Recreational and amusement device for animals
First Claim
1. A recreational and amusement device for an animal, comprising:
- a ball having a substantially spheroidal profile, and an exterior wall shaped to form surfaces of a main body and surfaces of a plurality of handles lying within the substantially spheroidal profile;
said main body having an outer surface which conforms to the substantially spheroidal profile and a plurality of inboard surfaces extending between different locations on the substantially spheroidal profile;
said handles having outer surfaces lying within the substantially spheroidal profile of said ball under non-stress conditions and inner surfaces opposing respective ones of said inboard surfaces of said main body, said inner surfaces and said inboard surfaces forming contours which bound openings extending through the substantially spheroidal profile;
wherein said openings are sized to permit the mouth of the animal to extend completely around said handles.
2 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A recreational and amusement device for a dog takes the form of a ball having a substantially spheroidal profile. The exterior wall of the ball is shaped to form surfaces of a main body and surfaces of two substantially identical handles spaced approximately 180° apart and lying within the substantially spheroidal profile. The main body includes an outer surface which conforms to the substantially spheroidal profile and a plurality of inboard surfaces extending between different locations on the substantially spheroidal profile. The handles include outer surfaces lying within the substantially spheroidal profile of the ball and inner surfaces opposing respective ones of the inboard surfaces of the main body. The inner surfaces of the handles and the inboard surfaces of the main body form contours which bound openings extending through the substantially spheroidal profile. The handles and openings are sized and shaped to receive the snout of the dog to permit the dog'"'"'s mouth to extend completely around either of the handles to grip the ball. When one of the handles is so gripped, the opposite handle may be grasped by a human who can pull on the ball to play with the dog. Preferably, the ball is formed from two molded half portions which are substantially identical and is made of plastic, rubber, vinyl or other elastomeric material which is sufficiently resilient to bounce.
97 Citations
22 Claims
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1. A recreational and amusement device for an animal, comprising:
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a ball having a substantially spheroidal profile, and an exterior wall shaped to form surfaces of a main body and surfaces of a plurality of handles lying within the substantially spheroidal profile; said main body having an outer surface which conforms to the substantially spheroidal profile and a plurality of inboard surfaces extending between different locations on the substantially spheroidal profile; said handles having outer surfaces lying within the substantially spheroidal profile of said ball under non-stress conditions and inner surfaces opposing respective ones of said inboard surfaces of said main body, said inner surfaces and said inboard surfaces forming contours which bound openings extending through the substantially spheroidal profile; wherein said openings are sized to permit the mouth of the animal to extend completely around said handles. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21)
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22. A recreational and amusement device for a dog, comprising:
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a hollow ball having a substantially spherical profile; said ball including a main body having two inboard surfaces extending between different locations on the substantially spherical profile; and
two substantially identical handles spaced apart by approximately 180°
, said handles having outer surfaces conforming to the substantially spherical profile of said ball under non-stress conditions and inner surfaces opposing respective ones of said inboard surfaces, said inner surfaces and said inboard surfaces forming contours which bound openings through the substantially spherical profile;wherein said handles and openings are contoured to receive a snout of a dog to permit either of said handles to be gripped in the mouth of the dog with the mouth extending completely around either of said handles.
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Specification