Pet treat dispenser assembly with clicker

An improved pet treat dispenser assembly is provided with a canister for holding pet treats, a dispenser slidably mounted in the canister for dispensing treats, and a clicker on the canister to attract a pet's attention following desired behavior. The canister includes an upper housing, a lower base, and an internal treat tray. The housing can be removed from the base and tray for filling with treats, and can be used as a scoop so as to load the housing with treats.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Treat dispensers are often used in pet training. More particularly, when the pet performs a desired act, a treat is awarded as positive reinforcement so as to reinforce such behaviors. Both pet owners and trainers use treat dispensers, which are available in various forms. As described in Applicant's prior treat dispenser, U.S. Pat. No. 6,702,149, the prior art treat dispensers have various drawbacks, and accordingly are less than ideal for maximum positive reinforcement of the pet.

Accordingly, a primary objective of the present invention is the provision of an improved pet treat dispenser assembly.

Another objective of the present invention is the provision of a pet treat dispenser assembly having a clicker.

A further objective of the present invention is a provision of a pet treat dispenser assembly which can be quickly and easily loaded with pet treats.

Another objective of the present invention is the provision of a pet treat dispenser assembly which can be easily used by a person's left or right hand.

Still another objective of the present invention is the provision of a pet treat dispenser assembly which can be quickly and easily assembled and disassembled for loading and cleaning.

Yet another objective of the present invention is the provision of a pet treat dispenser assembly having an easy-to-actuate dispenser button.

Still another objective of the present invention is the provision of a pet treat dispenser assembly having an upper housing and a lower base, with the housing being removable from the base so as to be used as a scoop for loading the housing with pet treats.

Another objective of the present invention is the provision of a pet treat dispenser assembly which is economical to manufacture and durable in use.

These and other objectives will become apparent from the following description of the invention.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The pet treat dispenser assembly of the present invention comprises a canister for holding pet treats, a dispenser on the canister for dispensing a treat from the canister, and a clicker on the canister to provide an audible noise to obtain the pet's attention. The canister includes an upper housing, a lower base, and an internal tray. The housing is removably mounted to the base, and has an open end for loading treats into the housing when the housing is removed from the base. The housing can also be used as a scoop for loading treats. The dispenser is slidably mounted in the base, and can be quickly and easily actuated by the left or right hand of a pet owner or trainer so as to discharge a treat from the canister, and thereby providing positive reinforcement for desired behavior of the pet.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

The pet treat dispenser assembly of the present invention is generally designated by the reference numeral10in the drawings. The assembly generally comprises a canister12, a dispenser14, and a clicker16. The canister12includes an upper housing18, a lower base20, and an intermediate or internal tray22.

The housing18includes opposite sides24, opposite ends26, and a top wall28. The lower end30of the housing18is open so that treats can be loaded into the housing18when the housing is removed from the base20. Alternatively, the housing18can be used as a scoop to fill the housing with treats when the housing18is removed from the base20.

The base20and tray22are secured together by friction fit, adhesive, plastic welding, or any other convenient means. The tray22includes downwardly sloped walls32and an opening34at the lower ends of the walls32. The tray22also includes a pair of resilient end tabs36which extend upwardly so as to extend through a pair of collars38on the housing18. A shoulder40on each of the tabs36engages collars30so as to releasably mount the base20and tray22to the housing18so as to form the canister12.

The base20includes a side opening42in which the dispenser14is slidably mounted for movement between a first extended position and a second depressed position. A spring44normally biases the dispenser14to the extended position. The spring44has a first end attached to a post43in the base20and a second end attached to a side extension45on the interior end of the dispenser14(FIG. 9).

The dispenser14is in the form of a button. The upper rear wall46of the dispenser14is aligned with the opening34in the tray22when the dispenser14is in the extended position, thereby preventing a treat from dropping through the opening34. The dispenser14also has a hole48which aligns with the opening34in the tray22when the dispenser14is depressed, thereby allowing a treat to fall through the opening34and the hole48into the base20. When the dispenser14is released so as to return to the extended position by the force of the spring44, a lower opening50on the base20is exposed to allow the treat to drop out of the dispenser assembly10and into the hand of the person operating the assembly10.

The clicker16may be any type of device that makes a noise to attract the pet's attention. As shown inFIG. 9, the clicker includes a metal plate52which is mounted in the upper portion of the housing18. A cover54is provided for the plate52, so that treats within the canister12do not interfere with operation of the clicker16. The cover54is molded as part of the housing18. The top wall28of the housing18is preferably a separate molded piece to allow assembly of the clicker plate52, and is then adhered to the main body of the housing. The plate52is attached to the housing18in any convenient manner. For example, the plate52may be sandwiched between a boss58on the housing18and a boss59on the cover54. An actuation button60is mounted in the housing18and extends upwardly through a hole in the top wall28of the housing18. The clicker button60engages the clicker plate52. The owner or trainer can push the clicker button60so as to deflect the plate52, so as to make a clicking sound. Typically, a pet soon develops a Pavlov reaction to the sound of the clicker16, thereby providing further positive reinforcement for desired behavior. While the clicker is normally actuated immediately following desired behavior by the pet and just before a treat is dispensed, it is understood that the clicker does not have to be used.

The canister12is provided with a belt clip62. The clip62may be attached to the canister by any convenient means. As seen inFIGS. 2 and 4, the clip62is a separate component having a lower end slidably received within a collar64on the base20. A shoulder66on the clip62retains the clip62in position after being inserted through the collar64.

In use, the treat dispenser assembly10can be mounted on an owner's or trainer's belt or pants via the clip62on either the left or right side, as preferred by the owner or trainer. Thus, the assembly10is ambidextrous or non-handed. When the pet behaves as desired, the clicker button60can be actuated to make a sound, if desired, and the dispenser button14can be actuated to discharge a treat from the canister12into the owner's or trainer's hand. The pet can then be rewarded with the treat so as to provide positive reinforcement for the desired behavior.

It is understood that the assembly10can be used to dispense objects other than pet treats. For example, treats or snacks for children can be placed in the assembly for dispensement. Also, non-edible objects can also be dispensed. Thus, “treats” can include edible products for pets and/or people, as well as small non-edible objects.