Patent Publication Number: US-2016219835-A1

Title: Signal activated pet treat dispenser and toy with activation collar

Description:
FIELD 
     The invention relates to a novel pet treat dispenser system wherein a transmitter on a pet collar communicates with a receiver in the treat dispenser and causes inserted treats to eject from apertures in the dispenser. The dispenser is in the form of a hollow receptacle covered with a plush encasement that reacts to an electronic signal by wobbling, rolling or both. 
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     The invention most closely corresponds with USPTO Class 119/702 wherein Class 119 relates to animal husbandry and sub-class 702 includes exercise or amusement devices for animals. 
     In its simplest form, the invention comprises a novel pet treat dispenser system wherein a transmitter on a pet collar communicates with a receiver in the treat dispenser and causes inserted treats to fall out of apertures in the dispenser. The dispenser in this main embodiment is in the form of a plush animal that reacts to an electronic signal by wobbling, rolling or both. The signal may be transmitted via RF, IR, Bluetooth, voice command or other common transmission forms. 
     It is well known in the animal behavior sciences that is a dog doesn&#39;t get the mental stimulation it needs it will develop behavior problems such as chewing, biting or elimination in the home due to boredom, stress or depression. Veterinary science has also determined that in addition to behavioral problems, a dog will also be more prone to diseases as the immune system can weaken due to stress or depression. Thus it is key to challenge a dog with activities such as the inventive toy and treat trainer. 
     THE INVENTION SUMMARY, OBJECTS AND ADVANTAGES 
     All who studied any form of psychology in school remember Pavlov&#39;s Dogs. A simple conditioning test resulted in dogs remembering or being cognitive of being given a treat when a bell was rung. Thus the dogs would respond in various cognitive ways when a bell was rung. This behavior presented itself for months after the actual tests were ceased. Pavlov evidenced that dogs actually had memory and the ability to react to certain stimuli on a consistent basis. 
     The inventive treat dispenser addresses the behavioral triggers which will challenge a dog and reward it when the behavior is repeated. 
     Treats are inserted into a cavity inside the outer plush encasement via a capped insertion point. The user then replaces the cap and treats exit from designed apertures for release when the dispenser moves in reaction to a received signal from the pet&#39;s collar transmitter. 
     When the pet is in proximity to the dispenser the signal emits from the collar and triggers the dispenser to wiggle, roll or both in combination. The transmitter and receiver include intelligent proximity detection, and will cause more frequent or varied reactions as the pet nears the dispenser. Once activated, gravity then allows a few treats to dispense from the scattered apertures in the dispenser. As a radio signal propagates through the air, it experiences a loss in amplitude. If the range between the sender and receiver increases, the signal amplitude declines exponentially. Thus, the intelligent proximity detection will both vary the number of reactions as a pet is nearer the dispenser as well as prevent unwanted reactions when the pet is not sufficiently near the receiver. 
     Transmit power and receiver sensitivity are designed for optimum range. Obviously a pet owner does not desire the dispenser to be activated from the park while walking the pet so the link budget is designed accordingly. Signals are transmitted in short bursts so that reactions occur in short intervals. This requires the pet to again approach the dispenser to trigger another reaction. Over time, the pet will “learn” that its actions will cause a reaction with the treat dispenser. Also over time, the pet will learn that the proximity to the dispenser will exhibit variations over that of reactions when the pet is several feet from the dispenser. 
     A further embodiment is the inclusion of a voice activated signal for audio output wherein the voice activation will function in a similar fashion to the other wireless signal modes. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       The invention is described in further detail by reference to three (3) drawings sufficient in detail to describe the invention in which: 
         FIG. 1  is an illustration of the dispenser and activation collar; 
         FIG. 2  is an example of the dispenser having rolled on its side dispensing a few treats; and 
         FIG. 3  is an internal cutout illustrating the treat cavity and cap. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION, INCLUDING BEST MODES OF CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION 
       FIG. 1  illustrates the treat dispenser  10  in motion as activated by the dog&#39;s  20  transmitter located in the inventive dog collar  30 . The receiver  40  located on the dispenser receives a signal and the dispenser rolls, wiggles or a combination of both. The action is random. Apertures  50  are spread out around the dispenser so as to allow treats to be ejected as the dispenser moves in response to the electronic signal from the transmitter  20 . 
       FIG. 2  is a simple depiction of the dispenser  10  as having rolled on its side in response to an electronic signal from the pet&#39;s collar. Treats  60  have ejected from one of the apertures  50  so that the pet my consumer them and be ready to trigger another response from the dispenser. The link budget is designed accordingly to maintain a reasonable trigger distance between the pet collar and the dispenser&#39;s receiver. Thus, the pet must be in reasonable proximity to the dispenser to trigger activation. The further away the pet is, the lesser or varied the dispenser&#39;s reaction. Signals are transmitted in short bursts so that reactions occur in short intervals rather than allow a prolonged emission of treats. 
       FIG. 3  illustrates a cutout of the treat dispenser&#39;s treat receptacle  70 . A fill cap  80  may be snapped or screw-on in fashion and allows a user to fill the dispenser with treats  60 . A funneled opening  90  controls the flow of treats to be ejected so that only a few treats are released at one time.