Abstract:
A caged-animal entertainment assembly that chimes or rings in response to animal engagement of an attractant suspended in the animal cage wherein the attractant may be separated or decoupled from a chiming assembly so the movement of the attractant by the caged animal no longer generates a chiming sound. When the attractant is attached or coupled to the chiming assembly, the animal generates the chiming sound by moving the attractant which, in turn, moves a support that is connected to a striker. The striker strikes the chimes or a bell to create the chiming sound.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     1. Field of the Invention 
     This invention relates to entertainment assemblies for caged animals. 
     2. Background Art 
     Wind chimes are quite common, and a depiction of a typical wind chime is shown in FIG. 1 a  and FIG. 1 b . The wind chime consists of a string or chain  6 ′ to which a loop or hook  5 ′ can be added to assist in its attachment to a tree, dwelling, or other position in the outdoors. A plate  4 ′ is attached to the string of chain  6 ′ through separate connector loops  7 . Separate strings or chains  8 ′ are used to fasten bells or chimes  2 ′ to the plate  4 ′. Another separate string or chain support  9 ′ is used to attach a striker  3 ′ to the plate  4 ′ such that its motion is independent of the upper string or chain  6 ′. The lower string or chain support  9 ′ further extends to a paddle or sail  1 ′. 
     When winds blows the paddle or sail  1 ′, the force of the wind causes the sail  1 ′ to move the string or chain support  9 ′ which causes the striker  3 ′ to move. With sufficient force, the striker  3 ′ will strike one or more of the chimes  2 ′, thus producing randomized musical notes. The device just described is generally referred to as a “wind chime.” 
     Wind chimes have been combined with feeders or lights for use outdoors to attract animals or birds. The wind chimes combined with animal feeders are normally suspended outdoors to attract wild animals and/or birds and chime in response to the wind or animal movement. Animal feeders have been designed to chime upon animal feeding without the necessity for movement of a paddle by the wind. The current feeders chime to announce the arrival of the wild animal or bird at the feeder. 
     U.S. Pat. No. 5,040,491 to Yancy discloses a bird feeder combined with chimes that chime in response to the arrival of a wild bird at the feeder. The feeder includes a support for suspending the feeder and the chimes on the same support. 
     U.S. Pat. No. 5,107,796 to Embrey discloses a bird feeder with multiple feeding reservoirs suspended from a canopy. The reservoirs serve as strikers, moving against a chime in response to wind or bird movement to produce a chiming sound. 
     U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,647,298 to Yancy, and U.S. Pat. No. D353.558 to Scott generally disclose wind chimes with animal or bird feeders. U.S. Pat. No. 2,707,937 to Herman, U.S. Pat. No. 4,542,714 to Ingraham, and U.S. Pat. No. 5,022,345 to Bolivar disclose bird toys with bells, all of which are suspended within a bird cage. U.S. Pat. No. 4,854,214 to Lowe discloses an illuminated wind chime. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     An object of the present invention is to provide an improved entertainment assembly for a caged animal. 
     In carrying out the above object and other objects of the present invention, an assembly for entertaining an animal located within a cage is provided. The assembly includes at least one object giving a bell-like sound when struck. The assembly also includes a supporting device to suspend the at least one object outside the cage. The assembly further includes an animal attractant and a subassembly including a striker to selectively couple the animal attractant to and decouple the animal attractant from the at least one object in coupled and decoupled states, respectively, so that a predetermined amount of movement of the animal attractant causes the striker to strike the at least one object in the coupled state but not in the decoupled state. 
     At least part of the subassembly may suspend the animal attractant in the cage in both the coupled and uncoupled states. 
     At least part of the striker may suspend the animal attractant in the cage in the uncoupled state. 
     The entire striker may suspend the animal attractant in the cage in the uncoupled state. 
     The striker may include a plurality of separate parts, and one of the plurality of separate parts may suspend the animal attractant in the cage in the uncoupled state. 
     The plurality of parts may include a pair of magnetic parts, and one of the magnetic parts may suspend the animal attractant in the cage in the uncoupled state. 
     The at least one object may include a plurality of chimes that sound when struck by the striker. 
     The at least one object may be a bell that sounds when struck by the striker. 
     The attractant may include animal food or may include an animal toy. 
     The toy may be a mirror. 
     The subassembly may further include an elongated support wherein the striker is adjustably positioned on the elongated support so that the bell-like sound changes depending on striker position on the support. 
     The assembly may further include a support apparatus to support the supporting device above the cage. 
     The support apparatus may be a free-standing support apparatus. 
     The support apparatus may also be detachably removable from the cage. 
     The support apparatus may include a plurality of spaced-apart ladder rungs. 
     The at least one object may include a light which illuminates when the at least one object is struck by the striker. 
     This invention relates to a combination chime and toy or feeder for a domesticated animal. Domesticated animals suffer from boredom when caged. Birds, in particular, tend to remove their feathers to alleviate the boredom. This invention provides entertainment for caged animals to help prevent the boredom and generates a pleasant sound for the amusement of the caged animal and also for the benefit of the owner. The prior art does not properly address a chime and toy or feeder for a domesticated, caged animal. 
    
    
     The above objects and other objects, features, and advantages of the present invention are readily apparent from the following detailed description of the best mode for carrying out the invention when taken in connection with the accompanying drawings. 
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     FIG. 1 a  is a side schematic view of a prior art wind chime; 
     FIG. 1 b  is a top schematic view of the prior art wind chime of FIG. 1 a;    
     FIG. 2 a  is a side schematic view of an embodiment of the invention wherein the attractant is a mirror; 
     FIG. 2 b  is a top schematic view of the embodiment of FIG. 2 a;    
     FIG. 3 is a side schematic view of the embodiment of the invention shown in relation to an animal cage; 
     FIG. 4 is a broken away side schematic view showing bird seed in a small basket as an attractant; 
     FIG. 5 is a broken away side schematic view showing compressed bird seed as an attractant; 
     FIG. 6 is a broken away side schematic view showing a bird seed millet spray in a holder as an attractant; 
     FIG. 7 is a side schematic view of another embodiment of the invention showing a bell with an adjustable striker; 
     FIG. 8 is a side schematic view illustrating two other embodiments of the invention in relation to the animal cage, one suspended from a ceiling and the other suspended from a detachable support assembly on the animal cage; 
     FIG. 9 is a side schematic view of an embodiment of the invention suspended from a free standing support; 
     FIGS. 10 a ,  10   b , and  10   c  are partially broken away schematic views showing (1) the decoupling of the attractant, support, and striker from its chiming subassembly and (2) securing the attractant and support to the animal cage using the striker; 
     FIG. 11 is a side schematic view of a different embodiment of the invention similar to the embodiment of FIG. 2 a  but showing lights attached to each chime; 
     FIG. 12 is a side schematic view of another embodiment of the invention similar to the embodiment of FIG. 2 a  and showing the lower part of a magnetic striker in the process of removal from the rest of the assembly; 
     FIG. 13 is a partially broken away schematic view showing a ladder assembly straddling the animal cage from which an assembly of the invention is suspended; and 
     FIG. 14 is a partially broken away schematic view showing a detachable support assembly for the assembly of the invention; a ladder structure has been added to the detachable support assembly. 
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
     Referring now to the drawing figures, the numbering system of elements in the following embodiments of the invention are consistent with the element numbers in FIG. 1 a , without the prime designation, indicating the same or similar elements. As shown in FIGS. 2 a  and  2   b , the embodiment of the invention is similar to the basic wind chime shown in FIG. 1 a  with notable differences. The paddle or sail is replaced with an attractive bird toy  10  such that a bird pecking at the toy  10  causes the striker  12  to strike the chimes  2 . Conventional paddles for wind chimes are heavy, and the pecking of small domestic birds will not supply enough force to cause the striker  12  to strike the chimes  2 . Additionally, the striker  12  can be manufactured from a lightweight material, such as plastic, a lightweight metal, or a lightweight ceramic. To assist in passing force from the striker  12  to the chimes  2 , a thin metallic, plastic, or ceramic ring  11  may be placed around the striker  12 . The ring  11  may be made from a very light weight metal, such as aluminum. 
     The bird toy  10  may include a lightweight mirror, or any other style of bird toy, swing, or perch that attracts the bird to peck or move the toy  10  in such a manner as to cause the striker  12  to strike the chimes  2 . The bird toy  10  may be interchanged with any commercial toy. The materials that compose the toy  10 , the chimes  2 , and the striker  12  are composed of substances know to be non-toxic to domestic birds. Additionally, components of the invention, except for the striker  12  and the chimes  2 , are preferably constructed from plastic or acrylic to resist destruction by the bird. 
     In the embodiment of the invention shown in FIG. 2 a , a clasp  15  connects the attractant  10  to the support  9  and the support  9  is suspended by a ring  17  that hangs from a hook  13  on the hanger  4 . The hanger  4  is attached to a string or chain support  6  by a connector  14 . A bead  16  adjustably positions the striker  12  along the support  9  to change the position at which the striker  12  strikes the chimes  2 . 
     In the embodiment of the invention shown in FIG. 3, the chiming subassembly is designed to be suspended outside of an animal cage  18 , with the toy.  10  and support  9  hanging through wires or bars of an animal cage  18  and into a dwelling area of the animal. As a result, when this embodiment of the invention is used for small, domesticated birds, the birds can not come into contact with the chimes  2  unless purposely allowed out of the cage  18 , an attribute that decreases the likelihood of injury to the bird by the bird chime toy  10  when the bird is enclosed in the small cage enclosure. 
     The bird toy  10  can be replaced with food for the bird, as shown in FIGS. 4,  5 , and  6 . As shown in FIG. 4, a small basket  20  may be filled with food  19  and attached to the support  9  with a loop  21  and a clasp  15 . FIG. 5 shows a compressed bird seed food pellet, wafer, or bar  22  directly attached to the support  9  by a loop  21  and a clasp  15 . FIG. 6 shows a millet spray  24  and holder  23  attached to the support  9  using a loop  21  and a clasp  15 . 
     The chiming subassembly may be comprised of a bell  26  instead of chimes, as shown in FIG.  7 . The bell striker  25  can be adjustable, using a bead  16 , slidable along the support  9  to which the toy  10  is attached to change the position at which the striker  25  strikes the bell  26 . The bell  26  is also designed to be suspended outside the animal enclosure. 
     As shown in FIG. 8, the entertainment assembly can be suspended from the ceiling such that the chiming subassembly remains outside the cage  18  and the toy  10 , suspended by the support  9 , hangs into the cage  18  through the cage wires or bars. Alternatively, the entertainment assembly can be suspended from a hook  27  formed from a rod  28  and fastened with a fastener  29  to the cage  18 . The support apparatus is detachable from the cage  18 . The chiming subassembly is suspended outside of the cage  18  with the support  9  and food  19  suspended in the cage  18 . 
     Larger animals may require a hanging system that does not attach to the ceiling or cage  18 , but instead is a free standing structure as shown in FIG.  9 . The structure would have a hook  27  formed from the free standing structure  30 . The chiming subassembly remains outside of the cage  18  and the attractant  19  is suspended on the support  9  through the cage wires into the cage  18 . 
     At night, domestic birds are often covered with a sheet or cloth to facilitate proper sleeping habits. The chiming subassembly is designed such that the toy  10 , the support  9  and the striker  12  can be detached or decoupled from the upper plate  4  at the connector  13 , and the toy  10  and the support  9  can either be removed from the cage  18 , or the toy  10  and the support  9  can be lowered into the cage  18  such that the toy  10  and support  9  are suspended in the cage  18  by the striker  12  as shown in FIGS. 10 a ,  10   b  and  10   c.    
     The bead  16  is fastened to the support  9  such that the striker  12  is prevented from sliding further down the support  9 . The design allows for the striker  12  to slide up toward the connector ring  17  when the toy  10  and support  9  are lowered into the cage  18 . As a result, the toy  10  and the support  9  can be easily lowered into the cage  18 , and no portion of the entertainment assembly obstructs the operator from covering or moving the cage  18 . 
     The chiming subassembly can have other features that are attractive to caged animals and domesticated birds, such as lights  31  that illuminate when the toy  10  is pecked. FIG. 11 shows the entertainment assembly with lights  31  on the ends of chiming subassembly. The entertainment assembly shown in FIG. 2 a  can be modified to accommodate the lights  31  and a means for energizing the lights  31  which may be photodiodes. 
     Modifications of the embodiment of the invention shown in FIG. 2 a  are shown as follows in FIG.  11 . The hangar body  34  is hollow such that a battery  39  can be inserted. The battery  39  is held in place by springs  35  and  38  and an insulating holder  40 . A metallic spring  35  is connected to the metallic conductive hook  37 . A metallic conductive ring  33  is connected to the metallic conductive striker  12  and ring  11  by a thin wire  44 . The upper spring  38  is connected to the opposite terminal of the battery  39  and to the conductive hangar lid  32  and body  34 . 
     Thin insulated wires  41  drop through the chimes  2  and connect to one terminal of the insulating socket  43  for a light such as a light emitting diode  31 . The other terminal on the socket  43  is connect directly to the metal chime  2 . The light emitting diode  31  is plugged into a socket  43 . When a bird pecks the toy  10  or food  19 , the striker  12  swings and causes the metal ring  11  to connect the circuit between the battery  39  and the light emitting diode  31 . The light  31  momentarily turns on. Each chime  2  has a light emitting diode  31  in it, preferably of different colors. The power needed to light the diodes  31  is low, hence the device is harmless to human or animal touch. 
     FIG. 12 shows an alternative mechanism for decoupling the chiming subassembly from the attractant  10  to prevent sound caused by movement of the attractant  10  by the animal. The striker  45  may be made of an upper magnet part  46  and a lower magnet part  47 . Generally the chimes  2  are composed of aluminum so the magnetic striker  45  will not interfere with the chimes  2 . The lower magnet part  47  may be decoupled from the chime assembly with the attractant  10  and support  9  attached to the lower magnet part  47 . The lower magnet part  47  can engage the animal cage  18  and suspend the support  9  and attractant  10  in the cage  18  so that the chimes or bell no longer sounds when the animal moves the attractant  10 . 
     Shown in FIG. 13 is an alternative apparatus for suspending the chiming subassembly over an animal cage  18 . The suspension mechanism includes a ladder assembly  48  that straddles the animal cage  18 . The chiming subassembly hangs from a hook  50  connected underneath the ladder assembly  48 . The ladder sidebars  51  and rungs  49  may be fabricated from plastic, wood, metal, or some other material capable of holding the weight of a small animal. The chiming subassembly is suspended outside of the cage  18  with the support  9  and food  19  suspended in the cage  18 . 
     Shown in FIG. 14 is an entertainment assembly suspended from a hook  50  attached to the bottom of a rod  52  that is attached to the cage  18  with brackets  53 . The support apparatus is detachable from the cage  18 . The support apparatus has ladder rungs  49  for the small animal to climb upon. The chiming subassembly is suspended outside of the cage  18  with the support  9  and food  19  suspended in the cage  18 . The rod  52  and rungs  49  may be fabricated from plastic, wood, metal or some other material capable of holding the weight of a small animal. 
     It is also understood, of course, that while the form of the invention herein shown and described constitutes a preferred embodiment of the invention, it is not intended to illustrate all possible forms thereof. It should also be understood that the words used in the specification are words of description rather than limitation and various changes may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention.