central area and an outer edge area. The first magnet is installed to the base member proximate the central area. The arm is attached to the base member proximate a portion of the outer edge area. The arm extends upwardly over the central area of the base member. The winged figure hangs downwardly from a string-like element attached to a distal end of the arm. The winged figure is located above and spaced apart from the central area of the base member. The winged figure has a second magnet disposed therein with the first and second magnets being oriented to interact with one another. The base member, the first magnet, the arm and the winged figure are all moveably installed within the transparent sphere.

BACKGROUND

Technical Field

The present disclosure generally relates to a gyroscopic pet toy. More specifically, the present disclosure relates to gyroscopic pet toy that includes a base member with an upwardly extending arm having a winged figure extending therefrom, the base having a first magnet and the winged figure having a second magnet that interact with one another, the base, the arm and the winged figure all being rotatably confined within a transparent globe.

Background Information

Pet owners are continuously seeking toys that will entertain their pets.

SUMMARY

It has been discovered that putting a structure that remains upright within a sphere while the sphere is rolling on the floor and where a winged figure within the sphere is moved by repelling magnets can provide entertainment for a pet.

In view of the state of the known technology, one aspect of the present disclosure is to provide a gyroscopic pet toy with a base member, a first magnet, an arm and a winged figure. The base member has central area and an outer edge area. The first magnet is installed to the base member proximate the central area. The arm is attached to the base member proximate a portion of the outer edge area. The arm extends upwardly over the central area of the base member. The winged figure hangs downwardly from a string-like element attached to a distal end of the arm, the winged figure being located above and spaced apart from the central area of the base member. The winged figure has a second magnet disposed therein with the first and second magnets being oriented to interact with one another.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENTS

Referring initially toFIGS.1-4, a gyroscopic pet toy10is illustrated in accordance with a first embodiment.

The gyroscopic pet toy10includes a hollow transparent sphere12, a base member14, an arm16and a wingedFIG.18all disposed within the hollow transparent sphere12.

The hollow transparent sphere12includes a first hemisphere12aand a second hemisphere12bthat attached to one another at a seam portion12c. The seam portion12ccan include a snap fitting structure where a reduced outer diameter edge of one of the first and second hemispheres12aand12bsnap-fits into a larger inner diameter edge of the other of the first and second hemispheres12aand12b. However, prior to fitting the first and second hemispheres12aand12btogether, the base member14, the arm16and the wingedFIG.18are assembled together and placed within the sphere12.

The base member14includes a lower member20and an upper member22, as shown inFIG.6. The lower member20has an overall spherically shaped lower surface24(less than half a hemisphere of a sphere). The upper member22has contoured upper surface26with decorative elements, such as a honeycomb-like contoured portion28. The base member14also defines a central area30and an outer edge area32.

A first magnet36is installed to the base member proximate the central area30between the lower member20and the upper member22along with a weight38, as shown inFIG.6. An upper surface of the lower member20includes first attachment structures40and a lower surface of the upper member22includes second attachment structures42. The second attachment structures42have an outer diameter that is approximately equal to an inner diameter of the first attachment structures40such that the second attachment structures42can be inserted into the first attachment structures40and adhered to one another via, for example, snap-fitting protrusions (not shown) or an adhesive material. Alternatively, the first attachment structures40and the second attachment structures42can be fixed to one another with the upper via attachment members, such as, mechanical fasteners.

The lower member20has the partial spherical lower surface24that contacts an inner surface of the hollow transparent sphere12. The outer diameter defined by the lower surface24of the lower member20is such that the lower member20slides easily around an inner surface of the hollow transparent sphere12.

The arm16is attached to a lower surface of the upper member22of the base member14along an outer edge of the upper member22, as shown inFIG.3. The arm16has an arcuate shape that extends along the inner surface of the hollow transparent sphere12in a manner similar to the sliding contact between the lower surface24of the lower member20of the base member14and the inner surface of the hollow transparent sphere12. More specifically, the arm16has a radially outer surface44having an arcuate, spherical shape that corresponds to the spherical shape of the lower surface24of the lower member20of the base member14. Further, the lower surface24of the lower member20of the base member14and the radially outer surface44have a common center that preferably coincides with a center of the sphere12.

Since the arm16has an overall arcuate shape, an extending upwardly distal end46of the arm16extends over the central area30of the base member14.

The wingedFIG.18preferably has an overall appearance of a bee with wings. Alternatively, the wingedFIG.18can be a bird, butterfly or any of a variety of flying insects.

The wingedFIG.18is suspended (hangs downwardly) from the distal end46of the arm16by a string-like element attached to the distal end46of the arm16. The wingedFIG.18is located above and spaced apart from the base member14. The wingedFIG.18has a second magnet52disposed therein. The first magnet38and the second magnet52are oriented to repel one another such that with the wingedFIG.18is repelled by the first magnet38to move away from the central are40of the base member14.

The string-like element50can be a stiff rod having an upper end attached to the distal end46of the arm16with freedom to pivot and swing relative to the arm16. The wingedFIG.18is rigidly fixed to a lower end of the string-like element50. Alternatively, the string-like element50can be a very flexible fiber string that allows the wingedFIG.18to move freely relative to the distal end46of the arm16.

Alternatively, the wingedFIG.18can be attached to a lower end of the stiff rod with freedom to pivot and swing relative to the stiff rod.

Since the base member14, the arm16and wingedFIG.18are not attached to the transparent plastic sphere12, the base member14, the arm16and wingedFIG.18are free to undergo rotational movement within and relative to the transparent plastic sphere12. However, the weight38being located within the base member14between the upper and lower members20and22urges the base member14to stay at the bottom of the sphere12due to gravity.

When the gyroscopic pet toy10is rolled on a flat surface, such as a floor, the base member14, the arm16and wingedFIG.18can remain in an upright orientation, as shown inFIGS.1,3and4, giving the appearance of a gyroscope. The effects provided by the inclusion of repelling magnets36and52on the wingedFIG.18enhances the gyroscopic effects as the sphere12rolls along.

With the first and second magnets36and52oriented to repel one another, a pet can play with the gyroscopic pet toy10by, for example, pushing the toy along a floor surface. The weight38urges the base member14to stay proximate the lowest area of the sphere12as it rolls. Simultaneously, the momentum of the rolling of the sphere12causes the wingedFIG.18move. The movement of the wingedFIG.18can include random movements and erratic movements due and the repelling forces of the first and second magnets36and52. A pet such as a cat will be further drawing drawn to the toy10upon observing these random and erratic movements, thereby enhancing animal play and increasing play time.

In the depicted embodiment, the first magnet36and the second magnet52are oriented to repel one another. Alternatively, the first magnet36and the second magnet52can be oriented to attract one another thereby limiting movement of the wingedFIG.18when the sphere12rolls on a floor surface.