GB2316888A - Therapeutic toy - Google Patents
Therapeutic toy Download PDFInfo
- Publication number
- GB2316888A GB2316888A GB9726638A GB9726638A GB2316888A GB 2316888 A GB2316888 A GB 2316888A GB 9726638 A GB9726638 A GB 9726638A GB 9726638 A GB9726638 A GB 9726638A GB 2316888 A GB2316888 A GB 2316888A
- Authority
- GB
- United Kingdom
- Prior art keywords
- ball
- sleeve
- rod
- toy
- intermediate element
- Prior art date
- Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
- Granted
Links
- 230000001225 therapeutic effect Effects 0.000 title abstract description 5
- 229920003023 plastic Polymers 0.000 claims abstract description 5
- 239000004033 plastic Substances 0.000 claims abstract description 5
- 241001465754 Metazoa Species 0.000 abstract description 10
- 206010048909 Boredom Diseases 0.000 abstract description 4
- 235000013305 food Nutrition 0.000 description 6
- 230000008878 coupling Effects 0.000 description 3
- 238000010168 coupling process Methods 0.000 description 3
- 238000005859 coupling reaction Methods 0.000 description 3
- 230000000694 effects Effects 0.000 description 2
- 235000011297 Brassica napobrassica Nutrition 0.000 description 1
- 240000002791 Brassica napus Species 0.000 description 1
- 244000000626 Daucus carota Species 0.000 description 1
- 235000002767 Daucus carota Nutrition 0.000 description 1
- 244000141359 Malus pumila Species 0.000 description 1
- 235000021016 apples Nutrition 0.000 description 1
- 230000000712 assembly Effects 0.000 description 1
- 238000000429 assembly Methods 0.000 description 1
- 230000003542 behavioural effect Effects 0.000 description 1
- 235000013399 edible fruits Nutrition 0.000 description 1
- 239000000463 material Substances 0.000 description 1
- 230000000087 stabilizing effect Effects 0.000 description 1
- 235000013311 vegetables Nutrition 0.000 description 1
- XLYOFNOQVPJJNP-UHFFFAOYSA-N water Substances O XLYOFNOQVPJJNP-UHFFFAOYSA-N 0.000 description 1
Classifications
-
- A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
- A01—AGRICULTURE; FORESTRY; ANIMAL HUSBANDRY; HUNTING; TRAPPING; FISHING
- A01K—ANIMAL HUSBANDRY; AVICULTURE; APICULTURE; PISCICULTURE; FISHING; REARING OR BREEDING ANIMALS, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR; NEW BREEDS OF ANIMALS
- A01K15/00—Devices for taming animals, e.g. nose-rings or hobbles; Devices for overturning animals in general; Training or exercising equipment; Covering boxes
- A01K15/02—Training or exercising equipment, e.g. mazes or labyrinths for animals ; Electric shock devices ; Toys specially adapted for animals
- A01K15/025—Toys specially adapted for animals
Landscapes
- Life Sciences & Earth Sciences (AREA)
- Environmental Sciences (AREA)
- Health & Medical Sciences (AREA)
- General Health & Medical Sciences (AREA)
- Physical Education & Sports Medicine (AREA)
- Animal Behavior & Ethology (AREA)
- Zoology (AREA)
- Animal Husbandry (AREA)
- Biodiversity & Conservation Biology (AREA)
- Toys (AREA)
Abstract
The present invention relates to a therapeutic toy, in particular to a toy which helps to prevent boredom in horses and other animals. There is described an apparatus comprising a ball and means for suspending the ball from an object and further including an intermediate element over which is provided a tubular sleeve. Typically, the intermediate element comprises a plastics rod or a chain. The tubular sleeve is removable from the apparatus.
Description
THERAPEUTIC TOY
The present invention relates to a therapeutic toy, in particular to a toy which helps to prevent boredom in horses and other animals.
It is well known that when kept in confined areas, animals become bored. This can lead to behavioural problems such as pacing up and down and head swinging. In extreme cases, the animal can begin to inflict damage upon itself and its surroundings.
This can occur with caged animals, but also with horses, when confined to stables for any length of time.
The present invention seeks to provide an apparatus, which at least helps, to alleviate these problems.
In its broadest sense, the present invention provides an apparatus comprising a ball and means for suspending the ball from an object and further including an intermediate element over which is provided a tubular sleeve.
Typically, the intermediate element comprises a plastics rod or a chain. Suitably, the ball can be suspended from an object using a rope loop.
Preferably, the sleeve is removable to enable pieces of food to be pushed onto the sleeve.
The above and other aspects of the present invention will now be described in further detail, by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying figure, which shows an exemplary embodiment of an apparatus in accordance with the present invention.
With reference to the drawing, the embodiment of the therapeutic toy shown generally at 10, has, at its lower end a ball 11, coupled to a loop of rope 12 by which the apparatus can be hung from a suitable support, such a beam in a stable. Intermediate the rope 12 and the ball 11 is a rod 13 over which a tubular sleeve 14 is freely movable. Suitably, the rod 13 and sleeve 14 are made from resilient plastics materials.
The sleeve can suitably be made from conventional PVC plastics water pipe. Ball 11 can simply be of the beach ball type.
Rod 13 is detachably coupled to the ball 11 and/or loop of rope 12 by any suitable means. As shown, rod 13 has respective loops at its upper and lower ends. At its lower end, the rod can be coupled to the ball 11 by means of a coupling 20 commonly used in key rings as a belt clip. Coupling 20 is secured, in turn, to the ball through a ring 21 to a sucker 22, glued or otherwise secured to the ball 11. The couplings and rope loop 12 allow the apparatus to swing freely from its support.
The rod 13 is detachable from the ball 11 to allow the tubular sleeve 14 to be removed.
It is a feature of the present invention that the tubular sleeve can be removed and items of food such as apples, carrots, swede etc. can be fed onto the sleeve, simply by pushing the sleeve through the fruit or vegetable, in the manner of an apple-corer. The sleeve 14 is then passed over the rod 13 and the ball 11 re-secured to the lower end of the rod. Alternatively, the sleeve 14 can simply be coated with treacle or another food product which the animal in question finds appealing. The presence of food encourages the animal to 'play' with the apparatus. As the creature aims to take a bite from or lick the food, the apparatus will tend to swing from its support. The presence of an enlarged feature such as a ball at the lower end of the rod accentuates this as the animal's head or body will tend to knock the ball and thus the whole apparatus before the animal can secure the food between its teeth. By this means, the animal is provided with amusement and activity which will help to alleviate boredom and the psychological problems which can arise from boredom.
Numerous alternative assemblies achieving the same technical effect will be immediately apparent to the skilled reader. For example, whilst a rigid element such as rod 13 aids in relocating sleeve 14 into position, equally satisfactory results have been achieved using a chain.
Claims (5)
1. An apparatus comprising a ball and means for suspending the ball from an object and further including an intermediate element over which is provided a tubular sleeve.
2. An apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein the intermediate element comprises a plastics rod.
3. An apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein the intermediate element comprises a length of chain.
4. An apparatus as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 3 wherein the tubular sleeve is removable from the apparatus.
5. An apparatus substantially as herein described with reference to the accompanying drawing.
Priority Applications (1)
| Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
|---|---|---|---|
| GB9726638A GB2316888B (en) | 1997-12-17 | 1997-12-17 | Therapeutic toy |
Applications Claiming Priority (1)
| Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
|---|---|---|---|
| GB9726638A GB2316888B (en) | 1997-12-17 | 1997-12-17 | Therapeutic toy |
Publications (3)
| Publication Number | Publication Date |
|---|---|
| GB9726638D0 GB9726638D0 (en) | 1998-02-18 |
| GB2316888A true GB2316888A (en) | 1998-03-11 |
| GB2316888B GB2316888B (en) | 2000-05-10 |
Family
ID=10823744
Family Applications (1)
| Application Number | Title | Priority Date | Filing Date |
|---|---|---|---|
| GB9726638A Expired - Lifetime GB2316888B (en) | 1997-12-17 | 1997-12-17 | Therapeutic toy |
Country Status (1)
| Country | Link |
|---|---|
| GB (1) | GB2316888B (en) |
Cited By (3)
| Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| GB2420263A (en) * | 2004-11-23 | 2006-05-24 | Thalia White | A therapeutic toy for horses |
| CN102879989A (en) * | 2012-10-17 | 2013-01-16 | 中国人民解放军第四军医大学 | Wide-view-angle virtual reality projecting device for animal experiments |
| US9326488B2 (en) | 2013-11-29 | 2016-05-03 | Haider Zainy | Toy tether |
Citations (1)
| Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| GB1263269A (en) * | 1968-12-13 | 1972-02-09 | Richmond Ernest Hall | Golf practice device |
-
1997
- 1997-12-17 GB GB9726638A patent/GB2316888B/en not_active Expired - Lifetime
Patent Citations (1)
| Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| GB1263269A (en) * | 1968-12-13 | 1972-02-09 | Richmond Ernest Hall | Golf practice device |
Cited By (4)
| Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| GB2420263A (en) * | 2004-11-23 | 2006-05-24 | Thalia White | A therapeutic toy for horses |
| GB2420263B (en) * | 2004-11-23 | 2009-01-21 | Thalia White | Equine toy |
| CN102879989A (en) * | 2012-10-17 | 2013-01-16 | 中国人民解放军第四军医大学 | Wide-view-angle virtual reality projecting device for animal experiments |
| US9326488B2 (en) | 2013-11-29 | 2016-05-03 | Haider Zainy | Toy tether |
Also Published As
| Publication number | Publication date |
|---|---|
| GB2316888B (en) | 2000-05-10 |
| GB9726638D0 (en) | 1998-02-18 |
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Legal Events
| Date | Code | Title | Description |
|---|---|---|---|
| 732E | Amendments to the register in respect of changes of name or changes affecting rights (sect. 32/1977) | ||
| PCNP | Patent ceased through non-payment of renewal fee |
Effective date: 20111217 |
|
| S28 | Restoration of ceased patents (sect. 28/pat. act 1977) |
Free format text: APPLICATION FILED |
|
| S28 | Restoration of ceased patents (sect. 28/pat. act 1977) |
Free format text: RESTORATION ALLOWED Effective date: 20140626 |
|
| PE20 | Patent expired after termination of 20 years |
Expiry date: 20171216 |