Pet Toy Metering Device for Secure Treat Dispensing

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing pet toys for carnivorous animals often have treat-retaining cavities that are not secure, causing treats to break into small pieces when inserted, rendering them ineffective as attractants and dispensers.

Innovation Solution

A non-consumable pet toy with a treat-retaining cavity and a metering device that dispenses treats at a metered rate, along with a loading device for easy refill, ensuring secure and prolonged engagement for the animal.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If treats are inserted into loosely retaining cavities, then the toy provides attractant function, but the treats break into small pieces and cannot be retained correctly

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvetreat retention reliabilityVSAvoidtreat structural integrity

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSStrength

Solution Approach 1:

The metering device includes a movable plunger that can be actuated to dispense treats dynamically. The plunger moves within the cavity to push treats through the opening, providing controlled dispensing while maintaining secure retention until activation.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

The metering device changes the state of treat dispensing from static retention to controlled dynamic release. By actuating the plunger, the system transitions from holding treats securely to dispensing them at a metered rate through the opening.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

2Duration of action of moving object

If a metering device is added to dispense treats at a metered rate, then the toy provides prolonged engagement, but the device complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvetoy engagement durationVSAvoidtoy structure complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

Duration of action of moving objectVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The metering device is designed to be refilled by the pet itself through the opening. The pet inserts treats into the cavity and actuates the plunger mechanism, allowing self-service refilling without requiring owner intervention or complex external loading mechanisms.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #25Self-service

Solution Approach 2:

The opening serves multiple functions: it allows the metering device to dispense treats, enables the pet to refill treats into the cavity, and provides access for plunger actuation. This multi-functionality reduces the need for separate loading ports and complex mechanisms.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

3Reliability

If the treat cavity is made secure to prevent breakage, then treat retention improves, but the ease of refilling decreases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvetreat retention reliabilityVSAvoidrefilling ease

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

Inventive Principle:

Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

Solution Approach 2:

The treat-retaining cavity is pre-configured with the metering device and plunger mechanism during manufacturing. This preliminary setup ensures that refilling is straightforward - pets simply insert treats through the opening without needing to assemble or configure any components.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

Data Source

PatentUS7600488B2Treat dispensing pet toy and treats therefor

Publication Date: 2009.10.13 RADIO SYST CORP

AI summary

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.