Therapeutic pet toy
AssigneeBounce, Inc.
InventorsJoseph P. Markham, Peter Emily
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
Disclosed is a dental hygienic pet toy for dental prophylaxis on the teeth of a dog or other carnivore as the toy is chewed by the carnivore. The toy includes an elastomeric body having an outer surface and at least one groove which opens onto the outer surface. The groove is sized and configured so that a functional prophylaxis lip will scrape plaque and other debris from a tooth and gingiva of a carnivore which is repeatedly inserted into and at least partially withdrawn from the groove as the toy is chewed by the carnivore. An oral hygiene substance may be provided along the lip to enhance the benefit to the teeth and gingiva.
Claims21
A dental hygienic play toy for performing dental prophylaxis on the teeth of a carnivore as said toy is chewed by the carnivore, said toy comprising:
- an elastomeric elongated body having a longitudinal axis extending in the direction of said body's elongation, said body;
- defining an outer surface, a plurality of grooves extending circumferentially about said body and said longitudinal axis;
- formed in;
- said outer surface and having spaced sides, and a functional prophylaxis lip located between at least one of said sides of each groove and said toy's associated adjacent outer surface, said lip partially projecting over opening of the each groove and being sized and configured to scrape a tooth as it is inserted into and partially withdrawn from groove each as the carnivore chews said toy.
A dental hygienic play toy for performing dental prophylaxis on the teeth of a dog or other carnivore as said toy is chewed by the carnivore, said toy comprising:
- an elastomeric elongated body of predetermined hardness, said body having an inner surface, an outer surface and a longitudinal axis;
- a plurality of grooves extending circumferentially about said body and said axis and formed in;
- said outer surface and having spaced sides, each said groove being sized and configured to scrape plaque and other debris from a tooth of a carnivore which is repeatedly inserted into the groove and at least partially withdrawn therefrom as the carnivore chews the toy said inner surface defining an inner hollow core lying along said axis which core enhances tooth scraping when a carnivore bites down upon the toy with a tooth located in one of said grooves by providing said toy body with the capability of resiliently bowing into the hollow core which, in turn, facilitates elongation of said groove thereby causing opposing sides of said groove to move inwardly towards each other, said groove sides thereby engaging a carnivore's tooth located in said groove to scrape the tooth's side and neck and the carnivore's gingiva surrounding the tooth's neck as the carnivore chews the toy, said body having a hardness which facilitate bowing of the body into the hollow core and elongation of said groove and a functional prophylaxis lip located between at least one of said groove sides and said toy's associated adjacent outer surface, said lip partially projecting over the opening of said groove and being sized and configured to scrape a tooth as it is inserted into and partially withdrawn from said groove as the carnivore chews said toy.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.