Spinnable Pet Toy with Balanced Arms

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Solution Overview

Problem

Conventional pet toys often compromise on durability due to added complexity, leading to reduced useful life and inconvenience in use, as seen in deformable and electronic designs that are prone to failure when exposed to liquids or damaged by pets.

Innovation Solution

A spinnable pet toy with a central hub and equally spaced, equally weighted arms made from a single molded material, allowing for balanced rotation and assembly-free operation, constructed from materials like wood, metal, or plastic, ensuring durability and ease of use.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Adaptability or versatility

If conventional pet toys add complexity to amuse the pet, then the pet's amusement and exercise are improved, but the toy's durability and useful life are reduced

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveamusement capabilityVSAvoiddurability

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The toy is divided into three separate functional components: a spin element (with asymmetric weight distribution for spinning motion), a bounce element (for bouncing behavior), and a chew element (for chewing interaction). These segments are connected through a connector, allowing each to perform its specific function independently while contributing to overall pet engagement without requiring complex integrated mechanisms

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

Each component of the toy serves multiple purposes: the spin element provides both spinning amusement and chewing surface, the bounce element provides bouncing action and chewing surface, and the chew element provides chewing functionality and structural connection. This multi-functionality reduces the need for additional separate components, maintaining simplicity while enhancing versatility

Inventive Principle:

Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

2Adaptability or versatility

If conventional pet toys add complexity to amuse the pet, then the pet's amusement and exercise are improved, but the manufacturing cost and assembly complexity increase

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveamusement capabilityVSAvoidassembly simplicity

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSEase of manufacture

Solution Approach 1:

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The toy is designed with replaceable components that can be individually substituted if damaged. The connector allows for easy replacement of spin, bounce, or chew elements without replacing the entire toy, extending the overall useful life and reducing long-term manufacturing costs

Inventive Principle:

Principle #27Cheap short-living objects (Disposable)

3Adaptability or versatility

If electronic components are added to pet toys for amusement, then the pet's engagement is improved, but the toy's reliability is reduced due to susceptibility to liquid damage and mechanical failure

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveamusement capabilityVSAvoidresistance to liquid and mechanical damage

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The patent replaces electronic actuation mechanisms with passive mechanical elements. The spin element relies on asymmetric weight distribution and pet interaction to initiate and sustain spinning motion without motors. The bounce element uses elastic properties rather than powered mechanisms. This eliminates all electronic components, making the toy inherently resistant to liquid damage and mechanical failure while maintaining engaging behavior

Inventive Principle:

Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

Solution Approach 2:

The toy components are designed to function autonomously through their physical properties. The spin element self-spins when contacted due to its asymmetric weight distribution, the bounce element self-bounces through elastic recovery, and the chew element provides tactile feedback through its texture and firmness. No external power source or control system is required, eliminating electronic failure points

Inventive Principle:

Principle #25Self-service

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 toy maintains balanced rotation and durability, reducing the likelihood of damage and extending its useful life by eliminating the need for assembly and minimizing electronic failures, thus providing sustained amusement and exercise for pets without the complexities of prior designs.

Implementation Method 1

The central hub if formed such that a portion of the central hub lies in a different plane than the pet toy arms and arm ends, which permits the pet toy to be freely rotated on the hub as the central axis around which the arms and arm ends rotate.

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectCentrifugal force: Centrifugal Force

Implementation Method 2

One pet toy arm and arm end of the present invention may be substantially equal in weight to any other of the pet toy arm and arm ends included in the invention. This ensure that the pet toy arms and arm ends are equally balanced around the central hub.

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectMoment of inertia: Moment of Inertia

Data Source

PatentUS10986814B2Spinnable pet toy

Publication Date: 2021.04.27 WILLINGHAM LEEBOB

AI summary

A spinnagle pet toy is taught which comprises at least three equally displace appendages projecting out from a central hub. The pet toy appendages may include weighted ends to facilitate angular rotation of the pet toy. The pet toy weighted ends may include cavities, but all preferably weighted equally.