Animal toy with favure-fabric surface

• US 20110226191A1
• Filed: 11/19/2010
• Published: 09/22/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 03/16/2000
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Jon K. Curry, Sharon A. Ritchey
• Original Assignee: Jon K. Curry, Sharon A. Ritchey
• Inventors: Curry, Jon K., Ritchey, Sharon A.
• Application Number:
  US12/927,618
• Publication Number:
  US 20110226191A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 119/707
• CPC Class Codes: A01K 15/025 Toys specially adapted for animals
• CPC Class Codes: A01K 15/026 Chewable toys, e.g. for dental care of pets
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 29/4998 Combined manufacture including applying or shaping of fluent material

Abstract

An animal toy includes a compressibly elastically deformable hollow thin-walled elastomer core sealingly circumscribing a center, includes an exterior including a first gravure elastomer relief surface and a second surface, includes a wall less than about eight millimeters thick, and includes points on the exterior at varying distances from the center. A fabric cover is affixed to the second surface and has a selected thickness, the ratio of the thickness of the fabric cover to the thickness of the wall being in the range of 1:6 to 1:0.15. A line of demarcation separates the exterior into at least two areas.

Claims

1. An animal toy, including

(a) a center;

(b) a compressibly elastically deformable hollow thin-walled elastomer core sealingly circumscribing said a center and including

(i) an exterior including a first gravure elastomer relief surface and a second surface,

(ii) a wall less than about eight millimeters thick, and

(iii) points on said exterior at varying distances from the center;

(c) a fabric cover affixed to said second surface of said exterior of said core and having a selected thickness, the ratio of the thickness of said fabric cover to the thickness of said wall being in the range of 1;

6 to 1;

0.15;

(d) at least one elongate edge of material extending on said exterior as a line of demarcation to separate said exterior into at least two areas, a primary area comprising said first gravure elastomer relief surface and a secondary area comprising said fabric cover.

2. An animal toy, including

(a) a center;

(b) a first compartment;

(c) a second compartment;

(d) a diaphragm separating said first and second compartments;

(e) a compressibly elastically deformable hollow elastomer thin wall less than about eight millimeters thick, having an exterior including a first gravure elastomer relief surface and a second surface, having points on said exterior at varying distances from said center, and

(i) sealingly circumscribing and enclosing a selected compressible gaseous volume in said first compartment, and

(ii) circumscribing and at least partially enclosing said second compartment;

(f) a fabric cover affixed to said second surface of said exterior of said core and having a selected thickness, the ratio of the thickness of said fabric cover to the thickness of said wall being in the range of 1;

6 to 1;

0.15;

(g) at least one elongate strip edge of material extending on said exterior as a line of demarcation to separate said exterior into at least two areas, a primary area comprising said first gravure elastomer relief surface and a secondary area comprising said fabric cover;

(h) at least one aperture formed through said thin wall in the portion of said wall circumscribing said second compartment;

(i) a rope having

(i) an intermediate portion,

(ii) a proximate end positioned outside said first and second compartments, and

(iii) a distal end formed as an anchor and positioned in said second compartment such that said intermediate portion of said rope extends from said distal end outwardly through said aperture to said proximate end.

3. A method for producing an animal toy, including the steps of

(a) forming the top half of the toy from a compressibly elastically deformable hollow thin-walled elastomer;

(b) forming the bottom half of the toy from a compressibly elastically deformable hollow thin-walled elastomer, at least one of said top half and bottom half including an exterior including

(i) a first gravure elastomer relief surface and a second surface, and

(ii) at least one elongate rib of material extending on said exterior as a line of demarcation to separate said exterior into at least two areas, a primary area comprising said first gravure elastomer relief surface and a secondary area comprising said second surface;

(c) fastening together said top half and said bottom half along a seam line to form a unitary compressibly elastically deformable hollow thin-walled elastomer core sealingly circumscribing a center, a wall less than about eight millimeters thick, and points on said exterior at varying distances from said center;

(d) applying a fabric cover to said second surface, said cover having a selected thickness, the ratio of the thickness of said fabric cover to the thickness of said wall being in the range of 1;

6 to 1;

0.15;

(e) molding said top half, said bottom half, and said fabric cover to secure said cover to said second surface.