Toy for entertaining a cat
US4722299A · kind A · utility
Assignee
Inventor
Key dates
| Filing date | Jan 6, 1986 |
| Grant date | Feb 2, 1988 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Jan 6, 2006 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC A)Human Necessities
- CPC primaryA01K15/025
- WIPO fieldOther special machines
- WIPO sectorMechanical engineering
Abstract
An article of manufacture having utility as a toy for entertaining domestic cats. The toy includes an elongated housing having a top, a bottom and two spaced structures (such as walls) for connecting the top and bottom. The housing may be linear or it may be in the form of an annulus or a triangle or a figure 8 or some other "closed loop" figure. At least one of the connecting structures has an elongated opening or slot through which a cat can insert a paw. The bottom of the housing has a configuration to support a ball in rolling contact. A ball is captured within the housing and is sized for rolling along the bottom of the housing. Also, the size of the ball is such that it will not pass through the elongated opening in the connecting structure, so that the cat may reach through the elongated opening in the connecting structure in order to swat the ball and cause it to roll within the housing, but the cat is prevented from extracting the ball from the housing. The preferred shape and size for the housing is an annulus having an ID of about 12 inches, so that the cat may curl up and sleep within the housing after it has tired of trying to capture the ball. A piece of carpet attach…
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.