Method of Administering a Dose of Breath Freshener to a Pet

Abstract

A method of administering a liquid breath freshener to the drinking water of animals, using a precise-dosing dispenser/pump to add the liquid freshener directly to the drinking water in the pet bowl.

Description

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION(S)

[0001] This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 62/094,387 filed Dec. 19, 2014 the entire disclosure of which is herein incorporated by reference.

BACKGROUND

[0002] 1. Field of Invention

[0003] The present invention relates to the administration of a liquid breath freshener to the drinking water of animals, using a precise-dosing dispenser/pump.

[0004] 2. Description of the Related Art

[0005] Some breath fresheners are currently available as liquids. Liquids, however, have multiple problems including needing to be measured out in a spoon, cup, or syringe. In addition to the tedious preparation and consumption, this allows for human error particularly for those who with poor eyesight or inadequate fine-motor-skills, such as the elderly or handicapped, given the requirement to measure and read the correct dose. Furthermore, compliance and accuracy are also challenged when breath fresheners are needed on a regular basis and when odd dosing requires multiple administration. Furthermore, bad taste and the volume of liquid to be consumed per dose may also deter compliance with the prescribed regime of consumption.

SUMMARY OF INVENTION

[0006] Because of these and other problems of the art described herein are systems and methods for the administration to animals, of a liquid breath freshener composition which is added to the pet's water with a precise-dosing dispenser/pump.

[0007] The precise-dosing dispenser/pump allows for exact and convenient measurements without the need to cut, break, or count pills or tablets. Furthermore, the fact that the liquid composition is to be taken with water in a manner that generally conceals the breath freshener. It allows for it to be consumed without the recipient being aware.

[0008] There is described herein, in an embodiment, a method of administering a precise and proper dose of breath freshener comprising: providing a container; having a liquid breath freshener stored within the container; depressing a precise-dosing-pump attached to the container a prescribed multiple number of times, each pump discharging a sub-unit of a prescribed dose into the pet's drinking dish; dispensing the prescribed dose of the liquid breath freshener from the container to the pet's water prior to ingestion; and ingesting the water with breath freshener.

[0009] There is also described herein a device for administering a precise and proper dose of breath freshener comprising: a container; a precise-dosing-pump attached to the container; and a liquid breath freshener stored within the container; wherein, a user depresses a plunger a prescribed number of times on the precise-dosing-pump, each pump discharging a sub-unit of the prescribed dose of the liquid breath freshener from the container on to the pet's drinking bowl prior to ingestion.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES

[0010] FIGS. 1 and 4 depict dispensers for providing breath freshener in liquid form.

[0011] FIG. 2 depicts dispenser of FIG. 1 in exploded form.

[0012] FIG. 3 depicts dispenser of FIG. 1 being used to dispense breath freshener into a pet's water bowl.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT(S)

[0013] In an embodiment, the invention relates to systems and methods for providing breath freshener in a liquid form. The liquid is dispensed into the pet's drinking bowl that contains a pre-determined amount of water. The dispenser includes a precise-dosing-pump which is designed to deliver specific and consistent amounts with each pump action so as to accurately allow the party dispensing, who may be different from the party consuming, to attain the proper dose.

[0014] The amount of breath freshener dispensed per pump of the precise-dosing-pump is generally significantly less than a single dose for even the smallest target consumer so that a single pump will always provide a sub-unit of measurement for any consumer. To obtain this ratio, the breath freshener will be sufficiently diluted and be chosen to conform to the mechanics and volume of a precise-dosing-pump. Therefore, a single pump will always provide a sub-unit of the prescribed dose for all consumers. Thus, it is easier to provide for a number of different sized doses accurately and without division.

[0015] FIGS. 1-3 provide for illustrations of an embodiment of the invention. In an embodiment, the dispenser (FIG. 1) will provide for a relatively small dose for each dispensing action. For example, reaching the recommended dose for a 100 pound animal might require four pumps of plunger (7) on the precise-dosing-pump (3) which will squirt breath freshener held in the container (4) into water. In contrast, for other products currently available it could be 1 and 1/2 tablets or 1 and 1/4 tablespoons of either a liquid or a powder as should be apparent.

[0016] With each pump of the plunger (7) on the precise-dosing-pump (3), dispensing the breath freshener in an amount that is generally significantly less than a full dose (given increased dilution and/or a precise-dosing-pump which dispenses only a small amount of liquid breath freshener), dosing is easier and does not require half or quarter pumps. So instead of having to count and break tablets or measuring teaspoons of powders or liquids every day for each dose, the number of pumps allows the consumer to quickly and accurately attain their dose goals by simply applying the liquid breath freshener to drinking water via the needed, easy to count, number of pumps. This is generally more convenient and supports administration compliance and accuracy in the measurement of a dose.

[0017] In FIGS. 1, 2 and 4, this depicted embodiment, the dispenser (1) includes a liquid breath freshener (2), in a container (4). The container (4) will generally serve as a storage device as well as providing for an environment which may be sanitary and relatively free from contamination. The breath freshener(s) may be in liquid form because they naturally occur that way or may be provided in solution, mixture, or suspension depending on what specific breath freshener(s) are used The container (4) is provided with a precise-dosing-pump top (3), which generally squirts a precise and measured amount of the liquid breath freshener, drawn through the dip tube (6), when the plunger (7) is depressed. The precise-dosing-pump top (3) will generally be removably attached to the container (4) such as by being screwed onto mating threads (5) as is understood by those of ordinary skill. In other embodiments, however, alternative attachment methods such as snap-tops may be used. In still further embodiments, the precise-dosing-pump top (3) may be designed to not be removable, in ordinary usage, from the top of the container (4). This can prevent a user from tampering with the liquid breath freshener (2) or trying to refill the container (4). In a preferred embodiment, as shown in FIG. 4, the plunger (7) has a protective cap (8) covering the plunger and snapping removeably onto it. In another preferred embodiment, as shown in FIG. 4, the protective cap is clear.

[0018] In FIG. 3, by pressing down on the plunger (7) attached to the precise-dosing-pump top (3), the liquid breath freshener (2) will be squirted on to water in the pet's water bowl (8) and consumed. Generally, the amount dispensed will be in the form of droplets which may be of any size determined by the mechanics and the volume of the precise-dosing-pump top, which may or may not be adjustable (i.e., perhaps twisting the top will result in more or less liquid being dispensed). This can allow for the liquid (2) to be spread over a relatively large area of the water to prevent the material from pooling and therefore possibly having a strange flavor profile.

[0019] Depending on the embodiment, the liquid (2) can be any individual or combination of breath fresheners.

[0020] Depending on the embodiment, the container (4) is preferably a plastic bottle to allow for reduction in weight and to provide for reduced breakability. However, in alternative embodiments, alternative materials may be used such as, but not limited to, glass, aluminum, other metals, or any combination of these. Such materials may be used to prevent the container (4) from imparting any taste to the liquid (2) or to prevent certain agents from reacting with the container in addition to other reasons known to those of ordinary skill.

[0021] As contemplated above, the dispenser (1) will generally be used to add the liquid (2) to the pet's water dish.

[0022] While the invention has been disclosed in conjunction with a description of certain embodiments, including those that are currently believed to be the preferred embodiments, the detailed description is intended to be illustrative and should not be understood to limit the scope of the present disclosure. As would be understood by one of ordinary skill in the art, embodiments other than those described in detail herein are encompassed by the present invention. Modifications and variations of the described embodiments may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention.

Claims

1. A method of administering a precise dose of breath freshener to a pet's water dish comprising: providing a container; having a liquid breath freshener stored within said container; depressing a precise-dosing-pump attached to said container a prescribed multiple number of times, each pump discharging a sub-unit of a prescribed dose; dispensing said prescribed dose of said liquid breath freshener from said container on to a pet's water dish prior to ingestion; and ingesting said water with breath freshener.

2. A device for administering a precise and proper dose of breath freshener comprising: a container; a precise-dosing-pump attached to said container; and a liquid breath freshener stored within said container; wherein, a user depresses a plunger a prescribed number of times on said precise-dosing-pump, each pump discharging a sub-unit of the prescribed dose of said liquid breath freshener from said container into a pet's water dish prior to ingestion.