Abstract:
The present development is a pet toy with a hidden cavity for a treat or similar enticement for the pet. The hidden cavity is preferably enclosed within a plunger-type device so the pet must extract the plunger to retrieve the treat.

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO PRIOR APPLICATIONS 
     The present application claims priority to previously filed U.S. Patent Application 62/039,406 filed on 19 Aug. 2014, and incorporated herein by reference. 
    
    
     BACKGROUND 
     The present development is a toy for a pet comprising a soft-body housing and at least one hidden cavity for accommodating a treat. Optionally, the toy may include a squeaker or similar noise making object to maintain the attention of the pet. 
     Household pets enjoy playing with toys. Most toys are designed to allow the pet to chew on the toy, or to provide entertainment while batting the toy around. As pets spend more time confined in relatively small spaces, such as within houses or residential yards, their need for intellectual stimulation increases. However, few toys are designed to be intellectually challenging for the pet. 
     The present development addresses this issue by providing a pet toy design that challenges the pet to determine how to access a treat hidden within the toy housing. 
     SUMMARY OF THE PRESENT INVENTION 
     The present development is a pet toy with a hidden cavity for a treat or similar enticement for the pet. The hidden cavity is preferably enclosed within a plunger-type device so the pet must extract the plunger to retrieve the treat. Preferably, the toy comprises a soft-body, such as a cloth, fabric, soft plastic, or rubber material, that can be easily gripped in the mouth of a pet. Optionally, the toy may include a hidden noise-making element concealed within the body of the toy. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES 
         FIG. 1  is an exploded view of the toy of the present invention; 
         FIGS. 2A-C  are views of the pouch or body of the toy of  FIG. 1 , wherein  FIG. 2A  is a front view,  FIG. 2B  is a side view, and  FIG. 2C  is a bottom perspective view; 
         FIGS. 3A-C  are views of the treat dispenser of the toy of  FIG. 1 , wherein  FIG. 3A  is a front view,  FIG. 3B  is a side view, and  FIG. 3C  is a top perspective view; 
         FIG. 4  is a view of the treat dispenser of the toy of  FIG. 1  with an alternative rod; 
         FIGS. 5A-C  are views of the treat dispenser housing of the toy of  FIG. 1 , wherein  FIG. 5A  is a front view,  FIG. 5B  is a side view, and  FIG. 5C  is a top perspective view; 
         FIGS. 6A-C  are views of the gripping device of the toy of  FIG. 1 , wherein  FIG. 6A  is a front view,  FIG. 6B  is a side view, and  FIG. 6C  is a bottom perspective view; 
         FIG. 7  is a view of the gripping device of the toy of  FIG. 1  showing a first alternative means for attaching the gripping device to the treat dispenser; 
         FIGS. 8A-C  are views of the gripping device of the toy of  FIG. 1  showing a second alternative means for attaching the gripping device to the treat dispenser, wherein  FIG. 8A  is a perspective view of the toy with the lid opened,  FIG. 8B  is a partial side view of the toy with the lid closed, and  FIG. 8C  is a partial side view of the toy with the lid opened; 
         FIGS. 9A-C  are views of an optional squeaker element of the toy of  FIG. 1 , wherein  FIG. 9A  is a front view,  FIG. 9B  is a side view, and  FIG. 9C  is a top perspective view; and, 
         FIGS. 10  A-C are views of a toy made according to the present invention wherein the treat dispenser is partially exposed, wherein  FIG. 10A  is a front view,  FIG. 10B  is a side view, and  FIG. 10C  is a bottom perspective view. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
     The following description is intended to provide the reader with a better understanding of the invention. The description is not intended to be limiting with respect to any element not otherwise limited within the claims. For example, the present invention will be described in the context of use as a dog toy, but the teachings herein are not limited to use by dogs. 
     As shown in  FIGS. 1-10 , the present development is a pet toy  10  comprising a treat dispenser  20 , a treat dispenser housing  30 , and a flexible bodied cover  40  to conceal the treat dispenser and housing when in a closed position. The treat dispenser  20  includes a tugging ring  50  so a pet may “open” the dispenser and expose the treat compartment  22  of the treat dispenser  20 . 
     More specifically, as shown in  FIG. 1 , the present development comprises a treat dispenser housing  30  that is preferably positioned in the interior of a soft or flexible body or pouch  40 . The treat dispenser housing  30  must be affixed within the body  40  such that a first end  32  is exposed to receive the treat dispenser  20 . In a preferred embodiment, the treat dispenser housing is maintained in position within the body by fabric stuffing  43  or similar packing material. A pet-engaging device  50 , such as tugging ring is positioned on a first end  24  of the treat dispenser  20 , such that the tugging ring is located on the exterior of the flexible body when the dispenser is in a closed position. Optionally, the pet toy  10  may include one or more squeakers  90  or similar noise making elements fixedly attached within the body. 
     As shown in  FIG. 2 , the body  40  is essentially a pouch with an opening  42  on one end to receive the treat dispenser housing  30 . The opening should be sized to retain at least some portion of the treat dispenser housing  30  within the interior of the pouch but to allow the treat dispenser  20  to be exposed on the exterior of the pouch. Optionally, the pouch may have decorative features  44 , but this decoration is not relevant to the functionality of the invention. The pouch may be made from, among other materials, nylon, plastic, rubber, synthetic rubber, metal, wood. 
     As shown in  FIGS. 3 and 4 , the treat dispenser  20  comprises a treat compartment or vessel  22  having a closed end  21  and an opened end  23 . A flexible attachment means  24 , such as a sulcated-style spring or pliable rod, is fixedly attached at the closed end  21 . The opened end  23  is capable of receiving pet treats or similar rewards. The vessel must include at least one aperture  26  which can be exposed when the treat dispenser  20  is extracted from the treat dispenser housing  30 . In a preferred embodiment, the treat dispenser  20  includes at least two apertures  26  for retrieving treats. The opened end  23  of the treat dispenser  20  must further include a means  28  for engaging the tugging ring, such as screw threading. The treat dispenser  20  may be made from, among other materials, nylon, plastic, rubber, synthetic rubber, metal, wood. 
     As shown in  FIG. 5 , the treat dispenser housing  30  comprises a hollow chamber  34  capable of reversibly receiving the treat dispenser  20 . The treat dispenser housing  30  includes a spring end  36  which is intended to receive and retain the flexible attachment means of the treat dispenser  24 . An opposing end of the housing is open and sized to receive the vessel  22  of the treat dispenser. When the treat dispenser is properly affixed within the housing, the flexible attachment means  24  may be extended to allow the vessel  22  to be reversibly extracted from the housing  30  while maintaining the flexible attachment means firmly in its mounting. The treat dispenser housing may be made from, among other materials, nylon, plastic, rubber, synthetic rubber, metal, wood. 
     In order to allow a pet to extract the vessel  22  of the treat dispenser from the treat dispenser housing  30  and to access a treat from within the treat dispenser, a tugging device  50 , such as a ring as shown in  FIG. 6 , is preferably attached to the vessel of the treat dispenser. As shown in  FIGS. 6-8 , in a preferred embodiment, the tugging device  50  includes a means  52  for engaging the vessel  22 , such as complementary screw threads or locking tabs with complementary locking slots or an attached hinge  53 , to allow the tugging ring to be secured unto the vessel. By using a reversible attachment means, such as screw threads, for connecting the tugging ring to the vessel, the tugging ring may be easily removed by a human to expose the treat cavity and to allow for easy filling of the vessel with treats. Optionally, the tugging device  50  may include dental features  54  that can allow the pet to grasp the tugging device with its teeth. The tugging ring may be made from, among other materials, nylon, plastic, rubber, synthetic rubber, metal, wood. 
     Optionally, the pet toy  10  of the present invention may further include a squeaker  90  or similar noise making device to maintain the attention of the pet. An exemplary squeaker is shown in  FIG. 9 . As is known in the art, the squeaker may be mounted anywhere within the interior of the pouch. 
       FIG. 10  shows a first alternative embodiment of the pet toy  110  of the present invention. The alternative embodiment comprises a treat dispenser  120  (not shown), a treat dispenser housing  130 , and a flexible bodied cover  140 , wherein the treat dispenser housing  130  is exposed to further engage the pet in chewing and playing activities. 
     Any specific dimensions relevant to the pet toy of the present invention provided herein are for the purpose of demonstrating the invention, but these dimensions are not intended to limit the scope of the invention. It is understood that one skilled in the art may make alterations to the embodiments shown and described herein without departing from the scope of the invention. For example, it is anticipated that the tugging ring may have a variety of shapes other than a ring which would still allow for a pet to expose the vessel of the treat dispenser.