New toy, need help please.

Alright guys.. I need help (& please realize if this is too close to other toys I will change it)

This is a new toy I recently made and posted (Sugary Sweet Glider Gear). I do not want to step on any toes and I don't want to run my reputation in the ground either.. so what I want to know is, do you all think this is too similar to Sarah Suggie's toys where she uses these balls as well? I looked at her toys before I posted this one on my pages last night, and I didn't think it was too similar... but I would like other peoples opinions.




Advice would be greatly appreciated. Thanks in advance.

I inserted your photos for you.

First of all, I want to say that this toy is very cute.

I'm now going to step away to compose my thoughts here. While I do, I have a few questions:
Have you weight and stress tested this toy? If so, how and with what amount of weight?

Yay!! Thank you so much for adding those pictures in the post for me!

Thank you for the compliment on the toy. I have indeed tested this toy. I made myself one to try out for my own suggies. It has been in their cage for at least a few weeks now. The gliders who have it in their cage are Callie & Collin. I decided to put it in their cage because Collin is my 'beasty boy' weighing in at 210 grams, Callie is on the small side (88 grams). So far, the toy has held up perfectly. They both get in & out of the ball with ease. I also plan to make Sara Frances one & let her test it out for me.

The top of the circle (the clear part) will easly unscrew & even pop off with enough pressure in case someone would need to get their glider out ASAP in case of an emergency. The toy is hung by the bottom half (blue part) so there is no weight pulling on the top part.. the top half is merely sitting there, and could even be removed if wanted so it would be more of an open bowl.
The 6 fringe vines are removable for easy washing (or even a change up in the toy if wanted).

Thank you for any & all feedback! I really appreicate it.
Sara finally talked me into joining the forums.. this is the first one I have joined so far.. working on joining a few others. lol.

Quote :

& even pop off with enough pressure in

And this is the part that causes me concern.

I'm not sure that I would agree that this has been weight or stress tested. It has been tested with your gliders, but..... I'm going to send you a PM with my concerns as this thread was about whether or not we think it is too close to Sara's. I'm still composing my thoughts on that.
I'll just tell you right now that I recently had an issue with these balls and I would not trust the toy. My SMALLEST colony of 8 weighs over 2 pounds when all in one place. This happens a lot. These balls will not safely hold 2 pounds with movement over several minutes. ;/

Okay, I will check my messages.

The way I have it attached to the fleece vines only holds the bottom in place, there is no weight on the top, just the bottom. I could try taking pics to show what I'm trying to explain if that would help better.

I drill a total of 6 holes (2 side by side.. hole, hole, space, hole, hole, space, etc) in the bottom on the edge right below where the 2 parts screw together. I then use zip ties to securely attach the c-links, where I then attach the fleece vines (2 vines on 1 c-link; one that hangs above the ball and one that dangles below it) followed by using the straw things to close the c-link gap so the fleece vines cannot come off the c-link.

I would be happy to take better pictures showing what I mean. The top (clear part) has nothing hanging on it. There is no way for it to come apart other than pressure of being squeezed together or coming unscrewed. Since there is nothing hanging from it, that is why I had mentioned it could be easily taken off to get to a glider or to change the toy around a bit and just have an open bowl....

I am going to read your message now :)

Your description makes sense to me. You are hanging the ball by supporting the bottom instead of by suspending from the top. IMO that makes it safer than other toys that are made by suspending the top.

Thanks!
It's hard for me to explain things.. so I will definitely get some pictures this evening to post for people to understand how this toy is being made to hang.

Last night when you mentioned the 2lbs... I put 2.5 pounds of oranges in the ball and held it up and kind of bounced it up & down and it held perfectly.. I will take pictures of that as well =)

I will get pictures & post them. I have to run out for a while, but I'll be back soon.

Thank you for all of your help! I am very grateful!

And to answer your initial question - the two toys are nothing at all alike. The use of one common component does not make them the same. Yours is a unique creation.

How big is the ball and the opening? If a number of gliders all get in there together is there plenty of room for one to squeeze around their cage buddies and get back out?

Or can it be made with 2 holes?

Brittany & her awesome toys are on the forums!

Alright guys.. here's the pictures to show how I have made this toy =)
& Thank you so much! I am so glad to be on this forum now.. you need to guide me to a few others to join

This is the bottom of the toy base. There are 2 holes drilled side by side in 6 different places, zip ties are put through the holes and the c-link hangs from the zipties.
https://2img.net/h/i1324.photobucket.com/albums/u607/BrittanyRena92/GEDC1183_zpsaa632d17.jpg
https://2img.net/h/i1324.photobucket.com/albums/u607/BrittanyRena92/GEDC1184_zps340ad326.jpg

This is a snapshot of the inside of the ball (you can see the 6 different places where the zipties are).
https://2img.net/h/i1324.photobucket.com/albums/u607/BrittanyRena92/GEDC1185_zps796ba3ed.jpg

This is a picture of the toy BEFORE the fleece vines are added.
*Notice it's also hanging from plastic chain for extra support.
https://2img.net/h/i1324.photobucket.com/albums/u607/BrittanyRena92/GEDC1191_zps3019607e.jpg

These are 2 pictures of the toy without the top (that I was saying in my earlier posts could be easily screwed or popped off)
https://2img.net/h/i1324.photobucket.com/albums/u607/BrittanyRena92/GEDC1196_zps90e15221.jpg
https://2img.net/h/i1324.photobucket.com/albums/u607/BrittanyRena92/GEDC1197_zps245c3b89.jpg

These are pictures of tangerines on a scale (to show how much they weigh)
*Notice this weight is including the basket
https://2img.net/h/i1324.photobucket.com/albums/u607/BrittanyRena92/GEDC1199_zps4865145f.jpg
https://2img.net/h/i1324.photobucket.com/albums/u607/BrittanyRena92/GEDC1207_zps4bc39d64.jpg

These are pictures of the basket weighing by itself
(so subtract the 0.27 lbs from 2.54 lbs = 2.27 lbs)
https://2img.net/h/i1324.photobucket.com/albums/u607/BrittanyRena92/GEDC1205_zps20f7fbf3.jpg
https://2img.net/h/i1324.photobucket.com/albums/u607/BrittanyRena92/GEDC1206_zps8114dc73.jpg

These are pictures of the toy holding the 2.27 lbs of tangerines (with ease).
I also bounced it up and down a little.. no budging.. no anything.
*Please notice I had to take the top off so all the tangerines would fit*
https://2img.net/h/i1324.photobucket.com/albums/u607/BrittanyRena92/GEDC1202_zps1e1f27d3.jpg
https://2img.net/h/i1324.photobucket.com/albums/u607/BrittanyRena92/GEDC1203_zps357d210e.jpg

& This is the finished product---
https://2img.net/h/i1324.photobucket.com/albums/u607/BrittanyRena92/GEDC1194_zps351d91a8.jpg


Opinions???

Critter Hill wrote:

How big is the ball and the opening? If a number of gliders all get in there together is there plenty of room for one to squeeze around their cage buddies and get back out?

Or can it be made with 2 holes?

The diameter of the ball is 6 inches & the circumference is 19 inches (it is pretty roomy inside).
The hole drilled is 55 millimeters in diameter (my 210 gram glider gets in & out of the hole just fine). The hole is also sanded down after drilled so there are no sharp edges. The toy pictured only has one hole, but I could add up to 3 holes so there would be numerous entrances & exits if that's preferred.

It sounds like you have the safety issues covered....it's a cute design! Very nice :-)

Yay!! Thank you so much for the compliments.
I am a little upset to say that Sarah disagrees about them being different, but claims they are ONLY similar by the entrance/exit hole drilled in the ball. I am trying to work things out to keep the peace between us.. but I am not sure how else I can use the base without drilling a hole in it for the suggies to get in & out. I looked at her toys using this ball before I posted mine.. and I didn't think they were similar.. I also didn't think drilling a hole in the ball was going to be a big deal either as there are only so many ways to use the ball.
I could separate the top from the bottom and use it like a coconut.. but.. that would defeat the whole purpose of this toy. This toy was made to be a "hideaway", that is why the fringe vines are surrounding the top, so when they are inside the ball, they are mostly hidden.

I am extremely confused on what to do. I respect Sarah & we are friends.. however, if she would have came to me & said "this toy is too similar to mine" meaning the WHOLE toy, I would completely understand and would change it to satisfy her. However, she strictly mentioned the hole drilled in the ball is what she doesn't like & that is what makes it too close to hers & she would rather me NOT drill a hole in the ball & find some other way to use the ball to make it my own.

I guess my concern with this is... it's a hole? Anyone can drill a hole in something? I don't want these remarks to come off as rude, I just don't know how else to word it. I didn't think drilling a hole in the ball would be something considered "unique" and could be claimed. *CONFUSED*

Thank you for your help everyone!

Sarah does not have any claim on drilling a hole in anything. That is ridiculous.
Interesting comment coming from her, considering most of her toys are ideas taken from someone else's toy and tweaked or combined with another. She shouldn't have much to say about anyone using a construction idea. She has built her business off of doing that very thing. This is just...karma I guess.
That is just as ridiculous as me claiming that no one else can use a drill on a rubber duck.

Yes, anyone can drill a hole any time. She cannot claim that as a unique thing that she came up with (especially since I'm pretty sure the idea was given to her by someone else anyway). You used the ball differently. That is all we can ask of each other as vendors.

Think of all of the toys you see with the bath toys. Everyone drills holes in them and hangs them from chain. No one can make a claim to that. We are using the parts differently, though, so that is what matters.

Val, You need to add a like button on your post so I can hit it :) Very well said.

Something_To_Believe_In wrote:

That is just as ridiculous as me claiming that no one else can use a drill on a rubber duck.

I don't know why that sounded so funny to me but it sure did. Lol

Something_To_Believe_In wrote:

Think of all of the toys you see with the bath toys. Everyone drills holes in them and hangs them from chain. No one can make a claim to that. We are using the parts differently, though, so that is what matters.

Yep.

I agree completely with what Val said :-)

People have used my leaves in the chain idea it happens and who knows maybe it was not my idea but I had never seen it before and thought the gliders can take them out of the chain if they choose too so why not. So you can use things the same way as long as you do not copy more then one aspect IMO.
If we did not incorporate things then we would be limited to the toys we have.