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US-12622416-B1 - Modular treat dispensing pet toy

US12622416B1US 12622416 B1US12622416 B1US 12622416B1US-12622416-B1

Abstract

A modular treat dispensing system for dispensing treats and/or food to a pet, the treat dispensing system having a first structural piece in the shape of a first hemisphere or a first partial Platonic solid; a second structural piece in the shape of a second hemisphere or a second partial Platonic solid; a first exit port hole; and a second exit port hole, wherein the first structural piece is a structure that is separate from the second structural piece, the first exit port hole is located on the first structural piece, and the second exit port hole is located on the second structural piece.

Inventors

  • Aslan Ettehadieh

Assignees

  • Aslan Ettehadieh

Dates

Publication Date
20260512
Application Date
20210226

Claims (18)

  1. 1 . A treat dispensing system for dispensing treats and/or food to a pet, the treat dispensing system comprising: a treat dispensing apparatus, wherein the treat dispensing apparatus includes: a first tube, a first tube end, a second tube, a second tube end, a third tube, a third tube end, a fourth tube, a fourth tube end, a fifth tube, a fifth tube end, a center portion, and at least one exit hole for allowing a treat to pass through said at least one exit hole, wherein the center portion is connected to the first tube, the center portion is connected to the second tube, the center portion is connected to the third tube, the center portion is connected to the fourth tube, the center portion is connected to the fifth tube, the center portion is located between the first tube, the second tube, the third tube, the fourth tube and the fifth tube, the first tube is a different tube than the second tube, the first tube is a different tube than the third tube, the first tube is a different tube than the fourth tube, the second tube is a different tube than the third tube, the second tube is a different tube than the fourth tube, the third tube is a different tube than the fourth tube, the fifth tube is a different tube than the first tube, the fifth tube is a different tube than the second tube, the fifth tube is a different tube than the third tube, the fifth tube is a different tube than the fourth tube, the first tube end is a different end than the second tube end, the first tube end is a different end than the third tube end, the first tube end is a different end than the fourth tube end, the second tube end is a different end than the third tube end, the second tube end is a different end than the fourth tube end, the third tube end is a different end than the fourth tube end, the fifth tube end is a different tube end than the first tube end, the fifth tube end is a different tube end than the second tube end, the fifth tube end is a different tube end than the third tube end, the fifth tube end is a different tube end than the fourth tube end, the first tube extends or projects in a first direction from the center portion to the first tube end, the second tube extends or projects in a second direction from the center portion to the second tube end, the third tube extends or projects in a third direction from the center portion to the third tube end, the fourth tube extends or projects in a fourth direction from the center portion to the fourth tube end, the fifth tube extends or projects in a fifth direction from the center portion to the fifth tube end, the first direction is a different direction than the second direction, the first direction is a different direction than the third direction, the first direction is a different direction than the fourth direction, the second direction is a different direction than the third direction, the second direction is a different direction than the fourth direction, the third direction is a different direction than the fourth direction, the fifth direction is a different direction than the first direction, the fifth direction is a different direction than the second direction, the fifth direction is a different direction than the third direction, the fifth direction is a different direction than the fourth direction, the first tube is hollow from the center portion to the first tube end, the second tube is hollow from the center portion to the second tube end, the third tube is hollow from the center portion to the third tube end, the fourth tube is hollow from the center portion to the fourth tube end, the fifth tube is hollow from the center portion to the fifth tube end, the center portion is hollow, said at least one exit hole is located at the center portion, the first tube end is open to an ambient external environment, the second tube end is open to an ambient external environment, the third tube end is open to an ambient external environment, the fourth tube end is open to an ambient external environment, the fifth tube end is open to an ambient external environment; and a container configured to encapsulate the treat dispensing apparatus, wherein the container includes: a first structural piece, a second structural piece, and a first exit port hole located on the first structural piece, wherein the first structural piece and the second structural piece are configured to encapsulate the treat dispensing apparatus, and wherein the container further includes: a second exit port hole, wherein the first structural piece is a structure that is separate from the second structural piece, the first structural piece is a structure that is separate from the treat dispensing apparatus, the second structural piece is a structure that is separate from the treat dispensing apparatus, the second exit port hole is located on the second structural piece, the first exit port hole aligns with the first tube end creating an opening in the case that the container encapsulates the treat dispensing apparatus, and the second exit port hole aligns with one of the second tube end, the third tube end, the fourth tube end or the fifth tube end creating an opening in the case that the container encapsulates the treat dispensing apparatus, and wherein the first structural piece includes a first set of notches or grooves, and the second structural piece includes a second set of notches or grooves.
  2. 2 . The treat dispensing system according to claim 1 , wherein the treat dispensing apparatus further including: a sixth tube, and a sixth tube end, wherein the center portion is connected to the sixth tube, the center portion is located between the first tube, the second tube, the third tube, the fourth tube, the fifth tube and the sixth tube, the sixth tube is a different tube than the first tube, the sixth tube is a different tube than the second tube, the sixth tube is a different tube than the third tube, the sixth tube is a different tube than the fourth tube, the sixth tube is a different tube than the fifth tube, the sixth tube end is a different tube end than the first tube end, the sixth tube end is a different tube end than the second tube end, the sixth tube end is a different tube end than the third tube end, the sixth tube end is a different tube end than the fourth tube end, the sixth tube end is a different tube end than the fifth tube end, the sixth tube extends or projects in a sixth direction from the center portion to the sixth tube end, the sixth direction is a different direction than the first direction, the sixth direction is a different direction than the second direction, the sixth direction is a different direction than the third direction, the sixth direction is a different direction than the fourth direction, the sixth direction is a different direction than the fifth direction, the sixth tube is hollow from the center portion to the sixth tube end, and the sixth tube end is open to an ambient external environment.
  3. 3 . The treat dispensing system according to claim 1 , further comprising: one or more first protrusions; and one or more second protrusions, wherein said one or more first protrusions is/are affixed to the inside of the first structural piece, said one or more second protrusions is/are affixed to the inside of the second structural piece, said one or more first protrusions extend or protrude from the inside surface of the first structural piece towards and extend or protrude away from the inside surface of the first structural piece, and said one or more second protrusions extend or protrude from the inside surface of the second structural piece towards and extend or protrude away from the inside surface of the second structural piece.
  4. 4 . The treat dispensing system according to claim 1 , further comprising: a first closing and/or sealing member configured to close and/or seal the first tube end, and a second closing and/or sealing member configured to close and/or seal one of the second tube end, the third tube end, the fourth tube end or the fifth tube end.
  5. 5 . A treat dispensing system for dispensing treats and/or food to a pet, the treat dispensing system comprising: a treat dispensing apparatus, wherein the treat dispensing apparatus includes: a first tube, a first tube end, a second tube, a second tube end, a third tube, a third tube end, a fourth tube, a fourth tube end, a fifth tube, a fifth tube end, a center portion, and at least one exit hole for allowing a treat to pass through said at least one exit hole, wherein the center portion is connected to the first tube, the center portion is connected to the second tube, the center portion is connected to the third tube, the center portion is connected to the fourth tube, the center portion is connected to the fifth tube, the center portion is located between the first tube, the second tube, the third tube, the fourth tube, and the fifth tube, the first tube is a different tube than the second tube, the first tube is a different tube than the third tube, the first tube is a different tube than the fourth tube, the second tube is a different tube than the third tube, the second tube is a different tube than the fourth tube, the third tube is a different tube than the fourth tube, the fifth tube is a different tube than the first tube, the fifth tube is a different tube than the second tube, the fifth tube is a different tube than the third tube, the fifth tube is a different tube than the fourth tube, the first tube end is a different end than the second tube end, the first tube end is a different end than the third tube end, the first tube end is a different end than the fourth tube end, the second tube end is a different end than the third tube end, the second tube end is a different end than the fourth tube end, the third tube end is a different end than the fourth tube end, the fifth tube end is a different tube end than the first tube end, the fifth tube end is a different tube end than the second tube end, the fifth tube end is a different tube end than the third tube end, the fifth tube end is a different tube end than the fourth tube end, the first tube extends or projects in a first direction from the center portion to the first tube end, the second tube extends or projects in a second direction from the center portion to the second tube end, the third tube extends or projects in a third direction from the center portion to the third tube end, the fourth tube extends or projects in a fourth direction from the center portion to the fourth tube end, the fifth tube extends or projects in a fifth direction from the center portion to the fifth tube end, the first direction is a different direction than the second direction, the first direction is a different direction than the third direction, the first direction is a different direction than the fourth direction, the second direction is a different direction than the third direction, the second direction is a different direction than the fourth direction, the third direction is a different direction than the fourth direction, the fifth direction is a different direction than the first direction, the fifth direction is a different direction than the second direction, the fifth direction is a different direction than the third direction, the fifth direction is a different direction than the fourth direction, the first tube is hollow from the center portion to the first tube end, the second tube is hollow from the center portion to the second tube end, the third tube is hollow from the center portion to the third tube end, the fourth tube is hollow from the center portion to the fourth tube end, the fifth tube is hollow from the center portion to the fifth tube end, the center portion is hollow, said at least one exit hole is located at the center portion, the first tube end is open to an ambient external environment, the second tube end is open to an ambient external environment, the third tube end is open to an ambient external environment, the fourth tube end is open to an ambient external environment, the fifth tube end is open to an ambient external environment; and a first structural piece in the shape of a first hemisphere or a first partial Platonic solid; a second structural piece in the shape of a second hemisphere or a second partial Platonic solid; a first exit port hole; and a second exit port hole, wherein the first structural piece is a structure that is separate from the second structural piece, the first exit port hole is located on the first structural piece, the second exit port hole is located on the second structural piece, the first structural piece is a structure that is separate from the treat dispensing apparatus, the second structural piece is a structure that is separate from the treat dispensing apparatus, the first exit port hole aligns with the first tube end creating an opening in the case that the container encapsulates the treat dispensing apparatus, the second exit port hole aligns with one of the second tube end, the third tube end, the fourth tube end or the fifth tube end creating an opening in the case that the container encapsulates the treat dispensing apparatus, the first structural piece includes a first set of notches or grooves, and the second structural piece includes a second set of notches or grooves.
  6. 6 . The treat dispensing system according to claim 5 , further comprising: one or more first protrusions; and one or more second protrusions, wherein said one or more first protrusions is/are affixed to the inside of the first structural piece, said one or more second protrusions is/are affixed to the inside of the second structural piece, said one or more first protrusions extend or protrude from the inside surface of the first structural piece towards and extend or protrude away from the inside surface of the first structural piece, and said one or more second protrusions extend or protrude from the inside surface of the second structural piece towards and extend or protrude away from the inside surface of the second structural piece.
  7. 7 . The treat dispensing system according to claim 5 , further comprising: a first closing and/or sealing member configured to close and/or seal one of the first tube end, the second tube end, the third tube end, the fourth tube end or the fifth tube end; and a second closing and/or sealing member configured to close and/or seal another of the first tube end, the second tube end, the third tube end, the fourth tube end or the fifth tube end.
  8. 8 . A treat dispensing system for dispensing treats and/or food to a pet, the treat dispensing system comprising: a treat dispensing apparatus, wherein the treat dispensing apparatus includes: a first tube, a first tube end, a second tube, a second tube end, a third tube, a third tube end, a fourth tube, a fourth tube end, a fifth tube, a fifth tube end, a center portion, and at least one exit hole for allowing a treat to pass through said at least one exit hole, wherein the center portion is connected to the first tube, the center portion is connected to the second tube, the center portion is connected to the third tube, the center portion is connected to the fourth tube, the center portion is connected to the fifth tube, the center portion is located between the first tube, the second tube, the third tube, the fourth tube, and the fifth tube, the first tube is a different tube than the second tube, the first tube is a different tube than the third tube, the first tube is a different tube than the fourth tube, the second tube is a different tube than the third tube, the second tube is a different tube than the fourth tube, the third tube is a different tube than the fourth tube, the fifth tube is a different tube than the first tube, the fifth tube is a different tube than the second tube, the fifth tube is a different tube than the third tube, the fifth tube is a different tube than the fourth tube, the first tube end is a different end than the second tube end, the first tube end is a different end than the third tube end, the first tube end is a different end than the fourth tube end, the second tube end is a different end than the third tube end, the second tube end is a different end than the fourth tube end, the third tube end is a different end than the fourth tube end, the fifth tube end is a different tube end than the first tube end, the fifth tube end is a different tube end than the second tube end, the fifth tube end is a different tube end than the third tube end, the fifth tube end is a different tube end than the fourth tube end, the first tube extends or projects in a first direction from the center portion to the first tube end, the second tube extends or projects in a second direction from the center portion to the second tube end, the third tube extends or projects in a third direction from the center portion to the third tube end, the fourth tube extends or projects in a fourth direction from the center portion to the fourth tube end, the fifth tube extends or projects in a fifth direction from the center portion to the fifth tube end, the first direction is a different direction than the second direction, the first direction is a different direction than the third direction, the first direction is a different direction than the fourth direction, the second direction is a different direction than the third direction, the second direction is a different direction than the fourth direction, the third direction is a different direction than the fourth direction, the fifth direction is a different direction than the first direction, the fifth direction is a different direction than the second direction, the fifth direction is a different direction than the third direction, the fifth direction is a different direction than the fourth direction, the first tube is hollow from the center portion to the first tube end, the second tube is hollow from the center portion to the second tube end, the third tube is hollow from the center portion to the third tube end, the fourth tube is hollow from the center portion to the fourth tube end, the fifth tube is hollow from the center portion to the fifth tube end, the center portion is hollow, said at least one exit hole is located at the center portion, the first tube end is open to an ambient external environment, the second tube end is open to an ambient external environment, the third tube end is open to an ambient external environment, the fourth tube end is open to an ambient external environment, the fifth tube end is open to an ambient external environment; and a container configured to encapsulate the treat dispensing apparatus, wherein the container includes: a first structural piece, a second structural piece, and a first exit port hole located on the first structural piece, a second exit port hole located on the second structural piece, wherein the first structural piece and the second structural piece are configured to encapsulate the treat dispensing apparatus, wherein the first structural piece is a structure that is separate from the second structural piece, the first structural piece is a structure that is separate from the treat dispensing apparatus, the second structural piece is a structure that is separate from the treat dispensing apparatus, the second exit port hole is located on the second structural piece, the first exit port hole aligns with the first tube end creating an opening in the case that the container encapsulates the treat dispensing apparatus, and the second exit port hole aligns with one of the second tube end, the third tube end, the fourth tube end or the fifth tube end creating an opening in the case that the container encapsulates the treat dispensing apparatus, the first structural piece includes a first set of three notches, the second structural piece includes a second set of three notches, and the first set of three notches and the second set of three notches are configured to create a third exit port hole, a fourth exit port hole and a fifth exit port hole in the case where the first structural piece is engaged with the second structural piece to encapsulate the treat dispensing apparatus.
  9. 9 . The treat dispensing system according to claim 8 , further comprising: a first closing and/or sealing member configured to close and/or seal one of the first tube end, the second tube end, the third tube end, the fourth tube end or the fifth tube end; and a second closing and/or sealing member configured to close and/or seal another of the first tube end, the second tube end, the third tube end, the fourth tube end or the fifth tube end.
  10. 10 . The treat dispensing system according to claim 1 , wherein the first exit port hole and the second exit port hole are configured for dispensing the treats and/or food to the pet, each of the first exit port hole and the second exit port hole has a respective hole size that is larger than the treats for dispensing.
  11. 11 . The treat dispensing system according to claim 5 , wherein the first exit port hole and the second exit port hole are configured for dispensing the treats and/or food to the pet, each of the first exit port hole and the second exit port hole has a respective hole size that is larger than the treats for dispensing.
  12. 12 . The treat dispensing system according to claim 8 , wherein the first exit port hole, the second exit port hole, the third exit port hole, the fourth exit port hole, and the fifth exit port hole are configured for dispensing the treats and/or food to the pet, each of the first exit port hole, the second exit port hole, the third exit port hole, the fourth exit port hole, and the fifth exit port hole has a respective hole size that is larger than the treats for dispensing.
  13. 13 . The treat dispensing system according to claim 1 , wherein the first tube and the second tube extend or project substantially along a first plane, the first tube and the third tube extend or project substantially along a second plane, and the first plane is a different plane than the second plane.
  14. 14 . The treat dispensing system according to claim 13 , wherein the first tube and the fourth tube extend or project substantially along a third plane, the second tube and the third tube extend or project substantially along a fourth plane, the second tube and the fourth tube extend or project substantially along a fifth plane, the third tube and the fourth tube extend or project substantially along a sixth plane, the first plane is a different plane than the third plane, the first plane is a different plane than the fourth plane, the second plane is a different plane than the third plane, the second plane is a different plane than the fourth plane, and the third plane is a different plane than the fourth plane.
  15. 15 . The treat dispensing system according to claim 5 , wherein the first tube and the second tube extend or project substantially along a first plane, the first tube and the third tube extend or project substantially along a second plane, and the first plane is a different plane than the second plane.
  16. 16 . The treat dispensing system according to claim 15 , wherein the first tube and the fourth tube extend or project substantially along a third plane, the second tube and the third tube extend or project substantially along a fourth plane, the second tube and the fourth tube extend or project substantially along a fifth plane, the third tube and the fourth tube extend or project substantially along a sixth plane, the first plane is a different plane than the third plane, the first plane is a different plane than the fourth plane, the second plane is a different plane than the third plane, the second plane is a different plane than the fourth plane, and the third plane is a different plane than the fourth plane.
  17. 17 . The treat dispensing system according to claim 8 , wherein the first tube and the second tube extend or project substantially along a first plane, the first tube and the third tube extend or project substantially along a second plane, and the first plane is a different plane than the second plane.
  18. 18 . The treat dispensing system according to claim 17 , wherein the first tube and the fourth tube extend or project substantially along a third plane, the second tube and the third tube extend or project substantially along a fourth plane, the second tube and the fourth tube extend or project substantially along a fifth plane, the third tube and the fourth tube extend or project substantially along a sixth plane, the first plane is a different plane than the third plane, the first plane is a different plane than the fourth plane, the second plane is a different plane than the third plane, the second plane is a different plane than the fourth plane, and the third plane is a different plane than the fourth plane.

Description

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS This application claims priority to and is a Divisional of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 16/868,450 filed on May 6, 2020, the entire contents of which are hereby incorporated by reference in its entirety. FIELD OF THE INVENTION The present disclosure generally relates to a treat dispending toy and/or an interactive food dispensing apparatus. More specifically, the present disclosure generally relates to an apparatus/product having a structure that is capable of dispensing food and/or treats for pets by bouncing, rolling, being thrown, etc. For example, the structure may have a plurality of hollow tubular extending arms that connect to each other via a hollow center portion whereby the center portion has at least an exit hole, wherein at least one of the tube ends is completely open so that treats can be filled into the apparatus and a cover and/or cap may be used to seal the tube end and wherein the treat is to pass through the center portion into the tubes and exit out the exit hole. This toy helps slow down a pet's eating, increase caloric burn per food consumed, etc. In addition, this toy is especially beneficial for a pet that does not have the ability to go out and play (due to e.g., limited outdoor (unleased) resources, limited space, physically disabilities (hip/joint pain), etc.), etc. Accordingly, this toy has been designed to provide pets (and their owners) so many benefits for the pet's interactive play and eating. BACKGROUND In nature, animals hunt or scavenge for food resources. These activities take up a lot of their time and involve great physical exertion such as roaming large areas, chasing and digging; problem-solving; use of their senses of hearing, taste and smell; and social coordination. In our homes, food is provided to our pets in a bowl or even a slow feeder. This type of eating goes against the fundamental nature of animals by removing a major source of stimulation and activity in their lives. Furthermore, this encourages overeating as our pets as they do not tend to stop eating when they are full. While slow feeders might slightly increase the time it takes for eating a meal, there is still a need for increase exercise, increase play, increased stimulation, etc. One possible fun and/or humane method to increase exercise and/or increase stimulation and/or reduce the amount of food our animal companions eat is to make eating more challenging by placing dry dog food in a toy which will slowly dispense the dog food that requires being shaken or upended. The pet must then work to get the food out of the toy. This slows down the eating so that the mealtime lasts longer, and the pet eats less. It also challenges the pet mentally and physically. However, there are only a few options in treat dispensing toys for our animal companions. And, these few options are not well thought out to provide better interaction, more fun, etc. SUMMARY This Summary introduces a selection of concepts in a simplified form in order to provide a basic understanding of some aspects of the present disclosure. This Summary is not an extensive overview of the disclosure, and is not intended to identify key or critical elements of the disclosure or to delineate the scope of the disclosure. This Summary merely presents some of the concepts of the disclosure as a prelude to the Detailed Description provided below. Aspects of the present invention provide a treat dispensing apparatus for dispensing treats and/or food to a pet, the treat dispensing apparatus comprising for example a first tube; a first tube end; a second tube; a second tube end; a third tube; a third tube end; a fourth tube; a fourth tube end; a center portion; and at least one exit hole for allowing a treat for said pet to pass through said at least one exit hole, wherein the center portion is connected to the first tube, the center portion is connected to the second tube, the center portion is connected to the third tube, the center portion is connected to the fourth tube, the center portion is located between the first tube, the second tube, the third tube and the fourth tube, the first tube is a different tube than the second tube, the first tube is a different tube than the third tube, the first tube is a different tube than the fourth tube, the second tube is a different tube than the third tube, the second tube is a different tube than the fourth tube, the third tube is a different tube than the fourth tube, the first tube end is a different end than the second tube end, the first tube end is a different end than the third tube end, the first tube end is a different end than the fourth tube end, the second tube end is a different end than the third tube end, the second tube end is a different end than the fourth tube end, the third tube end is a different end than the fourth tube end, the first tube extends or projects in a first direction from the center portion to the first tube end, the second tube ex