Pet toy

• US 6,216,640 B1
• Filed: 10/09/1998
• Issued: 04/17/2001
• Est. Priority Date: 10/09/1998
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Ethical Products Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Ethical Products Incorporated
• Inventors: Zelinger, Alan
• Primary Examiner(s): Price, Thomas
• Application Number:
  US09/169,629
• Time in Patent Office: 921 Days
• Field of Search: 119/702, 119/707, 119/709, 119/710, 119/711, 119/712, 446/125, 446/102, 446/383, 273/428, 273/146, 273/425, 273/426, 273/424
• US Class Current: 119/707
• CPC Class Codes: A01K 15/026 Chewable toys, e.g. for dental care of pets

Abstract

A bone-shaped plastic toy is molded with a tubular central portion and a partial spherical socket on each end of the central portion. The sockets are formed by spring fingers which deflect outwardly to receive and hold a replaceable play ball. Pets, such as dogs, particularly enjoy chewing on balls and can alternately chew on one ball, then the other. A scent can be applied to the toy to enhance its desirability and pet interest. If a ball becomes worn, it can be easily replaced. Pets can play with the entire toy, with the balls removed from the toy or with the toy without the balls, thereby offering a variety of play options for the pet and pet owner.

Claims

1. A pet toy, comprising:

an elongated central portion having a pair of opposed end portions; and

a pair of resilient pockets formed respectively on said pair of opposed end portions for holding a pair of toy balls on said pet toy,

wherein said central portion comprises a hollow tubular portion.

2. The pet toy of claim 1, wherein said central portion comprises a fibrous portion.

3. The pet toy of claim 2, wherein said fibrous portion comprises a sleeve encircling said central portion.

4. The pet toy of claim 2, further comprising a scented material applied to said fibrous portion.

5. The pet toy of claim 1, wherein each one of said pair of resilient pockets comprises a plurality of resilient gripping fingers.

6. The pet toy of claim 5, wherein said gripping fingers comprise arcuate gripping surfaces.

7. The pet toy of claim 6 wherein said arcuate gripping surfaces are aligned over a substantially spherical surface.

8. The pet toy of claim 7, wherein said opposed end portions define arcuate surface portions aligned over said substantiallit spherical surface.

9. The pet toy of claim 8, wherein said arcuate gripping portions and said arcuate surface portions are aligned on a common center point.

10. The pet toy of claim 5, wherein said gripping fingers comprise high friction gripping portions.

11. The pet toy of claim 10, wherein said gripping portions comprise molded teeth.

12. The pet toy of claim 1, wherein said resilient rockets define hemispherical pocket portions and open mouth portions opening into said hemispherical pocket portions.

13. The pet toy of claim 12, further comprising at least one resilient toy ball resiliently gripped within one of said resilient pockets.

14. The pet toy of claim 13, wherein said toy ball comprises a tennis ball.

15. The pet toy of claim 1 wherein said central portion and said pockets are homogeneously molded from a vinyl plastic material.

16. A pet toy, comprising:

elongated central portion having a pair of opposed end portions;

a pair of resilient pockets formed respectively on said pair of opposed end portions for holding a pair of toy balls on said pet toy, and

a scented material molded into said central portion.

17. A pet toy, comprising:

elongated central portion having a pair of opposed end portions;

a pair of resilient pockets formed respectively on said pair of opposed end portions for holding a pair of toy balls on said pet toy, and

a noisemaker disposed within said central portion.

18. The pet toy of claim 17, wherein said noisemaker has a hole formed therein and further comprising a scented material provided within said central portion via said central portion via said hole formed in said noisemaker.

19. A pet toy, comprising:

an elongated central portion having a pair of opposed end portions, and

a pair of resilient pockets formed respectively on said pair of opposed end portions for holding a pair of toy balls on said pet toy,

wherein each of said pair of resilient pockets comprises a plurality of resilient gripping fingers, and

wherein said gripping fingers comprise high friction, gripping portions, and

wherein said griping portions comprise a hooked material.