Patent Publication Number: US-9888670-B1

Title: Dog sounding toy

Description:
RELATED APPLICATION 
     This is a continuation of Ser. No. 14/751,292, filed Jun. 26, 2015 which is a continuation-in-part application of Ser. No. 14/189,827, filed Feb. 25, 2014. The disclosures of the above-noted applications are incorporated herein by reference. Priority is claimed from my U.S. provisional application 61/770,478, filed Feb. 28, 2013, the disclosure of which is incorporated herein by reference. 
    
    
     FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
     The invention relates to amusement devices comprising sounding toys for humans or pets such as dogs. 
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     An amusing sounding toy comprising a floating tube assembly which includes an outer, flexible tube containing an inner, sound producing element, formed by semi-rigid tubing which emits a creaking noise during bending between different shapes and audible to the bender, is described in my parent application referred to above. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     It is an object of the invention to provide a pet dog sounding toy which emits a creaking noise during bending between different shapes by shaking or possibly chewing by a dog. 
     More specifically, a dog sounding toy according to the invention comprises an elongate assembly comprising an outer, sleeve-forming tube of cushioning material and modular, semi-rigid, inner tubing inserted longitudinally into the sleeve and comprising a series of identical, rigid, tubular, plastic links having respective opposite ends provided respectively with ball and socket joints rotatively engaged with respective socket and ball joints of adjacent links with engaging/abutting surfaces in interference, watertight fits to join the links in end-to-end relation enabling the tube assembly to be transversely bent by a dog during chewing or shaking behaviour such that a creaking sound, audible to the dog, is emitted by rotative movement of the joints during transverse bending of the tube assembly. 
     The creaking sound produced by the dog&#39;s own actions stimulates the dog causing great playfulness and apparent enjoyment. 
     Preferably, the ball and socket joints of each link are joined by a narrow neck portion. 
     The outer tube cushioning material may comprise a closed cell foam and may be covered by a protective outer layer of dog bite resistant material, preferably a plush fabric such as a polyester valboa. 
     Alternatively, the outer tubing may be made of a rubber, TPR or TPE or similar bendable cushioning material, preferably formed/molded in an elongate bone shape with the armature received as a loose (free fit) in the central passageway thereof to permit unencumbered bending of the armature. 
     The invention includes a kit for making the dog toy. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       In order that the invention may be readily understood, particular embodiments thereof will now be described with reference to the accompanying drawings in which: 
         FIG. 1  is a schematic view showing two links of inner tubing of a sound producing, floating tube assembly joined together for relative rotation; 
         FIG. 2  is view is a longitudinal cross-sectional view of the outer, sleeve-forming tube of the sound producing, floating tube assembly and inner tubing aligned for longitudinal insertion therein; 
         FIG. 3  is a similar view to  FIG. 3  with the inner tubing partly inserted; 
         FIG. 4  is a schematic line drawing of a photograph of another embodiment of a sound producing dog toy showing the outer, foam tube for containing the sound producing armature partly covered by a plush fabric, sufficiently durable to resist, (retard), within limits destruction by dog chewing or biting; 
         FIG. 5  is a schematic line drawing of a photograph of the exposed end of the outer foam tubing held by a hand; 
         FIG. 6  is a schematic line drawing of a photograph of three dog sounding toys with respective plush fabric outer layers or coverings and bent into inter-engaging loops; 
         FIG. 7A  is a schematic, longitudinal cross-sectional view of another dog sounding toy in the shape of a bone; and 
         FIG. 7B  is a schematic, transverse cross sectional view along line B-B of  FIG. 7A . 
     
    
    
     PARTICULAR DESCRIPTION 
     Referring to  FIGS. 1-3 , an amusement device comprising an elongate, semi-rigid, floating tube assembly  1  comprises an outer sleeve-forming tube  2  of soft, flexible, buoyant material, being a closed cell EPE foam, (preferably, non-phthalate) and modular, semi-rigid, inner tubing  3  insertable longitudinally into the outer tube  2 . The inner tubing  3  (armature) comprises a series of identical, tubular rigid, plastic links  4 ,  4 ′ each having opposite ends provided respectively with a ball  5  and a socket joint  6  joined together by a neck portion  7 , rotatively engaged with socket and ball joints of adjacent links with respective abutting/engaging surface portions of the joints in interference, watertight fits, to join the links  4 ,  4 ′ in end to end relation, enabling the tube assembly  1  to be transversely bent by a person into different stable shapes. Each link has a bore/duct  8  extending axially/longitudinally therethrough. 
     The armature structure is prior art, being a known type of semi-rigid conduit/piping for feeding lubricant to a manufacturing machine. 
     During relative movement, (as when transversely bending the tube assembly), the engaged joints emit a creaking sound audible to a user. 
     The inner modular tubing can be retained in the sleeve as an interference/friction fit or retained therein by optional end plugs/caps. The individual links can be snap-fitted together to provide semi-rigid inner tubing of any desired length. 
     Ends of the sleeve assemble can be sealed using a silicone or bonding agent. 
     The ability for children to manually deform the assembly into any desired stable shape provides considerable amusement both in and out of the water, which is increased by the ‘creaking bones’ noise produce by their bending actions. 
     The modular nature of the inner tubing enables bent assemblies to be joined together for enormous variations of lengths and shapes, forming, for example, a diving ring for a swimming pool or, completely wrapping around a person as a floatation aid. 
     In the dog sounding embodiment  11  of  FIGS. 4 to 6 , the outer tubing  2 ′ is covered by a bite resistant layer  12  of plush fabric. 
     In the embodiment of  FIGS. 7A and 7B , the sound producing armature  3  is received as a free (loose) fit in an elongate central passageway  14  in a tube of suitable rubber or resiliently flexible plastic material such as TPR or TPE or other suitable bendable material formed in the iconic shape of a dog bone  15 . Opposite longitudinal ends of the passageway are sealed by glued-in end plugs  13 .