Animal toy
AssigneeBounce, Inc.
InventorJoseph P. Markham
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
An animal toy includes a plurality of irregular outer features to hold one or more animal treats which are placed within the irregular outer features. The features may be of varying sizes, shapes, and combinations so that treats are held at varying depths therein. The animal toy may have a hollow core to further receive animal treats, or to receive a buoyant material allowing the animal toy to float. The treats may be held in the irregular outer features by friction or adhesion. The irregular outer features further serve to increase contact with the animal's mouth thereby also increasing the cleaning action of the animal toy with respect to the animal's teeth and gums. The animal toy can be made of a desired resilient flexible material which enhances dental cleaning.
Claims46
An animal toy comprising:
- a body member having an outer surface, and an inner surface defining a hollow core;
- and
- a plurality of features formed on said outer surface, said plurality of features comprising a plurality of channels having irregular curved shapes and varying lengths and widths, said plurality of channels extending inwardly from said outer surface toward said hollow core, said plurality of features extending along said outer surface in a non-uniform irregular pattern wherein at least some of said channels are interconnected along said outer surface, said plurality of features further comprising at least one recess extending at least partially through said outer surface of said body member and axially toward said hollow core.
An animal toy comprising:
- a body member having an outer surface, and an inner surface defining a hollow core;
- and
- a plurality of features formed on said outer surface, said plurality of features comprising a plurality of protrusions extending away from said hollow core, said protrusions being delimited by a plurality of channels formed on said outer surface, said channels having irregular curved shapes and varying lengths and widths, at least some of said channels being interconnected along said outer surface, said plurality of features further including at least one recess extending at least partially through said outer surface and axially toward said hollow core.
An animal toy comprising:
- a body member having an outer surface and a center;
- and
- a plurality of features formed on said outer surface, said plurality of features comprising a plurality of channels having irregular curved shapes and varying lengths and widths, said plurality of channels extending inwardly toward said center of said body member, and said plurality of features extending along said outer surface in a non-uniform irregular pattern wherein at least some of said channels are interconnected along said outer surface.
An animal toy comprising:
- a body member having a substantially planar shape, and first and second sides;
- and
- a plurality of irregular features formed on said first and second sides, said plurality of irregular features comprising a plurality of channels, each of said plurality of channels extending at least partially through said body member, said plurality of irregular features further comprising at least one recess extending at least partially through said body member.
An animal toy having an outer surface, the improvement comprising:
- a plurality of interconnecting and curved shaped channels formed on said outer surface, said channels further having varying widths and lengths and at least some of said channels being interconnected along said outer surface;
- at least one island and/or peninsula formed on said outer surface and defined in shape by at least one channel of said plurality of interconnecting channels which at least partially surrounds said at least one island and/or peninsula;
- and
- a plurality of grooves formed on said at least one island and/or peninsula, said plurality of grooves having corresponding widths which are less than said widths of said channels.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.