Method and apparatus for reducing risk that a closure on stuffed toy will injure, be recognized by, or be damaged by an animal

Abstract

An animal toy is configured to stimulate at least one sense of an animal during play by said animal. The toy includes a shell formed of a first pliable material and having an interior; a pouch formed of a second pliable material and contained within the shell during play; a play stimulation item wholly contained within the pouch and configured to issue an emission detectable through the pouch and the shell by at least one sense of said animal; an opening formed in said shell for admitting the pouch into said interior and having a margin; a hem formed along the margin; and, a draw string extending through and from the hem to draw the hem closed.

1 . A method of stimulating at least one sense of an animal during play, the method comprising the steps of 
 (a) providing a stuffed animal toy configured to stimulate at least one sense of an animal during play by said animal, said toy comprising 
 (i) a shell formed of a first pliable material and having an interior;  
 (ii) a pouch formed of a second pliable material and contained within said shell during play;  
 (iii) a play stimulation item wholly contained within said pouch and configured to issue an emission detectable through said pouch and said shell by at least one sense of said animal;  
 (iv) an opening formed in said shell for admitting said pouch into said interior and having a margin;  
 (v) a hem formed along said margin;  
 (vi) a draw string extending through and from said hem to draw said hem closed;  
   (b) providing said toy to the animal to play with to stimulate at least one sense of the animal.    
   
   
       2 . A method of stimulating at least one sense of an animal during play, said method comprising the steps of 
 (a) providing an animal toy configured to stimulate at least one sense of an animal during play by said animal, said toy comprising 
 (i) a shell formed of a first pliable material and having an interior;  
 (ii) a pouch formed of a second pliable material and contained within said shell during play;  
 (iii) a play stimulation item wholly contained within said pouch and configured to issue an emission detectable through said pouch and said shell by at least one sense of said animal;  
 (iv) an opening formed in said shell for admitting said pouch into said interior and having a margin;  
 (v) a hem formed along said margin;  
 (vi) a draw string extending through and from said hem to draw said hem closed, said draw string having at last one outer end;  
 (vii) a second opening formed through said shell to receive said outer end when said drawstring draws said hem closed;  
   (b) providing said toy to the animal to play with to stimulate at least one sense of the animal.    
   
   
       3 . A method of stimulating at least one sense of an animal during play, said method comprising the steps of 
 (a) providing an animal toy configured to stimulate at least one sense of an animal during play by said animal, said toy comprising 
 (i) a shell formed of a first pliable material and having an interior;  
 (ii) a play article contained within said shell and configured to stimulate at least one sense of said animal;  
 (iii) an opening formed in said shell for admitting said play article into said interior and having a margin;  
 (iv) a hem formed along said margin;  
 (v) a draw string extending through and away from said hem to draw said hem closed; and,  
   (b) providing said toy to the animal to play with to stimulate at least one sense of the animal.    
   
   
       4 . A method of stimulating at least one sense of an animal during play, said method comprising the steps of 
 (a) providing an animal toy configured to stimulate at least one sense of an animal during play by said animal, said toy comprising 
 (i) a shell formed of a first pliable material;  
 (ii) an interior in said shell shaped and dimensioned to store a play article, said play article configured to stimulate at least one sense of the animal;  
 (iii) an opening formed in said shell for admitting said play article into said interior and having a margin;  
 (iv) a hem formed along said margin;  
 (vii) a draw string extending through and from said hem to draw said hem closed and constrict said opening; and,  
   (b) providing said toy to the animal to play with to stimulate at least one sense of the animal.    
   
   
       5 . A method of stimulating at least one sense of a dog during play and reducing the likelihood the dog will damage the toy by chewing on the toy, said method comprising the steps of 
 (a) providing an animal toy configured to stimulate at least one sense of a dog during play by the dog, said toy comprising 
 (i) a shell formed of a first pliable material;  
 (ii) an interior in said shell shaped and dimensioned to store a play article, said play article configured to stimulate at least one sense of the animal;  
 (iii) an opening formed in said shell for admitting said play article into said interior and having a margin;  
 (iv) a hem formed along said margin;  
 (v) a draw string extending through and from said hem to draw said hem closed and constrict said opening, and having 
 at least one outer end,  
 at least two operative positions, 
 a first position with said outer end outside said interior, and  
 a second position with said outer end extending through said interior; and,  
 
 
   (b) providing said toy to the dog to play with to stimulate at least one sense of the dog.    
   
   
       6 . A method of stimulating at least one sense of a dog during play and reducing the likelihood the dog will damage the toy by chewing on the toy, said method comprising the steps of 
 (a) providing an animal toy configured to stimulate at least one sense of a dog during play and to reduce the likelihood the dog will damage the toy by chewing on the toy, said toy comprising 
 (i) a shell formed of a first pliable material;  
 (ii) an interior in said shell shaped and dimensioned to store a play article, said play article configured to stimulate at least one sense of the animal;  
 (iii) a first opening formed in said shell for admitting said play article into said interior and having a margin;  
 (iv) a hem formed along said margin;  
 (v) a draw string extending through said hem and having at least one outer end;  
 (vi) a second opening formed through said shell and shaped to slidably receive said outer end of said drawstring;  
 (vii) said hem, first opening, and drawstring having at last two operative positions, 
 a first open position with said first opening and hem open to permit said play article to pass therethrough, and  
 a second closed position (A) said drawstring pulled to close said hem and said first opening, and (B) said outer end extending through said first opening, through said interior, through said second opening and outside said shell; and,  
 
   (b) providing said toy to the dog to play with to stimulate at least one sense of the dog.    
   
   
       7 . A method of stimulating at least one sense of a dog during play and reducing the likelihood the dog will damage the toy by chewing on the toy, said method comprising the steps of 
 (a) providing an animal toy configured to stimulate at least one sense of a dog during play and to reduce the likelihood the dog will damage the toy by chewing on the toy, said toy comprising 
 (i) a shell formed of a first pliable material;  
 (ii) an interior in said shell shaped and dimensioned to store a play article, said play article configured to stimulate at least one sense of the animal;  
 (iii) an opening formed in said shell for admitting said play article into said interior and having a margin;  
 (iv) a hem formed along said margin;  
 (v) a draw string extending through said hem and having at least one outer end;  
 (vi) said hem, first opening, and drawstring having at last two operative positions, 
 a first open position with said first opening and hem open to permit said play article to pass therethrough, and  
 a second closed position (A) said drawstring pulled to close said hem and said first opening, and (B) at least a portion of said outer end positioned with respect to said shell and shaped and dimensioned to simulate an anatomical feature of the toy; and,  
 
   (b) providing said toy to the dog to play with to stimulate at least one sense of the dog.    
   
   
       8 . A method of stimulating at least one sense of a dog during play and reducing the likelihood that the dog will damage the toy by chewing the toy, said method comprising the steps of 
 (a) providing a toy configured to stimulate at least one sense of the dog during play by the dog, said toy comprising 
 (i) a shell formed of a first pliable material;  
 (ii) an interior in said shell shaped and dimensioned to store a selected material, said material configured to stimulate at least one sense of the animal;  
 (iii) an opening formed in said shell for admitting said play article into said interior and having a margin;  
 (iv) a hem formed along said margin;  
 (v) a draw string extending through and from said hem to draw said hem closed and constrict said opening; and,  
   (b) providing said toy to the dog to play with to stimulate at least one sense of the dog.    
   
   
       9 . A method of stimulating at least one sense of a dog during play, of reducing the likelihood that the dog will damage the toy by chewing the toy, said method comprising the steps of 
 (a) providing a dog toy configured to stimulate at least one sense of a dog during play and to reduce the likelihood the dog will damage the toy by chewing on the toy, said toy comprising 
 (i) a shell formed of a first pliable material,  
 (ii) an interior in said shell shaped and dimensioned to store a play article, said play article configured to stimulate at least one sense of the dog,  
 (iii) an opening formed in said shell for admitting said play article into said interior and having a margin,  
 (iv) a hem formed along said margin and having at least one open end shaped and dimensioned to permit a portion of said draw string to slidably be pulled therethrough to draw said hem closed,  
 (v) a draw string extending through said hem and out said open end and having at least one outer end,  
 (vi) said hem, opening, and drawstring having at least two operative positions, 
 a first open position with said first opening and hem open to permit said play article to pass therethrough, and  
 a second closed position with said portion of said drawstring pulled out through said open end to draw said hem closed to close said first opening;  
 
 said open end being constructed generally to maintain said shape and dimension when said portion of said draw string is slidably pulled through said open end;  
   (b) opening said opening and said hem to said first open position;    (c) passing said play article through said opening into said toy;    (d) pulling slidably said portion of said drawstring through said open end to said close said hem and said first opening, said open end generally maintaining said shape and dimension when said portion is slidably pulled through said open end; and,    (e) providing said toy to the dog to play with to stimulate at least one sense of the dog.