Interactive Pet Toys

Abstract

To provide an interactive pet toy that includes audio feedback to encourage pets to focus and pay attention to chewing. [Solution] An interactive pet toy for encouraging a pet's focus and attention on chewing, including audio feedback, includes a body portion having a surface and one or more flexible inserts that can be transformed into two different geometric configurations along with the production of an audible sound, wherein in a first configuration, the one or more inserts have protruding and recessed surfaces, and in a second configuration, the protruding surfaces become recessed surfaces and the recessed surfaces become protruding surfaces.

Description

[Technical Field]

[0001] (CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS) This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 63 / 381,153, filed October 27, 2022, the entire disclosure of which is incorporated herein by reference.

[0002] The present invention is directed to an interactive pet toy that includes audio feedback to encourage focus and attention in chewing in pets. [Background technology]

[0003] Dogs and other pets enjoy toys that provide a form of stimulation. For example, toys typically attempt to mimic the types of stimulation a pet may have in the wild, such as chewing on a bone or other substrate. Some pet toys also attempt to provide some sound-producing features that provide an auditory sense to the animal. Thus, there remains a need to provide a pet toy that encourages a pet's focus and attention on chewing and provides audio feedback. In particular, audio feedback similarly encourages chewing and provides a relatively durable source of audio feedback that cannot be easily damaged by the animal through aggressive chewing behavior. Summary of the Invention

[0004] An interactive toy for an animal, comprising: a body portion having a surface including one or more flexible inserts, the inserts being capable of transforming into two different geometric configurations with the production of an audible sound, wherein in a first configuration, the one or more inserts have protruding surfaces and recessed surfaces, and in a second configuration, the protruding surfaces become recessed surfaces and the recessed surfaces become protruding surfaces.

[0005] An interactive toy for animals comprising: a body portion; and at least one flexible insert coupled to the body portion, the at least one flexible insert being transformable into two different geometric configurations together with the production of an audible sound, wherein in a first configuration, the at least one flexible insert has a protruding surface and a concave surface, and in a second configuration, the protruding surface becomes a concave surface and the concave surface becomes a protruding surface.

[0006] In at least one embodiment, the at least one flexible insert is convertible from a first configuration to a second configuration and then convertible from the second configuration back to the first configuration.

[0007] In at least one embodiment, the at least one flexible insert produces an audible sound when transformed to the second configuration and produces a further audible sound when transformed back to the first configuration.

[0008] In at least one embodiment, the at least one flexible insert undergoes elastic deformation when transformed to the second configuration and elastic recovery when transformed back to the first configuration.

[0009] In at least one embodiment, the protruding surface is a hemispherical protruding surface and the recessed surface is a hemispherical recessed surface.

[0010] In at least one embodiment, the at least one flexible insert is disposed within the throughbore of the body portion.

[0011] In at least one embodiment, the body portion includes a surface surrounding the at least one flexible insert, and a portion of the protruding surface of the at least one flexible insert extends higher than the surface of the body portion surrounding the at least one flexible insert.

[0012] In at least one embodiment, the protruding surface of the at least one flexible insert extends between 1.0 mm and 10.0 mm higher than the surface of the body portion surrounding the at least one flexible insert.

[0013] In at least one embodiment, the protruding surface of the at least one flexible insert extends higher than a surface of the body portion surrounding the at least one flexible insert in either the first configuration or the second configuration.

[0014] In at least one embodiment, the audible sound is in the range of 50 Hz to 45,000 Hz.

[0015] In at least one embodiment, the body portion comprises a thermoplastic or thermoset material, hi at least one embodiment, the material is selected from polyamide, polycarbonate, polyethylene, polypropylene, polyacetal, polystyrene, high impact polystyrene, polyurethane, polyisoprene, a thermoplastic elastomer, PET, or PBT.

[0016] In at least one embodiment, the at least one flexible insert comprises a thermoplastic or thermoset elastomer, hi at least one embodiment, the elastomer comprises a polyester thermoplastic elastomer, a polyamide thermoplastic elastomer, a polystyrene-polybutadiene elastomer, and a polyisoprene-based elastomer.

[0017] In at least one embodiment, the at least one flexible insert comprises an attractant or flavoring.

[0018] In at least one embodiment, the at least one flexible insert is convertible to an intermediate configuration, which is convertible to one of two different geometric configurations without the application of force.

[0019] In at least one embodiment, a method of using an interactive toy for an animal is provided, the method including: obtaining an interactive toy for an animal, the toy comprising: a body portion; and at least one flexible insert coupled to the body portion; the at least one flexible insert being transformable into two different geometric configurations with the production of an audible sound, wherein in a first configuration, the at least one flexible insert has a protruding surface and a recessed surface, and in a second configuration, the protruding surface becomes a recessed surface and the recessed surface becomes a protruding surface; and transforming the at least one flexible insert from the first configuration to the second configuration, and generating an audible sound upon transformation to the second configuration.

[0020] In at least one embodiment, the method further includes transforming the at least one flexible insert from the second configuration back to the first configuration and generating a further audible sound upon transforming back to the first configuration. [Brief explanation of the drawings]

[0021] The features and advantages of the present disclosure will become more apparent as the following detailed description proceeds and by reference to the drawings in which like numerals designate like parts and in which:

[0022] [Figure 1] FIG. 1 is a side view of an interactive pet chew toy according to the present disclosure. [Figure 2] 2 is a cross-sectional view of the insert of the interactive pet chew toy of FIG. 1 taken along line AA before a force F is applied to a first side of the insert / toy. [Figure 3] 2 is a cross-sectional view of the insert of the interactive pet chew toy of FIG. 1 taken along line AA while a force F is applied to a first side of the insert / toy. [Figure 4] 2 is a cross-sectional view of the insert of the interactive pet chew toy of FIG. 1 taken along line AA after a force F is applied to a first side of the insert / toy. [Figure 5] 2 is a cross-sectional view of the insert of the interactive pet chew toy of FIG. 1 taken along line AA before force F is applied to a second, opposite side of the insert / toy. [Figure 6] 2 is a cross-sectional view of the insert of the interactive pet chew toy of FIG. 1 taken along line AA while a force F is applied to a second, opposite side of the insert / toy. [Figure 7] 2 is a cross-sectional view of the insert of the interactive pet chew toy of FIG. 1 taken along line AA after a force F is applied to the second (opposite) side of the insert / toy. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0023] It can be understood that the present disclosure is not limited in its application to the details of construction and arrangement of components set forth in the following description or illustrated in the drawings. The invention herein is capable of other embodiments and of being practiced or carried out in various ways. It is also understood that the phraseology and terminology used herein are for the purpose of description and should not be regarded as limiting as would be understood by one of ordinary skill in the art. Furthermore, like reference numerals and letters throughout the specification indicate corresponding structure throughout the several views, and such corresponding structure need not be separately discussed. Furthermore, any particular feature of a particular exemplary embodiment may be equally applied to any other exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure, where appropriate. In other words, features between the various exemplary embodiments described herein are preferably interchangeable and not exclusive.

[0024] FIG. 1 provides a diagram of a preferred interactive pet chew toy 2 herein. As can be seen, the interactive pet toy 2 has an elongated body portion 10, preferably in the form of a bone, and includes at least one, and preferably multiple, flexible inserts 11 coupled to body portion 10, such as by adhesively bonding to body portion 10. More specifically, inserts 11 are disposed within through-holes in body portion 10, which close the through-holes. Inserts 11 can assume the shapes illustrated at 12a and 12b when chewed by an animal. Additionally, the configurations illustrated at 12a and 12b are relatively stable, meaning that they will remain in such configuration unless further chewing is performed by the animal. Body portion 10 preferably provides additional durability against chewing. The pet chew toy body portion 10 may preferably be formed from a thermoplastic or thermosetting (crosslinked) material such as polyamide (nylon) type resins, polycarbonate, polyacetal, polystyrene, polyethylene, polypropylene, polystyrene, high impact polystyrene, polyurethane (thermoplastic or thermosetting), polyisoprene (e.g., natural or synthetic rubber), thermoplastic elastomers (e.g., polyester-based or polyurethane-based), and polyesters such as polyethylene terephthalate (PET) or polybutylene terephthalate (PBT).

[0025] The one or more inserts 11 can each exist in two different, relatively stable geometric configurations, designated 12a and 12b. Accordingly, the inserts 11 are preferably formed from a material that is flexible at room temperature and capable of deforming during the animal's chewing action. Such flexible materials may preferably be selected from thermoplastic elastomers and / or thermosetting elastomers. Thermoplastic elastomers include, for example, polyester thermoplastic elastomers, polyamide thermoplastic elastomers, polystyrene-polybutadiene elastomers, and natural and synthetic rubbers (polyisoprene-based elastomers). The inserts 11 may have a thickness ranging from 0.5 mm to 3 mm, more specifically from 0.75 mm to 2.5 mm, and even more specifically from 1 mm to 2 mm.

[0026] The flexible material for one or more inserts 11 may preferably contain various additives. Such additives may include attractants or flavorings designed to more specifically entice animals to engage with and chew on the interactive pet chew. Such additives may preferably be present at levels of 0.1% to 5.0% by weight.

[0027] The insert 11 is preferably such that it can be individually transformed, i.e., convertible, into different geometric configurations with the production of an audible sound, as can first be observed in FIG. 1, where two insert configurations 12a and 12b are illustrated. Thus, as seen in FIG. 1, the insert 11 of configuration 12a provides a first protruding surface 14P. Such protruding surface 14P preferably has a portion that surrounds the insert 11 and extends higher than the surface of the pet chew body 10 that defines the through-hole in the body portion 10. The protruding surface 14P also preferably extends higher than the peripheral surface 16 of the insert 11 and defines the through-hole in the body portion 10. Preferably, a portion of the protruding surface 14P extends 1.0 mm to 10.0 mm higher than the peripheral surface of the pet chew body 10 that defines the through-hole in the body portion 10, as well as above the perimeter of the insert 11. This amount of protrusion may therefore serve to allow the pet's teeth to apply force to the protruding surface 14P during biting, as will be explained more fully below.

[0028] Thus, when a pet bites and applies force F to the protruding surface 14P of the flexible insert in configuration 12a, it can be transformed from first configuration 12a to the second configuration shown in 12b. That is, the first protruding surface 14P now becomes a recessed surface 14R, and on the opposite side of the interactive pet chew toy 2, the insert 11 itself protrudes on the other side of the chew with the protruding surface 14P, the opposite side of the insert providing the protruding surface 14P. Thus, it can be seen that one or more flexible inserts 11 can now be acted upon by the animal to transition from the configuration shown in 12a to the configuration shown in 12b, and vice versa.

[0029] 2-4, the aforementioned transition in the geometry of the insert 11 is illustrated in further detail in partial cross-section. As shown in FIG. 2, from a first side of the pet chew, a first protruding surface 14P can be seen, which, as shown, preferably presents a rounded-type geometric shape (in the form of a hemispherical dome). Other geometric shapes, such as an oval, elliptical, polyhedral, pyramidal, or any other three-dimensional shape, are also contemplated. On the other or second side of the first protruding surface 14P, a recessed surface 16R (in the form of a hemispherical recess) can be defined.

[0030] Attention is now directed to Figure 3. When a force F is applied to the flexible first protruding surface 14P, the insert configuration 12a can be described as beginning to deform with an elastic deformation, reversing, and transitioning toward its opposite configuration 12b. Thus, as shown in the intermediate position in Figure 3, a portion of the first protruding surface 14P now appears to have a first recessed surface 14R. Next, in Figure 4, the transition is completed, resulting in the generation of an audible sound. The recessed surface 16R (Figure 2) is now the protruding surface 16P (Figure 4).

[0031] Considering the flexible nature of insert 11 and turning attention again to Figure 3, it is also worth noting that once insert 11 is compressed into the intermediate configuration shown in Figure 3, insert 11 can complete the transition by itself without any additional force. In other words, the flexibility of insert 11 and its geometry are configured such that the animal only needs to initiate the transition from the state shown schematically in Figure 2 to the intermediate position shown in Figure 3, and insert 11 can complete the transition to the state illustrated in Figure 4 without any additional force, accompanied by the production of an audible sound.

[0032] Similarly, starting from the configuration shown in FIG. 5, a force F can again be applied by the animal to the protruding surface 16P during chewing. As shown in FIG. 6, in the intermediate position, as a result of such chewing, a portion of the protruding surface 16P is observed to transform to provide a recessed surface 16R, this time from the other side of the pet chew. In FIG. 7, the transition is complete with a fully re-formed protruding surface 14P, i.e., elastically recovering. Moreover, as mentioned above, once the insert 11 is located approximately in the intermediate position shown in FIG. 6, it can complete the transition to the state shown in FIG. 7 with the production of an audible sound without any additional force.

[0033] As noted above, the transitions illustrated in Figures 2-4, as well as those illustrated in Figures 5-7, are preferably accompanied by an audible sound. Such sounds are also relatively short (0.1-1.0 seconds) and may be described as popping or snapping type sounds. The audible sounds are preferably detectable by animals, such as dogs. For example, the sounds may be in the range of 50 Hz to 45 kHz (45,000 Hz). Such sounds are generated when the flexible insert undergoes a change in configuration from configuration 12a shown in Figure 2 to configuration 12b shown in Figure 4. Similarly, such sounds are believed to be generated when the insert transitions from configuration 12b shown in Figure 5 back to configuration 12a shown in Figure 7.

[0034] While preferred embodiments of the present invention have been described, it should be understood that various changes, adaptations, and modifications can be made therein without departing from the spirit of the invention and the scope of the appended claims. Accordingly, the scope of the invention should not be determined with reference to the above description, but should instead be determined with reference to the appended claims, along with their full scope of equivalents. It should further be understood that the appended claims do not necessarily include the broadest scope of the invention that applicant is entitled to claim, or the only way in which the invention may be claimed, or that every recited feature is required.

Claims

1. 1. An interactive toy for animals, comprising: The main body part and at least one flexible insert coupled to the body portion; Equipped with the at least one flexible insert is convertible into two different geometric configurations with the production of an audible sound; the at least one flexible insert has a protruding surface and a recessed surface in a first configuration, and in a second configuration, the protruding surface becomes the recessed surface and the recessed surface becomes the protruding surface; Interactive toys for animals.

2. 10. The interactive toy for animals of claim 1, wherein the at least one flexible insert is convertible from the first configuration to the second configuration and then convertible from the second configuration back to the first configuration.

3. 3. The interactive toy for animals of claim 2, wherein the at least one flexible insert produces the audible sound when transformed into the second configuration and produces a further audible sound when transformed back into the first configuration.

4. 3. The interactive toy for animals of claim 2, wherein the at least one flexible insert undergoes elastic deformation when transformed to the second configuration and elastic recovery when transformed back to the first configuration.

5. 10. The interactive toy for animals of claim 1, wherein the protruding surface is a hemispherical protruding surface and the concave surface is a hemispherical concave surface.

6. The interactive toy for animals of claim 1 , wherein the at least one flexible insert is disposed within a through-hole in the body portion.

7. the body portion includes a surface surrounding the at least one flexible insert; a portion of the protruding surface of the at least one flexible insert extends higher than the surface of the body portion surrounding the at least one flexible insert; 10. An interactive toy for animals according to claim 1.

8. 8. The interactive toy for animals of claim 7, wherein the protruding surface of the at least one flexible insert extends 1.0 mm to 10.0 mm higher than the surface of the body portion surrounding the at least one flexible insert.

9. 8. The interactive toy for animals of claim 7, wherein the protruding surface of the at least one flexible insert extends higher than the surface of the body portion surrounding the at least one flexible insert in either the first configuration or the second configuration.

10. 10. The interactive animal toy of claim 1, wherein the audible sound is in the range of 50 Hz to 45,000 Hz.

11. The interactive toy for animals of claim 1 , wherein the body portion comprises a thermoplastic or thermoset material.

12. 12. The interactive toy for animals of claim 11, wherein the material is selected from polyamide, polycarbonate, polyethylene, polypropylene, polyamide, polycarbonate, polyacetal, polystyrene, polyethylene, polypropylene, polystyrene, high impact polystyrene, polyurethane, polyisoprene, thermoplastic elastomer, PET, or PBT.

13. 10. The interactive animal toy of claim 1, wherein the at least one flexible insert comprises a thermoplastic elastomer or a thermoset elastomer.

14. 14. The interactive animal toy of claim 13, wherein the elastomer comprises a polyester thermoplastic elastomer, a polyamide thermoplastic elastomer, a polystyrene-polybutadiene elastomer, and a polyisoprene-based elastomer.

15. 10. The interactive toy for animals of claim 1, wherein the at least one flexible insert comprises an attractant or flavoring agent.

16. 10. The interactive toy for animals of claim 1, wherein the at least one flexible insert is convertible into an intermediate configuration, and the intermediate configuration is convertible into one of the two different geometric configurations without the application of force.

17. 1. A method of using an interactive toy for an animal, comprising: the interactive toy for the animal comprising: The main body part and at least one flexible insert coupled to the body portion; Equipped with the at least one flexible insert is convertible into two different geometric configurations with the production of an audible sound; the at least one flexible insert has a protruding surface and a recessed surface in a first configuration, and in a second configuration, the protruding surface becomes the recessed surface and the recessed surface becomes the protruding surface; obtaining the interactive toy for the animal; transforming the at least one flexible insert from the first configuration to the second configuration and generating the audible sound upon transformation into the second configuration; A method comprising:

18. 18. The method of claim 17, further comprising transforming the at least one flexible insert from the second configuration back to the first configuration and generating a further audible sound upon transforming back to the first configuration.

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