Patent Publication Number: US-2003226521-A1

Title: Toy with loop ends

Description:
RELATED APPLICATION  
     [0001] This application claims priority from U.S. Provisional Application No. 60/386,656 filed on Jun. 5, 2002, and hereby incorporated by reference in its entirety. 
    
    
     
       FIELD OF THE INVENTION  
       [0002] Present invention relates generally to a toy. In particular, the present invention relates to a durable toy which is adapted to amuse animals such as a dog or cat.  
       BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
       [0003] Many animals, such as dogs and cats enjoy throwable play things. These prior animal play toys have been designed to occupy the animals in some sort of activity, such as chewing, gnawing, and pulling. These play things are designed for the animal to pick up and hold in its mouth, or to push with its nose or feet.  
       [0004] Since a pet toy is generally treated roughly and is typically carried in the animal&#39;s mouth, it is important to provide a play toy for animals which is safe and non-toxic to play and chew on. It is especially important that the toy not break apart in the animal&#39;s mouth. Pieces of the toy could easily fall into the pet&#39;s throat causing it to gag or choke.  
       [0005] To pique the interest of the animal, many pet toys are designed to imitate common creatures. Many are often designed to have a body with appendages extending from the body. Aside from making the toy appear more realistic to the animal, the appendages also offer an easy grasping point.  
       [0006] However, the appendage of a pet toy is often a weak point in the toy&#39;s design. This weakness is exacerbated by the fact that many pets will tug and pull on the appendages further weakening its point of attachment to the body of the toy. Consequently, it is a common problem in the prior art for the appendages to break off the body of the toy and possibly cause the pet to gag or choke. As such, there is a need in the art for a novel toy design wherein the appendages of the pet toy do not constitute a potential choking hazard to the pet.  
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
       [0007] The present invention is a toy with loops specially adapted for an animal&#39;s use, in particular a dog or a cat. The toy is sized so that a dog or a cat will not be able to swallow it, and is made of durable material so that the animal can grip and pull on the toy.  
       [0008] In one embodiment, the toy is comprised of a body and a cord. The body is made of two parts sewn to each other along peripheral edges of the parts. The body may contain filling materials such as pellets or other materials to add bulk to the body. Noisemakers, such as air pillows, may also be disposed within the body.  
       [0009] In one embodiment, the cord forms a loop and is disposed within and attached to the body. The loop forms a plurality of loop portions which extend from the body. Each loop portion extends from each end such a distance that loop will allow it to be drawn a substantial distance into the animal&#39;s mouth for the animal to grab it. 
     
    
    
     DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
     [0010] Preferred embodiments of the invention will be described in detail hereinafter with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which like reference numerals refer to like elements throughout.  
     [0011]FIG. 1 is a top view of the toy in a starfish profile shape with a top portion of the toy removed to disclose the cord disposed therein, with loop ends formed from a cord in a particular configuration.  
     [0012]FIG. 2 is a side elevational view of the toy of FIG. 1.  
     [0013]FIG. 3 is a top view of another embodiment of the toy in a starfish profile shape with loop ends formed from rope in another configuration.  
     [0014]FIG. 4 is a top view of another embodiment of the toy in a snake profile shape.  
     [0015]FIG. 5 is an alternative embodiment of the toy of FIG. 1, wherein the loops are interconnected. 
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION  
     [0016] Referring to FIGS. 1 and 2, in one embodiment, the toy  1  in a starfish profile shape is shown. The toy  1  comprises of a body  11  and a cord  13 . The body  11  is formed of any of a variety of tough materials depending upon the characteristics that are desired, including plastic, fleece, cloth, nylon to name a few. DuPont “CORDURA” nylon is an example of material that can be used for the body  11  of toy  1 . The material for body  11  can be a water resistant material. The material should be resistance to tears and cuts.  
     [0017] In one embodiment, the body  11  is made of two parts  17  and  19  (not shown). Parts  17  and  19  are overlayed onto each other and sewn to each other along peripheral edges of the parts. Alternative securement approaches to sewing would be readily appreciated by those skilled in the relevant arts. It has also been contemplated that the body be formed in a known manner using a plastic injection molding technique. The body  11  may contain filling materials such as pellets or other materials to add bulk to the body. The body may also have noisemaking articles, such as air pillows (not shown) disposed within.  
     [0018] In one embodiment, the cord  13  forms a loop and is mostly disposed within the body  11 . Loop portions  15  extend from ends  21  of body  11 . Each loop portion is secured to an end  21  of the body. Alternatively, in one embodiment, the loop portion  15  is attached to the body in a manner which allows it to slide inwardly and outwardly from within the body. Each loop portion  15  extends from each end  19  such a distance that loop  15  will allow it to be drawn a substantial distance into the an animal&#39;s mouth for the animal to grab it. The loop portions  15  are sized small enough to prevent the animal from gagging on it.  
     [0019] In one embodiment, the cord  13  is retained between two parts  17  and  19  of body  11 . Cord  13  may be sewn to the inner face of parts  17  or  19  in a pattern as shown in FIG. 1. Non-toxic nylon is a form of material that can be used for the cord  13 . The cross sectional of cord  13  can be round or any other shapes. Cord  13  may be a rope, string, or other elongated flexible element. Cord  13  may be manufactured from natural or synthetic products or a combination thereof. Preferably a single cord element is utilized to practice the invention. Alternatively, a plurality of cord elements may comprise cord  13 . It is also contemplated (as shown in FIG. 5) that a plurality of interconnected loops be formed, with each loop having a loop portion extending from the body  11 . FIG. 5 illustrates another embodiment of the present invention, toy  6 .  
     [0020] Referring to FIG. 3, in one embodiment, the toy  3  in a starfish profile shape is shown with an alternative routing attachment of rope  23  to body  21 . In this configuration, the cord  23  is provided along the peripheral edge of parts  27  or  29 . Similar to FIG. 1, cord  23  forms loop portions  25  extending from ends  31  of body  21 .  
     [0021] Referring to FIG. 4, in one embodiment, the present invention is in a snake profile shape. In this configuration, the toy  5  comprises head  45 , body  47 , and cord  39 . The head  45  and body  47  are made of two layers of the covering material which are sewn or glued along each peripheral edge. Cord  39  is attached by sewing or gluing to the inside of head  45  and body  47 . The cord  39  forms loops  41  and  43  extending from end  49  of head  45  and end  55  of body  47  respectively. Loop portions  41  and  43  extend from ends  49  and  55  respectively such a distance that they will allow them to be grasped in an animal&#39;s mouth.  
     [0022] The above described embodiments of the inventions are merely descriptive of its principles and are not to be considered limiting. Further modifications of the invention herein disclosed will occur to those skilled in the respective arts and all such modifications are deemed to be within the scope of the invention.