Interconnected rubber ring chain

This application claims priority under 35 U.S.C. §119(e) from U.S. provisional application 60/441,694 filed Jan. 22, 2003.

The present invention relates to ring toys in general, and more specifically to an interconnected rubber ring chain toy for use by pets and their owners.

Rubber rings of a diameter of one-quarter inches or more are well known in the field of pet toys. However, the present inventor is not aware of a pet toy comprising a series of two or more rubber objects or rings connected by looping one inside the other in order to create a chain effect.

An interconnected rubber ring chain comprises a first rubber ring having a first shape and a second rubber ring having a second shape and interconnected with said first rubber ring such that said first and second rubber rings are both movable and substantially inseparable relative to each other. Each ring may be solid (continuous) or non-solid (discontinuous) such that the rings may be interconnected by mechanical or non-mechanical methods. A chain may be formed from rings having the same or various shapes.

FIG. 1 illustrates pair of rings used to form a chain in accordance with the teachings of the present invention.

FIG. 2 illustrates an alternative embodiment of a pair of rings used to form a chain of the invention.

FIG. 3 illustrates a series of grooves provided on one of the rings shown in FIG. 2 .

FIG. 4 illustrates the use of grooves on both rings shown in FIG. 2 .

FIG. 5 illustrates a ring used to form a chain in accordance with an alternative embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 6 illustrates a chain formed from a plurality of rings in accordance with the invention.

FIG. 7 illustrates an alternative embodiment of a chain of the invention.

FIG. 8 illustrates an alternative embodiment of a chain of the invention.

The following detailed description is of the best mode or modes of the invention presently contemplated. Such description is not intended to be understood in a limiting sense, but to be an example of the invention presented solely for illustration thereof, and by reference to which in connection with the following description and the accompanying drawings one skilled in the art may be advised of the advantages and construction of the invention. In the various views of the drawings, like reference characters designate like or similar parts.

FIG. 1 illustrates a first embodiment of a chain 50 of the invention having a first solid or continuous ring 60 interconnected with a second non-solid, segmented or discontinuous ring 70 . The second ring 70 is provided with a joint 80 having a first “male” part 90 and a second “female” part 100 that are joined together to secure the second ring 70 to the first ring 60 , such that the rings 60 , 70 are movable relative to each other yet substantially inseparable from each other. Each ring 60 , 70 has a round or circular shape, although other shapes are contemplated. For purposes of explanation, the term “ring” as used herein will be understood to mean a continuous-loop object, it being understood that the term “ring” shall not be limited to an annular, toroidal shape. Also, while certain rings may be illustrated herein with round cross-sections, such cross-section can be any shape, and may have a thickness that is solid or hollow, tubular. In addition, such rings may be any size and are preferably formed from rubber.

In FIG. 1 , the second ring 70 is looped through the first ring 60 and then the joint part 90 is inserted into the joint part 100 to attach or otherwise secure the second ring 70 relative to the first ring 60 . Although not necessary, an adhesive (not shown) may be used to secure the joint 80 , with cyanoacrylates known to be very effective in gluing rubber. If an adhesive is used, the opening 100 would preferably be notched to better support a glue joint. A notch can be created so that the second ring 70 will not come apart even under tremendous pull tension and even if an adhesive is not used. The adhesive, if used, is preferably applied all around the notch in order to maximize the adhesion area. The glued joint 80 creates the appearance of a groove (see FIGS. 2 and 4 discussed below) in the second ring 70 . The resultant chain 50 formed by the plurality of rings 60 , 70 could be used for tug-of-war and other amusements with one's pet. Of course, any number of rings may be looped together to form a chain as long as such number is preferably greater than one.

FIGS. 2-4 illustrate an alternative embodiment of a chain 110 of the invention having a first solid or continuous ring 120 and a second non-solid or discontinuous ring 130 looped therethrough. The second ring 130 has first joint part 140 and a second joint part 150 that are joined together to form a joint 155 ( FIG. 4 ) in the same manner as illustrated in FIG. 1 . Because the joinder of the joint parts 140 , 150 creates a joint 155 ( FIG. 4 ) having a grooved appearance, one groove 160 ( FIG. 2 ) or multiple grooves 160 , 170 , 180 ( FIG. 3 ) are preferably fashioned into the outer periphery of the second ring 130 to camouflage the grooved appearance created by the joint 155 . Similarly, a series of indentations or grooves 190 , 200 , 210 , 220 can be created in the first ring 120 ( FIG. 4 ) so that the solid and non-solid rings 120 , 130 look the same. Such grooves may be spaced around the outer periphery of the rings in a random, uniform and/or equidistant pattern. Again, the rings may be completely round as shown in FIGS. 1-3 , or may be formed from other shapes as shown later in connection with FIG. 8 .

FIGS. 5-8 illustrate a further embodiment of the present invention, wherein a series of two or more rubber objects or rings are interconnected without utilizing glue or other mechanical bonding. Such embodiment relates to the use of insert molding natural rubber to create a chain 270 of rubber rings or objects.

First, one ring 230 is molded ( FIG. 5 ) using means known in the art. Then, the molded ring 230 is placed in a second mold where another ring 240 is then molded so that the second ring 240 runs through the center of the first ring 230 (FIG. 6 ). This process can then be repeated to create a chain 270 formed from a plurality of looped rings 230 , 240 , 250 , 260 (FIGS. 6 and 7 ). In this way a substantially unbreakable, non-tearing chain 270 of rubber rings is created. Other shaped rings 280 , 290 , 300 ( FIG. 8 ) that are both round and polygonal could also be used and created through such interlocking method, all without utilizing adhesive or other mechanical means of locking. In this manner a more versatile dog toy is created, one that can be used a tug or a chew toy by a pet.

While the present invention has been described at some length and with some particularity with respect to the several described embodiments, it is not intended that it should be limited to any such particulars or embodiments or any particular embodiment, but it is to be construed with references to the appended claims so as to provide the broadest possible interpretation of such claims in view of the prior art and, therefore, to effectively encompass the intended scope of the invention. Furthermore, the foregoing describes the invention in terms of embodiments foreseen by the inventor for which an enabling description was available, notwithstanding that insubstantial modifications of the invention, not presently foreseen, may nonetheless represent equivalents thereto.