Buoyant Motivational Object

Abstract

A buoyant motivational object used to play with a dog or child. While afloat, the motivational object comprises of an above-water section located above the surface of the water and an underwater section located below the surface of the water, and it is comprised of a base body with at least one biting or gripping area shaped for pick-up by a dog's muzzle or a human hand, and the biting or gripping area is at least partially located in the above-water section while the balance or gravity point of the motivational object is located in the underwater section.

I claim: 
     
         1 . A buoyant motivational object, the motivational object comprising:
 a base body elongated along a longitudinal axis, the base body configured to float on water with the longitudinal axis in a substantially upright position, the base body comprising:
 an above water section; 
 a below water section; 
 a biting area generally shaped to fit into a muzzle of a dog and at least partially located in the above water section, wherein said biting area has a diameter of less than 8 centimeters; and 
 said elongated base body defined by a density distribution such that said below water section has a relatively higher density compared to said above water section with said relatively higher density is submerged in the water with the above water section in a substantially erect position above surface of the water when the base body is floating on water. 
   
     
     
         2 . The buoyant motivational object of  claim 1 , wherein a support body is removably attached to the elongated base body. 
     
     
         3 . The buoyant motivational object of  claim 1 , wherein the elongated base body defines a length along the longitudinal axis and a width perpendicular to the longitudinal axis, the length of the elongated base body being at least twice the width of the elongated base body. 
     
     
         4 . The buoyant motivational object of  claim 1 , wherein the elongated base body defines a length along the longitudinal axis and a width perpendicular to the longitudinal axis, the length of the elongated base body being at least thrice the width of the elongated base body. 
     
     
         5 . The buoyant motivational object of  claim 1 , wherein the longitudinal axis is at an angle of at least one of 45 degrees and 60 degrees with the surface of water when the combination of the base body and support body are floating on the water. 
     
     
         6 . The buoyant motivational object of  claim 1 , wherein the high-point on the elongated base body is visible at a height of at least one of 8 centimeters and 10 centimeters above the surface of the water when the combination of the base body and the support body are floating on the water. 
     
     
         7 . The buoyant motivational object of  claim 1 , wherein the support body provides additional righting momentum around a balance point on the elongated base body to stabilize extreme pendulum movements along the longitudinal axis, and enables the high-point to be distinctly recognizable above the surface of water when the combination of the elongated base body and the support body are floating on the water. 
     
     
         8 . The buoyant motivational object of  claim 1 , further comprising a ballast body on a side opposite to the high-point on the elongated base body, wherein the ballast body has a mean density higher than the mean density of the elongated base body. 
     
     
         9 . The buoyant motivational object of  claim 1 , wherein the elongated base body is generally cylindrical shaped. 
     
     
         10 . The buoyant motivational object of  claim 1 , wherein the base body and support body in combination defining a center of buoyancy and further defining a center of gravity, the center of gravity being proximal to the submerged end and the center of buoyancy being distal to the submerged end; 
     
     
         11 . The buoyant motivational object of  claim 1 , wherein the underwater section being configured not to be flooded by water when the base body and support body combination is floating on water.