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US 12,746,107 B2Granted
Apparatus and method for animal dental cleaning
AssigneeBarkbox, Inc.
InventorsHenrik Werdelin, Vivien Heo, Melissa Seligmann, Mikkel Jensen
Life of this patent
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Abstract
An edible chew for oral delivery of a substance includes a body portion having a plurality of protrusions and an open channel extending longitudinally along the body portion, the channel configured to receive the substance for oral delivery. The channel includes a channel opening, having two opposed shoulder portions, and a cavity, the channel opening, shoulder portions and cavity being configured to inhibit removal of the substance by the animal without ingestion of the edible chew.
Claims14
An edible chew for oral delivery of a substance, comprising:
- an edible body portion having a plurality of ribs on an exterior of the edible body portion, the plurality of ribs protruding outward from the edible body portion;
- a single open channel extending in a substantially longitudinal direction along an entire length of the edible body portion and into the edible body portion, the single open channel being longitudinally open from a first distal end of the edible chew to a second distal end opposite the first distal end, the single open channel configured to receive the substance for oral delivery, such that the substance, when received, is located within the edible body portion, wherein the substance to be received is a gel or paste;
- and
- wherein the single open channel comprises:
- a channel opening, having two opposed shoulder portions formed as part of one or more ribs of the plurality of ribs and extending in a substantially longitudinal direction in parallel to one another along an entire length of the edible body portion, and a cavity configured to receive the substance, the cavity having a rounded, annular cross-sectional shape,
- wherein the channel opening, the two opposed shoulder portions, and the cavity are all at least partially open to the exterior of the edible body portion,
- wherein the two opposed shoulder portions define a width of the channel opening, the width of the channel opening being less than a width of the cavity such that, the two opposed shoulder portions define a constricted entrance to the cavity that predominantly retains the substance within the cavity while partially shielding the substance from access through the channel opening when the substance is deposited in the cavity, thereby substantially inhibiting removal of the substance by the licking of the animal alone without ingestion or chewing,
- wherein the single open channel extends into the edible body portion between the two opposed shoulder portions, and
- wherein the plurality of ribs has a space between adjacent ribs that does not extend into the edible body portion.
6 more elements
A system for oral delivery of a dental cleaning agent comprising:
- a dental cleaning agent;
- an edible body portion having a plurality of ribs on an exterior of the edible body portion, the plurality of ribs protruding outward from the edible body portion;
- a single open channel extending in a substantially longitudinal direction along an entire length of the edible body portion and into the edible body portion, the single open channel configured to receive the dental cleaning agent such that the dental cleaning agent, when received, is located within the edible body portion, wherein the dental cleaning agent includes at least one of an enzyme containing toothpaste and an enzyme containing tooth gel;
- and
- wherein the single open channel comprises:
- a channel opening, having two opposed shoulder portions formed as part of one or more ribs of the plurality of ribs and extending in a substantially longitudinal direction in parallel to one another along an entire length of the edible body portion, and a cavity, the cavity having a rounded, annular cross-sectional shape,
- wherein the channel opening, the two opposed shoulder portions, and the cavity are at least partially open to the exterior of the edible body portion,
- wherein the two opposed shoulder portions define a width of the channel opening, the width of the channel opening being less than a width of the cavity such that, the two opposed shoulder portions define a constricted entrance to the cavity that predominantly retains the substance within the cavity while partially shielding the substance from access through the channel opening when the substance is deposited in the cavity, thereby substantially inhibiting removal of the substance by the licking of the animal alone without ingestion or chewing,
- wherein the single open channel extends into the edible body portion between two of the plurality of ribs, which also form the two opposed shoulder portions of the single open channel;
- and
- wherein the plurality of ribs has a space between adjacent ribs that does not extend into edible body portion.
8 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.