Therapeutic pet toy

Abstract

Disclosed is a dental hygienic pet toy for dental prophylaxis on the teeth of a dog or other carnivore animal as the toy is chewed by the carnivore. The toy includes an elastomeric body having an outer surface and at least one groove which opens onto the outer surface. The groove is sized and configured so that a functional prophylaxis lip will scrap plaque and other debris from a tooth and gingiva of a carnivore which is repeatedly inserted into and at least partially withdrawn from the groove as the toy is chewed by the carnivore animal. An oral hygiene substance may be provided along the lip to enhance the benefit to the teeth and gingiva.

Description

a carnivoreNormally, the toy has a length greater than the width of the animal's jaw, as seen in FIG. 6. Grooves 36a and 36c are also preferably sized and configured to scrape plaque and other debris from the aforementioned teeth and gingiva of dogs. The dimensions for medium size dogs are those shown in FIG. 4 which are drawn very close to scale.

Groove 36b and 36d as illustrated in FIG. 4 are similar to 36a and 36c. However, 36b and 36d are specifically sized and configured and spaced from one another to provide dental prophylaxis for most dogs left and right molars, whether they be upper or lower molars.

Groove 36e is specifically designed to provide dental prophylaxis for the long canine teeth of most dogs. The canine tooth's length requires, as illustrated, that at least one groove side 28 of groove 36e be long enough to provide dental prophylaxis. FIG. 4 which is drawn to scale, illustrates preferred groove sizes and configuration for medium size dogs, i.e., dogs in the 20 to 45 pound range.

Returning to FIG. 5, it can be seen that surface 30 is beveled at either an upper or downward 45° angle with respect to axis X, the upper or downward direction of the angle depending on which side of the groove the surface is located. Surface 32 which adjoins surface 30 runs perpendicular to axis X and has a length of 0.032 of an inch as mentioned along axis X. Surface 30 has a vertical length of 0.050 of an inch as measured along axis X. Surfaces 30, 32 and adjacent outer surface 26 define a functional prophylaxis lip 40. One lip 40 is preferably located on each side of grooves 36 at the entrance or top of each groove 36 between each groove side 28 and the toy's adjacent outer surface 26 as such is illustrated in FIG. 4.

Functional prophylaxis lips 40 significantly enhances plaque removal by toy 20 by providing a pair of surfaces which scrape the dog's teeth and gingiva as they are inserted into and withdrawn from a groove. The lips provide dental propylaxis since they remain in contact with the tooth surface as the tooth is being lowered into and withdrawn from the groove (See FIGS. 6 and 7). Moreover, by bending downwardly as depicted in FIG. 7, lips 40 permit the tooth to be full inserted into each groove 36. This enables the lips to provide dental prophylaxis to the side and neck of the tooth, but also enables the lips to provide dental prophylaxis to the dog's gingiva or gums which surround the tooth's neck.

Enhanced dental prophylaxis and gum massaging is also provided by making the toy's body 22 out of an elastomeric material such as natural rubber having a hardness ideally around 45 durometers as previously mentioned. The resilience of natural rubber having such a hardness provides the toy with the ability to bounce, thereby attracting the dog's interest and insuring that the dog will play with the toy to receive the desired masticatory exercise and dental cleaning. In addition, such elasticity (or hardness) enables stretching or elongation of a groove 36 when a dog bits down upon the groove with a tooth located in the groove. This stretching of the groove causes the groove's sides and lips to move inwardly toward each other. This inward action causes lips 40 to in effect, engage or clamp the dog's tooth and surrounding gingiva thereby scraping the tooth and gingiva as the dog chews.

To facilitate such stretching of the grooves, it is also important that the body's thickness between each groove root 38 and the inner surface 24 defining the core be thin enough to allow this portion of the body to bow inwardly into the core as such, as illustrated in FIG. 7. This bowing action facilitates full insertion of the tooth into the groove which, in turn, facilitates stretching or elongation of the groove. In the embodiment illustrated having a body made of a material having a hardness of about 45 durometers, the body's thickness between each groove root 38 and inner surface 24 defining core 34 should preferably be between about 1/4 and 3/8 of an inch. Anything less than 1/4 of an inch will probably be too weak and will probably tear after the toy has been chewed by a dog for a while. Anything thicker than 3/8 of an inch and having a hardness of about 45 durometers will probably be too thick to permit the aforementioned bowing and groove stretching.

Flavoring additives may also be added to the material from which the toy's body is to be made during the injection molding process. Such additives will enhance the toy's appeal to a dog, thereby making it more likely that the dog will play with the toy and benefit from the dental cleaning and masticatory exercies provided by the toy. Also, oral hygiene substances can be added along the functional prophylaxis lip to enhance the benefit of the toy to the dog's teeth and gingiva.

Based on the foregoing description, those skilled in veterinary medicine, particularly those interested in the dental aspects of veterinary medicine, will readily appreciate that the present invention provides a pet toy which not only provides masticatory exercise for a dog, but also provides dental prophylaxis for the dog's teeth and gingiva as the dog chews the toy. Moreover, the unique design of the toy provides massaging of the dog's gingiva which surrounds the neck of a tooth being scraped by the toy.

The invention has been described in detail with particular reference to a preferred embodiment thereof, but it will be understood that variations and modifications can be effected within the spirit and scope of the invention.

Claims

1. A dental hygienic play toy for performing dental prophylaxis on the teeth of a carnivore as said toy is chewed by the carnivore , said toy comprising:

an elastomeric elongated body having a longitudinal axis extending in the direction of said body's elongation, said bodydefining an outer surface having a length greater than the width of the carnivore's jaw, a plurality of grooves extending circumferentially about said body and said longitudinal axis formed in said outer surface and having spaced sides, and a functional prophylaxis lip located between at least one of said sides of each groove and its intersection with said toy's associated adjacent outer surface, said lip partially projecting over the opening of groove and will further project inwardly over each groove when the carnivore bites down on said body with one of said grooves and being sized and configured to scrape a tooth as it is inserted into and partially withdrawn from each groove as the carnivore chews said toy.

2. A toy, as claimed in claim 1, wherein said body has an inner surface defining a hollow core which is deformable when the carnivore bites down on said body within one of said grooves to deflect said lip inwardly over said groove.

3. A toy, as claimed in claim 1, wherein one of said lips is located formed between each groove side and its intersection with said toy's associated adjacent outer surface so that each said groove is provided with a pair of said lips, said lips of said pair being oriented so as to oppose each other.

4. A toy, as claimed in claim 3, wherein each lip has a surface which is flush with said toy's associated adjacent outer surface.

5. A toy, as claimed in claim 1, wherein said outer surface extending between adjacent grooves is convex.

6. A dental hygienic play toy for performing dental prophylaxis on the teeth of a dog or other carnivore as said toy is chewed by the carnivore, said toy comprising:

an elastomeric elongated body of predetermined hardness and having a length greater than the width of the carnivore's jaw, said body having an inner surface, an outer surface and a longitudinal axis; a plurality of grooves extending circumferentially about said body and said axis and formed in; said outer surface and having spaced sides, each said groove being sized and configured to scrape plaque and other debris from a tooth of a carnivore which is repeatedly inserted into the groove and at least partially withdrawn therefrom as the carnivore chews the toy, said inner surface defining an inner hollow core lying along said axis which core enhances tooth scraping when the carnivore bites down upon the toy with a tooth located in one of said grooves by providing said toy body with the capability of resiliently bowing into the hollow core which, in turn, facilitates elongation of said groove thereby causing opposing sides of said one groove to move inwardly towards each other, said groove sides thereby engaging the carnivore's tooth located in said one groove to scrape the tooth's side and neck and the carnivore's gingiva surrounding the tooth's neck as the carnivore chews the toy, said body having a hardness which facilitate bowing of the body into the hollow core and elongation of said one groove; and a functional prophylaxis lip located formed between at least one of said groove sides and its intersection with said toy's associated adjacent outer surface, said lip partially projecting over the opening of said one groove and will further project inwardly over each groove when the carnivore bites down on said body within said one groove and being sized and configured to scrape a tooth as it is inserted into and partially withdrawn from said groove as the carnivore chews said toy.

7. A toy, as claimed in claim 6, wherein said functional prophylaxis lip is sufficiently resilient so as to bend downwardly towards the root of said groove as the tooth is being inserted into said groove, said lip also being sufficiently hard so that said lip scrapes the tooth as the tooth enters said groove and as said lip is bending downwardly.

8. A toy, as claimed in claim 6, wherein said body defines a functional prophylaxis lip between each groove side and said toy's associated adjacent outer

surface. 9. A toy, as claimed in claim 6, wherein at least one of said grooves is generally V-shaped such that said groove sides form an included

angle between about 60° and 100°. 10. A toy, as claimed in claim 6, wherein at least one of said grooves has a root which is rounded.

1. A toy, as claimed in claim 6, wherein at least one of said grooves is generally V-shaped such that said groove sides form an included angle of

about 80°. 12. A toy, as claimed in claim 6, wherein at least one of said grooves has a depth which, when elongated, enables said lip to massage that portion of a carnivore's gingiva which surrounds the neck of

a tooth having been inserted into said groove. 13. A toy, as claimed in claim 6, wherein two of said grooves are sized and configured and spaced a preselected distance from one another so as to enable dental prophylaxis

of a carnivore's right and left molars simultaneously. 14. A toy, as claimed in claim 6, wherein two of said grooves are sized and configured and spaced a preselected distance from one another so as to enable

scraping of a right and left premolar simultaneously. 15. A toy, as claimed in claim 6, wherein at least one of said grooves is sized and configured to clean canine teeth, said groove having one of its said

groove sides substantially higher than its other said groove side. 16. A toy, as claimed in claim 6, wherein said body's thickness between the root of each groove and the inner surface defining the core is between about

1/4 and 3/8 of an inch. 17. A toy, as claimed in claim 6, wherein the body is made from an elastomeric material having a hardness between about 30

and 70 durometers. 18. A toy, as claimed in claim 6, wherein said body is injected molded natural rubber having a hardness of about 45 durometers.

. A toy, as claimed in claim 6, wherein said hollow core is generally

cylindrical. 20. A toy, as claimed in claim 6, wherein said circumferentially extending grooves are axially aligned about said axis.

. A toy, as claimed in claim 6, further including:

an oral hygiene substance provided along said functional prophylaxis lip.

22. A toy, as claimed in claim 6, wherein:

said lips extend peripherally around said body and extend over said grooves. 23. A dental hygiene play toy for performing dental prophylaxis on the teeth of a carnivore as said toy is chewed by the carnivore, said toy comprising:

an elastomeric deformable body defining an outer surface;

a plurality of parallel grooves formed in said outer surface and having spaced sides; and

a functional prophylaxis lip formed between at least one of said sides of each groove and its intersection with said toy's associated adjacent outer surface, said lip partially projecting over the opening of each groove and will further project inwardly over each groove when the carnivore bites down on said body within one of said grooves to deform said body, said lip being sized and configured to scrape a tooth as it is inserted into and partially withdrawn from each groove as the carnivore chews said toy.