Pet toy with noise making device activated by expansion and contraction of toy

• US 9,282,724 B2
• Filed: 04/10/2014
• Issued: 03/15/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 04/10/2014
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: The Kong Company LLC
• Original Assignee: The Kong Company LLC
• Inventors: Nunn, Hoyt Samuel
• Primary Examiner(s): ABBOTT-LEWIS, YVONNE RENEE
• Application Number:
  US14/249,992
• Publication Number:
  US 20150289482A1
• Time in Patent Office: 705 Days
• Field of Search: 119/709, 119/707, 119/702, 119/708, 119/710, 119/711, 446/183, 446/184, 446/409, 446/397, 446/188
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: A01K 15/025 Toys specially adapted for animals

Abstract

The invention is a pet toy with a noise making device secured therein and activated by at least one of a compression force, tension force, or combinations thereof applied to the pet toy. A preferred embodiment includes a flexible and resilient body with a noisemaking device disposed within the body and mounted to an elastic base secured to an interior surface of the body. The device includes a flexible or elastomeric bladder with a noisemaking element mounted within the bladder. Deformation of the bladder by applied forces allows air to pass through the noisemaking device, thereby producing sound. The invention also includes a method of activating a noise making device of the pet toy by a selected one, or a combination of forces applied to the toy.

Claims

1. A pet toy comprising:

a flexible body having an interior defining an open space therein;

an elastic base extending along a portion of said flexible body;

an elastomeric bladder secured to said elastic base, said elastomeric bladder defining a chamber therein, and at least one opening formed in said elastomeric bladder enabling air to flow through said bladder;

a noisemaking element disposed within said elastomeric bladder; and

wherein a force applied to said flexible body to deform said bladder enables air to flow through said bladder, thereby activating said noisemaking element to produce a sound.

2. A pet toy, as claimed in claim 1, wherein:

said elastomeric bladder has an elongated shape defined by a dome, a first extension extending from one side of said dome, and a second extension extending from an opposite side of said dome, and said chamber extending within said dome and selected portions of said first and second extensions.

3. A pet toy, as claimed in claim 1, wherein:

said flexible body has a shape resembling a selected animal.

4. A pet toy, as claimed in claim 1, wherein:

said flexible body includes a central torso section, and said elastic base and elastomeric bladder being disposed in said central torso section.

5. A pet toy, as claimed in claim 1, wherein:

said flexible body includes a first appendage located adjacent a first end of said flexible body, and a second appendage located adjacent a second opposite end of said flexible body.

6. A pet toy, as claimed in claim 5, wherein:

said first and second appendages include at least one of an arm and a leg.

7. A pet toy, as claimed in claim 3, wherein:

said flexible body includes features resembling features of the selected animal, said features including at least one of an arm, a leg, a finger, a toe, a head, a mouth, a nose, an eye, hair, an ear, and a tail.

8. A pet toy, as claimed in claim 1, wherein:

said elastic base includes a length of elastic fabric webbing.

9. A pet toy, as claimed in claim 1, wherein:

said elastomeric bladder includes an interior tubular extension for mounting of said noise making element within said chamber of said bladder.

10. A pet toy, as claimed in claim 1, wherein:

said elastomeric bladder has an elongated shape that extends along a longitudinal axis.

11. A method of activating a noise making device of a pet toy, said method comprising:

providing a pet toy including;

(i) a flexible body having an interior defining an open space therein;

(ii) an elastic base extending along a portion of said flexible body;

(iii) an elastomeric bladder secured to said elastic base, said elastomeric bladder defining a chamber therein, and at least one opening formed in said elastomeric bladder enabling air to flow through said bladder;

(iv) a noisemaking element disposed within said elastomeric bladder;

applying a force to said flexible body to deform said bladder;

causing air to flow through said bladder and thereby activating said noise making element to produce a sound.

12. A method, as claimed in claim 11, wherein:

said step of applying force includes applying force by at least one of a compression force and a tension force.

13. A method, as claimed in claim 12, wherein said step of applying force includes applying a tension force:

said tension force is applied by securing substantially opposite ends of said pet toy and pulling the ends away from one another.

14. A pet toy comprising:

a body having an interior defining an open space therein;

a base extending along a portion of said body;

a bladder secured to said base, said bladder defining a flexible chamber therein, and at least one opening formed in said bladder enabling air to flow through said bladder;

a noisemaking element disposed within said bladder; and

wherein a force applied to said body to deform said bladder enables air to flow through said bladder, thereby activating said noisemaking element to produce a sound.

15. A pet toy, as claimed in claim 14, wherein:

said bladder has an elongated shape defined by a dome, a first extension extending from one side of said dome, and a second extension extending from an opposite side of said dome, and said chamber extending within said dome and selected portions of said first and second extensions.

16. A pet toy, as claimed in claim 15, wherein:

said base includes a length of an elastic piece of material.

17. A pet toy, as claimed in claim 15, wherein:

said bladder has an elongated shape that extends along a longitudinal axis.

18. A pet toy, as claimed in claim 15, wherein:

a tension force applied to said body causes said base and said bladder to stretch thereby changing a shape of the chamber of said bladder, and causing air to flow through a vent in said bladder.