BOUNCY CAT PET TOY WITH VISUAL ATTRACTANT

Abstract

A pet toy comprises a ball and at least one feather attached to the ball. When used, the pet toy bounces in various directions and its feathers and pet toy movement attract a pet and trigger the pet's hunting instinct. While chasing and capturing the pet toy, the pet is entertained and exercised. The pet toy disclosed has a high coefficient of restitution and is of particular interest to cats.

Claims

1. A pet toy, comprising: a ball; and at least one feather containing at least one quill that is anchored to the ball; wherein the pet toy has a coefficient of restitution between 0.74 and 0.85.

2. The pet toy of claim 1, wherein the ball is composed of a solid elastomeric material; the ball has a ball diameter between 24 millimeters and 32 millimeters; and the feathers are between 2 inches and 6 inches long.

3. A pet toy, comprising: a ball with a center of gravity; a mass anchored to the ball, wherein the mass changes the center of gravity of the ball; and the mass is a visual attractant; wherein the pet toy has a coefficient of restitution between 0.74 and 0.85.

4. The pet toy of claim 3, wherein the mass comprises at least one feather.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0017] FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the pet toy;

[0018] FIG. 2 is a view illustrating the formation of the pet toy; and

[0019] FIG. 3 illustrates the pet toy in use following a pet owner toss.

DESCRIPTION OF EXEMPLARY EMBODIMENTS

[0020] Referring now to the drawings, wherein referenced characters designate like or corresponding parts throughout the several views, there is shown in FIG. 1, an exemplary embodiment of the pet toy. Within FIG. 1, the ball 1 is made of rubber and has a diameter ranging from 24 millimeters (mm) to 32 mm. Balls with diameters less than 24 mm can result in a choking hazard for pets. Field tests also indicate pets, especially kittens, can be intimidated by balls with a diameter that exceeds 32 mm and are often unwilling to play with them. In the preferred embodiment, two natural rooster feathers 2A and 2B are attached to the ball 1. As shown in FIG. 1, the two feathers are approximately of matching size. In the preferred embodiment, the two feathers 2A and 2B protract from the ball 1 between 2 inches and 6 inches in length. Field tests indicate that pets can be intimated by longer feathers. Further, feathers of greater lengths can adversely impact the functionality of the pet toy due to improper mass ratios, decreases in rigidity, and reducing the COR of the pet toy below the acceptable range. Feathers of smaller lengths do not capture the attention of the pets as well as the preferred lengths specified herein.

[0021] FIG. 2 illustrates steps for the assembly of the pet toy. The hole 4 and the aperture 5 are formed by drilling into the ball 1 using an approximately 7/64-inch drill bit and a standard drill. The aperture 5 depth is approximately half of the diameter of the ball 1. Referring to FIGS. 1 AND 2, two quills 3A and 3B will be fixed to the ball 1 within the aperture 5. Still referring now to FIGS. 1 AND 2, the two feathers 2A and 2B are brought together. As shown in FIG. 2, the two quills 3A and 3B are approximately inch in length and are coated with an adhesive 6 and pressed firmly through the hole 4 into the aperture 5. The two quills 3A and 3B are inserted within the aperture 5 so that a minimal quill length is exposed above the hole 4 as shown in FIG. 1. This configuration allows for the greatest adhesion of the two feathers 2A and 2B with the ball 1. Immediately following the insertion of the two quills 3A and 3B, the adhesive 6 can then be added directly within the aperture 5 to displace any remaining air within the aperture 5. Once cured for a satisfactory period, the adhesive 6 permanently fixes the two quills 3A and 3B and the corresponding two feathers 2A and 2B within the aperture 5 and to the ball 1, respectively.

[0022] Referring to FIG. 3, when in operation, the pet toy is bounced against a hard surface 7. Due to the mass differential of the ball 1 and the feathers 2A and 2B, the ball 1 will predominantly make contact with the hard surface 7 before the feathers 2A and 2B until the pet toy approaches a rest position. This ensures constant motion of the pet toy until the energy of the toss dissipates. The trajectory 8 of the pet toy can vary depending on a pet owner's toss. Further, by varying the trajectory 8, speed and spin, the pet owner can change the type of exercise for his pet and provide a new play experience each time the pet toy is used.

[0023] While various features have been described in conjunction with the examples outlined above, various alternatives, modifications, variations, and/or improvements of those features and/or examples may be possible. Accordingly, the examples, as set forth above, are intended to be illustrative. Various changes may be made without departing from the broad spirit and scope of the underlying inventive principles.

[0024] For example, a version of the pet toy could be developed using other methods to fasten the feathers 2A and 2B to the ball 1. One example of an alternate fastening means could include using an appropriately sized umbrella anchor to hold the quills 3A and 3B and feathers 2A and 2B together before insertion into the aperture 5. The umbrella anchor in addition to the adhesive 6 may be preferred if adhesion failures are a concern. In addition to the fastening means being positioned within the body of the ball 1, a fastener situated on the exterior of the ball 1 could allow for interchangeable attractants. For instance, the feathers 2A and 2B might be replaced with another attractant more preferable to a pet or different color feather combinations could be considered. Although two feathers 2A and 2B are shown in the preferred embodiments, a greater number of feathers could be used if greater plumage is desired and other performance characteristics are maintained.

[0025] In the preferred embodiments, the pet toy maintains a high COR. Table One and Table Two illustrate the results of various testing performed to determine the preferred COR value functional range of the pet toy. Testing was conducted in a controlled environment at a constant temperature by dropping test objects from a consistent height of ten (10) feet and measuring the apex of the rebound from a hard surface. Multiple drops and measurements were taken to ensure replicability.

[0026] Table One illustrates test results for the COR value ranges for the pet toy, the ball 1, and a standard shuttlecock that is commercially available in the marketplace. The shuttlecock tested for comparison was McGregor Tournament Shuttlecock, McGregor Sporting Goods Inc., New Jersey, United States. The results of the first test are provided in column one. Testing in the first test shows the pet toy has a COR that ranges between 0.77 and 0.85. Column two provides the test results for the ball 1 alone. In this test, all COR values exceed 0.8 and approach 0.9. This high COR for the ball 1 component is critical to the performance, erratic movement, and extended play offered by the pet toy. As expected, due to increasing mass and drag with the inclusion of the two feathers 2A and 2B, the COR for the pet toy is about seven percent less than the COR value for the ball 1 alone. This decrease is acceptable as the two feathers 2A and 2B have been noted as being essential visual attractants and change the center of gravity of the pet toy to assist in its erratic movement. Finally, column three shows the results of the shuttlecock testing. When tested under the same conditions as the pet toy, the McGregor Tournament Shuttlecock has a COR that ranges between 0.30 and 0.33. From a ten-foot drop, the shuttlecock rebound is only about one-foot as compared to the pet toy which rebounded to a height of six to seven feet under the same conditions. Although the shuttlecock has some of the similar features as the pet toy, its narrow and low COR range, necessary for predictable competitive game play, and which results from the material composition of the shuttlecock, does not allow it to perform at a level that attracts and maintains the attention of a pet.

TABLE-US-00001 TABLE ONE Drop # Pet Toy Ball (1) Shuttlecock 1 0.79 0.82 0.32 2 0.81 0.85 0.32 3 0.83 0.88 0.32 4 0.77 0.89 0.32 5 0.81 0.88 0.32 6 0.80 0.89 0.33 7 0.85 0.88 0.33 8 0.80 0.88 0.33 9 0.81 0.85 0.30 10 0.80 0.85 0.33

[0027] In addition to comparison testing with a standard shuttlecock, test comparisons were also performed against other commercially available pet toys in the marketplace. Table Two illustrates test results for the COR value ranges for testing where the pet toy was tested and compared to commercially available pet toys including the Dezi & Roo Wiggly Ball from Dezi & Roo, Marietta, Ga. (Wiggly Ball) and the JW Pet Cataction Featherlite Catnip Boa Bouncing Cat Toy from JW Pet Company, Inc., Teterboro, N.J. (Catnip Boa). In column one, the COR values derived for the pet toy are again tabulated. In this round of testing, as shown in column one, the COR for the pet toy ranged between 0.74 and 0.81. Column two provides the measured COR values for the Dezi & Roo Wiggly Ball which ranged between 0.58 and 0.63. Finally, column three provides the measured COR values for the JW Pet Cataction Featherlite Catnip Boa Bouncing Cat Toy which ranged from 0.26 to 0.39. For further comparison purposes, throughout testing, the preferred embodiments of the pet toy which is the subject of this application had rebound heights between six (6) and seven (7) feet when dropped from rest at ten (10) feet, whereas the Wiggly Ball rebound was not recorded to exceed four (4) feet. The much higher COR value of the pet toy also provides for extended bounce periods when compared to other commercially available pet toys. This extended period results in greater entertainment and exercise for the pet using the pet toy over other commercially available products.

TABLE-US-00002 TABLE TWO Drop # Pet Toy Wiggly Ball Catnip Boa 1 0.77 0.58 0.36 2 0.74 0.62 0.28 3 0.75 0.63 0.30 4 0.79 0.60 0.28 5 0.76 0.61 0.30 6 0.78 0.63 0.30 7 0.81 0.63 0.28 8 0.79 0.62 0.26 9 0.76 0.57 0.37 10 0.75 0.63 0.39

[0028] From the foregoing, it is believed that those skilled in the art will recognize the merits of the advancement and the criticality of the high COR to the pet toy's performance. In addition to the physical adjustments that can vary within the pet toy without compromising the spirit of the invention, considering FIG. 3, the trajectory 8 of the pet toy bounce can also take any number of directions other than the illustrated path. Therefore, considering these and other various examples, the spirit and scope of the appended claims should not be limited to the description of the preferred versions described herein.