Abstract:
A solar powered and solar actuated pet toy designed to be attached to a window or sliding glass door. The solar powered and solar actuated pet toy will entertain a pet whenever sunlight is available, without requiring the presence or intervention of the pet owner.

Description:
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0001]    The present invention relates generally to a pet toy and more specifically to a solar powered and solar actuated pet toy designed specifically for cats but may be equally as effective for small dogs. 
         [0002]    An increasing number of households include pets and more specifically, pets such as cats or dogs, which are considered a part of the immediate family and have unfettered access to most areas in the home. The pets may be pampered and entertained by the owners while the owners are in the house, however, there are times when the owners are required to leave the home, for work, errands and even weekends away, leaving the pets unattended. In such situations, it is common for a pet to become discontented, resentful or simply bored, and may find items in the home that can be used for their own entertainment. In most cases a pet entertaining themselves will be harmless, however, dogs are known to chew shoes, chair legs or eat the tires off the lawnmower in the garage. Cats can be equally destructive, sharpening claws on furniture, draperies or have been known to soil rugs and bedding out of what can be characterized as spite. There are myriad pet toys, both inert and electrically powered, that can be used to keep pets busy and contented. The inert toys or manually operated toys require input from the owner, dogs will fetch thrown balls, play tug-a-war with a rope or rag, and use chew toys when enticed. Cat will chase and bat simple toys such as a sting or shoelace and may be enticed with a feather or material decoy tied to the end of stick. However, as entertaining as these items are, the owner will likely tire from using the inert toy long before the pet does. 
         [0003]    Most mechanical toys remedy the owner interaction and tiring issue; some mechanical toys will require the owner to switch them on, while other mechanical toys will include a touch or proximity sensor, allowing the pet to initiate the interaction. Most mechanical toys are electrically powered and require either a power cord or batteries for operation. Power cords can be dangerous for pets, especially when attached to a toy designed for pet interaction, while the decoy or toy itself is the intended recipient of the pets attention, a power cord attached to the toy may also move during play or provide a scent that is attractive the pet, enticing the pet to pull or chew on the power cord. In either situation the pet may be electrocuted, causing severe pain, injury or even death. Battery powered toys eliminate the dangerous power cord, however, if the toy is used regularly, the batteries will be exhausted quickly, causing the mechanical toy to slow down or stop and cause the pet to lose interest in the toy. Batteries are expensive to replace and a hazard to the environment when they are disposed of improperly. Rechargeable batteries are a partial solution but they are only effective for a limited number of charging cycles and are equally as destructive to the environment when disposed of improperly. 
         [0004]    What is needed is a pet toy that is actuated independently of the pet owner, provides stimulation for the pet, requires no batteries and is environmentally friendly. 
         [0005]    The present invention or solar powered and solar actuated pet toy is designed as a device that can be attached to a window frame or directly to a window or glass door and will automatically entertain a pet whenever sunlight is available. Animals habitually seek out sunlight as a place to begin their day; this is especially true during cold weather and winter months. The present invention will provide activity and help to alleviate boredom whenever the sun is shining onto the solar collector. 
         [0006]    A first embodiment of the present invention includes a chassis or housing with an extended jib hinged at the front of the chassis, a jib line extending from the top rear of the chassis to the end of the jib and an attractor or toy extending down from the jib. A photoelectric solar collector or solar cell is attached on the back portion of the chassis. The solar cell faces away from the chassis, such that, when the device is attached to a window the solar cell is facing outward through the window, oriented to collect energy from the sun. The solar cell is directly wired to a small electric motor, so when electrical energy is available, the motor will run. Motor rpm will vary depending upon the intensity of the sun and the corresponding voltage output from the solar cell. In one embodiment, the motor is coupled to an actuator assembly through a simple pinion and bull gear transmission. In one embodiment the actuator assembly is a lobe or cam assembly that when rotated, the lobe engages the jib line, causing the jib and attached toy to rise and fall with each rotation. The resulting motion is adequate to entice and entertain most pets. 
         [0007]    As second embodiment, includes an actuator mechanism configured as a non-concentric weight or non-concentric flywheel. This actuator may be attached directly to the electric motor or may be integrated following the transmission, however, in either configuration, as the non-concentric weight rotates, vibration will occur, which will be magnified over the length of the jib, causing the toy move in a random pattern. As the pet is enticed to bite or strike the toy with their face or paw the motion of the toy will increase. 
         [0008]    In yet another embodiment, the actuator mechanism may be a drag-link assembly, where a rigid rod or arm is attached to the outside portion of a flywheel and then to the jib line. As the flywheel rotates, the rod will lift and then pull the jib line at a distance equal to twice the distance of the measurement between the center of the flywheel and connection point of the rigid rod to the flywheel. Manipulating the jib line causes the point of the jib and the attached toy to move a corresponding distance. 
         [0009]    In another embodiment, the line connected to the toy may be attached directly to an outer portion of the flywheel. The line would extend from the flywheel, through a series of guides, guide holes or through the center of a hollow jib, to the point of the jib and extend downward to the toy. During each rotation the line and toy would again move equal to twice the distance of the measurement between the center of the flywheel and connection point of the line to the flywheel. It is also contemplated to attach the toy line directly to a rigid connecting rod, in a crank and piston arrangement, to manipulate the toy. This arrangement would maximize toy movement and would be mechanically robust. 
         [0010]    In yet another embodiment, the motor is mounted at the end of the jib with the toy line attached directly to the outer portion of a flywheel or arm. This arrangement eliminates the transmission and causes the toy or target to move in a circular motion, the diameter of the circular motion is proportional to the speed of rotation. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS 
         [0011]    FIG.  1 —Embodiment of solar powered and solar actuated pet toy. 
           [0012]    FIG.  2 —Schematic view of a solar powered and solar actuated pet toy. 
           [0013]    FIG.  3 A—Non-concentric weight flywheel actuator. 
           [0014]    FIG.  3 B—Cam actuator. 
           [0015]    FIG.  3 C—Drag-link actuator. 
           [0016]    FIG.  3 D—Direct attachment of the toy line actuation. 
           [0017]    FIG.  3 E—Boom mounted motor and actuator configuration embodiment. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
       [0018]    In one embodiment, solar actuated pet toy  100 ,  FIG. 1 , includes a mounting chassis  120 . Mounting chassis  120  may be injection molded using, a plastic material, such as polypropylene, polyethylene, ABS or vinyl, may be cast using a metallic material such as magnesium or zinc, or may be formed using folded and spot welded sheet material such as steel or aluminum. Chassis  120  includes a hinge  124  where the jib or boom  122  is attached. Jib  122  extends away from chassis  120  and is held in an extended position by jib line  123 . Jib  122  positions the attractor or toy  130  away from the mounting surface of solar actuated pet toy  100 , allowing the pet to access the toy  130  from all sides or angles. Positioning the toy  130  away from chassis  120  also protects the pet if solar actuated pet toy  100  is pulled down from a mounted position. Pet toy  130  is attached to the end of jib  122  using attachment line  131 . Attachment line  131  is such length that it positions the toy  130  at eye level or slightly higher of the pet anticipated to use the solar actuated pet toy  100 . It is contemplated to use a break-away coupling  132  included in attachment line  131 . Coupling  132  may include a magnet to magnet connection, magnet to iron connection, or may be a snap-coupling as commonly know in the art. Coupling  132  will allow the toy  130  to detach from the jib  123  with a force less than that required to remove solar actuated pet toy  100  from a mounted position. 
         [0019]    A solar collector or solar cell  110  is attached to the rear portion of chassis  120 . Solar cell  110  is electrically attached to a motor  111  and actuator mechanism  112 . When sunlight shines on solar cell  110  electrical power is generated and distributed to motor  111 , as motor ill turns, actuator mechanism  112  will impart motion to toy  130 , either through manipulating jib  122  or by directly manipulating toy line  131 , depending upon the type or configuration of actuator mechanism  112 . 
         [0020]    Solar actuated pet toy  100  may be mounted to the inside surface of a window or sliding glass door using suction cups with hooks extended through attachment loops  121 . It contemplated that solar actuated pet toy  100  may also be mounted by using hooks adhesively attached to the inside surface of a window or sliding glass door, may be attached directly using a double-sided adhesive, or may be attached using a bracket designed to engage the window frame or top edge of a sliding door. In one embodiment, solar actuated pet toy  100  is mounted on a wall or vertical surface away from the window or source of solar power and having solar cell  110  remotely mounted at a source of solar power. It is also contemplated that solar actuated pet toy  100  is a free standing unit that can be placed on any flat surface, such as the floor or a low table, with solar cell  110  positioned to collect solar energy. 
         [0021]    Another embodiment of solar actuated pet toy  100 , with enumerated essential elements, is set forth in  FIG. 2 . Solar actuated pet toy  100  includes solar collector or solar cell  110 , switch  115 , motor  111 , actuator mechanism  112  and toy  130 . Solar panel  110  is electrically connected to motor  111  through switch  115 . The electrical motor  1  is coupled with actuator mechanism  112  which moves or excites toy  130 . 
         [0022]    Solar cell  110  will generate a voltage when sunlight shines on the cell  110 , this means when motor  111  is directly connected to solar cell  110 , the motor  111  will turn and the toy  130  will be excited any time the sun shines on solar cell  110 . However, there may be instances when a pet is over stimulated by the solar actuated pet toy  100  or when the pet is not in the room, the user may choose to stop the motion of the toy  130 , this can be accomplished by placing switch  115  in an open position. If the pet has settled down or comes into the room where solar actuated pet toy  100  is located, the user can choose to initiate motion of toy  130  by closing switch  115 . 
         [0023]      FIGS. 3A through 3E  are embodiments of the actuator mechanism  112 .  FIG. 3A  is a first embodiment where actuator mechanism  112  is a non-concentrically weighted flywheel  1121  having a weighted or thickened portion  1122 . When non-concentrically weighted flywheel  1121  is rotated by motor  111  ( FIGS. 1 and 2 ), a vibration proportional to the RPM of motor  111  is set up, the vibration will be magnified as it is translated over the length of jib  122 ( FIG. 1 ) and will cause toy  130 ( FIGS. 1 and 2 ), attached to jib  122 , to move in a random pattern. 
         [0024]    Another embodiment of actuator mechanism  112  is a lobed flywheel or cam  1123 ( FIG. 3B ). When rotated, the lobed portion of cam  1123  will lift jib line  123 ( FIG. 1 ), this effectively shortens the working length of jib line  123 , causing the point of jib  122  to rise, and lifting toy  130 ( FIGS. 1 and 2 ), as the lobed portion of cam  1123  passes jib line  123 , the point of jib  122  and toy  130  will lower back to the original position. The rising and falling motion is repeated one time during each rotation of cam  1123 . 
         [0025]    Yet another embodiment, actuator mechanism is  112  is a drag-link assembly as shown in  FIG. 3C . The assembly includes a flywheel  1124  with one end of a connecting rod  1125  attached to the outer portion of the flywheel  1124 , the second end of connecting rod  1125  is attached to jib line  123 . During rotation of flywheel  1124 , connecting rod  1125  will lift and then pull jib line  123 , a distance equal to twice the distance between the center of flywheel  1124  and the connecting point on the outer portion of the flywheel  1124 . Again, manipulation Of jib line  123  is translated to jib  122 ( FIG. 1 ) and to toy  130 ( FIG. 1 ) attached to the end of jib  122 . 
         [0026]    Another embodiment, shown in  FIG. 3D  includes a flywheel  1127  with a mechanical connection point  1128  on the outer portion. Toy line  131  is attached directly to connection point  1128  in such a manner as to allow toy line  131  to be effectively lengthened and shortened, without tangling or winding, during each revolution of flywheel  1127 . Toy line  131  extends to the end of jib  122 ( FIG. 1 ) and then extends down to toy  130 ( FIG. 1 ), toy line  131  is contained using guide holes, wire guides or may be routed through the center of a hollow jib  122 (not shown). 
         [0027]    In yet another embodiment, actuator mechanism  112  may be mounted on the end of jib  122 ( FIG. 1 ) as shown in  FIG. 3E . Motor  111  can be moved to the end of Jib  122  and electrically connected to solar panel  110  via extended wires (not shown). A flywheel or arm  1129  is mounted directly to motor  111 , toy line  131  is connected to flywheel  1129  near the outer edge or, on an outer portion, such that as flywheel  1129  rotates, the circular motion will be imparted on toy line  131  and attached toy  130 ( FIG. 1 ). 
         [0028]    It will be obvious to those having skill in the art that many changes may be made to the details of the above-described embodiments without departing from the underlying principles of the invention. The scope of the present invention should, therefore, be determined only by the following claims.