Abstract:
An apparatus for exercising a dog with an object includes a frame having a cage for retaining a plurality of objects. The frame also includes at least one prong extending away from the cage. The prong is attached to a pouch with a resilient member. The apparatus also includes a handle attached to the frame and a collapsible forearm brace pivotally attached to a base extending from the handle. The collapsible forearm brace is pivoted proximate the frame when in transport or in storage. The collapsible forearm brace extends from the base and into a rigid engagement therewith when in an operational configuration.

Description:
CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION(S) 
     The present application claims priority from Provisional Application No. 60/562,656, filed on Apr. 15, 2004, which is hereby incorporated by reference in its entirety. 
    
    
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention relates to an apparatus and method for exercising a dog. More particularly, present invention relates to a hand held apparatus that propels an object for the dog to chase and retrieve. 
     Typically, an owner will exercise his/her dog by throwing an object, such as a tennis ball, for the dog to chase and retrieve. However, repeating the throwing motion may cause the thrower&#39;s arm to become fatigued and/or sore. 
     Additionally, a distance that the dog has to run to retrieve the ball is limited by the owner&#39;s throwing ability. If the owner cannot throw the ball a significant distance, the dog may not get the desired amount of exercise during the exercising time. 
     To overcome the issues associated with the owner having to throw the ball, some dog owner&#39;s have employed slings to propel balls for the dog to chase and retrieve. Slings allow the ball to be propelled a significant distance while not stressing or fatiguing the owner&#39;s arm. However, most of the slings are designed to use a single ball because of the inconvenience in carrying multiple balls to a park or a field where the dog is being exercised. Additionally, the ball has a tendency to become wet with dog saliva over time which makes touching or gripping the ball undesirable. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention includes an apparatus for exercising a dog with an object. The apparatus includes a frame having a cage for retaining a plurality of objects. The frame also includes at least one prong extending away from the cage. The prong is attached to a pouch with a resilient member. The apparatus also includes a handle attached to the frame and a collapsible forearm brace pivotally attached to a base extending from the handle. The collapsible forearm brace is pivoted proximate the frame when in transport or in storage. The collapsible forearm brace extends from the base and into a rigid engagement therewith when in an operational configuration. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         FIG. 1  is a perspective view of the dog exercising apparatus of the present invention in use. 
         FIG. 2  is a partial perspective view of the dog exercising apparatus of the present invention wherein a forearm brace is extended into an operational position. 
         FIG. 3  is a partial perspective view of the dog exercising apparatus of the present invention wherein the forearm brace is collapsed into a storage and transportation position. 
         FIG. 4  is a perspective view of the dog exercising apparatus of the present invention. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
     An apparatus for exercising a dog is generally illustrated in  FIG. 1  at  10 . Throughout the Figures like elements will be referred to by like reference characters. The apparatus  10  is hand held and is used to propel a tennis ball  14  for a dog  12  or a plurality of dogs to chase and retrieve. The apparatus  10  allows an operator  16  to propel a plurality of tennis balls  14  a selected distance from a location without tiring or injuring the operator&#39;s arm caused by the repetitive motion required to repeatedly toss the tennis ball  14  for the dog  12  to chase and retrieve to achieve the desired amount of exercise. 
     Referring to  FIGS. 1 and 4 , the operator  16  grips a handle  18  of the apparatus  10  with one hand and positions the tennis ball  14  into a pouch  22  with the other hand. The handle  18  is preferably constructed from a polymeric material that is formed with indentions  15  that are in the form of a “pistol grip” to conform to the fingers of the operator&#39;s hand to provide a more secure grip on the handle  18 . Referring to  FIGS. 2 and 3 , the handle  18  may also have a smooth cylindrical outer surface  20  that is gripped by the operator  16 . 
     Referring back to  FIGS. 1 and 4 , the pouch  22  is connected to a frame  24  with left and right segments of surgical tubing  28 ,  30 . Distal ends  32 ,  34  of the left and right segments of surgical tubing  28 ,  30  are fixedly secured to left and right ends  21 ,  23 , respectively, of the pouch  22 . Preferably, the distal ends  32 ,  34  include end loops  36 ,  38  that are positioned through left and right apertures  33 ,  35 , respectively, in the pouch  22  through which proximal ends  40 ,  42  of the left and right segments of surgical tubing  28 ,  30  are inserted to form left and right securing loops  44 ,  46  about left and right ends  21 ,  23  of the pouch  22 . By securing the pouch  22  to the left and right segments of surgical tubing  28 ,  30  with the left and right securing loops  44 ,  46  about the left and right ends  21 ,  23 , all respectively, the connections between the pouch  22  and the left and right segments of surgical tubing  28 ,  30  are able to withstand a force created by stretching the left and right segments of surgical tubing  28 ,  30  with manual force placed upon the pouch  22 . 
     Referring to  FIGS. 2 and 3 , the pouch  22  also includes a slot  25  that is positionable about a tab  51  extending from the proximal end  26  of the frame  24 . Positioning the slot  25  of the pouch  22  about the tab  51  retains the pouch  22  in a selected position when the apparatus  10  is being stored or is being transported. 
     Referring back to  FIGS. 1 and 4 , the proximal ends  40 ,  42  of the left and right segments of surgical tubing  28 ,  30 , respectively, are fixedly secured to left and right prongs  48 ,  50 , respectively, of the frame  24 . Preferably, the left and right segments of surgical tubing  28 ,  30  are constructed from commercially available surgical tubing having a bore (not shown) defined by a generally circular wall. The proximal ends  40 ,  42  are fixedly secured by either enlarging the bores (not shown) in the left and right segments of surgical tubing  28 ,  30  such that the proximal ends  40 ,  42  are disposed about portions of the left and right prongs  48 ,  50 , respectively, or manually pulling the left and right segments of surgical tubing  28 ,  30  onto the left and right prongs  48 ,  50 , respectively. With the proximal ends  40 ,  42  positioned a selected distance onto the left and right prongs  48 ,  50 , respectively, the bore (not shown) contracts and creates a frictional engagement between the wall of the left and right segments of surgical tubing  28 ,  30  and the left and right prongs  48 ,  50 , respectively. Although surgical tubing is the preferred material for connecting the pouch  22  to the frame  24 , other stretchable, resilient materials are also within the scope of the present invention, including but not limited to, a rubber band, an elastic band and a compression spring. 
     The left and right prongs  48 ,  50  are preferably circular in cross-section, although other cross-sectional configurations are within the scope of the present invention. The left and right prongs  48 ,  50  include raised segments  52 ,  54 , respectively, that engage the walls of the left and right segment of surgical tubing  28 ,  30  to create a stronger frictional engagement between the left and right segments of surgical tubing  28 ,  30  and the left and right prongs  48 ,  50 , respectively. The raised segments  52 ,  54  prevent the left and right segments of surgical tubing  28 ,  30  from accidentally slipping off of the left and right prongs  48 ,  50 , all respectively. The raised segments  52 ,  54  are preferably circular in cross-section, having a larger diameter than the diameter of the prongs  48 ,  50 , although other cross-sectional configurations are within the scope of the present invention. 
     The frame  24  includes an upper portion  56  and a lower portion  58  that are separated by connecting rods  60 . The upper portion  56 , the lower portion  58  and the connection rods  60  define a cage  62  that accepts a plurality of tennis balls  14 . While the tennis balls  14  freely move between a proximal end  64  and a distal end  66  of the cage  62 , the proximal end  64  and the distal end  66  are constricted to prevent the tennis balls  14  from accidentally rolling out of the cage  62 . While the proximal end  64  and the distal end  66  of the cage  62  are sufficiently constricted to prevent the tennis balls  14  from accidentally rolling out of the cage  62 , the tennis balls  14  are positioned into and are removed from the cage  62  through either the proximal end  64  or the distal end  66  with manual force. 
     Preferably, the tennis balls  14  are positioned into the cage  62  through the constricted distal end  66  with either manual force or forcing the distal end toward the ground to collect the tennis ball. The tennis balls  14  are preferably removed from the cage  62  through the constricted proximal end  64 . Being able to remove the tennis balls  14  through the constricted proximal end  66  of the cage  62  provides a more fluid motion of grabbing the tennis ball  14 , positioning the tennis ball  14  in the pouch  22 , gripping the tennis ball  14  through the pouch  22  and stretching the left and right segments of surgical tubing  28 ,  30  to propel the tennis ball  14 . One skilled in the art will recognize that being able to position the tennis balls  14  into the cage  62  through the distal end  64  by forcing the distal end  64  towards the ball  14  and being able to remove the tennis ball  14  through the proximal end  66  with the pouch  22  allows the user to exercise the dog without having to physically touch the saliva covered tennis balls  14 . 
     The upper portion  56  of the frame  24  is preferably constructed of a single length of a steel tube or a solid rod, preferably between ⅛ inch and ¼ inch in diameter. The upper portion  56  is generally U-shaped having generally parallel left and right sides  70 ,  72  that are separated by an arcuate portion  74 . The arcuate portion  74  extends slightly upward from the generally parallel sides  70 ,  72  to provide the selected constriction of the proximal end  64  of the cage  62 . The left and right prongs  48 ,  50  extend from the left and right sides  70 ,  72  respectively, to form a slightly obtuse angle, although any angle is within the scope of the present invention. 
     The lower portion  58  is also preferably constructed of a single length of a steel tube or steel rod, preferably between ⅛ inch and ¼ inch in diameter. The lower portion  58  includes left and right side portions  76 ,  78  that are generally parallel to each other and separated by a distal end portion  80  which is preferably substantially perpendicular to the left and right side portions  76 ,  78 . Left and right proximal end portions  82 ,  84  extend from the left and right side portions  76 ,  78 , respectively, and are bent slightly upward. The left and right proximal end portions  82 ,  84  taper toward each other to generally form a V shape where the narrowest distance between the left and right proximal end portions  82 ,  84  is proximate the handle  18 . The left and right proximal end portions  82 ,  84  proximate the handle  18  bend substantially perpendicularly wherein the handle  18  is secured about left and right generally vertical portions  83 ,  85  during the molding process. 
     The connecting rods  60  are also preferably constructed of a steel tubing or a steel rod, preferably between ⅛ inch and ¼ inch in diameter and made of the same material as the upper portion  56  and the lower portion  58  of the frame  24 . The connecting rods  60  are preferably welded to both the upper portion  56  and the lower portion  58  such that the connecting rods  60  do not cause a mechanical failure of the frame  24  during use. 
     One skilled in the art will recognize that the frame can be constructed of any material that provides structural strength and integrity to withstand the forces generated during use of the apparatus  10  over time. A failure of the frame  24  could result in an injury to the operator  16 , therefore the material of construction of the frame  24  must be carefully considered to prevent the likelihood of injury. 
     The apparatus  10  preferably includes a forearm brace  86  extending from a bottom end  17  of the handle  18 . The forearm brace  86  includes left and right side portions  88 ,  90  that are extensions from the left and right generally vertical portions  83 ,  85 , respectively, and gradually spread apart. The left and right side portions  88 ,  90  of the forearm brace  86  are retained apart with an arcuate portion  92  that generally conforms to the profile of a forearm of the user as best illustrated in  FIG. 1 . Preferably, a padded or foam material  94  is secured about the arcuate portion  92  to reduce pressure on the forearm when the apparatus  10  is in use. When the apparatus  10  is in use, the forearm brace  86  provides stability to the user and relieves stresses and strain placed upon the operator&#39;s grip in the form of a torque when the left and right segments of surgical tubing  28 ,  30  are stretched and then released to propel the tennis ball  14 . 
     The forearm brace  86  may be constructed of a single piece of material as illustrated in  FIGS. 1 and 4 , preferably from steel tubing or a solid rod between ⅛ inch and ¼ inch in diameter and made of the same material as the frame  24 . However, the length of the apparatus  10  from the arcuate portion  92  of the forearm brace  86  to the left and right prongs  48 ,  50  may make the apparatus  10  difficult to store and transport to and from a place where the dog can exercise. 
     Alternatively, referring to  FIGS. 2 and 3 , the forearm brace  86  may be collapsible and when collapsed, reduces the length of the apparatus  10 , making the apparatus  10  more easily stored and transported. The collapsible forearm brace  86  is constructed of a base  94  that is an extension of the left and right generally vertical portions  83 ,  85  that extend from the handle  18  and forms a generally triangular shaped loop  95  having a generally flat bottom portion  95  and generally slanted left and right side portions  106  and  108 . A movable bracing portion  96  is pivotally secured to the base  94  to allow the forearm brace  86  to be extended when in use as illustrated in  FIG. 2  and pivoted toward the frame  24  when being stored or transported as illustrated in  FIG. 3 . 
     The movable bracing portion  96  pivotally engages the base  94  by positioning a channel  93  proximate a proximal end  98  about the loop  95 . The channel  93  is defined by the rounded proximal end  98  bent toward the arcuate portion  92  at the distal end of the movable bracing portion  96 . The proximal end  98  is connected to the arcuate portion  92  with left and right side portions  88 ,  90  such that the collapsible forearm brace  86  has the same general configuration as the rigid forearm brace as illustrated in  FIGS. 1 and 4 . 
     In the operating position, the movable bracing portion is rigidly positioned relative to the base  94  by an engagement of the tapered left and right side portions  88 ,  90  proximate the proximal end  98  with upper leg portions  106 ,  108  of the generally triangularly shaped loop  95  of the base  94 . Other engagements of the movable bracing portion  96  and the base  92  are also within the scope of the present invention provided that the movable bracing portion  96  is rigidly secured in the operating position when manual force is applied to the pouch  22  and the tennis ball  14 . 
     A distance between the left and right side portions  88 ,  90  rapidly increases to points  100 ,  102  on the left and right side portions  88 ,  90 , respectively. From points  100 ,  102  the distance between the left and right side portions  88 ,  90  increases at a more gradual rate to a distal end  104  where the arcuate portion  92 , that is preferably covered with the padded material  97 , retains the left and right side portions  88 ,  90  in the selected relationship with respect to each other. 
     In operation, the operator  16  pivots the movable bracing portion  96  from a collapsed position as illustrated in  FIG. 3  to a rigid operating position as illustrated in  FIG. 2 . The movable bracing portion  96  is retained in the rigid operation position by the engagement of the tapered left and right side portions  88 ,  90  proximate the proximal end  98  with the upper leg portions  106 ,  108  of the generally triangularly shaped loop  95  of the base  94 . The operator  16  positions one of his/her hands below the arcuate portion  92 , between the left and right side portions  88 ,  90  and grips the handle  18 . The operator  16  then extends his/her arm such that the arm is straight with the elbow locked as illustrated in  FIG. 1 . 
     The operator  16  retrieves a tennis ball  14 , preferably from the proximal end  64  of the cage  62 , and places the tennis ball  14  in the pouch  22  with his/her other hand. The operator  16  grips the tennis ball  14  through the pouch  22  and applies manual force to the pouch  22  and the tennis ball  14  by pulling the pouch  22  and the tennis ball  14  toward himself/herself while the other arm is extended and straight. 
     Manual force causes the left and right segments of surgical tubing  28 ,  30  to stretch. As the left and right segments of surgical tubing  28 ,  30  stretch, torque is placed upon the hand of the operator  16  gripping the handle  18  that is transferred to the operator&#39;s forearm by the forearm brace  86  in a vector generally perpendicular to a length of the forearm. The forearm is better able of withstanding the torque as a force that is exerted by the arcuate portion  92  onto the forearm than the operator&#39;s hand, which may fatigue over time. The padded material  94  about the arcuate portion  92  relieves some pressure that is exerted upon the forearm while the left and right segments of surgical tubing  28 ,  30  are stretched. 
     When the left and right segments of surgical tubing  28 ,  30  are stretched to a selected length, the operator  16  releases his/her grip on the pouch  22  and the tennis ball  14  such that the left and right segments of surgical tubing  28 ,  30  contract to a non-tension length. As the left and right segments of surgical tubing  28 ,  30  contract, the pouch  22  and the tennis ball  14  are rapidly propelled away from the operator  16 . The left and right prongs  48 ,  50  stop the movement of the pouch  22  and the left and right segments of surgical tubing  28 ,  30  from being propelled from the apparatus  10 . However, the tennis ball  14  continues to be propelled from the apparatus  10  a distance proportional to the length that the left and right segments  28 ,  30  were stretched. With the tennis ball  14  propelled from the apparatus  10 , the dog  12  or many dogs get exercise by chasing and retrieving the tennis ball  14 . 
     The left and right prongs  48 ,  50  and the proximal ends  82 ,  84  of the left and right sides  76 ,  78 , respectively, of the bottom portion  58  of the frame  24  are designed to aid the frame  24  in withstanding the force created while the left and right segments of surgical tubing  28 ,  30  are being stretched. The left and right prongs  48 ,  50  extend away from the frame  24  and have spring qualities that allow the left and right prongs  48 ,  50  to flex in the direction of the manual force and thereby relieve stress upon the frame  24  generated by the manual force. The proximal ends  82 ,  84  of the left and right sides  76 ,  78 , respectively, of the bottom portion  58  of the frame  24  are bent upward and resist the torque generated from the force applied to the prongs  48 ,  50  upon the frame  24  proximate the handle. 
     Because the cage  62  retains several tennis balls  14  between the constricted proximal and distal ends  64 ,  66 , manual force can be applied to the tennis balls  14  to remove the tennis balls  14  from either the proximal end  64  or the distal end  66  of the cage  62 . Employing the same procedure, another tennis ball  14  can be quickly propelled in a desired direction at a desired trajectory thereby allowing a single operator  16  to exercise the same dog  12  or many dogs at the same time. 
     Because the motion used to stretch the left and right segments of surgical tubing  28 ,  30  is relatively easy, the operator  16  will tire less quickly than if the operator  16  had to manually throw the tennis balls  14 . Additionally, the apparatus  10  allows the operator  16  to consistently propel the tennis balls  14  farther than if the operator  16  had to throw the tennis balls. 
     Once the dog  12  or dogs have been sufficiently exercised the tennis balls  14  are manually forced into the cage  62  for storage through either the proximal end  64  or the distal end  66  of the cage  62 . The operator  16  releases his/her grip on the handle  18  and removes his/her hand from the forearm brace  86 . The operator collapses the movable brace portion  96  toward the frame  24  and optionally positions the slot  25  about the tab  51  to retain the pouch  22  in the selected position for transport and storage. 
     Although the present invention has been described with reference to preferred embodiments, workers skilled in the art will recognize that changes may be made in form and detail without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention.