Treat dispensing pet toy and treats therefor

• US 7,600,488 B2
• Filed: 09/02/2003
• Issued: 10/13/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 09/02/2003
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Radio Systems Corporation
• Original Assignee: Premier Pet Products LLC (Radio Systems Corporation)
• Inventors: Mann, Charles D.
• Primary Examiner(s): Price; Thomas
• Application Number:
  US10/653,404
• Publication Number:
  US 20050045115A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,233 Days
• Field of Search: 119/702, 119707-711
• US Class Current: 119/710
• CPC Class Codes: A01K 15/026 Chewable toys, e.g. for dental care of pets

Abstract

A non-consumable pet toy includes a body having a first treat-retaining cavity and a first opening that extends between the first treat-retaining cavity and an outer surface of the body. The non-consumable pet toy also includes a metering device in the first opening that dispenses treats from the first treat-retaining cavity through the first opening at a metered rate. The first treat-retaining cavity being refillable through the metering device.

Claims

1. A non-consumable pet toy comprising:

a body having a first treat-retaining cavity;

a first opening that extends between the first treat-retaining cavity and an outer surface of the body; and

a first metering device in the first opening that dispenses treats from the first treat-retaining cavity through the first opening at a metered rate, and being refillable through the metering device, the first metering device extending into the treat retaining cavity from the first opening.

2. The non-consumable pet toy of claim 1 and further comprising a second opening that extends between a second treat-retaining cavity and the outer surface of the body, wherein a second metering device is in the second opening that dispenses treats from the second treat-retaining cavity.

3. The non-consumable pet toy of claim 2, wherein the first treat-retaining cavity is joined to the second treat-retaining cavity by a coupling member.

4. The non-consumable pet toy of claim 1, wherein the outer surface comprises a plurality of grooves.

5. The non-consumable pet toy of claim 1, wherein the pet toy is constructed of a resilient material.

6. The non-consumable pet toy of claim 5, wherein the material is an elastomer.

7. The non-consumable pet toy of claim 1, wherein the first metering device comprises a flexible material and the first treat-retaining cavity comprises a stiff material.

8. The non-consumable pet toy of claim 1, wherein the first metering devices comprises a stiff material and the first treat-retaining cavity comprises a flexible material.

9. The non-consumable pet toy of claim 2, wherein the first metering device comprises a plurality of elongated members extending into the first treat-retaining cavity from the first opening.

10. A non-consumable pet toy comprising:

a molded body that defines at least one treat-retaining cavity;

an opening that extends between the treat-retaining cavity and an outer surface of the body; and

a metering device that dispenses treats from the treat-retaining cavity and including a plurality of elongated members extending into the treat-retaining cavity from the opening.

11. The non-consumable pet toy of claim 10, wherein the metering device is affixed to the opening with an adhesive.

12. The non-consumable pet toy of claim 10, wherein the metering device comprises:

an annulus configured to be positioned in the opening, the annulus having a first surface adjacent the outer surface of the body, and

wherein the elongated members extend from a second surface of the annulus into the treat-retaining cavity.

13. The non-consumable pet toy of claim 12, wherein the opening includes a constricted portion and a seat portion, the seat portion sized to receive the annulus, the constricted portion sized to resist removal of the annulus from the seat portion.

14. The non-consumable pet toy of claim 12, wherein the elongated members terminate at distal points from the annulus and are normally arranged in a substantially circular arrangement.

15. The metering device of claim 14, wherein a diameter of the circular arrangement is less than a diameter of the annulus.

16. The metering device of claim 10, wherein the elongated members comprise a plurality of narrow fingers.

17. The metering device of claim 10, wherein the elongated members comprise a plurality of broad tongues.