Abstract:
A pet toy having a substructure and a resilient material bonded to at least a portion of the substructure, wherein the resilient material defines a bite zone sized to accept at least a portion of an animal jaw. Further, the substructure may include an interior circumference, an exterior circumference, and at least one rib joining the interior circumference to the exterior circumference. The interior circumference, exterior circumference, and at least one rib at least may partially define the bite zone, and the bite zone may be at least partially covered by the resilient material. The embodiment may be disc-shaped.

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION  
       [0001]     The present application claims the benefit under 35 U.S.C. § 119(e) to U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 60/702,795, filed Jul. 26, 2005 and entitled “Disc-Shaped Pet Toy”, the disclosure of which is hereby incorporated herein in its entirety. 
     
    
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
       [0002]     1. Technical Field  
         [0003]     The invention relates to a pet toy, and more particularly a disc-shaped pet toy capable of floating after being thrown and having surfaces conditioned to accept an animal&#39;s teeth and jaws without adversely impacting the same.  
         [0004]     2. Background of the Invention  
         [0005]     Many animals, including domestic animals, instinctively chase objects. Dogs, for example, chase other animals, cars, and thrown objects such as sticks. Satisfying these instincts in domestic animals not only promotes a happier life for the animal, but also exercises the animal. Further, when a pet owner takes an active hand in such activities (by throwing, for example, a ball or Frisbee for the pet to fetch), the chase and retrieval of objects may promote bonding between the owner and pet.  
         [0006]     One object commonly thrown for domestic animals, especially dogs, to chase is a Frisbee or flying disc. Flying discs may sail through the air for a relatively long distance at a relatively low speed, thanks to their aerodynamic shapes and light weights. Flying discs are typically made of a hard plastic or other rigid material.  
         [0007]     Such materials may injure a pet&#39;s teeth or jaws when the pet bites the flying disc, especially if the pet is older or suffers from dental or mandible conditions. Accordingly, many owners minimize or cease interacting with their pets in this manner to minimize discomfort to their pets or aggravation of injury.  
         [0008]     Accordingly, there is a need in the art for an improved flying disc.  
       BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
       [0009]     One embodiment of the present invention takes the form of a pet toy having a substructure and a resilient material bonded to at least a portion of the substructure, wherein the resilient material defines a bite zone sized to accept at least a portion of an animal jaw. Further, the substructure may include an interior circumference, an exterior circumference, and at least one rib joining the interior circumference to the exterior circumference. The interior circumference, exterior circumference, and at least one rib at least may partially define the bite zone, and the bite zone may be at least partially covered by the resilient material.  
         [0010]     The embodiment may be disc-shaped and aerodynamic, such that it may fly or float when thrown. These and other advantages of the present invention will be apparent to those of skill in the art upon reading the appended description and claims. 
     
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       [0011]      FIG. 1  depicts a perspective view of a first embodiment of a disc-shaped pet toy.  
         [0012]      FIG. 2  depicts a top view of the embodiment of  FIG. 1 .  
         [0013]      FIG. 3  depicts a bottom view of the embodiment of  FIG. 1 .  
         [0014]      FIG. 4  depicts a left-side view of the embodiment of  FIG. 1 .  
         [0015]      FIG. 5  depicts a right-side view of the embodiment of  FIG. 1 .  
         [0016]      FIG. 6  depicts a rear view of the embodiment of  FIG. 1 .  
         [0017]      FIG. 7  depicts a front view of the embodiment of  FIG. 1 . 
     
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION  
       [0018]     One embodiment of the present invention generally takes the form of a disc capable of floating or gliding when thrown with sufficient force at the proper angle. The embodiment is generally flat, and may have a central hole  100  formed therein. A relatively rigid material, such as a plastic, forms a ridge or spine running along an exterior or exterior circumference  110  of the embodiment, at the outermost edge. (The rigid material may form an interior circumference  105  about the edge of the central hole  100 , if such a hole  100  is present). This spine may extend downwardly from the major plane of the disc along at least the exterior circumference  110 . Ribs  115  of the same or a similar material may extend between the exterior  110  and interior circumferences  105 . The ribs  115  and associated circumferences generally form a substructure imparting structural integrity to the disc, and limiting disc deformation.  
         [0019]     A softer, resilient material may overlay both the inner and outer spines, as well as the ribs  115 . The resilient material generally forms the upper surface of the disc, which is approximately aligned with the major plane of the disc. Surface moldings may be formed atop the resilient material (and thus, the upper surface). The surface moldings may be decorative, and may also facilitate bonding or securing the resilient material to the substructure.  
         [0020]      FIG. 1  depicts an isometric view of the disc. As previously mentioned, a resilient material generally overlays a substructure. (The substructure is shown to better effect in  FIG. 2 ). This resilient material may be, for example, nylon or polypropylene, or a synthetic rubber. The resilient material will not chip or crack if struck, and deflects sufficiently to avoid being punctured by many impacts with sharp objects.  
         [0021]     Additionally, the resilient material is softer to the touch than the substructure. This, combined with the inherent resiliency, minimizes the force exerted on a domestic animal&#39;s teeth and/or jaws when the disc is carried in the animal&#39;s mouth. The animal&#39;s teeth may deform the resilient material without puncturing it. In effect, the resilient material forms a soft bite zone for the animal.  
         [0022]     As also shown on  FIG. 1 , a central hole  100  is formed in the present embodiment with an interior circumference  105  formed along the edge of the hole  100 . This hole  100  permits an animal to pick up the embodiment with its jaws more easily than if the hole  100  were not present. The animal may, for example, clamp the embodiment in its jaws by placing its upper jaw partially in the hole  100 , and its lower jaw about the exterior circumference  110  (or vice versa). By omitting resilient material that would otherwise be required to cover the hole  100 , along with any portion of the substructure that might be formed were the hole not present, the overall manufacturing cost of the embodiment may also be lowered.  
         [0023]     The substructure, shown in  FIG. 2 , is formed of a harder material than the resilient material. For example, the substructure may be formed from ethylene vinyl acetate (EVA), thermoplastic elastomer (TPE), or other suitable plastics providing sufficient stiffness. The harder plastic of the inner  105  and exterior circumferences  110 , along with the ribs  115 , minimizes deflection, bending, and/or twisting of the disc in any direction. The substructure typically includes the interior circumference  105 , one or more ribs  115  extending radially away from the interior circumference  105 , and an exterior circumference  110  against which the ribs  115  terminate. The exterior circumference  110  generally forms an outer edge of the embodiment, although the exterior circumference  110  may be covered with the resilient material as discussed below.  
         [0024]     The substructure is typically molded as a unitary piece. In alternative embodiments, however, the substructure may be created as disparate pieces and later assembled. For example, the outer  110  and inner  105  circumferences may be molded as two separate pieces, and each rib  115  also formed separately. The ribs  115  may then be attached to both the outer  110  and inner  105  circumferences by heat sealing, a mechanical fastener (i.e., screw, nail, or clip), an adhesive, sonic welding, and so forth.  
         [0025]     The substructure generally imparts a structural strength to the embodiment, and resists compressive forces. “Compressive forces” refers to forces exerted radially inwardly against the embodiment. Depending on the material used to manufacture the substructure, the substructure may also resist expansion. The substructure typically, although not always, permits at least minimal deformation in a twisting manner, i.e., permitting portions of the substructure to be rotated above or below the resting positions of the top and/or bottom surfaces of the embodiments.  
         [0026]     The substructure generally includes gaps  120  or apertures between adjacent ribs  115 . Such gaps  120  are typically bounded by the interior circumference  105 , exterior circumference  110 , and adjacent ribs  115 . By leaving these gaps  120  in the substructure, the overall weight of the embodiment is reduced.  
         [0027]     In the present embodiment, the gaps  120  are covered by the resilient material, which generally forms a unitary sheet or element extending across all gaps  120  and at least the upper surface of the substructure. Accordingly, objects cannot pass through the gaps  120 , but instead encounter (and possibly deform) the resilient material. The gaps  120 , as covered by the resilient material, may define the aforementioned bite zones.  
         [0028]     The interior circumference  105  of the embodiment may not be covered by the resilient material. That is, the interior circumference  105  of the embodiment may extend either above or below the plane of the resilient material, resulting in a projection of sorts extending either up, down, or in both directions from the resilient material. In this manner, a dog may grip the interior circumference  105  in its teeth or jaws, possibly providing a more secure grip on the embodiment than if the interior circumference  105  were covered by the resilient material.  
         [0029]     The substructure and resilient material are typically bonded to one another. They may be adhered, co-molded, heat sealed, sonically welded, contain crosslinked polymers, and so forth, depending on the exact nature or each embodiment. The resilient material thus maintains contact with the covered portions of the substructure throughout use of the embodiment, and generally does not peel, split, or pull away from the substructure.  
         [0030]     The embodiment may also include a curved or radiused sidewall  125  extending from the exterior circumference  110 . This outer sidewall  125  may be curved or radiused not only with respect to the center of the embodiment, but also may curve or angle slightly inwardly along at least a portion of its height. For example and as shown in  FIGS. 4 and 5 , the outer sidewall  125  may initially project at an outward angle, away from the exterior circumference and please defined by the resilient material, to an outermost bulge  130  or ring. From this bulge  130 , the outer sidewall  125  may angle inwardly. The outer sidewall  125  thus may bend along its height. The bulge  130  may be abrupt to form a distinct angle, or rounded as shown in  FIGS. 4 and 5 . The outer sidewall  125  provides a gripping and/or catching surface, permitting a user to easily manipulate the embodiment, including throwing the embodiment or catching it.  
         [0031]     Alternatively, the outer sidewall  125  may angle inwardly from the point where the outer sidewall abuts the exterior circumference  110  to the lower edge of the outer sidewall  125 . The sidewall  125  and the exterior circumference  110  may be formed from a unitary element, or may be separate. The outer sidewall  125  is generally circular, and may deform under sufficient pressure. That is, the outer sidewall  125  may be at least partially flexible. Alternative embodiments may use a stiff or rigid outer sidewall  125 .  
         [0032]     An inner sidewall  135  may be formed along the inner edge of the interior circumference  105 , and may be formed in a manner similar to the previously-discussed outer sidewall  125 . The inner  135  and outer sidewalls  125  are optional, and either or both may be omitted in certain embodiments.  
         [0033]     A portion of either the exterior circumference  11  or outer sidewall  125  may be patterned, as shown in  FIGS. 1, 2 ,  4  and  5 . The pattern, which may take the form of one or more ridges, generally provides a surface for gripping, retrieving, carrying and/or throwing the embodiment. The ridges or other pattern enhance friction between the surface on which the pattern is formed and a person or animal&#39;s hand, jaw, mouth, fingers, and so forth, thus permitting the embodiment to be more easily manipulated. The pattern may also concentrate force in a relatively smaller area than if the exterior circumference  110  or outer sidewall  125  were smooth, with similar effects to those discussed herein.  
         [0034]     In the present embodiment, the resilient material or surface is overmolded to at least a portion of the substructure. The resilient material, during molding, may enter one or more apertures  120  defined in the substructure, thus bonding with a greater surface area of the substructure. The resilient material may spread about the sides and/or underside of the substructure to even more securely bond thereto. These apertures  120  may be defined, for example, in the ribs  115 . Typically, the resilient material overlays the ribs  115  completely and overlays at least a portion of the exterior circumference  110 . The resilient material may overlay the entirety of the exterior  110  and/or interior  105  circumferences.  
         [0035]     It should be noted that the resilient material typically encircles (and bonds to) the substructure, including the sides and bottom of the ribs  115 , interior circumference  105 , and exterior circumference  110 . Effectively, the resilient material envelops the substructure in its entirety. In alternative embodiments, the resilient material may leave at least portions of the side and/or bottom surfaces of either (or both of) the interior  105  or exterior  110  circumferences exposed. As mentioned above, the resilient material typically extends through segments of the substructure such as the ribs  115 , through one or more apertures  120 . In alternative embodiments, the sides and/or bottom surfaces of the ribs  115  or other portions of the substructure may be not be enveloped by the resilient material.  
         [0036]     As also previously mentioned, the resilient material may deform to a significant degree under pressure without breaking. Thus, sharp or pointed objects such as animal teeth typically do not rip or tear the resilient material. Instead, the material deforms to accommodate teeth, claws, fingers, or other gripping surfaces. The resilient material may have a tacky or rubbery feel or finish to enhance friction between the material and a gripping surface. In this manner, the embodiment is less likely to slide or be dropped once gripped.  
         [0037]     Additionally, the resilient material may be sandwiched or otherwise held in place by one or more retainers  140 , as shown in  FIGS. 1 and 2 . These retainers  140  may be formed in a variety of shapes and/or sizes. For example,  FIGS. 1 and 2  depicts the structures as bone-shaped. Each retainer  140  may include a projection or protrusion formed  145  on the structure&#39;s underside. The projection  145  may mate with an aperture  120  defined in the substructure, beneath the resting place of the retainer  120 . In this manner, the protrusion  145  extends through at least a portion of the substructure, as shown to best effect in  FIG. 3 .  FIG. 3  depicts the protrusion  145  extending through the ribs  115 ; alternative embodiments may place the retainers along the interior  105  and/or exterior  110  circumferences in addition to or instead of along the ribs  115 . The protrusion  145  and the substructure may be adhered to one another, for example by means of an adhesive, heat sealing, sonic welding, and so forth. Accordingly, a bond may be established between the retainer  140  and the substructure. This bond not only fastens the retainer  140  to the substructure, but also traps a portion of the resilient material therebetween, facilitating holding the resilient material to the substructure. The resilient material may be formed from the same material as the substructure or a different material.  
         [0038]     It should be noted that the design of the retainer  140  may take an aesthetically pleasing form, such as the bones shown, a simple bar shape or other geometric shape, or any other form. The underside of the retainer  140  may additionally bond with the resilient material&#39;s top surface to create an even more secure connection between substructure, resilient material, and retainer  140 . It should further be noted that the retainers  140  are optional, and may not be present in many embodiments. In yet other embodiments, the retainers  140  may be merely decorative, or may be formed integrally with the ribs  115  or other portion of the substructure. Where the retainers  140  are formed integrally with the substructure, they may or may not be covered by the resilient material.  
         [0039]     The retainers  140  may be generally flat along their top and bottom surfaces, or may be slightly curved or angled. Similarly, portions of the substructure (such as the ribs  115 ) may be somewhat curved along the transition from the interior to exterior circumferences. The ribs  115  may thus impart a curvature to embodiment along its radius.  
         [0040]     The embodiment is generally aerodynamic, having a flat upper surface defined by the resilient material&#39;s top and a cavity defined in its undersurface by the bottom of the substructure and resilient material, as well as the outer sidewall  125 . This shape may facilitate throwing the embodiment relatively long distances.  
         [0041]     To impart a more aesthetic finish to the embodiment, the substructure and resilient materials may be manufactured from different, or even contrasting, colors. This may enhance visibility of the embodiment, especially to color-blind animals who may more easily detect the embodiment if it contains high-contrast elements.  
         [0042]     The generally planar nature of the embodiment, coupled with its relatively light weight, permit the object to travel far distances when thrown or projected with sufficient force. When thrown, the embodiment may float on air for a distance before settling back to earth. Similarly, the embodiment may float in water. A user may throw the embodiment for an animal (such as a dog) to catch in its mouth and optionally return.  
         [0043]     Although the present embodiment has been described with reference to particular structures, it should be understood that alternative embodiments may vary or omit certain structures without departing from either the spirit or scope of the invention. For example, more or fewer ribs than those shown in the drawings may be employed, or the gaps may be at least partially uncovered by the resilient material. Accordingly, the proper scope of the present invention is determined by the appended claims.