Pet toy having omnidirectional reflectivity

• US 20060162673A1
• Filed: 03/09/2006
• Published: 07/27/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 07/28/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Nite Glow Industries Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Nite Glow Industries Incorporated
• Inventors: Hurwitz, Marni Markell
• Granted Patent: US 7,219,626 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 119/709
• CPC Class Codes: A01K 15/025 Toys specially adapted for animals
• CPC Class Codes: A01K 27/006 with light-emitting or ornamental devices
• CPC Class Codes: A44C 15/0015 Illuminated or sound-producing jewellery
• CPC Class Codes: A44C 5/142 Cord type straps
• CPC Class Codes: D07B 1/148 comprising marks or luminous elements

Abstract

A flexible abrasion resistant omnidirectionally reflective pet toy reflects incoming light beam back in the same direction as it was emanated, thereby indicating the location of a pet toy and thereby preventing tripping hazards in pet play areas during dusk or nighttime hours. The pet toy is created by surrounding a central braided rope of nylon or polyethylene fibers with a cylindrically braided reflective sleeve that is coated with an abrasion resistant transparent polymeric coating. The braided reflective sleeve is composed of braided narrow width reflective strips. The flexible retroreflective sheet is formed by thermally bonding corner cube, microsphere retroreflectors, or wide-angle exposed retroreflective lenses to a flexible polymeric sheet. The pet toy reflective braid may include knots and/or play balls or photoluminescence, glow-in-the-dark elements to provide an added measure of safety and enhanced play appeal.

Claims

1. A reflective pet toy, comprising:

a. a central cylindrical braided rope core operable to sustain loads experienced by a pet toy;

b. a cylindrical reflective braided sleeve comprising three or more narrow width reflective strips that are braided at a shallow cylindrical braid angle, said cylindrical reflective braided sleeve being operable to surround said central cylindrical braided rope core, thereby providing omnidirectional reflectivity;

c. said cylindrical reflective braided sleeve substantially coated with a conformal transparent polymeric abrasion resistant coating;

d. said narrow width reflective strips comprising a woven or knitted narrow width strip and a flexible nylon retroreflective sheet sewn thereon, said woven or knitted narrow width strip having a show surface, said flexible retroreflective nylon sheet comprising a flexible retroreflective sheet thermally bonded onto a nylon mesh strip, said nylon mesh strip being sewn onto said show surface of said narrow width reflective strip;

e. said flexible retroreflective sheet having retroreflectors bonded thereto with a transparent bond layer;

f. said transparent polymeric abrasion resistant coating having a refractive index lower than that of said retroreflectors; and

g. said pet toy having a proximal end and a distal end, forming loops or knots or other geometrical shapes suited for insertion of objects attracting pet interest.

2. A reflective pet toy as recited by claim 1, wherein said central cylindrical braided rope core comprises braided nylon fibers.

3. A reflective pet toy as recited by claim 1, wherein said central cylindrical braided rope core comprises braided polypropylene fibers.

4. A reflective pet toy as recited by claim 1, wherein said cylindrical reflective braided sleeve is braided at a braid angle of 5 to 10 degrees.

5. A reflective pet toy as recited by claim 1, wherein each of said narrow width reflective strips has a width of 0.0065 to 0.25 inches.

6. A reflective pet toy as recited by claim 1, wherein said flexible retroreflective sheet is thermally bonded to said nylon mesh strip with polyvinyl chloride.

7. A reflective pet toy as recited by claim 1, wherein said flexible retroreflective sheet is thermally bonded to said nylon mesh strip with polyvinyl acetate.

8. A reflective pet toy as recited by claim 1, wherein said flexible retroreflective sheet is thermally bonded to said nylon mesh strip with polyurethane.

9. A reflective pet toy as recited by claim 1, wherein said flexible retroreflective sheet comprises a plurality of corner cube retroreflectors.

10. A reflective pet leash as recited by claim 1, wherein said flexible retroreflective sheet comprises a plurality of microsphere retroreflectors bonded to a light-reflecting sheet.

11. A reflective pet toy as recited by claim 1, wherein said flexible retroreflective sheet comprises a plurality of wide angle, exposed retroreflective lenses bonded to a heat activated polyurethane adhesive.

12. A reflective pet toy as recited by claim 1, wherein said flexible retroreflective sheet comprises a plurality of wide angle, exposed retroreflective lenses bonded to a durable cloth backing.

13. A reflective pet toy as recited by claim 1, wherein said retroreflectors have a refractive index in the range of 1.9 to 2.2.

14. A reflective pet toy as recited by claim 1, wherein said transparent polymeric abrasion resistant coating has a refractive index in the range of 1.3 to 1.55.

15. A reflective pet toy as recited by claim 1, wherein said transparent polymeric abrasion resistant coating has a thickness in the range of 0.002 to 0.010 inches.

16. A reflective pet toy as recited by claim 1, wherein said transparent polymeric abrasion resistant coating polymer is a member selected from the group consisting of polyurethane, silicone, polymethyl methacralate, and polyvinyl acetate.

17. A reflective pet toy as recited by claim 16, wherein said polyurethane is aliphatic polyurethane.

18. A reflective pet toy as recited by claim 16, wherein said polyurethane is melt extruded.

19. A reflective pet toy as recited by claim 16, wherein said polyurethane is dissolved in a solvent and sprayed on the said cylindrical reflective braided sleeve.

20. A reflective pet toy as recited by claim 16, wherein said silicone comprises a silicone composition having a viscosity in the range of 100-275 CPS.

21. A reflective pet toy as recited by claim 1, wherein said geometrical shapes include one or more rubber play balls.

22. A reflective pet toy as recited by claim 1, wherein said geometrical shapes include at least one photoluminescence glow-in-the-dark element.

23. A reflective pet toy as recited by claim 22, wherein said photoluminescence glow-in-the-dark element comprises a decorative element.

24. A process for manufacture of a reflective pet toy, comprising the steps of:

a. selecting a braided nylon or polypropylene cylindrical central rope, said cylindrical central rope having a proximal end, a distal end, and an external surface;

b. selecting a flexible polymer sheet;

c. coating said flexible polymer sheet with a plurality of retroreflectors using a transparent binder to form a retroreflector coated flexible polymer sheet;

d. thermally bonding said retroreflector coated flexible polymer sheet to a nylon mesh strip to form a flexible nylon retroreflective sheet;

e. sewing said flexible nylon retroreflective sheet to a narrow width reflective strip;

f. braiding at least three of said narrow width reflective strips at a shallow cylindrical braid angle surrounding said cylindrical central rope to form an omnidirectionally reflective sleeve having a braided construction;

g. stitching or bonding said braided sleeve to said cylindrical central rope;

h. inserting geometrical shapes selected from one or more play balls and one or more photoluminescence molded polymeric shapes;

i. forming knots or one or more closed loops;

j. applying a transparent flexible polymeric abrasion resistant conformal coating to substantially cover said omnidirectionally reflective sleeve.

said omnidirectionally reflective pet toy being operable to sustain abrasion and substantial toy-play forces, and to accommodate twist and flexure forces due to strength and movement afforded by said braided construction of said omnidirectionally reflective sleeve.