Stuffed toy with replaceable play-stimulation item

• US 6,786,792 B2
• Filed: 10/30/2003
• Issued: 09/07/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 03/07/1996
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Sharon A. Ritchey
• Original Assignee: Sharon A. Ritchey
• Inventors: Ritchey, Sharon A.
• Primary Examiner(s): Banks, Derris H.
• Assistant Examiner(s): ABDELWAHED, ALI F
• Application Number:
  US10/698,778
• Publication Number:
  US 20040092198A1
• Time in Patent Office: 313 Days
• Field of Search: 446/71, 446/72, 446/73, 446/76, 446/369, 446/370, 446/371, 446/372, 446/385, 446/387, 119/702, 119/707, 119/711
• US Class Current: 446/71
• CPC Class Codes: A01K 15/025 Toys specially adapted for animals
• CPC Class Codes: A63H 3/003 specially adapted for a particular function not connected with dolls as electric lighting devices A63H3/006
• CPC Class Codes: A63H 3/02 made of fabrics or stuffed

Abstract

A stuffed toy (10) for play by an animal is taught. The stuffed toy (10) has an outer pliable shell (12) formed of a first fur (54), an inner pliable shell (56) formed of a second fur (54′) located within the outer pliable shell (12), a pouch (58) formed of a third fur (54″) located within the inner pliable shell (56), and a play-stimulation item (68) located within the pouch (58) to provide stimulation for play by the animal. The outer and inner pliable shells (12,56) form an interior cavity (14) having an opening (22) though the outer and inner pliable shells (12,56). A hook-and-loop fastener (72) is used to releasably seals the opening (22). The pouch (58) is configured to pass through the opening (22) and is contained within the interior cavity (14) during the play by the animal. The play-stimulation item (68) may be an olfactory-excitation material (catnip) or a sound-producing device (squeaker).

Claims

1. A stuffed toy configured to stimulate at least one sense of an animal during play by said animal, said stuffed toy comprising:

a shell formed of a first pliable material;

a pouch formed of a second pliable material and contained within said shell during said play; and

a play-stimulation item wholly contained within said pouch and configured to issue an emission detectable through said pouch and said shell by said at least one sense of said animal.

2. A stuffed toy as claimed in claim 1 wherein one of said first and second pliable materials is a fabric.

3. A stuffed toy as claimed in claim 2 wherein said fabric is an artificial fur.

4. A stuffed toy as claimed in claim 1 wherein one of said first and second pliable materials is one of a natural fur and an artificial fur.

5. A stuffed toy as claimed in claim 1 wherein:

said shell encloses an interior cavity; and

said pouch is configured to substantially conform to said interior cavity.

6. A stuffed toy as claimed in claim 1 wherein:

said shell encloses an interior cavity bounded by a perimeter having an opening configured to provide access to said interior cavity; and

said pouch is configured to pass through said opening while said play-stimulation item is contained therein.

7. A stuffed toy as claimed in claim 6 wherein:

said pouch is a first pouch;

said play-stimulation item is a first play-stimulation item wholly contained within said first pouch;

said stuffed toy comprises;

a second pouch formed of a third pliable material; and

a second play-stimulation item wholly contained within said second pouch;

said first pouch, having said first play-stimulation item contained therein, is configured to be removed from said shell; and

said second pouch, having said second play-stimulation item contained therein, is configured to be inserted into said shell to replace said first pouch.

8. A stuffed toy as claimed in claim 1 wherein said shell comprises:

a perimeter enclosing an interior cavity, wherein said perimeter has an opening configured to provide access to said interior cavity; and

a fastener configured to releasably seal said opening.

9. A stuffed toy as claimed in claim 8 wherein said fastener comprises:

a hook part affixed to said shell upon a first side of said opening; and

a loop part affixed to said shell upon a second part of said opening and configured to engage said hook part.

10. A stuffed toy as claimed in claim 1 wherein;

said shell is a first shell;

said stuffed toy additionally comprises a second shell formed of a third pliable material and contained within said first shell; and

said pouch is contained within said second shell.

11. A stuffed toy as claimed in claim 10 wherein one of said first, second, and third pliable materials is a fabric.

12. A stuffed toy as claimed in claim 10 wherein one of said first, second, and third pliable materials is one of a natural fur and an artificial fur.

13. A stuffed toy as claimed in claim 1 wherein:

said play-stimulation item is an olfactory-excitation material; and

said emission is an odor.

14. A stuffed toy as claimed in claim 1 wherein:

said play-stimulation item is a sound-producing device; and

said emission is a sound.

15. A stuffed toy configured for stimulation of an animal during play by said animal, said stuffed toy comprising:

an outer shell formed of a first pliable material and having a first perimeter;

an inner shell located within said outer shell, formed of a second pliable material, and having a second perimeter configured to enclose an interior cavity within said inner shell;

a first seam partially formed around said first perimeter;

a second seam partially formed around said second perimeter, wherein said first and second seams together define an opening into said interior cavity;

a fastener coupled to one of said outer and inner shells and configured to releasably seal said opening;

a pouch configured to be contained within said interior cavity and formed of a third pliable material; and

a play-stimulation item wholly contained within said pouch and configured to issue an emission detectable through said first, second, and third pliable materials by said animal.

16. A stuffed toy as claimed in claim 15 wherein:

said first pliable material is a first fabric;

said second pliable material is a second fabric; and

said third pliable material is a third fabric.

17. A stuffed toy as claimed in claim 15 wherein one of said first, second, and third pliable materials is one of a natural or artificial fur.

18. A stuffed toy as claimed in claim 15 wherein said fastener is a hook and loop fastener.

19. A stuffed toy as claimed in claim 15 wherein:

said pouch is a first pouch;

said play-stimulation item is a first play-stimulation item;

said stuffed toy additionally comprises;

a second pouch configured to be contained within said interior cavity; and

a second play-stimulation item contained within said second pouch;

said first pouch and said first play-stimulation item contained therein are configured to be removed from said interior cavity when said first play-stimulation item fails to stimulate at least one sense of said animal; and

said second pouch and said second play-stimulation item contained therein are configured to be inserted into said interior cavity, to replace said first pouch and said first play-stimulation item contained therein, and to provide stimulation of at least one sense of said animal.

20. A stuffed toy configured for stimulation of an animal during play by said animal, said stuffed toy comprising:

an outer pliable shell formed of a first fabric, said outer pliable shell having a first perimeter;

an inner pliable shell formed of a second fabric, said inner pliable shell being within said outer pliable shell and having a second perimeter forming an interior cavity within said outer and inner pliable shells;

a plurality of seams partially formed around said first and second perimeters so as to define an opening though said outer and inner pliable shells into said interior cavity;

a hook-and-loop fastener for releasably sealing said opening;

a pouch formed of a third fabric, said pouch being configured to pass through said opening and to be contained within said interior cavity during said play by said animal; and

a play-stimulation item configured to be wholly contained within said pouch during said play, and to provide stimulation for said play by said animal, wherein said play-stimulation item is one of an olfactory-excitation material and a sound-producing device.