Method and apparatus for automatically exercising a curious animal
US6701872B1 · kind B1 · utility
Inventor
Key dates
| Filing date | Oct 30, 2002 |
| Grant date | Mar 9, 2004 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Oct 30, 2022 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC A)Human Necessities
- CPC primaryA01K15/025
- WIPO fieldOther special machines
- WIPO sectorMechanical engineering
Abstract
An apparatus for exercising a curious animal such as a housecat comprises a laser pointer mounted on a shaft driven by a geared motor mounted on a pedestal. The rotatable shaft is preferably generally vertically disposed and the direction of the pointer is preferably obliquely downward so that activation of the motor causes the spot beam of the laser to track around the pedestal with a vector of motion to attract a cat into interaction with the spot beam. In a further specific embodiment, the laser pointer may be mounted on the head of an oscillatory air circulation fan with a pedestal. The oscillation of the spot beam, together with the air movement of the oscillatory fan, further stimulates activity in a cat while conveniently inducing convective cooling.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.