US20070173170A1

US20070173170A1 - Pet egg having a pet being capable of developing and breaking shell

Info

Publication number: US20070173170A1
Application number: US11/419,499
Authority: US
Inventors: Chui Li Wu
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2006-01-20
Filing date: 2006-05-21
Publication date: 2007-07-26
Also published as: TWM292899U

Abstract

A pet covering (e.g., egg) includes a fragile shell including an upper portion, a mated lower portion and a plurality of apertures on lower portion; and a baby pet formed of water absorbing material and disposed in the shell. Pouring water into an open container contained the pet covering will cause water to enter into the shell through the apertures to cause the baby pet to develop by absorbing water until a predetermined pet (e.g., an animal-like figure or a doll) is formed by breaking the shell. Preferably, the shell is formed of a mixture of plastic and calcium carbonate. Preferably, the baby pet is formed of a mixture of acrylic-based water-absorbent resin and ethylene vinyl acetate copolymer.

Description

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of Invention
The present invention relates to pet eggs and more particularly to a pet covering having a pet formed of water absorbing material being capable of developing by absorbing water and breaking the fragile shell when it is sufficiently large.
2. Description of Related Art
Conventionally, a pet egg is a static object and is provided for decorative purpose only. In other words, a pet in the pet egg is not capable of developing and breaking shell. Thus, only a few people are interested in buying such pet eggs. This is particularly true for children.
A type of tree can consisting of two releasable pieces can is commercially available. The can includes a seed and expansion material as food. A person may open the can to pour water into the can. The expansion material absorbs water and reacts with water to supply nutrition to the seed. The seed may grow as a small tree with flowers. Finally, the tree grows out of the can.
But this is unsatisfactory for the purpose for which the invention is concerned for the following reasons: In often times, the seed may not able to grow (i.e., it is dead). This may cause frustration. Further, growing a tree requires a long period of time. This is not suitable to children.
Further, U.S. Pat. No. 5,813,895 discloses a toy egg which simulates a realistic hatching from an egg of an animal-like figure. Two halves of a plastic egg-shaped shell are joined by a liquid-soluble adhesive. Liquid can enter into liquid channels in the shell to dissolve the adhesive, “hatching” the figure in the shell. However, the animal-like figure cannot grow throughout the hatching process. This may be dull for children. Thus, the need for improvement still exists.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

It is therefore one object of the present invention to provide a pet covering (e.g., egg) having a pet formed of water absorbing material being capable of developing (i.e., growing) by absorbing water and breaking the fragile shell when it is sufficiently large.
To achieve the above and other objects, the present invention provides a pet covering comprising a fragile shell including a plurality of apertures; and a baby pet formed of water absorbing material and disposed in the shell; whereby pouring water into an open container contained the pet covering will cause water to enter into the shell through the apertures to cause the baby pet to develop by absorbing water until a predetermined pet is formed by breaking the shell.
In one aspect of the present invention the fragile shell is formed of a mixture of plastic (e.g., polyethylene or polypropylene) and calcium carbonate (e.g., mica powder or magnesium silicate (talcum powder)).
In another aspect of the present invention the water absorbing material is a mixture of acrylic-based water-absorbent resin and ethylene vinyl acetate copolymer.
In a further aspect of the present invention the shell comprises an upper portion and a mated lower portion.
The above and other objects, features and advantages of the present invention will become apparent from the following detailed description taken with the accompanying drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is an exploded view in part section of a first preferred embodiment of pet egg according to the invention;
FIG. 2 is a view of the assembled pet egg;
FIGS. 2A and 2B are detailed views of the areas in circles A and B in FIG. 2 respectively;
FIG. 3 is a schematic sectional view of the pet egg placed in a cup with water being poured in;
FIG. 4 is a view similar to FIG. 3 where the shell is broken when the pet has developed to a sufficiently large size;
FIG. 5 is a view similar to FIG. 4 where the pet has developed to expose in the water;
FIG. 5A is a perspective view of FIG. 5;
FIG. 6 is a view similar to FIG. 5 where the pet has developed to project out of top of the cup; and
FIG. 7 is a view similar to FIG. 6 where the broken shell has removed, the cup is changed to a pan, and the pet has fully developed.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

Referring to FIGS. 1, 2, 2A, and 2B, a pet covering 2 in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the invention is shown. The covering 2 is formed of a plastic material and is prone to breaking. The covering 2 is formed of a mixture of plastic and calcium carbonate. Preferably, plastic is consisted of a group of thermoplastics selected from polyethylene or polypropylene. Preferably, calcium carbonate is consisted of a kind of stuff selected from mica or talcum power, e.g. magnesium silicate. The covering 2 is shaped as an egg. Note that the covering 2 may have a shape (e.g., a stone or an irregular shape) other than above in other embodiments. The covering 2 comprises an upper portion 21 including an annular projection 211 on its bottom edge, and a mated lower portion 22 including an annular protrusion 221 on its top edge, and a plurality of apertures 222 on its bottom.
First, matingly engage the projection 211 with the protrusion 221 with an animal-like baby pet 3 disposed therein to form a complete pet egg. The baby pet 3 is formed of a material which is adapted to expand (i.e., develop) when mixing with water. Preferably, the baby pet 3 is formed of a mixture of acrylic-based water-absorbent resin and ethylene vinyl acetate copolymer.
Referring to FIGS. 3 to 7, a pet egg 4 is placed in a cup 5. Next, pouring water 6 into the cup 5. Water 6 then enters into the pet egg 4 through the apertures 222. The baby pet 3 then gradually expands (i.e., develops) when absorbing water 6. The continuing development of the baby pet 3 will break the covering (i.e., shell) 2. Finally, a predetermined shape of a pet (e.g., a dinosaur-like figure as shown) 3 is formed. Note that the cup 5 may be any kind of container, and the pet 3 may be shaped as any of other animal-like figures, a monster-like figure, a doll, or the like in other embodiments.
While the invention herein disclosed has been described by means of specific embodiments, numerous modifications and variations could be made thereto by those skilled in the art without departing from the scope and spirit of the invention set forth in the claims.

Claims

1. A pet covering comprising:

a fragile shell including a plurality of apertures; and

a baby pet formed of water absorbing material and disposed in the shell;

whereby pouring water into an open container contained the pet covering will cause water to enter into the shell through the apertures to cause the baby pet to develop by absorbing water until a predetermined pet is formed by breaking the shell.

2. The pet covering of claim 1, wherein the shell is formed of a fragile material.

3. The pet covering of claim 2, wherein the fragile material is formed of a mixture of plastic and calcium carbonate.

4. The pet covering of claim 3, wherein the plastic is selected from a group of thermoplastics consisted of polyethylene or polypropylene.

5. The pet covering of claim 3, wherein the calcium carbonate is consisted of a kind of stuff selected from mica or magnesium silicate.

6. The pet covering of claim 1, wherein the water absorbing material is formed of a mixture of acrylic-based water-absorbent resin and ethylene vinyl acetate copolymer

7. The pet covering of claim 1, wherein the shell comprises an upper portion and a mated lower portion.

8. The pet covering of claim 7, wherein the upper portion comprises a peripheral projection on its bottom edge.

9. The pet covering of claim 8, wherein the lower portion comprises a peripheral protrusion on its top edge, the protrusion adapted to matingly engage with the projection.

10. The pet covering of claim 1, wherein the shell is shaped as an egg.

11. The pet covering of claim 1, wherein the predetermined pet is an animal-like figure or a doll.