SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The present invention has been developed to ful?ll the
needs noted above and therefore has as an object the
provision of a pet cheW toy formed in part by a soft, highly
cheWable, latex rubber material and in part by a protective,
harder vinyl plastic material.
Another object of the invention is the provision of a
protective shroud of semi-rigid vinyl material around a
portion of a soft bladder-like latex rubber molding.
Still another object of the invention is the provision of a
cheWable pet toy having a soft latex portion molded around
a Whistle or noisemaker, and a protective sheath covering
and protecting both the latex portion and the Whistle from
damage due to cheWing and biting.
Yet another object of the invention is to provide a pet
cheW toy having a soft latex rubber bladder held Within a
semi-rigid sleeve of plastic material With a resilient inter
ference ?t.
These and other objects are met by the present invention
Which is directed to a cheWable pet toy having a soft
cheWable latex rubber portion and a semi-rigid shroud of
vinyl plastic forming a protective shell around a portion of
the latex rubber portion. Many different toy shapes and siZes
can be adopted in accordance With the invention.
The latex portion of each toy is molded as a highly
?exible holloW body having a thin Wall thickness preferably
less than 0.1 inch thick and more preferably less than about
0.50 inch. Apreferred latex body can be formed With a Wall
thickness and consistency similar to that of common house
hold latex rubber heavy duty cleaning gloves. That is, the
latex body should be able to support the Weight of the toy
Without collapsing, yet be easily collapsed With a light
manual squeeZe or pinch betWeen one’s ?ngers and thumb.