Adjustable weight toy ball

Abstract

The present invention relates to a toy ball. The toy ball has an exterior surface, an interior, a water chamber located in the ball interior, a water fill aperture that is located in the ball exterior surface and is in fluid communication with the water chamber, a first rope aperture located in the exterior surface, a second rope aperture located in the exterior surface, and a rope chamber extending from the first rope aperture through the ball interior and to the second rope aperture. A rope is placed in the rope chamber. The toy ball is particularly configured for use as a pet toy (e.g., dog toy). The water chamber allows the weight of the ball to be adjusted depending on the strength and weight of the pet.

1 . A toy comprising:
 a) a ball having an exterior surface, an interior, a water chamber located in the ball interior, a water fill aperture located in the ball exterior surface and in fluid communication with the water chamber, a first rope aperture located in the exterior surface, a second rope aperture located in the exterior surface, and a rope chamber extending from at least the first rope aperture through the ball interior and to at least the second rope aperture;   b) a rope having a proximal end, a distal end, and a length extending from the proximal end to the distal end, the rope located in the rope chamber and extending from at least the first rope aperture through the ball interior and to at least the second rope aperture.   
     
     
         2 . The toy of  claim 1 , wherein the ball further comprises a water plug configured to releasably seal the water fill aperture. 
     
     
         3 . The toy of  claim 1 , wherein the first and second rope apertures are located between about 150 and 180 degrees relative to each other. 
     
     
         4 . The toy of  claim 1 , wherein the ball further comprises an equator dividing the ball into a top half and a bottom half and further wherein the first rope aperture is located in the top half and the second rope aperture is located in the bottom half. 
     
     
         5 . The toy of  claim 1 , wherein the rope chamber is not in fluid communication with the water chamber. 
     
     
         6 . The toy of  claim 1 , wherein the rope has a proximal end and a distal end, and further wherein a segment of the rope proximal end cannot pass through the first rope aperture and a segment of the rope distal end cannot pass through the second rope aperture. 
     
     
         7 . The toy of  claim 6 , wherein the segment of the rope proximal end and the segment of the rope distal end each comprise a knot and said proximal knot cannot pass through the first rope aperture and said distal knot cannot pass through the second rope aperture. 
     
     
         8 . The toy of  claim 1 , wherein the water chamber is configured to hold between about 5 and about 50 pounds of water and further wherein the diameter of the ball is between about 5 and about 20 inches. 
     
     
         9 . The toy of  claim 8 , wherein the water chamber comprises at least about 5 pounds of water. 
     
     
         10 . The toy of  claim 1 , wherein the diameter of the ball is between about 5 and about 15 inches. 
     
     
         11 . The toy of  claim 1 , wherein the ball is comprised of plastic. 
     
     
         12 . The toy of  claim 1  further comprising a tube, the tube forming part of the rope chamber, the tube having a proximal end adjacent to the first rope aperture and a distal end adjacent to the second rope aperture. 
     
     
         13 . The toy of  claim 12 , wherein the tube is generally straight. 
     
     
         14 . The toy of  claim 12 , wherein the first rope aperture is located in a first recess of the ball exterior surface and the second rope aperture is located in a second recess of the ball exterior surface. 
     
     
         15 . The toy of  claim 14 , wherein the tube proximal end is releasably attached to a proximal knob, the proximal knob located in the first recess and the tube distal end is releasably attached to a distal knob, the distal knob located in the second recess. 
     
     
         16 . The toy of  claim 15 , wherein the tube proximal end and the proximal knob comprise mating threads configured to releasably attach the tube proximal end to the proximal knob and further wherein the tube distal end and the distal knob comprise mating threads configured to releasably attach the tube distal end to the distal knob. 
     
     
         17 . The toy of  claim 12 , wherein the tube traverses the water chamber. 
     
     
         18 . The toy of  claim 12 , further wherein the tube creates a seal so that the water from the water chamber cannot come into contact with the rope. 
     
     
         19 . The toy of  claim 1 , wherein the rope chamber further comprises a length extending from the first rope aperture to the second rope aperture, and further wherein the rope length is longer than the rope chamber length. 
     
     
         20 . The toy of  claim 19 , wherein at least one of the proximal and distal ends of the rope is not located in the ball interior. 
     
     
         21 . A toy comprising:
 a ball having an exterior surface, an interior, a water chamber located in the ball interior, a water fill aperture located in the ball exterior surface and in fluid communication with the water chamber, a water plug configured to releasably seal the water fill aperture, a first rope aperture located in the exterior surface, a second rope aperture located in the exterior surface, and a rope chamber extending from at least the first rope aperture through the ball interior and to at least the second rope aperture.   
     
     
         22 . A method of preparing a toy for use comprising:
 a) providing the toy of  claim 21 ;   b) placing a rope located in the rope chamber so that the rope extends at least from the first rope aperture through the ball interior and to at least the second rope aperture.   
     
     
         23 . The toy of  claim 1 , wherein the ball has a Shore D durometer rating of between about 30 and about 100.