Abstract:
An animal exercise and amusement device for pets, particularly cats, for enabling a pet owner to interact with a pet without requiring the use of hands and enabling interaction without continuous active attention by the owner. The device includes a passive attachment device, and an amusement teaser, which is tethered to the passive attachment device. The tether may be of fixed length, or it may be elastic in nature.

Description:
[0001]     This application is a continuation-in-part of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 10/777,510 filed 2 Dec. 2004 in the name of Elizabeth Kenny, which is incorporated herein by reference. 
     
    
     BACKGROUND OF THE DISCLOSURE  
       [0002]     1. Field of the Invention  
         [0003]     The present invention relates in general to devices for providing exercise and amusement for animals, particularly house pets, and even more particularly, kittens and cats.  
         [0004]     2. Background Art  
         [0005]     Devices for providing exercise and amusement for animals have existed for many years, perhaps as long as man has had domesticated animals for pets. Certain such domesticated “pet” animals are particularly active by nature, and can derive benefit from an outlet for expending excess energy. Dogs and cats, especially cats, when left on their own, can become inquisitive and can disturb household articles and furnishings, in the process of expending excess energy and dissipating restlessness. Such animals (and their owners) can derive benefit from the animals&#39; use of exercise and amusement devices.  
         [0006]     Such exercise devices may often be in the form of statically suspended decorated objects, typically made to look like something that the particular animal might be curious about or attracted to, such as a bone or ball (dogs), or a bird or fish (cats). Such objects are often referred to as teasers by the industry. The objects typically may be suspended from a fixed position higher than the animal can reach from floor level, with a cord or string holding the actual object at a height near to or above the normal reach of the animal&#39;s paws. Alternatively, the object may be suspended by a cord, the far end of which is attached to a rod or shaft, the base of which may be at floor level or any other suitable location. The goal of the device is to attract, by its appearance, the animal&#39;s attention, causing the animal to swipe at the object. Contact with the object will cause it to swing and bounce about, further capturing the animal&#39;s attention, and causing it to further “chase” the now-moving object.  
         [0007]     Such devices are disclosed in de Bruler, U.S. Pat. No. 2,194,736; Tae-Ho, U.S. 30 4,712,510; Matthews, U.S. Pat. No. 5,111,771; Krietsman et al., U.S. Pat. No. 5,474,032; Krietzman et al, U.S. Pat. No. 5,829,391; and Renforth et al., U.S. Pat. No. 6,318,300 B1.  
         [0008]     While these “static” devices can be useful for providing periods of amusement to the animals, because they are tethered to a fixed base, there is a certain amount of limitation to the spontaneity and variety of activity that these devices can provide. Additionally, they lack interaction with humans, which domesticated household pets require for health and behavioral stability.  
         [0009]     Accordingly, further exercise and amusement devices have been created that involve human interaction with the pet. Typically such devices involve replacing the fixed support for the tether with a handle, wand or the like, to be brandished by the pet owner or other human. Such devices enable a pet to interact with “its” human, enhancing the amusement experience and providing additional variability in the activity.  
         [0010]     References that disclose such devices include Ament, U.S. Pat. No. 2,307,905; Galkiewicz, U.S. Pat. No. 4,499,855; Takahashi et al., U.S. Pat. No. 5,357,904; and Hass U.S. Pat. No. 5,961,406.  
         [0011]     These references however, are configured to be hand-held by the human, and as such require continuous active attention and involvement by the individual. Recognizing that the amount of active attention that a person can provide to a pet is limited, it would be desirable to provide an animal exercise and amusement device which a person may employ that can provide such activity to an animal, while still providing a certain level of human interaction, without requiring continuous active attention on the part of the human.  
         [0012]     It would further be desirable to provide an animal exercise and amusement device that not only provides exercise opportunities for the pet animal, but also enables the human pet owner to be mobile and engage in other activities, while simultaneously engaging in at least indirect interactive activity with the pet animal.  
         [0013]     These and other desirable characteristics of the present invention will become apparent in view of the present specification, including claims, and drawings.  
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
       [0014]     The present invention comprises an animal exercise and amusement device, comprising a cuff, operably configured to be releasably affixed about a human limb; a tether, affixed at a first end thereof to the cuff; and a teaser, affixed to a second end of the tether.  
         [0015]     In an embodiment of the invention, the cuff comprises a sack, containing 65 weighting material, for providing an exercise component to movements of a human to whom the cuff is releasably affixed. The cuff may further comprise a fastening strap, affixed to the cuff, in which the fastening strap has a first looped end and a second free end, with cooperative fastening elements, affixed to a surface of the fastening strap, proximate the first looped end and the second free end thereof, respectively; and a buckle, captured by the first looped end of the fastening strap, whereby the cuff may be wrapped about a human limb, and releasably affixed by passing the second free end of the fastening strap through the buckle, and turned upon itself, to bring the cooperative fastening elements against one another in releasably fastening contact.  
         [0016]     Alternatively, the cuff may comprise a thin, elongated web having 75 opposed first and second ends, and opposed first and second surfaces; and cooperative fastening elements, one fastening element disposed on a first surface of the web at a first end thereof, and the other fastening element disposed on a second surface of the web at a second end thereof, whereby fastening of the cuff about a human limb is accomplished by wrapping the web about the limb, and directly bringing one of the cooperative fastening elements into direct contact with the other of the cooperative fastening elements, without folding or twisting the web.  
         [0017]     The tether preferably may comprise an attachment portion, in the form of a loop, which encircles a portion of the cuff; and a teaser portion, which is affixed at a first end to the attachment portion, and further at a second end of which the teaser is affixed. Alternatively, the tether may comprise a single cord, affixed at its ends to the cuff and the teaser. In a preferred embodiment of the invention, at least a portion of the tether is fabricated from a stretchable material. Cooperative releasable fastener elements may be affixed to the tether and the teaser, so that the teaser may be removed from the tether and replaced by another teaser.  
         [0018]     The teaser may have a shape that is at least one of ball-like, elongated, branched. Further, the teaser is preferably fabricated from at least one of: a smooth material, a rubbery material, a furry material, a feathery material, a fuzzy material, a spongy material. The teaser may be provided with a variety of depending objects of interest, each depending object of interest being at least one of: shiny, reflective, fluorescent, phosphorescent, transparent, translucent.  
         [0019]     The invention may also include a wand member, interposed between the cuff and the tether, which includes at least one portion which has a level of resistance to bending which is greater than that of the tether. Further, a transition element may be provided, interposed between the wand member and the tether, which includes at least one portion which has a level of resistance to bending which is greater than that of the tether, but less than that of the at least one element of the wand member.  
         [0020]     The present invention also comprises an animal exercise and amusement device, including a wand member; a transition element, extending from the wand member; a tether, extending from the transition element; and a teaser, affixed to the tether. The wand member preferably includes at least one portion which has a level of resistance to bending which is greater than that of the tether, and the transition element preferably includes at least one portion which has a level of resistance to bending which is greater than that of the tether, but less than that of the at least one element of the wand member.  
     
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       [0021]      FIG. 1  is a view of an animal exercise and amusement device according to one embodiment of the invention.  
         [0022]      FIG. 1A  is a view of a cuff for the animal exercise and amusement device according to the embodiment of  FIG. 1 , shown in its open configuration.  
         [0023]      FIG. 2  is another view, from another perspective, of the animal exercise and amusement device according to the embodiment of  FIG. 1 .  
         [0024]      FIG. 3  is yet another view, from still another perspective, of the animal exercise and amusement device according to the embodiment of  FIG. 1 .  
         [0025]      FIG. 4  is a view of an animal exercise and amusement device according to another embodiment of the invention.  
         [0026]      FIG. 5  is another view, from another perspective, of the animal exercise and amusement device according to the embodiment of  FIG. 4 .  
         [0027]      FIG. 6  is yet another view, from still another perspective, of the animal exercise and amusement device according to the embodiment of  FIG. 4 .  
         [0028]      FIG. 7  is a view of an alternative embodiment of the invention, in which a substantially rigid pole is interposed between the cuff and the tether.  
         [0029]      FIG. 8  is a fragmentary view of an end of a tether, which is provided with a releasable fastener clip.  
         [0030]      FIG. 9  is a view of another alternative embodiment of the invention.  
         [0031]      FIG. 10  is a view of another alternative embodiment of the invention.  
         [0032]      FIG. 11  is a side view of a handle of the invention depicted in  FIG. 10 .  
         [0033]      FIG. 12  is a top view of the handle of  FIG. 11 .  
         [0034]      FIG. 13  is a top view of a cuff and wand mount that can be used, for example, with the wands and/or handles of  FIG. 10-12 .  
         [0035]      FIG. 14  is a side view of the cuff and the wand mount of  FIG. 13 .  
         [0036]      FIG. 15  is a view of the wand mount of  FIG. 13  without the cuff.  
         [0037]      FIG. 16  is a view of the wand mount of  FIG. 14  without the cuff.  
         [0038]      FIG. 17  is a view of an alternative embodiment of the cuff and the wand mount.  
         [0039]      FIG. 18  is a view of an alternative embodiment of a handle that can be used with the wand mount of  FIG. 17 .  
         [0040]      FIG. 19  is a representative view of the various embodiments of the invention that use a cuff while in use.  
     
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION  
       [0041]     While this invention is susceptible of embodiment in many different forms, there is shown in the drawings and will herein be described in detail, a preferred embodiment with the understanding that the present disclosure should be considered as an exemplification of the principles of the invention and is not intended to limit the invention to the embodiment so illustrated.  
         [0042]     Animal exercise and amusement device  10 , according to one embodiment of the invention, is shown in  FIGS. 1-3 . Device  10  includes cuff  12 , fastener strap  14 , tether  16 , and teaser  18 . Cuff  12  is intended (and is sized to be) to be placed in an encircling fashion about an ankle or leg, or arm or wrist, and is shown in its open configuration in  FIG. 1A . Cuff  12  includes body  20 , which may be preferably formed as a sack or enclosure  22 , made from any suitable fabric or plastic material that will be comfortable and non-irritating to human skin, and filled with weighting material (sand or the like) so that cuff  12  acts as an exercise ankle (or arm) weight for the human. Alternatively, cuff  12  may be filled with any suitable padding or filling material, if additional weight is not desired.  
         [0043]     Strap  14  comprises ribbon  24 , again formed from any suitable material, which is affixed along a mid-portion thereof, to the sack portion  22  of cuff  12 . One end of ribbon  24  is formed into a loop, e.g., by stitching  26  (which may be augmented or replaced by any other suitable fastening method, such as glue), to encircle one bight of buckle  28 . Strap  14  additionally includes cooperating fastening elements such as loop elements  30  distributed on one side of ribbon  24 , and hook elements  32 , which are located on the same side, opposite free end  34  of ribbon  24 . Fastening of cuff  12  about an ankle or arm is accomplished by wrapping sack  22  about the limb portion, until the opposing ends of sack  22  are brought into proximity with one another, passing free end  34  of ribbon  24  through buckle  28 , and then drawing free end  34  of ribbon  24  upon itself and against the loop elements  30 , as shown in  FIGS. 1, 2  and  3 .  
         [0044]     Tether  16 , which may be a single contiguous element, or alternatively, as  160  shown, comprised of attachment portion  16 A, and teaser portion  16 B, is affixed to cuff  12 , in an embodiment of the invention, by simply looping attachment portion  16 A of tether  16  around free end  34  of strap  24 , and knotting it securely, and then tying teaser portion  16 B to attachment portion  16 A. Alternatively, tether  16  may be permanently affixed to cuff  12  by any suitable means such as by stitching, gluing, threading it through eyelets (not shown) formed in sack  22 , etc., or any combination thereof. Preferably, tether  16  is fabricated from a fiber or plastic cord material that has an ultimate tensile strength greater than a pet can be expected to exert, and not readily chewed through by an animal. In addition, tether  16  may be capable of limited stretching, to provide additional amusement action to the movement of the teaser  18 . Alternatively, instead of being a cord, the tether may be formed as a teaser in itself, for example, in the form of a furred or feathery boa (such as shown with respect to the embodiment of  FIGS. 4-6 ). In alternative embodiments, a plurality of strands may be employed, either in parallel, and/or in series, to form the tether, as may be desired.  
         [0045]     Teaser  18  may be, as shown in the embodiment of  FIGS. 1-3 , a ball of fur (fake or real), or any other object of a suitable shape, configuration, material and appearance as would be attractive or interesting to the type of animal with which device  10  is intended to be used. The teaser may be a ball-like member, fabricated from at least one of a smooth material, a rubbery material, a furry material, a fuzzy material, a spongy material. Alternatively, the teaser may be an elongated or branched member, having a variety of depending objects of interest, that may be shiny, reflective, fluorescent, phosphorescent, transparent, translucent, etc. The term teaser is well known in the industry and the examples cited herein are merely meant to provide some examples of what a teaser can include. It should be noted that while the term teaser includes many objects of interest to an animal or that are otherwise attractive or interesting to the type of animal with which device  10  is intended to be used, a teaser only includes those objects on devices that are designed with the intent that the animal play with the object attached to the device. In other words, while a cat might be attracted to the movement of a dog collar that a person swings from a leash, such dog collar would still not fall within the term teaser because the dog collar and leash are not designed with the intent of being a plaything for a cat or other animal. If, however, a small object in the shape of a dog collar was included on a device where the small object was designed to be a plaything for an animal, then such object would fall within the term teaser.  
         [0046]     Once device  10  has been attached to, typically, an ankle of an individual, that individual is then free to walk about (in a home, for example), with the teaser bouncing back and forth as a result of the leg movements. The pet (e.g., a cat) will see this continuously moving object, and become interested, and hopefully, attempt to pounce upon and grab the teaser, which, even if caught, will be pulled from the animal&#39;s grasp, if the human continues to walk or move about. Presumably, the pet will not be of sufficient size and strength that a human (even a small child) will be arrested in their movements or knocked down, should the animal obtain a firm grip upon the teaser  18  or the tether  16 .  
         [0047]     An alternative embodiment of the invention is illustrated in  FIGS. 4-6 . Device  50  includes cuff  52 , tether  54  and teaser  56 . Cuff  52  comprises a relatively thin (in the sense of thickness) web  58  (which may be fabricated from natural fiber, synthetic material or a combination thereof), which has cooperative fastening elements thereof, for example, hook elements  60  (on the side facing the observer of  FIG. 4 ) and loop elements  62  (on the opposite side of web  58  and shown in broken lines). Attachment of cuff  50  is a simple matter of wrapping web  58  about the limb, and bringing loop elements  62  into contact with hook elements  60 , and pressing them together, in the usual method of using such a fastening.  
         [0048]     Tether  54 , in this embodiment, is a length of cord or string, of any suitable material (which may be stretchable), that is passed through an opening (e.g., eyelet  64 ) in web  58 , and knotted, so as to form a tether having two effective strands. Alternatively, a knot or any other suitable affixation method may be employed, to result in a single strand tether.  
         [0049]     The opposite “end” of tether  54  is attached to teaser  56 . Teaser  56  in this embodiment is in the form of a length of furred or fuzzy material  66 , like a boa, which has, as a further attractive element, a feathery portion  68 , which may be attached to the end of furred portion  66  by any suitable means.  
         [0050]     The manner of play usage of device  50  of this embodiment is substantially the same as in the previously described embodiment, except that cuff  52  lacks the additional weight provided in cuff  12  of the first embodiment shown and described.  
         [0051]     In each of the embodiments, the cuffs may be provided in different sizes, to enable both adults and children to use such devices.  
         [0052]     In alternate embodiments of the invention, a rigid or semi-rigid pole may be affixed to the cuff, as shown in  FIG. 7 , in such a manner that the pole  70  is maintained at a more or less perpendicular orientation relative to the limb to which the cuff is attached. This may be accomplished, for example, by having a base disk  72  received in between opposing layers (or restrained behind a single layer) of the cuff  74 . Pole  70  may be fabricated from a plastic or fiberglass material that is slightly flexible, but tends to a straight self-supporting orientation when not under load. This enables the teaser  76 , connected by tether  78 , to be held at a stand-off distance from the limb, which may be desirable, for a pets that may still have claws or a tendency to nip when excited. To the “free” distal end of the pole, the tether is attached, in any suitable manner, and then the teaser.  
         [0053]     In still further embodiments of the invention, releasable clips  80  or other suitable releasable fasteners may be provided at one or both ends of the tether  82  (see, e.g.,  FIG. 8 ), to enable different types and styles of teasers  84  to be switched in and out, so that a variety of play modes are provided to maintain interest in the animal.  
         [0054]     In the embodiments illustrated, the teasers are of the delicate variety favored by cats, but it is to be understood that, in alternative embodiments, more robust teasers (and tethers) may be employed for larger (or more rough playing) pets, such as dogs, ferrets, etc.  
         [0055]      FIG. 9  illustrates an alternative embodiment of the invention (minus the cuff). Animal exercise and amusement device  100  includes an elongated wand  102 , which may be fabricated from any suitable material, such as a relatively stiff plastic rod or tube. Connected to an end of wand  102  is transition element  104 , which is a relatively shorter length of somewhat more flexible material, which may also be a length of plastic or rubber tubing, which is less resistant to bending, but does offer some resistance to bending. Extending from the end of transition element  104  is cord  106 , which may be fabricated from an organic material such as cotton string, or preferably a polymeric material, that is highly flexible, yet resistant to breakage, fraying, chewing by an animal, etc. Cord  106  may be of a fixed length, or it may be made of a resilient, stretchable material, as described with respect to the previous embodiments. Teaser  108 , shown in  FIG. 9  as a grouping of feathers, is attached by tying, fasteners or adhesive or the like, to the end of cord  106 , opposite to transition element  104 . Animal exercise and amusement device  100  provides for improved “action” when in use in play with an animal, as the slightly flexible wand  102 , and transition element  104  provide for more variable and interesting movements to be imparted to cord  106  and teaser  108 . Although not shown in  FIG. 9 , it is to be understood that a relatively short-length wand  102  can be mounted to a cuff  74  as in the embodiment of  FIG. 7 , or to one of the other cuff configurations described herein, for an ankle or wrist mounted animal exercise and amusement device.  
         [0056]      FIGS. 10-12  illustrate another alternative embodiment of the invention. Animal exercise and amusement device  200  includes an elongated wand  202 , which may be fabricated from any suitable material, such as a relatively stiff plastic rod or tube. Connected to an end of wand  202  is flexible element  204  (a flexible wand like transition element  104 ), which is a relatively shorter length of somewhat more flexible material, which may also be a length of plastic or rubber tubing, which is less resistant to bending than elongated want  202 , but (at least in one form) can also offer some resistance to bending. A handle portion  201  can be connected to an end of elongated wand  202  opposite the end connected to flexible element  204 . Like the form in  FIG. 9 , a cord (not depicted) can extend from the end of flexible element  204 . Teaser  208 , shown in  FIG. 10  as a ball  210  having a plurality of streamers  212  that can extend from ball  210  like tentacles from an octopus, is attached by tying, fasteners or adhesive or the like, to an end of flexible element  204 . Animal exercise and amusement device  200  provides for improved “action” when in use in play with an animal, as the slightly flexible wand  202 , and even more flexible portion (flexible element  104 ) provide for more variable and interesting movements to be imparted to teaser  108 . In one form, flexible element  204  is connected to a connection cap  205  and connection cap  205  is then connected to wand  202  by any appropriate fastener, including glue, snap-fit, or with grooves on the interior of connection cap being screwed onto grooves on the outside of wand  202 . Although not shown in  FIG. 10 , it is to be understood that this wand  202  can be mounted to a cuff  74  as in the embodiment of  FIG. 7 , or to one of the other cuff configurations described herein, for an ankle or wrist mounted animal exercise and amusement device. Indeed, the form shown in  FIG. 10  is designed for the dual purpose of hand-held use and for attachment to a portion of the body, such as an arm or a leg so as not to require the use of a persons hand.  
         [0057]     As seen more clearly in  FIGS. 11-12 , handle  201  can include a fastening feature, such as a slot, such as groove  220 , (on the end opposite the end attached to wand  202 ) that can be formed in the handle at an end opposite the end attached to wand  202  for attachment to a cuff (like that cuff  74  of  FIG. 7 ). In one form, handle  201  is a contoured handle, such as the ergonomic handle  201  depicted in  FIGS. 11-12 . Handle  201  can be molded as a single part or can be made from more than one component. In one form, handle  201  is made from two pieces that include a molded grip  230  made from real or synthetic rubber or other suitable material (preferably a soft somewhat yielding material like a rubber) and partial housing  232  that can be, for example, made from a suitable plastic material.  
         [0058]     In the form depicted in  FIGS. 11-12 , partial housing  232  includes an opening  234  through which a thumb portion  236  of grip  230  is visible (an may even protrude) to provide a softer and somewhat yielding comfort thumb portion  236 . In use, a person will place his thumb on thumb portion  236  with his hand wrapping around a portion of partial housing  232  such that at least one finger (and in most cases a plurality of fingers) rest on grip  230 , such as by his fingers wrapping at least partially around grip  230 . In this manner, handle  201  provides the user with a better grip surface and comfort associated from the rubber-like material of grip  230  while providing the rigidity and clean lines often associated by materials that are not rubber-like (such as plastic) of the material that forms partial housing  232 .  
         [0059]     Handle  201  can include a hand guard portion  240 . Hand guard portion  240  allows the user to keep a firm grip on handle  201  and helps prevent the end opposite wand  202  from sliding through their fingers as they are moving  200  or if their pet gets a good grip on teaser  208 . In one form, (see  FIG. 11 ) hand guard portion  240  of handle  201  tapers outward in the rearward direction from where the user would normally grip handle  201  during use without a cuff. Like the hand guard on knifes that are not designed for fighting, hand guard portion  240  can be any other upwardly projecting portion that is designed to prevent the hand from sliding past such portion. Ergonomic handle  201  and grip  230  can take many forms. In one form, grip  230  can have a profile that is at least somewhat concave and in another form it can have a profile that is at least somewhat convex.  
         [0060]      FIGS. 13-14  show another embodiment of a cuff  274  that can be used with device  200 . In this form, cuff  274  can be made from a band  300  that can be an elastic band of material, such as elastic or other suitable material, or another sort of cuff like those previously described. In this form, a cuff attachment  400  is used to attach the device  200  to cuff  274 . In one form, cuff attachment piece can be a clasp, like the clasp depicted in  FIGS. 13-16  or the buckle of  FIG. 17 . Cuff attachment can be securely attached to cuff  274  and can be either permanently attached to cuff  274  or removeably attached to cuff  274 . For example, cuff  274  can be made from an elastic band that has both ends sewn together after the elastic band has been properly threaded through the clasp shown in  FIGS. 13-17 . Cuff attachment  400  includes a wand mount  410  attached to cuff attachment  400 . In the depicted form, wand mount  410  is an integral part of cuff attachment  400  and can be manufactured of any suitable material, such as molded plastic. Cuff attachment  400  is preferably flexible in at least the direction that cuff  274  wraps around a persons body.  
         [0061]     In one form, a plurality of notches  411  are formed on the surface of cuff attachment  400  that is nearest a person&#39;s body during normal use to allow added flexibility of cuff attachment  400 . In an alternative form (not shown) additional notches can be added on the opposite surface and generally located opposite notches  411  to increase flexibility. Cuff attachment  400  (and even clasp  410 ) can have a concaved surface  414  on the surface closest to a person&#39;s body during normal use to approximately fit the contour of the person during use and allow for a more comfortable fit.  
         [0062]     In one form, wand mount  410  is a connection piece that handle  201  slides into and couples handle  201  to cuff  274 . Wall mount  410  and handle  201  can have complementary recessed slots or grooves  220  (and/or  420 ) and extending tabs  412  (and/or  212 ) that fit within such recesses. Wand mount  410  can be a somewhat u-shaped portion that extends outward from clasp  410  and forms a recessed slot or groove, such as channel  420  that is formed between the surface of the rest of clasp  410  and the extending tabs  412 . The grooves  220  of handle  201  form tabs  212  ( FIGS. 11-12 ) near the end of handle  201  that is opposite the end attached to wand  202 . Tabs  212 ,  412  and grooves  220 ,  420  are complementary designed so that tab  212  fits within groove  420  and tab  412  fits within groove  220  in a relatively snug manner such that tabs  212 ,  412  are held in a sufficiently secure manner by grooves  220 ,  420 . While two tabs  212 ,  412  and grooves  220 ,  420  have been depicted, a single tab and groove could be used, instead.  
         [0063]      FIGS. 17 and 18  depict another form of cuff  574  and cuff attachment  500 . In this form, cuff attachment  500  is a clasp in the form of a buckle or buckle-like device. In this form, only one tab  512  is used to mount handle  501  to wand mount  510 . In this case, tab  512  extends outward from (and approximately half-way around) the surface of handle  501 . Handle  501  is hollow and has a slot  505  in its surface that starts at the end that is coupled to wand mount  510  and extends toward the opposite end. Tab  512  is slipped inside groove  520  and are sized such that tabs  512  contacts groove  520  such that handle  501  is squeezed (with slot  505  allowing the handle to contract or bend by slot  505  becoming smaller) until tabs  512  are past groove  520 . Slot  505  goes back to its normal size causing handle  501  to return to its normal shape such that tabs  512  cannot be removed without squeezing the handle. Other snap-fit forms of attaching handle  501  to wand mount  410  can also be used. For example, handle  501  could be a solid handle and slot  505  could extend all the way through the handle. Tab  512  would be replaced by two tabs, basically ears, on either side of slot  505 . The handle would then be attached and detached in a similar manner.  
         [0064]      FIG. 19  shows an example of basically any of the animal exercise devices that can utilize cuffs when they are being used with a cuff. In each case, the cuff  674  is preferably configured and attached to the rest of the device so that the person using it is not required to hold onto or provide additional support to the handle, wand, flexible element teaser or any portion of the device. Basically, only the cuff itself is needed to contact a portion of the persons body (including clothed portions) in order to provide adequate support to the rest of the device. In one form, wand and cuff are connected together such that in use, wand extends outward from the cuff without relying on gravity and without resting on, or gripped by, another object (such as the user&#39;s fingers). In one form, the wand extends outward and is approximately perpendicular to the cuff, as shown in  FIG. 19 . The cuff allows the device to be used both for exercise of the animal and the human. A person can do leg raises or arm stretches to exercise themselves while their cat, or other animal, enjoys exercise by playing with the teaser that is coupled to the human.  
         [0065]     In each of the cuff described above, the cuff is preferably sized appropriately for attachment to the ankle, wrist, leg or arm of a person. In another form, the cuff is preferably sized appropriately for attachment to the waist of a person. In any event, the cuff is preferably designed to provide a comfortable fit around a person&#39;s body and is made from appropriate materials. The cuff is preferably designed to fit snugly around the person&#39;s body and preferably conforms to the shape of a persons body in order to prevent (or minimize) the cuff (and teaser) from moving around the circumference of the portion of the body that the cuff is attached to.  
         [0066]     The foregoing description and drawings merely explain and illustrate the invention, and the invention is not so limited as those skilled in the art who have the disclosure before them will be able to make modifications and variations therein without departing from the scope of the invention.