# Patent

## Title
Tug toy

## Abstract

A tug toy that includes at least two gripping members and a central portion, wherein the at least two gripping members are attached to the central portion, and wherein the central portion further includes a noise maker.

## Background
CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS
This application is a continuation of co-pending U.S. application Ser. No. 12/714,908 filed on Mar. 1, 2010.


FIELD OF INVENTION
The present invention relates to tug toys, particularly a tug toy used by pets.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The use of toys to entertain animals, particularly pets, have been widely used in the pet supply industry for many different purposes. For example, tug toys keep pets occupied. Tug toys also allow pets to chew on an object when they are “teething,” they allow owners to play “fetch” with their pets, and tug toys can also be used to play with and/or train dogs. Noise makers such as squeak toys are known, however, there is currently no tug toy that emits a sound when at least two pets, or a pet and its owner, pull a tug toy. Therefore, what is needed is a tug toy that emits a sound when at least two pets, or a pet and its owner, pull both members of the tug toy.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The embodiments of the claimed invention pertain to tug toys, which may be used by pets.
In one embodiment of the claimed invention, a tug toy includes at least two gripping members and a central portion, wherein said at least two gripping members are attached to said central portion, and wherein said central portion further includes a noise maker.
In one embodiment of the claimed invention, said at least two gripping members comprise a first gripping member and a second gripping member, wherein said central portion further comprises: a cover that encapsulates a first retainer, a second retainer, and said noise maker, wherein said first and second retainer are attached to said first gripping member and said second gripping member, and wherein said noise maker is positioned between said first strap and said second retainer.
In one embodiment of the claimed invention, said tug toy further includes a third retainer, wherein said third retainer is attached to said first strap and said second retainer.
In another embodiment of the claimed invention, said cover is attached by a method selected from the group consisting of sewing, stitching, double-stitching, inner-stitching, and inner-double-stitching.
In yet another embodiment of the claimed invention, said tug toy further includes a third gripping member.
In still another embodiment of the claimed invention, said first gripping member, said second gripping member, and said third gripping member are equidistantly spaced from one another.
In another embodiment of the claimed invention, said at least two gripping members are a truncated triangular shape.
In yet another embodiment of the claimed invention, said at least two gripping members have an aperture.
In still another embodiment of the claimed invention, said at least two gripping members each include two pieces of fabric material attached by stitching.
In another embodiment of the claimed invention, said at least two gripping members further include padding between said two pieces of fabric material.
In yet another embodiment of the claimed invention, said at least two gripping members further include an attached portion, two sides, and an unattached portion.
In still another embodiment of the claimed invention, said attached portion is about two inches in length, wherein said two sides are about three inches in length, and wherein said unattached portion is about four inches in length.
In another embodiment of the claimed invention, said noise maker is a squeak ball.
In another embodiment of the claimed invention, a tug toy capable of being gripped by a pet, said tug toy includes first and second means for gripping said tug toy, attached to a central portion; means for making noise retained in said central portion; and means for compressing and decompressing said means for making noise.
In one embodiment of the claimed invention, said tug toy further includes a third means for gripping said tug toy, attached to said central portion.
In another embodiment of the claimed invention, said tug toy further includes means of enhancing said at least two gripping members' gripping capability.
In yet another embodiment of the claimed invention, a tug toy capable of being gripped by a pet, said tug toy includes at least two gripping members, a noise maker, and a cover, wherein said at least two gripping members are each formed by attaching two half-members, wherein said at least two gripping members are attached to one another, and wherein said noise maker is encapsulated by said cover and said at least two gripping members.
In one embodiment of the claimed invention, said tug toy further includes a retaining strap.
In another embodiment of the claimed invention, said at least two gripping members further includes an aperture.
In yet another embodiment of the claimed invention, said at least two gripping members includes two sides, an outer edge, and an inner edge, wherein said inner edge is about two inches in length, said two sides are about three inches in length, and said outer edge is about four inches in length.
It should also be understood that the various embodiments and aspects of the claimed invention may also be combined, except where the embodiments and aspects are not compatible in nature.



BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES
FIG. 1 is a top view of an embodiment of the claimed invention.
FIG. 2 is a top view of another embodiment of the claimed invention.
FIG. 3 is a side view of an embodiment of the claimed invention.
FIG. 4 is a top view of an embodiment of the claimed invention with the cover removed.
FIG. 5 is a side view of an embodiment of the claimed invention in a compressed position and non-compressed position.
FIG. 6 is a top view of yet another embodiment of the claimed invention.
FIG. 7 is a side view of yet another embodiment of the claimed invention.
FIG. 8 is a top view of another embodiment of the claimed invention.



DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE CLAIMED INVENTION
Referring now to the figures which are shown for purposes of illustrating embodiments of the invention only and not for purposes of limiting the same, FIGS. 1-5 show a tug toy 1 that may comprise a first gripping member 2, a second gripping member 3, and a central portion 4. The central portion 4 may further comprise a cover 5, a first retainer or strap 6, a second retainer or strap 7, a third retainer or strap 8, and a noise maker 9. The first gripping member 2 and the second gripping member 3 may comprise two sides 11, an attached portion 12, and an unattached portion 13. The attached portion 12 is the portion connecting the first gripping member 2 and the second gripping member 3 to the central portion 4. The first gripping member 2 and the second gripping member 3 may also be planar and on opposing sides of the central portion 4. FIGS. 1 and 3-5 show the tug toy 1 as having two gripping members, however, more than two may be utilized in the claimed invention as shown in FIG. 2, with a third gripping member 10. The first gripping member 2, the second griping member 3, and the third gripping member 10 may be equidistantly spaced from one another, or they may not be equidistantly spaced from one another. One gripping member may be closer to another gripping member while being further from the other gripping member.
Moreover, the first gripping member 2, the second gripping member 3, the third gripping member 10, the cover 5, the first strap 6, the second strap 7, and the retaining strap 8 may be attached to one another by sewing, stitching, double-stitching, inner-stitching, inner-double-stitching, or by any other method realized by persons of ordinary skill in the art, which may be strong enough to withstand the constant pulling and chewing by the pets, particularly dogs. The first gripping member 2, the second gripping member 3, the third gripping member 10, the cover 5, the first strap 6, and the second strap 7 may be made of a fabric material such as cotton, wool, nylon, polyester, and any other fabric material that may be realized by persons of ordinary skill in the art. There may also be padding or stuffing inside the first gripping member 2, the second gripping member 3, and the third gripping member 10 to support or enhance the pet's ability to grip the tug toy.
The noise maker 9 may be enclosed by the first strap 6, the second strap 7, and the retaining strap 8 so that the noise maker 9 may be encapsulated within the central portion 4. The noise maker 9 may also be a squeak ball. The first strap 6 may wrap over the top of the noise maker 9, while the second strap 7 may wrap under the bottom of the noise maker 9, or vice versa. The third retainer or strap 8 may also wrap around the sides of the noise maker 9, thereby encircling the noise maker 9. The retaining strap 8 may also be made of an elastic material such as a rubber band, elastic band, or any other elastic material that may be realized by persons of ordinary skill in the art that may expand and contract while still surrounding an object.
When the first gripping member 2 and the second gripping member 3 are pulled simultaneously, as shown in FIG. 5, the first strap 6 and the second strap 7 may compress the noise maker 9, which then emits a sound. The sound may be a high-pitched sound such as a squeak. After the first gripping member 2 or the second gripping member 3 is released or brought closing to one another, the noise maker 9 may decompress, inflate with air, and emit a similar high-pitched sound. The operation of compression and decompression of the noise maker 9 may also include the third gripping member 10.
The first gripping member 2 and the second gripping member 3 may be a truncated triangular shape that may also include an aperture that may allow a pet to obtain a more firm grip on the tug toy 1. Moreover, the lengths of the two sides of the first gripping member 2 and the second gripping member 3 may vary depending on the type of pet the tug toy 1 is designed for and whether the tug toy 1 is a small, medium, or large version. In one embodiment of the claimed invention, with respect to the first gripping member 2 and the second gripping member 3, the attached portion may be about two inches, the two sides may be about three inches, and the unattached portion may be about four inches. The third gripping member 10 may also have similar or equivalent physical characteristics, dimensions, and proportions as the first gripping member 2 and the second gripping member 3.
FIGS. 6 and 7 show another embodiment of the claimed invention, a tug toy 10 that may comprise of a first gripping member 100, a second gripping member 200, an end connecting portion 60, and end connecting portion 60′, a member forming portion 70, a first retainer or strap 80, a noise maker 90, and a cover (not shown), wherein the first gripping member 100 may be further comprised of a first-half member 20 and a second-half member 40, and wherein the second gripping member 200 may be further comprised of a third-half member 30 and a fourth-half member 50. The first-half member 20, the second-half member 40, the third-half member 30, and the fourth-half member 50 may be four similarly shaped and made of similarly equivalent fabric material. The first gripping member 100 and the second gripping member 200 may be attached to one another at the end connecting portion 60 and 60′. The first-half member 20 and the second-half member 40 may form the first gripping member 100 by attaching to one another by forms of attachment as discussed above at the member forming portion 70. The third-half member 30 and the fourth-half member 50 may also form the second gripping member 200 by attaching to one another by forms of attachment as discussed above at the member forming portion 70. The first gripping member 100, the second gripping member 200, and the cover may encapsulate the noise maker and operate similar to the embodiment of the claimed invention as described above.
FIG. 8 shows a tug toy 1000 may also be constructed of a rubber material that may be molded to form the shape of the tug toy 10 as described in FIGS. 1-7. The tug toy 1000 may be a monolithic tug toy, wherein the noise maker 9, not shown, may be inserted into the interior of the monolithic tug toy by an opening 14. The opening 14 may be a slit or orifice that may allow an object the size of the noise maker 9 to be inserted and yet still retain its elastic properties, such as “closing” after the noise maker 9 has been inserted into the tug toy 1000 and thereafter retaining the noise maker 9 within the tug toy 1000. The tug toy 1000 may also be comprised of multiple portions, such as an upper portion and a lower portion, that may be molded and then later attached to form the tug toy 1000. Prior to attachment of the upper and lower portion, the noise maker 9 may be positioned towards the center and between the upper and lower portion, in order to retain the noise maker 9 upon attachment. The rubber material used to form the tug toy 1000 may be made of a rubber and/or like materials that may withstand the constant pulling and chewing from pets. Moreover, the multiple portions, such as the upper and lower portions, may be attached to one another by a method that can secure multiple rubber portions together and yet withstand the constant pulling and chewing from pets.
The invention has been described herein with reference to the disclosed embodiments. Obviously, modifications and alterations will occur to others upon a reading and understanding of this specification. It is intended to include all such modifications and alterations insofar as they come within the scope of the appended claims or the equivalence thereof.

## Claims

1. A tug toy comprising:
first and second gripping portions;
a central portion, the central portion having first and second flexible retainer portions and a compressible central structure, and the compressible central structure including a noise maker;
wherein the first flexible retainer portion contacts said compressible central structure at a first location extending across a first portion of said compressible central structure;
wherein said second flexible retainer portion contacts said compressible central structure at a second location extending across a second portion of said compressible central portion of said compressible central structure such that the combination of said first and second flexible retainer portions circumferentially contact and partially surround said compressible central structure along a first plane of the compressible central structure in a relaxed state in which no outward force is applied to said first and second gripping members in a direction away from said compressible central structure; and
wherein when opposing force is applied to the said first and second gripping members in a direction away from said compressible central structure, a distance between the first and second flexible retainer portions in said first plane is reduced, causing compression of said compressible central structure in a direction perpendicular to said opposing force applied along said first plane causing compression of said compressible central structure, causing the noise maker to emit a sound.

2. The tug toy as defined in claim 1, wherein said central portion further comprises:
a cover that encapsulates said first and second retainer portions, and said noise maker,
wherein said first and second retainer are attached to said first gripping portion and said second gripping portion, and
wherein said noise maker is positioned between said first retainer and said second retainer.

3. The tug toy as defined in claim 1, wherein said tug toy further comprises a third flexible retainer portion, wherein said third retainer portion is attached to said first flexible retainer portion and said second flexible retainer portion and circumferentially contacts said compressible central structure in a second plane of the compressible central structure, wherein said second plane is essentially perpendicular to the first plane.

4. The tug toy as defined in claim 1, wherein said tug toy is a monolithic structure wherein said first and second gripping portions, said first and second retainer portions and said compressible central structure are portions of a single structure.

5. The tug toy as defined in claim 4, wherein said tug toy is made of a rubber material.

6. The tug toy as defined in claim 1, wherein said tug toy is comprised of a first upper portion and a second lower portion;
wherein the first upper portion comprises a first section of the first gripping portion, a first section of the second gripping portion and the first retainer portion;
wherein the second lower portion comprises a second section of the first gripping portion, a second section of the second gripping portion and the second retainer portion;
wherein the first upper portion is attached to the second lower portion to form said first and second gripping portions.

7. The tug toy as defined in claim 6, additionally comprising a cover that encapsulates said first and second retainer portions, and said noise maker.

8. The tug toy as defined in claim 7, wherein said first and second gripping portions each comprise two pieces of fabric material attached by stitching.

9. The tug toy as defined in claim 1, wherein said tug toy further comprises a third gripping portion.

10. The tug toy as defined in claim 9, wherein said first gripping portion, said second gripping portion, and said third gripping portion are equidistantly spaced from one another.

11. The tug toy as defined in claim 1, wherein said compressible central structure is a ball.

12. A tug toy capable of being gripped by a pet, said tug toy comprising:
a central portion;
first and second means for gripping said tug toy, attached to said central portion;
means for making noise retained in a wall of said central portion; and
means for compressing and decompressing said central portion circumferentially and sectionally contacting said central portion,
wherein the first and second means for gripping are located on opposite sides of the central portion such that the means for compressing and decompressing said central portion compresses said central portion when opposing force is applied to the first and second means for gripping along a first plane of said central portion in a direction away from said central portion.

13. The tug toy as defined in claim 12, wherein said tug toy further comprises a third means for gripping said tug toy, attached to said central portion.

14. The tug toy as defined in claim 12, wherein said tug toy further comprises means for enhancing a gripping capability of said first and second means for gripping and means for retaining the means for making noise between the means for compressing said means for making noise.

15. A tug toy capable of being gripped by a pet, said tug toy comprising:
a first half-member, a second half-member, a compressible central structure containing a noise maker, and a cover,
wherein said first and second half-members encircle and partially surround said compressible central structure, and said first half-member is attached to said second half-member to form first and second gripping members on opposing sides of the compressible central structure,
wherein said noise maker is a squeak valve secured in a wall of said compressible central structure and said compressible central structure is encapsulated by said cover and said first and second half-members, and
wherein the said first and second half-members and the compressible central structure are arranged such that a dimension between the said first and second half-members encircling and partially surrounding the compressible central structure is reduced and the noise maker emits a sound when opposing force is applied to the first and second gripping members along a first plane of said compressible central structure in a direction away from said compressible central structure.

16. The tug toy as defined in claim 15, wherein said tug toy further comprises a first retainer extending essentially perpendicularly from at least one of said first and second half-members and extending around said compressible central structure.

17. The tug toy as defined in claim 15, wherein said first and second gripping members further comprises an aperture.

18. The tug toy as defined in claim 17, wherein said first and second gripping members comprises two sides, an outer edge, and an inner edge, wherein said inner edge is about two inches in length, said two sides are about three inches in length, and said outer edge is about four inches in length.