ANIMAL CONSUMABLE DENTAL HYGIENIC DEVICE

Abstract

Animal consumable dental hygienic device, comprising: body with an exterior surface and an interior cavity, and sized to be bitten by animal Exterior surface defines projections. Recesses extend inward from the exterior surface. Each recess has dental-hygienically active dimensions allowing a tooth to penetrate therein such that material surrounding the recess frictionally engages an outer surface of the tooth and scrapes the tooth to remove dental plaque. Projections are positioned, dimensioned, shaped and structured to be dental-hygienically active when the animal bites the body, allowing the tooth of the animal to be adjacent to at least one projection when the animal bites the body, such that a projection frictionally engages at least one of the outer surface of the tooth and gums of the animal during biting of the body by the animal.

Description

FIELD

The present technology relates to consumable dental hygienic devices for animals.

BACKGROUND

Domesticated animals, such as cats and dogs, often need dental care to prevent dental problems commonly due to plaque, tartar, tooth decay, gingivitis, periodontal disease, and the like. Poor dental health in such animals is, unfortunately, very common. Indeed, periodontal disease is one of the most frequently treated diseases by veterinarians in the United States.

Most periodontal disease starts with the formation of a film of a soft amorphous biofilm called plaque, consisting primarily of oral bacteria, bacterial by-products, and oral debris. This film typically covers both the exposed tooth surface and the area lying under the gum line, the gingival cavity (sulcus). Through the deposition of calcium and other mineral salts, this layer of plaque hardens and develops into tartar. Although tartar is hard, it is also porous and adheres to the tooth surface. Tartar appears to be progressively deposited in layers and provides a rough surface onto which more plaque is deposited. As tartar builds up, a broad range of microbes can attach. The by-products of metabolism from these bacteria cause inflammation of local tissues including those surrounding the gingival cavity. This ultimately leads to periodontal disease. The earliest stage is gingivitis, characterized by inflammation of the gums. As periodontal disease progresses, gingivitis becomes periodontitis, with inflammation extending into the connective tissues surrounding the tooth. Through gingivitis and periodontitis, it is thought that harmful bacteria enter into the blood stream and ultimately lodge in the heart and other internal organs.

The long-term impact of poor dental health can be devastating. Poor dental health is thought to be a contributing factor in the deaths of dogs, cats, and other mammals. In animals, as is the case in humans, poor dental health has been linked with serious diseases of the heart, liver, kidney, and other internal organs. Indeed, one study demonstrated that every dog with periodontal disease had pathological changes in the heart, liver, and kidneys.

Dental care for animals is generally more difficult to manage than dental care for humans; animals do not voluntarily engage in tooth brushing.

Some veterinarians recommend regularly brushing the animal's teeth, but as any pet owner knows, such a task is extremely difficult. It is often difficult for the owner to keep the animal's mouth open during brushing, and the process may be extremely unpleasant for the animal and even potentially dangerous to the owner. Few animal owners are willing and able to maintain this level of home care.

Another solution is to bring the animal to the veterinarian to have it sedated and have the veterinarian perform dental care on the animal while it is under sedation. This solution, however, is not something that can reasonably be performed daily, weekly or even monthly. Sedation can be potentially harmful to the animal, especially if the animal is older.

Many domestic animal dental hygienic devices have been created in the past. Also, many animal foods have been designed with an additional purpose of assisting in providing dental care to domestic animals as they eat the food. Conventionally, such foods are shaped as kibbles and have a texture adapted for abrading debris or tartar away from an animal's teeth as the animal chews. Unfortunately, none to date that provide satisfactory dental cleaning for animals are found in contemporary use.

Improvements in this area are therefore desirable.

SUMMARY

It is thus an object of the present technology to ameliorate at least some of the inconveniences present in the prior art.

It is also an object of the present technology to provide an improved animal consumable dental hygienic device, at least as compared with some of the prior art devices.

The creator of the present technology has realized several facts that are believed to be helpful in designing improved animal consumable dental hygienic devices (which include, but are not limited to, animal feed).

In this respect, the sides of the teeth facing the cheeks, i.e., the buccal (facial) side—located in the buccal cavity, have a greater incidence of gingivitis and plaque/tartar build-up than the sides of the teeth facing the tongue, i.e., the lingual (oral) side. It has also been found that the rear teeth, i.e., the pre-molars and molars; more rapidly develop plaque and tartar than the front teeth. Yet, typical conventional animal consumable dental hygienic devices seemingly have limited efficacy in cleaning the molars and pre-molars, and this notwithstanding the fact that these are the teeth where tartar build up typically is heaviest. (These teeth are also the most difficult teeth for an animal owner to clean with a toothbrush.) They are thus the areas where plaque accumulation can rapidly develop into gingivitis and pathogenic bacteria enter the blood stream with potentially harmful consequences. But, if an animal feed is poorly designed (as a consumable dental hygienic device), then, during chewing or biting, little of the food will actually reach or travel around the rear buccal cavity, thus leading to reduced abrasive action and limited cleaning of the tooth surface.

Further, typical conventional domestic animal consumable dental hygienic products do not always clean the crevices of the animal's teeth, and many such products are ineffective in cleaning the areas underneath the animal's gums.

A further drawback of typical conventional animal consumable dental hygienic products is that many of these products are ineffective in removing existing tartar from the teeth. Because tartar is so hard, attempting to remove tartar by the simple abrading action caused by chewing on a food having a chewy material and an abrasive texture may not be effective in reducing the tartar.

A common failure of the typical conventional animal feeds is that they are not designed to take into account the bite force exerted by the teeth and the biting behavior of the target animals. If the bite resistance is too high, then the teeth will not evenly penetrate the product and there will be little opportunity for the product to push further apically against the teeth and against or under the gums for cleaning in critical areas. Conversely, if the bite resistance is too low then the animal will rapidly bite through and potentially ingest the product; thus, little pressure will be exerted against the tooth surface and against or under the gums again leading to poor cleaning in critical areas.

The present technology was created with the foregoing information in mind. Thus, in one aspect, embodiments of the present technology provide an animal consumable dental hygienic device, comprising: A consumable body having an exterior surface and an interior cavity. The body is sized to fit within the mouth of the animal and to be bitten by the animal. The exterior surface defines a plurality of projections which extend outwardly. The body defines a plurality of recesses extending inward from the exterior surface to at least outward of the interior cavity. Each recess has dental-hygienically active dimensions allowing a tooth of the animal to penetrate into a one recess of the plurality of recesses when the animal bites the body, such that material surrounding the one recess frictionally engages an outer surface of the tooth during penetration of the tooth into the one recess, the material surrounding the at least one recess being of sufficient hardness to scrape the outer surface of the tooth during frictional engagement to remove dental plaque. Also, the plurality of projections are positioned, dimensioned, shaped and structured to be dental-hygienically active when the animal bites the body, allowing the tooth of the animal to be adjacent to at least one projection of the plurality of projections when the animal bites the body, such that the at least one projection frictionally engages at least one of the outer surface of the tooth and gums of the animal during biting of the body by the animal.

An animal consumable dental hygienic device of the present technology attempts to overcome at least some of aforementioned difficulties with typical conventional domestic animal consumable dental hygienic devices (principle animal feed). As an animal chews on an appropriately sized consumable device, the teeth of the animal will penetrate between projections and into the body of the device via the recesses. During such penetration, plaque, tartar and debris are cleaned from the animal's teeth surface via being scraped against the material of the surrounding projections and the material surrounding the recesses. The more force that the animal exerts while biting the device, the deeper that their teeth will penetrate, thus cleaning the tooth closer to the animal's gum line and potentially cleaning the gingival cavity itself.

Being designed in this manner, it is not necessary to have the material forming the body inward of the recesses to itself be penetrable by the teeth of the animal (although this may be the case in some embodiments). The recesses permit penetration and are appropriately sized to scrape a tooth of the animal as it penetrates therein. Indeed, the material surrounding the recesses (which is in many embodiments the same as the material of the remainder of the body, although this is not required to be the case and is not the case in some embodiments), and the recesses themselves, may be designed and structured taking into account the typical animal's biting force in respect of which the device has been designed. In this manner, typical penetration depth of the teeth may be able to be controlled, if so desired.

The recesses may be of any shape sufficient to accomplish their intended function as described hereinabove. For example, in different embodiments, the recesses will be of one or more of the following shapes: cylindrical, triangular, rectangular, pyramidal, etc. (This list is not intended to be limiting, merely exemplary.) In some embodiments, all of the recesses of the device are of the same shape; but this is not required to always be the case. In some embodiments, different recesses of the same device have different shapes.

Further the recesses may also be of a depth and size sufficient to allow a tooth of an animal (for which the device is designed) to penetrate into the recess and extend into the internal cavity of the body when the animal bites the body, as will be further described hereinbelow. For example, some recess depths and sizes are better adapted to teeth of a dog, and some other depths and sizes of recesses are better adapted to teeth of a cat.

In some embodiments, although it is not required to be the case, the interior cavity of the animal consumable dental hygienic device contains a filler material different than the material of which the body is constructed. Within the scope of the present technology, the range of filler materials is vast. In some such embodiments, for example in those wherein the hygienic device that is intended for use by dogs, the filler material may contain wood. As dogs like to chew wooden sticks, having filler material in the form of a wooden stick may induce dogs to chew the device for relatively longer periods of time, providing a better cleaning of their teeth. This is especially desirable when the device is a treat, which conventionally have a body being constructed of a material adapted to be consumed slowly by an animal to promote its dental hygiene, such as materials having an abrasive texture or releasing substances such as calcium when being consumed. For similar reasons, in some embodiments, the filler material may contain rawhide. In other embodiments, such as those wherein the hygienic device is intended for cats, the filler material may contain catnip and/or other cat attracting herbs. In some embodiments, the filler material may be in the form of a brush.

In some embodiments, the body is constructed of material having sufficient flexibility to deform under pressure exerted by the animal biting the body, and the dimensions of the one recess change during deformation from the initial dimensions to the dental-hygienically active dimensions.

In some embodiments, the body is constructed of material having sufficient flexibility to deform under pressure exerted by the animal biting the body, and the position of the at least one projection changes during deformation from initial position to the dental-hygienically active position. In some such embodiments, changing of the dimensions of a one recess from initial dimensions to the dental-hygienically active dimensions, the one recess being adjacent to the at least one projection, assists in deforming the body under pressure exerted by the animal biting the body for changing the position of the at least one projection from the initial position to the dental-hygienically active position.

In some embodiments, the material of which the body is constructed is material having sufficient brittleness for the body to cleave under pressure exerted by the animal biting the body. In some embodiments, the filler material (if present at all) is material having sufficient flexibility to deform under pressure exerted by the animal biting the body when the body cleaves, and the position of the at least one projection changes during deformation from the initial position to the dental-hygienically active position due to the deformation of the underlying filler material.

In some embodiments, the at least one projection extends outwardly along a first primary projection direction axis, and an adjacent projection of the plurality of projections extends outward along a second primary projection direction axis. In such embodiments, the second primary projection direction axis is angled with respect to the first primary projection direction axis.

In some such embodiments, the at least one projection has at least one secondary projection extending therefrom along a secondary projection direction axis.

In some such embodiments, the secondary projection direction axis is angled with respect to the first projection direction axis.

In some embodiments, at least some projections of the plurality of projections and at least some recesses of the plurality of the recesses define a path, the body being cleavable into consumable portions along the path.

In some embodiments, at least one of the exterior surface and the interior cavity has at least one portion defining at least one normal axis, the one recess being aligned with the at least one normal axis.

In some embodiments, the one recess extends inward from the exterior surface to outward of the interior cavity.

In some embodiments, the one recess is an aperture extending inward from the exterior surface to the interior cavity.

In some embodiments, the one recess is an aperture extending from the exterior surface to inside of the interior cavity.

In some embodiments, the one recess is an aperture extending throughout the body.

In some embodiments, the one recess extends longitudinally along a length of the body.

In some embodiments, the one recess extends circumferentially along a circumference of the body.

In some embodiments, the plurality of recesses defines a staggered pattern of recesses.

In some embodiments, the body and the interior cavity (either having a filler material or empty) are structured and arranged for receiving and retaining a substance (preferably different than the material of which the body is constructed and different than the filler material) inside of the interior cavity. Again, the range of substances within the scope of the present technology is vast. In some such embodiments, the substance is consumable.

In the context of the present technology, substances receivable in the interior cavity are not limited to solids, as, for example, in some embodiments, the filler material may be or contain fluids such as liquids, gels, pastes, etc. or any suitable combination thereof. Thus, in some embodiments the interior cavity and filler material thereof may serve as a reservoir for a fluid material to exit the device during chewing or biting and flow into the mouth of the animal (without or along with solid particles also being part of the body). Non-limiting examples of the functions of such fluids include toothpastes, mouth rinses, dental medicaments, other medicaments and medications, enzymes, vitamins, nutrients, flavors, animal attractants, etc. Almost any biocompatible fluid may be housed within the interior cavity (as long as it is not incompatible within any other component or material of the device).

Substances are not limited to a consumable material and are not limited to a single material either; multiple non-incompatible materials are present as substance receivable within the interior cavity in some embodiments. Simple non-limiting examples of multiple material substances include a capsule containing a medicament and a brush coated with a dental antibiotic. In some such embodiments, the substance has a shape being one of cylindrical, obround, spherical and ellipsoidal.

While most embodiments of the device of the present technology are intended for use by domestic animals, embodiments of the device may be constructed for use by other animals such as humans, feral animals or wild animals.

Embodiments of the present technology each have at least one of the above-mentioned object and/or aspects, but do not necessarily have all of them. It should be understood that some aspects of the present technology that have resulted from attempting to attain the above-mentioned object may not satisfy this object and/or may satisfy other objects not specifically recited herein.

Additional and/or alternative features, aspects and advantages of implementations of the present technology will become apparent from the following description, the accompanying drawings and the appended claims.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

For a better understanding of the present technology, as well as other aspects and further features thereof, reference is made to the following description which is to be used in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, where:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of an animal consumable dental hygienic device being a first embodiment of the present technology;

FIG. 2 is a front elevation view of the animal consumable dental hygienic device of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a front elevation view of an animal consumable dental hygienic device being a second embodiment of the present technology;

FIG. 4 is a front elevation view of an animal consumable dental hygienic device being a third embodiment of the present technology;

FIG. 5 is a perspective view of an animal consumable dental hygienic device being a fourth embodiment of the present technology;

FIG. 6 is a front elevation view of the animal consumable dental hygienic device of FIG. 5;

FIG. 7 is a top plan view of the animal consumable dental hygienic device of FIG. 5;

FIG. 8 is a transverse cross-section of the device according to FIG. 7, taken along the line 8-8 in FIG. 7;

FIG. 9 is a transverse cross-section of an animal consumable dental hygienic device being a fifth embodiment of the present technology, being similar to the view in FIG. 8 and showing triangle-profiled secondary projections;

FIG. 10 is a transverse cross-section of an animal consumable dental hygienic device being a sixth embodiment of the present technology, being similar to the view in FIG. 8 and showing square-profiled secondary projections;

FIG. 11 is a perspective view of an animal consumable dental hygienic device being a seventh embodiment of the present technology;

FIG. 12 is a front elevation view of the animal consumable dental hygienic device of FIG. 11;

FIG. 13 is a perspective view of an animal consumable dental hygienic device being an eight embodiment of the present technology;

FIG. 14 is a top plan view of the animal consumable dental hygienic device of FIG. 13;

FIG. 15 is a transverse cross-section of the device of FIG. 14 taken along the line 15-15 in FIG. 14;

FIG. 16 is a transverse cross-section of an animal consumable dental hygienic device being a ninth embodiment of the present technology;

FIG. 17 is a perspective view of an animal consumable dental hygienic device being a tenth embodiment of the present technology;

FIG. 18 is a front elevation view of the animal consumable dental hygienic device of FIG. 17;

FIG. 19 is a perspective view of an animal consumable dental hygienic device being an eleventh embodiment of the present technology;

FIG. 20 is a top plan view of the animal consumable dental hygienic device of FIG. 19;

FIG. 21 is a transverse cross-section of the device of FIG. 20 taken along the line 21-21 in FIG. 20;

FIG. 22 is a perspective view of an animal consumable dental hygienic device being a twelfth embodiment of the present technology;

FIG. 23 is a perspective view of an animal consumable dental hygienic device being an thirteenth embodiment of the present technology;

FIG. 24 is a perspective view of an animal consumable dental hygienic device being a fourteenth embodiment of the present technology;

FIG. 25 is a transverse cross-section of an animal consumable dental hygienic device being a fifteenth embodiment of the present technology, schematically showing animal teeth approaching the device;

FIG. 26 is a transverse cross-section of the animal consumable dental hygienic device of FIG. 25, schematically showing animal teeth biting onto the device;

FIG. 27 is a transverse cross-section of the animal consumable dental hygienic device of FIG. 3, schematically showing animal teeth approaching the device;

FIG. 28 is a transverse cross-section of the animal consumable dental hygienic device of FIG. 27, schematically showing animal teeth biting onto the device.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Referring to the Figures, there are shown various animal consumable dental hygienic devices being embodiments of the present technology. It is to be expressly understood that the various animal consumable dental hygienic devices are merely some embodiments of the present technology. Thus, the description thereof that follows is intended to be only a description of illustrative examples of the present technology. This description is not intended to define the scope or set forth the bounds of the present technology. In some cases, what are believed to be helpful examples of modifications to the animal consumable dental hygienic devices may also be set forth below. This is done merely as an aid to understanding, and, again, not to define the scope or set forth the bounds of the present technology. These modifications are not an exhaustive list, and, as a person skilled in the art would understand, other modifications are likely possible. Further, where this has not been done (i.e., where no examples of modifications have been set forth), it should not be interpreted that no modifications are possible and/or that what is described is the sole manner of embodying that element of the present technology. As a person skilled in the art would understand, this is likely not the case. In addition, it is to be understood that the animal consumable dental hygienic devices may provide in certain instances simple embodiments of the present technology, and that where such is the case they have been presented in this manner as an aid to understanding. As persons skilled in the art would understand, various embodiments of the present technology may be of a greater complexity.

FIG. 1 shows a perspective view of an animal consumable dental hygienic device being a first embodiment of the present technology. The device 100 has a consumable body 200, having a cylindrical interior cavity 300 filled with consumable filler material 350. Projections 600 are defined by the exterior surface 400 of the body 200 and extend outwardly with respect to the interior cavity 300, such that the exterior surface 400 is inscribed within an imaginary cylinder (not shown). In this embodiment, projections 600 are made of the same consumable material as the body 200. In other embodiments, a projection 600 may be made of a different consumable material. The projections 600 clean teeth, gums, and tongue of the animal, and help to guide the animal's teeth to engage recesses 800 of the body 200 which are more numerous and have larger cleaning surface, thereby producing a more effective and efficient cleaning action than the projections 600 may otherwise produce by themselves.

Although it is not required to be the case, animal consumable dental hygienic devices of all embodiments described herein are preferably manufactured, at least in part, by extrusion. As a non-limiting example, the body 200 is made of a single material having been extruded through a die (not shown) adapted to longitudinally shape the material so as to at least define the interior cavity 300 and the exterior surface 400 of the body 200. In some instances, the die is further structured to shape the material so as to also define recesses 800 extending longitudinally along a length the body 200 (FIG. 1). In some instances, the die is a variable geometry die having a movable portion structured for plunging within the body 200 extruded from the die, inward from the exterior surface 400 and thereby further shaping the material so as to define the recesses 800 extending longitudinally along a length of a body. In some instances, the body 200 may be further shaped so as to allow for the recesses 800 to be defined by a distinct manufacturing operation, such as by mechanical cutting or laser cutting. It is contemplated that heat-affected zones of the body 200 resulting from laser cutting of the recesses 800 may desirably adapt the hardness and texture of the material of the body 200 surrounding the recesses 800 for scraping of animal teeth penetrating therein.

In the context of the present technology, the bodies 200 of the animal consumable dental hygienic devices 100 may be constructed, for example, of conventional consumable material having both the nutritional benefits expected of animal feed as well as sufficient hardness to scrape the outer surface of an animal's teeth to remove dental plaque therefrom during frictional engagement when the animal bites the body 200.

In some embodiments, at least some of the material or materials (as the case may be) of which the body 200 is constructed may have a cancellous structure defining a network of small cell-like cavities; such cell-like cavities having a certain shape, a certain average size and a certain average density. In such embodiments, it is not necessary that all portions of the body 200 having such a cancellous structure have the same shape, average size and/or density of cell-like cavities. In some such embodiments, the shape and/or average size and/or density of cell-like cavities of different portions of the body vary. In some embodiments, the body 200 constructed of material having a cancellous structure may assist in allowing for the body 200 to cleave under pressure exerted by an animal biting the body 200, thereby changing dimensions of the body 200 from initial dimensions to dental-hygienically active dimensions for frictionally engaging the teeth of the animal, as will be described in further detail below.

FIG. 2 is a front view of the device 100 shown in FIG. 1. In this embodiment, the recesses 800 are wedge-shaped, radially oriented with respect to the cylindrical interior cavity 300 and extend inward from the exterior surface 400. Disposed in between projections 600, the recesses 800 also extend longitudinally along the body 200. As shown in this figure, concavities are formed by the exterior surface 400 between adjacent projections 600. Any two adjacent projections 600 extend outwardly with respect to the interior cavity 300 and outwardly with respect to one another.

FIG. 3 is a front view of a device 102 being a second embodiment of the present technology, the device 102 being similar to the device 100 of the first embodiment. Recesses 802 are wedge-shaped and are comparatively larger than the recesses 800 of the device 100 of the first embodiment. As in some other embodiments, the device 102 of the illustrated embodiment has a body 202 having an exterior surface 402 defining a plurality of projections 602, among which at least one projection 632 extends outward with respect to the interior cavity 302 along a first primary projection direction axis 603. The exterior surface 402 also defines a projection 634 adjacent to the at least one projection 632, extending outward with respect to the interior cavity 302 along a second primary projection direction axis 607 being angled with respect to the first primary projection direction axis 603. Four projections 632, 634, 636, 638 of the plurality of projections 602 are disposed angularly in a circular pattern, each being aligned with either of axis 603 and axis 607. The device 102 undergoes desirable deformation as intended by design, taking teeth shape and biting force of the animal into account for actively cleaning the tooth, when a tooth of an animal for which the device 102 is designed scrapes against projections 602, for example projection 632 and adjacent projection 634, and progresses toward a recess 834 of the recesses 832 located therebetween.

Still referring to FIG. 3, portions 442 of the exterior surface 402 and portions 332 of the interior cavity 302 respectively define normal axis 405, 305, with which recesses 802 align. In the present embodiment, portions 442, 332 are portions of imaginary coaxial cylinders (not shown in detail) being shapes of the exterior surface 402 and of the interior portion 302, with axis 405, 305 being radially aligned with one another. Four instances of portions 442, 332 and axis 405, 305 are shown, disposed angularly in a circular pattern, each having a recess 832, 834, 836, 838 being aligned with an instance of axis 405, 305. In some other embodiments, at least one of an exterior surface 402 and an interior cavity 402 has at least one portion 442, 332 defining at least one of normal axis 405, 305, with at least one recess 832 of the recesses 802 being aligned with the at least one normal axis 405, 305. The device 102 therefore undergoes desirable deformation as intended by design, taking teeth shape and biting force of the animal into account for actively cleaning the tooth, when a tooth of an animal for which the device 102 is designed penetrates into the recess 832. Recess 832 does not have to be disposed in any particular pattern with respect to other recesses 802, and neither do portions 442, 432 and normal axis 405, 305 although it is desirable. Deformation of the device 102 can be customized for some or any one of the projections 602 and recesses 802, for instance to receive teeth of different shapes. It is contemplated that in some implementations of the present technology, exterior surfaces 402 or interior cavities 302 may respectively be inscribed in shapes or have shapes other than cylindrical such as, as non-limiting examples, spherical, prismatic or irregular shapes, and that other patterns of projections 602 or recesses 802 are better suited for each. As non-limiting examples, additional patterns of projections 602 or recesses 802 for exterior surfaces 402 inscribed in cylindrical shapes or interior cavities 302 having cylindrical shapes will now be provided.

FIG. 4 is a front view of a device 104 being a third embodiment of the present technology being similar to the device 100 of the first embodiment. The device 104 comprises a consumable body 204, which has an exterior surface 404, an interior cavity 304, projections 604 extending outwardly with respect to the interior cavity 304, and recesses 804 extending inward from the exterior surface 404 to the interior cavity 304.

Now turning to FIGS. 5 to 8, a device 106 being a fourth embodiment of the present technology is shown. The device 106 comprises a consumable body 206 having an exterior surface 406, an interior cavity 306, projections 606 extending outwardly with respect to the interior cavity 306, and recesses 806 extending inward from the exterior surface 406 to the interior cavity 306. The recesses 806, cylindrical in shape and distributed longitudinally along a length of the body 206 in between projections 606, are hidden from view in FIGS. 5 and 6. A filler material 350 is present inside the interior cavity 306.

In FIG. 9, a device 108 being a fifth embodiment of the present technology is shown. The device 108 comprises a consumable body 208 having an exterior surface 408, an interior cavity 308, projections 608 extending outwardly with respect to the interior cavity 308, and recesses 808 extending inward from the exterior surface 408 to the interior cavity 308. Also, conically-shaped secondary projections 708 extend laterally from projections 608 and generally toward adjacent projections 608 for scraping a tooth of an animal progressing therebetween. Also, a filler material 350 is present in the interior cavity 308.

In FIG. 10, a device 110 being a sixth embodiment of the present technology is shown. The device 110 comprises a consumable body 210 having an exterior surface 410, an interior cavity 310, projections 610 extending outwardly with respect to the interior cavity 310, and recesses 810 extending inward from the exterior surface 410 to the interior cavity 310. Also, secondary projections 710 having cuboid shapes extend laterally from projections 610 and generally toward adjacent projections 610 for scraping a tooth of an animal progressing therebetween. Also, a filler material 350 is present in the interior cavity 310.

Referring to FIGS. 11 and 12, a device 112 being a seventh embodiment of the present technology is shown. The device 112 comprises a consumable body 212 having an exterior surface 412, an interior cavity 312, projections 612 extending outwardly with respect to the interior cavity 312, and recesses 812 extending inward from the exterior surface 412 to the interior cavity 312. Comparatively to previously described embodiments of the present technology, the device 112 has a body 212 being shorter in length such that the device 112 is sized to be easily consumed by an animal. Furthermore, the projections 612 are structured and arranged such that a constant distance is maintained between any two adjacent projections 612.

Now turning to FIGS. 13 to 15, a device 114 being an eight embodiment of the present technology is shown. The device 114 comprises a consumable body 214 having an exterior surface 414, an interior cavity 314, projections 614 extending outwardly with respect to the interior cavity 314, and recesses 812 extending inward from the exterior surface 412 to the interior cavity 312. The recesses 814, cylindrical in shape and distributed longitudinally along a length of the body 214 in between projections 614, are hidden from view in FIG. 13. A filler material 350 is present inside the interior cavity 314.

Referring to FIG. 16, a device 116 being a ninth embodiment of the present technology is shown. The device 116 comprises a consumable body 216 having an exterior surface 416, an interior cavity 316, projections 616 extending outwardly with respect to the interior cavity 316, and recesses 816 extending inward from the exterior surface 416 to the interior cavity 316. Also, secondary projections 716 extend laterally from projections 616, forming a convex obtuse angle, and generally toward adjacent projections 616 for scraping a tooth of an animal progressing therebetween. Also, a filler material 350 is present in the interior cavity 316.

Now referring to FIGS. 17 and 18, a device 118 being a tenth embodiment of the present technology is shown. The device 118 comprises a consumable body 218 having an exterior surface 418, an interior cavity 318, projections 618 extending outwardly with respect to the interior cavity 318, and recesses 818 extending inward from the exterior surface 418 to the interior cavity 318. Any two adjacent projections 618 extend outwardly with respect to the interior cavity 318 and inwardly with respect to one another. Also, a filler material 350 is present in the interior cavity 318.

With respect to FIGS. 19 to 21, a device 120 being an eleventh embodiment of the present technology is shown. The device 120 comprises a consumable body 220 having an exterior surface 420, an interior cavity 320, projections 620 extending outwardly with respect to the interior cavity 320, and recesses 820 extending inward from the exterior surface 420 to the interior cavity 320. Any two adjacent projections 620 extend outwardly with respect to the interior cavity 320 and inwardly with respect to one another. Also, a filler material 350 is present in the interior cavity 320. In this embodiment, the recesses 820 (hidden from view in FIG. 19) are cylindrical in shape and are distributed longitudinally along a length of the body 220, in between projections 620.

Now turning to FIGS. 22 to 24, devices 122, 124, and 128 are shown, respectively being a twelfth, a thirteenth and a fourteenth embodiment of the present technology. Each device 122, 124, 126 comprises a consumable body 222, 224, 226, having an exterior surface 422, 424, 426, an interior cavity 322, 324, 326, projections 622, 624, 626 extending outwardly with respect to the interior cavity 322, 324, 326, and recesses 822, 824, 826 extending inward from the exterior surface 422, 424, 426 to the interior cavity 322, 324, 326. Recesses 822, 824, 826 are arranged in a pattern being different for each device 122, 124, 126. Recesses 822 are disposed longitudinally and angularly along the exterior surface 424 and arranged in a staggered pattern. Alternating recesses 824 of cylindrical shapes and prismatic shapes are distributed longitudinally along a length of the body 224, in between projections 624.

With respect to FIG. 24, recesses 826 are prismatic slots extending inward from portions of the exterior surface 426 inclusive of projections 626, and distributed both circumferentially and longitudinally along the body 226. Furthermore, the projections 626 and recesses 826 define circumferential paths 90 distributed longitudinally along the body 226. The body 226 being constructed of brittle material, such paths allow the body 226 to cleave under pressure exerted by an animal biting the body 226. In some embodiments, the interior cavity is filled with filler material having sufficient flexibility to deform under pressure exerted by the animal such that when the body 226 cleaves, the position of at least some projections 626 is allowed to change during deformation from initial deformation to dental-hygienically active positions as they follow the deformation of the filler material. It is contemplated that the device 126 may be sized to be fed to an animal as a full meal, and that the paths 90 may allow an animal owner to separate the device 126 into smaller-sized portions along the paths 90 such that the portions may instead be fed to an animal as a treat.

In FIGS. 25 and 26, a device 128 being a fifteenth embodiment of the present technology is shown. The device 128 comprises a consumable body 228 having an exterior surface 428, an interior cavity 328, projections 628 extending outwardly with respect to the interior cavity 328, and recesses 828 extending inward from the exterior surface 428 to the interior cavity 328. Also, filler material 350 having sufficient flexibility to deform under pressure exerted by the animal biting the body 228 is present in the interior cavity 328. Any two adjacent projections 628 extend outwardly with respect to the interior cavity 328 and outwardly with respect to one another. Also, conically-shaped secondary projections 728 extend laterally from projections 628 and generally toward adjacent projections 628 for scraping a tooth of an animal progressing therebetween. A filler material 350 is present in the interior cavity 328. In FIG. 24, upper and lower anterior teeth (e.g. canines) 50, 54 of an animal biting onto the body 228 are schematically shown, the teeth 50, 54 progressing toward recesses 830 of the recesses 828. In FIG. 26, the teeth 50, 54 are schematically shown penetrating into the recesses 830, thereby deforming the recesses 830 into dental-hygienically active dimensions and deforming the filler material 350 under pressure exerted by the animal biting the body 228. Adjacent to the teeth 50, 54, deformation of the body 228 and of the filler material 350, the positions of projections 628 adjacent to the teeth 50, 54 change during deformation from initial positions to dental hygienically-active positions. In the dental-hygienically active positions, projections 628 frictionally engage the teeth 50, 54 and scrape the outer surfaces thereof. Furthermore, as best seen on FIG. 26, the projections 628 and the secondary projections 728 frictionally engage outer surfaces of the teeth 50, 54 and of the gums 52, 54 of the animal during biting of the body 228 by the animal. Biting directions 58, 60 as well as projection deformation directions 62, 64, 66, 68 are also schematically shown.

Finally, referring to FIGS. 27 and 28, the device 102 of the second embodiment of the present technology is once again shown, now illustrating upper and lower posterior teeth (e.g. molars) 70, 74 of an animal biting onto the body 202. In FIG. 27, the teeth 70, 74 are schematically shown in passively against the device 102, the projections 632, 634, 636 and 638 thereof being in initial positions. In FIG. 28, the teeth 70, 74 are schematically shown actively pressed against the device 102 as the animal bites onto the body 202 being deformed. Projection 638 is shown in a dental-hygienically active position and in frictional engagement with upper gingiva 72 of the animal. Projection 632 is shown in a dental-hygienically active position and in frictional engagement with the upper tooth 70 of the animal as well as with the lower tooth 74 of the animal. Projection 634 is also shown in a dental-hygienically active position and in frictional engagement with the lower tooth 74 of the animal. Biting directions 78, 80 as well as projection deformation directions 82, 84, 86, 88 are also schematically shown.

Modifications and improvements to the above-described implementations of the present technology may become apparent to those skilled in the art. The foregoing description is intended to be exemplary rather than limiting. The scope of the present technology is therefore intended to be limited solely by the scope of the appended claims.

Claims

1. An animal consumable dental hygienic device, comprising: a consumable body having an exterior surface and an interior cavity, the body being sized to fit within a mouth of an animal and to be bitten by the animal;the exterior surface defining a plurality of projections extending outwardly;the body defining a plurality of recesses extending inward from the exterior surface to at least outward of the interior cavity;each recess having dental-hygienically active dimensions allowing a tooth of the animal to penetrate into a one recess of the plurality of recesses when the animal bites the body, such that material surrounding the one recess frictionally engages an outer surface of the tooth during penetration of the tooth into the one recess, the material surrounding the at least one recess being of sufficient hardness to scrape the outer surface of the tooth during frictional engagement to remove dental plaque; andthe plurality of projections being positioned, dimensioned, shaped and structured to be dental-hygienically active when the animal bites the body, allowing the tooth of the animal to be adjacent to at least one projection of the plurality of projections when the animal bites the body, such that the at least one projection frictionally engages at least one of the outer surface of the tooth and gums of the animal during biting of the body by the animal.

2. The device of claim 1, wherein the interior cavity contains a filler material different than material of which the body is constructed.

3. The device of claim 1, wherein, the body is constructed of material having sufficient flexibility to deform under pressure exerted by the animal biting the body, and the dimensions of the one recess change during deformation from initial dimensions to the dental-hygienically active dimensions.

4. The device of claim 1, wherein, the body is constructed of material having sufficient flexibility to deform under pressure exerted by the animal biting the body, and the positions of the at least one projection changes during deformation from initial position to the dental-hygienically active position.

5. The device of claim 2, wherein, the material of which the body is constructed is material having sufficient brittleness for the body to cleave under pressure exerted by the animal biting the body, and the filler material is material having sufficient flexibility to deform under pressure exerted by the animal biting the body when the body cleaves, and the position of the at least one projection changes during deformation from the initial position to the dental-hygienically active position.

6. The device of claim 1, wherein the at least one projection extends outwardly along a first primary projection direction axis, and an adjacent projection of the plurality of projections extends outward along a second primary projection direction axis, the second primary projection direction axis being angled with respect to the first primary projection direction axis.

7. The device of claim 6, wherein the at least one projection has at least one secondary projection extending therefrom along a secondary projection direction axis.

8. The device of claim 7, wherein the secondary projection direction axis is angled with respect to the first projection direction axis.

9. The device of claim 1, wherein at least some projections of the plurality of projections and at least some recesses of the plurality of the recesses define a path, the body being cleavable into consumable portions along the path.

10. The device of claim 1, wherein at least one of the exterior surface and the interior cavity has at least one portion defining at least one normal axis, the one recess being aligned with the at least one normal axis.

11. The device of claim 1, wherein the one recess extends inward from the exterior surface to outward of the interior cavity.

12. The device of claim 1, wherein the one recess is an aperture extending inward from the exterior surface to the interior cavity.

13. The device of claim 1, wherein the one recess is an aperture extending from the exterior surface to inside of the interior cavity.

14. The device of claim 1, wherein the one recess is an aperture extending throughout the body.

15. The device of claim 1, wherein the one recess extends longitudinally along a length of the body.

16. The device of claim 1, wherein the one recess extends circumferentially along a circumference of the body.

17. The device of claim 1, wherein the plurality of recesses defines a staggered pattern of recesses.

18. The device of claim 1, wherein the body and the interior cavity are structured and arranged for receiving and retaining a substance inside the interior cavity, the substance being different than the material of which the body is constructed and being different than the filler material.

19. The device of claim 18, wherein the substance has a shape being one of cylindrical, obround, spherical and ellipsoidal.

20. The device of claim 18, wherein the substance is consumable.