Pet Toy With Resorbable Interrupted Stitching to Reduce Ingestion Risk

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Solution Overview

Problem

Linear foreign bodies, such as strings or threads, can be ingested by pets and cause life-threatening conditions due to their interaction with the cat's papillae, leading to gastrointestinal blockages or tears, and the risk of intestinal perforation.

Innovation Solution

A pet toy constructed with an elastomeric substrate and interrupted or discontinuous stitches made from resorbable or absorbable materials, ensuring the stitches break down quickly and do not pose a risk if ingested, with hidden seams to minimize the likelihood of ingestion.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If traditional stitching materials are used in pet toys, then the toy structure is strong and durable, but the stitches can be ingested by pets and cause life-threatening gastrointestinal conditions

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvetoy durabilityVSAvoidingestion risk

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The patent changes the material parameter of the stitching from non-resorbable to resorbable or absorbable materials, transforming the stitches into a safe form that degrades if ingested while maintaining initial structural integrity for play durability

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

Solution Approach 2:

The stitching is designed as a temporary component that serves its structural purpose during play but is intentionally made to degrade and disappear if ingested, converting a permanent harmful element into a temporary safe one

Inventive Principle:

Principle #27Cheap short-living objects (Disposable)

2Strength

If continuous seams are used in pet toys, then the toy structure is intact and strong, but the seams increase the likelihood of ingestion by linear foreign bodies

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveseam strengthVSAvoidingestion likelihood

Core Design Contradiction:

StrengthVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The patent divides continuous seams into interrupted or discontinuous stitching patterns, breaking the linear foreign body pathway into segmented sections that are less likely to be ingested as complete linear objects while maintaining structural strength through distributed stitch points

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Applied Scientific Principles

This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.

Function Achieved in This Case

The pet toy design minimizes the risk of linear foreign bodies causing harm by ensuring the stitches degrade rapidly and are less likely to be ingested, reducing the risk of gastrointestinal issues in pets.

Implementation Method 1

A plurality of stitches spaced apart along the seam in an interrupted or discontinuous pattern to join the first lateral edge and the second lateral edge, wherein the stitches comprise a resorbable or absorbable material configured to degrade if ingested by a pet

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectResorption/Degradation: Decomposition (biological)

Data Source

PatentUS20250255275A1Pet Toy

Publication Date: 2025.08.14 PEGG CHRISTINA SHANNON

AI summary

In some aspects, a pet toy includes a first substrate folded to dispose a first lateral edge adjacent a second lateral edge opposite to the first lateral edge to define a seam between the first lateral edge and the second lateral edge and a plurality of stitches, spaced apart along the seam in an interrupted pattern, to join the first lateral edge and the second lateral edge.