Abstract: In a dipping process using thermoplastic rubber (TPR), an object is dipped into melted TPR, removed, and dried in order to provide a TPR coating over the object. The underlying object may be colored with a pattern or illustration and dipped into transparent TPR, or a dyed TPR may be used to provide color to the object. An exemplary use is the manufacturing of pet toys with a TPR coating. However, the process is suitable for use with a variety of materials in a variety of applications, such as providing an insulating coating for wires, a grip for writing utensils, or any other application in which a TPR coating would be useful.

Abstract: A spherical pet toy has at least one knotted and frayed cord end exiting the spherical body at, at least one point on the surface. An exemplary version has four knotted and frayed cord ends exiting at four different points on the spherical surface. An object, such as a smaller ball, internal to the pet toy moves around as the pet toy is handled by an animal, providing aural and tactile feedback to the playing animal. The knotted and frayed cord ends satisfy an animal's chewing instincts while cleaning the animal's teeth.

Abstract: A pet toy includes a flexible body with rope support configurations. In one embodiment, the rope configurations include one or more loops that are exposed and one or more knots that are covered by an exterior plush component of the pet toy. In another embodiment, two or more strands of rope material are tied in a series of knots, and an additional strand of rope material may be tied to the other strands in a transverse fashion. Preferably, the exterior plush component includes fabric. One or more of the free ends of the strands of rope material may also protrude beyond the plush component. The fabric material is sewn over the exposed portions of the rope material. Enough fabric material is used such that twisting, extending and retracting the rope material does not transfer force directly to the exterior fabric, thereby preserving the exterior plush component. The knots provide internal bulk to the body of the toy eliminating the need for stuffing.