Toy with mechanically locked inner capsule

{
  "publication_number": "US11272690B2",
  "country": "US",
  "kind": "B2",
  "title": "Toy with mechanically locked inner capsule",
  "abstract": "A hollow, compressible or rigid hollow body has mechanical retaining devices such as sound generators, scent capsules, LED lights and vibrating mechanisms and identifying or responding detection elements held, secured and locked therein without the use of any solvents, glues, sonic welding, spin welding or other bonding materials. The hollow contaminant-free bodies are particularly useful for animals and recreation. Some of the above contain carcinogens harmful to animals if ingested.",
  "claims": [
    "1. An apparatus comprising: a toy having a hollow body, a hole and an invertible tube located inside of the hollow body and connected to the hollow body in continuation of an inside of the hole, an entertainment device within the hollow body of the toy, and at least one locking ring within the hollow body of the toy and locking the entertainment device on the tube between two layers of the tube, wherein the entertainment device is inserted, mechanically attached to and mechanically locked within the tube by the at least one locking ring on an outer side of the tube while the tube is extended outward from the hollow body of the toy, wherein the tube with the entertainment device mechanically locked therein is pushed into the body such that the at least one locking ring locks the tube and the entertainment device on an opposite side of the tube from the entertainment device in the absence of bonding material, glue, solvents, paint, epoxy, adhesive, ultrasound, ultra violet or radio frequency welding.",
    "2. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the entertainment device provides sound, vibrations, light or scent.",
    "3. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the toy is a hollow animal toy.",
    "4. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the tube is extended outward from the hollow body for receiving the entertainment device and wherein the at least one locking ring further comprises a mechanical clamp mechanically clamping the entertainment device in the outwardly extended inverted tube, wherein the entertainment device is clamped in the inverted tube and the tube with the entertainment device clamped therein is pushed through the hole into the hollow body with the clamping device on an opposite side of the tube from the entertainment device, reversing the tube and locking the entertainment device in the hollow body.",
    "5. The apparatus of claim 4, further comprising at least one stiffening rib formed along an outside of the tube when the tube is inside the hollow body.",
    "6. The apparatus of claim 4, wherein the at least one locking ring holding the entertainment device in the invertible tube is outside of the tube when a remainder of the tube is extended outside of the hollow body and the at least one locking ring is inside the tube when the tube is reversed inside the tube within the hollow body.",
    "7. The apparatus of claim 4, wherein the hollow body is a hollow ball having thick walls and the tube has relatively thin walls compared to the thick walls of the hollow ball wherein the hole is a large hole in one of the thick walls of the ball for admitting into the ball the tube with the entertainment device and the mechanical clamp clamping the entertainment device in the tube, and the ball having a relatively small hole in the thick wall opposite the large hole.",
    "8. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein a part of the entertainment device extends beyond the tube within the hollow body of the toy."
  ],
  "description_excerpt": "This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Application No. 62/394,993 filed Sep. 15, 2016, which is hereby incorporated by reference in its entirety as if fully set forth herein.\n\nThe invention is a hollow, compressible or rigid, animal toy with mechanical means of mounting internally retained devices such as sound generators, scent capsules, lights, and vibrating mechanisms and other devices without the use of any solvents, glues, sonic-welding, spin-welding, or other bonding materials that may contain carcinogens harmful to animals if ingested.\n\nThe invention has three ways of mechanically holding a pet entertaining device in a squeezable compressive or ridged ball or other shape. The device may generate sounds, emit light, scent or other desirable effects, or a microchip to assist in finding the shape. In one embodiment, an inverted integrally molded neck with a stiffening rib extends through an opening in the ball or shape. A device is inserted in the neck and secured therein with one or more locking belts, bands or rings and is pushed with the neck into the ball.\n\nIn another embodiment a ball is molded to capture a three-part plug which holds a device. A device is pushed into the inner part. An inner part with internal grippers is pushed through a molded hole into the ball. A collared outer part with external grippers is pushed through the molded opening into the inner part. The collar and wings on the inner part fix the holder and device within the ball. In a third embodiment a snap-in body holds a device and a vented pinch cap secures the holder.",
  "cpc": [
    "A01K 15/025",
    "A01K 15/021",
    "A63B 2039/003",
    "A63B 2071/0602",
    "A63B 2071/0625",
    "A63B 2071/0655",
    "A63B 2208/14",
    "A63B 2225/74",
    "A63B 43/00",
    "A63B 43/004",
    "A63B 43/04",
    "A63B 43/06",
    "A63B 45/00",
    "A63B 71/0622",
    "F16B 2/06"
  ],
  "ipc": [
    "A01K 15/02",
    "A63B 43/00",
    "F16B 2/06"
  ],
  "inventors": [
    "II Anthony Gelardi"
  ],
  "filing_date": "2017-09-14",
  "publication_date": "2022-03-15",
  "grant_date": "2022-03-15",
  "priority_date": "2016-09-15",
  "application_number": "US-201715704346-A",
  "family_id": "61558667",
  "cited_by_count": 3,
  "citations": [
    "US1595441A",
    "US3075317A",
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    "US10433523B2",
    "US10219489B2"
  ]
}