GB2631414A - A combined walking stick and dog toy device - Google Patents

A COMBINED WALKING STICK AND DOG TOY DEVICE, Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a combined walking stick and dog toy device, in particular a device for

Background

Many people in many societies keep or look after dogs.

Dogs typically require a great deal of exercise, and this can be problematic for some owners or custodians. Such people may struggle to maintain the fitness levels that may be required to interact fully with their dogs, and ensure also that the dog receives enough exercise.

For example an owner or custodian of the dog may wish to take the dog for a walk and/or play with the dog to give it exercise, such as making the dog chase a ball, but they may have limitations to mobility.

Prior Art

GB 0 204 413 (ROBERTS) discloses a device for picking up and throwing a ball of a generally known diameter, such as a tennis ball, the device comprising an arm having a first end to be gripped by a user of the device and a second end connected to a container for releasably holding the ball to be thrown, the container having an opening remote from the second end of the arm through which the ball can pass by a push-fit, the push-fit being sufficient to allow the ball to enter the container when the ball is lying on the ground and downward pressure is applied to the arm from the first end, whilst allowing the ball to be released from the container when the arm is swung vigorously by the user of the device.

US 4 794 905 (WOOLARD) discloses a combination ball throwing implement and ball element, wherein said ball-throwing implement comprises: an elongated flexible shaft having a grip end portion and an opposite end portion; a sleeve mounted on said opposite end portion; a magnetic attractive ball shaft secured coaxially to said flexible shaft by said sleeve; magnetic retaining means including a magnet positioned on said ball shaft at the outer end of said sleeve distal from said opposite end portion; and, said ball element comprises a ball having a diametrical bore and a magnetic member positioned within said bore, said magnetic member adapted to slidably engage said magnetic attractive ball shaft and to coact with said magnetic retaining means to hold said ball on said shaft, said implement upon application of centrifugal force, releasing said ball with a uniform time of release.

US 4 634 121 (SASAKI) discloses a bat swing practice means comprising a shaft body having a predetermined length to be swung, a weight axially slidably put on said shaft body, and means for engaging and disengaging said weight with and from said shaft body, said means including a plurality of engagement holes formed in said shaft body at spaced intervals therealong and an engagement projection on said weight, said projection being adapted to be resiliently engaged with and disengaged from any one of said engagement holes in said shaft body, said weight including a peripheral groove, and said engagement projection being secured to a loop-shape leaf spring resiliently fitted in said peripheral groove.

Summary of the Invention

According to the present invention there is provided a combined walking stick and dog toy device comprising: an elongated rigid pole with a handle at a first end and a ground engaging tip at the distal second end, having an intermediate toy engagement catch of a first diameter; and a missile, wherein the missile comprises a resiliently deformable body, wherein the body comprises an internal longitudinal cylindrical passage for the pole of a second lesser diameter.

It may be envisaged that the device of the present invention in this way combines a walking aid with a means of exercising a pet dog or similar, with minimal requirements to walk long distances unless desired.

In addition or the alternative the rigid pole enables a user to thrust the pole through the passage easily and effectively. It may be envisaged that the missile may be pushed along the pole against a structure, all so as to avoid users with mobility limitations bending, and/or any need for touching a dirty surface.

In use the pole may be whipped to displace and project the missile in a selected direction and with selective force to attempt to place said missile in a preselected area, wherein in use the missile will be.thrown from the pole by a centrifugal force when the pole is swung by a user.

In some embodiments of the device the missile is an elongated ellipsoidal form, similar to a rugby or American football form. This may be envisaged to allow for the missile to fly through the air better, as well as reducing the diameter of the missile's extension from the pole when in place thereon.

In some embodiments of the device the missile is closed cellular structure foam, such as an impermeable plastic like polyethylene, which may prevent waterlogging, as well as being resistant to tearing giving less likelihood of damage in use from the dog's teeth.

In some embodiments of the device the catch is equidistal the ends, such that the missile is held in a manner that provides minimal interference with the handle, tip or surrounding area of the pole.

It may be envisaged that in some embodiments of the device the catch comprises an annular extension from the pole, extending in all directions laterally from the pole. In other embodiments the catch may comprise a hook, or in still further embodiments the catch may comprise a plurality of fingers extending orthogonally from the pole.

In some embodiments of the device the device comprises a plurality of catches for a plurality of missiles, such that a user may preload the pole and use missiles as and when required, for example for multiple dogs.

It may be envisaged that the missile(s) may be secure on the catch(es). For example the missile may need to be manually displaced from the catch prior to launching.

Additionally or alternatively the catch may comprise a threaded connection means for the missile, so as to allow for the missile to be secured on the pole when not being used for launching.

In some embodiments of the device the passage of the missile comprises an enlarged diameter receiving rebate for receipt of the catch, so as to better secure the missile on the catch when received.

In some embodiments of the device the pole is telescopic. It may be envisaged that the pole may be formed of a plurality of sections which may be envisaged to slid coaxially so as to reduce the size of the device in use, for transport or storage purposes.

It may be envisaged that the catch may remain operable even when the sections have been telescoped down to a transport or storage arrangement.

In some embodiments of the device the device comprises a lanyard attachment point, such that the user may attach the device to themselves in some way, to limit loss during usage and/or to provide device with somewhere to be hung.

In some embodiments of the device for example the device comprises a wrist strap, so as to be strapped to the user's wrist both when hiking and when launching the missile.

In some embodiments of the device the handle comprises a padded handgrip. This handle or handgrip may be convenient to use in more than one orientation or attitude of the pole, such that the pole may be effective in us when hiking as well as launching. For example the handle may extend laterally from the pole and/or comprise a domed top and/or a longitudinally extending handgrip.

In some embodiments of the device the device comprises a bag storage compartment, for example for receipt and transport of pet faeces bags. It may be envisaged that the compartment may comprise an open cavity, or hinged cover, and/or an access slot. In this way the user may readily have bags available during a walk with their dog or otherwise.

In some embodiments of the device the device comprises a light source, such as a light emitting diode located at the tip so as to provide a warning light and/or illumination of the surroundings. Further embodiments may have gas storage and release, and/or a loudspeaker so as to provide a warning signal.

In some embodiments of the device the device comprises a lateral slot from an outer face of the body to the cylindrical passage A preferred embodiment of the invention will now be described by way of example only and with reference to the Figures in which:

Brief Description of Figures

Figure 1 shows an isometric view of an embodiment of the device according to the present invention, with missile displaced; Figure 2 shows a reverse isometric view of the embodiment of the device as shown in Figure 1; Figure 3 shows an isometric view of an embodiment of the device shown in Figure 1, with missile in place; Figure 4 shows a reverse isometric view of the embodiment of the device as shown in Figure 3; Figure 5 shows two of the embodiments of the device shown in Figure 1, with different size missiles in place; Figure 6 shows an exploded isometric view of the embodiment of the device shown in Figure 1; Figure 7 shows a reverse exploded isometric view of the embodiment of the device shown in Figure 1; Figure 8 shows an isometric view of the embodiment of the device shown in Figure 1, retracted telescopically; And Figure 9 shows a reverse isometric view of the embodiment of the device as shown in Figure 8.

petalled Description of Fiaures

With reference to the figures there is shown an embodiment of a combined walking stick and dog toy device 99 generally comprising: an elongated rigid pole 1 with a handle 10 at a first end and a ground engaging tip 17 at the distal second end, having an intermediate toy engagement catch 15; and a missile 2, wherein the missile comprises a resiliently deformable body, wherein the body comprises an internal longitudinal cylindrical passage 21 for the pole.

In particular reference to the pictured embodiment the embodiment comprises three rigid tubular sections 12,14,16 which may be envisaged to be provided in stainless steel or anodised aluminium.

The sections are longitudinally and axially telescopic, so as to allow for the transport and storage of the device to be easy.

In order to facilitate coaxial telescoping the sections are joined by slip collars 13, and the catch 15 encircles one of these, wherein the collar and catch thereby allow axial sliding. Both the collar and the catch may be envisaged to be locked by turning the sections about the longitudinal axis.

The proximal end of the pole provides the handle, and the distal end of the pole provides the tip.

The tip may comprise metal or alloy, or comprises a resilient rubber such as latex, silicone or nitrile rubber.

In some other embodiments the tip may comprise a spike, and/or may be envisaged to provide a tip similar to a walking pole.

The handle 10 is provided by a silicone or plastic handgrip, for example in acrylonitrile butadiene styrene (ABS) or similar.

The handle in the pictured embodiment comprises a cylindrical handgrip, with a moulded circular top section of an enlarged diameter and an annular bottom lip.

The top section is a circular disc which has a lanyard attachment point perimetrically.

In the pictured embodiment the lanyard attachment point is used for a wrist strap 11 which may be formed in a plastic or cotton webbing material.

The collar is formed in a plastic such as ABS, and is located between the handle section of the pole and a middle section.

The catch is located between the tip section of the pole and the middle section, and is provided in ABS or similar plastic moulding.

The catch has a bulbous enlarged central ring with an arcuate sectional profile.

The missile 2 comprises an elongated ellipsoidal body with a central longitudinal cylindrical passage 21.

The passage may comprise an enlarged rebate midway along axially, which is arranged to receive the catch.

The missile is a monolithic body provided in resiliently deformable closed cellular structure foam such as polyethylene.

There may be a longitudinal slit in the body for entrance of the pole to the passage The invention has been described by way of examples only and it will be appreciated that variation may be made to the above-mentioned embodiments without departing from the scope of protection as defined by the claims.