Abstract:
A reconfigurable animal toy is disclosed herein. The toy has a plurality of connectable track pieces that may be assembled to define a track for receiving a captive ball. The track allows an animal to touch the ball for selectively propelling the ball along the track. To enhance the interest of the animal, the track may define a randomizer for affecting travel of the ball and may define a sight line interference member. Additional features of the animal toy may include scratch pads and visual devices to enhance and maintain the interest of the animal.

Description:
CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
       [0001]    This application claims the benefit of prior filed U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 61/095,400 entitled “PET TOY WITH CAPTIVE CHASE BALL,” filed Sep. 9, 2008, the contents of which are hereby incorporated by reference. 
     
    
     FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
       [0002]    The invention relates to an animal amusement device. In particular, the invention relates to a configurable track assembly that defines a track for a captive ball that may be propelled by striking with an animal paw. 
       BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0003]    Sources indicate that the number of households having pets is increasing. Many families have indoor pets, such as dogs or cats. Playing with a pet is essential for bonding, weight control, and for helping the pet develop muscle tone, agility, and stamina. Therefore, particularly with cats, but with other animals as well, toys designed to facilitate interaction with pets are desirable. 
         [0004]    Many pet toys offer only limited utility, which may result in the pet becoming bored or disinterested in the device. Therefore, it is desirable for a pet toy to offer different challenges and to be reconfigurable to present the animal with novel stimuli. 
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0005]    A reconfigurable animal toy is disclosed that has a plurality of connectable track pieces that may be assembled to define a track for receiving a captive ball. The track allows an animal to touch the ball for selectively propelling the ball along the track. In one embodiment, the track may be assembled to form a continuous loop, e.g., circular or figure 8 shaped. 
         [0006]    In one embodiment, the continuous track defines a randomizer for affecting travel of the ball. The randomizer may be a raised portion of the track or may be an obstacle, such as a movable lever or other type of obstacle. 
         [0007]    In another embodiment, the continuous track defines a sight line interference member. The sight line interference member may be a raised portion of the track. Alternatively, the sight line interference member may be a covered portion of the track. 
         [0008]    The connectable track pieces may define a receptacle sized to receive an insert for securing the track pieces in an end to end configuration. In another embodiment, the connectable track pieces have an integral connection mechanism. One example of an integral connection mechanism includes a retaining surface on a first side of a first one of the track pieces and on a first side of a second one of the track pieces. The integral connection mechanism has a vertical securement post extending from a second side of the first one of the track pieces and extending from a second side of the second one of the track pieces. The vertical securement post on the first one of the track pieces is received behind the retaining surface on the second one of the track pieces. A vertical securement pin on the second one of the track pieces is received behind the retaining surface on the first one of the track pieces for securing the pieces to one another. 
         [0009]    It may be desirable to include additional features with the animal toy including visual devices to enhance and maintain the interest of the animal. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0010]      FIG. 1  is a perspective view of a pet toy of the present disclosure. 
           [0011]      FIG. 2  is a perspective view of the underside of the toy of the present disclosure. 
           [0012]      FIG. 3  is a perspective view of the ends of two circular pieces joined by an insert. 
           [0013]      FIG. 4  is a perspective view of a straight piece of the toy of the present disclosure. 
           [0014]      FIG. 5  is a perspective view of an insert of the toy of the present disclosure. 
           [0015]      FIG. 6  is a perspective view of an alternate embodiment of a track piece having an integral mechanism for securing adjacent pieces to one another. 
           [0016]      FIG. 7  is a perspective view of a section of track having a sight line interference member or tunnel piece affixed thereto. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
       [0017]    Referring now to  FIG. 1 , a perspective view of a pet toy  100  according to aspects of the present disclosure is shown. In one embodiment, the toy  100  comprises a number of interconnectable pieces that may be assembled by a user in various configurations. In  FIG. 1 , toy  100  is configured in a “figure 8” shape, although it will be appreciated that many other combinations are possible. Furthermore, the various configurations may be altered and re-assembled by a user as will be described in greater detail below. 
         [0018]    In the present embodiment, toy  100  includes one or more curved pieces  102 . The radius of curvature of pieces  102  may vary as may the overall size of toy  100 . It can be seen that in the present embodiment, four curved pieces  102  could be used to form a circular configuration. However, in  FIG. 1 , six curved pieces  102  have been joined with a bridge piece  104  and a straight piece  106 . This forms the  FIG. 8  design of the present embodiment. When pieces  102 ,  104 ,  106  are assembled, as shown in  FIG. 1 , it can be seen that a channel or track  110  is defined continuously along the figure 8 path. A ball  112  is held captive in the track such that the ball  112  may roll freely around the track but may not easily be removed, particularly by pet  120 . Although pet  120  of  FIG. 1  is a cat, it will be appreciated that other household or outdoor pets may use toy  100 . Bridge piece  104  functions as a sight line interference member  500  and also as a randomizer that affects travel of ball  112  around the track. Depending upon the force with which ball  112  is struck by pet  120 , ball  112  may travel over bridge piece  104  or may reverse direction. Therefore, bridge piece  104  functions to randomize the travel direction of ball  112 , thereby enhancing the interest of pet  112  in interacting with toy  100 . 
         [0019]    Referring now to  FIG. 2 , a perspective view of the underside of toy  100  is shown. Here, only a portion of the figure 8 configuration is shown in order to illustrate one embodiment of a means of interconnecting the various pieces of toy  100 . Here again, it can be seen that a number of curved pieces  102  have been joined with a bridge piece  104  and a straight piece  106 . 
         [0020]    In  FIG. 2 , it can be seen that ends  202  of the various pieces may be joined together by a number of inserts  204  interfitted into a number of receptacles  206  defined in the ends  202  of the pieces. In the present embodiment, each piece, whether a curved piece  102 , a bridge piece  104 , or a straight piece  106 , preferably join together in the same manner. In the present embodiment, ends  202  are substantially similar such that when joined together the joined ends  202  form a part of the continuous track  110 . The receptacles  206  may be defined in the pieces themselves. The receptacles  206  may have a cooperating relationship with the inserts  204  such that the inserts  204  provide a friction fit in the receptacles  206 . The insert  204  will be sized and shaped to securely hold the ends  202  together. 
         [0021]    Referring now to  FIG. 3 , a perspective view of ends  202  of two circular pieces  102  joined by an insert  204  is shown. From this viewpoint, receptacles  206 , defined by the pieces  102 , can clearly be seen. In one embodiment, pieces  102 ,  104 ,  106  of toy  100  will be constructed by a molding technique. In such embodiments, receptacles  206  may form a part of the mold such that each piece is a unitary construction. It can further be seen in receptacles  206  that protrusions may be defined that interfit and further secure insert  204  in receptacles  206 . A number of holes or openings may be defined near receptacles  206  in order to ease removal of insert  204  from receptacles  206 . This may facilitate disassembly or reconfiguration of toy  100 . 
         [0022]    Referring now to  FIG. 4 , a perspective view of a straight piece  106  is shown. Here, the overall shape of straight piece  106  that retains ball  112  can be seen. It will be appreciated that straight piece  106 , as well as the other pieces of toy  100  will be shaped so as to define channel  110  with a channel defining surface  122  that allows the ball  112  to roll freely along channel  110  but does not allow the ball to be easily lifted out of the channel, i.e., channel defining surface  122  of channel  110  “captures” ball  112 . Pieces  102 ,  104 ,  106  further define a first exterior support wall  124  and a second exterior support wall  126 . Ball  112  may be plastic, rubber, or another suitable material. In some embodiments, pieces  102 ,  104 ,  106  will be molded from a pliable, resilient material such that ball  112  can be inserted or removed from channel  110  by a human but will not be easily removed by an animal. Ends  202  of straight piece  106  can be seen to define a receptacle  206 . One end  202  is shown with an attached insert  204 . 
         [0023]    Referring now to  FIG. 5 , a perspective view of an insert  204  is shown. From the viewpoint of  FIG. 5 , it can be seen that the shape of the insert  204  may be defined to interfit with the various shapes and features of the receptacles  206  defined in the various pieces of the toy  100 . This would include suitable contours and molding to interfit securely with the receptacles  206  so as to hold the various track pieces together. 
         [0024]    Referring now to  FIG. 6 , a perspective view of end  302  of track piece  106  is shown wherein end  302  is provided with an alternate, integral configuration for affixing adjacent pieces  106  to other pieces  102 ,  104 ,  106 . Although piece  106  is shown for purposes of example, it should be understood that any of pieces  102 ,  104 ,  106  could be shown, as each piece having the alternate, integral configuration will be provided with identical structure. End  302  has a receiving surface  304  that spans between first exterior support wall  124  and channel defining surface  122 . Receiving surface  304  defines receptacle  306 . 
         [0025]    End  302  further has a retaining surface  308  that spans between second exterior support wall  126  and channel defining surface  122 . A horizontal member  328  extends outward from retaining surface  308 . Horizontal member  328  and defines a key member  330  that spans between retaining surface  308  and vertical securement post  332 . 
         [0026]    During assembly of adjacent pieces  102 ,  104 ,  106  having an integral configuration, i.e., having ends  302 , vertical securement post  332  on a first piece  102 ,  104 ,  106  is placed behind receiving surface  304  of second piece  102 ,  104 ,  106 . Simultaneously, vertical section post  332  on second piece  102 ,  104 ,  106  is placed behind receiving surface  304  of first piece  102 ,  104 ,  106 . Pressure is applied to snap connect adjacent pieces  102 ,  104 ,  106  by snapping key member  330  on first piece  102 ,  104 ,  106  into receptacle  306  on second piece  102 ,  104 ,  106  and by snapping key member  330  on second piece  102 ,  104 ,  106  into receptacle  306  on first piece  102 ,  104 ,  106 . 
         [0027]    In addition to the embodiments described above, additional embodiments may provide lengths of track  102 ,  104 ,  106  having a sight line interference member  500  ( FIGS. 1 ,  7 ). One example of sight line interference member  500  is a tunnel  502  ( FIG. 7 ) or cavern for receiving ball  112 . In some embodiments, sight line interference will be achieved by attaching a top part or cover or sight line interference member  500  to a regular track piece  102 ,  104 ,  106 , as shown with tunnel piece  502  of  FIG. 7 . A feather, toy, or other visual device  504  that may be interesting to a pet may be contained within the tunnel piece  502  or attached to tunnel piece  502 , e.g., with a string or lever  506 , such that visual device  502 , e.g., feather, is moved or agitated when struck by traveling ball  112 . An obstacle, such as lever  506 , may also serve as a randomizer by providing a resistance to travel of ball  112 , which may be sufficient to halt movement of ball  112 . In another embodiment, sight line interference member  500  may be a bridge piece  104  ( FIGS. 1 ,  2 ). Various forms of sight line interference members may be provided that function to obstruct a view of ball  112  from the vantage point of pet  120  as ball  112  travels around channel  110 . 
         [0028]    Additional pieces may also increase the number and type of configurations into which the tracks can be arranged. For example, the tracks may be arranged with various combinations of straight and or curved pieces with stoppers at each end. In this way, the track need not be continuous but a stopper may be used to prevent the ball from escaping the track. Additionally, elevation pieces may serve to lift parts of the track off of a support surface. Inclined pieces may interpose track sections at varying levels to allow gravity to move the ball. 
         [0029]    Thus, the present invention is well adapted to carry out the objectives and attain the ends and advantages mentioned above as well as those inherent therein. While presently preferred embodiments have been described for purposes of this disclosure, numerous changes and modifications will be apparent to those of ordinary skill in the art. Such changes and modifications are encompassed within the spirit of this invention as defined by the claims.