Abstract:
A programmable pet toy, where the movement of the toy or an object of interest attached or connected to the toy is automated, and the operation of the toy can be programmed by the pet owner to operate at desired time intervals or after predetermined time delays to provide automated amusement for a pet. The toy may further include devices for making sounds to attract the attention of a pet, and objects of interest that can be replaced by alternate objects.

Description:
PRIORITY INFORMATION 
       [0001]    This application claims the benefit of provisional U.S. Application No. 60/894,142, filed Mar. 9, 2007, which is specifically incorporated herein by reference under 35 U.S.C. § 119(e). 
     
    
     FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
       [0002]    This invention relates generally to the field of pet toys. More specifically, it relates to a pet toy which is automated to provide amusement for a pet by including a moving object and sounds. 
       BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0003]    Toys are well known for providing amusement to pets. One such toy is disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 5,542,376 to Udelle et al. Udelle et al. teaches an animal amusement and exercise device wherein an object is attached to a rotating arm, and a cover has holes under which the object moves and wherein the animal may place its paw to touch the object when visible. A limitation on this system is that the moving object moves only in a circle, fails to include sounds with which to attract animals, and cannot be programmed to operate at desired times. 
         [0004]    Other such toys are disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 6,892,675 to Comerford and U.S. Pat. No. 6,039,628 to Kusmiss et al. Comerford teaches a cat toy wherein a motor assembly on a support structure rotates an elongated member to which an object of interest to the cat is attached, such that the object of interest moves about the central axis of the support structure to attract the attention of the cat. Kusmiss et al. teaches a self-mobile cat toy with an electrical power source connected to motor-powered wheels or a tread mechanism to allow the cat toy to move along the ground. However, both of these systems fail to provide the capability of programming the toys to operate at desired time intervals or after a desired time delay, meaning the pet owner using either of these prior art systems would be required to be present to turn the respective toys on and off. 
         [0005]    The existing pet toys do not allow a pet owner to program the toy to operate at a desired time or desired time intervals. Existing toys do not lend themselves to a compact overall design capable of housing multiple amusement features, and do not provide enhanced amusement features such as sound, replaceable moving objects, disappearance and reappearance of a moving object, and ease of securing the toy to a door for placement on multiple floor surfaces. 
         [0006]    Accordingly, a need exists for a pet toy in which an owner can program the automated toy to operate at desired times, and which incorporates a variety of amusement features. 
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0007]    The present invention provides a programmable pet toy. The movement of the toy or an object of interest attached or connected to the toy is automated, and the operation of the toy can be programmed by the pet owner to operate at desired time intervals. 
         [0008]    In one embodiment, the toy includes a base with a prime mover, such as a motor or rotating gear by which an object moves. A control selectively powers the prime mover according to input from a user, besides by instant activation, by programming either via a timer to activate the toy at desired time intervals or after a desired time delay. The electronics, track gearing, and power sources for the toy can be held within the base and within a number of items mounted on the base. The invention may also include an object of interest which is replaceable. In one embodiment of the present invention, the object is a toy mouse. The invention may incorporate sounds to attract the attention of a pet. The invention may also allow the object to appear and disappear behind or within the items mounted on the base. The invention may further include a platform to allow the user to secure the toy to a door and a guard on the back wall to prevent the pet&#39;s paws from reaching behind the toy or from moving the toy. 
         [0009]    In another embodiment, a base includes a prime mover, such as a motor, an elongated arm connected to the prime mover, and an attached object of interest at the opposite end of the arm. The motor rotates or otherwise moves the arm to move the object to attract the attention of a pet. A control selectively powers the motor according to input from a user, by instant activation and by either programming via a timer to activate the toy at desired time intervals or after a desired time delay or both. 
         [0010]    In yet another embodiment, an object of interest is self-movable and includes a power source connected to motor-powered wheels or a tread mechanism to allow the object to move along the ground. A control selectively powers the motor according to input from a user, by instant activation and by either programming via a timer to activate the toy at desired time intervals or after a desired time delay. 
         [0011]    The present invention has several advantages and benefits over the prior art. Other objects, features and advantages of the present invention will become apparent after reviewing the following detailed description. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0012]      FIG. 1  is an front view of one embodiment of a programmable pet toy in accordance with the present invention. 
           [0013]      FIG. 2  is an upper perspective view of the embodiment shown in  FIG. 1 . 
           [0014]      FIG. 3  is a cross-sectional view of the embodiment shown in  FIG. 1 , taken along line  3 - 3  thereof. 
           [0015]      FIG. 4  is a cross-sectional view taken of the embodiment shown in  FIG. 1 , taken along line  4 - 4  thereof. 
           [0016]      FIG. 5  is a rear perspective view of the embodiment shown in  FIG. 1 . 
           [0017]      FIG. 6  is a detail cross-sectional view of a stanchion and thumbscrew securing one embodiment of a programmable pet toy in accordance with the present invention to a door. 
           [0018]      FIG. 7  is a perspective view of another embodiment of programmable pet toy in accordance with the present invention. 
           [0019]      FIG. 8  is a side view of another embodiment of a programmable pet toy in accordance with the present invention. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
       [0020]    Referring now to the drawings,  FIGS. 1-6  are views of one embodiment of a programmable pet toy  10  in accordance with the present invention. In this embodiment, the toy  10  includes a base  12  and optionally a back wall  14 . The base  12  is formed with or has mounted thereon a track  20 , along which an object of interest  22  can move. The movement of the object  22  along the track  20  simulates an object moving along the ground or floor, designed to attract a pet, such as a cat, ferret, and so on, to chase the object. The object  22  is attached by means of a suitable link  21  to a flexible drive member  23  (both shown in phantom in  FIG. 1 ), such as a belt or chain, within the track  20 . 
         [0021]    The link  21  connecting the object  22  with the flexible drive member  23  may be flexible so that it is possible for the pet to impede or stop the object&#39;s progress without damage the object  22  or track  20 , but it must be attached securely enough so that the pet cannot remove the object  22  from the toy  10  completely. The track  20  can be designed to allow the object  22  to continue along the track  20  by providing continuous persistent resistance to anything that impedes the object&#39;s  22  progress, thereby allowing the pet to momentarily slow the object  22  down, but not stop the object  22  completely. The speed and steadiness of the movement of object  22  can be varied to increase or decrease the amount of movement that will best attract the animal for which the toy  10  is to be used. In one embodiment of the present invention, the object  22  may have a shape to be of interest to particular pets for which the toy may be designed, for example as shown in the embodiment in  FIGS. 1-4 , a mouse or bird for use with a toy for cats. 
         [0022]    The object  22  may also be made more attractive to a pet by constructing it of various types of materials, including by not limited to natural materials such as leather, faux or real fur, wool, feathers, etc. and be scented, for example with catnip, to make it more appealing to the pet. In one embodiment of the present invention, multiple objects  22  can be utilized. The object  22  and track  20  may also be designed such that the user can replace the object  22  as it becomes worn from pet play. The motor and gearing for the track  20  may be designed to produce as little sound as possible to as to not distract the pet with mechanical sounds. Alternatively, or at the same time, the toy  10  can be designed to produce sounds specifically selected to alert the pet that the toy  10  has been activated. 
         [0023]    The movement of the object  22  along the track  20  is brought about by any suitable prime mover  26 , such as an electric motor, powered by batteries or AC power, or both, and connected to the flexible drive member  23  by any suitable transmission and/or gearing arrangement  28 , shown schematically in  FIG. 4 . The motor  26  is controlled by a suitable control  34 , shown in phantom in  FIG. 1 , which is preferably an electronic control. The user can activate the movement of the object  22  by pushing a power button  30  located on the toy  10  connected to the control  34 . The movement/action sequence of object  22  can commence immediately upon pushing of the power button  30 . This button can be located in various positions on the toy  10  or items  40  on the toy. As shown in the embodiment in  FIG. 1 , the power button  30  is the top portion of a wall  43  located on the base  12 , and is easily accessible for activation by the owner. Additionally, by pushing a timer button  32  located on the toy  10 , the user can add time to the intervals between action sequences, for example one minute, ten minutes, 60 minutes, 90 minutes, etc. Thus the control  34  will cause the toy  10  to self-activate at the desired time interval. The user can therefore program the toy  10  to activate at desired intervals throughout the day, when, for example, he or she is away from the pet. As another alternative, the user can set the control  34  to activate the toy  10  after a desired time delay. An LCD display  33 , may be located near the timer button  32  for a readout of the time intervals or time delay selected by the user. In the embodiment shown in  FIG. 1 , the timer button  32  and LCD display  33  are located on top of one of the items  40 , the refrigerator  44 , mounted on the base  12 , for easy access by the user. One embodiment of the invention may include these two power and programming options, but other configurations and combinations may be used to activate the action sequence of the object  22  along the track  20 . 
         [0024]    In the embodiment shown in  FIGS. 1-6  the base  12  and back wall  14  comprise the main body of the toy  10 . The base  12  and back wall  14  can support a number of different items  40  through which the track  20  and object  22  move into, out of, and through. As seen in  FIG. 5 , the rear of the back wall  14  has a guard  16  to strengthen the back wall  14  and to prevent the pet from reaching its paws completely behind the back wall  14  of the toy. In one embodiment of the present invention, formed as part of the back wall  14  is a tunnel  18  into which the object  22  may enter and remain while the toy  10  is not activated. The track  20  runs through the tunnel  18 , forming a complete looped pathway for the movement of the object  20  ( FIG. 4 ). 
         [0025]    In one embodiment of the present invention shown, the toy  10  is simply placed on the floor. In the embodiment shown in  FIG. 5 , the base  12  can be secured to a door using a platform  50  and thumb screws  52  attached to stanchions  54 . The platform  50  can be slid under a door  56  and the thumbscrews  52  tightened to hold the toy  10  securely in place. Other methods of securing the platform  50  to a door or other support may also be used. The bottom of the base  12  and platform  50  may be fitted with a smooth plate (not shown) so the toy  10  can slide smoothly on carpet. This would allow the toy  10  to be easily moved along the carpet when attached to a door by the thumbscrews  52 . Additionally, adhesive-backed felt pads (not shown) may be provided and secured to the bottom of the base  12  in the event the toy  10  is used on a hard surface floor. This would allow the toy  10  to move easily along the floor while attached to a door without damaging the floor surface. Alternatively, double-sided adhesive may be used to hold the toy  10  to the floor. 
         [0026]    A number of different items  40  and designs or motifs of items  40  may be coupled to the base  12  and/or back wall  14  to provide the environment through which the object  22  moves and overall theme of the toy  10 . In one embodiment of the present invention, shown in  FIGS. 1-6 , a kitchen motif is used for the items  40 . The object  22  emerges from the tunnel  18  behind the back wall  14  through a door  41  in a stove  42 . The object continues to move along the track  20  and under a center table  46 . It then enters another door  47  in the back wall  14  (similar to the door  41 ) located beneath a side table  48  and enters the tunnel  18  to be out of sight of the pet. The doors  41 ,  47  are freely movable about a hinge and can swing in forward and rearward directions ( FIG. 3 ) to allow the object  22  to easily pass through the doors  41 ,  47  with very little force. The movement of the object  22  into, under, and out of the items  40  provides enhanced stimulation for the pet. In addition, the appearance and disappearance of the object  22  from behind the back wall  14  and around the front of the toy  10  provides an added element of amusement for the pet. The items  40  may also be used to house the controls, which may be electronic, as well as motor  26 , and power source for the toy  10 . For example, in an alternative embodiment to that shown in the FIGS., the refrigerator  44  may house the electronics and motor  26 , and the sofa  45  may hold the AC power supply. Alternatively, as indicated above, batteries may be used to power the toy  10  and could also be stored within one of the items  40 . Many other variations may be used for the items  40  and overall motif of the toy, as well as other placements of the items  40  with respect to the track  20  and operation of individual items  40  with respect to movement of the object  22 . For instance, the motif could be the inside of a barn, the outside of a barn, a forest floor (any type of forest including temperate forest or tropical forest), a desert floor, a warehouse, a science fiction setting, or any other motif that could be imagined. Along the same lines, aspects of the motif, or the entire motif, could be replaceable, so as to provide the pet and its owner with a wide variety of entertainment options. 
         [0027]    In an alternative embodiment of a programmable pet toy  10  shown in  FIG. 7 , an object  122  is attached to a flexible arm  100 . The bottom portion of the flexible arm  100  is housed in a housing member  102 , and the arm  100  is coupled to a prime mover  126  housed in the base  120 . When the toy  10  is activated, the prime mover  126  rotates the arm  100 , which causes the object  122  to move in various directions. The movement of the arm  100  is brought about by any suitable prime mover  126 , such as an electric motor, powered by batteries or AC power, or both, and connected to the arm  100  by any suitable transmission and/or gearing arrangement  129 , shown in phantom in  FIG. 7 . The motor  126  is controlled by a suitable control  134  which is preferably an electronic control. The user can activate prime mover  126  which activates the movement of the arm  100 , which in turn causes movement of the object  122  in various directions by pushing a power button  130  located on the toy  10  connected to the control. The movement of the object  122  can commence immediately upon pushing of the power button  130 , or, the user can add time to the intervals between activation of the arm  100  or can set the control to activate the toy  10  after a desired time display by any suitable means, such as by pushing a timer button  132  located on the base  120 . An LCD display  133  may be located near the timer button  132  for a readout of the time intervals or time delay selected by the user. The object  122  may be of varying shapes and materials suitable to attract a pet, or may be scented with an attractive substance such as catnip. Varying speeds and directions of movement of the arm  100  may also be incorporated into the activation of the toy  10 . 
         [0028]    In another embodiment of a programmable pet toy  10  shown in  FIG. 8 , the toy  10  consists of a self-movable object  222  such as a mouse, bird, etc. The movement of the object  222  via one or more motive members  210  (such as wheels or a tread) is brought about by any suitable prime mover  226 , such as an electric motor, powered by batteries or AC power, or both, and connected to the motive member  210  by any suitable transmission and/or gearing arrangement  228 , shown in phantom in  FIG. 7 . Energizing the prime mover  226  activates the motive member(s)  210  and moves the object  222 . The prime mover  226  is controlled by a suitable control  234  which is preferably an electronic control. The user can activate the movement of the object  222  by pushing a power button  230  located on the toy  10  connected to the control. The movement of the object  122  can commence immediately upon pushing of the power button  130 , or, the user can add time to the intervals between activation of the arm  100  or can set the control to activate the toy  10  after a desired time display by any suitable means, such as by pushing a timer button  132  located on the base  120 . An LCD display  233  may be located near the timer button  232  for a readout of the time intervals or time delay selected by the user. The object  222  may be of varying shapes and materials suitable to attract a pet, or may be scented with an attractive substance such as catnip. Varying speeds and directions of movement of the object  222  may also be incorporated into the activation of the toy  10 . 
         [0029]    In addition to the activation of the toy  10 , a variety of sounds may be incorporated into the action sequence of the toy  10 . For example, sounds may be used to attract the pet to the toy prior to and during activation. Sounds which are attractive to the animal for which the toy  10  is designed can be incorporated, for example chirping or squeaking simulating birds or mice for a toy  10  designed for a cat. Additional sounds corresponding with the items incorporated into the motif may also be added. For example, in the embodiment shown in  FIGS. 1-6 , the clock  49  on the back wall  14  can make a clock noise when the object  22  passes a designated point on the track  20 . Other sounds may be added to the toy  10  to attract the pet and to correspond to the items  40  and motif of each toy. 
         [0030]    While the apparatus hereinbefore described is effectively adapted to fulfill the aforesaid objects, it is to be understood that the invention is not intended to be limited to the specific preferred embodiments of programmable pet toy set forth above. Rather, it is to be taken as including all reasonable equivalents to the subject matter of the appended claims.