Abstract:
The present invention is a tether for a toy with a safety feature to prevent entanglement of an animate object, such as a pet or a child, the feature comprising a stiff proximal element. Innovative features provide both for interactive play and containment of the play area by coupling an elastic cord with a rope of selected length.

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
     This is a U.S. Non-Provisional Patent Application claiming priority to U.S. Provisional Application No. 61/910,175, filed on Nov. 29, 2013, which is incorporated herein by reference in entirety. 
    
    
     FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
     This invention relates to toys, and more particularly to safety toys for pets. 
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     Toys are used to entertain and exercise pets, notably dogs and cats. In a particular instance, such as when the pet owner is away from the home, the pet may become restless and exhibit destructive behavior. It is useful, therefore, to provide a device to absorb the pet&#39;s energy and attention. It is also useful to contain the play area to a certain zone within the owner&#39;s domicile, or within the immediate housing of the pet. 
     Prior art devices, such as tethers, have been developed for such a purpose. In some cases, such tethers are comprised of inelastic cording, such as rope, which limit the scope of area to a discrete playing zone. In other cases, the tethers are comprised of elastic means, which provide for interaction with the pet, but fail, because of the elastic means, to restrain the play to discrete territorial limits. What is missing in the art field is a tethering device which both provides for interactive play, and, therefore, sustained interest on the part of the pet, and simultaneously for restraint, which zones the playing area to within selected boundaries. 
     All tethers for pet toy use are necessarily flexible in order to encourage play. The property of flexibility, however, also creates a safety issue. The pet might become entangled with the tether and suffer bodily, or emotional, harm. In a worst case scenario, a child in the domicile might be accidentally trapped, or even hung, by the tether. A safety feature to prevent entanglement is desirable for all domestic-use tethers, particularly when suspended from overhead anchor points. 
     The present invention answers the unfilled needs in the current state of art for a flexible, restrained and safe tether for home use, where it is desirable to zone interactive play and where both child and pet safety are issues of concern. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     It is, therefore, an object of the present invention to provide for resilient, interactive, play for a household pet. It is a further object to restrain the play to discrete territorial limits over a playing surface. It is a further object to prevent entanglement, by human or animal, with any flexible tethering means. It is further object to make both a resilient means and a restraint means scalable to adjust for size and weight of the pet, for territorial extent of the play zone, and for the suspension distance from an anchor point. It is a further object to construct a tethering device from readily available, and inexpensive, materials and components using quotidian methods and means. 
     These objects, and others to become hereinafter apparent, are embodied in a tether with safety features for use with a toy, the tether including, in a first part, a stiff bat having a longitudinal extent, a distal end and a proximal end, the proximal end being removably attached to the toy. In a second part, the tether includes at least one elastic cord suspending the bat and toy over a playing surface, the elastic cord having a distal end anchored at a point of elevation over the playing surface and a proximal end attached to the distal end of the bat. In a third part, the tether includes a means for limiting extension of the elastic cord. In a preferred embodiment, the means for limiting extension of the elastic cord is a rope anchoring the stiff bat to the point of elevation and having a length defined by the chosen zone of safe play. The elastic cord provides for responsive interaction with an animate object, such as a pet, playing with the toy on the playing surface, while the longitudinal extent and stiffness of the bat prevent the elastic cord from harmfully wrapping around the animate object, or any part thereof. Additionally, the means for limiting extension limits access to the toy to a zone of safe play on the playing surface. 
     In an alternate embodiment, a method of safely tethering a toy includes the steps of anchoring a distal end of an at least one elastic cord to a point of elevation over a playing surface; attaching a proximal end of the elastic cord to a distal end of a stiff bat having longitudinal extent; attaching a proximal end of the stiff bat to a toy; and limiting the extension of the elastic cord to a zone of safe play on the playing surface. 
     As this is not intended to be an exhaustive recitation, other embodiments may be learned from practicing the invention or may otherwise become apparent to those skilled in the art. 
    
    
     
       DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       Various other objects, features and attendant advantages of the present invention will become fully appreciated as the same becomes better understood through the accompanying drawings and the following detailed description, in which like reference characters designate the same or similar parts throughout the several views, and wherein: 
         FIG. 1  is a perspective view of the invention in an environmental setting; 
         FIG. 2  is a perspective view of the invention showing the crumple-folded sleeve; 
         FIG. 3  is a perspective view of the invention showing the elastic cord and rope with the crumple-folded sleeve removed; 
         FIG. 4  is an elevation view of the fabric jacketing with attachment rings; 
         FIG. 5  is a section view of  FIG. 4  taken along the lines  5 - 5  and showing the bat within; 
         FIG. 6  is a broken elevation view of the crumple-folded sleeve with the adjustable strap; 
         FIG. 7  is a section view of  FIG. 6  taken along the lines  7 - 7  and showing the elastic cord and rope within; 
         FIG. 8  is a perspective view of the fabric jacketing showing the encircling web belt; 
         FIG. 9  is a perspective view of an alternate embodiment with the rope extending through a bore in the bat; and 
         FIG. 10  is a chart of the method steps. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT 
     Throughout the description and the claims, the term “elastic cord” will be taken to refer to any resiliently flexible cordage including, but not limited to, “bungee” cord, “shock” cord, surgical tubing and stretch webbing. The term “rope” will be taken to refer to any non-extensible flexible cordage including, but not limited to, rope, wire and strapping. 
     As best shown in  FIGS. 1 and 9 , the constituent parts of a safety tether  1  for use with a toy  2  comprise a stiff bat  10 , an elastic cord  20  and a means for limiting extension  30  of the elastic cord  20 . A proximal end  22  of the elastic cord  20  is connected to a distal end  11  of the stiff bat  10 . In the preferred embodiment, the connection is removable, and can be facilitated by any known means, such as hooks  23  interposed with attachment rings  14 . A distal end  21  of the elastic cord  20  is connected to a point of elevation  5 . In the preferred embodiment, the point of elevation  5  is a ceiling  6  in a room designated for play activity. Alternatively, the point of elevation  5  may be the top of cage which houses a pet, a soffit-like structure, or an overhanging beam. A proximal end  12  of the stiff bat  10  is removably attached to the toy. The tether  1  hangs from the point of elevation  5  to position the toy  2  at, or just above, a playing surface  3 . In the preferred embodiment, the playing surface  3  is a floor  7  of the room, or may, alternatively, be any lower surface. Preferably, the unextended length, or the drop distance, of the tether  1  is approximately 5-10 feet. 
     In the preferred embodiment, the means for limiting extension  30  is a rope  31  having a length greater than the unextended elastic cord  20 . Preferably, the rope  31  extends from an anchor point at the point of elevation  5  to the distal end  11  of the bat  10 , essentially coupling with the elastic cord  20 . When the elastic cord  20  is extended during play with an animate object (not shown), such as a pet, an extended length  24  of the tether  1  is limited by the length of the rope  31 , considering that the bat  10 , as the linking part, remains non-extensible. In the preferred embodiment, the extended length  24  is approximately thirteen feet. The extended length  24  may be considered the hypotenuse of a triangle ( FIG. 1 ) the base of which defines the radius of a zone of play  4 . In this manner, the play area is limited to selected, safe and discrete territorial boundaries. 
     The elastic cord  20  and the rope  31  may be covered, in a relaxed state, by a crumple-folded sleeve  32 , as shown in  FIGS. 1, 2 and 6 . The crumple-folded sleeve  32  provides a means for containing the excess of rope  31 , not to mention providing a cosmetic look to the elastic section of the tether  1 . The crumple-folded sleeve  32  extends, by means of the folds, to the length of the rope  31 . The crumple-folded sleeve  32  may contain a longitudinal slit  34  ( FIG. 2 ), preferably in an overlapped configuration, to give access to the interior thereof. The overlap may be secured with hook and loop tape, known commercially as Velcro®. Such access might be used to change-out components, or, otherwise, to add additional elastic cords  20 . The resistance of the tether  1 , and, consequently, the reactivity of play to the animate object, can be adjusted by adding or subtracting elastic cords  20 , or by changing-out the tension-strengths of the cords. In an alternate embodiment of the means for limiting extension  30 , the rope  31  may be eliminated and replaced by the crumple-folded  32  acting alone. In such a case, an unfolded length  33  (not shown), representing the extended length of the crumple-folded sleeve  32 , defines the extended length  24 . The crumple-folded sleeve  32  may be comprised of rip-stop nylon, or other lightweight, foldable material. 
     The stiff bat  10  comprises the principle safety feature. The stiff bat  10 , best shown in  FIG. 5 , has, as a significant property, a high bending modulus in the longitudinal direction. The purpose is to virtually eliminate entanglement for a distance above the playing surface  3  that might be accessible to the animate object. Accordingly, in the preferred embodiment, the stiff bat  10  is comprised of a rigid polymer foam cylinder in a 2-4 inch diameter by 2-3 foot length. An example of such a foam cylinder, termed a “Funnoodle”, is available at aquatic sports stores. The foam cylinder may be reinforced on its axis by inserting a 0.5-1.0 inch PVC pipe. 
     Referring to  FIGS. 2-4 and 8 , the stiff bat  10  may be enclosed by a fabric jacket  13 . The fabric jacket  13  provides a means for including attachment devices, not to mention providing a cosmetic look to the inelastic section of tether  1 . In the preferred embodiment, the attachment devices are the attachment rings  14 , which are sewn, by means of attachment straps  19  and sewing patches  17  ( FIG. 4 ), onto each end of the fabric jacket  13 . The attachment rings  14  may also be attached by rivets, or other known means of making attachment. In a particular embodiment, the attachment rings  14  are sewn onto the body of the fabric jacket  13  between the ends to provide additional attachment points for other toys  2 , or for objects of opportunity. Attachment rings  14  can also be sewn onto the crumple-folded sleeve  32  to provide exterior attachment devices for the quick addition of elastic cords  20 . The fabric jacket  13  may be comprised of canvas duck material, or other high-tensile fabric material. In an alternate embodiment, the fabric jacket  13  may be encircled by a web belt  15 , and sewn there about, leaving attachment loops  16  at each end ( FIG. 8 ). The web belt  15  provides reinforcement in the tension direction. 
     The length of tether  1  may be adjusted by an adjustment strap  8  positioned between the distal end  21  of the elastic cord  20  and the point of elevation  5 , as shown in  FIGS. 3, 6 and 9 . In the preferred embodiment, the adjustable strap  8  includes a buckle  9 , or other known adjustment means, for changing its length. In a particular embodiment, the adjustment strap is sewn to extend into the interior of the crumple-folded sleeve  32  ( FIG. 7 ) and includes attachment rings  14  at each end. 
     In another alternate embodiment of the means for limiting extension  30 , the rope  31  may extend through the bat  10  with the fabric jacket  13  eliminated. In the particular embodiment illustrated in  FIG. 9 , the rope  31  passes through a bore in bat  10 , and a section of it secures itself at each end thereof by knotted loops  35  bearing on washers  18  having apertures smaller than the knots. 
     In an alternate embodiment of the invention, a method of safely tethering a toy  40  comprises:
         Step  41 : Anchoring the distal end  21  of the at least one elastic cord  20  to the point of elevation  5  over the playing surface  3 ;   Step  42 : Attaching the proximal end  22  of the at least one elastic cord  20  to the distal end  11  of the stiff bat  10  having longitudinal extent;   Step  43 : Attaching the proximal end  12  of the stiff bat  10  to the toy  2 ; and   Step  44 : Limiting the extension of the at least one elastic cord  20  to a zone of safe play  4  on the playing surface  3 .       

     It is to be understood that the invention is not limited in its application to the details of construction, to the arrangements of the components and to the method of using set forth in the preceding description or illustrated in the drawings. For example, the stiff bat might be any lightweight, longitudinally-rigid object, such as a carbon fiber tube. In extreme simplification, the stiff bat may even be a section of the rope  31 , which has been rendered stiff by impregnation. Also, it is to be understood that the phraseology and terminology employed herein are for the purpose of the description and should not be regarded as limiting.