Whirling wheel toy

• US 20060194504A1
• Filed: 02/16/2006
• Published: 08/31/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 02/16/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Doskocil Manufacturing Company Incorporated (Petmate Holdings Co.)
• Original Assignee: JW Pet Company Incorporated (Petmate Holdings Co.)
• Inventors: Willinger, Jonathan, Rutherford, Ryan, Ragonetti, Peter T.
• Granted Patent: US 7,513,220 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 446/46
• CPC Class Codes: A01K 15/025 Toys specially adapted for animals

Abstract

A throwable pet toy bounces and creates an interest for a pet when impacting the ground or an object. The toy includes two domed structures, which are mounted on opposite sides of an aerodynamic base. The structures are in fluid communication with each other. A fascinator is mounted in one of the first and second domed structure to produce an interest for a pet when one of the domed structures impacts.

Claims

1. A throwable pet toy to impact on a ground or an object;

the pet toy comprising;

a first and a second domed structure mounted on opposite sides of an aerodynamic base, the first and second structure being in fluid communication with each other;

a fascinator mounted in one of the first and second domed structure to produce an interest for a pet when one of the first and second domed structures impacts.

2. The pet toy of claim 1 wherein the fascinator is a squeaker producing a sound.

3. The pet toy of claim 1 wherein one of the first and the second domed structure are resilient to bounce on impact.

4. The pet toy of claim 1 wherein the base comprises a plurality of spaced-apart openings.

5. The pet toy of claim 4 wherein the plurality of openings comprise a plurality of shapes.

6. The pet toy of claim 4 wherein the plurality of openings are oval.

7. The pet toy of claim 1 wherein the base comprises a rim raised from the base.

8. A pet toy comprising:

a flyable disk disposed in combination with a resilient hollow body;

a squeaker mounted in the body to produce a sound when the body impacts an object or a surface.

9. The pet toy of claim 8 wherein the disk comprises perforations.

10. The pet toy of claim 9 wherein the perforations comprise a plurality of shapes.

11. The pet toy of claim 9 wherein the perforations are oval.

12. The pet toy of claim 11 wherein the perforations comprise a ratio of a major to a minor axis in a range of 2 to 3.

13. The pet toy of claim 8 wherein the disk is flexible.

14. The pet toy of claim 8 further comprising a rim disposed at an edge of the disk and raised from the disk.

15. The pet toy of claim 14 wherein the disk comprises an inner diameter Dbi to the inner edge of the rim of the disk and the body comprises an outer diameter Dc, and wherein the ration of Dbi to Dc is in a range of 2.3 to 2.7.

16. The pet toy of claim 8 wherein the disk comprises an outer diameter Dbo and the body comprises an outer diameter Dc, and wherein the ration of Dbo to Dc is in a range of 2.8 to 3.

17. A whirling wheel toy for throwing and impacting, the whirling wheel toy comprising:

a rim,

a hollow body for retaining ambient air, the hollow body being resilient to impact;

a web connecting the hollow body and the rim;

a squeaker mounted in the body to produce a sound when air passes through the squeaker as the hollow body impacts.

18. The whirling wheel toy of claim 17 wherein the body, the rim, and the web comprise natural rubber.

19. The whirling wheel toy of claim 17 wherein the web comprises an aerodynamic shape to maintain the toy in a flight orientation so that the hollow body impacts before the rim and the web.

20. A method of using a pet toy, the pet toy comprising:

a first and a second domed structure mounted on opposite sides of an aerodynamic base, the first and second structure being in fluid communication with each other;

a squeaker mounted in one of the first and second domed structure to produce a sound for a pet when one of the first and second domed structures impacts;

the method comprising;

engaging an animal in play;

selecting a target of one of an object and a surface; and

throwing the pet toy to impart a rotation in a plane of the base such that it impacts the target with one of the first and second domed structure to create the sound to interest the animal.