US 8,418,656 B2 · Sound-making pet toy

Abstract

A sound-making pet toy includes a shell having an opening and an inner space accessible through the opening and a sound-making body having a reduced state and an expanded state larger than the reduced state. When the sound-making body is disposed in the opening, it has the reduced state and when it is disposed in the inner space, it has the expanded state. The sound-making body has a resilient air-holding body and a sound making device that is responsive to air from the air holding body passing through the sound-making body. When the sound-making body is in the expanded state, it is lodged against the inner surface of the shell. When the sound-making body is in the expanded state, it expels air from the resilient air holding body when a force impacts the shell. In the expanded state, it is larger than the opening.

Drawings

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Drawings

Claims23

Dependent claims

A sound-making pet toy, the pet toy comprising:

a shell comprising an outer surface, an inner surface, and an opening,
the opening connecting the outer surface to the inner surface,
the inner surface defining an inner space;
and
a sound-making body disposed in the inner space,
the sound-making body comprising
a reduced size for passing through the opening to insert the sound-making body into the inner space and
an operative size preventing unintended removal of the sound-making body from the inner space,
the sound-making body comprising a resilient air-holding body and a sound making device,
the air holding body for holding a quantity of air in the operative size,
the sound-making body for making a sound responsive to air from the air-holding body passing through the sound-making device;
wherein the sound-making body when in the operative size is lodged against the inner surface of the shell;
wherein the sound-making body comprises two lateral sides;
wherein when the sound-making body has the reduced size, the sound-making body comprises a furled shape about a center of the sound-making body.

11 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Description2,749 words

Summary799 words

#The invention is directed to pet toys that include a sound-making device.

#Pet toys typically include an outer shell made of a durable material and a sound-making device. In each instance, the concern of toy maker is to prevent the sound-making device from dislodging and injuring the pet while also providing an economical method of producing the toy.

#A rattle or a bell may be inserted into a toy shell, which is many times larger than the rattle or bell. As the shell, formed typically as a ball, rolls, the rattle or bell is tossed in the inside of the shell and make a sound. The method of manufacture is simple; however, since the rattle or bell is responsive to any movement, the toy lacks complexity when a pet plays with the toy.

Brief description of the drawings4 figures

#FIG. 1 is a cross-sectional view of a sound-making pet toy in accordance with one or more embodiments of the present invention.

#FIG. 2 is a planar view of a sound-making device in a first state.

#FIG. 3 is a planar view of a sound-making device in a second state.

Detailed description1,878 words

#The following detailed description is of the best mode or modes of the invention presently contemplated. Such description is not intended to be understood in a limiting sense, but to be an example of the invention presented solely for illustration thereof, and by reference to which in connection with the following description and the accompanying drawings one skilled in the art may be advised of the advantages and construction of the invention. In the various views of the drawings, like reference characters designate like or similar parts.

#FIG. 1 is a cross-sectional view of a sound-making pet toy in accordance with one or more embodiments of the present invention. A sound-making pet toy 10 is responsive to a predetermined pressure, i.e., force, 5 to produce a sound due to air movement. Pressure 5 may be an impact with a solid object or the ground or a bite pressure.

#Toy 10 comprises a first body 20 and a second body 30 disposed entirely in the first body. First body 20 is preferably made of natural or man-made rubber, vinyl, plastic, styrene-butadiene-styrene (“SBS”) material, styrene-ethyl butadiene-styrene (“SEBS”) material, or any other suitable resilient material known or to be invented and may comprise any suitable shape, such as a ball shape. First body 20 preferably comprises a shell 22 having an outer surface 22a and an inner surface 22b that define an inner space 24. First body 20 further comprises one or more openings 26 connecting inner space 24 to the ambient environment.

Facts

Application

13/359,803Filed 27 Jan 2012 · us provisional application

Priority

27 Jan 2011

Published

US 2012/0192807 A12 Aug 2012

Granted

16 Apr 2013

Term ends

27 Jan 2032

Estimated · how

20 years from earliest known nonprovisional domestic filing plus recorded patent term adjustment. Maintenance-fee lapses, terminal disclaimers and statutory extensions have not been checked. The continuity chain may be incomplete; this is not an enforceability determination.

Classification7 codes

A01K 15/025
Training or exercising equipment, e.g. mazes or labyrinths for animals ; Electric shock devices; Toys specially adapted for animals: toys…
A01K 15/0258
Toys specially adapted for animals: squeaker toys; Toys that make noise when squeezed
B23P 11/00
Connecting or disconnecting metal parts or objects by metal-working techniques not otherwise
Y10T 29/49826
Method of mechanical manufacture: assembling or joining

Timeline

27 Jan 2011Priority claimedParent application 61/436,677
27 Jan 2012Application filedUS 13/359,803
6 Apr 2012Assigned to J.W. Pet Company, Inc.assignment of assignor's interest
2 Aug 2012PublishedUS 2012/0192807 A1
18 Dec 2012Assigned to Pnc Banking, National Association, AS Administrative Agentsecurity agreement
20 Dec 2012Assigned to Chase Capital Corporation, AS Collateral Agentsecurity agreement
16 Apr 2013GrantedUS 8,418,656 B2
15 Jul 2014Assigned to Doskocil Manufacturing Company, Inc.merger
17 Jul 2014Assigned to Chase Capital Corporation (AS Collateral Agent)security interest
17 Jul 2014Assigned to Pnc Bank, A National Association (AS Administrative Agent)security interest
16 May 2017Assigned to Doskocil Manufacturing Company, Inc.release of security interest 033358/0671
16 May 2017Assigned to Doskocil Manufacturing Company, Inc.release of security interest 029486/0633
17 May 2017Assigned to Doskocil Manufacturing Company, Inc.release of security interest 033358/0523
17 May 2017Assigned to Doskocil Manufacturing Company, Inc.release of security interest 029510/0787
12 Oct 2026TodayWithin its term
27 Jan 2032Term endsEstimated

Sound-making pet toy

Life of this patent

Sound-making pet toy

Life of this patent

Life of this patent

Abstract

Drawings

Drawings

Claims23

Description2,749 words

Drawings

Classification7 codes

Life of this patent

Description2,749 words