Elevator/Staircase Toy for Small Animals

1. Field of the Invention

This invention relates to a toy for small animals (hamsters, gerbils, mice or other small animals), and more particularly to an animal-operated and automatically resetting elevator combined with a unique and intricate melding of a staircase with a maze, housed in a transparent containment structure and possessing one-way passage means.

Specifically, the staircase portion of the toy comprises a plurality of vertical walls radiating from a central vertical axis, an alternating or rotational sequence of horizontal plates disposed between the walls, the sequence being offset or misaligned vertically in an incremental and progressive manner, with increments generally being less than the height of a small animal and less than the distance between two vertically aligned horizontal plates, progressive being successively higher, and a plurality of apertures or restricted passageways, with optional cover flaps or one-way passage means, disposed in the vertical walls in corresponding relationship to the horizontal plates.

Ideally, a transparent containment structure houses the assembly and possesses a removable end for convenient access. Also, the toy is accessed at selected levels through the containment structure for cooperative use with the elevator herein disclosed. The staircase would also work with a multi-level cage or other toy requiring upper level access or even in combination with an enlarged chamber.

Thus, a small animal can be positively routed from a first horizontal plate to a designated last horizontal plate in a smooth-flowing staircase-like manner and without the tendency to fall back through horizontal apertures common in multi-level mazes, and can alternately negotiate horizontal plates and vertical apertures which provide both maze-like complexity and secure, segmented living space, so that a sleeping animal would not tumble downward, in a compact hybrid structure which accommodates bedding nicely. Moreover, every compartment or enclosed space above a horizontal plate and between two vertical walls is directly viewable form the exterior and floor space maximized due to the incremental offsets and the vertical apertures.

The staircase portion serves as a novel and entertaining means to guide a small animal to the elevator, which is animal-operated and reset or automatically reset, with cushioning means and animal-operated or weight-sensitive retaining means. The elevator is further embodied in a pair of counterbalanced elevator cars connected by cable over guide pulleys, their operation being free of any shearing action during animal exit.

2. Description of the Prior Art

The observation of small animal behavior inevitably leads to the conclusion that there is considerable potential for entertainment, limited only by the pet toys available, for these animals are game for almost anything they can learn or "fall into." Patience is essential with complex toys, but the payoff is bigger.

The conception of the elevator was a desire to provide the small animal with a toy that does something to him when he isn't doing anything to it--an unexpected but stimulating, enjoyable, and ultimately controllable movement. Not just exercise, but entertainment--like having a car instead of a bicycle.

As is well known, counterbalanced dumbwaiters have been used to move cargo from one floor of a structure to another, both as hand-operated and motorized units. Elevators have also been used for toys. In U.S. Pat. No. 4,291,488, Orenstein's elevator is operated by a toy "animal" moving a lever and releasing the elevator car; however, the elevator must be reset manually.

Several other patented toy elevators operate on means other than passenger control and gravity, employing instead battery power, clockwork spring movement, and manual or cranking means. These include U.S. Pat. No. 4,359,837 to Hool, U.S. Pat. No. 3,849,930 to Stubbmann, U.S. Pat. No. 4,109,410 to Saito, U.S. Pat. No. 3,789,538 to Spengler, and U.S. Pat. No. 3,593,454 to Einfalt. None of the above could be operated solely by an animal and automatically reset.

Counterbalanced elevators and dumbwaiters are well known, e.g., U.S. Pat. No. 1,231,075 to Seeberger. However, the counterbalance itself is usually a compact weight and not a second compartment.

In U.S. Pat. No. 2,908,498, Becraft employs a counterbalanced double-seated device as a child's playroom ride, but the operation of the ride is largely non-analogous to the present invention. The playroom ride is intended for use by two passengers rather than one, both simultaneously and continuously. Normally, the elevator is used by one small animal which enters, is transported, and then exits. In the playroom rid, not only does gravity act on the passengers' weight, but each passenger must exert leg pressure to complete a cycle. One animal operates the elevator, with gravity alone acting on its weight, and this same force resets the elevator. In addition, the playroom ride is probably entered and exited simultaneously with each seat in mid-position, so an automatic half-cycle reset whereby an empty elevator car is located in the "up" or ready position is a different problem. Finally, the shearing action upon leaving the child's rid is managed by the passengers without shear control means, rather than being inherently solved by the automatic resetting of the invention.

It is submitted than the application of an elevator for use in a toy for small animals promises to be more entertaining to a young or not-so-young person than something which must be manipulated by hand because of the displacement of control onto the animal and the unpredictable behavior of the animal.

Moreover, the toy is designed to operate safely, and the mechanical parts involved, i.e. ball chain, springs, magnets, and pulleys are minimal in number and all standard parts, which serves to keep the cost down.

There was also a need to get the animal to the top of the elevator, and hopefully offer additional novelty, rather than just leaving the task to a tube, ladder, or other compatible device, although this is a viable alternative. A accomplishes the task, and doubles as additional living space, or multi-level apartment.

Staircases are ubiquitous; and, there are many variations in dimensions, construction, and modes of ascent. The staircase disclosed is particularly adapted for use in a small animal toy because the steps are large enough to rest on for extended periods of time, the structure includes apertures or restricted passageways to form segmented enclosures which add maze-like complexity which would only be used by animals, the structure is preferably transparent, and lastly, the structure is designed for disassembly and cleaning.

Many toys already exist for small animals, including tubes, ladders, slides, wheels, and ordinary miniature steps. The present invention offers a more novel exercise means and can be used inside or outside of a cage either separately or in combination with other structures including slides, tubes, ladders, or especially a small pet elevator.

A switchback or spiral staircase-like arrangement of partially or totally enclosed living compartments or stations with connecting apertures is versatile in application, while being transparent for maximum viewing and disassembled in a variety of ways for easy cleaning. Food, treats, and bedding may be added, and the small animal may choose to rest in such a structure for extended periods of time. Mazes are defined to be puzzling, confusing, intricate networks of pathways, providing many choices, and implying randomness. A maze use ten times would probably result in ten different routes being taken. The arbitrary limitation or selection of apertures might result in particular patterns of routes, but the supporting structure would not automatically possess the subtle and precise arrangement of surfaces with sequential and incremental offsets producing a complex yet smooth-flowing design, or the vertical apertures for accommodating both vertical and horizontal displacement, disclosed in the present application.

Three-dimensional mazes, e.g. Huang, U.S. Pat. No. 4,824,098, Hoover, U.S. Pat. No. 4,953,502, Hall, U.S. Pat. No. 2,261,804, and Collier, U.S. Pat. No. 4,743,023, quite often tend to have base structures, tops, or monolithic levels which completely separate compartments on different horizontal planes, and perfect alignment of cubicles or compartments on a level and between levels, forming rows and columns of equal-sized spaces. These types of mazes are easy to conceptualize and construct. Huang is perfectly regular in structure, including apertures, the irregularity existing in the random and arbitrary blockage of apertures with dumbbells. In Hall, Hoover, and Collier, interior surfaces are aligned on three axes, with less regular apertures.

Some maze structures preserve monolithic horizontal levels of compartments but with less regularity of compartmentalization on each level. A good example is Smith, U.S. Pat. No. 3,785,651, in which there are multiple horizontal segregations, and randomness on each level. Meyer, in U.S. Pat. No. 3,516,589 retains discrete levels, even though introducing angled alleys and ramps, with unequal size compartments. So, too, do Jones in U.S. Pat. No. 3,260,236 and Miler in U.S. Pat. No. 3,857,364 define space randomly on a level, but preserve the monolithic base.

Alternately, Tominaga, in U.S. Pat. No. 4,677,938, discloses a kind of wrap-around structure with a plurality of connected vertical plates, however, his horizontal plate members are not disposed between the plates with corresponding vertical apertures, thereby losing some complexity and secure compartmentalization. Although the viewability provided by Tominaga is excellent, his structure would not naturally lend itself to accommodating bedding or for positive routing in combination with another toy, such as the elevator.

Treer, in U.S. Pat. No. 4,822,047 discloses a housing with left and right symmetry, regularity and segregation on both vertical planes and horizontal planes, yet random compartmental layout within.

Finally, some maze-type structures are totally random, with no apparent repetition of structure at all, e.g., Salvato, U.S. Pat. No. Des. 265,139.

What is not found in prior art is the superposition of a staircase onto a maze, with subtle and intricate structural adjustments and selection of surfaces with particular, advantageous, corresponding placement of vertical apertures. No simple arbitrary choice of apertures using all statistical possibilities in any prior art maze, no rotation of a maze in space, and no mere choice of spiral or zigzag patterns applied to a typical maze structure would derive the present unique and unobvious melding of a staircase and a maze.

Cover flaps on some of the apertures of the toy add yet another form of amusement and challenge. They may also serve to guide the animal through an aperture in the preferred direction. Doors which allow larger pets to enter and leave an owner's home are well known.

Common gerbil/hamster tubes can become expensive quickly, take up considerable space, be difficult to clean, and may accidentally disconnect. The present invention provides the small animal with more compact complexity and the human observer more cost-effective entertainment in a novel and convenient assembly.

The inventor holds a firm belief that some cages are too small for even one animal, and that any toy learned in 30 seconds isn't enough of a challenge to the animal. It is hoped that the availability of a quality toy will result in the purchase of a larger cage, or even in the decision to purchase a pet in the first place.

The present invention, generally stated, provides a toy for small animals which gives the animal the opportunity to navigate a complex maze-like staircase structure, utilize compartmentalized living space, operate an elevator, and open a cover flap on an aperture.

It is also an object of this invention to provide a toy which combines compartmentalized living space, complex exercise capability, smooth-flowing controlled passage or positive routing to a designated endpoint, direct viewability into all compartments, and a stimulating experience which may offer a small animal a sense of power and accomplishment.

Accordingly, the primary object of this invention is to provide a toy for small animals that is both challenging and amusing to the small animal and entertaining for the human observer.

It is also an object of this invention to provide a toy which may invite human interaction to motivate the animal by placing treats in strategic locations.

It is also an object of this invention to provide a toy for small animals which is capable of being disassembled to facilitate cleaning.

It is also an object of this invention to provide a toy for small animals which may be used inside or outside of a cage either by itself or in combination with another structure.

It is also an object of this invention to provide a toy for small animals which possesses enduring popularity and a classic design.

These and other objects, features, and advantages of the invention will become apparent from examining the drawings and description hereinafter given.

The preferred embodiment and a number of alternate embodiments are delineated. The novel features that are considered to be characteristic of the invention are set forth with particularity in the appended claims.

FIG. 1 is an isometric view of the preferred embodiment of the staircase toy shown in combination with a small animal elevator as actually viewed in transparent material. This conveys the puzzle-like quality of the combination toy, with internal elements clarified in subsequent views.

FIG. 2 is an isometric view of the staircase-like arrangement of living compartments removed from the containment structure. Arrows show the ascending spiral route.

FIG. 3 is an isometric view of a longitudinal half-section of a symmetric combination elevator/staircase toy with room for an elevator car in each front shaft and depicting a zigzag arrangement of living compartments providing novel access to the upper elevator entrance.

FIG. 4 is an isometric view of a longitudinal half-section of the symmetric toy with the elevator assembly and lid removed. This second alternate embodiment shows another way of controlling access to the elevator cars when used with elevator cars possessing front walls. Arrows show the animal's path, including a zigzag route through the staircase portion.

FIG. 5 shows one side of a symmetric third alternate embodiment which eliminates the containment and staircase structures and includes means for attaching the elevator assembly to the top of a wire cage or vented plastic cage lid.

Referring now to the drawings, FIG. 1 illustrates the preferred embodiment of a combination elevator/staircase toy for small animals. The containment structure 10 is essentially a rectangular box which is multicompartmented and open at the top. It is preferably molded from transparent plastic or fabricated from transparent sheet plastic. Alternate embodiments may vary in geometric shape, size, and the choice and number of sides (including top and bottom) left open. With a round containment structure, there could be four vertical walls and sector-shaped horizontal plates, or with a polygonal (pentagonal) containment structure, there could be five vertical walls and triangular-shaped horizontal plates. While one side could be removable, an end is a better choice, and the staircase would simply slide out. Furthermore, the radiating vertical walls would not have to actually intersect, perhaps radiating from an inner containment structure mirroring the contour of the outer containment structure, such as an inner cylinder combined with an outer cylindrical containment structure.

In the preferred embodiment, there are entrance apertures 22 in side wall 16A and in end wall 14A which provide access to the bottom of the staircase compartment adjacent to end wall 14A. Access from two sides of the containment structure 10 allows flexibility in placement of the toy in a cage.

Additionally, there is an internal dividing wall 18 in containment structure 10 between the staircase compartment adjacent to end wall 14A and elevator compartment adjacent to end wall 14B. This dividing wall has apertures 24 which allow passage from the staircase side to the elevator side of the toy. Dividing wall 18 with notch 26 and dividing wall 20 are shown fixed but may be removable. Pulley guard housing 48 is attached to lid 40 which possesses two feeding holes 46.

The upper surfaces of end walls 14A and 14B and dividing wall 18 of containment structure 10 have notches 28 and 30, respectively, which serve to secure the removable lid 40 with notches 42 corresponding to notches 28 and slots 44 corresponding to notches 30. This arrangement is quite adequate for a toy placed in a cage; however, when the toy is to be used as a cage or cage extension, a more secure arrangement would be indicated, such as an overlapping snap fit. The popular bottom tray could also be incorporated into the design.

There are two exit apertures 32 in end wall 14B of containment structure 10. Each aperture 32 possesses a one-way passage means or cover flap 34 attached by a hook-like fastener 36 above each aperture 32. The attachment 36 allows each flap 34 to open easily when pushed from the inside of containment structure 10, as a small animal will instinctively learn to do after descending in an elevator car 50. The contour of each flap 34 is preferably round for safety reasons, and the edges are smooth to discourage a reverse entry, although entertainment is the goal of the toy and not good behavior. Perverse critters that are able to defeat the cover flaps 34 will use the toy often enough in the correct way also.

The toy may connect with well-known tubes or be adapted to placement on top of a cage, possibly with a bottom entrance into the staircase assembly, and possibly with extra compartments leading out of the elevators and joining together for a common connection point. A way of requiring only one external connection would be to have the elevator exits leading back into the staircase structure through the dividing wall 18 instead of out the end wall. Then the toy would connect at only one external staircase entrance. In order to connect with tubes, the apertures would be round with notches, and a version of the well-known connecting ring would fit inside the aperture and over a connecting tube, twisting to be secured. Another type of connection device would have a pushbutton lock-fitting into a perfectly round aperture of the toy.

FIG. 2 illustrates the staircase structure 80 removed from the containment structure 10 of FIG. 1. It is made of transparent plastic material and either molded or fabricated. In the preferred embodiment, the staircase structure 80 is entirely removable from the containment structure 10 and has two vertical planar surfaces 70A parallel to end walls 14 and 70B parallel to side walls 16, intersecting perpendicularly along a common central vertical axis to form four vertical walls designated by W1, W2, W3, and W4, and quadrants designated by Q1, Q2, Q3, and Q4. The vertical planar surfaces are also shown with interlocking vertical slots 75A and 75B, along the central axis, each slot wide enough to accommodate the material thickness and approximately one-half the height of the vertical planar surfaces, slot 75A located in the lower one-half of 70A, slot 75B located in the upper one-half of 70B. Attached are a series of horizontal plates 72A through 72I, forming an alternating or rotational (the terms meaning "from one to the next adjacent one, each in turn") sequence for Q1 to Q2 to Q3 to Q4, and repeating, while being simultaneously offset in a vertically incremental and progressive manner, i.e., at heights increasing by a measure less than the height of a small animal and less than the distance between two vertically aligned horizontal plates, e.g., plates 72A and 72E. Looking down and proceeding in a clockwise direction from ground level up, at the bottom of and following all apertures 74A-I (except the first aperture 74AA which is at ground level) is a corresponding horizontal plate 72. There are two apertures 74H and 74I and two horizontal plate 72H and 72I at the eighth level; this serves to equalize access to the two elevator cars 50. Smooth-flowing positive routing without multiple maze-like choices directs a small animal from the first horizontal plate 72A to a designated last horizontal plate 72H or 72I.

Various alternate staircase-like arrangements of living compartments or stations could include the following features: horizontal steps attached to the containment structure, steps which snap-fit onto adjacent surfaces and can be re-arranged, apertures in the horizontal surfaces and instead of a spiral arrangement, a switchback, zigzag, or other regular, repeating, non-maze-like arrangement of partially or totally enclosed living compartments or stations at incremental elevations. Cover flaps 34 would work on the staircase compartment apertures 74 as well as they do on the apertures 32 of the containment structure 10. Finally, a containment structure would be advantageous but not absolutely necessary.

In practice, the addition of bedding to the staircase compartments is a nice touch, inviting the animal to spend some quiet time here; therefore, the size of each step should be cozy but not too confining for the size of the animal.

Tracing the path of a small animal through the preferred embodiment of the toy (FIG. 1), he enters the bottom of the staircase structure 80 through one of two apertures 22, and proceeds in a clockwise fashion alternately through an aperture 74 and onto a horizontal plate 72 or compartment designated by 72 and enclosed by vertical surfaces 70A and 70B and containment structure 10, until he reaches the elevator level. Note that he is positively routed and moves vertically through a series of vertical apertures; whereas vertical movement in a maze would probably employ horizontal apertures, through which the small animal would tend to fall back and which would limit the amount of floor space useful for resting. Ideally, he chooses to pass through an aperture 24 in the dividing wall 18 into the "up" elevator car 50 or perhaps he sees the food his owner dropped into this car and approaches it. He steps into elevator car 50 showing crossbar 52 connecting to cable 60 which passes over pulleys 62 with center posts 64 suspended from supports 66 on each end of bar 68 attached by rivets 59 to lid 40. Metallic components 54 retain the car by magnetic attraction to ring magnets 56, and compression springs 58 cushion the descent of the cars. He may also be free to retrace his route down the staircase 80, or else additional cover flaps 34 placed on any of the staircase apertures 74 may restrict his choices.

FIG. 3 shows a longitudinal half-section of a symmetric embodiment of a combination elevator and staircase toy with a modified containment structure 10'. The entrances 25 to the staircase compartment structure are internal on wall 18 and replace external entrances 22 in FIG. 1. The staircase compartment structure 80 is divided by vertical wall 70B which lacks any apertures 74. Vertical surface 70A possesses four apertures 74' and three horizontal surfaces 72' on each side of 70B, arranged so that, on each separate side of the staircase compartment structure, the animal must travel in a switchback or zigzag path to the top of the staircase compartment structure.

The entire toy is designed to be easily cleaned and maintained through convenient disassembly which itself may be entertaining to a child.

It is to be expressly understood that the present description and preferred embodiment are for illustrative purposes only and are not to be construed as a limitation of the details of construction or design of the invention, but rather are inclusive of other variations and applications which do not depart from the broad interest and intent of the invention. Accordingly, the scope of the invention should be determined by the appended claims.