Whirling wheel toy

• US 7,513,220 B2
• Filed: 02/16/2006
• Issued: 04/07/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 02/16/2005
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Doskocil Manufacturing Company Incorporated (Petmate Holdings Co.)
• Original Assignee: JW Pet Company Incorporated (Petmate Holdings Co.)
• Inventors: Ragonetti, Peter T., Willinger, Jonathan, Rutherford, Ryan
• Primary Examiner(s): ABBOTT, YVONNE RENEE
• Application Number:
  US11/356,312
• Publication Number:
  US 20060194504A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,146 Days
• Field of Search: 119/707, 119/702, 446/46, 446/47
• US Class Current: 119/707
• 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 whirling wheel toy for throwing and impacting, the whirling wheel toy comprising:

a unitary structure comprising a hollow body, a web, and a rim;

the hollow body for retaining ambient air, the hollow body being deformable upon impact and comprising an undeformed state prior to impact and deformed state upon impact, the deformed state comprising less ambient air than the undeformed state comprises ambient air;

the web fixedly spacing the hollow body and from the rim;

a squeaker mounted in the body, the squeaker responsive to ambient air being forced from the hollow body impacts;

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; and

wherein the web comprises at least one opening.

2. The whirling wheel toy of claim 1 wherein the body, the rim, and the web comprise natural rubber.

3. The whirling wheel toy of claim 1, wherein the hollow body comprises a crown.

4. The whirling wheel toy of claim 1, wherein the web comprises a first maximal dimension Dbi and the hollow body comprises a second maximal dimension Dc, and wherein the ratio of the first and second dimensions is in a range of 2.3 to 2.7.

5. The whirling wheel toy of claim 1, wherein the rim comprises a first maximal diameter Dbo and the hollow body comprises a second maximal dimension Dc, and wherein the ratio of the first and second dimensions is in a range of 2.8 to 3.

6. The whirling wheel toy of claim 1, wherein the toy is symmetrical in a first and a second plane, the first and second planes being perpendicular to each other.

7. The whirling wheel toy of claim 1, wherein the web comprises a plurality of openings.

8. The whirling wheel toy of claim 1, wherein the at least one opening comprises a ratio of a major to a minor axis in a range of 2 to 3.

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

a unitary body comprising a deformable structure and a web, the unitary body comprising an aerodynamic shape, the web comprising at least one opening;

a sound producing device mounted in the deformable structure;

the deformable structure comprising a first volume prior to impact and a second volume upon impact, the second volume being less than the first volume;

wherein a volume difference between the first and second volume comprises ambient air,

wherein the deformable structure forces the ambient air upon impact through the sound producing device to cause a sound.

10. The whirling wheel toy of claim 9, wherein the unitary body comprises a resilient material.

11. The whirling wheel toy of claim 9, wherein the web comprises a plurality of spaced-apart openings.

12. The whirling wheel toy of claim 9, wherein the unitary body comprises a rim peripheral to the web.

13. The whirling wheel toy of claim 12, wherein the rim comprises a first maximal diameter Dbo and the deformable structure comprises a second maximal dimension Dc, and wherein the ratio of the first and second dimensions is in a range of 2.8 to 3.

14. The whirling wheel toy of claim 9, wherein the web comprises a first maximal dimension Dbi and the deformable structure comprises a second maximal dimension Dc, and wherein the ratio of the first and second dimensions is in a range of 2.3 to 2.7.

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

a unitary structure comprising a hollow body, a web, and a rim;

the hollow body for retaining ambient air, the hollow body being deformable upon impact and comprising an undeformed state prior to impact and deformed state upon impact, the deformed state comprising less ambient air than the undeformed state comprises ambient air;

the web fixedly spacing the hollow body from the rim;

a squeaker mounted in the body, the squeaker responsive to ambient air being forced from the hollow body upon impact;

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; and

wherein the web comprises a first maximal dimension Dbi and the hollow body comprises a second maximal dimension Dc, and wherein the ratio of the first and second dimensions is in a range of 2.3 to 2.7.

16. The whirling wheel toy of claim 15 wherein the body, the rim, and the web comprise natural rubber.

17. The whirling wheel toy of claim 15, wherein the hollow body comprises a crown.

18. The whirling wheel toy of claim 15, wherein the rim comprises a first maximal diameter Dbo and the hollow body comprises a second maximal dimension Dc, and wherein the ratio of the first and second dimensions is in a range of 2.8 to 3.

19. The whirling wheel toy of claim 15, wherein the toy is symmetrical in a first and a second plane, the first and second planes being perpendicular to each other.

20. The whirling wheel toy of claim 15, wherein the web comprises at least one opening having a ratio of a major to a minor axis in a range of 2 to 3.