U.S. patent number RE34,352 [Application Number 07/638,812] was granted by the patent office on 1993-08-24 for therapeutic pet toy.
This patent grant is currently assigned to Bounce, Inc.. Invention is credited to Peter Emily, Joseph P. Markham.
United States Patent |
RE34,352 |
Markham , et al. |
August 24, 1993 |
**Please see images for:
( Certificate of Correction ) ** |
Therapeutic pet toy
Abstract
Disclosed is a dental hygienic pet toy for dental prophylaxis on
the teeth of a dog or other .[.carnivore.]. .Iadd.animal
.Iaddend.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 scrap 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repeatedly inserted into and at least partially withdrawn from the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.].
.Iadd.animal.Iaddend.. An oral hygiene substance may be provided
along the lip to enhance the benefit to the teeth and gingiva.
Inventors: |
Markham; Joseph P. (Lakewood,
CO), Emily; Peter (Lakewood, CO) |
Assignee: |
Bounce, Inc. (Lakewood,
CO)
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Family
ID: |
26754526 |
Appl.
No.: |
07/638,812 |
Filed: |
January 8, 1991 |
Related U.S. Patent Documents
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Application
Number |
Filing Date |
Patent Number |
Issue Date |
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Reissue of: |
73484 |
Jul 15, 1987 |
04802444 |
Feb 7, 1989 |
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Current U.S.
Class: |
119/710; 433/1;
D30/160 |
Current CPC
Class: |
A61D
5/00 (20130101); A01K 15/026 (20130101) |
Current International
Class: |
A01K
15/00 (20060101); A01K 15/02 (20060101); A61D
5/00 (20060101); A01K 015/00 () |
Field of
Search: |
;119/29,29.5
;D30/160,199 ;272/95 ;128/62A,136,359 |
References Cited
[Referenced By]
U.S. Patent Documents
Foreign Patent Documents
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1957185 |
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May 1971 |
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DE |
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7810061 |
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Oct 1977 |
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NL |
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Primary Examiner: Mancene; Gene
Assistant Examiner: Price; Thomas
Attorney, Agent or Firm: Fields, Lewis, Pittenger &
Rost
Claims
We claim:
1. 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 bodydefining an
outer surface .Iadd.having a length greater than the width of the
carnivore's jaw.Iaddend., 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 .Iadd.its intersection with .Iaddend.said toy's
associated adjacent outer surface, said lip partially projecting
over .Iadd.the .Iaddend.opening of groove .Iadd.and will further
project inwardly over each groove when the carnivore bites down on
said body with one of said grooves .Iaddend.and being sized and
configured to scrape a tooth as it is inserted into and partially
withdrawn from .Iadd.each .Iaddend.groove as the carnivore chews
said toy.
2. A toy, as claimed in claim 1, wherein said body has an inner
surface defining a hollow core .Iadd.which is deformable when the
carnivore bites down on said body within one of said grooves to
deflect said lip inwardly over said groove.Iaddend..
3. A toy, as claimed in claim 1, wherein one of said lips is
.[.located.]. .Iadd.formed .Iaddend.between each groove side and
.Iadd.its intersection with .Iaddend.said toy's associated adjacent
outer surface so that each said groove is provided with a pair of
said lips, said lips of said pair being oriented so as to oppose
each other.
4. A toy, as claimed in claim 3, wherein each lip has a surface
which is flush with said toy's associated adjacent outer
surface.
5. A toy, as claimed in claim 1, wherein said outer surface
extending between adjacent grooves is convex.
6. 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 .Iadd.and
having a length greater than the width of the carnivore's
jaw.Iaddend., 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.Iadd., .Iaddend.said inner surface defining an inner
hollow core lying along said axis which core enhances tooth
scraping when the 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 .Iadd.one .Iaddend.groove to move inwardly
towards each other, said groove sides thereby engaging the
carnivore's tooth located in said .Iadd.one .Iaddend.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 .Iadd.one .Iaddend.groove; and a
functional prophylaxis lip .[.located.]. .Iadd.formed
.Iaddend.between at least one of said groove sides and .Iadd.its
intersection with .Iaddend.said toy's associated adjacent outer
surface, said lip partially projecting over the opening of said
.Iadd.one .Iaddend.groove .Iadd.and will further project inwardly
over each groove when the carnivore bites down on said body within
said one groove .Iaddend.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.
7. A toy, as claimed in claim 6, wherein said functional
prophylaxis lip is sufficiently resilient so as to bend downwardly
towards the root of said groove as the tooth is being inserted into
said groove, said lip also being sufficiently hard so that said lip
scrapes the tooth as the tooth enters said groove and as said lip
is bending downwardly. .[.8. A toy, as claimed in claim 6, wherein
said body defines a functional prophylaxis lip between each groove
side and said toy's associated adjacent outer
surface..]. 9. A toy, as claimed in claim 6, wherein at least one
of said grooves is generally V-shaped such that said groove sides
form an included
angle between about 60.degree. and 100.degree.. 10. A toy, as
claimed in claim 6, wherein at least one of said grooves has a root
which is rounded.
1. A toy, as claimed in claim 6, wherein at least one of said
grooves is generally V-shaped such that said groove sides form an
included angle of
about 80.degree.. 12. A toy, as claimed in claim 6, wherein at
least one of said grooves has a depth which, when elongated,
enables said lip to massage that portion of a carnivore's gingiva
which surrounds the neck of
a tooth having been inserted into said groove. 13. A toy, as
claimed in claim 6, wherein two of said grooves are sized and
configured and spaced a preselected distance from one another so as
to enable dental prophylaxis
of a carnivore's right and left molars simultaneously. 14. A toy,
as claimed in claim 6, wherein two of said grooves are sized and
configured and spaced a preselected distance from one another so as
to enable
scraping of a right and left premolar simultaneously. 15. A toy, as
claimed in claim 6, wherein at least one of said grooves is sized
and configured to clean canine teeth, said groove having one of its
said
groove sides substantially higher than its other said groove side.
16. A toy, as claimed in claim 6, wherein said body's thickness
between the root of each groove and the inner surface defining the
core is between about
1/4 and 3/8 of an inch. 17. A toy, as claimed in claim 6, wherein
the body is made from an elastomeric material having a hardness
between about 30
and 70 durometers. 18. A toy, as claimed in claim 6, wherein said
body is injected molded natural rubber having a hardness of about
45 durometers.
. A toy, as claimed in claim 6, wherein said hollow core is
generally
cylindrical. 20. A toy, as claimed in claim 6, wherein said
circumferentially extending grooves are axially aligned about said
axis.
. A toy, as claimed in claim 6, further including:
an oral hygiene substance provided along said functional
prophylaxis lip.
.Iadd.22. A toy, as claimed in claim 6, wherein:
said lips extend peripherally around said body and extend over said
grooves. .Iaddend. .Iadd.23. A dental hygiene 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 deformable body defining an outer surface;
a plurality of parallel grooves formed in said outer surface and
having spaced sides; and
a functional prophylaxis lip formed between at least one of said
sides of each groove and its intersection with said toy's
associated adjacent outer surface, said lip partially projecting
over the opening of each groove and will further project inwardly
over each groove when the carnivore bites down on said body within
one of said grooves to deform said body, said lip being sized and
configured to scrape a tooth as it is inserted into and partially
withdrawn from each groove as the carnivore chews said toy.
.Iaddend.
Description
.Iadd.This is a reissue of Ser. No. 07/073,484, filed Jul. 15, 1987
now U.S. Pat. No. 4,802,444. .Iaddend.
TECHNICAL FIELD
The invention relates generally to a toy for pets, and, more
particularly, to a pet toy which additionally is of value as a
dental hygienic aid for pets.
BACKGROUND ART
Play toys for use by pets, particularly dogs, have been
commercially available for years. Those particularly designed for
dogs are generally shaped like a dog bone. However, dog toys having
ring-like and ball shapes are also sometimes seen in the
marketplace. Most dog toys, are also made from a rubber-like
material so that the toy will bounce when played with by the dog.
Researchers studying dog behavior discovered years ago that dogs
prefer toys having bouncing characteristics.
U.S. Pat. No. Des. 256,958 which issued on Sept. 16, 1980 to
Markham, a coinventor of the present invention, discloses a pet
toy, preferably made from rubber, which provides pets, primarily
dogs, with masticatory exercise when they chew the toy. The toy has
two circumferentially extending shallow grooves which facilitate a
dog's chewing of the toy.
U.S. Pat. Nos. Des. 234,789 and Des. 234,790 to Rosenberg disclose
sounding toys having spiraling members which define chambers for
housing objects secured therein. The objects rattle when a pet
plays with the toy. The toy is not disclosed as having an utility
as a chewing toy for pets, nor does the design lend itself to such
utility. While the toys are possibly resilient in a direction
parallel to the toy's longitudinal axis, the spiraling members
would not appear to provide the toy with much give or elasticity in
a direction perpendicular to the longitudinal axis. Accordingly, it
is unlikely that a dog would chew these toys.
U.S. Pat. No. 2,194,736 to De Bruler discloses a tether pet toy
which includes a dog bone shaped member which is attached to an
elastic string-like member. The string-like member is attached to
the dog bone member by wrapping and tying it about two lips
provided on the dog bone. The lips prevent the string-like member
from slipping off the dog bone.
U.S. Pat. No. 3,198,173 to Fisher discloses a pet toy made from a
strip of rawhide wound and rolled into a loosely coiled
configuration.
U.S. Pat. No. 2,185,547 to Fowler discloses a pet toy having a core
which is covered by two pieces of rawhide sewn together.
U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,513,014 and 4,557,219 to Edwards disclose a dog
bone shaped tough molded elastomeric chewable polyurethane toy for
an animal. The toy has a longitudinal groove extending along a
substantial portion of its midsection. The groove facilitates
flexing of the dog bone at opposite sides of the groove to provide
a satisfying crunching effect to the chewer.
The aforementioned patents demonstrate that very few pet toys have
been specifically designed with features that are directed to
improving a dog's dental health. Some of the more resilient or
rubber-like toys described above inherently provide some massaging
of a dog's gums as the dog chews the toy, but few are specifically
designed for such purpose. Moreover, none of the toys discussed
above were developed for the purpose of scraping or scaling plaque
and other debris from a dog's teeth.
DISCLOSURE OF THE INVENTION
The present invention addresses the aforementioned dental hygiene
concerns of .[.carnivores.]. .Iadd.animals.Iaddend., such as dogs,
by providing a pet toy which not only provides masticatory exercise
for a dog or other carnivore, but also performs dental prophylaxis
as the dog chews the toy. The toy is also capable of massaging
portions of the dog's gingiva or gums which lie adjacent to the
dog's teeth.
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 to scrape plaque and other debris from the
tooth and gingiva of .[.a carnivore.]. .Iadd.an animal
.Iaddend.which is being repeatedly inserted into the groove and at
least partially withdrawn from the groove as the .[.carnivore.].
.Iadd.animal .Iaddend.chews the toy.
In a preferred embodiment, the elastomeric body of the toy is also
provided with an inner surface which defines an inner hollow core.
The hollow core enhances tooth and gingival scraping when a dog
chews the toy by providing the body with the capability of
resiliently bowing into the hollow core. The bowing action causes
the groove having a dog's tooth inserted therein to resiliently
elongate which thereby causes the sides of the groove to move
inwardly towards each other. This inward movement of the groove
sides results in clamping or engagement of the tooth located in the
groove. which thereby results in scraping of the tooth's side and
neck and the dog's gingiva surrounding the neck of the tooth. The
elastomeric material of the toy body preferably has a hardness
which facilitates bowing of the body into the hollow core and
elongation of the grooves as the animal chews the toy. The
resilient nature of the elastomeric material also provides the toy
with the ability to bounce as a dog plays with the toy. This keeps
the dog's interest and thus insures that the dog will chew the toy
for a while, thereby cleaning teeth and gingiva, as desired.
In addition, the toy preferably has a functional prophylaxis lip
located between each groove side and the toy's adjacent outer side.
The lips partially project over the opening of the groove and are
sized and configured to scrape a tooth as it is inserted into and
withdrawn from the groove.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
FIG. 1 is a top plan view of a prior art pet toy.
FIG. 2 is a perspective view of a dental hygienic play toy of the
present invention.
FIG. 3 is a side view of the pet toy illustrated in FIG. 2.
FIG. 4 is a cross sectional view taken along the lines 4--4 of FIG.
3.
FIG. 5 is an enlarged partial cross sectional view of a groove
illustrated in FIG. 4.
FIG. 6 is a cross sectional view similar to that of FIG. 4
additionally showing the teeth of .[.a carnivore.]. .Iadd.an animal
.Iaddend.being inserted into the grooves of the toy of FIG. 2.
FIG. 7 is an enlarged partial cross sectional view showing a tooth
of a carnivore fully inserted into a groove of the toy of FIG.
2.
BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION
FIG. 1 discloses a ring-shaped dog toy 10 distributed by Pet Land
of Chillicothe, Ohio 45601. The toy is apparently made by a molding
process since it is entirely one-piece and made from a resilient
vinyl material. Toy 10 includes a ring-shaped central core 12
having a round solid cross section. Core 12 has a plurality of
integral, radially extending discs or fins 14 which are spaced
uniformly from each other. Fins 14 define a plurality of gaps 16
between the fins. Toy 10 will provide masticatory exercise for a
dog chewing the toy. However, it will not perform much, if any,
tooth scaling since the fins 14 and gaps 16 are not specifically
sized and configured to provide such.
FIGS. 2 through 7 illustrate toy 20 of the present invention which
is specifically designed to provide the dog with dental prophylaxis
and masticatory exercise. The unique design accomplishes this by
scraping the dog's teeth and gingiva or gums as the dog chews the
toy.
Toy 20 has a body 22 which is preferably made from natural rubber
by an injection molding process at conventional pressures and
temperatures of about 300 tons at 300.degree. F., respectively.
Conventional additives should preferably be added to the rubber to
provide it with a hardness between about 30 and 70 durometers,
ideally about 45 durometers.
As illustrated, the toy's body is somewhat elongate and bounded by
four general surfaces, an inner surface 24, and other surface 26,
groove sides 28 and lip surfaces 30 and 32.
Inner surface 24 defines a hollow core 34 which extends completely
through body 22 about an axis X as illustrated in FIG. 4. Core 34
is generally cylindrical. However, as illustrated in FIGS. 4 and 6
its midsection is tapered or frustoconically shaped in a fashion
which generally follows the toy's elongated contour. Tapering is
important for purposes of providing the toy's body 22 with a
relatively uniform thickness in certain areas, the importance of
which will be discussed in detail below.
Groove sides 28 and lip surfaces 30 and 32 of FIG. 5 define a
generally V-shaped groove 36a having a root 38. The V-shape of the
groove preferably has an included angle between about 60.degree.
and 100.degree.. 80.degree. is illustrated. However, root 38 of the
groove is not preferably sharp. Preferably, root 38 is rounded. A
sharp root 38 is to be avoided, if possible, since it could provide
a point from which cracks could propagate.
Body 22 is also provided with four other grooves which are labeled,
respectively, as grooves 36b through 36e. Each groove extends
circumferentially around outer surface 26 of body 22 in a fashion
whereby all the grooves are axially aligned along axis X.
Grooves 36a and 36c are spaced a preselected distance apart from
each other to accommodate, respectively, the left and right upper
fourth premolars of most dogs engaging one side of the toy, and the
left and right lower first molars of most dogs engaging the other
side of the toy. Appropriately sized toys are designed to
accommodate the different lengths and width of mandible and maxilla
seen in the various breeds of dogs. .Iadd.Normally, the toy has a
length greater than the width of the animal's jaw, as seen in FIG.
6. .Iaddend.Grooves 36a and 36c are also preferably sized and
configured to scrape plaque and other debris from the
aforementioned teeth and gingiva of dogs. The dimensions for medium
size dogs are those shown in FIG. 4 which are drawn very close to
scale.
Groove 36b and 36d as illustrated in FIG. 4 are similar to 36a and
36c. However, 36b and 36d are specifically sized and configured and
spaced from one another to provide dental prophylaxis for most dogs
left and right molars, whether they be upper or lower molars.
Groove 36e is specifically designed to provide dental prophylaxis
for the long canine teeth of most dogs. The canine tooth's length
requires, as illustrated, that at least one groove side 28 of
groove 36e be long enough to provide dental prophylaxis. FIG. 4
which is drawn to scale, illustrates preferred groove sizes and
configuration for medium size dogs, i.e., dogs in the 20 to 45
pound range.
Returning to FIG. 5, it can be seen that surface 30 is beveled at
either an upper or downward 45.degree. angle with respect to axis
X, the upper or downward direction of the angle depending on which
side of the groove the surface is located. Surface 32 which adjoins
surface 30 runs perpendicular to axis X and has a length of 0.032
of an inch as mentioned along axis X. Surface 30 has a vertical
length of 0.050 of an inch as measured along axis X. Surfaces 30,
32 and adjacent outer surface 26 define a functional prophylaxis
lip 40. One lip 40 is preferably located on each side of grooves 36
at the entrance or top of each groove 36 between each groove side
28 and the toy's adjacent outer surface 26 as such is illustrated
in FIG. 4.
Functional prophylaxis lips 40 significantly enhances plaque
removal by toy 20 by providing a pair of surfaces which scrape the
dog's teeth and gingiva as they are inserted into and withdrawn
from a groove. The lips provide dental propylaxis since they remain
in contact with the tooth surface as the tooth is being lowered
into and withdrawn from the groove (See FIGS. 6 and 7). Moreover,
by bending downwardly as depicted in FIG. 7, lips 40 permit the
tooth to be full inserted into each groove 36. This enables the
lips to provide dental prophylaxis to the side and neck of the
tooth, but also enables the lips to provide dental prophylaxis to
the dog's gingiva or gums which surround the tooth's neck.
Enhanced dental prophylaxis and gum massaging is also provided by
making the toy's body 22 out of an elastomeric material such as
natural rubber having a hardness ideally around 45 durometers as
previously mentioned. The resilience of natural rubber having such
a hardness provides the toy with the ability to bounce, thereby
attracting the dog's interest and insuring that the dog will play
with the toy to receive the desired masticatory exercise and dental
cleaning. In addition, such elasticity (or hardness) enables
stretching or elongation of a groove 36 when a dog bits down upon
the groove with a tooth located in the groove. This stretching of
the groove causes the groove's sides and lips to move inwardly
toward each other. This inward action causes lips 40 to in effect,
engage or clamp the dog's tooth and surrounding gingiva thereby
scraping the tooth and gingiva as the dog chews.
To facilitate such stretching of the grooves, it is also important
that the body's thickness between each groove root 38 and the inner
surface 24 defining the core be thin enough to allow this portion
of the body to bow inwardly into the core as such, as illustrated
in FIG. 7. This bowing action facilitates full insertion of the
tooth into the groove which, in turn, facilitates stretching or
elongation of the groove. In the embodiment illustrated having a
body made of a material having a hardness of about 45 durometers,
the body's thickness between each groove root 38 and inner surface
24 defining core 34 should preferably be between about 1/4 and 3/8
of an inch. Anything less than 1/4 of an inch will probably be too
weak and will probably tear after the toy has been chewed by a dog
for a while. Anything thicker than 3/8 of an inch and having a
hardness of about 45 durometers will probably be too thick to
permit the aforementioned bowing and groove stretching.
Flavoring additives may also be added to the material from which
the toy's body is to be made during the injection molding process.
Such additives will enhance the toy's appeal to a dog, thereby
making it more likely that the dog will play with the toy and
benefit from the dental cleaning and masticatory exercies provided
by the toy. Also, oral hygiene substances can be added along the
functional prophylaxis lip to enhance the benefit of the toy to the
dog's teeth and gingiva.
Based on the foregoing description, those skilled in veterinary
medicine, particularly those interested in the dental aspects of
veterinary medicine, will readily appreciate that the present
invention provides a pet toy which not only provides masticatory
exercise for a dog, but also provides dental prophylaxis for the
dog's teeth and gingiva as the dog chews the toy. Moreover, the
unique design of the toy provides massaging of the dog's gingiva
which surrounds the neck of a tooth being scraped by the toy.
The invention has been described in detail with particular
reference to a preferred embodiment thereof, but it will be
understood that variations and modifications can be effected within
the spirit and scope of the invention.
* * * * *