# US 2017/0280683 A1 · Toys for pets, and methods for making and using toys for pets

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- Number: US 2017/0280683 A1
- Document ID: US20170280683A1
- Status: Published application
- Kind: A1
- Application number: 15/626,805
- Filed: 2017-06-19
- Published: 2017-10-05
- Earliest claimed: 2014-04-09
- Inventors: Louis Spinelli
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US20170280683A1

## CPC

- A01K 15/025: {Toys specially adapted for animals}
- A01K 15/0201: {Treat dispensers}
- A01K 15/026: {Chewable toys, e.g. for dental care of pets}
- A01K: ANIMAL HUSBANDRY; AVICULTURE; APICULTURE; PISCICULTURE; FISHING; REARING OR BREEDING ANIMALS, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR; NEW BREEDS OF ANIMALS

## Abstract

A toy for a pet generally includes a housing defining an opening, and an insert configured to fit at least partly within the opening of the housing. The insert is expandable from a first configuration in which the insert is capable of freely moving into and/or out of the opening of the housing to a second configuration in which the insert is inhibited from moving out of the opening of the housing. In some aspects, the insert is configured to substantially fill the opening of the housing when in the second configuration. In some aspect, the housing may have multiple openings, each capable of receiving an insert. And, in some aspects, the insert is expandable from the first configuration to the second configuration by heating the insert or exposing the insert to microwave energy.

## Claims

### Claim 1

A pet toy, comprising:
a housing defining an opening; and
an insert configured to fit at least partly within the opening of the housing, and then be expanded to substantially fill the opening.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

The pet toy of claim 1, wherein the opening includes an opening extending through the housing.

### Claim 3 (depends on 1)

The pet toy of claim 1, wherein the opening is a first opening and the insert is a first insert, the housing further defining a second opening, and the pet toy further comprising a second insert configured to fit at least partly within the second opening of the housing.

### Claim 4 (depends on 1)

The pet toy of claim 1, wherein the opening includes an interior region that defines a non-uniform shape.

### Claim 5 (depends on 1)

The pet toy of claim 1, wherein the housing is constructed from synthetic material and the insert is constructed from an edible material.

### Claim 6 (depends on 5)

The pet toy of claim 5, wherein the housing defines a generally cylinder shape.

### Claim 7 (depends on 6)

The pet toy of claim 6, wherein the insert defines a generally rod shape.

### Claim 8

A method for making a pet toy, the method comprising expanding an insert within a housing of the pet toy, so that the insert is inhibited from moving out of the housing.

### Claim 9 (depends on 8)

The method of claim 8, wherein expanding the insert includes heating the insert or exposing the insert to microwave energy.

### Claim 10 (depends on 8)

The method of claim 8, wherein expanding the insert includes expanding the insert within an opening of the housing, so that the insert substantially fills the opening of the housing.

### Claim 11 (depends on 10)

The method of claim 10, further comprising positioning the insert at least partly within the opening of the housing, and then expanding the insert within the opening of the housing.

### Claim 12 (depends on 10)

The method of claim 10, wherein the opening extends completely through the housing.

### Claim 13 (depends on 10)

The method of claim 10, wherein the insert is a first insert and the opening of the housing is a first opening, and wherein the housing further includes a second opening; the method further comprising expanding the second insert within the second opening of the housing, so that the second insert substantially fills the second opening of the housing.

### Claim 14 (depends on 10)

The method of claim 10, wherein the opening includes an interior region that defines a non-uniform shape.

### Claim 15 (depends on 8)

The method of claim 8, wherein the insert is constructed from an edible material.

### Claim 16

A pet toy, comprising:
a housing defining at least one opening; and
an insert configured to fit at least partly within the at least one opening of the housing, wherein the insert is expandable, when heated or when exposed to microwave energy, from a first configuration in which the insert is capable of freely moving into and/or out of the at least one opening of the housing to a second configuration in which the insert is inhibited from moving out of the at least one opening.

### Claim 17 (depends on 16)

The pet toy of claim 16, wherein the insert has a cross-sectional area that is about 75% or less of a corresponding cross-sectional area of the at least one opening of the housing.

### Claim 18 (depends on 16)

The pet toy of claim 16, wherein the insert has a cross-sectional area that is about 50% or less of a corresponding cross-sectional area of the at least one opening of the housing.

### Claim 19 (depends on 16)

The pet toy of claim 16, wherein the at least one opening includes multiple openings.

### Claim 20 (depends on 16)

The pet toy of claim 16, wherein the housing is constructed from synthetic material and the insert is constructed from an edible material.