PET CHEW TOY FOR DENTAL SELF-CLEANING BY DOMESTIC PETS

Abstract

A pet chew toy allowing for the self-cleaning of teeth by domestic pets. The pet toy includes one or more cavities into which a pet's teeth may engage, and the inner and outer surfaces of the cavities may have scrubbing elements designed to enhance removal of plaque and other unhygienic products from a pet's teeth and gums. The chew toy may further include projections to enhance stabilization of the chew toy by the pet, and a reservoir and dispensing system for pet toothpaste or similar additive.

Claims

1. A chew toy for domestic pet dental hygiene comprising: A body comprising: At least one outer surface; At least one inner surface; A first and a second end, Wherein the inner surfaces define at least one cavity that is open on a first side and on the first end of the body; A first plurality of scrubbing elements mounted on the first and second outer surfaces of the body; A second plurality of scrubbing elements mounted on the inner surfaces of the body; Wherein the scrubbing elements are configured to come into contact with a pet's front and back teeth when the pet bites the chew toy.

2. The chew toy of claim 1, further comprising: One or more substantially flat projections from the second end of the body, said projections being perpendicular to the body; Whereby the projections form a stable platform for the chew toy to stand upright on a surface when the second end is placed on the surface.

3. The chew toy of claim 2, further comprising: A portion of the central member defining a reservoir having a first opening at the first end of the body, and a plurality of second openings giving access to the cavity or cavities.

4. The chew toy of claim 1, 2, or 3: Wherein the second plurality of scrubbing elements are substantially smaller and more numerous than the first plurality of projections.

5. The chew toy of claim 1, 2, or 3: Wherein the first plurality of scrubbing elements are substantially smaller and more numerous than the first plurality of projections.

6. The chew toy of claim 1, 2, or 3: Wherein each plurality of scrubbing elements is comprised of more than one configuration of scrubbing element.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0014] These and other features, aspects, and advantages of the present invention will become better understood with reference to the following description, appended claims, and drawings where:

[0015] FIG. 1 shows an embodiment of the invention having a central member with an inner surface defining a cavity, perpendicular stabilizing projections, and a plurality of scrubbing elements on the inner and outer surfaces of the central member.

[0016] FIG. 2 shows a side-view of an embodiment of the invention, showing the multiplicity of scrubbing elements projecting from the inner surfaces defining the cavity, and the outer surfaces of the member.

[0017] FIG. 3 shows an embodiment of the invention wherein the central member has inner surfaces defining two separate cavities.

[0018] FIG. 4 shows a top-down view of the embodiment of FIG. 3, with the positioning for an optional additional reservoir to retain pet toothpaste shown at center.

[0019] FIG. 5 shows a lengthwise cut-away of the central member of the embodiment of FIG. 3, demonstrating the shape and positioning of the additional reservoir, and smaller perpendicular holes for dispensing toothpaste retained in said reservoir.

[0020] FIG. 6 shows a comparison between different possible sizes of an embodiment of the invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0021] In the Summary above and in the Detailed Description, and the claims below, and in the accompanying drawings, reference is made to particular features of the invention. It is to be understood that the disclosure of the invention in this specification includes all possible combinations of such particular features. For example, where a particular feature is disclosed in the context of a particular aspect or embodiment of the invention, or a particular claim, that feature can also be used, to the extent possible, in combination with and/or in the context of other particular aspects and embodiments of the invention, and in the invention generally.

[0022] The term comprises and grammatical equivalents thereof are used herein to mean that other components, ingredients, steps, etc. are optionally present. For example, an article comprising (or which comprises) components A, B, and C can consist of (i.e., contain only) components A, B, and C, or can contain not only components A, B, and C but also one or more other components.

[0023] The term at least followed by a number is used herein to denote the start of a range beginning with that number (which may be a range having an upper limit or no upper limit, depending on the variable being defined). For example, at least 1 means 1 or more than 1. The term at most followed by a number is used herein to denote the end of a range ending with that number (which may be a range having 1 or 0 as its lower limit, or a range having no lower limit, depending upon the variable being defined). For example, at most 4 means 4 or less than 4, and at most 40% means 40% or less than 40%. When, in this specification, a range is given as (a first number) to (a second number) or (a first number)-(a second number), this means a range whose lower limit is the first number and whose upper limit is the second number. For example, 25 to 100 mm means a range whose lower limit is 25 mm, and whose upper limit is 100 mm.

[0024] In one possible embodiment of the invention, as shown in FIG. 1, takes the form of a chew toy having a central member. The chew toy may be made of any suitable material, including by way of non-limiting example any non-toxic plastic. The central member comprises at least one inner surface, defining a cavity having an open end running the length of the central member and an additional open side at the top end of the central member. Said cavity should be of sufficient depth to allow full penetration by the front or back teeth of a domestic pet. The size of the central member, and therefore relative depth of the cavity, may be varied to suit a variety of domestic pet breeds, as shown in FIG. 6. By providing inner and outer surfaces for contact with the teeth and gums of a domestic pet, faster and more complete cleaning action is achieved on the pet's teeth and gums by maximizing the area of contact and friction between the central member and the pet's teeth and gums. In addition, further cleaning action is achieved by the simultaneous contact of the surfaces of the member with the forward and inner teeth of the pet.

[0025] As shown in FIG. 2, the outer surface of the central body may have affixed to it a plurality of scrubbing elements. As also show in FIG. 2, the inner surface defining the cavity may also have affixed to it an additional plurality of scrubbing elements.

[0026] The scrubbing elements affixed to the outer and inner surfaces may vary in size and shape. By way of example, they could take the form of bristles, pyramids, cones, rectangles, or any of a variety of other desirable configurations. The scrubbing elements affixed to the outer surface of the central member might, in one possible embodiment, be of a different shape or size than the scrubbing elements affixed to the inner surface, as shown in FIG. 2. Similarly, the size and shape of the scrubbing elements affixed to the inner surface might be the same as those affixed to the outer surface of the central member. This allows the scrubbing elements to be adapted to the differential spacing, tooth shape, and mouth size of a variety of domestic pets.

[0027] A further aspect of the present invention is shown in FIG. 1, comprising the substantially flat perpendicular projections. Although the embodiment shown in FIG. 1 has the projections take the form of two flanges or separate extensions, one of skill in the art will understand that the projection or projections can take a variety of shapes and sizes. Non-limiting examples might be a singular projection forming a circular base to the central member, or a multiplicity of flanges allowing a pet to grip the projections from a variety of angles. These projections allow a pet to fully stabilize the chew toy upright using their natural gripping action with the front paws.

[0028] In contrast to the rough or knobbed ends of natural bones or typical pet chew toys, here the domestic pet can fully pin down and stabilize the central member of the chew toy such that it is fully upright and immobile. This allows for a much strong grip on the central body by the mouth of the domestic pet, increasing the friction between the surface of the chew toy and the pet's teeth. This allows for superior cleaning and removal of plaque, leftover food, and other detrimental material from the mouth of the pet.

[0029] Yet a further aspect of the present invention is shown in FIG. 4, showing one possible embodiment of the central reservoir for toothpaste or other substances suitable for dispensing. Here, the opening allows for input of a pet toothpaste or other appropriate substance into the reservoir, which is dispensed through perpendicular holes to the main cavity or cavities of the chew toy. Although in this particular embodiment the reservoir takes a cylindrical form, other embodiments might include one or more reservoirs of different shapes or locations.

[0030] Another possible embodiment of the present invention is shown in FIG. 3. Here, the central member comprises two inner surfaces, each defining separate cavities similar to the single cavity shown in FIG. 1. By providing a second cavity, a domestic pet can simultaneously engage not just the forward and rear of the pet's teeth and gums simultaneously, but on the top and bottom of the pet's mouth as well.