Patent Description:
A variety of pet toys have been designed, manufactured, and sold, often with the intent of encouraging pet interaction, mental stimulation, and/or play, while reducing or eliminating pet boredom and its associated destructive behaviors. For dogs, these destructive behaviors may include, for example, biting, gnawing or clawing furniture or other articles in the dog's environment, digging or otherwise seeking to escape confinement, and excessive barking.

Pet toys often seek to incentivize a pet's extended interaction with the pet toy by providing one or more edible items (e.g., pet treat(s), pet food, or the like) to the pet over a relatively long time interval. However, in practice, an extended interval of animal interaction with the toy may not be achieved for some pet toys, for example, because the pet toy dispenses the edible item(s) to the pet in too great a quantity or too rapidly or because the pet toy makes it too difficult for the pet to consume the edible item(s). In either case, the pet will become disinterested in the pet toy and consequently engage in an undesired and/or destructive behavior.

<CIT> discloses a pet toy product comprising at least one edible treat and a body member in the form of a ring surrounding the edible treat, with the body member having opposing sides and a body member aperture. The edible treat is receivable into the body member aperture from either side of the body member, and connected to the body member within the body member aperture by a releaseable mechanical connection formed between the edible treat and the body member.

<CIT> discloses pet toys configured to accept an edible or chewable treat which can be readily replaced. The pet toys have a first portion and a second portion which releaseably engage to retain the edible treat with the toy until the treat is consumed or otherwise removed from the toy by the pet. When desired, the toy can be disassembled by removing the first portion from the second portion, new treats can be added to the toy, and the two portions reassembled.

<CIT> discloses a non-consumable pet toy includes a resilient first concave-shaped molded member having a first peripheral edge and a resilient second concave-shaped molded member having a second peripheral edge. The first and second members have a treat-retaining cavity between them. The treat retaining pet toy also includes a fastener extending centrally through the treat-retaining cavity.

According to the invention as defined in claim <NUM>, an improved pet toy is configured for use with a pet treat having a body with a gap therein that communicates with a central opening in the pet treat. The pet toy includes a body having an exterior surface and a core portion that is radially asymmetric and a slot formed in the body about the core portion. The slot has the core portion as a base and includes a sidewall having a second surface feature configured to cooperate with a first surface feature of the pet treat to promote retention of the pet treat in the slot. In some embodiments, one of the first and second surface features is a boss and the other is a recess. In some embodiments, the first and second surface features are engaged by rotating the pet treat within the slot with respect to the body of the pet toy.

According to the invention as defined in claim <NUM>, a pet treat is configured for use with a pet toy having a slot partially defined by a sidewall. The pet treat includes an edible body having a first side and an opposing second side. The body has a gap therein that communicates with a central opening in the body. A first surface feature is disposed on the body and configured to cooperate with a second surface feature of the sidewall of the slot of the pet toy to promote retention of the pet treat in the slot of the pet toy.

According to the invention as defined in claim <NUM>, a method of using a pet toy includes providing a pet treat including an edible body having a first side and an opposing second side. The body has a gap therein that communicates with a central opening in the body and further includes afirstsurface feature disposed on the body. The method additionally includes providing a pet toy configured for use with the pet treat. The pet toy includes a body having an exterior surface and a core portion that is radially asymmetric. A slot is formed in the body of the pet toy about the core portion. The slot has the core portion as a base and includes a sidewall having a second surface feature configured to cooperate with the first surface feature of the pet treat to promote retention of the pet treat in the slot. The method additionally includes inserting the pet treat in the slot such that the core portion is received through the gap into the central opening and engaging the first surface feature on the pet treat with the second surface feature on the pet toy.

With reference now to the figures and with particular reference to <FIG>, there are illustrated a number of views of a pet toy <NUM> in accordance with the invention as defined in claim <NUM>. In particular, <FIG> is a perspective view of pet toy <NUM>; <FIG> is a front elevation view of pet toy <NUM>; <FIG> is a section view of pet toy <NUM> taken along line A-A in <FIG>; <FIG> is a side elevation view of pet toy <NUM> (the other side being substantially identical); <FIG> is a top plan view of pet toy <NUM>; and <FIG> is a bottom plan view of pet toy <NUM>.

As shown, pet toy <NUM> includes a body <NUM>. Body <NUM> has an exterior surface, which in the various different embodiments can have different profiles and/or contours and/or surface finishes. Further, in various embodiments, body <NUM> of pet toy <NUM> can have any desired overall form, including, without limitation, that of a ball, a bone, a stick, an animal or human food item (e.g., a steak, a chicken leg, a donut, etc.), a geometric form (e.g., a sphere, a pyramid, a cube, a star, etc.), and/or an irregular form. Although not required in all embodiments, in some embodiments, at least a portion of body <NUM> may have a curved, ovoid, or rounded shape. For example, as best seen in <FIG>, <FIG>, <FIG>, at least a portion of body <NUM> can have a substantially circular cross-section when viewed in plan. In this example, pet toy <NUM> has the overall form of a simulated kettlebell and accordingly body <NUM> includes an optional handle portion <NUM>, which in at least some embodiments is formed integrally with and of the same material as the remainder of body <NUM>. The inclusion of handle portion <NUM> promotes various types of pet play, for example, a "tug-of-war" in which the pet grasps either body <NUM> or handle portion <NUM> in its jaws and a human handler grasps and pulls the other of body <NUM> or handle portion <NUM>. Body <NUM> may also include a substantially planar surface <NUM> (best seen in <FIG> and <FIG>) that enables body to rest in a stable position on an underlying substrate (e.g., the floor or ground).

Although not required, body <NUM> (including handle portion <NUM>) is preferably made of a resilient elastomeric material, such as a thermoplastic elastomer or natural rubber, which has sufficient durability to withstand the repeated biting action of an animal without tearing or permanent deformation. Body <NUM> can be made, for example, by injection molding. Although not required, body <NUM> can advantageously be formed with a hole <NUM> partially or fully there through. Hole <NUM> reduces the weight and cost of pet toy <NUM> and renders body <NUM> more pliable and easier for a pet to deform, thus promoting extended pet interaction with pet toy <NUM>. Although not required, hole <NUM> can be located along a central axis <NUM> of body <NUM>, as shown in <FIG>, <FIG>, and <FIG>.

The exterior surface of pet toy <NUM> has at least one recess or slot <NUM> formed therein. In the example of <FIG>, body <NUM> of pet toy <NUM> has two slots 110a, 110b formed therein. If multiple slots <NUM> are included in a pet toy <NUM>, the slots need not be identical and may instead having differing dimensions (e.g., widths, depths, lengths) and/or interior surfaces. In the example of <FIG>, each slot <NUM> has an opening at which the slot <NUM> communicates with the exterior surface of pet toy <NUM>, a base formed by a core portion <NUM> of body <NUM> (which in this embodiment surrounds hole <NUM>), and a pair of opposing sidewalls 112a, 112b extending between the base and the opening. In the illustrated embodiment, the opening of each slot <NUM> is fully circumferential with respect to body <NUM>; in other embodiments, one or more of slots <NUM> may have an opening that extends less than all the way about body <NUM>. Although not required in all embodiments, in the depicted embodiment, sidewalls 112a, 112b are substantially planar and approximately parallel.

According to the invention and as best seen in <FIG>, core portion <NUM> of body <NUM> is radially asymmetric in a plane formed by taking a section along line A-A orthogonal to axis <NUM> of body <NUM>. Consequently, some regions of core portion <NUM> extend further from axis <NUM> of body <NUM> that other regions of core portion <NUM>. For example, in some embodiments the ratio of a first dimension <NUM> of core portion <NUM> (i.e., a minimum dimension of core portion <NUM> measured through axis <NUM>) to a second dimension <NUM> of core portion <NUM> (i.e., a maximum dimension of core portion <NUM> measured through axis <NUM>) is between about <NUM> and about <NUM> and, more particularly, about <NUM>.

As made clear in the following discussion, the sizes and shapes of slot <NUM> and core portion <NUM> are selected to correspond to, and to accommodate within slot <NUM>, an edible treat that can be utilized in combination with pet toy <NUM>. As will be appreciated, the provision in a slot <NUM> of an edible treat that can be consumed by the pet increases a pet's interest in and engagement with a pet toy <NUM>. Some prior art pet toys, exemplified by those disclosed in <CIT>, rely on the resilience of the material from which the pet toys are formed and interference fit between pet treats and recesses formed in the pet toys in order to retain pet treats in the slots. However, the present application recognizes that often the retention force applied to the pet treats by such pet toys are frequently insufficient to retain the pet treats in the recesses for a long enough duration to achieve a desired period of engagement by the pet with the pet toy. For example, for some prior art pet toys, if a pet bites or chews on the pet toy even briefly, all of the pet treats fall out of the recesses onto the underlying substrate and are rapidly consumed by the pet. The pet consequently loses interest in the pet toy as soon as the pet treats are separated from the pet toy.

Pet toys in accordance with the embodiments disclosed herein address the issue of treat retention by providing one or more treat retention features that can extend a duration that a pet treat is retained in a slot <NUM>. First, in at least some embodiments, the treat retention features include the relative dimensions of the pet treats and slots <NUM>. In at least some embodiments, a width <NUM> of slot <NUM> and depth of slot <NUM> between the opening and core portion <NUM> are selected so that a pet will typically bite, gnaw, or lick on an edge of a treat, reducing the likelihood that the pet will rapidly remove the treat from the pet toy <NUM>. Second, in at least some embodiments, the treat retention features include the radially asymmetric configuration of core portion <NUM> noted above. Because of this radially asymmetry, a pet treat installed in a slot <NUM> as discussed below will tend to be retained within the slot <NUM>. Third, according to the invention, the treat retention features including cooperating surface features on the pet treat and at least one sidewall <NUM>. For example, as best seen in <FIG>, at least one of sidewalls 112a, 112b (in this case, only sidewall 112b) includes at least one boss <NUM> (and in this case, two bosses 122a, 122b) protruding from its generally planar surface into the interior of slot <NUM>. Boss(es) <NUM> are designed to cooperate with substantially corresponding recess(es) formed in the surfaces of pet treats and thus promote retention of the pet treats within slots <NUM>. Those skilled in the art will readily appreciate that the locations of the cooperating surface features can be reversed, for example, with the boss(es) implemented on the pet treats and the substantially corresponding recess(es) formed in sidewall(s) <NUM>. In the exemplary embodiment shown in <FIG>, each boss <NUM> has tapered edges and rises to a maximum extension <NUM> normal to the surrounding areas of sidewall <NUM> of between about <NUM> and about <NUM>. Each boss <NUM> may have a width <NUM> of between, for example, about <NUM> and about <NUM>.

With reference now to <FIG>, there are illustrated perspective, elevation, and plan views, respectively, of a pet treat <NUM> that may utilized in combination with a pet toy <NUM> in accordance with at least one embodiment. In one or more embodiments, pet treats <NUM> can be rigid or semi-rigid and can be formed, for example, by injection molding as is known in the art. It is preferred if pet treats <NUM> are digestible by an animal and provide nutrition as well as a desirable flavor.

According to the invention, pet treat <NUM> has a body having a generally horseshoe-shaped form, defined by a partial loop having two spaced-apart ends 702a, 702b separated by a gap <NUM>. A minimum dimension of gap <NUM> is preferably selected such that first dimension <NUM> of core portion <NUM> can pass through gap <NUM> (either because the minimum dimension of gap <NUM> is equal to or greater than first dimension <NUM> or because elastic deformation of core portion <NUM> permits core portion <NUM> to pass through gap <NUM> even if first dimension <NUM> is greater than the minimum dimension of gap <NUM>). The minimum dimension of gap <NUM> is further preferably selected such that second dimension <NUM> of core portion <NUM> cannot readily pass through gap <NUM> (e.g., because the minimum dimension of gap <NUM> is substantially less than the second dimension <NUM> of core portion <NUM>). In the depicted example, the partial loop of pet treat <NUM> has a generally circular central opening <NUM> that communicates with gap <NUM>. In this example, a diameter <NUM> of this central opening <NUM> is greater than second dimension <NUM> of core portion <NUM>.

Pet treat <NUM> additionally has a thickness <NUM> measured orthogonally between substantially parallel first and second sides <NUM>, <NUM> that is less than the width <NUM> at the opening of a slot <NUM>. A minimum radial dimension <NUM> of pet treat <NUM> as measured radially between an interior edge <NUM> and an exterior edge <NUM> and a maximum dimension <NUM> of pet treat <NUM> are preferably selected to achieve a desired relationship between exterior edge <NUM> and the opening of a slot <NUM>. In some cases, minimum radial dimension <NUM> and maximum dimension <NUM> are chosen such that exterior edge <NUM> of pet treat <NUM> is within a slot <NUM> when the pet treat <NUM> is installed in the slot <NUM>. In other cases, minimum radial dimension <NUM> and maximum dimension <NUM> are chosen such that at least exterior edge <NUM> of pet treat <NUM> extends outwardly from a slot <NUM> past the opening of the slot <NUM> when pet treat <NUM> is installed in the slot <NUM>. In yet other cases, minimum radial dimension <NUM> and maximum dimension <NUM> are chosen such that at least exterior edge <NUM> of pet treat <NUM> installed in a slot <NUM> is approximately at the opening of the slot <NUM>, as shown in <FIG>. In some embodiments, pet treat <NUM> includes grip enhancement features, such as bumps, ridges, and/or notches <NUM>, formed in or on at least a portion of exterior edge <NUM> of pet treat <NUM>.

As noted above, pet treat <NUM> includes surface features that in cooperation with surface features of sidewalls 112a and/or 112b form treat retention features. For example, when pet treat <NUM> is configured for use with a pet toy <NUM> having at least one boss <NUM> formed on the sidewall of a slot <NUM>, pet treat <NUM> preferably includes at least one recess <NUM> formed in at least one of first side <NUM> and second side <NUM>. In the depicted example, pet treat <NUM> includes, in each of first side <NUM> and second side <NUM>, two recesses <NUM> on opposing sides of central opening <NUM> and corresponding in spacing and location to bosses 122a, 122b.

It should be appreciated that the number, location, and size of recesses <NUM> may be varied from the depicted example. For example, a pet treat <NUM> may have only one or more than two recesses formed in a given side <NUM> or <NUM>. Also, pet treat <NUM> may have the recess(es) formed in only one of sides <NUM> or <NUM>. In this case, the pet treat <NUM> would have increased probability of retention within a slot <NUM> if the pet treat <NUM> is installed in a slot <NUM> with the recess(es) <NUM> engaging boss(es) <NUM> and a lesser probability of retention within the slot <NUM> otherwise. Further, the depths of recesses <NUM>, which can be utilized to control the retention force applied to pet treat <NUM> by pet toy <NUM>, can vary between different pet treats <NUM>, between the different sides <NUM> and <NUM> of a given pet treat <NUM>, and between recesses <NUM> on a given side <NUM> or <NUM> of a given pet treat <NUM>.

Referring now to <FIG>, there are depicted two section views taken along line B-B of <FIG> and a right side elevation view illustrating the installation of a pet treat <NUM> in a pet toy <NUM> in accordance with at least one embodiment.

In use, a pet treat <NUM> is installed into a slot <NUM> of a pet toy <NUM> by a human user as follows. First, the human user first translates pet treat <NUM> along a first linear direction indicated by arrow <NUM> to cause core portion <NUM> of body <NUM> to pass through gap <NUM> into central opening <NUM> of pet treat <NUM>, thus inserting pet treat <NUM> within slot <NUM>. It should be noted in the initial treat insertion position shown in <FIG>, recesses <NUM> on second side <NUM> of pet treat <NUM> do not engage bosses 122a, 122b on sidewall 112b of slot 110b.

Second, the human user rotates or twists pet treat <NUM> with respect to body <NUM> of pet toy <NUM> to cause a boss <NUM> (e.g., formed on a sidewall <NUM> of slot <NUM>) to engage a cooperating recess <NUM> (e.g., formed in side <NUM> or <NUM> of pet treat <NUM>). In the depicted example, the human user rotates pet treat <NUM> <NUM> degrees clockwise with respect to body <NUM> of pet toy <NUM>, as indicated by arrow <NUM>, in order to obtain the orientation illustrated in <FIG>. In this orientation, bosses <NUM> engage recesses <NUM>. Of course, in the depicted embodiment, the human user could alternatively engage bosses <NUM> with cooperating recesses <NUM> by rotating pet treat <NUM> <NUM> degrees counter-clockwise with respect to body <NUM> of pet toy <NUM>. As best seen in <FIG>, with boss 122b engaged with the concave surface of cooperating recess <NUM>, pet treat <NUM> has improved resistance to removal from slot 110b, thus encouraging extended pet interaction with pet toy <NUM>.

Those skilled in the art will appreciate that in other embodiments, cooperating surface features may alternatively or additionally be disposed on or formed in one or more of sidewalls 112a, 112b at radial positions other than <NUM> degrees with respect to the initial insertion position. For example, a cooperating surface feature may be located on a sidewall 112a or 112b at a lesser or greater angle than <NUM> degrees from the initial insertion position.

After the desired treat(s) <NUM> are loaded into pet toy <NUM>, the human user can provide pet toy <NUM> to an animal to interact with. The animal will then attempt, via chewing, biting, licking to dislodge and/or to consume treat(s) <NUM>. Once all treat(s) <NUM> are removed from slot(s) <NUM> by the animal, the animal can continue to interact with pet toy <NUM>. Pet toy <NUM> may thereafter be reloaded with additional treats <NUM> as desired.

With reference now to <FIG>, there are illustrated front elevation and section views of another embodiment of a pet toy <NUM> with which a pet treat <NUM> can be utilized. As discussed above with respect to pet toy <NUM>, pet toy <NUM> is preferably made of a resilient elastomeric material, such as a thermoplastic elastomer or natural rubber and can be formed by injection molding.

As indicated by prime notation, pet toy <NUM> includes many features that, although possibly differing in configuration and/or number, correspond to those of pet toy <NUM>. For example, pet toy <NUM> includes a body <NUM>' having two handle portions <NUM>' on opposing sides of body <NUM>'. Body <NUM>' includes a hole <NUM>', which in this embodiment is formed fully through body <NUM>'and is centered on a central axis <NUM>' of body <NUM>.

The exterior surface of pet toy <NUM> has a single slot <NUM>' formed therein. As indicated by like reference numerals, the features of slot <NUM>' can be implemented as described above with respect to slots 110a, 110b of pet toy <NUM>. As shown in <FIG>, a pet treat <NUM> can be installed in slot <NUM>' of pet toy <NUM> substantially as described above with reference to <FIG>.

As has been described, in one or more embodiments, an improved pet toy is configured for use with a pet treat having a body with a gap therein that communicates with a central opening in the pet treat. The pet toy includes a body having an exterior surface and a core portion that is radially asymmetric and a slot formed in the body about the core portion. The slot has the core portion as a base and includes a sidewall having a second surface feature configured to cooperate with a first surface feature of the pet treat to promote retention of the pet treat in the slot. In some embodiments, one of the first and second surface features is a boss and the other is a recess. In some embodiments, the first and second surface features are engaged by rotating the pet treat within the slot with respect to the body of the pet toy.

In some embodiments, a pet treat is configured for use with a pet toy having a slot partially defined by a sidewall. The pet treat includes an edible body having a first side and an opposing second side. The body has a gap therein that communicates with a central opening in the body. A first surface feature is disposed on the body and configured to cooperate with a second surface feature of the sidewall of the slot of the pet toy to promote retention of the pet treat in the slot of the pet toy.

The invention is further defined by a method according to claim <NUM> and includes providing a pet treat including an edible body having a first side and an opposing second side. The body has a gap therein that communicates with a central opening in the body and further includes a first surface feature disposed on the body. The method additionally includes providing a pet toy configured for use with the pet treat. The pet toy includes a body having an exterior surface and a core portion that is radially asymmetric. A slot is formed in the body of the pet toy about the core portion. The slot has the core portion as a base and includes a sidewall having a second surface feature configured to cooperate with the first surface feature of the pet treat to promote retention of the pet treat in the slot. The method additionally includes inserting the pet treat in the slot such that the core portion is received through the gap into the central opening and engaging the first surface feature on the pet treat with the second surface feature on the pet toy.

Claim 1:
A system comprising:
a pet treat (<NUM>) including:
an edible treat body having a first side and an opposing second side, said edible treat body having a generally horseshoe-shaped form, defined by a partial loop having two spaced-apart ends (702a, 702b) separated by a gap (<NUM>) therein that communicates with a central opening in the treat body; and
a first surface feature (<NUM>) disposed on the edible treat body;
a pet toy (<NUM>) including:
a toy body (<NUM>) having an exterior surface (<NUM>) and a core portion (<NUM>) that is radially asymmetric; and
a slot (<NUM>) formed in the exterior surface (<NUM>) of the toy body (<NUM>) and about the core portion (<NUM>), wherein the slot (<NUM>) has the core portion (<NUM>) as a base and includes a sidewall (112a, 112b) having a second surface feature (<NUM>) configured to cooperate with the first surface feature (<NUM>) of the pet treat (<NUM>) to promote retention of the pet treat (<NUM>) in the slot (<NUM>).