Chew Holder for Pet Toy Preventing Ingestion
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing pet chews, especially synthetic ones, are not digestible and can cause digestive complications if ingested, while natural chews may pose a choking hazard when reduced in size, necessitating a solution for secure and safe consumption.
Innovation Solution
A pet toy design featuring a removable and securely attachable chew holder that affixes a natural chew, such as a bully stick, to a hollow ball, preventing ingestion of the toy and allowing the chew to be safely reduced in size without choking risk, using a threaded mechanism that pets cannot easily dislodge.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a natural chew is used, then the pet can safely consume and digest it, but the chew may be pulled out or ingested causing choking hazard
Solution Approach 1:
The invention divides the chew system into two separate components: a reusable toy component and a consumable chew component. The chew is held within a holder that is attached to the toy, allowing the chew to be securely contained while the pet chews on it. This segmentation prevents the chew from being pulled out or ingested, eliminating the choking hazard while maintaining the safety benefits of natural materials.
Solution Approach 2:
The holder acts as an intermediary component between the toy and the chew. It provides a secure mounting structure that holds the chew in place, preventing direct contact between the pet's teeth and the ability to pull or ingest the chew. The intermediary holder structure ensures the chew remains attached throughout the chewing process, eliminating choking risks.
2Strength
If a synthetic chew is used, then the toy structure is durable, but the pet cannot digest it and may have digestive complications
Solution Approach 1:
The invention changes the material parameter of the chew component from synthetic to natural materials. By using natural chews (such as animal organs or byproducts) that are digestible, the system maintains the structural durability needed for chewing while eliminating the harmful digestive complications associated with synthetic materials. The natural materials are specifically selected to be both durable enough for chewing and safe for digestion.
3Reliability
If the chew holder is securely attached to prevent removal, then the chew cannot be pulled out, but the mechanism becomes complex
Solution Approach 1:
The invention extracts the attachment function from the main toy structure and places it in a separate, dedicated holder component. This allows for a simple yet effective attachment mechanism using basic elements like a ring and elastic band, rather than complex locking systems. The holder is designed to be easily attached to and detached from the toy, providing secure chew holding without unnecessary complexity.
Solution Approach 2:
The holder uses simple, easily replaceable components such as elastic bands and rings that can be quickly attached and detached. These simple components provide secure attachment without requiring complex mechanisms. The holder itself can be easily replaced if worn or damaged, providing a cost-effective solution that prioritizes security over complexity.
Data Source
AI summary
In one embodiment, a chew toy includes a first portion that can removably couple to a second portion of the chew toy. An outer surface of the first portion has a first opening to the interior of the chew toy. The second portion includes a first end, and the first end of the second portion includes a first surface for supporting the base of a chew that is larger than the first opening in a plane parallel to the first opening. When the second portion is removably coupled to the first portion the first surface is disposed in the interior of the chew toy and is offset from the first opening along a direction perpendicular to the plane of the first opening.