Self-mobile cat toy
First Claim
1. A cat toy simulating intermittent life, comprising:
- a shell simulating the exterior of a small nonhuman animal defining an interior volume; and
means for intermittenly moving substantially inside said volume and attached to said shell for intermittently moving said toy along the ground, said means for intermittenly moving operable by direct mechanical actions of a cat playing with said cat toy, said actions involving actual physical contact of said cat with said toy to alter a spatial orientation of said toy.
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0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A self-mobile cat toy capable of simulating intermittent life includes a rodent-like shell partially or wholly containing an electrical power source mechanically and electrically connected to motor-powered wheels or a tread mechanism for moving along the ground. The power circuit includes an orientation-dependent switch which is closed or open depending on its orientation, so that when played with by a cat, the toy will cease to move in certain orientations and begin to move when pawed into other orientations. In another embodiment the powered wheels or tread are replaced by a vibrating mechanism. In yet other embodiments the cat toy is externally controlled by the pet owner, through either a long cable with a switch at the end or through a radio or ultrasonic transmitter-receiver system.
52 Citations
15 Claims
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1. A cat toy simulating intermittent life, comprising:
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a shell simulating the exterior of a small nonhuman animal defining an interior volume; and means for intermittenly moving substantially inside said volume and attached to said shell for intermittently moving said toy along the ground, said means for intermittenly moving operable by direct mechanical actions of a cat playing with said cat toy, said actions involving actual physical contact of said cat with said toy to alter a spatial orientation of said toy. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9)
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10. A cat toy simulating intermittent life, comprising:
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small animal means for simulating the shape and appearance of a small nonhuman animal; means for moving in said small animal means for moving said small animal means along the ground; and an orientation-dependent switch in said small animal means, operatively connected to said means for moving for turning said means for moving on or off depending upon an orientation of said small animal means, said switch operable by direct mechanical actions of a cat playing with said cat toy, said actions involving actual physical contact of said cat with said toy to alter a spatial orientation of said toy. - View Dependent Claims (11, 12, 13, 14, 15)
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Specification