Note: Descriptions are shown in the official language in which they were submitted.
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ANIMAL CONSUMABLE DENTAL HYGIENIC DEVICE
CROSS-REFERENCE
[01] The present application claims priority to United States Provisional
Patent Application
No. 62/571,689, filed October 12, 2017, entitled "Animal Dental Hygienic
Device". The
present application also claims priority to International Patent Application
No.
PCT/IB2017/057472, filed November 28, 2017, entitled "Animal Dental Hygienic
Device".
As to the United States of America only: (1) the present application is a
continuation-in-part
of International Patent Application No. PCT/IB2017/057472, filed November 28,
2017,
entitled "Animal Dental Hygienic Device" and via the '472 International
Application, the
present application also claims priority to United States Provisional Patent
Application No.
62/497,616, filed November 28, 2016, entitled "Dental Cleaning Application
Device and
Method" and to United States Provisional Patent Application No. 62/467,431,
filed March 6,
2017, entitled "Dental Cleaning and Application Device and Method"; and (2)
the entire
contents of all of the patent applications in this paragraph are incorporated
in the present
application by reference.
FIELD
[02] The present technology relates to consumable dental hygienic devices for
animals.
BACKGROUND
[03] Domesticated animals, such as cats and dogs, often need dental care to
prevent dental
problems commonly due to plaque, tartar, tooth decay, gingivitis, periodontal
disease, and the
like. Poor dental health in such animals is, unfortunately, very common.
Indeed, periodontal
disease is one of the most frequently treated diseases by veterinarians in the
United States.
[04] Most periodontal disease starts with the formation of a film of a soft
amorphous
biofilm called plaque, consisting primarily of oral bacteria, bacterial by-
products, and oral
debris. This film typically covers both the exposed tooth surface and the area
lying under the
gum line, the gingival cavity (sulcus). Through the deposition of calcium and
other mineral
salts, this layer of plaque hardens and develops into tartar. Although tartar
is hard, it is also
porous and adheres to the tooth surface. Tartar appears to be progressively
deposited in layers
and provides a rough surface onto which more plaque is deposited. As tartar
builds up, a
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broad range of microbes can attach. The by-products of metabolism from these
bacteria cause
inflammation of local tissues including those surrounding the gingival cavity.
This ultimately
leads to periodontal disease. The earliest stage is gingivitis, characterized
by inflammation of
the gums. As periodontal disease progresses, gingivitis becomes periodontitis,
with
inflammation extending into the connective tissues surrounding the tooth.
Through gingivitis
and periodontitis, it is thought that harmful bacteria enter into the blood
stream and ultimately
lodge in the heart and other internal organs.
[05] The long-term impact of poor dental health can be devastating. Poor
dental health is
thought to be a contributing factor in the deaths of dogs, cats, and other
mammals. In animals,
as is the case in humans, poor dental health has been linked with serious
diseases of the heart,
liver, kidney, and other internal organs. Indeed, one study demonstrated that
every dog with
periodontal disease had pathological changes in the heart, liver, and kidneys.
[06] Dental care for animals is generally more difficult to manage than dental
care for
humans; animals do not voluntarily engage in tooth brushing.
[07] Some veterinarians recommend regularly brushing the animal's teeth, but
as any pet
owner knows, such a task is extremely difficult. It is often difficult for the
owner to keep the
animal's mouth open during brushing, and the process may be extremely
unpleasant for the
animal and even potentially dangerous to the owner. Few animal owners are
willing and able
to maintain this level of home care.
[08] Another solution is to bring the animal to the veterinarian to have it
sedated and have
the veterinarian perform dental care on the animal while it is under sedation.
This solution,
however, is not something that can reasonably be performed daily, weekly or
even monthly.
Sedation can be potentially harmful to the animal, especially if the animal is
older.
[09] Many domestic animal dental hygienic devices have been created in the
past. Also,
many animal foods have been designed with an additional purpose of assisting
in providing
dental care to domestic animals as they eat the food. Conventionally, such
foods are shaped
as kibbles and have a texture adapted for abrading debris or tartar away from
an animal's
teeth as the animal chews. Unfortunately, none to date that provide
satisfactory dental
cleaning for animals are found in contemporary use.
[10] Improvements in this area are therefore desirable.
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SUMMARY
[11] It is thus an object of the present technology to ameliorate at least
some of the
inconveniences present in the prior art.
[12] It is also an object of the present technology to provide an improved
animal
consumable dental hygienic device, at least as compared with some of the prior
art devices.
[13] The creator of the present technology has realized several facts that are
believed to be
helpful in designing improved animal consumable dental hygienic devices (which
include,
but are not limited to, animal feed).
[14] In this respect, the sides of the teeth facing the cheeks, i.e., the
buccal (facial) side ¨
located in the buccal cavity, have a greater incidence of gingivitis and
plaque/tartar build-up
than the sides of the teeth facing the tongue, i.e., the lingual (oral) side.
It has also been found
that the rear teeth, i.e., the pre-molars and molars; more rapidly develop
plaque and tartar
than the front teeth. Yet, typical conventional animal consumable dental
hygienic devices
seemingly have limited efficacy in cleaning the molars and pre-molars, and
this
notwithstanding the fact that these are the teeth where tartar build up
typically is heaviest.
(These teeth are also the most difficult teeth for an animal owner to clean
with a toothbrush.)
They are thus the areas where plaque accumulation can rapidly develop into
gingivitis and
pathogenic bacteria enter the blood stream with potentially harmful
consequences. But, if an
animal feed is poorly designed (as a consumable dental hygienic device), then,
during
chewing or biting, little of the food will actually reach or travel around the
rear buccal cavity,
thus leading to reduced abrasive action and limited cleaning of the tooth
surface.
[15] Further, typical conventional domestic animal consumable dental hygienic
products
do not always clean the crevices of the animal's teeth, and many such products
are ineffective
in cleaning the areas underneath the animal's gums.
[16] A further drawback of typical conventional animal consumable dental
hygienic
products is that many of these products are ineffective in removing existing
tartar from the
teeth. Because tartar is so hard, attempting to remove tartar by the simple
abrading action
caused by chewing on a food having a chewy material and an abrasive texture
may not be
effective in reducing the tartar.
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[17] A common failure of the typical conventional animal feeds is that they
are not
designed to take into account the bite force exerted by the teeth and the
biting behavior of the
target animals. If the bite resistance is too high, then the teeth will not
evenly penetrate the
product and there will be little opportunity for the product to push further
apically against the
teeth and against or under the gums for cleaning in critical areas.
Conversely, if the bite
resistance is too low then the animal will rapidly bite through and
potentially ingest the
product; thus, little pressure will be exerted against the tooth surface and
against or under the
gums again leading to poor cleaning in critical areas.
[18] The present technology was created with the foregoing information in
mind. Thus, in
one aspect, embodiments of the present technology provide an animal consumable
dental
hygienic device, comprising: A consumable body having an exterior surface and
an interior
cavity. The body is sized to fit within the mouth of the animal and to be
bitten by the animal.
The exterior surface defines a plurality of projections which extend
outwardly. The body
defines a plurality of recesses extending inward from the exterior surface to
at least outward
of the interior cavity. Each recess has dental-hygienically active dimensions
allowing a tooth
of the animal to penetrate into a one recess of the plurality of recesses when
the animal bites
the body, such that material surrounding the one recess frictionally engages
an outer surface
of the tooth during penetration of the tooth into the one recess, the material
surrounding the at
least one recess being of sufficient hardness to scrape the outer surface of
the tooth during
frictional engagement to remove dental plaque. Also, the plurality of
projections are
positioned, dimensioned, shaped and structured to be dental-hygienically
active when the
animal bites the body, allowing the tooth of the animal to be adjacent to at
least one
projection of the plurality of projections when the animal bites the body,
such that the at least
one projection frictionally engages at least one of the outer surface of the
tooth and gums of
the animal during biting of the body by the animal.
[19] An animal consumable dental hygienic device of the present technology
attempts to
overcome at least some of aforementioned difficulties with typical
conventional domestic
animal consumable dental hygienic devices (principle animal feed). As an
animal chews on
an appropriately sized consumable device, the teeth of the animal will
penetrate between
projections and into the body of the device via the recesses. During such
penetration, plaque,
tartar and debris are cleaned from the animal's teeth surface via being
scraped against the
material of the surrounding projections and the material surrounding the
recesses. The more
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force that the animal exerts while biting the device, the deeper that their
teeth will penetrate,
thus cleaning the tooth closer to the animal's gum line and potentially
cleaning the gingival
cavity itself
[20] Being designed in this manner, it is not necessary to have the
material forming the
5 body inward of the recesses to itself be penetrable by the teeth of the
animal (although this
may be the case in some embodiments). The recesses permit penetration and are
appropriately sized to scrape a tooth of the animal as it penetrates therein.
Indeed, the
material surrounding the recesses (which is in many embodiments the same as
the material of
the remainder of the body, although this is not required to be the case and is
not the case in
some embodiments), and the recesses themselves, may be designed and structured
taking into
account the typical animal's biting force in respect of which the device has
been designed. In
this manner, typical penetration depth of the teeth may be able to be
controlled, if so desired.
[21] The recesses may be of any shape sufficient to accomplish their intended
function as
described hereinabove. For example, in different embodiments, the recesses
will be of one or
more of the following shapes: cylindrical, triangular, rectangular, pyramidal,
etc. (This list is
not intended to be limiting, merely exemplary.) In some embodiments, all of
the recesses of
the device are of the same shape; but this is not required to always be the
case. In some
embodiments, different recesses of the same device have different shapes.
[22] Further the recesses may also be of a depth and size sufficient to allow
a tooth of an
animal (for which the device is designed) to penetrate into the recess and
extend into the
internal cavity of the body when the animal bites the body, as will be further
described
hereinbelow. For example, some recess depths and sizes are better adapted to
teeth of a dog,
and some other depths and sizes of recesses are better adapted to teeth of a
cat.
[23] In some embodiments, although it is not required to be the case, the
interior cavity of
the animal consumable dental hygienic device contains a filler material
different than the
material of which the body is constructed. Within the scope of the present
technology, the
range of filler materials is vast. In some such embodiments, for example in
those wherein the
hygienic device that is intended for use by dogs, the filler material may
contain wood. As
dogs like to chew wooden sticks, having filler material in the form of a
wooden stick may
induce dogs to chew the device for relatively longer periods of time,
providing a better
cleaning of their teeth. This is especially desirable when the device is a
treat, which
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conventionally have a body being constructed of a material adapted to be
consumed slowly
by an animal to promote its dental hygiene, such as materials having an
abrasive texture or
releasing substances such as calcium when being consumed. For similar reasons,
in some
embodiments, the filler material may contain rawhide. In other embodiments,
such as those
wherein the hygienic device is intended for cats, the filler material may
contain catnip and/or
other cat attracting herbs. In some embodiments, the filler material may be in
the form of a
brush.
[24] In some embodiments, the body is constructed of material having
sufficient flexibility
to deform under pressure exerted by the animal biting the body, and the
dimensions of the
one recess change during deformation from the initial dimensions to the dental-
hygienically
active dimensions.
[25] In some embodiments, the body is constructed of material having
sufficient flexibility
to deform under pressure exerted by the animal biting the body, and the
position of the at
least one projection changes during deformation from initial position to the
dental-
hygienically active position. In some such embodiments, changing of the
dimensions of a one
recess from initial dimensions to the dental-hygienically active dimensions,
the one recess
being adjacent to the at least one projection, assists in deforming the body
under pressure
exerted by the animal biting the body for changing the position of the at
least one projection
from the initial position to the dental-hygienically active position.
[26] In some embodiments, the material of which the body is constructed is
material
having sufficient brittleness for the body to cleave under pressure exerted by
the animal
biting the body. In some embodiments, the filler material (if present at all)
is material having
sufficient flexibility to deform under pressure exerted by the animal biting
the body when the
body cleaves, and the position of the at least one projection changes during
deformation from
the initial position to the dental-hygienically active position due to the
deformation of the
underlying filler material.
[27] In some embodiments, the at least one projection extends outwardly along
a first
primary projection direction axis, and an adjacent projection of the plurality
of projections
extends outward along a second primary projection direction axis. In such
embodiments, the
second primary projection direction axis is angled with respect to the first
primary projection
direction axis.
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[28] In some such embodiments, the at least one projection has at least one
secondary
projection extending therefrom along a secondary projection direction axis.
[29] In some such embodiments, the secondary projection direction axis is
angled with
respect to the first projection direction axis.
[30] In some embodiments, at least some projections of the plurality of
projections and at
least some recesses of the plurality of the recesses define a path, the body
being cleavable
into consumable portions along the path.
[31] In some embodiments, at least one of the exterior surface and the
interior cavity has at
least one portion defining at least one normal axis, the one recess being
aligned with the at
least one normal axis.
[32] In some embodiments, the one recess extends inward from the exterior
surface to
outward of the interior cavity.
[33] In some embodiments, the one recess is an aperture extending inward from
the
exterior surface to the interior cavity.
[34] In some embodiments, the one recess is an aperture extending from the
exterior
surface to inside of the interior cavity.
[35] In some embodiments, the one recess is an aperture extending throughout
the body.
[36] In some embodiments, the one recess extends longitudinally along a length
of the
body.
[37] In some embodiments, the one recess extends circumferentially along a
circumference
of the body.
[38] In some embodiments, the plurality of recesses defines a staggered
pattern of recesses.
[39] In some embodiments, the body and the interior cavity (either having a
filler material
or empty) are structured and arranged for receiving and retaining a substance
(preferably
different than the material of which the body is constructed and different
than the filler
material) inside of the interior cavity. Again, the range of substances within
the scope of the
present technology is vast. In some such embodiments, the substance is
consumable.
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[40] In the context of the present technology, substances receivable in the
interior cavity
are not limited to solids, as, for example, in some embodiments, the filler
material may be or
contain fluids such as liquids, gels, pastes, etc. or any suitable combination
thereof Thus, in
some embodiments the interior cavity and filler material thereof may serve as
a reservoir for
a fluid material to exit the device during chewing or biting and flow into the
mouth of the
animal (without or along with solid particles also being part of the body).
Non-limiting
examples of the functions of such fluids include toothpastes, mouth rinses,
dental
medicaments, other medicaments and medications, enzymes, vitamins, nutrients,
flavors,
animal attractants, etc. Almost any biocompatible fluid may be housed within
the interior
cavity (as long as it is not incompatible within any other component or
material of the
device).
[41] Substances are not limited to a consumable material and are not limited
to a single
material either; multiple non-incompatible materials are present as substance
receivable
within the interior cavity in some embodiments. Simple non-limiting examples
of multiple
material substances include a capsule containing a medicament and a brush
coated with a
dental antibiotic. In some such embodiments, the substance has a shape being
one of
cylindrical, obround, spherical and ellipsoidal.
[42] While most embodiments of the device of the present technology are
intended for use
by domestic animals, embodiments of the device may be constructed for use by
other animals
such as humans, feral animals or wild animals.
[43] Embodiments of the present technology each have at least one of the above-
mentioned
object and/or aspects, but do not necessarily have all of them. It should be
understood that
some aspects of the present technology that have resulted from attempting to
attain the above-
mentioned object may not satisfy this object and/or may satisfy other objects
not specifically
recited herein.
[44] Additional and/or alternative features, aspects and advantages of
implementations of
the present technology will become apparent from the following description,
the
accompanying drawings and the appended claims.
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BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[45] For a better understanding of the present technology, as well as other
aspects and
further features thereof, reference is made to the following description which
is to be used in
conjunction with the accompanying drawings, where:
[46] Figure 1 is a perspective view of an animal consumable dental hygienic
device being a
first embodiment of the present technology;
[47] Figure 2 is a front elevation view of the animal consumable dental
hygienic device of
Figure 1;
[48] Figure 3 is a front elevation view of an animal consumable dental
hygienic device
being a second embodiment of the present technology;
[49] Figure 4 is a front elevation view of an animal consumable dental
hygienic device
being a third embodiment of the present technology;
[50] Figure 5 is a perspective view of an animal consumable dental hygienic
device being a
fourth embodiment of the present technology;
[51] Figure 6 is a front elevation view of the animal consumable dental
hygienic device of
Figure 5;
[52] Figure 7 is a top plan view of the animal consumable dental hygienic
device of Figure
5;
[53] Figure 8 is a transverse cross-section of the device according to Figure
7, taken along
the line 8-8 in Fig. 7;
[54] Figure 9 is a transverse cross-section of an animal consumable dental
hygienic device
being a fifth embodiment of the present technology, being similar to the view
in Figure 8 and
showing triangle-profiled secondary projections;
[55] Figure 10 is a transverse cross-section of an animal consumable dental
hygienic
device being a sixth embodiment of the present technology, being similar to
the view in
Figure 8 and showing square-profiled secondary projections;
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[56] Figure 11 is a perspective view of an animal consumable dental hygienic
device being
a seventh embodiment of the present technology;
[57] Figure 12 is a front elevation view of the animal consumable dental
hygienic device of
Figure 11;
5 [58] Figure 13 is a perspective view of an animal consumable dental
hygienic device being
an eight embodiment of the present technology;
[59] Figure 14 is a top plan view of the animal consumable dental hygienic
device of
Figure 13;
[60] Figure 15 is a transverse cross-section of the device of Figure 14 taken
along the line
10 15-15 in Fig. 14;
[61] Figure 16 is a transverse cross-section of an animal consumable dental
hygienic
device being a ninth embodiment of the present technology;
[62] Figure 17 is a perspective view of an animal consumable dental hygienic
device being
a tenth embodiment of the present technology;
[63] Figure 18 is a front elevation view of the animal consumable dental
hygienic device of
Figure 17;
[64] Figure 19 is a perspective view of an animal consumable dental hygienic
device being
an eleventh embodiment of the present technology;
[65] Figure 20 is a top plan view of the animal consumable dental hygienic
device of
Figure 19;
[66] Figure 21 is a transverse cross-section of the device of Figure 20 taken
along the line
21-21 in Fig. 20;
[67] Figure 22 is a perspective view of an animal consumable dental hygienic
device being
a twelfth embodiment of the present technology;
[68] Figure 23 is a perspective view of an animal consumable dental hygienic
device being
an thirteenth embodiment of the present technology;
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[69] Figure 24 is a perspective view of an animal consumable dental hygienic
device being
a fourteenth embodiment of the present technology;
[70] Figure 25 is a transverse cross-section of an animal consumable dental
hygienic
device being a fifteenth embodiment of the present technology, schematically
showing
animal teeth approaching the device;
[71] Figure 26 is a transverse cross-section of the animal consumable dental
hygienic
device of Figure 25, schematically showing animal teeth biting onto the
device;
[72] Figure 27 is a transverse cross-section of the animal consumable dental
hygienic
device of Figure 3, schematically showing animal teeth approaching the device;
[73] Figure 28 is a transverse cross-section of the animal consumable dental
hygienic
device of Figure 27, schematically showing animal teeth biting onto the
device.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
[74] Referring to the Figures, there are shown various animal consumable
dental hygienic
devices being embodiments of the present technology. It is to be expressly
understood that
.. the various animal consumable dental hygienic devices are merely some
embodiments of the
present technology. Thus, the description thereof that follows is intended to
be only a
description of illustrative examples of the present technology. This
description is not intended
to define the scope or set forth the bounds of the present technology. In some
cases, what are
believed to be helpful examples of modifications to the animal consumable
dental hygienic
devices may also be set forth below. This is done merely as an aid to
understanding, and,
again, not to define the scope or set forth the bounds of the present
technology. These
modifications are not an exhaustive list, and, as a person skilled in the art
would understand,
other modifications are likely possible. Further, where this has not been done
(i.e., where no
examples of modifications have been set forth), it should not be interpreted
that no
.. modifications are possible and/or that what is described is the sole manner
of embodying that
element of the present technology. As a person skilled in the art would
understand, this is
likely not the case. In addition, it is to be understood that the animal
consumable dental
hygienic devices may provide in certain instances simple embodiments of the
present
technology, and that where such is the case they have been presented in this
manner as an aid
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to understanding. As persons skilled in the art would understand, various
embodiments of the
present technology may be of a greater complexity.
[75] Figure 1 shows a perspective view of an animal consumable dental hygienic
device
being a first embodiment of the present technology. The device 100 has a
consumable body
.. 200, having a cylindrical interior cavity 300 filled with consumable filler
material 350.
Projections 600 are defined by the exterior surface 400 of the body 200 and
extend outwardly
with respect to the interior cavity 300, such that the exterior surface 400 is
inscribed within
an imaginary cylinder (not shown). In this embodiment, projections 600 are
made of the same
consumable material as the body 200. In other embodiments, a projection 600
may be made
of a different consumable material. The projections 600 clean teeth, gums, and
tongue of the
animal, and help to guide the animal's teeth to engage recesses 800 of the
body 200 which are
more numerous and have larger cleaning surface, thereby producing a more
effective and
efficient cleaning action than the projections 600 may otherwise produce by
themselves.
[76] Although it is not required to be the case, animal consumable dental
hygienic devices
of all embodiments described herein are preferably manufactured, at least in
part, by
extrusion. As a non-limiting example, the body 200 is made of a single
material having been
extruded through a die (not shown) adapted to longitudinally shape the
material so as to at
least define the interior cavity 300 and the exterior surface 400 of the body
200. In some
instances, the die is further structured to shape the material so as to also
define recesses 800
extending longitudinally along a length the body 200 (Figure 1). In some
instances, the die is
a variable geometry die having a movable portion structured for plunging
within the body
200 extruded from the die, inward from the exterior surface 400 and thereby
further shaping
the material so as to define the recesses 800 extending longitudinally along a
length of a
body. In some instances, the body 200 may be further shaped so as to allow for
the recesses
800 to be defined by a distinct manufacturing operation, such as by mechanical
cutting or
laser cutting. It is contemplated that heat-affected zones of the body 200
resulting from laser
cutting of the recesses 800 may desirably adapt the hardness and texture of
the material of the
body 200 surrounding the recesses 800 for scraping of animal teeth penetrating
therein.
[77] In the context of the present technology, the bodies 200 of the animal
consumable
dental hygienic devices 100 may be constructed, for example, of conventional
consumable
material having both the nutritional benefits expected of animal feed as well
as sufficient
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hardness to scrape the outer surface of an animal's teeth to remove dental
plaque therefrom
during frictional engagement when the animal bites the body 200.
[78] In some embodiments, at least some of the material or materials (as the
case may be)
of which the body 200 is constructed may have a cancellous structure defining
a network of
small cell-like cavities; such cell-like cavities having a certain shape, a
certain average size
and a certain average density. In such embodiments, it is not necessary that
all portions of
the body 200 having such a cancellous structure have the same shape, average
size and/or
density of cell-like cavities. In some such embodiments, the shape and/or
average size and/or
density of cell-like cavities of different portions of the body vary. In some
embodiments, the
body 200 constructed of material having a cancellous structure may assist in
allowing for the
body 200 to cleave under pressure exerted by an animal biting the body 200,
thereby
changing dimensions of the body 200 from initial dimensions to dental-
hygienically active
dimensions for frictionally engaging the teeth of the animal, as will be
described in further
detail below.
[79] Figure 2 is a front view of the device 100 shown in Figure 1. In this
embodiment, the
recesses 800 are wedge-shaped, radially oriented with respect to the
cylindrical interior cavity
300 and extend inward from the exterior surface 400. Disposed in between
projections 600,
the recesses 800 also extend longitudinally along the body 200. As shown in
this figure,
concavities are formed by the exterior surface 400 between adjacent
projections 600. Any
two adjacent projections 600 extend outwardly with respect to the interior
cavity 300 and
outwardly with respect to one another.
[80] Figure 3 is a front view of a device 102 being a second embodiment of the
present
technology, the device 102 being similar to the device 100 of the first
embodiment. Recesses
802 are wedge-shaped and are comparatively larger than the recesses 800 of the
device 100
of the first embodiment. As in some other embodiments, the device 102 of the
illustrated
embodiment has a body 202 having an exterior surface 402 defining a plurality
of projections
602, among which at least one projection 632 extends outward with respect to
the interior
cavity 302 along a first primary projection direction axis 603. The exterior
surface 402 also
defines a projection 634 adjacent to the at least one projection 632,
extending outward with
respect to the interior cavity 302 along a second primary projection direction
axis 607 being
angled with respect to the first primary projection direction axis 603. Four
projections 632,
634, 636, 638 of the plurality of projections 602 are disposed angularly in a
circular pattern,
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each being aligned with either of axis 603 and axis 607. The device 102
undergoes desirable
deformation as intended by design, taking teeth shape and biting force of the
animal into
account for actively cleaning the tooth, when a tooth of an animal for which
the device 102 is
designed scrapes against projections 602, for example projection 632 and
adjacent projection
634, and progresses toward a recess 834 of the recesses 832 located
therebetween.
[81] Still referring to Figure 3, portions 442 of the exterior surface 402 and
portions 332 of
the interior cavity 302 respectively define normal axis 405, 305, with which
recesses 802
align. In the present embodiment, portions 442, 332 are portions of imaginary
coaxial
cylinders (not shown in detail) being shapes of the exterior surface 402 and
of the interior
portion 302, with axis 405, 305 being radially aligned with one another. Four
instances of
portions 442, 332 and axis 405, 305 are shown, disposed angularly in a
circular pattern, each
having a recess 832, 834, 836, 838 being aligned with an instance of axis 405,
305. In some
other embodiments, at least one of an exterior surface 402 and an interior
cavity 402 has at
least one portion 442, 332 defining at least one of normal axis 405, 305, with
at least one
recess 832 of the recesses 802 being aligned with the at least one normal axis
405, 305. The
device 102 therefore undergoes desirable deformation as intended by design,
taking teeth
shape and biting force of the animal into account for actively cleaning the
tooth, when a tooth
of an animal for which the device 102 is designed penetrates into the recess
832. Recess 832
does not have to be disposed in any particular pattern with respect to other
recesses 802, and
neither do portions 442, 432 and normal axis 405, 305 although it is
desirable. Deformation
of the device 102 can be customized for some or any one of the projections 602
and recesses
802, for instance to receive teeth of different shapes. It is contemplated
that in some
implementations of the present technology, exterior surfaces 402 or interior
cavities 302 may
respectively be inscribed in shapes or have shapes other than cylindrical such
as, as non-
limiting examples, spherical, prismatic or irregular shapes, and that other
patterns of
projections 602 or recesses 802 are better suited for each. As non-limiting
examples,
additional patterns of projections 602 or recesses 802 for exterior surfaces
402 inscribed in
cylindrical shapes or interior cavities 302 having cylindrical shapes will now
be provided.
[82] Figure 4 is a front view of a device 104 being a third embodiment of the
present
technology being similar to the device 100 of the first embodiment. The device
104
comprises a consumable body 204, which has an exterior surface 404, an
interior cavity 304,
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projections 604 extending outwardly with respect to the interior cavity 304,
and recesses 804
extending inward from the exterior surface 404 to the interior cavity 304.
[83] Now turning to Figures 5 to 8, a device 106 being a fourth embodiment of
the present
technology is shown. The device 106 comprises a consumable body 206 having an
exterior
5 surface 406, an interior cavity 306, projections 606 extending outwardly
with respect to the
interior cavity 306, and recesses 806 extending inward from the exterior
surface 406 to the
interior cavity 306. The recesses 806, cylindrical in shape and distributed
longitudinally along
a length of the body 206 in between projections 606, are hidden from view in
Figures 5 and 6.
A filler material 350 is present inside the interior cavity 306.
10 [84] In Figure 9, a device 108 being a fifth embodiment of the present
technology is
shown. The device 108 comprises a consumable body 208 having an exterior
surface 408, an
interior cavity 308, projections 608 extending outwardly with respect to the
interior cavity
308, and recesses 808 extending inward from the exterior surface 408 to the
interior cavity
308. Also, conically-shaped secondary projections 708 extend laterally from
projections 608
15 and generally toward adjacent projections 608 for scraping a tooth of an
animal progressing
therebetween. Also, a filler material 350 is present in the interior cavity
308.
[85] In Figure 10, a device 110 being a sixth embodiment of the present
technology is
shown. The device 110 comprises a consumable body 210 having an exterior
surface 410, an
interior cavity 310, projections 610 extending outwardly with respect to the
interior cavity
310, and recesses 810 extending inward from the exterior surface 410 to the
interior cavity
310. Also, secondary projections 710 having cuboid shapes extend laterally
from projections
610 and generally toward adjacent projections 610 for scraping a tooth of an
animal
progressing therebetween. Also, a filler material 350 is present in the
interior cavity 310.
[86] Referring to Figures 11 and 12, a device 112 being a seventh embodiment
of the
present technology is shown. The device 112 comprises a consumable body 212
having an
exterior surface 412, an interior cavity 312, projections 612 extending
outwardly with respect
to the interior cavity 312, and recesses 812 extending inward from the
exterior surface 412 to
the interior cavity 312. Comparatively to previously described embodiments of
the present
technology, the device 112 has a body 212 being shorter in length such that
the device 112 is
sized to be easily consumed by an animal. Furthermore, the projections 612 are
structured
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and arranged such that a constant distance is maintained between any two
adjacent
projections 612.
[87] Now turning to Figures 13 to 15, a device 114 being an eight embodiment
of the
present technology is shown. The device 114 comprises a consumable body 214
having an
exterior surface 414, an interior cavity 314, projections 614 extending
outwardly with respect
to the interior cavity 314, and recesses 812 extending inward from the
exterior surface 412 to
the interior cavity 312. The recesses 814, cylindrical in shape and
distributed longitudinally
along a length of the body 214 in between projections 614, are hidden from
view in Figure
13. A filler material 350 is present inside the interior cavity 314.
[88] Referring to Figure 16, a device 116 being a ninth embodiment of the
present
technology is shown. The device 116 comprises a consumable body 216 having an
exterior
surface 416, an interior cavity 316, projections 616 extending outwardly with
respect to the
interior cavity 316, and recesses 816 extending inward from the exterior
surface 416 to the
interior cavity 316. Also, secondary projections 716 extend laterally from
projections 616,
forming a convex obtuse angle, and generally toward adjacent projections 616
for scraping a
tooth of an animal progressing therebetween. Also, a filler material 350 is
present in the
interior cavity 316.
[89] Now referring to Figures 17 and 18, a device 118 being a tenth embodiment
of the
present technology is shown. The device 118 comprises a consumable body 218
having an
exterior surface 418, an interior cavity 318, projections 618 extending
outwardly with respect
to the interior cavity 318, and recesses 818 extending inward from the
exterior surface 418 to
the interior cavity 318. Any two adjacent projections 618 extend outwardly
with respect to
the interior cavity 318 and inwardly with respect to one another. Also, a
filler material 350 is
present in the interior cavity 318.
[90] With respect to Figures 19 to 21, a device 120 being an eleventh
embodiment of the
present technology is shown. The device 120 comprises a consumable body 220
having an
exterior surface 420, an interior cavity 320, projections 620 extending
outwardly with respect
to the interior cavity 320, and recesses 820 extending inward from the
exterior surface 420 to
the interior cavity 320. Any two adjacent projections 620 extend outwardly
with respect to
the interior cavity 320 and inwardly with respect to one another. Also, a
filler material 350 is
present in the interior cavity 320. In this embodiment, the recesses 820
(hidden from view in
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Figure 19) are cylindrical in shape and are distributed longitudinally along a
length of the
body 220, in between projections 620.
[91] Now turning to Figures 22 to 24, devices 122, 124, and 128 are shown,
respectively
being a twelfth, a thirteenth and a fourteenth embodiment of the present
technology. Each
device 122, 124, 126 comprises a consumable body 222, 224, 226, having an
exterior surface
422, 424, 426, an interior cavity 322, 324, 326, projections 622, 624, 626
extending
outwardly with respect to the interior cavity 322, 324, 326, and recesses 822,
824, 826
extending inward from the exterior surface 422, 424, 426 to the interior
cavity 322, 324, 326.
Recesses 822, 824, 826 are arranged in a pattern being different for each
device 122, 124,
126. Recesses 822 are disposed longitudinally and angularly along the exterior
surface 424
and arranged in a staggered pattern. Alternating recesses 824 of cylindrical
shapes and
prismatic shapes are distributed longitudinally along a length of the body
224, in between
projections 624.
[92] With respect to Figure 24, recesses 826 are prismatic slots extending
inward from
portions of the exterior surface 426 inclusive of projections 626, and
distributed both
circumferentially and longitudinally along the body 226. Furthermore, the
projections 626
and recesses 826 define circumferential paths 90 distributed longitudinally
along the body
226. The body 226 being constructed of brittle material, such paths allow the
body 226 to
cleave under pressure exerted by an animal biting the body 226. In some
embodiments, the
.. interior cavity is filled with filler material having sufficient
flexibility to deform under
pressure exerted by the animal such that when the body 226 cleaves, the
position of at least
some projections 626 is allowed to change during deformation from initial
deformation to
dental-hygienically active positions as they follow the deformation of the
filler material. It is
contemplated that the device 126 may be sized to be fed to an animal as a full
meal, and that
the paths 90 may allow an animal owner to separate the device 126 into smaller-
sized
portions along the paths 90 such that the portions may instead be fed to an
animal as a treat.
[93] In Figures 25 and 26, a device 128 being a fifteenth embodiment of the
present
technology is shown. The device 128 comprises a consumable body 228 having an
exterior
surface 428, an interior cavity 328, projections 628 extending outwardly with
respect to the
.. interior cavity 328, and recesses 828 extending inward from the exterior
surface 428 to the
interior cavity 328. Also, filler material 350 having sufficient flexibility
to deform under
pressure exerted by the animal biting the body 228 is present in the interior
cavity 328. Any
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two adjacent projections 628 extend outwardly with respect to the interior
cavity 328 and
outwardly with respect to one another. Also, conically-shaped secondary
projections 728
extend laterally from projections 628 and generally toward adjacent
projections 628 for
scraping a tooth of an animal progressing therebetween. A filler material 350
is present in the
interior cavity 328. In Figure 24, upper and lower anterior teeth (e.g.
canines) 50, 54 of an
animal biting onto the body 228 are schematically shown, the teeth 50, 54
progressing toward
recesses 830 of the recesses 828. In Figure 26, the teeth 50, 54 are
schematically shown
penetrating into the recesses 830, thereby deforming the recesses 830 into
dental-hygienically
active dimensions and deforming the filler material 350 under pressure exerted
by the animal
biting the body 228. Adjacent to the teeth 50, 54, deformation of the body 228
and of the
filler material 350, the positions of projections 628 adjacent to the teeth
50, 54 change during
deformation from initial positions to dental hygienically-active positions. In
the dental-
hygienically active positions, projections 628 frictionally engage the teeth
50, 54 and scrape
the outer surfaces thereof. Furthermore, as best seen on Figure 26, the
projections 628 and the
secondary projections 728 frictionally engage outer surfaces of the teeth 50,
54 and of the
gums 52, 54 of the animal during biting of the body 228 by the animal. Biting
directions 58,
60 as well as projection deformation directions 62, 64, 66, 68 are also
schematically shown.
[94] Finally, referring to Figures 27 and 28, the device 102 of the second
embodiment of
the present technology is once again shown, now illustrating upper and lower
posterior teeth
(e.g. molars) 70, 74 of an animal biting onto the body 202. In Figure 27, the
teeth 70, 74 are
schematically shown in passively against the device 102, the projections 632,
634, 636 and
638 thereof being in initial positions. In Figure 28, the teeth 70, 74 are
schematically shown
actively pressed against the device 102 as the animal bites onto the body 202
being deformed.
Projection 638 is shown in a dental-hygienically active position and in
frictional engagement
with upper gingiva 72 of the animal. Projection 632 is shown in a dental-
hygienically active
position and in frictional engagement with the upper tooth 70 of the animal as
well as with
the lower tooth 74 of the animal. Projection 634 is also shown in a dental-
hygienically active
position and in frictional engagement with the lower tooth 74 of the animal.
Biting directions
78, 80 as well as projection deformation directions 82, 84, 86, 88 are also
schematically
shown.
[95] Modifications and improvements to the above-described implementations of
the
present technology may become apparent to those skilled in the art. The
foregoing description
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is intended to be exemplary rather than limiting. The scope of the present
technology is
therefore intended to be limited solely by the scope of the appended claims.
