U.S. patent application number 12/884457 was filed with the patent office on 2011-01-06 for pet toy with vent opening.
This patent application is currently assigned to JW PET COMPANY, INC.. Invention is credited to Jonathan Willinger, Klaus Woltmann.
Application Number | 20110000441 12/884457 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 37233218 |
Filed Date | 2011-01-06 |
United States Patent
Application |
20110000441 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Woltmann; Klaus ; et
al. |
January 6, 2011 |
PET TOY WITH VENT OPENING
Abstract
A pet toy has an outer wall and a first opening in the outer
wall that extends into an interior of the pet toy, a portion of the
interior being hollow. At least one second opening is defined in
the outer wall and functions as a vent to prevent a pet's tongue
from becoming inadvertently and harmfully sealed within the first
opening.
Inventors: |
Woltmann; Klaus; (Demarest,
NJ) ; Willinger; Jonathan; (Tenafly, NJ) |
Correspondence
Address: |
MYERS WOLIN, LLC
100 HEADQUARTERS PLAZA, North Tower, 6th Floor
MORRISTOWN
NJ
07960-6834
US
|
Assignee: |
JW PET COMPANY, INC.
Teterboro
NJ
|
Family ID: |
37233218 |
Appl. No.: |
12/884457 |
Filed: |
September 17, 2010 |
Related U.S. Patent Documents
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Application
Number |
Filing Date |
Patent Number |
|
|
11118820 |
Apr 29, 2005 |
7819086 |
|
|
12884457 |
|
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Current U.S.
Class: |
119/709 |
Current CPC
Class: |
A01K 15/026
20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
119/709 |
International
Class: |
A01K 29/00 20060101
A01K029/00 |
Claims
1. A pet toy comprising: a) a circular bulbous portion having an
outer wall enclosing a substantially hollow interior and defined at
tangential ends of a diameter that defines the circular bulbous
portion; b) a first opening in the outer wall that extends into the
substantially hollow interior and is dimensioned to allow access to
a pet's tongue into the substantially hollow interior, the opening
defined at the outermost portion of the diameter of the end
portion; and c) a second opening that is smaller than the first
opening and is defined through the outer wall; d) wherein the
second opening is dimensioned to allow outside air to pass through
the outer wall and into the interior to alleviate suction and
prevent a pet's tongue from becoming sealed within the first
opening; and e) wherein the first opening is defined along a first
diameter of the circular bulbous portion, and wherein the second
opening is defined along a second diameter of the circular bulbous
portion that is different from the first diameter and is spaced
from the first opening a distance sufficient to prevent a pet's
tongue from sealing the second opening from the substantially
hollow interior.
2. A pet toy in accordance with claim 1, wherein the second opening
has an opening diameter that is within a range of approximately ten
to twenty percent of the opening diameter of the first opening.
3. A pet toy in accordance with claim 1, wherein the first opening
has an opening diameter that is greater than or equal to ten times
the opening diameter of the second opening.
4. A pet toy in accordance with claim 1, wherein the diameter of
the first opening is at least 0.125 inches.
5. A pet toy in accordance with claim 1, wherein the second opening
is spaced a sufficient distance away from the first opening so that
a pet's tongue could not extend into the substantially hollow
interior and cover both the first and second openings
simultaneously from the substantially hollow interior, thus
rendering ineffective the second opening.
6. A pet toy in accordance with claim 5, wherein the second opening
is spaced approximately 0.25 inches from the first opening along an
inner surface of the outer wall.
7. A pet toy in accordance with claim 1, wherein the pet toy is
molded in one piece out of natural rubber.
8. A pet toy in accordance with claim 1, wherein the first opening
extends through the outer wall only once.
9. A pet toy in accordance with claim 1, wherein the first opening
and the second opening are the only openings in the outer wall
relative to the substantially hollow interior.
10. A pet toy in accordance with claim 1, the substantially hollow
interior further comprising at least one of a treat or a sound
device that is sized for passage through the first opening but not
the second opening.
11. A pet toy comprising: a) a first bulbous portion and a second
bulbous portion and a bridge between the first and second bulbous
portions; b) the first bulbous portion having a first outer wall, a
first opening of at least 0.125 inches in the outermost portion of
the first outer wall along a longitudinal axis of the pet toy and a
diameter of the first bulbous portion that defines a first interior
in said first bulbous portion, a portion of the first interior
being hollow, the first opening being dimensioned to allow access
to a pet's tongue into the first interior; and c) the first bulbous
portion having a second opening in the first outer wall that
extends into the first interior; d) wherein the second opening is
smaller than the first opening and is dimensioned to allow outside
air to pass through the first outer wall and into the interior to
alleviate suction and prevent a pet's tongue from becoming sealed
within the first opening; e) wherein the first opening terminates
at the end of a first diameter tangential to the outer wall and
through the first interior along the longitudinal axis of the pet
toy, and wherein the second opening terminates at the end of a
second diameter tangential to the outer wall that is different from
the longitudinal axis and is spaced from the first opening a
distance sufficient to prevent a pet's tongue from simultaneously
sealing the first and second openings from the first interior; and
f) wherein the pet toy is a one-piece, molded construction.
12. A pet toy in accordance with claim 11, wherein the first
opening has an opening diameter that is greater than or equal to
five times the diameter of the second opening.
13. A pet toy in accordance with claim 11, wherein the second
opening has an opening diameter that is within a range of
approximately ten to twenty percent of the opening diameter of the
first opening.
14. A pet toy in accordance with claim 11, wherein the second
bulbous portion further comprises a second outer wall, a third
opening in the outermost portion of the second outer wall that
defines a second interior in said second end, a portion of the
second interior being hollow, a fourth opening in the second outer
wall that extends into the second interior to prevent a pet's
tongue from simultaneously sealing the fourth opening from the
second interior.
15. A pet toy in accordance with claim 14, wherein the first and
third openings terminate along a longitudinal axis of the pet toy
and the second and fourth openings terminate along a different axis
from the longitudinal axis.
16. A pet toy in accordance with claim 15, wherein the first
through fourth openings are the only openings in the pet toy.
17. A pet toy in accordance with claim 11, wherein the bridge is a
solid bridge.
18. A pet toy in accordance with claim 11, wherein the second
bulbous portion is solid.
19. A pet toy in accordance with claim 11, wherein the pet toy is
molded in one piece out of natural rubber.
20. A pet toy in accordance with claim 11, the first interior
comprising at least one of a treat or a sound device that is sized
for passage through the first opening but not the second opening.
Description
CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS
[0001] The present application is a continuation of U.S.
application Ser. No. 11/118,820, filed on Apr. 29, 2005, the
contents of which are incorporated herein by reference.
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
[0002] The present invention relates to pet toys in general, and
more particularly to a pet toy with a vent opening to alleviate
suction conditions that might endanger a pet's tongue or other body
part.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0003] Rubber pet toys usually have hollow interiors to allow for
biting and chewing compression of the exterior of the toy. The
deflection of the pet toy walls under the jaws of the animal
enhances the overall chewing experience and helps the animal
develop strong jaw muscles. This experience is made even more
enjoyable if the hollow interior is filled with a noise maker or
dispensable treat as is known in the art.
[0004] However, regardless of whether the toy is filled with a
treat or the like, some animals have a tendency to get their
tongues stuck in the opening that leads to the hollow interior.
This occurs when the animal's tongue saliva forms a seal with walls
of the opening. In certain situations, the seal can be so tight
that veterinarian intervention is required to separate the toy from
the animal. In drastic situations, surgical removal of part of the
tongue becomes necessary.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0005] A pet toy is provided with an outer wall and a first opening
in the outer wall that extends into an interior of the pet toy, a
portion of the interior being hollow. The first opening and the
hollow interior enable the pet to compress the outer wall upon
chewing or biting. At least one second opening is defined in the
outer wall and functions as a vent to alleviate suction and prevent
a pet's tongue from becoming harmfully sealed within the first
opening. The second opening has a diameter that is appreciably less
than the diameter of the first opening to prevent a pet's tongue
from passing through the second opening and becoming caught or
sealed therein.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0006] FIG. 1 illustrates a pet toy in accordance with one
embodiment of the present invention.
[0007] FIG. 2 is a cross-section taken through line 2-2 of FIG.
1.
[0008] FIG. 3 is a cross-section taken through line 3-3 of FIG. 1
of an alternative embodiment of a pet toy of the invention.
[0009] FIG. 4 illustrates a pet toy in accordance with an
embodiment of the invention.
[0010] FIG. 5 illustrates a pet toy in accordance with an
embodiment of the invention.
[0011] FIG. 6 illustrates a pet toy in accordance with another
embodiment of the present invention.
[0012] FIG. 7 is a cross-section taken through line 7-7 of FIG.
6.
[0013] FIG. 8 illustrates a pet toy in accordance with another
embodiment of the present invention.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS
[0014] The following detailed description is of the best mode or
modes of the invention presently contemplated. Such description is
not intended to be understood in a limiting sense, but to be an
example of the invention presented solely for illustration thereof,
and by reference to which in connection with the following
description and the accompanying drawings one skilled in the art
may be advised of the advantages and construction of the invention.
In the various views of the drawings, like reference characters
designate like or similar parts.
[0015] FIG. 1 is a perspective view and FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional
view of a pet toy 10 having an outer wall 20, an inner wall 30 and
a hollow interior 40. While FIG. 2 shows a substantially hollow
interior 40, the interior 40a could also be partially hollow as
shown in connection with the pet toy 10a of FIG. 3. The interior 40
is at least partially hollow to enable compression of the outer
wall 20 upon chewing or biting.
[0016] A first opening 50 with a diameter 60 extends between the
outer wall 20 and inner wall 30 and defines a first passage 70 to
the interior 40. Such first passage 70 may facilitate the
manufacturing of the pet toy 10 (i.e. serving as a passage for
removing a molding core) and/or the insertion of a sound device
such as, for example, a bell 80 (FIG. 4), and/or an edible treat 90
(FIG. 5) into the interior 40. Of course, other objects or
combinations of objects may be inserted into the interior 40 as
desired.
[0017] To prevent a pet's tongue from becoming caught or sealed
within the first opening 50, the diameter of which is preferably at
least 0.125 inches for example, a second opening 100 with a
diameter 110 extends between the outer wall 20 and inner wall 30
and defines a second passage 120 to the interior 40. The second
opening 100 functions as a vent to alleviate any suction generated
if a pet's tongue becomes caught or sealed within the first opening
50, and the diameter 110 should be dimensioned to allow air to pass
through the second passage 120 and into the interior 40. The
diameter 110 of the second opening 100 is therefore appreciably
less than the diameter 60 of the first opening 50 as the second
passage 120 is generally not needed to facilitate manufacturing,
and it is generally ineffective as a means for insertion of a sound
device, edible treat or the like. Accordingly, the diameter 110 of
the second opening 100 is preferably within a range of
approximately ten to twenty percent (not shown to scale in the
drawings) that of the diameter 60 of the first opening 50, although
the second opening 100 could fall outside such range as desired.
The second opening 100 is also spaced a sufficient distance away
from the first opening 50 so that a pet's tongue could not extend
into the interior 40 and cover both the first and second openings
50, 100 simultaneously from the interior 40, thus rendering
ineffective the second opening 100. Such distance may, for example,
approximate 0.25 inches along the inner wall 30.
[0018] Thus, FIGS. 1-5 illustrate several embodiments of a pet toy
having a single, substantially enclosed interior that is accessed
by a single primary opening and is vented by a single vent opening
of appreciably smaller diameter and sized to be just large enough
to allow air to pass into the single interior. It is not necessary
for the vent opening to have a considerable size, or to approach
the same size as the primary opening, particularly because its
intended function is a pressure or suction release. Therefore, the
vent opening can be as small as a pin hole as long as it can
relieve a suction condition generated at the primary opening.
[0019] FIG. 6 is a perspective view and FIG. 7 is a cross-sectional
view of an alternative embodiment of a pet toy 130 comprising a
first end 140 having an outer wall 150, an inner wall 160 and an
interior 170, a portion of which is hollow to enable compression of
the outer wall 150 upon chewing or biting. A first opening 180 with
a diameter 190 extends between the outer wall 150 and inner wall
160 and defines a first passage 200 to the interior 170. Such first
passage 200 may facilitate the manufacturing of the pet toy 130
and/or the insertion of a sound device or edible treat as described
above in connection with FIGS. 4 and 5 above. A bridge 210 is
defined between the first end 140 of the pet toy 130 and a second
end 220 of the pet toy 130, the second end 220 having an outer wall
230, an inner wall 240 and an interior 250, a portion of which is
hollow to enable compression of the outer wall 230 upon chewing or
biting. A first opening 260 with a diameter 270 extends between the
outer wall 230 and inner wall 240 and defines a first passage 280
to the interior 250. Such first passage 280 may facilitate the
manufacturing of the pet toy 130 and/or the insertion of a sound
device or edible treat as described above in connection with FIGS.
4 and 5 above.
[0020] Similar to the embodiment of FIGS. 1-5, a second opening
285, 290 with a diameter 300, 310 extends between the outer wall
150, 230 and inner wall 160, 240 and defines a second passage 320,
330 to the interior 170, 250 of the first and second ends 140, 220
respectively. Each of the second openings 285, 290 functions as a
vent to allow for the introduction of air into the interior 170,
250 and alleviate any suction generated if a pet's tongue becomes
caught or sealed within the passages 200, 280 of the first openings
180, 260 respectively. The first openings 180, 260 in the
embodiment of FIGS. 6-7 are defined along the longitudinal axis 340
of the pet toy 130, while the second openings 285, 290 are defined
along dissimilar axes, or axes that intersect the longitudinal axis
340. The second openings 285, 290 are preferably spaced from the
first openings 180, 260 such that a pet's tongue could not
simultaneously seal off the first and second openings from within
the interiors of the toy. Of course, other positional arrangements
are contemplated.
[0021] FIG. 8 illustrates an alternative embodiment of a pet toy
300 comprising a first end 310 having an outer wall 320, an inner
wall 330 and an interior 340, a portion of which is hollow to
enable compression of the outer wall 320 upon chewing or biting. A
first opening 350 with a diameter 360 extends between the outer
wall 320 and inner wall 330 and defines a first passage 370 to the
interior 340. Such first passage 370 may facilitate the
manufacturing of the pet toy 300 and/or the insertion of a sound
device or edible treat as described above in connection with FIGS.
4 and 5 above. A bridge 380 is defined between the first end 310 of
the pet toy 300 and a second end 390 that is solid. Thus, the first
end 310 of pet toy 300 presents a compressive chewing experience,
while the second end 390 presents more of a biting experience.
[0022] To prevent a pet's tongue from becoming caught or sealed
within the first passage 370 of the first opening 350, a second
opening 400 with a diameter 410 extends between the outer wall 320
and inner wall 330 and defines a second passage 420 to the interior
340. The second opening 400 functions as a vent to alleviate any
suction generated if a pet's tongue becomes caught or sealed within
the first passage 370. The diameter 410 of the second opening 400
is appreciably less than the diameter 360 of the first opening 350,
and could approach a pin hole as described above. A third opening
430 with a diameter 440 may be provided between the outer wall 320
and inner wall 330 and define a third passage 450 to the interior
340. Such third opening 430 may provide enhanced venting of the
interior 340, acting in concert with the second opening 400 if one
of the openings 400, 430 acting alone would not provide sufficient
pressure relief for a dangerous suction condition occurring at the
first opening 350. This might occur if one of the openings 400, 430
was too small or became inadvertently blocked. The diameter 440 of
the third opening 430 can be the same or different from the
diameter 410 of the second opening 400, with each diameter 440, 410
being appreciably less than the diameter 360 of the first opening
350.
[0023] The pet toy of the present invention is preferably formed of
an elastomeric material, which is preferably natural rubber,
synthetic rubber, or a blend of natural rubber or synthetic rubber
and a plurality of blending polymers. Natural rubber is generally
preferred by pets because it is soft and easy to deform and chew.
Of course, other materials that are not as elastic are
contemplated.
[0024] The pet toy of the present invention may also be formed in
any shape or size and have cross-sections of any shape and wall
thickness. In addition, while a pet toy having one or two hollow
interiors is shown, a pet toy having more than two interiors is
also contemplated. Furthermore, the pet toy of the present
invention is preferably formed as a single, one-piece molded
object, although other constructions are contemplated.
[0025] While the present invention has been described at some
length and with some particularity with respect to the several
described embodiments, it is not intended that it should be limited
to any such particulars or embodiments or any particular
embodiment, but it is to be construed with references to the
appended claims so as to provide the broadest possible
interpretation of such claims in view of the prior art and,
therefore, to effectively encompass the intended scope of the
invention. Furthermore, the foregoing describes the invention in
terms of embodiments foreseen by the inventor for which an enabling
description was available, notwithstanding that insubstantial
modifications of the invention, not presently foreseen, may
nonetheless represent equivalents thereto.
* * * * *