Abstract:
A dog tug toy including a ball or other biting object on a rope, the biting object having a rope opening into its interior cavity and the attachment involving a complex of knots formed inside the biting object. A method for making such dog tug toy including a sequence of knot-forming and insertion steps.

Description:
RELATED APPLICATIONS  
       [0001]     This application is based in part on U.S. Provisional Application No. 60/507,199, filed Sep. 29, 2003, the contents of which are incorporated herein by reference, and on U.S. Provisional Application No. 60/507,198, filed Sep. 29, 2003, the contents of which are incorporated herein by reference. 
     
    
     FIELD OF THE INVENTION  
       [0002]     This invention relates in general to toys for pets and, more particularly, to dog tug toys of the type having a rope attached to a ball.  
       BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
       [0003]     Dog toys provide a means for enjoyment and exercise for dogs (and other pets). As is well known, balls and other pet toys which can bounce and be pounced upon and grabbed by a pet&#39;s mouth are very popular. Dogs love chasing and retrieving such bouncing toys. Tug toys have proved to be very popular with dogs and their owners, not only for fun but to provide beneficial exercise for dogs. Especially favorite dog toys are those having a ball (or other object) attached to a rope to be held by a person and tugged by a pet. For convenience these are referred to herein as “dog tug toys.” 
         [0004]     Currently, the balls of dog tug toys are attached to their pulling ropes in one of two ways. Either the rope passes through holes on opposite sides of the ball and is held by a knot outside the ball or the rope is actually looped through the ball and tied. Either way, a number of problems occur.  
         [0005]     First, the knot outside the ball of a dog tug toy has a tendency to cause a dog to gag—because the knot extends too far into the dog&#39;s mouth. This problem, recognized by dogs, prompts them to bite the ball in a sideways fashion. This can be a frustration both for dogs and for their owners during play with dog tug toys. Second, in some cases, particularly with dog tug toys that have a knot on one side of the ball and do not include a loop, the rope is not well enough secured to the ball and detaches from it when pulled hard. Third, dogs have strong jaws and an instinct to pull upon and chew their toys; therefore, many balls with insufficient strength and inadequate rope-ball attachment suffer extensive damage from dogs and are easily destroyed.  
         [0006]     In the field of pet toys, there is a need for a gag-free dog tug toy with strong rope-ball attachment, particularly using tough balls such as tennis balls, which are highly preferred by dogs. The present invention is a result of research efforts concerning these problems and development efforts on products to overcome such problems.  
       OBJECTS OF THE INVENTION  
       [0007]     It is an object of the invention to provide an improved dog tug toy overcoming problems and shortcomings of prior dog tug toys, including the problems mentioned above.  
         [0008]     Another object of this invention is to provide a dog tug toy having secure loop-free, gag-free rope-ball attachment.  
         [0009]     Another object of this invention is to provide a dog tug toy eliminating knots outside the ball in position to cause gagging by dogs.  
         [0010]     A further object of the present invention is to provide a dog tug toy which reliably secures a rope to a ball with a knot or complex of knots positioned within the ball—i.e., a knot or complex of knots which are large enough that the rope cannot be pulled out of the ball.  
         [0011]     Another key object of the present invention is to provide a method for making dog tug toys with improved rope-ball attachment.  
         [0012]     Still another object of the invention is to provide a dog tug toy having the above advantages and also including the attractive feature of giving a squeaking response to the biting action of a dog.  
         [0013]     How these and other objects are accomplished will become apparent from the following descriptions and the drawings.  
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
       [0014]     This invention, which will be described in detail below, is an improvement in dog tug toys of the type including a ball or other biting object for a dog to bite attached to a rope for a person to hold.  
         [0015]     The present invention provides a dog tug toy and a method of manufacture overcoming the problems described above. It substantially eliminates the problem of gagging. It strongly resists detachment of the ball from the rope, even when subjected to intense treatment by dogs and their owners. Furthermore, the dog tug toy of this invention is made out of material which is resilient but strong enough so the toy can function for a long time in spite of considerable abuse by the dog and the owner.  
         [0016]     In the inventive dog tug toy, the biting object has a hollow interior cavity and a tough outer surface defining a rope opening into the cavity, and the rope has first and second end portions, the first end portion extending into the cavity through the rope opening, terminating at an end within the cavity, and secured therein by a complex of knots in the first end portion in the cavity. The biting object preferably has a tennis-ball-like outer surface, and is most preferably a tennis ball. Throughout this summary section and elsewhere in this specification, this invention will refer to the biting object as a “ball” or “tennis ball”; however, it is to be understood that the invention is not limited in scope by the exact nature of the biting object.  
         [0017]     The complex of knots inside the ball is large enough that it cannot be pulled out of the ball apart from monumental force not typically achievable by the largest dogs and the strongest owners. Furthermore, the nature of this attachment eliminates any external knot which a dog could gag.  
         [0018]     In some preferred embodiments, the complex of knots is a complex knot formed by at least two joined single knots, each in the entirety of the rope.  
         [0019]     In certain preferred embodiments, the rope is formed by at least two strands. In the first end portion, the strands of the rope are separated, and the complex of knots includes at least one knot in each of at least two of the separated strands. In preferred cases, the complex of knots includes at least one knot in each of at least three of the separated strands. The knots are preferably positioned on the strands substantially equidistant from the first end of the rope, because this facilitates formation of a complex of knots of substantial cross-dimension, thus better preventing the complex of knots from being pulled out though the rope opening.  
         [0020]     In certain preferred embodiments, the second end portion of the rope is tied into a loop for a handle. In certain highly preferred embodiments of this type, an additional ball is secured on the loop of the handle. In some embodiments involving a loop for a handle, the rope has a mid-portion between the first and second end portions and the mid-portion has an additional ball secured thereto; in certain of such embodiments the mid-portion of the rope passes through the additional ball.  
         [0021]     Certain special preferred embodiments further include at least one squeaker device within the ball cavity. This provides a squeaking response to a dog&#39;s biting of the ball, and further uses the tough ball as a means of protecting the squeaker device from destruction from a dog&#39;s teeth.  
         [0022]     One preferred embodiment of this invention includes a second tennis ball (or other biting object) like the first, attached to the other end of the rope in the same manner as is used for attachment of the first ball to the first end of the rope. In certain of such preferred embodiments, the rope has a mid-portion between the first and second end portions, the mid-portion having a handle thereon, thereby allowing two balls to be controlled easily by one hand. In some of such embodiments, the handle is a loop formed in the mid-portion of the rope.  
         [0023]     Another important aspect of this invention involves a method for making a dog tug toy of the type disclosed above. The inventive method includes: forming a rope opening into the hollow interior cavity of the ball; tying a first single knot in a first end portion of the rope; pushing the first single knot into the ball through the rope opening; tying a second single knot in the first end portion of the rope; and pushing the second single knot into the ball through the rope opening such that the single knots form a complex of knots, whereby the complex of knots is of sufficient size such that the rope remains secured to the ball despite tugging force. The ball is preferably a tennis ball.  
         [0024]     In certain preferred examples of the method of this invention, the first single knot is tied in the entirety of the rope, such first single knot being spaced from the end of the rope. The pushing of the first single knot into the ball is done in a manner leaving both ends of the rope outside the ball. Then, the second single knot is tied in the entirety of the rope outside the ball at the outer surface thereof, such knot being tied using portions of the rope outside the ball and extending from either side of the first single knot. Then, the pushing of the second single knot into the ball is accompanied by pushing the first end of the rope into the ball, and thereafter the remaining portion of the rope is pulled in a direction away from the ball so that the two single knots inside the ball joined together as a double knot inside the ball. In such preferred method, it is preferred that the first single knot be tied at a position within about six inches from the first end of the rope.  
         [0025]     In certain highly preferred examples of the method of this invention, the rope is formed by at least two strands and a preliminary step is separating the strands in the first end portion of the rope. After separating the strands in the first end portion of the rope, the first single knot is tied in one of the separated strands, and such strand and knot are pushed into the ball, leaving at least one of the other separated strands outside the ball. Then, the second single knot is tied in a separated strand that is outside the ball, after which such strand and knot are pushed into the ball. The first and second single knots are adjacent to one another within the ball to form the complex of knots inside the ball. A particularly preferred form of the method repeats the same steps for the third strand. Note that it is not essential that the number of single knots tied in strands equal the number of strands; any strands without knots should also be pushed into the ball.  
         [0026]     Some preferred examples of the method of this invention also include tying the second end portion of the rope into a loop for the handle. Some preferred examples involve inserting a squeaker body into the ball.  
         [0027]     As used herein, the term “tennis-ball-like surface,” in reference to biting objects, refers to surfaces of a tough rubber or rubber-like material that has a felt or felt-like cover. Such biting objects and bodies are known to be able to withstand repetitive biting by dogs without incurring significant damage.  
         [0028]     As used herein, the term “tough outer surface” means that the material forming the ball or other biting object has a toughness character sufficient such that repetitive frequent biting by a typical dog over an extended period (a month or more) will not puncture the ball or other biting object. Toughness typical of a tennis ball more than satisfies this requirement.  
         [0029]     As used herein, the term “strand” refers to a complex of fibers a plurality of which form a common type of rope. In many common forms of rope, strands are twisted together to form the rope; in some cases, the rope is formed by the braiding of strands.  
         [0030]     As used herein, the term “entirety of the rope” refers to whole cross-section of the rope, with all its strands together. 
     
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       [0031]      FIG. 1  is a perspective view of a dog tug toy in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the invention.  
         [0032]      FIG. 2  is a top plan view of the tennis ball of the dog tug toy of  FIG. 1 , showing the rope opening drilled in the hollow ball.  
         [0033]      FIG. 3  is a perspective view of a first end portion of the rope of the dog tug toy of  FIG. 1 , with a single knot tied in the entirety of the rope near the first end of the rope.  
         [0034]      FIGS. 4A, 4B  and  5  are perspective views with the ball in section in  FIGS. 4B and 5 , illustrating the position of the single knot as it approaches and is then pushed into the tennis ball through the rope opening seen best in  FIG. 2 .  
         [0035]      FIG. 6  is another perspective view with the ball in section, illustrating the tying of a second knot in the entirety of the rope outside the ball at the outer surface thereof.  
         [0036]      FIG. 7  is another perspective view with the ball in section, illustrating the complex (double) knot inside the ball resulting from insertion of the second knot of  FIG. 6  from a position outside the ball to a position inside the ball, in engagement with the first knot, as well as insertion of the first end of the rope into the ball.  
         [0037]      FIG. 8  is another perspective view with the ball in section, illustrating the tying of the remaining portion of the rope, outside the ball, into a loop to form a handle.  
         [0038]      FIG. 9  is a perspective view of a first end portion of the rope of the dog toy of  FIG. 1 , illustrating separated strands of the rope with at least one knot in each of the separated strands.  
         [0039]      FIG. 10  is a perspective view of a first end portion of the rope of  FIG. 13 , illustrating the first single knot tied in individual strand pushed inside the ball.  
         [0040]      FIG. 11  is a perspective view of a first end portion of the rope of  FIG. 13 , illustrating two single knots pushed inside the ball to form a complex of knots.  
         [0041]      FIG. 12  is a perspective view of the ball secured to the first end portion of the rope of  FIG. 9 .  
         [0042]      FIG. 13  is a perspective view of an alternative embodiment having a second ball attached to a second end of the rope in a fashion similar to the attachment used at the first end of the rope.  
         [0043]      FIG. 14  is a perspective view of another embodiment having a second ball secured on the rope between the first ball and the handle loop.  
         [0044]      FIG. 15  is a perspective view of another embodiment having a second ball on the handle.  
         [0045]      FIG. 16  is a partially sectional perspective view of an embodiment including a squeaker device in the ball along with the complex knot. 
     
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS  
       [0046]     Referring to  FIGS. 1-8 , a unique dog tug toy  10  and its unique method of manufacture are illustrated. Dog tug toy  10  includes a tennis ball  20  and a rope  30 . Tennis ball  20  has a hollow interior cavity  22  and a tough felt outer surface  24  defining a rope opening  26 . Rope  30  has a first end portion  32  by which it is attached to ball  20 , as hereafter described, and a second end portion  34  which forms a loop  37  by tying a loop-forming knot  38 .  
         [0047]     Dog tug toy  10  is manufactured by a unique method which allows a complex of knots of substantial size to be formed inside ball  20 . After a rope opening  26  is drilled in ball  20  (see  FIG. 2 ), several knot-forming and stuffing steps are taken to create the complex of knots inside ball  20 . These steps are as follows: A first single knot  35 A is tied in the entirety of rope  30  in first end portion  32  of rope  30  at a position approximately 6 inches from the end  32 A of rope  30  (see  FIG. 3 ). First single knot  35 A is then pushed into interior cavity  22  through rope opening  26  leaving the remaining end of first end portion  32  outside ball  20  (see  FIGS. 4A, 4B  and  5 ). Then both free portions of rope  30  protruding from ball  20  are tied in their entirety into a second single knot  35 B very close to outer surface  24  of ball  20  at rope opening  26  (see  FIG. 6 ). Next, both second single knot  35 B and first end  32 A of rope  30  are pushed into cavity  22  through rope opening  26 .  
         [0048]     The rope-ball attachment is then completed to form a complex knot within cavity  22  in the following manner: The single length of rope now protruding from ball  20  is manually pulled in a direction away from ball  20  while the puller grips ball  20  about rope opening  26  to prevent the not-yet-joined first and second single knots  35 A and  35 B from exiting the ball through rope opening  26 . This causes the single knots to come together into a complex knot  35  (see  FIG. 7 ), which is significantly larger than either single knot—and, in fact, is large enough such that it cannot, for all practical purposes, be pulled out of ball  20 . Thus, a rope-ball connection is formed which is highly strong and reliable and yet does not have an external knot of the sort which can cause dogs to gag when biting the ball.  
         [0049]     In alternative embodiments of this invention, rope  30  is formed by at least two strands  36 , and a preliminary step is separating strands  36  in first end portion  32  of rope  30 . The knots are tied in individual strands  36  and are positioned substantially equidistant from end  32 E of first end portion  32  of rope  30  (see  FIG. 9 .) The knot-forming and stuffing steps for this alternative embodiment are as follows: A first single knot  39 A is tied in separated strand  36 A. First single knot  39 A is then pushed into interior cavity  22  through rope opening  26 , along with the end of such strand, leaving separated strands  36 B and  36 C outside ball  20  (see  FIG. 10 ). A second single knot  39 B is tied in separated strand  36 B, which is outside ball  20  and pushed into ball  20  thought rope opening  26 . In the same way, a third single knot  39 C is tied in strand  36 C and pushed into ball  20  thought rope opening  26 . After single knots  39 B and  39 C pushed into ball  20  along with the respected strand ends, such single knots are adjacent to one another to form a complex of knots  39  inside ball  20  (see  FIGS. 11-12 ). Complex of knots  39  is of sufficient size such that rope  30  remains secured to ball  20 , despite tugging force.  
         [0050]     Dog tug toy  10  is completed by forming a loop  37  to serve as a handle to be held by the dog&#39;s owner during play. (See  FIGS. 1 and 8 ).  
         [0051]     The embodiment illustrated in  FIG. 16  is identical to the embodiment of  FIGS. 1-8  except that a squeaker device  40  is also inserted into hollow interior cavity  22  of ball  20 . As is known, a squeaker device is a resilient air-containing bladder which has an air tube that causes a squeak (whistle) when squeezed. Included as it is in dog tug toy  10 , squeaker device  40  provides additional stimulation for the dog during play, making the toy more exciting and attractive to use.  
         [0052]      FIGS. 13-15  illustrate other embodiments of the invention, each including at least one rope-ball connection which is of the type described above. Each such embodiment includes a second ball. These embodiments are designed to suit the preferences of dog owners with respect to the particular form of a dog tug toy.  
         [0053]     Referring to  FIG. 13 , a second ball  50  is attached to the end of second end portion  34  of rope  30  in the same attachment manner as used for first ball  20 . The mid-portion  33  of rope  30 , between first end portion  32  and second end portion  34 , is tied into a loop  37 A to form a handle.  
         [0054]     Referring to  FIG. 14 , a second ball  50 A is secured on mid-portion  33  of rope  30  between ball  20  (on first end portion  32 ) and a handle loop formed in second end portion  34 . Mid-portion  33  of rope  30  passes through two opposed rope openings in second ball  50 A. A knot  33 A is tied in mid-portion  33  of rope  30  to maintain second ball  50 A in place.  
         [0055]     Referring to  FIG. 15 , a secondary ball  50 B is secured on handle loop  37  by a portion of such loop passing through two opposed rope openings in ball  50 B.  
         [0056]     Many other variations within the scope of the invention are possible. Many choices will be available to those skilled in the art who are made aware of the nature of this invention.  
         [0057]     While the principles of the invention have been shown and described in connection with specific embodiments, it is to be understood that such embodiments are by way of example and are not limiting.