Pet Toy Rope Support Configuration for Tug Durability
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing pet toys made from fabric and rope are prone to tearing and stuffing release during tugging and biting, leading to short durability and potential ingestion of fabric material by animals.
Innovation Solution
A pet toy design featuring interlocking rope loops with knots that provide internal support and bulk, allowing the fabric to maintain integrity by distributing force away from the fabric, eliminating the need for traditional stuffing and enhancing durability.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If fabric material is used for pet toy exterior, then the toy provides a soft and appealing surface for animals, but the fabric is easily torn by tugging and biting actions
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies different material properties to different parts of the toy: the exterior uses soft fabric for animal appeal, while the interior uses strong rope material for structural support and bite resistance. This local differentiation allows each material to perform its optimal function without compromising the other.
Solution Approach 2:
The toy combines fabric and rope materials into a composite structure where the fabric covering envelops an internal rope framework. This composite construction integrates the softness of fabric with the strength of rope, resolving the contradiction between surface appeal and structural durability.
2Volume of stationary object
If traditional stuffing is placed within the fabric toy, then the toy provides bulk and shape, but the stuffing is released when the fabric is compromised
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the stuffing material from the toy construction and replaces it with an internal rope framework. The rope material provides the necessary bulk and structural support that stuffing would otherwise provide, but with the added benefit of being contained within the fabric and resistant to release during play.
Solution Approach 2:
The rope material serves as an intermediary structure between the fabric exterior and the empty space inside. It provides the bulk and shape functions of stuffing while being more reliable and contained, acting as a mediator that prevents fabric compromise and stuffing release.
3Strength
If rope material is used for internal support, then the toy structure becomes more durable, but the complexity of rope configuration increases
Solution Approach 1:
The internal rope structure is segmented into multiple independent loops rather than using a single complex framework. Each loop can be independently configured and secured, simplifying the overall construction process while providing distributed structural support throughout the toy body.
Solution Approach 2:
The rope loops are nested within the fabric covering, with the fabric enveloping the rope structure. This nesting arrangement simplifies the external appearance while containing the structural complexity internally, making the toy easier to manufacture and assemble.
Data Source
AI summary
A pet toy includes a flexible body with rope support configurations. In one embodiment, the rope configurations include one or more loops that are exposed and one or more knots that are covered by an exterior plush component of the pet toy. In another embodiment, two or more strands of rope material are tied in a series of knots, and an additional strand of rope material may be tied to the other strands in a transverse fashion. Preferably, the exterior plush component includes fabric. One or more of the free ends of the strands of rope material may also protrude beyond the plush component. The fabric material is sewn over the exposed portions of the rope material. Enough fabric material is used such that twisting, extending and retracting the rope material does not transfer force directly to the exterior fabric, thereby preserving the exterior plush component. The knots provide internal bulk to the body of the toy eliminating the need for stuffing. The knots also provide a robust structure for biting and tugging that can aid in dental cleaning. The exposed loops or free ends of the rope material act as handles for grasping by the pet owner or animal.