IP Library Granted Patent US 8,109,239
Granted Patent B1
US 8,109,239 · App. 12/465,305 · Granted Feb 7, 2012

Interactive pet toy having extendable and retractable flexible target

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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 8,109,239
App. No.
12/465,305
Granted
Feb 7, 2012
Kind
B1
Abstract

A toy is provided that simulates a mouse tail moving randomly in and out and back and forth about the access orifice, thereby catching the pet's attention and stimulating the animal's instinctive curiosity.

Claims (12)

1. An interactive pet toy comprising:

a housing formed to an aesthetic shape and having an upper top forming and covering a hollow bottom, said hollow bottom forming an operational cavity, and said upper top forming an outer housing for holding and obscuring a motorized mechanism;

an access/egress port formed within a side wall of said outer housing, said port for providing access to said cavity that is otherwise obscured by the housing;

a blade mechanism operationally connected to and driven by said motorized mechanism that provide circulating motion;

an airfoil formed on said blade for creating a minor airflow out the egress port when in motion; and

a flexible, elongated target attached at a distal end of the blade, wherein said airflow causes said ribbon to extend through said egress port and rotation of the blade mechanism causes said ribbon to retract in said housing after said blade mechanism rotates past said egress port.

2. The interactive pet toy of claim 1 , wherein said target can extend various distances out of the housing and that the distance that the target may extend is adjustable.

3. The interactive pet toy of claim 1 , wherein as said blade circulates, a slight airflow is created forming a drag outward from the egress port and forms a vortex flow motion such that said draft will cause said target to undulate.

4. The interactive pet toy of claim 2 , wherein said target is drawn into and released from the egress port in a reciprocating fashion.

5. The interactive pet toy of claim 1 , wherein said motorized mechanism incorporates a stop/start/reverse function.

6. The interactive pet toy of claim 1 , further comprising a sound device that emits a prerecorded sound in response to movement.

7. The interactive pet toy of claim 6 , wherein said prerecorded sound simulates a sound being reflective of the sound made by a natural prey.

Assignments (5)
RELEASE OF SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Oct 26, 2021
From: CIBC BANK USA
To: COSMIC PET LLC (F/K/A HYPER PET LLC); PAWS MERGER PARENT, LLC; COSMIC PET BRANDS LLC (F/K/A HYPER PET BRANDS LLC); OURPET'S COMPANY; VIRTU COMPANY; SMP COMPANY, INCORPORATED; PET FUSION LLC; GRAC HOLDINGS LLC
Reel/Frame 057923/0356 →
RELEASE OF SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Oct 26, 2021
From: CENTERFIELD CAPITAL PARTNERS III, L.P.; CCP III-A, L.P.; CCP III-SBIC, L.P.
To: COSMIC PET LLC (F/K/A HYPER PET LLC); PAWS MERGER PARENT, LLC; COSMIC PET BRANDS LLC (F/K/A HYPER PET BRANDS LLC); OURPET'S COMPANY; VIRTU COMPANY; SMP COMPANY, INCORPORATED; PET FUSION LLC; GRAC HOLDINGS LLC
Reel/Frame 057923/0582 →
ACKNOWLEDGEMENT OF SECURITY INTEREST IN PATENTS Recorded Mar 28, 2019
From: OURPET'S COMPANY; VIRTU COMPANY; SMP COMPANY, INCORPORATED
To: CENTERFIELD CAPITAL PARTNERS III, L.P.; CCP III-A, L.P.; CCP III-SBIC, L.P.
Reel/Frame 048725/0842 →
ACKNOWLEDGEMENT OF SECURITY INTEREST IN PATENTS Recorded Mar 26, 2019
From: OURPET'S COMPANY; VIRTU COMPANY; SMP COMPANY, INCORPORATED
To: CIBC BANK USA
Reel/Frame 048701/0908 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Oct 11, 2011
From: SMESTAD, BRAD; TSENGAS, STEVEN, PH.D
To: OURPET'S COMPANY
Reel/Frame 027045/0985 →