# US 10,765,089 B2 · Modular dog toy > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 10,765,089 B2 - Document ID: US10765089B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 16/072,608 - Filed: 2017-02-10 - Published: 2019-01-03 - Granted: 2020-09-08 - Earliest claimed: 2016-02-10 - Applicants: James McIlvenna - Inventors: James McIlvenna - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US10765089B2 ## CPC - A01K 15/026: {Chewable toys, e.g. for dental care of pets} - A01K 5/0114: {Pet food dispensers; Pet food trays (time-controlled A01K5/0291)} - A01K 15/025: {Toys specially adapted for animals} - A44B 17/0023: {Press-button fasteners in which the elastic retaining action is obtained by the own elasticity of the material constituting the fastener} - A44B 17/0029: {Press-button fasteners made of plastics} - A44B 17/0041: {Press-button fasteners consisting of two parts (A44B17/0029 takes precedence)} - A44B 17/007: {Stud-member} - A01K: ANIMAL HUSBANDRY; AVICULTURE; APICULTURE; PISCICULTURE; FISHING; REARING OR BREEDING ANIMALS, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR; NEW BREEDS OF ANIMALS - A44B: BUTTONS, PINS, BUCKLES, SLIDE FASTENERS, OR THE LIKE (fastenings specially adapted for footwear A43C) ## Abstract This invention relates to a modular dog toy comprising three disparately sized and shaped components, each having a hollow cavity for the reception of foodstuffs. The components each comprise a male connector and a female connector. One of the components has at least one additional connector about its surface. These three disparate components may be connected in a variety of different configurations to modify the difficulty of obtaining the food for the dog. This allows the modular dog toy to be tailored to suit the requirements and physical abilities of the dog. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A modular dog toy comprising three disparately sized and shaped components, each of these three components having a male connector and a female connector spaced apart about their surface for engagement of one of the other components, wherein the male connector comprises a plurality of collars surrounding the connector spaced apart from each other, the female connector comprises a plurality of inwardly depending flanges spaced apart from each other, and at least one of the plurality of collars and the plurality of inwardly depending flanges are saw-tooth shaped; and an internal cavity for reception of a foodstuff and a charging aperture in communication with the internal cavity for providing access to the cavity, wherein the female connector of at least a first of said three components opens into the internal cavity of the first component such that when the female connector is disconnected from the male connector of one of the other components, access to the internal cavity of the first component is provided therefrom, and wherein the three components comprise a main component and a pair of auxiliary components, the main component having at least one additional connector spaced apart from the other connectors about its surface. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) A modular dog toy as claimed in claim 1 in which both of the plurality of collars and the plurality of inwardly depending flanges are saw-tooth shaped. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) A modular dog toy as claimed in claim 1 in which one of the auxiliary components is substantially spherically shaped and has a diameter of between 0.065 m and 0.070 m. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) A modular dog toy as claimed in claim 1 in which the substantially spherically shaped component has a diameter of the order of 0.067 m. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) A modular dog toy as claimed in claim 1 in which the substantially spherically shaped auxiliary component has at least one recess formed in its surface. ### Claim 6 (depends on 5) A modular dog toy as claimed in claim 5 in which the recess defines an upstanding boss having dimensions smaller than the male connector. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) A modular dog toy as claimed in claim 1 in which the main component is substantially spherically shaped and is of the order of twice the diameter of either of the auxiliary components. ### Claim 8 (depends on 7) A modular dog toy as claimed in claim 7 in which the main component has a detachable lid for insertion into the charging aperture, the detachable lid having a discharge aperture formed therein. ### Claim 9 (depends on 7) A modular dog toy as claimed in claim 7 in which the additional connector is orthogonal to at least one of the other connectors. ### Claim 10 (depends on 1) A modular dog toy as claimed in claim 1 in which the main component is elongate and substantially cylindrical in shape, having a male connector at each end, and in which a pair of female connectors are located back to back intermediate the ends of the component. ### Claim 11 (depends on 10) A modular dog toy as claimed in claim 10 in which the main component comprises at least one aperture intermediate the ends. ### Claim 12 (depends on 11) A modular dog toy as claimed in claim 11 in which the aperture comprises a through-bore. ### Claim 13 (depends on 1) A modular dog toy as claimed in claim 1 in which one of the auxiliary components is substantially frustoconical in shape. ### Claim 14 (depends on 13) A modular dog toy as claimed in claim 13 in which the frustoconically shaped auxiliary component has a ribbed surface. ### Claim 15 (depends on 13) A modular dog toy as claimed in claim 13 in which the base of the frustoconically shaped component comprises the female connector and the apex of the frustoconically shaped component comprises the male connector. ### Claim 16 (depends on 1) A modular dog toy as claimed in claim 1 in which one of the auxiliary components is bulb-shaped having a substantially spherical portion. ### Claim 17 (depends on 1) A modular dog toy as claimed in claim 1 in which the modular dog toy is constructed from one of a thermoplastic elastomer and a thermoplastic rubber. ### Claim 18 (depends on 1) A modular dog toy as claimed in claim 1 in which the modular dog toy has a shore A hardness of between 60 and 75. ### Claim 19 (depends on 1) A modular dog toy as claimed in claim 1 in which the modular dog toy has a shore A hardness of 70.