Pet toy simulating animal sound

Abstract

The invention is a novel pet toy wherein a specialized reed and accordion style squeaker tube is attached to a dual layer self-inflating chamber and mimics the moo of a cow when an animal depresses the toy. A plush fabric outer layer is designed to look like a cow.

Claims

1. A pet toy comprising: a) A self-inflating bag chamber which resides in a flexible plastic outer shell for receiving air upon depression of the toy; b) A plastic injection molded accordion style tube with a tapered bottom portion to nest the self-inflating bag chamber into a tapered top portion of the outer shell; c) A reed located at a top portion of the accordion tube wherein the reed sits inside a plastic tube and wherein the reed also contains a toning wedge for creating a specific cow's moo sound; d) A snap fit cap with perforations fits atop the reed and toning wedge tube; e) A plush outer shell housing the plastic outer shell sewn to look like a cow.

2. A pet toy as in claim 1 wherein the self-inflating bag chamber is flexible for in-taking air via compression of the toy, through the reed and accordion tube; and wherein the chamber will naturally return to its original shape following depression.

3. A pet toy as in claim 1 wherein the flexible outer shell houses the self-inflating bag chamber, and wherein polyurethane foam is inserted between the inner self-inflating bag chamber and the outer shell to aid in shape retention of the inner chamber and outer shell.

4. A pet toy as in claim 1 wherein the injection molded plastic accordion style tube connects to a top of the outer shell wherein the bottom portion of the accordion style tube has a smooth surface for inserting into an opening of the outer shell in a snap fit connection, and the top portion of the accordion style tube has a smooth outer section which is not in accordion style.

5. A pet toy as in claim 4 wherein the reed and toning wedge are nested inside the top portion of the accordion tube in which is the non-accordion style section.

6. A pet toy as in claim 1 wherein the resulting sound that emits through the accordion style tube and reed portions to mimic the sound of a cow's moo excludes any other sound due to the specific design.

7. A pet toy as in claim 4 wherein the snap fit cap contains circular perforations and is affixed to the top of the non-accordion style section of the accordion style tube and allows a metered amount of air to flow through the reed and self inflating bag chamber.

8. A pet toy as in claim 1 wherein the plush outer shell is designed to look like a cow and excludes any other animal outer shell.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

(1) The invention is described in further detail by reference to eight (8) drawings sufficient in detail to describe the invention in which:

(2) FIG. 1 is an illustration of the outer shell and the inner chamber;

(3) FIG. 2 shows the squeaker neck and accordion section of squeaker and cow sound reed;

(4) FIG. 3 is an enlarged view of the outer shell and membrane chamber;

(5) FIG. 4 is an illustration of the reed housing piece as connected to the accordion squeaker; an

(6) FIG. 5 is a top view of the squeaker strainer which aids in producing the cow sound.

(7) FIG. 6 is an example of the plush outer covering.

(8) FIG. 7 is the rear view of plush cover.

(9) FIG. 8 is a side view of the plush cover.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION, INCLUDING BEST MODES OF CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION

(10) FIG. 1 shows the self-inflating bag chamber 1 wherein the polyurethane material filler 2 is shown as housed within the self-inflating bag. When the toy is squeezed, the bag inflates with air creating a low pitch sound that mimics a cow's moo.

(11) FIG. 2 again shows the inflating chamber and outer shell of the toy. At the neck of the outer shell and accordion tube 3 the tube is tapered to nest inside opening at the top of the dual chambers. The accordion section of the tube 4 ends in another tapered section 5 of the tube which houses the reed 6 and toning wedge 7. The air flowing through these parts creates the sound of a cow's moo. When the chamber is filled with air, either by a pet depressing the toy or a pet owner depressing the toy, the self-inflating inner chamber fills with air. The act of the air traveling through the cap and reed, through the accordion squeaker section and into the inner chamber produces a low sound that mimics a cow's moo.

(12) FIG. 3 is simply an enlarged view of the chamber 1 and outer shell 2 in stasis. Since the inner chamber is self-inflating, and further may contain polyurethane foam between the two chambers, the toy will refill itself with air in a resting state after the pet is no longer manipulating the toy. In other words, the chamber refills with air and waits for a user to depress the toy and cause it to create the cow's moo.

(13) FIG. 4 Shows the connecting point between the accordion squeaker section and the reed housing section 5. This connection is achieved by a snap-fit mode which holds the two sections together.

(14) FIG. 5 is a perforated snap-fit cap 8 that resides atop the accordion style tube containing the reed and wherein the perforations aid in controlling the air flow and the resulting sound of the toy's moo.

(15) FIG. 6 is the front side embodiment for a plush outer shell in the design of a cow.

(16) FIG. 7 is the rear perspective of the plush outer shell in the design of a cow.

(17) FIG. 8 is a side perspective of the plush outer shell in the design of a cow.