초록 ▼

A toy for animals, comprising an outer, hollow shell member of elastomeric material. The shell member has at least one hole to provide communication between the hollow interior and the exterior thereof. A hollow, flexible insert is disposed within the shell member and is at least partially in contac

A toy for animals, comprising an outer, hollow shell member of elastomeric material. The shell member has at least one hole to provide communication between the hollow interior and the exterior thereof. A hollow, flexible insert is disposed within the shell member and is at least partially in contact therewith. The hollow insert can have a recessed portion or an integral center core. An acoustic cartridge is disposed in a port of the hollow insert.

대표청구항 ▼

What I claim is: 1. A toy for animals, comprising: an outer, hollow shell member of elastomeric material, wherein said shell member has at least one hole that is open between the hollow interior and the exterior of said shell member; a single hollow, flexible insert disposed within said shell membe

What I claim is: 1. A toy for animals, comprising: an outer, hollow shell member of elastomeric material, wherein said shell member has at least one hole that is open between the hollow interior and the exterior of said shell member; a single hollow, flexible insert disposed within said shell member and constantly in at least partial contact therewith, wherein said hollow insert has two oppositely disposed and generally flat ends, further wherein said single hollow insert has a generally cylindrical configuration with a curved outer surface between said two generally flat ends, further wherein said curved outer surface of said hollow insert is provided with a recessed portion in the form of a groove or notch that extends linearly from one of said flat ends to the opposite flat end of said hollow insert, further wherein said recessed portion extends radially inwardly from said curved outer surface of said insert and has two side walls extending inwardly from said curved outer surface, and also has a base that connects said side walls remote from said curved outer surface, further wherein said recessed portion is open to the hollow interior of said shell member but is closed to an interior of said hollow insert, and wherein said hollow insert has a port disposed in said base or one of said side walls of said recessed portion, or in one of said generally flat ends of said hollow insert; and an acoustic cartridge disposed in said port of said hollow insert. 2. A toy according to claim 1, wherein said port is a hole in the base of said groove. 3. A toy according to claim 1, wherein said hollow insert is in the form of a bladder. 4. A toy according to claim 1, wherein said port is in the form of a nipple that is monolithic with said hollow insert and extends outwardly therefrom or inwardly into an interior thereof. 5. A toy according to claim 1, wherein said hollow insert is contoured at least partially in conformance to an inner contour of said shell member. 6. A toy according to claim 1, wherein said acoustic cartridge is a squeaker cartridge. 7. A toy according to claim 6, wherein said squeaker cartridge includes an acoustic chamber member. 8. A toy according to claim 7, wherein said acoustic chamber member includes an element covered by a membrane. 9. A toy according to claim 1, wherein said shell member is more rigid than is said hollow insert. 10. A toy according to claim 9, wherein said shell member is made of a natural rubber or a thermoset rubber and has a Shore A hardness of 25-85, and wherein said hollow insert is made of LDPE, latex, polyurethane, HDPE or ABS resin. 11. A toy according to claim 1, wherein spacers are disposed on at least one of said shell member and said hollow insert and are disposed between them. 12. A toy according to claim 1, wherein said hollow insert is in contact with at least 5% of an inner surface of said shell member. 13. A toy according to claim 12, wherein said hollow insert is in contact with at least 40% of an inner surface of said shell member. 14. A toy according to claim 1, wherein said shell member is provided with two holes that are disposed diametrically across from one another.