Interactive device for animals

An interactive device for animals is provided, including a main body, a circuit module, a video/audio transceiver, a driving module, a first pusher, and a first communicating member, wherein the circuit module, the video/audio transceiver, and the driving module are disposed on the main body, and the video/audio transceiver and the driving module are electrically connected to the circuit module. The main body has a recess and an opening. The first pusher is movably disposed in the recess and connected to the driving module. The first communicating member communicates the recess with the opening. When the driving module drives the first pusher to protrude from an inner wall of the recess, the first pusher pushes an object in the recess into the first communicating member, and the object leaves the main body through the opening.

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

The present application is based on, and claims priority from, Taiwan Patent Application No. 104202129, filed on Feb. 10, 2015, the disclosure of which is hereby incorporated by reference herein in its entirety.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Field of the Invention

The application relates in general to an interactive device for animals, and in particular, to an interactive device for animals used for throwing an object.

Description of the Related Art

Lots of people keep pets at home, but it is difficult to monitor the pet's behavior and the pet's physical condition when the pet owner leaves the pet home alone. Thus, some pet owners dispose a photography apparatus at home to observe the pet's behavior.

However, there can be no interaction with the pet when using a conventional photography apparatus, making it hard to attract the pet to approach the photography apparatus. Furthermore, the pet's physical condition may deteriorate from lack of exercise. Therefore, how to interact with the pet when the pet owner cannot stay with the pet has become an important issue.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF INVENTION

To address the deficiencies of conventional electronic products, an embodiment of the invention provides an interactive device for animals, comprising a main body, a circuit module, a video/audio transceiver, a driving module, a first pusher, and a first communicating member, wherein the circuit module, the video/audio transceiver, and the driving module are disposed on the main body, and the video/audio transceiver and the driving module are electrically connected to the circuit module. The main body has a recess and an opening. The first pusher is movably disposed in the recess and connected to the driving module. The first communicating member communicates the recess with the opening. When the driving module drives the first pusher to move along a first direction and protrude from an inner wall of the recess, the first pusher pushes an object in the recess into the first communicating member, and the object leaves the main body through the opening.

In some embodiments, the interactive device for animals further comprises a second communicating member, a second pusher, and an elastic member. The second communicating member communicates the first communicating member and the opening. The second pusher for pushing the object out of the main body through the opening is movably disposed in the second communicating member and connected to the driving module. The elastic member is connected to the main body and the second pusher.

In some embodiments, the interactive device for animals further comprises a first communicating port, formed between the first communicating member and the second communication member, wherein the first communicating port is not covered by the second pusher.

In some embodiments, the interactive device for animals further comprises a motor, a gear assembly connected to the motor, and an intermittent gear connected to the gear assembly. The first pusher and the second pusher respectively comprise a gear rack. When the motor drives the gear assembly and the intermittent gear to rotate, the intermittent gear intermittently and repeatedly engages with the first pusher and the second pusher.

In some embodiments, the circuit module comprises a detecting unit for detecting the loading of the driving module. When the detecting unit detects that the driving module is in a low-loading state, the driving module stops driving the gear assembly.

In some embodiments, the circuit module comprises a detecting unit for detecting the loading of the driving module. When the detecting unit detects that the driving module is in a high-loading state, the driving module drives the first pusher to move along a second direction, wherein the second direction is opposite to the first direction.

In some embodiments, the interactive device for animals further comprises a stirring plate, disposed in the recess and connected to the driving module, wherein the stirring plate is rotatable relative to the main body.

In some embodiments, a longitudinal slot is formed on an inner surface of the recess, and the driving module drives the first pusher to move along the longitudinal slot and protrude from the inner wall of the recess.

In some embodiments, the interactive device for animals further comprises a sealer, and a second communicating port is formed between the recess and the first communicating member, wherein the sealer is pivotally connected to the driving module for sealing the second communicating port.

In some embodiments, the video/audio transceiver comprises camera, microphone, LED or speaker.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF INVENTION

Referring toFIG. 1, in an embodiment of the invention, a main body100of an interactive device for animals has a recess110and an opening120communicated with the recess110, and a video/audio transceiver200(for example, a wireless web camera having an angle adjustable function) is disposed on the main body100. The user can put objects used for interacting (such as the pet food or the toy balls) into the recess110, and the objects can leave the main body100through the opening120. Thus, the user can not only monitor the condition of the animals by receiving or transmitting the video/audio signal from the video/audio transceiver200, but also throw the object through the opening120to interact with the pet.

As shown inFIG. 1, in this embodiment, a cover C detachably seals the recess110to prevent the animals from directly picking up the object (the food or the toy) therefrom. The video/audio transceiver200and the opening200face toward the same side, and the video/audio transceiver200comprises a microphone and a camera having a wireless communication function, therefore, the user can easily observe the behavior of the animals by the video/audio transceiver200. In some embodiments, the video/audio transceiver200comprises a light emitting diode (LED) and a speaker, so that the animals can be attracted by the light or the sound of the user, and the interaction between the user and the animals can be improved.

Referring toFIG. 2, a circuit module300, a driving module400, a first communicating member500, a second communicating member600, a first pusher700, a second pusher800, a stirring plate900, and an elastic member S are disposed in the main body100of the interactive device for animals, wherein the circuit module300is electrically connected to the driving module400and the video/audio transceiver200through respective wires W. In this embodiment, the driving module400comprises a motor410, a gear assembly420, and an intermittent gear430. The gear assembly420comprises a plurality of gears G and a plurality of driving shafts D, and connects the motor410, the intermittent gear430, and the stirring plate900. It should be noted that the position and the number of gears G and driving shafts D in the gear assembly420and the intermittent gear430can be adjusted as required, and are not limited to those illustrated inFIG. 2.

As shown inFIG. 3A, the first pusher700and the second pusher800respectively comprises a gear rack, and the intermittent gear430can rotate in a counterclockwise direction therebetween. Therefore, the intermittent gear430can intermittently and repeatedly engage with the first pusher700and the second pusher800, and drive the first pusher700and the second pusher800to move.

Referring toFIG. 3A, the opposite sides of the first communicating member500are respectively connected to the recess110and the second communicating member600, and the second communicating member600is connected to the opening120of the main body100. As shown inFIGS. 3A and 3B, the first pusher700is disposed in the recess110, and can move along a longitudinal guiding slot111on an inner surface of the recess110. The second pusher800is movably disposed in the second communicating member600. Furthermore, the opposite sides of the elastic member S (such as spring) respectively abut the second pusher800and the main body100. The stirring plate900is disposed on the bottom side of the recess110, and is rotatable relative to the main body100.

The operation of the interactive device for animals is described below. Referring to theFIGS. 2 and 4, the user can dispose a plurality of objects I in the recess110of the main body100in advance. Next, as shown inFIG. 2, the user can use an external electronic device to remotely control the circuit module300. The circuit module300transmits a signal to the motor410through the wire W to drive the gear assembly420rotating, and the gear assembly420drives the intermittent gear430and the stirring plate900to rotate subsequently. As shown inFIG. 5, when the intermittent gear430rotates in the counterclockwise direction, it can drive the first pusher700moving along the guiding slot111in a first direction A1and protruding from the inner wall of the recess110. One object I is pushed out from the recess110and enters the first communicating member500, and then drops into the second communicating member600through the first communicating member500.

As shown inFIG. 6, when the intermittent gear430keeps on rotating in the counterclockwise direction and engages with a second pusher800, the intermittent gear430can drive the second pusher800to move from a first position along a bottom-right direction to a second position, compressing the elastic member S, and the object I in the second communicating member600slides along an inclined surface610and the bottom-right direction. Furthermore, since the first pusher700is disengaged from the intermittent gear430, the first pusher700slides down along the guiding slot111to the position shown inFIG. 6.

After the first pusher700slides down, the stirring plate900can be driven by the gear assembly420and rotate relative to the main body100, such that the objects I in the recess110can be stirred. Therefore, the objects I can move to the position above the first pusher700, and interference between the objects I can be prevented.

As shown inFIG. 7, when the intermittent gear430keeps on rotating and is separated from the second pusher800, the elastic member S provides an elastic force to push the second pusher800from the second position to the first position, and the object I is thrown out. The object I can leave the main body100through the opening120.

Specifically, the circuit module300comprises a detecting unit (not shown). When the detecting unit detects that the motor410is in a low-loading state, the circuit module300transmits a signal to the motor410and the motor410stops operating. That is, as shown inFIG. 7, when the intermittent gear430rotates in the counterclockwise direction to a position disengaged from the first pusher700and the second pusher800, the motor410is in the low-loading state, the circuit module300transmits a signal to the motor410, and the motor stops driving the gear assembly420.

Moreover, in the process of pushing the object I along the first direction A1by the first pusher700, the interference between the first pusher700and the object I in the recess110may occur and the first pusher700cannot keep moving. At this time, the motor410cannot drive the first pusher700to move, and it is in a high-loading state. Therefore, when the detecting unit of the circuit module300detects that the motor410is in a high-loading state, the circuit module300transmits a signal to the motor410and the motor410drives the first pusher700to move along a second direction (opposite to the first direction A1) to the position shown inFIG. 4, and then it moves along the first direction A1again. If the interference still exists after the first pusher700alternately moves along the first direction A1and second direction several times, the circuit module300transmits a signal to the motor410and the motor410stops operating.

In the process of moving the object I, the user can continually interact with the animals by the video/audio transceiver200. For example, the user can make noise from the speaker to attract the animals, or observe the animals chasing the thrown object I by the camera.

It should be noted that, an angle between the guiding slot111and the inner wall of the first communicating member500is about 20°-80° (30° for example), and the first communicating port P1between the first and second communicating members500and600is not covered by the second pusher800when the second pusher800moves between the first position and the second position (FIGS. 7 and 8). Thus, the interference between the second pusher800and the object I can be prevented when the object I drops from the first communicating member500.

Referring toFIGS. 3B and 8, the number of objects I pushed out from the recess110is primarily determined by the dimensions of the top surface710of the first pusher700and the width of the guiding slot111. A round corner730is formed on the top surface710and a lateral surface720of the first pusher700, so that the surplus objects I can easily drop, the number of objects I pushed out from the recess110can be precisely controlled.

Referring toFIG. 9, in another embodiment of the invention, the first communicating member500is directly connected to the opening120of the main body100. Thus, the object I pushed out from the recess110can directly slide out of the main body100through the first communicating member500.

As shown inFIG. 10A, in another embodiment of the invention, the interactive device for animals further comprises a sealer K for sealing a second communicating port P2between the recess110and the first communicating member500, such that the ingress of insects can be prevented. As shown inFIG. 10B, when the object I is pushed out by the first pusher700, the sealer K is driven by the driving module400and rotates relative to the second communicating port P2, such that the object I can leave the recess110and drop into the first communicating member500.

Furthermore, in some embodiments, the second pusher800and the elastic member S can be replaced by an elastic sheet (not shown), the driving module400can directly provide a deformation force to deform the elastic sheet. When the deformation force is released and the shape of the elastic sheet is resumed, the object I can be thrown out of the main body100through the opening120by the elastic sheet.

In summary, an interactive device for animals is provided. The interaction can be created by the video/audio transceiver or the method of throwing the object. Furthermore, because the first pusher pushes the object along the first direction, the number of objects pushed out from the recess can be precisely controlled.