Abstract:
A dual-purpose packaging for a pet-related product includes a flexible, non-toxic and bite-resistant enclosure filled with a pet-related product. The enclosure includes a retractable valve for selectively dispensing the pet-related product from within the enclosure. The packaging may further include a set of squeak elements associated with a corresponding set of air-filled chambers coupled to the enclosure. Accordingly, the enclosure may be reutilized as a pet chew toy once the pet-related product is substantially dispensed from within the enclosure.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
   The invention generally relates to dual-purpose packaging. More particularly, the present invention relates to dual-purpose packaging that extends the utility of the packaging as a container for a pet-related product and chew toy. 
   Single use containers for retaining liquids are generally known in the art. Such containers may include hard outer shells where pressurized liquid is dispensed by a pressure release valve. Alternatively, the containers may include a generally flexible outer wall that is squeezable to remove controlled amounts of this liquid from within the container. The flexible wall containers are generally formed of an elongated tube structure having a hole formed therein to release the liquid. Consumers purchase replacement containers when the contents of the original container are fully dispensed. Thereafter the original container is typically placed in the garbage. 
   Pet toys are also generally known in the art and are also generally packaged in single use disposable containers. In some instances, the pet toys contain little or no packaging at all. These pet toys are typically formed from a variety of materials that might include plastic or rubber and have generally durable outer materials that are suitable, in themselves, as packaging. Some of these pet toys are designed to entertain pets and may contain attractive scents or treats (e.g., catnip, doggy treats, or other food or aromatic substances that stimulate play). Often these additives are retained within a container formed as part of the pet toy. But, some filled pet toys are permanently sealed. Inaccessible materials such as catnip or potpourri may expire or become stale and thereafter the pet toy itself must be thrown away and replaced. 
   Alternatively, other self-packaged pet toys provide access to the filler retained within the container. Access to the filler is provided by a closure device such as a zipper, valve, snap, button, or other device known in the art. These closure devices can be asymmetrical or bulky. In many pet toys, the closure device is physically exposed and easily manipulated by the pet during use. Inadvertent opening or breakage of the closure device easily results from gnawing or other types of scratching or rubbing during use of the pet toy. Inadvertently opening the closure device will expose any filler material or other contents. Loss of the filler may provide health risks to the pet or others playing with the pet toy. Additionally, exposed closure device parts may cause tooth chipping should the pet bite down hard thereon. 
   Other pet toys known in the art have hollow centers. These pet toys have an air escape passage and create noise when the toy is chewed by the pet. Again, these pet toys are usually sold in a one-time use disposable package. 
   A chewable pet toy requires durable materials for long term use, as continual use eventually wears out the outer material. The pet toy requires replacement once the outer material wears out. Any filler will tend to leak or spill from within the pet toy when the outer material wears out. The very purpose of retaining the filler within the pet toy is therefore lost. Wear and tear on the outer material may not only lead to quick replacement, but could also cause injury, such as choking, especially as the pet toy disintegrates and parts fall off. 
   Accordingly, there is a need for a dual-purpose package for a pet that is flexible, non-toxic and bite-resistant. Such a dual-purpose package should include a fluid enclosure that is capable of retaining a pet-related product. The dual-purpose package should also include a means for dispensing and refilling the enclosure with a pet-related product or other liquid. The packaging should be durable enough such that the enclosure may be reutilized as a pet chew toy once the pet-related product is substantially dispensed from the enclosure. The present invention fulfills these needs and provides other related advantages. 
   SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
   A dual-purpose packaging for a pet-related product is provided. The dual-purpose packaging has a flexible, non-toxic and bite-resistant enclosure filled with a pet-related product. Furthermore, the dual-purpose packaging has a means for selectively dispensing the pet-related product from within the enclosure. Dispensing of the pet-related product is regulated by an extendable and retractable valve that includes a cap/plug integrated therein for retaining the pet-related product within the enclosure. The valve may have a squeak element coupled therein. The present invention also includes a means for selectively refilling the enclosure, if desired. In this embodiment, the enclosure may be reutilized as a pet chew toy once the pet-related product is substantially dispensed from within the enclosure. The squeak element may, alternatively, be integrated into a separate air-filled chamber. The dual-purpose packaging of the present invention may comprise multiple air-filled chambers having multiple squeak elements therein. 
   In another aspect of the present invention, the dual-purpose packaging includes a process for extending the utility of the packaging as a pet-related product. This process includes the steps of filling a flexible, non-toxic and bite-resistant enclosure with a pet-related product. The pet-related product is then selectively dispensed from the enclosure for use in association with the pet. The process could further include the step of selectively refilling the enclosure with shampoo or another fluid, if desired. The utility of the packaging is thereafter extended by utilizing the enclosure as a pet chew toy. 
   In an alternative embodiment, the dual-purpose package is capable of dispensing the pet-related product from within the enclosure through a selectively retractable valve. This retractable valve is accordingly concealable within the enclosure after the dispensing step. 
   The method of manufacturing the dual-purpose packaging of the present invention includes the step of blow molding a flexible, non-toxic and bite-resistant enclosure. A selectively retractable valve is then integrated into the enclosure. The valve may include a squeak element therein. The enclosure is then filled with a pet-related product and sealed for use. Alternatively, the dual-purpose packaging includes multiple air-filled chambers glued to the enclosure. Each air-filled chamber may have a squeak element therein. 
   Other features and advantages of the present invention will become apparent from the following more detailed description, taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, which illustrate, by way of example, the principles of the invention. 

   
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     The accompanying drawings illustrate the invention. In such drawings: 
       FIG. 1  illustrates a perspective view of a dual-purpose package of the present invention having a valve incorporated therein at one end; 
       FIG. 2  is a cross-sectional view taken generally along the line  2 - 2 , of  FIG. 1 ; 
       FIG. 3  is a perspective view of the dual-purpose package, wherein the valve is extended; 
       FIG. 4  is a cross-sectional view taken generally along the line  4 - 4 , of  FIG. 3 ; 
       FIG. 5  illustrates removal of the liquid contents from within the dual-purpose package; 
       FIG. 6  is a perspective view of the dual-purpose package integrating a combined valve and squeak element; 
       FIG. 7  is a perspective view of the dual-purpose package of the present invention in use with a dog; 
       FIG. 8  is a perspective view of the dual-purpose package of the present invention embodied in a snowman; and 
       FIG. 9  is a perspective view of the dual-purpose package of the present invention embodied in a star configuration, including multiple squeak elements. 
   

   DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
   As shown in the exemplary drawings for purposes of illustration, the present invention for a dual-purpose package is referenced to generally by the reference numeral  10 . Turning now to the representative figures in the specification,  FIG. 1  illustrates the dual-purpose package  10  having a receptacle  12  and a valve  14 . As best shown in  FIG. 1 , the valve  14  also incorporates a valve cap  16  and a corresponding strap  18 . The receptacle  12  of the dual-purpose package  10  is generally constructed from a tough and durable material that extends the reusable life of the dual-purpose package  10 . The dual-purpose package  10  must be able to withstand pet biting, gnawing, rubbing, chewing, scratching, or any other use by a pet. Preferably, the dual-purpose package  10  is manufactured via blow molding and does not contain a seam. Accordingly, the dual-purpose package  10  does not deflate after dispensing the liquid therein. Rather, the dual-purpose package  10  maintains a substantially rigid, yet deformable, structure. The embodiment shown in  FIG. 1  illustrates the dual-purpose package  10  as filled with a liquid  20 . The structure is deformable to dispense the contents therein, such as the liquid  20 . 
   The liquid  20  is further shown in the cross-sectional view in  FIG. 2  and may initially include shampoo. Once the shampoo is completely dispensed, the liquid  20  may be refilled with a variety of liquids including water, air, shampoo, or another liquid known in the art suitable for use with a pet (e.g., dog, cat, etc.). But, the dual-purpose package  10  is preferably not refilled. The liquid  20  is dispensed and refilled through the valve  14 . 
     FIGS. 1-2  illustrate the valve  14  in a collapsed position. In these embodiments, a top neck  22  and a bottom neck portion  24  (best shown in  FIGS. 3-4 ) are located substantially within the interior of the receptacle  12  of the dual-purpose package  10 . Here the valve  14  and cap  16  are substantially sheltered from any interference with the pet. Inadvertent dislodgement of the valve cap  16  from within the top neck  22  is therefore avoided. Additionally, the pet will have difficulty chipping teeth or otherwise incurring a bodily injury because the valve  14  is inaccessible. The liquid  20  is therefore safely retained within the receptacle  12  of the dual-purpose package  10 . 
   To facilitate dispensing of the liquid  20  from the interior of the receptacle  12 , the top neck  22  and the bottom neck  24  of the valve  14  are pulled out from within the interior of the receptacle  12  to the extended position as shown in  FIGS. 3-4 . Much like a beach ball valve, the top neck  22  and the bottom neck  24  no longer reside flush with the receptacle  12  in this extended position. A tab  26  integral to the valve cap  16  is now accessible for fingertip engagement. Applying a force to the bottom side of the tab  26 , opposite to the strap  18 , pushes the valve cap  16  from within the interior of the top neck  22 .  FIG. 5  best illustrates the valve  14  as opened and dispensing the liquid  20 . 
   When the valve  14  is open, as shown in  FIG. 5 , the liquid  20  is capable of being dispensed by squeezing the exterior of the receptacle  12 . The liquid  20  may also be inserted into the receptacle  12  through the top neck  22  and the bottom neck  24 .  FIG. 6  further discloses the dual-purpose package  10  of the present invention after the liquid  20  is fully dispensed from within the receptacle  12 . As shown in  FIG. 6 , the dual-purpose package  10  retains its shape after the liquid  20  is fully dispensed therefrom. In this embodiment, a dog  28  ( FIG. 7 ) uses the dual-purpose package  10  as a toy rather than a liquid product container. Alternatively, the receptacle  12  is refillable with more of the liquid  20  for further use as a shampoo dispenser or other container. Moreover, the shape of the dual-purpose package  10  could include a dog bone (as shown in  FIGS. 1-7 ) or any other suitable configuration for retaining shampoo or any other liquid known in the art and compatible for use with a pet, such as a snowman ( FIG. 8 ) or star configuration ( FIG. 9 ). 
     FIG. 6  further illustrates the valve  14  screwingly engaged to the receptacle  12  via a valve mount  30 . In this embodiment, the valve  14 , the corresponding valve cap  16  and the strap  18  may be removed from the dual-purpose package  10  altogether, as shown in  FIG. 7 . In  FIG. 7 , the valve  14  is removed to expose a squeak element  32  disposed within the interior of the receptacle  12 . When the liquid  20  is completely dispensed from the receptacle  12 , as shown in  FIGS. 6 and 7 , the dual-purpose package  10  of the present invention functions as a squeak toy. Thus, when the dog  28  in  FIG. 7  bites the exterior of the receptacle  12  as shown, the squeak element  32  within the receptacle  12  makes a noise. 
     FIGS. 8 and 9  illustrate alternative embodiments of the dual-purpose package  10  of the present invention. In  FIG. 8 , the dual-purpose package  10  is embodied in a snowman having a top section  34 , a middle section  36  and a bottom section  38 . The top section  34  is preferably an air-filled section that functions as a squeak toy via the squeak element  32 . The middle section  36  and the bottom section  38  preferably hold a liquid therein. Both the middle section  36  and the bottom section  38  include a pair of valves  14  for accessing the liquid stored therein. In a preferred embodiment, the middle section  36  is filled with a liquid that is different than the liquid that fills the bottom section  38 . For example, the liquid stored in the middle section  36  may include conditioner while the liquid stored in the bottom section  38  may include shampoo. Each of the sections  34 ,  36 ,  38  may be attached to one another by heat or glue. Accordingly, the dual-purpose package  10  embodied in  FIG. 8  may be used as a traditional squeak toy for a pet once all the liquid from the middle section  36  and the bottom section  38  has been dispensed. The valves  14  in the middle section  36  and the bottom section  38  may also include the squeak element  32  (not shown). Each of the squeak elements  32  integrated into the different sections  34 ,  36 ,  38  may be identical or different in that each squeak element  32  makes a different sound when activated by a pet. 
     FIG. 9  illustrates the dual-purpose package  10  embodied in a star configuration. In this embodiment, a main body  40  serves as the container for storing any one of a variety of liquids as previously described. The main body  40  includes the valve  14  for accessing the liquid stored within the main body  40 . The valve  14  functions as previously described and may include the squeak element  32  shown in  FIG. 6 . Moreover, dual-purpose package  10  embodied in  FIG. 9  includes a plurality of chambers  42  attached to the main body  40 . The chambers  42  are preferably air-filled and affixed to the main body  40  by heat or glue. As shown, each chamber  42  includes the squeak element  32  that allows the dual-purpose package  10  to be used as a traditional squeak toy for a pet when the liquid contents stored within the main body  40  are completely dispensed therefrom. Each squeak element  32  may provide a different noise when activated by the pet. Alternatively, the squeak element  32  may be integrated into only one of the chambers  42 . 
   Although several embodiments have been described in detail for purposes of illustration, various modifications may be made without departing from the scope and spirit of the invention.