A cat's toy has a housing with a plurality of ports through its side wall, the ports being preferably substantially equally displaced. Preferably the exterior of the housing is shaped, textured and colored to look like a cheese. A plurality of play objects, one for each of the ports, are supported on a linkage within the housing. Preferably, the objects look like mice. The linkage is adapted for sequential reciprocation of at least a portion of each of the objects through its respective port so that the "mice" emerge from and return into the "cheese" in a circular sequence that entices the cat. A plurality of sensors are provided within the housing, one proximate each of the ports. The housing is adapted to permit the sensors to detect motion proximate and exterior to the housing so that the presence of the cat in the vicinity of the toy triggers the appearance and disappearance of the "mice." A drive system is responsive to each of the sensors to drive the linkage for an interval of time, prefeably approximately five seconds, following detection of motion by any of the sensors. If the cat abandons the chase and leaves the vicinity of the toy, the toy will remain deactivated after the internal elapses. The toy may also include a replaceable scratch pad secured to the upper surface of the housing.
A high-torque gear assembly for a personal mobility apparatus is disclosed generally comprising a shaft that drives a drive wheel of the personal mobility apparatus, a worm driven by a motor, and a worm wheel coupled to the shaft and driven by the worm, where both the worm wheel is a globoid gear and the worm is a globoid worm. In some embodiments, a gear train is coupled between a gear shaft and a drive wheel shaft for translating the rotational motion. In certain embodiments, the worm wheel and the worm have a gear ratio of at least 10:1, and the worm has a lead angle between twenty and thirty degrees.
An entertainment device for use by pets. The entertainment device can have a hollow enclosure with access openings and exit openings. The hollow enclosure may have one or more play items with diameters larger than the access openings and the exit openings within the hollow enclosure. The hollow enclosure may also have one or more smaller play items with diameters larger than the access openings and smaller than the exit openings. The smaller play items may be used external to the hollow enclosure to entertain the pet.
An entertainment device for use by animals is disclosed. The entertainment device can have a hollow enclosure with access openings and exit openings. The hollow enclosure may have one or more play items with diameters larger than the access openings and the exit openings within the enclosure. The hollow enclosure may also have one or more smaller play items with diameters larger than the access openings and smaller than the exit openings. The smaller play items may be used external to the hollow enclosure to entertain the animal.
