GB2402351A

GB2402351A - Toy animal with lead

Info

Publication number: GB2402351A
Application number: GB0309601A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Wayne Gary Shoveller
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2003-04-26
Filing date: 2003-04-26
Publication date: 2004-12-08
Anticipated expiration: 2023-04-26
Also published as: GB2402351B

Abstract

The invention provides a plaything comprising a toy animal (1), such as a dog, having a wand (3) flexibly attached thereto. The toy animal (1) and wand (3) being configured so that when the wand (3) is held in a user's hand, it creates an impression of the toy animal (1) being held on a lead. Preferably the wand is attached to the toy animal (1) by means of a collar around the neck of the animal (1). The toy animal (1) may be provided with means for producing a characteristic sound, the means being activated by a proximity sensor. The toy animal (1) may also be of a 'stuffed' construction.

Description

1 240235 1

A PLAYTHING

This invention relates to a plaything and in particular to a toy animal.

More specifically, the invention provides a plaything comprising a toy animal having a wand flexibly attached thereto, the toy animal and wand being configured so that when the wand is held in a user's hand, it creates an impression of the toy animal being held on a lead.

The user, e.g. a child, can move the wand thereby moving the animal and creating an impression that the animal is walking or swimming. A more realistic movement may be achieved by forming the wand from a flexible and preferably resilient material. For example, the wand can be formed from a length of stiff but springy thin rod or tubing (for example made from a plastics material or a suitably resilient metal).

It is preferred that the wand is constructed so that it is not substantially permanently deformed or bent by normal movement of the wand.

The wand is preferably coloured to give the appearance of a lead. Thus, for example, where the wand is formed from a metal (e.g. a metal wire), it is preferred that the metal is coated or covered.

The wand may be formed so that it is straight or bowed. In one embodiment, it can be made of a sufficiently thin rod or tube that it bows slightly when held by the user.

The toy animal is typically a toy mammal, for example a four legged animal. It may take the form of, for example, a dog, cat, horse, donkey, hedgehog, rabbit, fox, badger, lion, tiger, elephant, giraffe, sheep (e.g. Iamb), cow or pig. Alternatively, the toy animal may take the form of a marine mammal such as a dolphin, whale or seal. In a further alternative, the animal could take the form of a bird, such as a duck.

The toy animal is preferably a dog.

The toy animal is typically a three dimensional form. The toy animal can be made by moulding from a suitable material such as plastics, or can take the form of a stuffed toy made e.g. by conventional methods.

The toy animal can be flexibly attached to the wand by means of a harness or collar, and preferably is attached to the wand by means of a collar around the neck of the animal. The collar can contain a name tag for the animal, and each animal can be provided with an individualized name tag, e.g. a name disc. The collar can also be provided with one or more lights, e.g. flashing lights such as flashing light stars, around its circumference.

The appearance of a lead can be enhanced by providing the end of the wand remote from the toy animal with a loop for holding in the hand of the user.

The toy animal can be provided with means for producing a characteristic sound.

In the case of a toy dog, the characteristic sound will typically be a barking sound.

Electronic devices for producing sounds are well known and need not be described in detail here. The means for making the sound can be programmed to produce different sounds or combinations of sounds at different times. For example, in the case of a toy dog, the sound means can be programmed to bark once, twice or three times. Instructions can be provided so that the user is informed that the dog will bark three times when feeding is required, twice when walking is needed and once when attention is sought.

The means for producing the sound can be activated by a proximity sensor. Thus, the toy animal (e.g. toy dog) will only make a noise when movement (e.g. the movement of a child or other human) is detected thereby saving on battery life for the sound producing means.

The toy animal can be provided with "clothes" such as a dog coat, so as to provide a further means of individualizing the toy animal.

One embodiment of the invention is shown in Figure I which is a schematic view of a plaything in the form of a toy dog.

The toy dog I in this embodiment is a stuffed toy formed in conventional fashion from a fabric outer casing and containing a suitable stuffing material. The toy dog has a collar 2 around its neck which can bear a name disc (not shown). The name disc can be individualized either by the user or before sale, so that each dog sold is given an individual identity.

Attached to the collar 2 by means of a small fabric or metal loop (not shown) is a resilient wand 3 formed from a thin flexible springy plastics rod coloured to resemble a lead. In this embodiment, the wand 3 is shown as being straight, but it could equally be bowed to create an impression of the dog being held loosely on the 1 0 lead.

At the end of the wand 3 remote from the toy dog I, the wand is provided with a loop 4 to be held by the user, thus further assisting in creating the impression of a lead.

In use, the user can move the wand up and down, the resilience or springiness of the wand causing the dog to bounce up and down. By moving the wand in a controlled whilst walking along, the dog can be made to bounce from front feet to hind feet and back thereby creating an impression that the dog is also walking.

Thus the dog can act as a pretend pet substitute and this may be facilitated by providing the dog with an electronic means for making a barking sound, as described above. Moreover, the dog can be provided with "clothes", e.g. a coat, so as to add to its individual appearance The toy dog shown in Figure 1 is merely exemplary of one embodiment of the invention and it will readily be apparent that numerous modifications and alterations may be made to the specific embodiment described above without departing from the principles underlying the invention. All such modifications and alterations are intended to be embraced by this application.

Claims

1. A plaything comprising a toy animal having a wand flexibly attached thereto, the toy animal and wand being configured so that when the wand is held in a user's hand, it creates an impression of the toy animal being held on a lead.

2. A plaything according to claim I wherein the wand is resilient.

3. A plaything according to claim 1 or claim 2 wherein the toy animal is a stuffed toy.

4. A plaything according to any one of the preceding claims wherein the toy animal is a four legged animal.

5. A plaything according to any one of the preceding claims wherein the toy animal takes the form of a dog, cat, horse, donkey, hedgehog, rabbit, fox, badger, lion, tiger, elephant, giraffe, sheep (e.g. Iamb), cow or pig, a marine mammal such as a dolphin, whale or seal, or a bird such as a duck.

6. A plaything according to claim 5 wherein the toy animal is a dog.

7. A plaything according to any one of the preceding claims wherein the toy animal is flexibly attached to the wand by means of a harness or collar.

8. A plaything according to claim 7 wherein the toy animal is attached to the wand by means of a collar around the neck of the animal.

9. A plaything according to any one of the preceding claims wherein the toy animal is provided with means for producing a characteristic sound.

10. A plaything according to claim 9 wherein the means for producing the sound is activated by a proximity sensor.

11. A plaything substantially as described herein with reference to the drawing Figure 1.