Patent Application
20170035024
The invention relates to a novel pet toy and treat dispenser wherein treats are inserted into a hollow center tube and a cap is placed to close the fill tube. A basket with a hole for a ball drop resides atop the fill tube. A ball must then be dropped into the basket where it will travel down a spiral track and fall onto a trip tab which will briefly open a flap and a few treats will be ejected into a dish portion in the base. The flap will then reclose in preparation for further activation. This toy can also be modified to include sound or motion activated treat release.
The invention most closely corresponds with USPTO Class 119/51.01 wherein Class 119 relates to animal husbandry and sub-class 51.01 includes feeding devices.
In its simplest form, the invention relates to a novel pet toy and treat dispenser wherein inserted treats are released after a ball activates a release flap at the base of the toy and treats are then ejected into a tray in the base piece.
The toy and treat dispenser has an open topped basket top piece wherein access to a hollow center tube for filling and an offset aperture for a ball drop are contained therein.
A fill cap is located at the top of the hollow center tube and is replaced after treats are poured into the tube. Once the toy is filled a ball is dropped by a pet into the basket and via gravity will travel through an opening and onto the spiral rail which guides the ball to the base piece.
On the base piece, a trip tab keeps inserted treats in the center tube until compression by the ball allows the tab to move briefly and treats are then ejected into a tray on the base piece. The trip tab then returns to a resting state and is ready for another triggering event.
It well known that dogs do experience a sense of boredom, and if not addressed, may manifest in negative behavior such as chewing furniture or going to the bathroom in undesirable locations in the pet owner's home. It is also known that most dogs will consume whatever food is in front of them, and typically too quickly. The inventive toy and dispenser delays consumption and aides in controlling amount thereof.
The inventive toy and treat dispenser addresses not only the dog's curiosity and huger sensations, it requires the dog to exhibit learned behavior. The dog must learn that to obtain a treat kibble it must do so by dropping the ball into the top basket. The spiraling effect of the ball triggers interest as well as a learned behavior response when treats are ejected out of the base.
Similar to Alzheimer's disease in humans, Canine Cognitive Dysfunction manifests in dogs primarily affecting memory, learning and comprehension. As with humans, there are exercises that are said to help stimulate and thus help avoid this dysfunction. Most certainly, entertained and challenged dogs are more alert and content than those who are not stimulated sufficiently.
The inventive toy and treat dispenser provides stimulation to the dog's sense of smell, visual acuity, and the reward acknowledgement. The dog can smell and see the kibble within the dispenser toy, and is stimulated by the ball rolling down the spiral track.
The dog learns that unless it places the ball in the basket piece, no kibble will dispense. This behavior model will require attention and retention behaviors of the pet. The reward of treats or kibble encourages the pet to reengage with the toy and dispenser. Another embodiment includes the use of motion or sound activated treat release.
The invention is described in further detail by reference to five (5) drawings sufficient in detail to describe the invention in which:
