Note: Descriptions are shown in the official language in which they were submitted.
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Systems For Feeding Cats, Methods Of Use Of The Systems
And Packaging For The Systems
10
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
[0003] The disclosed invention relates to dispensing devices and
more particularly to
feeding systems for use by a cat to dispense cat food therefrom when played
with by the cat,
methods of feeding a cat, and packaging for such feeding systems.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0004] The American Veterinary Medical Association recommends that
cats in urban and
suburban environments be kept indoors. However, a cat's health and welfare can
be affected by
its surroundings. In this regard, cats are natural hunters. Even indoors, cats
retain their
predatory instincts and behaviors, including stalking, clawing, chewing, and
marking. When cats
live indoors, they are deprived of natural outlets for these behaviors. Under
these circumstances
cats may begin to express undesirable behaviors, including scratching
furniture and eliminating
outside of the litter box.
[0005] While commercially available dry cat food satisfies the
nutritional needs for
domestic cats, it does nothing to allow a cat to express its natural hunting
behavior. It is much
healthier for cats to be given the option to hunt for prey. Failure to provide
opportunities to hunt
deprives cats of mental stimulation and physical activity. This can cause
obesity and other health
and behavioral problems. Accordingly, a need exists for a cat food feeding
system that enables
an indoor cat to employ its natural hunting instincts.
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[0006] The subject invention addresses that need by providing feeding
systems for indoor
cats to enable such cats to feed themselves several times a day with dry cat
food in a safe, easy-
to-use manner that enriches their body, mind and spirit.
[0007] In addition, the subject invention is directed to packaging for
such cat feeding
systems.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0008] In accordance with one aspect of this invention there is provided a
feeding device
for use by a cat to dispense dry cat food from the device. The feeding device
comprises a hollow
container having an internal cavity and at least one outlet port in
communication with the
internal cavity. The feeding device has an arcuate external surface providing
the appearance of a
creature that constitutes prey of a feral cat. The arcuate external surface is
configured to roll on a
surface when the cat plays with the feeding device, whereupon the action of
the cat playing with
the feeding device results in the automatic gradual dispensing of a portion of
the cat food out of
the at least one outlet port.
[0009] In accordance with one aspect of this invention the feeding
device comprises the
hollow container and a simulation covering. The hollow container has an
internal cavity, an
entry port and at least one outlet port. The at least one outlet port is in
communication with the
internal cavity and is configured to enable a portion of the cat food to
gradually pass through the
at least one outlet port. The simulation covering comprises a soft material
having a pocket to
receive at least a portion of the hollow container, whereupon the at least one
outlet port is
exposed. The simulation covering has an exterior surface providing the
appearance of a creature
that constitutes prey of a feral cat such that when the hollow container is
disposed within the
pocket of the simulation covering the cat will play with the feeding device.
The action of the cat
playing with the feeding device results in the automatic gradual dispensing of
a portion of the cat
food out of the at least one outlet port.
[0010] In accordance with another aspect of this invention the hollow
container has a
longitudinal axis and an arcuate sidewall bounding the interior cavity. The
interior cavity is
filled with dry cat food. The arcuate sidewall has an outer surface providing
the appearance of a
creature that constitutes prey of a feral cat and includes a plurality of
frangible areas. Each of
those areas is configured to be opened to form respective outlet ports in the
sidewall. The outlet
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ports are in communication with the internal cavity and are configured to
enable a portion of the
dry cat food to gradually pass therethrough when the cat plays with the
feeding device.
[0011] In accordance with one preferred aspect of the invention the
feeding device is a
part of a feeding system including plural feeding devices, each of which is
arranged to hold a
portion of the cat's daily ration of dry cat food and which can be located in
various locations to
which the cat has access. This enables the cat to utilize its natural hunting
instinct to feed itself
several times a day.
[0012] The subject invention also includes a method for feeding a cat
a predetermined
portion of a daily ration of cat food each day such that the cat eats its
daily ration each day. The
method basically entails making a feeding device constructed in accordance
with this invention
available to the cat so that the cat will "hunt" for the feeding device and
play with it when found,
whereupon a portion of the cat food disposed within the internal cavity can
gradually exit the at
least one port when the cat plays with the device.
[0013] In accordance with one preferred aspect of the method of this
invention plural,
e.g., five, feeding devices, each filled with a predetermined portion of the
daily ration of cat
food, are disposed at various locations to which the cat has access, such that
the cat can find each
of the feeding devices to play with each of them and thereby have access to
the food contained
therein.
[0014] In accordance with another aspect of this invention there is
provided a package
holding a plurality of feeding devices. Each of the feeding devices is
configured for use by a cat
to dispense dry cat food therefrom Each of the feeding devices comprises a
container, e.g., an
ovoid, ellipsoid, sphere or other three dimensional shaped hollow body, having
a longitudinal
axis and an arcuate sidewall bounding an interior cavity. The interior cavity
is filled with dry cat
food. The sidewall has an outer surface providing the appearance of a creature
that constitutes
prey of a feral cat. The arcuate sidewall includes a plurality of frangible
areas, e.g., a line of
perforations, each of which is configured to be opened to foun respective
outlet ports in the
sidewall. The outlet ports, when formed are in communication with the internal
cavity and are
configured to enable a portion of the dry cat food to gradually pass
therethrough. Each of the
feeding devices is configured to be played with by a cat so that the action of
the cat playing with
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.. the feeding device results in the automatic gradual dispensing of a portion
of the cat food out of
the outlet ports.
[0015] One preferred aspect of the package includes a sufficient
number feeding devices,
each holding a portion of the cat's daily ration of food, and which
collectively provide the cat
with his/her daily ration of cat food.
[0016] In some embodiments, the feeding systems of the present invention
are configured
to provide a complete feeding system for a cat. In some embodiments, feeding
systems of the
present invention are configured to supply a cat's entire daily ration of
food. In some
embodiments, for example, a feeding system of the present invention may be
used to replace a
cat's other means for feeding, e.g., a typical food bowl. In some embodiments,
a feeding
.. systems of the present invention is configured to provide a cat with
multiple portion-controlled
feeding devices to hunt throughout the course of the day and can therefore
allow the cat to be in
charge of its own feeding schedule.
[0017] A feeding system according to some embodiments of the present
invention
includes a plurality of feeding devices, each of the plurality of feeding
devices including a
container for containing and dispensing a portion of food. In some
embodiments, each container
has a convexly curved external surface, a first port and a second port
arranged along a top
portion of the container, each of the first port and the second port providing
access to an interior
space of the container, and a bridging wall separating the first port and the
second port, the
bridging wall extending above the first port and the second port. In some
embodiments, each
feeding device further includes a simulation covering constructed from a
flexible material, the
simulation covering including a pocket for receiving at least a portion of the
container therein
without covering the first port and the second port. In some embodiments, the
container has an
ovoid shape. In some embodiments, the container further comprises a raised
ridge surrounding
the first port, the second port, and the bridging wall. In some embodiments,
the first port and/or
the second port includes a limiting device (e.g. sliding door, plug, etc.) for
reducing the size of
and/or closing the opening of the port.
[0018] In some embodiments, the simulation covering is sized and
shaped to form a tight
fit around substantially the entire container except for the first port, the
second port, the bridging
wall, and the raised ridge. In certain embodiments, the simulation covering
has the appearance
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of an animal, for example, a mouse, bird, fish, etc. In some embodiments, the
simulation
covering includes a front end including a projection having a three-
dimensional shape which
mimics an appearance of a head of the animal. In some embodiments, the
simulation covering
includes a rear end opposite the front end, the rear end having a rear opening
that is sized to
receive the container therethrough. In certain embodiments, the rear end of
the simulation
covering further includes a drawstring threaded around the rear opening, the
drawstring being
configured to cinch the rear opening closed. In yet further embodiments, each
of the plurality of
feeding devices further includes a tracking device configured to communicate a
location and/or
movement of the feeding device.
[0019] In some embodiments, the feeding system of the present
invention further
includes at least one training device, the training device including a second
container for
containing and dispensing a portion of food. In some embodiments, the second
container has a
convexly curved external surface and having more than two ports providing
access to an interior
space of the second container. The training device may further have an ovoid
shape and, in some
embodiments, may include at least three pairs of ports. In some embodiments,
the first port and
the second port of each of the plurality of feeding devices and the ports of
the training device
have substantially the same size and shape (e.g., oval shape). In some
embodiments, the one or
more of the ports of the training device may include a limiting device (e.g.
sliding door, plug,
etc.) for reducing the size of and/or closing the opening of the port. In some
embodiments, the
training device is not provided with a simulation covering. In some
embodiments, the feeding
system includes 5X feeding devices and lx training devices, wherein X is a
positive integer
(e.g., X = 1, 2, 3, 4, etc.). X may be equal to the number of cats for which
the feeding system is
intended to be utilized by. In some embodiments, the feeding system further
comprises at least
one measuring device for measuring a predetermined volume of food into each of
the plurality of
feeding devices and/or the training device.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING FIGURES
[0020] Fig. 1 is an isometric view of one exemplary hollow container
and one exemplary
simulation covering which together make up a feeding device forming one
component of a cat
feeding system constructed in accordance with this invention;
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[0021] Fig. 2 is a slightly enlarged isometric view of the exemplary hollow
container
shown in Fig. 1, with its lid being opened to enable it to be filled with a
portion of a cat's daily
ration of dry cat food;
[0022] Fig. 3 is a slightly enlarged isometric view of the filled
hollow container shown in
Fig. 1 after its lid has been closed and after it has been inserted into the
simulation covering to
result in a feeding device which has the appearance of a creature that
constitutes prey of a feral
cat;
[0023] Fig. 4 is an isometric view of an alternative and preferred
exemplary hollow
container constructed in accordance with this invention and configured for use
with another
exemplary covering constructed in accordance with this invention;
[0024] Fig. SA is a top plan view of the preferred exemplary hollow
container shown in
Fig. 4;
[0025] Fig. 5B is an end view of the preferred exemplary hollow
container shown in Fig.
4;
[0026] Fig. 6 is an isometric view of the preferred exemplary hollow
container shown
disposed within another exemplary covering constructed in accordance with this
invention;
[0027] Fig. 7 is an isometric view, partially broken away, of one
exemplary package
holding a plurality of feeding devices, each of which is constructed in
accordance with one
aspect of this invention and is configured for use by a cat to dispense dry
cat food therefrom;
[0028] Fig. 8 is an enlarged isometric view of one of the exemplary
feeding devices
shown in Fig. 7;
[0029] Fig. 9 is an enlarged sectional view of the exemplary feeding
device taken along
line 9 ¨ 9 of Fig. 8;
[0030] Fig. 10A is top, front perspective view of an exemplary hollow
container
according to a further embodiment of the present invention;
[0031] Fig. 10B is a bottom, rear perspective view of the hollow container
of Fig. 10A;
[0032] Fig. 10C is a side elevational view of the hollow container of
Fig. 10A;
[0033] Fig. 10D is a top plan view of the hollow container of Fig.
10A;
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[0034] Fig. 10E is rear elevational view of the hollow container of Fig.
10A;
[0035] Fig. 11A is a top, front perspective view of the hollow
container of Fig. 10A
positioned within a simulation covering according to an embodiment of the
present invention;
[0036] Fig. 11B is a bottom, rear perspective view of the hollow
container and simulation
covering of Fig. 11A;
[0037] Fig. 11C is a side elevational view of the hollow container and
simulation
covering of Fig. 11A;
[0038] Fig. 11D is a top plan view of the hollow container and
simulation covering of
Fig. 11A;
[0039] Figs. 12A-12D show the hollow container and simulation covering
of Fig. 11A in
.. inverted positions over a surface according to embodiments of the present
invention;
[0040] Fig. 13A is a top, front perspective view of a training
container according to an
embodiment of the present invention;
[0041] Fig. 13B is a bottom, rear perspective view of the training
container of Fig. 13A;
[0042] Fig. 13C is a side elevational view of the training container
of Fig. 13A;
[0043] Fig. 13D is a top plan view of the training container of Fig. 13A;
[0044] Fig. 13E is a front elevational view of the training container
of Fig. 13A;
[0045] Fig. 13F is a rear elevational view of the training container
of Fig. 13A;
[0046] Fig. 14A is top plan view of a measuring device according to an
embodiment of
the present invention;
[0047] Fig. 14B is a side elevational view of the measuring device of Fig.
14A;
[0048] Fig. 14C shows the measuring device of Fig. 14A positioned on a
surface
according to an embodiment of the present invention; and
[0049] Fig. 15 shows a kit including a plurality of hollow containers,
a training container,
and a measuring device according to an embodiment of the present invention.
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DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS
[0050] Referring now to the drawings wherein like characters refer to
like parts, there is
shown in Fig. 1 an exemplary embodiment of a feeding device 20 constructed in
accordance with
this invention. The device 20 forms a portion of a feeding system of this
invention. That feeding
system includes plural feeding devices. In certain embodiments, each feeding
device is
.. configured so that it provides the appearance of a creature on which a
feral cat preys for food. It
has been determined that in nature the average feral cat hunts and eats five
times a day.
Accordingly, in accordance with one preferred aspect of this invention the
system includes five
feeding devices, each of which is filled with one fifth of the cat's daily
ration of dry cat food.
The feeding devices are disposed throughout the cat's environment in the home,
and preferably
are hidden, so that the cat will "hunt" for them, thereby providing the cat
with natural
stimulation Owing to the shape of the feeding device, i.e., it is configured
to roll about its
longitudinal axis, and its appearance, i.e., simulating a prey animal, when
the feeding device is
found and the cat plays with it, a portion of the dry cat food within the
feeding device will be
automatically dispensed out of it gradually, thereby enabling the cat to eat
the dispensed food.
This action provides further stimulation for the cat, in addition to feeding
it.
[0051] As can be seen in Fig. 1 the feeding device 20 basically
comprises two
components, namely, a hollow container 22 and a simulation covering or "skin"
24. The hollow
container is formed of any suitable hard and rugged material, such as a
plastic, and has the shape
of an ovoid, ellipsoid, sphere or other three dimensional shape having a
longitudinal axis 26 (Fig.
2) and an arcuate outer surface 28. The arcuate outer surface of the container
enables it to be
rolled around the axis 26 when the cat plays with the feeding device, as will
be described later.
Being hollow, the container 22 includes an internal cavity 30 (Fig. 2) which
is arranged to hold a
portion of a typical indoor cat's daily ration of dry cat food 32. That daily
ration of dry cat food
is approximately 1.25 cups for the average indoor cat Thus, if the system
makes use of five
feeding devices, that 1.25 cups of dry cat food will be divided equally among
the five feeding
devices. In accordance with one exemplary embodiment of this invention the
hollow container
has a length of approximately 3.5 inches and a height of approximately 2.5
inches.
[0052] The filling of the internal cavity 30 of the container 22 is
achieved by means of an
inlet port that is in communication with the interior of the internal cavity.
To that end, in the
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exemplary embodiment shown the hollow container includes a main section 22A
and a lid
section 22B. The top edge of the main section is in the folin of a mouth or
opening 34 (Fig. 2),
which serves as the inlet port to the container 22. The lid section 22B is
connected to the main
section 22C by a hinge 36. This enables the lid section 22B to be pivoted from
a closed position,
like shown in Fig. 1, to an open position, like shown in Fig. 2.
[0053] In the open position the lid section is pivoted up from the opening
34, thereby
exposing the internal cavity 30 so that it can be filled with the portion of
dry cat food 32. Once
filled, the lid section can be pivoted down to the closed position to thereby
close the mouth of the
main section to hold the food within the container.
[0054] Not only does the use of the hinged lid section 22B provide a
means for readily
filling the hollow container via a large opening, i.e., the mouth of the main
section, the large
opening also enables one to readily clean the internal cavity, when necessary.
While not shown
the lid section and the main section may include some releasable connector,
e.g., a snap-fit
connector, to hold the lid section in the closed position so that it does not
accidentally open when
the cat plays with the feeding device.
[0055] The lid section also includes at least one outlet port through which
the dry cat
food within the container can pass when the cat plays with the feeding device.
In the exemplary
embodiment shown, the at least one outlet port is in the form of five openings
or ports 38A, 38B,
38C, 38D and 38E, with the port 38A being centrally located in the lid section
and with the other
ports disposed about the central port 36A. Each port is of a sufficient size,
e.g., 0.375 in. x 0.625
in., to enable the dry cat food within the container to gradually exit through
one or more of the
ports as the cat plays with the feeding device.
[0056] The simulation covering or skin 24 is formed of a soft,
flexible fabric or other
material that, in some embodiments, provides the appearance of an animal or
creature, e.g.,
rodent, bird, fish, etc., that constitutes the prey of a feral cat. It should
be appreciated that skin
24 may have any other appearance according to further embodiments of the
invention, for
example, circus or carnival characters, cartoon characters, famous persons or
characters, holiday
characters, etc. In yet further embodiments, skin 24 may have the appearance
of an inanimate
object, for example, a sports ball (football, soccer ball, tennis ball,
baseball, etc.) or an abstract
shape. It should thus be appreciated that the specific appearance of skin 24
is not necessarily
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limited to animals or the particular design shown in the illustrated
embodiments of the appended
Figures. In the exemplary embodiment shown the simulation covering provides
the appearance
of a mouse. To that end, the simulation covering may be a furry fabric that
includes a projection
40 located at one end of the simulation covering and which is in the shape of
the head of a mouse
and another projection 42 at the other end of the simulation covering and
which is in the shape of
the tail of the mouse. The projection 40 includes graphics representing the
eyes, nose and mouth
of the mouse. The central portion of the simulation covering is in the form of
a hollow pocket 44
(Fig. 1) shaped and sized to accommodate at least a portion of the hollow
container 22 therein
and which when the container is located therein makes up the body of the
mouse. Graphics
representing the mouse's legs are provided on the outer surface of the central
portion of the
simulation covering. The fact that the head and tail of the mouse are located
on opposite ends of
the longitudinal axis 26 when the hollow container is disposed within the
pocket 44 of the
simulation covering enables the resulting feeding device to be able to roll
about that axis when
played with by the cat. Moreover, since the legs of the mouse are merely
graphics on the body,
as opposed to members projecting outward from the body, they will not
interfere with the rolling
action of the feeding device.
[0057] It should be pointed out at this juncture, that the head and
tail of the mouse may
not be in the form of projections, but rather may be in the form of graphics
on the outer surface
of the simulation covering. Moreover, the simulation covering need not provide
the appearance
of a mouse, but can provide the appearance of any other rodent, bird, fish or
other creature upon
which constitutes the prey of a feral cat. Thus, in the case of a bird the
simulation covering 22
can include one projection which is in the form of a bird's head and beak, and
another projection
which is in the form of the bird's tail. Alternatively the head, beak and tail
may merely be in the
form of graphics on the outer surface of the simulation covering. So too, if
the simulation
covering is in the form of a fish, it may include a projection which is in the
form of a fish's head
and mouth, and a projection which is in the form of the fish's tail. As noted
above, in other
embodiments, the appearance of the simulation covering need not be configured
like an animal
and other shapes may be used.
[0058] In order to ensure that the hollow container doesn't shift
within the pocket and to
hold it securely in place within the pocket the entryway to the pocket is in
the form of an
.. elasticized edge 46. That elasticized edge is arranged to be received
within an annular peripheral
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.. groove 48 in the outer surface of the lid section adjacent the free edge of
the lid section. Thus,
when the hollow container 22 is disposed within the pocket 44 of the
simulation covering 24 the
elasticized edge 46 of the pocket will tightly engage the peripheral groove 48
to hold the hollow
container in place. Such action will prevent the simulation covering from
blocking any of the
outlet ports 38A ¨ 38E when the cat plays with the feeding device.
[0059] As mentioned above, a preferred embodiment of the system of this
invention
makes use of five feeding devices 20 which are filled with the cat's regular
dry food and which
are disposed, e.g., hidden, at various locations in the cat's normal
environment. Some cats may
need a refresher course on how to "hunt" and hence feed themselves with the
system of this
invention. To that end, one can train the cat to use the system. In
particular, such training can be
.. accomplished by putting one half of the cat's regular meal in its bowl and
one half into a feeding
device constructed in accordance with this invention and which is placed near
the cat's bowl.
That feeding device may be in the form of the feeding device 20 as described
earlier or a
"trainer" device having more exit ports to allow the food to fall out more
easily. In any case, the
training method should entail allowing the cat to experiment with getting the
food out of the
.. feeding device. Day after day as the cat gets the hang of it, one can
gradually put more of the
cat's food in the feeding device and less into the cat's bowl. Once the cat
has the learned how to
use the feeding device, one can then start hiding plural feeding devices in
the cat's environment
for it to find. Preferably that is done in the beginning by hiding the feeding
devices in obvious
places, e.g., a few feet away from the cat's regular dining spot. Gradually
over the next few
weeks, one can make the hiding spots more difficult to find. To enhance the
training of the cat,
one should attempt avoiding placing the feeding devices near things which
produce mechanical
noises, such as refrigerators, washing machines, dryers, furnaces, etc.
[0060] As should be appreciated by those skilled in the art, the fact
that the feeding
devices of the subject invention automatically dispense only a portion of the
dry cat food therein
as the cat plays with the device ensures that the release of the cat food is
accomplished in a
gradual manner. This action is important inasmuch as it forces the cat to slow
down its eating
process so that it doesn't gobble its food, which action could encourage
vomiting.
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[0061] It should be pointed out at this juncture that while the preferred
system as
described above makes use of five feeding devices, the system may make use of
any number of
feeding devices, including only a single such device.
[0062] A further and more preferred exemplary embodiment of a
container 52
constructed in accordance with this invention is shown in Fig. 4. The
container 52 is configured
to be used with, i.e., disposed within, a simulation covering or "skin" 64,
that is similar in
construction to the skin 24 described above to result in a feeding device 50,
like shown in Fig. 9.
The feeding device 50 is used in the same manner as described above with
reference to the
feeding device 20 and is played with by the cat to feed itself in the same
manner as described
above. Thus in the interest of brevity the manner of use of the feeding device
50 will not be
.. reiterated.
[0063] As best seen in Figs. 4 and 5, the container 52 is of an ovoid
shape having a rear
end portion 52A and a front end portion 52B. A central longitudinal axis 26
(Fig. 4) extends
between the front end portion 52B and the rear end portion 52A. As best seen
in Fig 5A the rear
end portion is has a lesser degree of curvature than the front end portion and
the container 52 is
of a generally circular cross-section as best seen in Fig. 5B. The container
52 is formed of a
similar material to that of container 22. Unlike the container 22, the
container 52 does not
include a hinged lid. Instead the container 52 includes a pair of relative
large openings or ports
54A and 54B located on the top portion of the container. Each port is of an
oval-like shape and
has a dimension of approximately 0.625 in. wide by approximately 0.81 in.
long. The ports 54A
and 54B serve as the means for filling the container with the requisite ration
of the cat's dry food
and also serve as the means through which the dry food exits when the cat
plays with the feeding
device 50.
[0064] The ports 54A and 54B are separated by a bridging wall 56 whose
outer
peripheral surface constitutes a continuation of the circular periphery of the
container 52. Thus,
the bridging wall doesn't impede the rolling action of the feeding device 50
when the cat plays
with it. In the exemplary embodiment shown, the width of the bridging wall,
i.e., the spacing
between the ports 54A and 54B is approximately 0.31 in.
[0065] A rounded ridge 58 projects outward from the outer surface of
the container 52
and surrounds the area encompassed by the ports 54A and 54B and the
intermediate bridging
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wall 56. An annular groove 60 is located immediately below the ridge 58 and
serves to
cooperate with an elasticized portion of the skin 64 to hold the container
within the pocket of the
skin and to ensure that it doesn't shift within the pocket. In particular, as
can be seen in Fig. 6,
the skin 64 is similar in construction to the skin 24. In the interest of
brevity the common
features of the skin 64 with the skin 24 will be given the same reference
numbers and the details
.. of their construction and operation will not be reiterated. The skin 64
includes a top opening
having an elasticized edge 46 which is configured to be received within the
annular groove 60.
Thus, when the hollow container 52 is disposed within the pocket 44 of the
simulation covering
64 the elasticized edge 46 of the pocket will tightly engage the groove 60 to
hold the hollow
container 52 in place. Such action will prevent the simulation covering 64
from blocking either
of the ports 54A or 54B when the cat plays with the feeding device 50.
[0066] The skin 64, is somewhat different than the skin 24, in one
respect, namely, it
includes a back opening 66 which exposes a rear portion 52A of the container
52. That rear
portion includes a small aperture 68 (Fig. 5) that is in communication with
the interior of the
container. The aperture 68 is configured to releasably mount an item which
simulates a portion
of the prey animal that the skin represents. Thus, in the example shown the
aperture 68 is shown
mounting a flexible tail 70 to the container, i.e., the proximal end of the
tail 70 is releasably
mounted within the aperture 68. Other shaped tails could be mounted onto the
container via the
aperture to change the appearance of the prey animal. Moreover, if the skin
provides the
appearance of a fish, the aperture 58 can be used to mount a fish tail to the
container. Similarly,
if the skin provides the appearance of a bird, the aperture 58 can be used to
mount a bird tail to
the container. In fact, it is contemplated that the container will have an
opening 58 in its front
end portion 52B and that the skin 64 will have an opening in its forward end
such that the
container can be placed in the pocket whereupon an aperture 58 in the front
end portion 52B of
the container is exposed by the open forward end of the skin. In that case, an
item simulating the
head of the prey animal simulated by the skin 64 can be releasably mounted
onto the container.
Further still the container may include apertures 68 in its forward and
rearward ends for use with
skins having opening in their forward and rearward ends for mounting head and
tail simulating
items to the forward and rearward ends, respectively, of the container 52.
Whether the
aperture(s) 68 serve to mount a tail-simulating item or a head-simulating
item, is not relevant.
What is relevant is that the head or tail simulating item that the aperture 68
mounts on the
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container 52 is done in such a way that it can be readily removed by the cat
owner. That factor
and the factor that the container can be readily removed from the pocket of
the skin itself, enable
the cat owner to disassembly the feeding device when necessary to clean its
various components.
Once cleaned the feeding device can be reassembled and refilled for reuse by
the cat.
[0067] It should be appreciated by those skilled in the art that the
construction of each
feeding device may be different than the exemplary embodiments shown in Figs.
1 ¨ 6. For
example, the hollow container may be constructed like the embodiment of Fig. 4
so that it
doesn't include a hinged lid, but unlike that embodiment only make use of a
single large opening
or hole through which the hollow container is filled. In such an alternative
embodiment, the
opening or hole through which the food is introduced has to be large enough to
facilitate filling
and to enable the interior of the hollow container to be cleaned when
necessary. In such a case,
the simulation covering and/or the hollow container should be constructed or
configured so that
the large opening is blocked by a portion of the simulation covering when the
container is in the
pocket of the covering to prevent the egress of the dry cat food therethrough,
while enabling the
dry cat food from gradually passing through one or more of the device's outlet
ports.
[0068] Commercial embodiments of the system of this invention may be in the
form of a
kit of plural hollow containers and plural simulation coverings or skins. The
skins are preferably
interchangeable and can provide the appearance of the same animal or of
different animals.
Moreover, the skins may all be of the same color or may be of different colors
In addition,
different skins may be sold separately to be substituted for the skins of the
kit to provide
additional stimulation for the cat
[0069] Referring now to Fig. 7, there is shown one exemplary
embodiment of a package
system 120 constructed in accordance with this invention. That system
basically comprises a
package 122 holding plural feeding devices 124, each of which is constructed
in accordance with
this invention. The package 122 can be of any suitable construction, e.g., a
typical paper,
paperboard, cardboard or plastic carton. As pointed out above, in nature the
average feral cat
hunts and eats five times a day. Accordingly, in accordance with one preferred
aspect of this
invention the package system 120 includes at least five feeding devices 124,
each of which is
filled with one fifth of a cat's daily ration of dry cat food. In the
exemplary embodiment shown
in Fig. 4, the package 122 includes twenty-five feeding devices 124, each of
which contains one-
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fifth of the cat's daily ration of cat food. As such the package 122 provides
sufficient feeding
devices 124 to feed a cat for five days.
[0070] It should be noted that the foregoing arrangement is merely
exemplary, such that
the package 122 can be constructed to contain as many feeding devices 124 as
required to
provide a cat with his/her daily ration of cat food. Thus, manufacturers of
cat food can package
their product in packaging systems like those of this invention for use by cat
owners, whereupon
those cat owners can be assured that their cats can be fed their daily ration
of cat food daily.
[0071] Each feeding device 124 is preferably in the form of a hollow
container or body
having a central longitudinal axis 126 about which an arcuate sidewall 128
extends. The hollow
container can be of any suitable shape, be it an ovoid, sphere, cylinder, etc.
In the exemplary
embodiment the device 124 is in the form of a cylindrical container having an
arcuate, e.g.,
circular, sidewall 128 extending about the central longitudinal axis and a
pair of planar end walls
130 and 132. The sidewalls and the end walls together bound a hollow interior
cavity within the
container in which the dry cat food 134 is located as can be seen in Fig. 9.
[0072] The feeding device 124 can be formed of any suitable material,
e.g., paper,
cardboard, paperboard, plastic or any combination thereof. The sidewall 128
includes at least
one, and preferably several, frangible areas 136. Each frangible area is
arranged to be opened by
the person feeding the cat to form an outlet port through which the dry cat
food 134 can pass
when the feeding device is used by the cat. Each frangible area can be formed
in various ways.
For example, as shown each area 136 is formed by a line of perforations 138 in
the sidewall, with
each line bounding a respective frangible area. Thus, as will be appreciated
by those skilled in
the art the application of pressure on each of those areas by a person will
cause the perforations
to break, thereby providing an opening at each of those areas. Those formed
openings serve as
the outlet ports for the feeding device 124 to enable the egress of the cat
food 134 therethrough.
[0073] As can be seen in Figs. 7 and 8, each of the feeding devices
124 provides the
visual appearance of an animal or creature, e.g., rodent, bird, fish, etc.,
that constitutes the prey
of a feral cat. To that end, the outer surface of the device's sidewall 128
can be printed with
graphics simulating the desired animal or creature. Alternatively, a printed
sleeve or band
bearing graphics simulating the desired animal or creature can be wrapped
about the sidewall of
the feeding device. In fact, any means can be used to provide the outer
surface of the sidewall
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with the appearance of a desired animal or creature which constitutes prey of
a feral cat.
Moreover, the sidewall may be textured to enhance the appearance, e.g., the
sidewall may
include a sleeve of cover replicating fur.
[0074] In the exemplary embodiment shown the outer surface of the
sidewall 128 of each
feeding device 124 is printed with graphics 140 that provides the appearance
of a mouse. Those
graphics are is merely exemplary. Thus, each feeding device 124 may provide
the appearance of
some different animal or creature. In fact, the plural feeding devices 124
held within the package
122 may provide the appearance of more than one animal or creature, e.g., some
feeding devices
124 in the package 122 may provide the appearance of a rodent, while other
feeding devices in
that package may provide the appearance of a bird, while still other feeding
devices in that
package may provide the appearance of a fish, etc. It should be appreciated
that the graphics and
decorations provided on sidewall 128 need not be limited to graphics
simulating an animal or
creature, and other desired designs or patterns may be used according to other
embodiments of
the invention, for example, such as those described above for skin 24.
[0075] By virtue of the fact that the sidewall 128 of each feeding
device is arcuate (e.g.,
circular in the exemplary device 124 shown), that configuration enables the
feeding device to
rolled on any surface engaged by the sidewall. Thus, when a feeding device 124
is placed on the
floor of the home in which the cat is to be fed, with the device's sidewall
128 engaging the floor,
when the cat starts to play with the device, it will begin to roll about its
central axis 126. That
action will eventually orient the feeding device such that the dry cat food
within its internal
cavity to fall out of the outlet ports 136 for the cat to eat. The number,
size, shape and
positioning of the outlet ports can be selected to facilitate the automatic
dispensing of the desired
portion of the cat's daily ration of dry cat food from the feeding device.
[0076] A typical daily ration of dry cat food is approximately 1.25
cups for the average
indoor cat. Thus, if the system makes use of five feeding devices 124, that
1.25 cups of dry cat
food will be divided equally among those five feeding devices. In accordance
with one
exemplary embodiment of this invention each feeding device 124 has a length of
approximately
3.5 inches and a diameter of approximately two inches.
[0077] In the embodiment of the feeding devices 124 shown in the
drawing there are two
frangible areas 136 in the sidewall 126 of each device. Each of those
frangible areas is oval in
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shape and of a size of approximately 0.375 in. by 0.625 in. Those shapes,
sizes and their
arrangement are merely exemplary. Thus, each feeding device can include on or
more frangible
areas of any shape and size. Moreover, each of those areas can be located at
any desired position
on the sidewall 128. If more than one outlet is provided, the outlets may be
arranged in any type
of array. In any case, each outlet port is preferably of a sufficient size and
shape to enable the
dry cat food within the feeding device to gradually exit through the outlet
port(s) as the cat plays
with the feeding device.
[0078] As mentioned above, a preferred embodiment of the system of
this invention
makes use of five feeding devices 124 which are filled with the cat's regular
dry food and which
are disposed, e.g., hidden, at various locations in the cat's normal
environment. Some cats may
need a refresher course on how to "hunt" and hence feed themselves with the
system of this
invention. To that end, one can train the cat to use the system. In
particular, such training can be
accomplished by putting one half of the cat's regular meal in its bowl and one
half into a feeding
device constructed in accordance with this invention and which is placed near
the cat's bowl.
That feeding device may be in the form of the feeding device 124 as described
earlier or a
"trainer" device having more exit ports to allow the food to fall out more
easily.
[0079] In any case, the training method should entail allowing the cat
to experiment with
getting the food out of the feeding device. Day after day as the cat gets the
hang of it, one can
gradually put more of the cat's food in the feeding device and less into the
cat's bowl. Once the
cat has the learned how to use the feeding device, one can then start hiding
plural feeding devices
in the cat's environment for it to find. Preferably that is done in the
beginning by hiding the
feeding devices in obvious places, e.g., a few feet away from the cat's
regular dining spot.
Gradually over the next few weeks, one can make the hiding spots more
difficult to find. To
enhance the training of the cat, one should attempt avoiding placing the
feeding devices near
things which produce mechanical noises, such as refrigerators, washing
machines, dryers,
furnaces, etc.
[0080] As should be appreciated by those skilled in the art, the fact
that the feeding
devices of the subject invention automatically dispense only a portion of the
dry cat food therein
as the cat plays with the device ensures that the release of the cat food is
accomplished in a
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gradual manner. This action is important inasmuch as it forces the cat to slow
down its eating
process so that it doesn't gobble its food, which action could encourage
vomiting.
[0081] While the preferred system as described above makes use of five
feeding devices
per day, the system may make use of any number of feeding devices per day,
including only a
single such device. Moreover, the construction of each feeding device may be
different than the
exemplary embodiment shown in Figs. 7 and 8. For example, each feeding device
may be
constructed like the feeding device 20 shown in Figs. 1 ¨ 3, or the feeding
device 50 of Fig 6,
or variants of any of those feeding devices.
[0082] Figs. 10A-10E show another hollow container 152 which may be
used in a
feeding device according to yet a further embodiment of the present invention.
In some
embodiments, container 152 may have certain features which are similar to
those described for
container 52 shown in Figs. 4-5B. In some embodiments, container 152 has a
convexly curved
exterior surface. In some embodiments, container 152 includes a generally
ovoid shape having a
rear end portion 152A and a front end portion 152B. A central longitudinal
axis X (Figs. 10C,
10D) extends between the front end portion 152B and the rear end portion 152A.
As best seen in
Figs. 10D, in some embodiments the rear end portion 152A has a lesser degree
of curvature than
the front end portion 152B and the container 152 is of a generally round cross-
section as best
seen in Fig. 1 0E. In one embodiment, the container 152 is generally egg
shaped. In some
embodiments, container 152 may be formed of a similar material to that of
containers 22 and 52
described above. In some embodiments, container 152 is constructed from a
rigid plastic
material, which for example, may be molded In some embodiments, container 152
is made
from a food-grade, dishwasher-safe rigid plastic. In other embodiments,
container 152 may be
made of an elastic material, for example, silicone rubber or other elastomer.
In some such
embodiments, container 152 may be configured to bounce during use. In some
embodiments,
container 152 may be made from two or more separately molded components which
are fixed
together (e.g., snap fit, adhered, welded, etc.). In some embodiments, an
outside surface of
container 152 may also be decorated with a logo, color, pattern, or other
graphics. In some
embodiments, container 152 may have a length of about 80 mm to about 90 mm, a
width of
about 40 mm to about 45 mm, and a height of about 45 mm to about 50 mm.
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[0083] Similar to container 52, in some embodiments container 152 does not
include a
hinged lid. In some embodiments, container 152 includes one or more ports
which provide
access to an interior space of container 152. In some embodiments, container
152 includes a pair
of openings or ports 154A and 154B located on a top portion of container 152
through which
container 152 may be filled with a portion of cat food. After container 152 is
filled with the cat
food (e.g., kibbles), the cat food may exit from container 152 via ports 154A
and 154B when the
feeding device is in use by a cat, similar to the configuration of container
52. In some
embodiments, cat food may only be allowed to enter/exit container 152 via
ports 154A and
154B. Ports 154A and 154B may each have an oval-like or elliptical shape and
may be the same
size and shape as each other according to some embodiments. In other
embodiments, each port
154A and 154B may have dissimilar sizes and/or shapes. The size and shape of
ports 154A and
154B should be selected to allow passage of cat food pellets. In some
embodiments, each port
154A and 154B is an oval shape having a first dimension (e.g., width) of about
12 mm to 16 mm
and a second dimension (e.g., length) of about 20 mm to about 25 mm. In one
embodiment, each
port 154A and 154B has dimensions of approximately 0.625 in. wide by
approximately 0.81 in.
.. long. It should be appreciated that other sizes and shapes suitable to
allow passage of dry cat
food pellets may be used for ports 154A and 154B according to other
embodiments. It should
also be appreciated that container 152 could be provided with only a single
port in certain
embodiments, or with more than two ports. In some embodiments, container 152
has at least two
ports as shown in the illustrated embodiments. In some embodiments, the
interior of container
152 may be provided with baffles and/or other physical obstacles which are
configured to limit
the ease through which food may exit container 152. In some embodiments,
making it more
difficult to extract food from container 152 by including the baffles and/or
other obstacles in the
interior of container 152 may provide additional stimulation to the cat since
the cat will have to
work harder for the food. In yet further embodiments, one or more of ports
154A, 154B may be
provided with a device for changing the size of the port opening or closing
the port in order to
limit the ease through which food may exit container 152. For example, in some
embodiments,
one or more of ports 154A, 154B may include a sliding door, removable plug, or
other adjustable
barrier that is capable of reducing the size of and/or closing the opening of
the port.
[0084] In certain embodiments, container 152 may optionally include a
rear opening 168
located at rear end portion 152A. Rear opening 168 may be generally circular
in shape and may
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be smaller than either port 154A and port 154B. In some embodiments, rear
opening 168 may
have a diameter of about 5 mm to about 7 mm, for example. In some embodiments,
rear opening
168 may be sized such that whole cat food pellets cannot pass through rear
opening 168. Similar
to small aperture 68 described above in connection with container 52, in some
embodiments rear
opening 168 may be used to attach an additional component, for example, a
device which
simulates an animal's tail. In some embodiments, rear opening 168 may further
help to drain
liquid from the interior of container 152 when container 152 is washed.
[0085] In some embodiments, ports 154A and 154B are separated by a
raised bridging
wall 156 which extends outward away from ports 154A and 154B. In some
embodiments,
bridging wall 156 extends about 7 mm to about 10 mm away from ports 154A and
154B. As
best shown in Fig. 10 E, bridging wall 156 may have a curved outer surface
which, in some
embodiments, may not be continuous with the curved periphery of the bottom
portion of
container 152. In some embodiments, as will be described further below,
bridging wall 156 is
configured to provide clearance between a portion of container 152 and a
surface when container
152 is inverted onto the surface during use. In some embodiments, this
clearance prevents
blockage of one or both ports 154A, 154B by the surface to facilitate exit of
cat food pellets from
container 152 during use. In some embodiments, bridging wall 156 allows
container 152 to rock
back and forth in an inverted position during use. In further embodiments, a
rounded ridge 158
projects outward from the outer surface of the container 152 and surrounds the
area encompassed
by the ports 154A and 154B and the intermediate bridging wall 156. In some
embodiments, an
annular groove 160 is located immediately below the ridge 158. In some
embodiments, bridging
wall 156 extends beyond ridge 158.
[0086] Referring now to Figs. 11A-11D, in some embodiments container
152 is provided
with a removable simulation covering 164 which is configured to fit over a
portion of container
152. In some embodiments, container 152 together with simulation covering 164
make up a
feeding device 150. In some embodiments, simulation covering 164 may be
configured similarly
to simulation covering 24 and 64 described previously. In some embodiments,
simulation
covering 164 is formed of a soft, flexible fabric or other similar material.
In some embodiments,
simulation covering 164 is preferably made from a machine-washable fabric for
ease of cleaning.
In some embodiments, simulation covering 164 is configured to simulate the
appearance of an
animal or creature, e.g., rodent, bird, fish, etc., that constitutes the prey
of a feral cat. In the non-
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limiting exemplary embodiment shown in Figs. 11A-11D, the simulation covering
164 provides
the appearance of a mouse. In some embodiments, simulation covering 164
includes a projection
162 located at a front end which is in the shape of the head of the animal or
creature which
simulation covering 164 is simulating. As shown in the illustrated
embodiments, projection 162
is shaped to resemble the head of the mouse. In some embodiments, projection
162 may be
adorned with, for example, with ears 162A or other features (e.g., eyes,
whiskers, teeth, etc.) to
further resemble the head of an animal or creature. In some embodiments, ears
162A and/or
other adornments may be made from the same or different material than the rest
of simulation
covering 164, and may have different coloration to provide for visual
contrast. In some
embodiments, projection 162 may be filled with a soft and/or elastic material
which helps
maintain the three-dimensional shape of projection 162 and allows it to be
safely chewed by a cat
during use. As with skin 24 described above, it should be appreciated that
simulation covering
164 may have any other appearance according to further embodiments of the
invention, for
example, circus or carnival characters, cartoon characters, famous persons or
characters, holiday
characters, etc. In yet further embodiments, simulation covering 164 may have
the appearance
of an inanimate object, for example, a sports ball (football, soccer ball,
tennis ball, baseball, etc.)
or an abstract shape It should thus be appreciated that the specific
appearance of simulation
covering 164 is not necessarily limited to animals or the particular design
shown in the illustrated
embodiments of the appended Figures.
[0087] The central portion of the simulation covering 164 is in the
form of a hollow
pocket which is shaped and sized to receive and accommodate at least a portion
of the container
152 therein. In some embodiments, simulation covering 164 is sized and
configured to snugly fit
around most or all of container 152 except for ports 154A and 154B, bridging
wall 156, ridge
158, and rear opening 168. In some embodiments, simulation covering 164
includes a top
opening through which bridging wall 156 and ridge 158 may extend outside of
the simulation
covering 164. The top opening may be bordered by edge 146 that is sized to
seat against ridge
158 and fit, at least partially, within groove 160 of container 152. In some
embodiments, when
container 152 is disposed within the pocket of simulation covering 164, edge
146 will tightly
engage groove 160 of container 152 to prevent container 152 from significantly
shifting relative
to simulation covering 164. In some embodiments, ridge 158 is configured to
prevent simulation
covering 164 from shifting over ports 154A and 154B, which would block cat
food pellets from
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exiting container 152. Edge 146, in some embodiments, may include an
elasticized band to
further help provide a secure fit around container 152. In further
embodiments, edge 146 may be
colored differently than other portions of simulation covering 164 to provide
visual contrast.
[0088] In some embodiments, simulation covering 164 is configured to
fit around
container 152 such that projection 162 is positioned proximate front end
portion 152B of
container 152 during use In some embodiments, simulation covering 164 further
includes an
opening 166 at a rear end, opposite of projection 162. In some embodiments,
opening 166
provides access to rear opening 168 of container 152 In some embodiments,
container 152 may
be inserted into and/or removed from simulation covering 164 through opening
166. In some
embodiments, opening 166 may be cinched closed using a drawstring 170 which is
threaded
around opening 166. In certain embodiments, after opening 166 is cinched
closed, one or both
ends of drawstring 170 may extend from the rear end of simulation covering 164
to mimic an
animal's tail. Drawstring 170 may be any suitable elastic cord, string, rope,
etc. In other
embodiments, where a separate tail (e.g., tail 70) is mounted onto rear
opening 168 of container
152, the tail may extend through opening 166 of simulation covering 164.
[0089] In further embodiments, simulation covering 164 may include a bottom
patch
164A which covers a bottom portion of simulation covering 164 opposite the top
opening.
Bottom patch 164A may be decorated with, for example, a logo, colors,
patterns, or other
graphics. In some embodiments, bottom patch 164A may also provide extra
durability to the
bottom portion simulation covering 164. In some embodiments, bottom patch
164A, edge 146,
ears 162A, and/or drawstring 170 may have a first color whereas the rest of
simulation covering
164A has a second different color to provide for visual contrast. In other
embodiments, where
simulation covering 164 is intended to resemble an animal, simulation covering
164 may also
have additional graphics, patterns, or designs to help simulate the animal
which is being
mimicked. For example, graphics or patterns representing the animal's legs,
fins, wings, fur,
scales, feathers, etc., may be included on the simulation covering 164
according to some
embodiments.
[0090] Feeding device 150 comprising container 152 and simulation
covering 164 may
be used in the same manner as described for feeding devices 20 and 50
described above for
providing food and stimulation to a cat. In some embodiments, one or more
feeding devices 150
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are each filled with a portion of cat's daily food amount and are disposed or
hidden throughout
the cat's environment. In some embodiments, for example, five feeding devices
150 may be
distributed with each feeding device 150 being filled with a fifth of the
cat's daily food amount.
The cat will "hunt" for the feeding devices 150, thereby providing the cat
with natural
stimulation. By simulating a prey animal (e.g., rodent, bird, fish, etc.), the
cat may be stimulated
to interact with feeding device 150 as it would with actual prey animals, for
example, swatting at
feeding device 150 with its paws, lifting feeding device 150, biting feeding
device 150, etc.
Owing to the shape of the feeding device 150, feeding device 150 is configured
to roll at least
partially about its longitudinal axis, and a portion of the cat food within
the feeding device will
be gradually dispensed out of feeding device 150 via ports 154A and/or 154B,
thereby enabling
the cat to eat the dispensed food. For example, when feeding device 150 is
inverted during the
cat's interaction with feeding device 150, the cat food may tumble out of
container 152 via ports
154A and/or 154B due to gravity. In further embodiments, feeding device 150
may be
configured to bounce against surfaces during use.
[0091] Figs. 12A-12D show feeding device 150 in various inverted
positions against a
surface S, which may represent a floor or other surface upon which feeding
device 150 is
located. Ears 162A have been omitted for clarity in these views. In some
embodiments, feeding
device 150, when inverted, is able to rock forward and backward (Figs. 12A,
12B) and/or roll
side to side (Figs. 12C, 12D) on surface S by virtue of bridging wall 156
which contacts surface
S. In some embodiments, such motion may help to dispense food from feeding
device 150. The
motion may also be limited by ridge 158, a portion of which may also contact
surface S when
feeding device 150 is inverted. As can be further seen in these illustrated
embodiments, feeding
device 150 is configured such that when inverted, bridging wall 156 provides
some clearance
between surface S and feeding device 150. This clearance prevents surface S
from blocking port
154A and/or port 154B which could otherwise limit food from exiting ports 154A
and/or 154B.
[0092] In further embodiments, simulation covering 164 and/or container 152
may be
provided with a tracking device which allows a user to locate, track, and/or
detect the movement
of feeding device 150. In some embodiments, for example, the tracking device
may be
positioned within projection 162 of simulation covering 164. The tracking
device may be
removable from or permanently attached to simulation covering 164 or container
152. The
tracking device in some embodiments may be configured to send a signal or
communication to a
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user's phone, computer, or other electronic device to indicate the location
and/or movement of
the feeding device 150. In some embodiments, the tracking device may include,
for example, a
GPS device. In some embodiments, the tracking device may include a motion
sensor. In further
embodiments, the tracking device may include Bluetooth or other wireless
communication
technology. In some embodiments, being able to track the movement of feeding
device 150
may help a user determine, for example, if and when a cat has interacted with
the feeding device
150 and whether it needs to be refilled or replaced. For example, if a feeding
device 150 does
not register any change in location or movement, it may mean that the feeding
device 150 has not
been found by the cat and therefore does not need to be refilled/replaced yet.
Lack of movement
may also suggest that the feeding device 150 has been too well hidden for the
cat to locate and
therefore the user should consider positioning the feeding device 150
elsewhere for the cat to
find. Being able to locate the feeding device 150 may also be useful, for
example, if the cat has
carried the feeding device far from its original location.
[0093] A feeding system according to certain embodiments may also
include a separate
training device which may be used to train a cat to interact with the feeding
devices of the
present invention. Figs. 13A-13F show a training device 200 according to some
embodiments.
Training device 200 in some embodiments is a hollow container having a
generally ovoid shape
with a rear end portion 202A and a front end portion 202B. In some
embodiments, training
device 200 includes a convexly curved exterior and is configured to roll
against a surface. In
some embodiments, the size and ovoid shape of training device 200 is similar
to the size and
shape of container 152. In some embodiments the rear end portion 202A has a
lesser degree of
curvature than the front end portion 202B, and the training device 200 has a
generally round
cross-section. In one embodiment, the training device 200 is generally egg
shaped. In some
embodiments, the round cross-section is configured to allow training device
200 to roll about its
longitudinal axis. Training device 200, furthermore, may be made from the same
material as
container 152 (e.g., a rigid plastic). In some embodiments, training device
200 may be made of
an elastic material, for example, silicone rubber or other elastomer. In some
such embodiments,
training device 200 may be configured to bounce during use.
[0094] Similar to feeding device 150, training device 200 is
configured to be filled with
cat food, particularly dry cat food pellets, and to dispense the food when
interacted with by a cat.
However, unlike feeding device 150, in some embodiments training device 200 is
configured to
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dispense the cat food more readily than feeding device 150. In some
embodiments, training
device 200 includes more ports than container 152. For example, in the
illustrated embodiments,
training device 200 may include at least six ports 204A, 204B, 206A, 206B,
208A, 208B, which
may be arranged in pairs positioned along different portions of training
device 200. It should be
appreciated that fewer or more than six ports may be included according to
other embodiments.
In some embodiments, training device 200 includes two ports 204A, 204B
positioned along a top
portion of training device 200. In some embodiments, training device 200
further includes two
ports 206A, 206B along a first side, and two ports 208A, 208B along a second
side. Ports 206A,
206B may be diametrically opposed to ports 208A, 208B, respectively. In some
embodiments, a
bottom portion of training device 200 does not include any ports. In some
embodiments, each of
.. port 204A, 204B, 206A, 206B, 208A, 208B may be similarly sized and oval-
shaped. In some
embodiments, ports 204A, 204B, 206A, 206B, 208A, 208B may be similarly sized
and shaped as
port 154A and/or 154B of container 152. In other embodiments, ports 204A,
204B, 206A,
206B, 208A, 208B may have different sizes and shapes. By having more ports
than feeding
device 150, training device 200 in some embodiments will more readily dispense
food when
rolled. Furthermore, unlike container 152 of feeding device 150, training
device 200 does not
include a raised bridging wall or ridge according to some embodiments
Moreover, training
device in some embodiments is not intended to be used with a simulation
covering. By omitting
these features from training device 200, training device 200 is configured to
be more easily
rolled by the cat to dispense food. In some embodiments, the interior of
training device 200 may
be provided with baffles and/or other physical obstacles which are configured
to limit the ease
through which food may exit training device 200. In some embodiments, making
it more
difficult to extract food from training device 200 by including the baffles
and/or other obstacles
in the interior of training device 200 may provide additional stimulation to
the cat since the cat
will have to work harder for the food. In yet further embodiments, one or more
of ports 204A,
204B, 206A, 206B, 208A, 208B may be provided with a device for changing the
size of the port
opening or closing the port in order to limit the ease through which food may
exit training device
200. For example, in some embodiments, one or more of ports 204A, 204B, 206A,
206B, 208A,
208B may include a sliding door, removable plug, or other adjustable barrier
that is capable of
reducing the size of and/or closing the opening of the port.
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[0095] In use, according to one method of the present invention, training
device 200 may
be filled with a portion of cat food, for example, a fifth of a cat's daily
food amount. The food-
filled training device 200 may then be given directly to the cat or hidden
somewhere in the cat's
environment to be found by the cat. The food contained within training device
200 will be
dispensed through ports 204A, 204B, 206A, 206B, 208A, 208B as the cat
interacts with training
device 200 (e.g., rolls, lifts, shakes, tumbles, bounces training device 200).
Because of the
higher number of ports in training device 200, the food will be dispensed more
easily than with
feeding device 150. This in turn may result in a quicker and easier reward for
the cat, which
helps reinforce the cat's behavior to feed from such a device (as opposed to,
for example, a
standard food bowl). In some embodiments, a portion of a cat's daily food
amount (e.g., one
fifth) may be provided using training device 200 while the remaining amount
(e.g., four fifths)
may be provided in a traditional manner (e.g., bowl feeding). This feeding
routine may be
repeated daily until the cat has become fully accustomed to extracting food
from training device
200. Subsequently, the training device may be replaced with a feeding device
(e.g., feeding
device 20, 50, or 150), which by virtue of having fewer ports, dispenses food
less easily than
training device 200. Eventually, a cat may be able to obtain its entire daily
food amount using
the feeding devices. For example, in some embodiments, the cat's total daily
food amount may
be divided into a plurality of feeding devices (e.g., five feeding devices
150) which are
distributed throughout the cat's environment. The cat must then hunt for each
of the plurality of
feeding devices throughout the day to obtain its total daily food ration.
Thus, in some
embodiments, a feeding system of the present invention including a plurality
of feeding devices
(e.g., five feeding devices 150) and a training device 200 may offer a
complete feeding system
for a cat, providing multiple portion-controlled feeding devices to hum
throughout the course of
the day and allowing the cat to be in charge of its own feeding schedule.
[0096] In some embodiments, a feeding system according to the present
invention may
further include a measuring device to assist with proper food portioning in
feeding device 150
and/or training device 200. Figs. 14A-14C illustrate an example measuring
device 300
according to an embodiment of the present invention. In this embodiment,
measuring device 300
may be generally configured as a measuring spoon or cup having a bowl 302 and
a handle 308
extending from bowl 302. In some embodiments, bowl 302 has a predetermined
volume and
may be configured to contain, for example, a fifth of a cat's daily food
amount In one
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embodiment, bowl 302 is configured to contain about 1.6 tbsp of food. It
should be appreciated
that measuring device 300 may have smaller or greater volumes according to
other embodiments.
In some embodiments, bowl 302 may further include a spout 304 which extends
from a side of
bowl 302. In some embodiments, spout 304 may extend from bowl 302 in a
direction that is
perpendicular than a longitudinal axis of handle 308. Spout 304, in some
embodiments, may be
particularly sized and configured to channel food from bowl 302 into ports
154A and/or 154B of
container 152 or ports 204A, 204B, 206A, 206B, 208A, 208B of training device
200. In yet
further embodiments, bowl 302 may include a flattened bottom 306. In some
embodiments,
flattened bottom 306 is configured to allow measuring device 300 to sit on a
flat surface S2
without tipping. In some embodiments, flattened bottom 306 may be particularly
angled to be
coplanar with an end 308A of handle 308 such that flattened bottom 306 and end
308A may both
rest on surface S as shown in Fig. 14C.
[0097] In some embodiments, two or more of any of the components
described herein
may be provided as a kit. Fig. 15 illustrates one kit according to an
embodiment of the present
invention. In this embodiment, the kit includes a plurality of feeding devices
150 and at least
one training device 200. In some embodiments, the kit may further include at
least one
measuring device 300. In some embodiments, the kit includes five feeding
devices 150, one
training device 200, and one measuring device 300. In other embodiments, a kit
may include 5X
feeding devices 150 and X training devices 200, where X is a positive integer
and, for example,
may be equal to the number of cats the kit is designed to accommodate (e.g, X
= 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6,
etc.). In yet further embodiments, a kit may include 5X feeding devices 150, X
training devices
200, and X measuring devices 300. Each feeding device 150 includes a container
152 and a
simulation covering 164. In some embodiments, a kit may also include a
separate tracking
device for each feeding device 150 contained in the kit. In some embodiments,
each of the
containers 152 and simulation coverings 164 included in a kit may be the same.
In other
embodiments, a single kit may include different simulation coverings 164, for
example,
differently colored simulation coverings 164 or simulation coverings 164 which
mimic different
prey animals (e.g., mouse, fish, bird, etc.), characters, or other shapes. In
some embodiments, all
the components of a kit may be packaged in a single package or box 400. A kit
may also include
an instruction pamphlet, booklet, or brochure (not shown), which describes any
one or more of
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the methods of use according the present invention. The instructions may
alternatively be
printed on box 400.
[0098]
As noted above, in some embodiments, certain feeding systems and kits of the
present invention are configured to provide a complete feeding system for a
cat. In some
embodiments, feeding systems and kits of the present invention are configured
to supply a cat's
entire daily ration of food. In some embodiments, for example, a feeding
system or kit of the
present invention may be used to replace a cat's other means for feeding,
e.g., a typical food
bowl, or as a device (perhaps smaller in size) for releasing treats for the
cat. In some
embodiments, a feeding systems and kits of the present invention is configured
to provide a cat
with multiple portion-controlled feeding devices to hunt throughout the course
of the day and can
therefore allow the cat to be in charge of its own feeding schedule.
[0099]
One example method of training a cat using a kit or feeding system according
to
the present invention which comprises at least five feeding devices 150, a
training device 200,
and a measuring device 300 includes the following steps:
1. Measure out a cat's daily dry food (kibble) ration. Measure out a portion
of the
daily food ration (e.g., two scoops of the food using measuring device 300)
into the cat's
normal food bowl and add a smaller portion of food (e.g., one scoop using
measuring
device 300) into training device 200. Place the training device 200 next to
the food bowl.
Place a few pieces of dry food on the floor around the training device 200. If
the cat can
empty the training device 200, refill it with food two to three more times
over the course
of the day. Any remaining food form the daily ration can be put in the
training device
200 or the normal food bowl. If the cat fails to empty the training device 200
of food,
show the cat by tipping the training device to release the food onto the
floor. Treats (e.g.,
bonito flakes) may also be added to the training device 200 along with the dry
food to
encourage the cat to use the training device 200. Repeat this process for a
few days, or
until the cat is comfortable feeding from the training device 200.
2. Measure out the cat's daily dry food ration. Place a few pieces of the food
in
the normal food bowl. Place a portion of the food in the training device 200.
Split the
remainder of the food between the at least five containers 152 without
simulation
coverings 164. Allow the cat time to extract food from the five containers
152. If the cat
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is not emptying the containers 152 in a day, show the cat by tipping the
containers 152 to
release the food onto the floor. Refill and replace the containers 152 daily
until the cat
understands how to empty them. This may take a few days, or a few weeks. If
the cat is
not eating a sufficient amount on a daily basis, additional food may be given
in the
normal food bowl or training device 200 to make up for the deficiency.
3. Repeat step 2 above except using the at least five containers 152 with the
simulation coverings 164. Repeat daily until the cat understands how to empty
feeding
devices 150.
4. Divide the cat's daily dry food ration among the at least five feeding
devices
150. Position the feeding devices 150 in various locations within the cat's
environment
and allow the cat to hunt for them. Refill and hide the feeding devices 150
daily.
[00100]
While the embodiments described herein are illustrative of systems, kits, and
methods that are particularly useful for feeding cats, the systems, kits and
methods of the present
invention are not necessarily limited to this use. Some embodiments of the
present invention
may be also be used for feeding other animals and pets, for example, dogs,
rodents, ferrets, birds,
zoo animals, etc. The components described herein can be manufactured in other
sizes
accordingly to accommodate other animals and pets.
[00101]
It should be understood that various changes, substitutions, and alterations
can be
made herein without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as
defined by the
appended claims. It should also be apparent that individual elements
identified herein as
belonging to a particular embodiment may be included in other embodiments of
the invention
Moreover, the scope of the present application is not intended to be limited
to the particular
embodiments of the process, machine, manufacture, and composition of matter,
means, methods
and steps described in the specification. As one of ordinary skill in the art
will readily appreciate
from the disclosure herein, processes, machines, manufacture, composition of
matter, means,
methods, or steps that perform substantially the same function or achieve
substantially the same
result as the corresponding embodiments described herein may be utilized
according to the
present invention.
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