Automatic treat dispenser

A rotatable container includes a projection that protrudes into the container and is aligned with an opening at a first end of the container. The projection defines a concave surface with a ramp that guides treats through the opening when oriented vertically. The container may be cylindrical and sit on a base defining a cylindrical seat. A second end of the container engages a rotator on the base that is driven by a motor. A front wall of the container may define an opening that aligns with the opening of the container when the ramp is oriented vertically. A sensor may sense a position of the projection and invoke pausing of rotation by the motor.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

This application relates to automatic treat dispensers for animals.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Anyone with a dog knows that there are certain treats that they adore and other treats that they do not get excited about. Ideally, a treat dispenser should be able to reliably dispense a wide variety of treats to accommodate the pet's favorite. This is especially a challenge in design, since the treats can have a large variety of sizes, shapes, weights, and consistencies. All of these factors make an automatic treat dispenser prone to jamming, failing, or dispensing too many or too few treats.

The apparatus disclosed herein provides an improved approach for dispensing treats.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

An apparatus includes a rotational actuator defining an axis of rotation and a container. A wall extends perpendicular to the axis and defines a wall aperture, the wall extending across a first end of the container. A projection protrudes into the container and rotatable by the rotational actuator, the projection configured to rotate between a first position to a second position with rotation by the rotational actuator, the projection configured to pick up one or more items from the container when moving from the first position to the second position and drop the one or more items through the wall aperture when in the second position.

In some embodiments, the projection defines a concave structure facing in a circumferential direction about the axis of rotation. The concave structure may include a ramp surface that slopes outwardly from the axis of rotation with distance from the wall.

In some embodiments, the wall is secured to the container and the projection is mounted to the wall. In some embodiments, the wall is removably securable to the container and the projection is fastened to the wall.

In some embodiments, the apparatus includes a seat sized to rotatably receive the container, the rotational actuator being mounted to the seat. In some embodiments, the seat includes a seat face defining a seat aperture, the seat aperture positioned such that the wall aperture overlaps the seat aperture when the projection is in the second position, the projection being mounted to the wall. The container may be cylindrical. In some embodiments, the container includes a container bottom positioned opposite the wall, the rotational actuator engaging the container bottom. The container bottom may define a groove and a rib that is secured to the rotational actuator, the rib being positioned within the groove when the container is positioned within the seat.

In some embodiments, a sensor is configured to sense a state of rotation of the projection. A controller is coupled to the sensor and the rotational actuator. The controller is programmed to repeatedly (a) invoke rotation of the container until the sensor indicates that the projection has at least reached the second position; and (b) pause rotation of the container for a delay period after performing (a)

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

Referring toFIG. 1, an apparatus10may be understood with respect to a longitudinal direction12a, vertical direction12b, and lateral direction12cthat are all mutually perpendicular to one another.

The apparatus10may include a container14including a sidewall16, which may have a cylindrical shape about an axis of symmetry parallel the longitudinal direction12a. The container may include a front wall18and back wall20that define a container volume along with the interior of the sidewall16. In the illustrated embodiment, the back wall20is fastened to one end of the sidewall16and the front wall18is a removable lid that is securable to the sidewall16, such as by means of a press fit or threaded engagement. In other embodiments this relationship is reversed and the back wall20functions as a removable lid. In still other embodiments, neither wall18,20is removable and a separate opening and lid are provided in the sidewall16for loading the container14.

The front wall18defines a projection22that protrudes inwardly into the container14when the front wall18is secured to the sidewall16. The projection22is aligned with an opening24in the front wall18. As described in greater detail below, in response to rotation of the projection22, treats26are lifted by the projection22and released through the opening24.

Referring toFIG. 2, the projection22may be shaped as a basket or cup that defines a concave interior volume for containing treats. The concave interior volume may have an opening that faces circumferentially about an axis of rotation28of the projection, the axis28being parallel to the longitudinal direction12a.

In the illustrated embodiment, the projection22includes a ramp surface30that that slopes radially outwardly from the axis of rotation28with distance from the front wall18. As is apparent inFIG. 2, the projection22, including the ramp surface30, is positioned completely to one side of the axis of rotation28. In other embodiments, the projection22may be intersected by the axis of rotation28.

As is apparent inFIG. 2, the projection22may include a bottom surface32having a far wall34and sidewall36projecting outwardly therefrom in the same direction of the ramp. The ramp surface30includes one edge connected to the front wall18, an edge connected the bottom surface32, and an edge connected to an edge of the far wall34. The far wall34includes an edge connected to the bottom surface32and an edge connected to an edge of the side wall36. The sidewall includes an edge connected to the bottom surface32and an edge connected to the front wall18. Together the ramp surface30, bottom surface32, far wall34, and side wall36define a concave structure for lifting treats from the container.

As shown inFIG. 2, one edge of the ramp surface30secures to the front wall18on one side of the opening24. Likewise, one edge of the side wall36secures to the front wall on an opposite side of the opening24from the ramp surface30. Accordingly, treats26are free to roll out of the concave interior volume through the opening24. In the illustrated embodiment, the opening24is larger than an opening38defined by the ramp surface30, bottom surface32, and side wall36, i.e., the rectangular area defined by the edges of these structures projected on to the front wall18. In this manner, jamming of the apparatus10as treats exit the projection22through the opening24is reduced. In the illustrated embodiment, the opening24has an arcuate perimeter extending between the ramp surface30and side wall36. However, other shapes may also be used.

Note that the embodiment ofFIG. 2uses planer surfaces30,32,34,36to define the concave interior volume of the projection22. However, curved surfaces may also be used. In particular, the slope of the ramp surface30need not be constant provided that it provides a smooth path guiding treats to the opening24as outlined below. For example, the slope of the ramp surface30may be montonic but non-constant, such as a portion of a parabolic, circular, sinusoidal, elliptical, or other curved shape having a monotonic slope.

Pet treats, because of their irregular shape and structure, are particularly prone to bridging and interlocking, which make jamming a real possibility. In the disclosed embodiment, there are no internally protruding structures that move in relation to the sidewall16of the container14. This reduces the risk of jamming. The tumbling action of the container14also helps to reduce jamming.

Referring toFIG. 3, the apparatus10may further include a base40for supporting the container14on a planar support surface or for mounting to some other structure. The base40may include a seat42conforming to a cylinder, which may be a cylinder having an axis of symmetry parallel to the longitudinal direction12a. The radius of the seat42may be greater than a radius of the outer surface of the sidewall16by an amount sufficient to allow the sidewall16to nest in the seat42while also being rotatable relative to the surface42.

The base40may include a front wall44defining an opening46and a rear wall48. The walls44and46are offset from one another along the longitudinal direction12aand may be vertical parallel to the vertical and lateral directions12b,12c. In the illustrated embodiment, opening46is pie shape, e.g. a segment of a circle centered on the axis of symmetry of cylindrical surface42. As is apparent, the opening46may be a 90-degree segment extending over an angular region spanning from the parallel to the vertical direction12bto parallel to the lateral direction12c. Other sizes and configurations of the opening46are possible. The illustrated embodiment advantageously provides a large area through which treats26may exit, thereby reducing jamming. In particular, the opening46may be larger than the opening24in the front wall18.

The base40may include a rotatable member50, which may be positioned adjacent the back wall44or rotate within an opening defined by the back wall44. In some embodiments, only a rotatable member50is present and the back wall44is omitted.

In the illustrated embodiment, the rotator50includes a ridge52that engages a corresponding groove54in the back wall20of the container14. In other embodiments, the ridge52may be formed on the back wall20of the container14and the groove54is defined by the rotator50.

As shown inFIGS. 4A and 4B, to place the container14in the seat42, the groove54is aligned with the ridge52while the ridge52is oriented generally vertically (e.g., within 15 degrees of parallel to vertical direction12b) and slid over the ridge52. In some embodiments, the rotator50may be rotatable such that once the groove54engages the ridge52, the rotator50will rotate to permit seating within the seat42subject to a downward force by a user on the container14.

FIG. 4Bfurther illustrates a rotational actuator including a motor56that engages the rotator50either directly or through a belt drive or gear interface, such as one or more gears which may provide a speed reduction such that the rotator50rotates more slowly than the shaft of the motor56.

Also apparent inFIG. 4Bis a sensor58that senses positioning of the container14and projection22. For example, sensor58may be a button that is triggered by a protuberance (not shown) on the back wall20of the container14. The sensor58may be a magnetic sensor or an optical sensor that senses a reflective or colored marker on the back wall20of the container14. In some embodiments, the motor56is an indexing motor such that its position can be precisely known and controlled. Accordingly, in such embodiments an additional sensor58may be omitted. In some embodiments, the apparatus10dispenses treats26continually such that a sensor58is also omitted.

FIGS. 5A to 5Eillustrate operation of the apparatus10. As shown inFIGS. 5A and 5B, the projection22may be oriented above the treats26and be rotated down (clockwise in the illustrations) such that the projection22collects one or more treats. The projection22continues to rotate as shown inFIGS. 5C and 5Din the same direction until the opening24is aligned with the opening46as shown inFIG. 5E. The treat then slides down the ramp surface30and through the opening46.

FIGS. 6A and 6Bfurther illustrate operation of the ramp surface30. When the opening22is aligned with the opening46, the ramp surface30is oriented such that it slopes downwardly toward the front wall18. Accordingly, treats26are urged by gravity down the ramp surface30through the openings22,46.

Referring toFIG. 7, a controller60may be coupled to the motor and sensor58as well as a power supply, such as an electric outlet or battery (not shown). The controller60may be a circuit programmed to control operation of the motor according to an output of the sensor58. For example, the sensor58may produce an output when the projection22is at a predetermined position. The controller60may be programmed to (a) rotate the rotator50until that output is received, (b) wait for a predetermined delay, and then repeat from step (a). Accordingly, the rotator50will make one full rotation before stopping, ensuring that treats are only dispensed once between each delay period. In some embodiments, the controller60may be programmable such that a user may set the predetermined delay. In some embodiments, the sensor produced the output at some point after treats26are dispensed as shown inFIGS. 6A and 6Bbut prior to picking up of additional treats by the projection22, such as a position at or between the positions ofFIGS. 5E and 5A.

As is apparent in the above embodiments, only the projection22need rotate in order to pick up and release treats26. Accordingly, the container14may be fixed and the projection22may be rotated alone. Likewise, various mounting and rotation mechanisms may be used for the container14. For example, rather than resting in a cylindrical seat, mounting structures may engage the front and back walls18,20like a spit and rotate the container14.

In some embodiments, the longitudinal direction12ais parallel to a horizontal plane, i.e. a plane that is perpendicular to the direction of gravity. In other embodiments, the longitudinal direction12ais slightly tilted, e.g., between 1 and 10 degrees relative to the horizontal plane such that the projection22is at a lower end of the container14. In this manner, gravity tends to urge treats26toward the projection22to facilitate lifting and dispensing thereof.

Pet treats have multiple shapes and sizes. In some embodiments, there may be provided interchangeable front walls18having differently sized and shaped projections22to accommodate different sizes and shapes. Alternatively, multiple different sizes and shapes of projections22may removably secure to the front wall18. Certain projections22, along with the tumbling action of the container14, may be advantageous for dispensing a variety of treats with each rotation.

In some embodiments, the front wall44and opening46may be omitted. A retractable spring-loaded cover would occlude the outside of the opening24in the front wall18. This cover would then be pulled open as the container14and cover18rotate to the position shown inFIG. 5D, and then released as the container14moves past the position shown inFIG. 5D, causing it to spring closed at the position shown in5E.

In some embodiments, the controller60may be coupled to a wireless receiver and activated by an external device by means of an external signal, including WiFi, Bluetooth, LAN (Local Area Network), or other type of signal received from a device such as a computer, webcam, cellphone, smarthome, Amazon Echo, or a direct voice command. For example, the controller60may be instructed by wireless signal to execute one or more revolutions. The controller60may then execute these revolutions using outputs of the sensor58to sense when each revolution is completed. Although this invention has described a stand-alone design, it is also anticipated that it can be an integral component of another device, such as the Internet Canine Communication System (see, e.g., U.S. Pat. Nos. 9,226,477, 9,723,813 and 9,723,814).