Patent Document

BACKGROUND 
     Field of the Invention 
       [0001]    The present invention relates to pet toys, and in particular, to compressible and/or chewable pet toys that emit squeaking sounds while reducing the likelihood of choking hazards to a pet. 
         [0002]    Chewable pet toys are known to be beneficial for pets, providing mastication exercise as well as dental sanitation. Compressible pet toys are also beneficial for pets, especially those containing an attractant such as pet treats or noise-makers. Both compressible and chewable toys provide enjoyment and distraction for a pet and help to keep the pet occupied when the pet&#39;s owner is unavailable. Both types of toys serve valuable roles in creating play opportunities for the pet. 
         [0003]    Such toys have also been known to include devices that emit sound when the pet chews on or otherwise squeezes the toy due to the compression of air through the devices. These devices, typically known as “squeakers,” are usually made of reeds or other similar devices that vibrate when air is compressed through them, with the vibration emitting a sound the animal finds attractive. 
         [0004]    One type of squeaker is that arranged within an aperture of a compressible plastic chamber, which forces air through the squeaker when the chamber is compressed. In most compressible sound-emitting pet toys, the squeaker and squeaker chambers are generally confined to a limited region of the toy. Moreover, most compressible sound-emitting pet toys will typically incorporate some type of stuffing or other filler material in between the toy&#39;s surface and the sound-emitting chamber contained within. 
         [0005]    In the present invention, however, the sound-emitting chambers are large enough to comprise, but for a covering, the entirety of the toy body. As such, the sound-emitting chambers are encased in a fabric covering such that no stuffing or filler material is necessary to form the body of the toy. 
         [0006]    This absence of stuffing or filler material is an improvement on prior inventions for several reasons. First and foremost, pet toys with squeakers are usually intended to be chewed by pets, increasing the likelihood that the covering encasing the stuffing or filling material will be ripped by a pet&#39;s teeth. This ripping of the toy could effectively release the stuffing or filler material, which pets may attempt to consume or chew. The use of stuffing or filler material in such pet toys may thus increase the risk of safety hazard to pets. Most notably, the stuffing or filler material may become lodged in a pet&#39;s throat, thereby inducing a choking hazard. The present invention&#39;s lack of stuffing or filler material therefore reduces this choking hazard to near zero. Further, compressible sound-emitting pet toys with stuffing or filler material are more difficult to compress (and thus, operate) because the stuffing provides resistance against compression. The present invention is therefore easier to compress and emit sounds, and otherwise operate than other such pet toys. Moreover, the sound emitted by the present invention is likely to be louder than that of compressible sound-emitting pet toys utilizing stuffing or filler material because the sound emitted by such toys tends to be dampened by the layers of stuffing or filler material, which material typically has a high degree of acoustic absorption. Finally, by eliminating the need for stuffing or filler material, the present invention weighs less than and is less expensive to produce and ship than comparable compressible sound-emitting pet toys. These and other desirable characteristics of the invention will become apparent in view of the present specification, including the claims and drawings. 
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0007]    The present invention is a chewable and/or compressible pet toy that emits sounds, while reducing the likelihood of choking hazards to pets. The invention is comprised of two or more compressible chambers that force air through squeakers when compressed. These compressible chambers are immediately surrounded by a fabric covering that helps to maintain the position of the chambers, while allowing for the use of attractive ornamentation and ensuring that the squeakers remain hidden from the pet. 
         [0008]    Preferably, the two squeak chambers are identically constructed and are arranged back-to-back, with the squeak-producing element located on the front sides of the chambers. In a preferred embodiment, the squeakers are on the opposite sides of the toy. In yet another preferred embodiment, the squeakers on each of the chambers are different from one another to produce differently-pitched noises. The squeak chambers are encased in a fabric covering such that neither the squeak chambers nor the squeakers are visible to the pet or other user. In one embodiment, the fabric covering alone maintains the position of the squeak chambers relative to one another by simply encapsulating them within and holding them in place. In another embodiment, the squeak chambers are produced with alignable locking elements on their back sides, such that the squeak chambers can be snapped together back-to-back to facilitate maintenance of their positions by the fabric covering. Preferably, even with the locking elements, the fabric covering still contributes to the maintenance and alignment of the squeak chambers. In either case, the fabric covering immediately surrounds the squeak chambers such that the entire toy body is comprised merely of the squeak chambers and the fabric covering. Thus, little or no stuffing or filler material is used within the toy body. The fabric covering may be decorated to include various features of animals, such as ears, eyes, noses, tails and the like, or other representative objects, such as bones, chewable “shoes,” and other toy shapes. 
         [0009]    The pre-formed shape of the squeak chambers may vary to constitute different embodiments of the invention. In a preferred embodiment, the squeak chambers may be bullet-shaped, that is, substantially cylindrical with an oval shape at one or both ends. Alternatively, the chambers can be hemispherically shaped such that, when placed in tandem, the toy assumes the shape of a sphere. In yet another embodiment, the squeak chambers may take the shape of a portion of a circuitous ring (such as one-half of a donut) and be arranged such that the overall toy body forms the shape of a partial or full ring. Regardless of the overall shape of the toy, each or at least two squeak chambers always includes one alignable end with at least one other squeak chamber, such that the adjacent squeak chambers may be placed with the alignable ends facing each other. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0010]      FIG. 1  shows a perspective view of a complete preferred embodiment of the invention, including the fabric covering and elephant ornamentation thereon. 
           [0011]      FIG. 2  shows a perspective view of a preferred embodiment of the invention, including a fragmented showing of the fabric covering over two bullet-shaped compressible, sound-emitting chambers, such that the overall pet toy is shaped like an elongated oval. 
           [0012]      FIG. 3   a  shows a perspective view of one compressible, sound-emitting chamber. 
           [0013]      FIG. 3   b  shows an elevated view of the front side of one compressible, sound-emitting chamber. 
           [0014]      FIG. 3   c  shows an elevated view of the flat back side of one compressible, sound-emitting chamber 
           [0015]      FIG. 4  shows one embodiment of alignable locking elements on the back sides of sound-emitting chambers in cross-sectional view, taken along line  4 , 5 - 4 , 5  of  FIG. 2  and looking in the direction of the arrows. 
           [0016]      FIG. 5  shows an alternative embodiment of alignable locking elements on the back sides of sound-emitting chambers in cross-sectional view, taken along line  4 , 5 - 4 , 5  of  FIG. 2  and looking in the direction of the arrows. 
           [0017]      FIG. 6  shows a perspective view of another embodiment of the invention, including two sound-emitting chambers and a fragmented showing of the fabric covering, in which the pet toy is shaped like a sphere. 
           [0018]      FIG. 7  shows a perspective view of another embodiment of the invention, including two sound-emitting chambers and a fragmented showing of the fabric covering, in which the pet toy is shaped like a horseshoe. 
           [0019]      FIG. 8  shows a perspective view of another embodiment of the invention, including two sound-emitting chambers and a fragmented showing of the fabric covering, in which the pet toy is shaped like a circuitous ring. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
       [0020]    Reference will now be made in detail to the preferred embodiments of the invention, examples of which are illustrated in the accompanying drawings. While the invention will be described in conjunction with the preferred embodiments, the invention is intended to cover alternatives, modifications and equivalents, which may be included within the spirit and scope of the invention as defined by the claims. Furthermore, in the detailed description of the present invention, several specific details are set forth in order to provide a thorough understanding of the present invention. However, one of ordinary skill in the art will appreciate that the present invention may be practiced without these specific details. Thus, while the invention is susceptible to embodiment in many different forms, the subsequent description of the present disclosure should be considered only as an exemplification of the principles of the invention, that is not intended to limit the invention to the embodiments so illustrated. 
         [0021]      FIG. 1  shows a perspective view of a complete preferred embodiment of pet toy  10 , in which fabric covering  12  is decorated with ornamentation—ears  13 , trunk  14 , eyes  15  and hind legs  16 —evoking an elephant. 
         [0022]    A preferred embodiment of pet toy  10  shaped like an elongated oval is shown in perspective view in  FIG. 2 , which includes a fragmented showing of fabric covering  12 . Pet toy  10  is comprised of two separate cylindrical sound-emitting chambers  22   a  and  22   b  with hemispherical front sides  23   a  and  23   b.  Sound-emitting chambers  22   a  and  22   b  are arranged in tandem, juxtaposed so their back sides  24   a  and  24   b  are touching. Sound-emitting chambers  22   a  and  22   b  are surrounded by fabric covering  12 , which, in  FIG. 2 , is fragmented to further the understanding of the invention&#39;s construction. In this preferred embodiment, squeaker  25   a  is located on front side  23   a  of sound-emitting chamber  22   a.  Similarly, squeaker  25   b  is located on front side  23   b  of sound-emitting chamber  22   b.  Walls  26   a  and  26   b  of sound-emitting chambers  22   a  and  22   b,  respectively, may be compressed, thus forcing air through respective squeakers  25   a  and  25   b.  In the completed invention, fabric covering  12  completely surrounds sound-emitting chambers  22   a  and  22   b  without substantial layers of materials interposed between fabric covering  12  and sound-emitting chambers  22   a  and  23   b,  such that the entirety of the overall toy body is formed by the combined shape of adjoining sound-emitting chambers  22   a  and  22   b.    
         [0023]      FIG. 3   a  shows a perspective view of one compressible, sound-emitting chamber  22   a  having hemispherical front side  23   a  and flat back side  24   a.  A second, substantially identical compressible sound-emitting chamber ( 22   b  in  FIG. 2 ) can thus be aligned with sound-emitting chamber  22   a  such that flat back side  24   a  of chamber  22   a  is aligned with flat back side  24   b  of chamber  22   b  (see  FIG. 2 ), forming an overall shape of an elongated oval comprised of compressible, sound-emitting chambers  22   a  and  23   b.  Squeaker  25   a  is located on front side  23   a  of sound-emitting chamber  22   a,  and compressing wall  26   a  of sound-emitting chamber  22   a  forces air through squeaker  25   a,  generating a noise. 
         [0024]    Front side  23   a  of compressible, sound-emitting chamber  22   a  is seen in elevated view in  FIG. 3   b.  Front side  23   a  of compressible, sound-emitting chamber  22   a  is mounted with squeaker assembly  27  on the apex of front side  23   a,  which squeaker assembly includes squeaker apertures  28  through which compressed air moves and vibrates, generating noise. 
         [0025]    An elevated view of flat back side  24   a  of one compressible, sound-emitting chamber  22   a  is shown in  FIG. 3   c.  Flat back sides  24   a  and  24   b  of two compressible, sound-emitting chambers  22   a  and  22   b  may be aligned to form an elongated oval comprised of the two compressible, sound-emitting chambers  22   a  and  22   b.  As seen in  FIG. 2 , when flat back sides  24   a  and  24   b  of compressible, sound-emitting chambers  22   a  and  22   b  are juxtaposed and covered with fabric covering  12 , the pet toy  10  is formed and shaped like an elongated oval. 
         [0026]      FIG. 4  shows a cross-sectional view, taken along line  4 , 5 - 4 , 5  of  FIG. 2  and looking in the direction of the arrows, of back sides  34   a  and  34   b  of two sound-emitting chambers  32   a  and  32   b  attached using a circumferential embodiment of the alignable locking elements on sound-emitting chambers&#39;  32   a  and  32   b  back sides  34   a  and  34   b.  In this embodiment, back side  34   a  of sound-emitting chamber  32   a  terminates at circumferential groove  31 , followed by circumferential protrusion  33 , while back side  34   b  of sound-emitting chamber  32   b  terminates with corresponding circumferential groove  35 , followed by circumferential protrusion  37 . To align back sides  34   a  and  34   b,  back side  34   a  is pushed into back side  34   b  until circumferential protrusion  37  of back side  34   b  snaps over and around circumferential protrusion  33  of back side  34   a,  such that circumferential protrusion  37  of back side  34   b  rests in circumferential groove  31  of back side  34   a.  In this locked position, circumferential protrusion  33  of back side  34   a  fits under and within circumferential protrusion  37  of back side  34   b  such that circumferential protrusion  33  rests in the circumferential groove  35  of back side  34   b.  With back sides  34   a  and  34   b  locked in place, sound-emitting chambers  32   a  and  32   b  are further prompted to maintain their orientation and alignment. 
         [0027]    An alternative, linear embodiment of the alignable locking elements is shown in  FIG. 5 , in which back sides  44   a  and  44   b  of sound-emitting chambers  42   a  and  42   b  are seen in a different cross-sectional view, taken along line  4 , 5 - 4 , 5  of  FIG. 2  and looking in the direction of the arrows. Here, back side  44   a  of sound-emitting chamber  42   a  includes linear trapezoidal protrusion  46 , while back side  44   b  of sound-emitting chamber  42   b  includes linear trapezoidal groove  47 . To align back sides  44   a  and  44   b,  linear trapezoidal protrusion  46  is inserted and slides into linear trapezoidal groove  47  until back side  44   a  is aligned and flush with back side  44   b.  In this embodiment, sound-emitting chambers  42   a  and  42   b  are juxtaposed to one another at their back sides  44   a  and  44   b,  and are aligned such that linear trapezoidal protrusion  46  abuts the back side  44   b  of sound-emitting chamber  42   b.  Back sides  44   a  and  44   b  are then displaced by the width of one sound-emitting chamber, and slid relative to one another such that the tongue of linear trapezoidal protrusion  46  enters into linear trapezoidal groove  47 . Linear trapezoidal protrusion  46  slides into linear trapezoidal groove  47  until the back side  44   b  of sound-emitting chamber  42   b  fits over and around linear trapezoidal protrusion  46  on back side  44   a  of sound-emitting chamber  42   a,  and back sides  44   a  and  44   b  are flush. Thus, back sides  44   a  and  44   b  are likewise locked in place, maintaining their orientation and alignment. 
         [0028]      FIG. 6  shows a perspective view of another embodiment of pet toy  50 , including a fragmented showing of fabric covering  51 , in which pet toy  50  is shaped like a sphere. Pet toy  50  is comprised of two separate sound-emitting chambers  52  and  53  with front sides  54  and  55 . Sound-emitting chambers  52  and  53  are arranged in tandem, juxtaposed so their back sides  56  and  57  are touching. While the complete pet toy  50  would have both sound-emitting chambers  52  and  53  surrounded by a fabric covering  51 , covering  51  in  FIG. 6  is fragmented to further the understanding of the invention&#39;s construction. In this embodiment, squeaker  58  is located on front side  54  of sound-emitting chamber  52 . Similarly, squeaker  59  is located on front side  55  of sound-emitting chamber  53 . Again, in the completed invention, fabric covering  51  completely surrounds sound-emitting chambers  52  and  53  without substantial layers of materials interposed between fabric covering  51  and sound-emitting chambers  52  and  53 , such that the entirety of the overall pet toy  50  is formed by the combined shape of adjoining sound-emitting chambers  52  and  53 . 
         [0029]    Yet another embodiment of the invention—in which pet toy  60  is shaped substantially like a horseshoe—is seen in  FIG. 7 , which includes a fragmented showing of fabric covering  61 . Pet toy  60  is comprised of two separate sound-emitting chambers  62  and  63  with front sides  64  and  65 . Sound-emitting chambers  62  and  63 —each comprising one-half of a horseshoe-shaped periphery—are arranged in tandem, juxtaposed so their back sides  66  and  67  are touching. While the complete pet toy  60  would have both sound-emitting chambers  62  and  63  surrounded by fabric covering  61 , covering  61  in  FIG. 7  is fragmented to further the understanding of the invention&#39;s construction. In this embodiment, squeaker  68  is located on front side  64  of sound-emitting chamber  62 . Similarly, squeaker  69  is located on front side  65  of sound-emitting chamber  63 . Again, in the completed invention, fabric covering  61  completely surrounds sound-emitting chambers  62  and  63  without substantial layers of materials interposed between fabric covering  61  and sound-emitting chambers  62  and  63 , such that the entirety of the overall pet toy  60  is formed by the combined shape of adjoining sound-emitting chambers  62  and  63 . 
         [0030]      FIG. 8  shows a perspective view of yet another embodiment of the pet toy  70 , including a fragmented showing of fabric covering  71 , in which pet toy  70  is shaped like a continuous circuitous ring. Pet toy  70  is comprised of two separate sound-emitting chambers  72  and  73  with front sides  74  and  75 . Sound-emitting chambers  72  and  73 —each comprising one-half of a circuitous ring—are arranged in tandem, juxtaposed so their back sides  76  and  77  are touching. While the complete pet toy  70  would have both sound-emitting chambers  72  and  73  surrounded by fabric covering  71 , covering  71  in  FIG. 8  is fragmented to further the understanding of the invention&#39;s construction. In this embodiment, squeaker  78  is located on front side  74  of sound-emitting chamber  72 . Similarly, squeaker  79  is located on front side  75  of sound-emitting chamber  73 . Again, in the completed invention, fabric covering  71  completely surrounds sound-emitting chambers  72  and  73  without substantial layers of materials interposed between fabric covering  71  and sound-emitting chambers  72  and  73 , such that the entirety of the overall pet toy  70  is formed by the combined shape of adjoining sound-emitting chambers  72  and  73 . 
         [0031]    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.

Technology Category: 1