Abstract:
A mouth-cleaning device ( 100 ) for a pet. The device includes a base ( 110 ) and a side wall ( 120 ) extending from the base. The base and the side wall at least partially define an internal volume configured to receive a product. A plurality of protrusions ( 112, 122 ) extends from the base or the side wall, or both. The protrusions are configured to engage an oral tissue of a pet.

Description:
BACKGROUND 
       [0001]    Oral hygiene is as important for pets as it is for people. Lack of proper oral hygiene may result in a pet having bad breath and, in some cases, oral (e.g., periodontal) disease. For example, more than 50% of dogs and cats show some signs of oral disease by the age of three, according to the American Veterinary Dental Society. Bad breath and oral disease may be the result of plaque, tartar, and microorganisms in the mouth of a pet. 
         [0002]    To reduce the presence of plaque, tartar, and microorganisms, many pet owners use a toothbrush and toothpaste to clean the mouth of their pet. However, this may prove difficult and unpleasant as most pets tend to resist a mouth cleaning. In addition, many pet owners fail to brush the teeth of their pet on a regular basis. Another way to clean the mouth of a pet is to provide the pet with a “chew toy.” As the pet chews on the toy, the friction between the toy and parts within the mouth of the pet may dislodge plaque, tartar, and microorganisms. While needing less effort on the part of the pet owner than brushing, chew toys prove less effective at cleaning the mouth of a pet. Therefore, it may be desirable to provide an improved apparatus and method for cleaning the mouth of a pet. 
       BRIEF SUMMARY 
       [0003]    A mouth-cleaning device for a pet is disclosed. The device includes a base and a side wall extending from the base. The base and the side wall at least partially define an internal volume configured to receive a product. A plurality of protrusions extends from the base or the side wall, or both. The protrusions are configured to at least partially clean the mouth of the pet. 
         [0004]    In another embodiment, the mouth-cleaning device includes a base having a first means for at least partially cleaning a mouth of a pet. A side wall may extend up from the base. The side wall has a second means for at least partially cleaning the mouth of the pet. A lid is coupled to the side wall. The base, the side wall, and the lid at least partially define an internal volume. 
         [0005]    A method for cleaning a mouth of a pet is also disclosed. The method includes placing a product onto a base having a plurality of protrusions extending upwardly therefrom. The protrusions are configured to bend when contacted by the mouth of the pet as the pet consumes the product, thereby cleaning the mouth of the pet. 
         [0006]    Further areas of applicability of the present invention will become apparent from the detailed description provided hereinafter. It should be understood that the detailed description and specific examples, while indicating the preferred embodiment of the invention, are intended for purposes of illustration only and are not intended to limit the scope of the invention. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0007]    The present invention will become more fully understood from the detailed description and the accompanying drawings, wherein: 
           [0008]      FIG. 1  depicts a perspective view of an illustrative mouth-cleaning device for a pet, according to an embodiment. 
           [0009]      FIG. 2  depicts a cross-sectional view of the mouth-cleaning device shown in  FIG. 1 , according to an embodiment. 
           [0010]      FIG. 3  depicts a perspective view of the mouth-cleaning device with a curved side wall, according to an embodiment. 
           [0011]      FIG. 4  depicts a cross-sectional view of the mouth-cleaning device shown in  FIG. 3 , according to an embodiment. 
           [0012]      FIG. 5  depicts a flowchart of a method for cleaning the mouth of a pet, according to an embodiment. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
       [0013]    The following description of the preferred embodiment(s) is merely exemplary in nature and is in no way intended to limit the invention, its application, or uses. 
         [0014]    As used throughout, ranges are used as shorthand for describing each and every value that is within the range. Any value within the range can be selected as the terminus of the range. In addition, all references cited herein are hereby incorporated by referenced in their entireties. In the event of a conflict in a definition in the present disclosure and that of a cited reference, the present disclosure controls. 
         [0015]      FIG. 1  depicts a perspective view of an illustrative mouth-cleaning device  100  for a pet, according to an embodiment. The device  100  may include a base  110 . The shape of the base  110  may be a circle, an oval, a square, a rectangle, or any other shape. As shown, the base  110  is flat and circular so that the base  110  may be positioned in a bowl, a can, or a container  150 . In some embodiments, the base  110  may be an integral part of a container  150  (see  FIG. 2 ). The base  110  may be made from a metal, a polymer (e.g., rubber), an elastomer, or the like. 
         [0016]    The base  110  may have one or more protrusions  112  extending (e,g., upwardly) therefrom. The protrusions  112  may be coupled to, or integral with, the base  110 . The protrusions  112  extending from the base  110  may be substantially perpendicular to the base  110 . For example, a central longitudinal axis through one of the protrusions  112  may be oriented at an angle from about 80° to about 100° (e.g., about 90°) with respect to the base  110 . The protrusions  112  may be made of the same material as the base  110  or a different material than the base  110 . For example, the protrusions  112  may be made from a metal, a polymer (e.g., rubber or NYLON®), an elastomer, hair (e.g., real or synthetic), or the like. 
         [0017]    The protrusions  112  may each have the same length, or they may have different lengths. The length of the protrusions  112  may be from about 1 mm to about 20 mm, about 2 mm to about 15 mm, or about 3 mm to about 10 mm. The protrusions  112  may each have the same thickness (e.g., diameter), or the protrusions  112  may have different thicknesses. The thickness of the protrusions  112  may be from about 0.1 mm to about 5 mm, about 0.1 mm to about 1 mm, or about 1 mm to about 3 mm. As shown, the protrusions  112  may be oriented in a series of columns and rows, where the rows are perpendicular to the columns. However, as will be appreciated, the protrusions  112  may oriented in any manner on the base  110 . A distance between two adjacent protrusions  112  may be from about 1 mm to about 10 mm, about 1 mm to about 5 mm, or about 1 mm to about 3 mm. As will be appreciated, the distance between adjacent protrusions  112  may vary in different sections of the device  100  (e.g., on the base  110  and side wall  120 ). 
         [0018]    One or more side walls  120  may extend upward from the base  110 . As shown, a single, circular side wall  120  extends around the periphery of the base  110 . In other embodiments, the side wall  120  may include two or more portions (e.g., four portions when the base  110  is rectangular). In various embodiments, the side wall  120  may be coupled to, or integral with, the base  110 . In some embodiments, the side wall  120  may be an integral part of the container  150 . 
         [0019]    The side wall  120  may have one or more protrusions  122  extending therefrom. More particularly, the protrusions  122  may extend inwardly (e.g., into an intemal volume) from the side wall  120 . The protrusions  122  may be coupled to, or integral with, the side wall  120 . The protrusions  122  extending from the side wall  120  may be substantially perpendicular to the side wall  120  (e.g., perpendicular to the points on the side wall  120  from which they extend). For example, a central longitudinal axis through one of the protrusions  122  may be oriented at an angle from about 80° to about 100° (e.g., about 90°) with respect to the side wall  120 . The protrusions  122  may be made from the same material as the base  110 , the side wall  120 , or the protrusions  112 . 
         [0020]    The protrusions  112 ,  122  may be configured to bend or flex when contacted by an animal. More particularly, the protrusions  112 ,  122  may be configured to bend or flex when contacted by the teeth, gums, lips, or tongue of a pet. As such, the protrusions  112 ,  122  may function similarly to the bristles of a toothbrush and may serve to clean the mouth of the pet. In another embodiment, the protrusions  112 ,  122  may be rigid. 
         [0021]      FIG. 2  depicts a cross-sectional view of the mouth-cleaning device  100  shown in  FIG. 1 , according to an embodiment. The cross-sectional shape of the protrusions  112 ,  122  may be cylindrical, conical, frustoconical, or the like. The materials, lengths, thicknesses, distances, and/or shapes of the protrusions  112 ,  122  may be mixed on the device  100 . For example, one or more conical protrusions made of a polymer and one or more cylindrical protrusions made of hair/bristle may be positioned on the same base  110 . 
         [0022]    The cross-section of the side wall  120  may be planar and oriented at an angle with respect to the base  110 . As shown, the angle is about 90°. In other embodiments, the angle may be from about 90° to about 179°, about 90° to about 120°, or about 120° to about 150°. 
         [0023]    A lid  130  may be coupled to or contacted with the side wall  120  distal to the base  110 . An internal volume  140  may be defined by the base  110 , the side wall  120 , and (when present) the lid  130 . The lid  130  may be coupled to the side wall  120  via a threaded connection, using heat and pressure, or using ultrasound. As shown, in one embodiment, the device  100  may be positioned at least partially within a container (e.g., a bowl)  150 . 
         [0024]      FIG. 3  depicts a perspective view of the mouth-cleaning device  100  with a curved side wall  120 , and  FIG. 4  depicts a cross-sectional view of the device  100  shown in  FIG. 3 , according to an embodiment. As shown in  FIG. 3 , the cross-section of the side wall  120  may be curved, rather than planar, moving away from the base  110  to create a “bowl” shape. For example, at least a portion of the side wall  120  may include a radius of curvature  124  that is from about 1 cm to about 20 cm, about 2 cm to about 15 cm, or about 3 cm to about 10 cm. As a result, a cross-sectional distance  126  between opposing portions of side wall  120  may increase moving away from the base  110 . 
         [0025]    The angles of the protrusions  122  on the side wall  120  with respect to the base  110  may vary based upon the positions of the protrusions  122  on the side wall  120  (e.g., the distance from the base  110 ). The angles of the protrusions  122  with respect to the base  110  may be from about 0° (distal to the base  110 ) to about 90° (proximate to the base  110 ). For example, an angle between a central longitudinal axis through a first protrusion  122 - 1  and the base  110  may be about 5°, and an angle between a central longitudinal axis through a second protrusion  122 - 2  and the base  110  may be about 80°. 
         [0026]      FIG. 5  depicts a flowchart of a method  500  for cleaning the mouth of a pet, according to an embodiment. The method  500  may begin by inserting the device  100  into a container  150 , as at  502 . In one embodiment, the device  100  may be lowered into the container  150  and lifted out of the container  150  when desired. The device  100  may be constrained from lateral movement due to contact between the outer surface of the side wall  120  of the device  100  with the inner surface of the side wall of the container  150 . This may allow the device  100  to be lifted out of the container  150  and washed after use. In another embodiment, the device  100  may be secured to the container  150  with, for example, an adhesive. In yet another embodiment, the device  100  may be integral with the container  150 . In yet another embodiment, the container  150  may be omitted altogether, e.g., the device  100  may be or act as a container. 
         [0027]    A product, for example a food product for animals, may then be placed onto the base  110 , as at  504 . More particularly, the product may be placed in the internal volume  140  of the device  100 . The product may be a liquid, a solid, a gel, a paste, or the like. For example, suitable liquids may be water, milk-replacer, a therapeutic solution (e.g., including electrolytes), or a mouth or oral rinse. Suitable solids may be food (e.g., “dry” pet food or “wet” pet food), stews, chunks, gravy, and the like. Suitable gels may include energy supplements gels. Suitable pastes may be SCIENCE DIET®, toothpaste, and the like. 
         [0028]    In at least one embodiment, the product may be sealed within the internal volume  140  of the device  100  by coupling or contacting the lid  130  to the side wall  120 , as at  506 . This may be done by the manufacturer of the product or the pet owner. The lid  130  may then be removed, as at  508 . This may be done by the pet owner. In some instances, steps  506  and  508  may be omitted. 
         [0029]    As the pet consumes the product in the device  100 , the protrusions  112 ,  122  in the device  100  may contact the mouth of the pet. More particularly, the protrusions  112 ,  122  may brush, scrub, or scrape off plaque, tartar, microorganisms, and the like from the teeth, gums, lips, tongue, and other mouth parts of the pet. Once the pet is finished eating the product, the device  100  may be discarded. In another embodiment, the device  100  may be washed, as at  510 , for reuse. For example, the device  100  may be removed from the container  150  and washed.