DESCRIPTION

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to playful and even edible devices for pets in general.

PRIOR ART

The field of devices and I or games for pets, both for purely recreational and educational purposes and I or for training and I or for administration of certain foods and I or supplements in a “fun” way for your Pet has long been a topic of great interest to those who produce and market devices for pets.

In fact, all lovers of pets of any type know that an important factor for them is the playful factor, to never get bored when your owner or better friend is away from home, or simply to pass time and not fall into starvation spending time at home.

Still, as is known, pet companions particularly like games that have a “pemium” component of a food genre, it is difficult for a pet not to be greedy and is more prone to play, or even to training if necessary, if the final “pemium” includes some tasty rewards.

Furthermore, pemium foods are often used as a “subterfuge” to administer vitamins, supplements or even medicines with a not too pleasant taste, so that the less pleasant taste is covered by that of the food “gluttonous pemium”. It is known to all animal friends that in order to avoid exhausting “discussions” with their pets, refusals, sometimes escapes or even scratches, it is much more practical and convenient to mask a medicine or supplement with flavors coveted by pets. This is unfortunately not always possible because pets often notice the trick.

In order to try to combine the playful aspect, a plurality of games are known in the field of training, usually made of non-toxic plastic and I or rubber or polymers of various compositions and shapes, usually proposed mainly in a spherical form, which can comprise partially external or internal housings, suitable for inserting treats or the like, to which pets can have access by rolling the ball which (for example) contains treats inside it and the housing for treats includes one or more holes that allow the release of one or more treats from time to time to encourage your pet friend to continue with the game.

There are such games that are used not only for recreational purposes, but also for the purpose of dog training.

There are also games usually made of plastic polymer in the shape of bones I circles to bite, pre-impregnated with various vegetable substances inserted in the compound with which they are produced, which have internal housings or “tracks” on the external surface that act as small cases for place the treat or similar.

In particular, what all these devices have in common is that there is a synthetic material device of any kind to “recharge”: this could appear advantageous from the point of view of comfort and from an economic point of view, however there are significant related disadvantages, in fact, these devices require thorough cleaning, which is not always easily feasible in particular with the internal housings in which the premium food is placed, as well as with grooves or other surfaces suitable for inserting premium foods, incorrect cleaning can cause unhealthy proliferation of germs and bacteria and any other food inserted therein secondarily, therefore being unhealthy for your pet friend.

Furthermore, the cleaning of the device itself implies that the cleaning product must be suitable for the purpose, that is, non-toxic for the pet, as if the surface of the device remained impregnated with it this could be harmful to the animal, another aspect totally disadvantageous.

Furthermore, in a disadvantageous way, in case of long-term use or of a pet friend with grit and particularly sharp teeth, microfractures could be created in the game of polymeric or plastic material and the animal could ingest whole plastic parts, obviously dangerous for the animal, and in any case in the long run, crunching the material can still release microparticles, such as microplastics, which would poison the pet friend.

Again, these devices are not eco-friendly, which is particularly relevant in this historical period.

Last but not least, these devices are often very expensive compared to the real quality I usefulness of the same.

Furthermore, some devices have been produced which are actually more eco- friendly and less dangerous for pets such as for example the invention described by US2004/142073 describes a play device for animals that has edible or partially edible content and edible or non-edible outer shell. The problem arises here as this device is always a closed body, of how to possibly attract the animal friend to make it attractive for him if the premium is inside the device, this device lends itself to boring the animal if the premium or the internally included substance was difficult to reach, demotivating him to consumption or to leave the premium halfway if the pet got tired.

A further example of the known art is given by a device US 2009/194036 which describes a very specific device for dogs, that is an anti-tartar treatment for the same: it comprises a body with a convex surface and a concave surface complementary and immediately adjacent to the convex surface. The body is composed of two secondary bodies each having a flange formed on an outer peripheral edge of the respective secondary body. The combination holes are defined in each of the flanges so that after a strip has been extended through the aligned combination holes, the engagement between the two secondary bodies is ensured. This device is not edible and has different purposes than those of the present invention, in fact this device always includes two coupled bodies, one concave and one convex, linked together along the edges, inside which a substance with a good perfume is housed for dogs so that they bite the object to clean their teeth from tartar. This device being far from and different from the purposes of the present invention as will be better seen hereinafter.

A scope of the present invention is to solve the aforementioned problems of the devices of the known art.

Another scope of the present invention is to further innovate this type of device, not only for recreational use or for training.

It is also a scope of the present invention to propose a totally eco-friendly play device for pets.

A further scope of the present invention is to propose a device which has an excellent quality I price ratio.

Finally, a scope of the present invention is to propose a device which 100% protects the health of one’s pet friend.

Another scope of the present invention is to propose a device that attracts and intrigues even the most suspicious animal over time, thus ensuring the emission of a pleasant long-lasting fragrance from the device.

Finally, it is a scope of the present invention to describe a device which, due to its characteristics, “convinces” the pet to consume it in its entirety, avoiding food and economic waste.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

These and further advantages described above will be advantageously obtained thanks to the herein described innovative edible device for pets comprising at least one external body comprising at least one housing inside said body, said external body is realized with component/s thar is/are completely edible for animals, and is made in a single body at least partially hollow comprising one or more parts coupled together to form said body, inside said body is placed premium food for animals, said body being completely edible as well as its contents, characterized in that said body comprises at least on one side at least one opening or hole to allow the insertion of at least one food treat or to let a fragrance escape from the inside of the body to attract the pet.

In a further embodiment, a thinned side can be included (instead of the one or more holes or additionally) to allow a greater emission of internal fragrance to attract the pet to play continuously.

During the development of the present invention, the applicant has realized that indeed the ability of the animal to be able to smell an appetizing smell for a long time was one of the factors that brought greater success to the game, so that the opening mentioned above in the original patent application, as well as allowing the insertion of a food premium, allowed to emit fragrance (food aroma) in the long term for the pet, as the fragrance present inside the device by its nature being able to diffuse better from the opening or hole and lasted longer.

Therefore, as mentioned in a preferred embodiment, the device may be a single edible body with an upper opening where to place a premium food.

In a preferred embodiment, said one-piece body can be closed on one side by a thin host or wafer of bread (or edible gut-like membrane or phytomembrane and I or soy protein-like membrane) to allow the best escape of the fragrance from the thinned side.

In a preferred embodiment, this body can have a cut semi-ovoid shape, or be of an ovoid shape that can be divided in half into two different games. In a preferred embodiment said body in one piece it may include a host or wafer of bread on one side.

In a preferred embodiment, said wafer I host comprises at least one hole, for example central to favor the diffusion of the food fragrance and attract the animal (cat or other pet to bite as well as play, usually it is the cat by its nature that needs a more insistent olfactory prompt in order not to “get bored”)

In a further embodiment, said wafer I host comprises an assembly of holes which together constitute a design as desired and allow an even better diffusion of a fragrance inside the device.

In some embodiments, said wafer can be based on parmesan with micro holes or a very thin biscuit type preparation (eg cat’s tongue) with or without a central hole, (host printed with design or logo)

In further preferred embodiments, in said at least one cavity, “edible greedy attractive powder” can be inserted (without or together with the premium) to create a trace on the ground to attract the attention of the animal to the device by means of an increased olfactory stimulus, and establish the game of “treasure hunt” hiding the egg or similar at the end of the path).

To explain: instead of inserting a string to attract and play with the cat or other animal, a sort of “invisible thread” of dust is created, creating a track that leads to the premium game by inventing a new game for the pet.

This trace can also be hinted at by dipping a more pronounced part in the dust during processing, then passing it on the stretch of soil that we want to use as a game (see drawing sent previously)

In another preferred embodiment, the body can comprise two or more parts, also called wafers made in a mold, coupled together and glued together with edible substances for animals.

In a further embodiment, said body comprises several cavities divided between them to house one or more premium foods of similar or different consistency. In particular, said external body can be made in molds for bodies in several parts, or as a food mixture suitable for blowing, or a single piece “blown” internally to give the desired shape; this to have any shape suitable for the purpose, such as a spherical shape (“ball”) ovoid, conical cylindrical, pyramidal suitable to be at least partially or completely “rolled”.

In further preferred embodiments, said body can be made with any cooking or preparation method suitable for the purpose of making a closed or semi-closed wafer, comprising in a variant one or more openings for inserting food premiums.

In a variant the edible content can have any consistency, solid, semi-liquid, gelatinous or other, in the latter two cases the body will not have an opening so as not to accidentally release the content.

Again, said body can have any three-dimensional shape suitable for the purpose, such as the shape of a bone, fish, doll, mouse or other.

In particular, the body of the device will comprise two or more sides suitable for being connected, for example by gluing together. For simplicity, these sides can be considered edible “pods” with a consistency suitable for being bitten and munched by a pet without breaking immediately, but capable of being munched for a certain amount of time until softened by the pet’s bite and I or finally breaks from its saliva leaving access to the internal compartment preferably containing “premium” food.

Alternatively, as mentioned above, the wafer or body can be made in a single piece, becoming a hollow or partially hollow body with an opening in one point to allow you to insert a food premium.

In further embodiments, other methods (leavening, etc.) may be used to make a closed wafer body, this remaining within the scope of the present invention.

The pods are therefore made in molds and I or by blowing, or other method and in an advantageous way basic ingredients may include starch and water but various types of flour, potato starch, semolina etc. can be used and lecithin to decrease surface tension; the water can be replaced by aqueous solutions of various kinds, vegetable or animal broth, vitamin solution, juices, etc.

And also, advantageously, in one or more preferred embodiments, said pods on request or in standard way can be produced by mixing in the basic composition particular natural flavors, vitamins and I or supplements for particular dietary needs (e.g. suitable food for pets with gastrointestinal, kidney, hypoallergenic pathologies) and I or even mixing in the composition, if possible, antiparasitic medicines, antibiotics and I or products for cleaning teeth, etc. or other suitable to be preserved and taken in the form of a product integrated in an edible pod of said edible device for pets.

Furthermore, the action of biting itself, biting a large edible surface can in itself be of help to the chewing of the animal without running the risk of inserting parts of toxic substances as it happened disadvantageously previously.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES

These and further advantages obtained thanks to the innovative multifunctional edible device for pets described by the present invention will be better clarified with reference to the attached figures, which are intended as an explanation of one or more embodiments of the present invention and have no limiting intent, in which:

- in fig. 1 is shown an example of pods made in a mold according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention with a “premium” being inserted inside one of them;

- in fig. 2 is shown an example of pods made in a mold according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention in closed form;

- in fig. 3a, 3b are shown some embodiments of an edible device for animals in an alternative embodiment.

- in fig. 4a, 4b, 4c, 4d, 4e are shown some embodiments of edible device for animals in the form of a closed body, further refined. In fig. 5a, 5b, 5c are shown further embodiments for increasing the fragrance emission of the edible game content.

DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

With reference to Figure 1 , in this case two pods 2a, 2b are represented which form the body 3 of the multifunction edible device 1 for animals described by the present invention (in some variants the body 3 can be a single pod 2 suitably shaped and formed), in this embodiment the pods have a semi-ovoid I rounded shape, and when assembled they form a round shape suitable for rolling.

In one of the two wafers a “premium” 4 is inserted during the production phase, here a biscuit, inside one side 2a of the wafer which, as shown in fig. 2, will then be glued to the second side of the wafer, keeping the biscuit premium 4 housed inside the body 3.

Note that a premium 4 can also be included in the body in which a vitamin element is integrated, and / or a food supplement and / or a drug if necessary if certified by a competent body.

In fig. 3a and 3b is shown a further embodiment particularly attractive to pet friends, in this embodiment the body 3, after assembly, is pralinated on the external side, in this case with sugared quinoa, or other cereal, seed, or other, in any case with a healthy and greedy food, this making the device even more palatable and satisfying to “nibble” for the animal.

It should be noted that in alternative embodiments, any extruded cereal or mix of other substances as long as they are edible and palatable by pet friends are always to be considered valid alternatives to the partial or total covering of the external body of the wafer or pods.

Note also that there are therefore at least three modalities or better methods related to said device with which certain substances useful for the animal’s health are or can be integrated into the device: a. by integrating a substance X of your choice into the waffle mixture, b. by integrating a substance into the premium inside the pod, or by inserting a “pre-packaged” premium already added with a particular substance, c. by integrating a particular substance X in a surface finish of the pod, such as an external covering of pralines or the like.

For example, the wafer can also be rolled in a liquid or semi-liquid substance which cooling, or “stuck” with edible elements suitable for the purpose, has the final result of firmly attaching these elements to the surface of the body 3, these additional elements can be further substances nutritious, appetizing, or substances suitable for the purpose as mentioned above.

In a preferred “practical” embodiment, the following case may occur:

- making two wafer pods 2a, 2b by means of molds;

- insertion of a “premium” 4 inside the pods 2a or 2b before gluing;

- bonding of the two pods to each other by means of maltodextrin in aqueous solution or isinglass or other food-grade glue.

Note that some types of 4 rewards can be: a mouthful of dried meat or fish, a hyper vitamin, hyper protein compound, a plant compound with a relaxing, sedative effect, an energizing plant compound, a bone strengthening for the immune system, a compound that has any other therapeutic action among those known and approved for pets, or others suitable for their well-being.

Furthermore, in the case of training, additional substances can be integrated to sharpen the sense of smell: in this case, authorization by competent bodies would first be required in line with the legal provisions for substances under the regulation of the Consolidated Law 309 of 1990.

In the final realization phase, the two (at least two) pods will have the shape of a geometric figure able to roll in the case of a spherical or ovoid shape, but, as already mentioned, the shape could also be different: as represented in the figures from 4a to 4e, i.e. a bone, a fish, a mouse, a cone, a cylinder and I or even a doll etc., and the number of pods joined together can be any as long as suitable for the purpose, again the body in embodiments alternatives can be made in a single piece by blowing or other method suitable for the purpose.

In still further variants the body can be “full” or the whole cavity filled with any soft filling or not suitable to be eaten by the pet it is intended for.

In an embodiment, as mentioned above with regard to figures 3a, 3b, the realization of the closed body 3 can be followed by the addition of a wafers layer 5a or in general a surface finishing layer 5.

Such a finish 5 can be achieved by inserting the body 3 into the pan, a glueeffect food solution (maltodextrin, isinglass or other) is inserted into this pan, which soaked the outer side of the shell of the body 3, in the subsequent phase the soaked body 3 is placed in contact on each of its external surfaces with the product to be glued, such as for example seeds (tapioca, flax, barley, corn, etc.), legumes as such or seeds coated with vitamins, freeze-dried meat, freeze-dried fish, glutamate, probiotic enzymes or even microencapsulated drugs that could have an absorption synergy with the heart of the surprise inside (as contemplated before), finally lecithin is added to decrease the surface tension and cause the food to slide to contact with the mucous membranes of the animal.

In this way, the pet friend, such as dog I cat I rabbit, is given a 1 game device, for example rolling and I or sound, whose sonority is given by the mechanical sound that makes the internal premium 4 banging against the internal walls of the body 3during movement.

Both the consistency and the flavor, and the eventual rolling effect, as well as the sound of the premium 4, are all elements that stimulate play, movement and fun for the pet friend, who can play safely with a healthy, hygienic, not dangerous, eco-friendly, educational product and even therapeutic if necessary, at a completely advantageous price.

The innovative edible multifunction device is completely in harmony with sustainability as the game used is composed only of food, therefore it follows the natural metabolic cycle within the body, without releasing non-edible residues.

The game can also be modulated for intolerant animals (for example gluten or certain substances).

This game can also be used as a single-portion food ration: the exact weight I portion of food for the animal is inserted inside the wafers, of suitable size.

This use will also be particularly convenient in case of travel, journeys, trips, holidays.

Furthermore, the cavities inside the device can also be further subdivided with a “matryoshka” effect to make the game last longer and allow the administration of food I substance in time, even deferred if necessary.

Again, as shown in Figures 5a to 5c there are embodiments as described in the initial part of the patent: in fig. 5a is shown the device with an ovoid shape (by way of example only), which comprises on one side openings or holes 50 to allow the insertion of a premium or to release the aroma of an appetizing substance contained within the device, this with the undoubted advantage of enticing even the most reluctant pet not only to lick or nibble the external surface which can be covered with palatable substances, but rather helps to convince the pet to consume all the game to get to the aroma that attracts him, thus also optimizing the consumption of such snacks that often remain only half-eaten with food and economic waste (see example of known art above).

Alternatively, to allow the aroma of the substances contained in the device to spread more easily in an embodiment such as that of figure 5b, the device is made in the shape of a “half egg” 71 , - it should be noted that the embodiments 5b and 5c can also be the variant 5a - body 70 - divided in two, or said variant 5a as visible includes a sort of thinned area 60 to allow it to be divided into two “egg seeds” 71 ,72 or games to make it smaller and easier to “handle” by the pet depending on its size - this half egg in fig. 5b comprises for example in the present embodiment a side 61 which can be formed by a host or wafer of bread thinned in thickness with respect to the rest of the body 71 to allow a better “biting” for small animals, such as cats, and the spread of the aroma inside.

In a variant called host I wafer can have one or more holes, central figure 5c (to favor the diffusion of the food fragrance and attract the cat animal to bite as well as play).

In a variant, the assembly of holes on the wafer or on the body of the device can constitute a drawing as a whole to make it clear what pet it is intended for and I or any drawing.

In a variant the wafer is based on Parmesan with micro holes or is a very thin biscuit type preparation (e.g. cat’s tongue) with a central hole or not

This system encourages the cat I dog animal, in addition to the playful side of the object, to explore the content and be encouraged to bite the wafer to eat its delicious content.

The closure with wafers is always fixed with food glue such as isinglass I maltodextrin I lard (after inserting the surprise as mentioned above).

In one embodiment, the internal morsel will have to pass into the pan for nebulization with lard (adhesive-like primer) and subsequently nepeta cataria, nepeta c. with yeast (with the hint of meat broth, fish or other attractants, flavoring.)

The hole(s) will be able to deliberately release small amounts of attractive dust: you can thus create a treasure hunt by drawing a dust trail that leads to the suitably hidden bite.

Inside the egg it will be possible to insert very thin hosts I wafers that create compartments inside the cavity, thus inserting the aforementioned powder on one side (treasure hunt) And in the other cavity, another appetizing delicacy: dehydrated meat morsel, freeze-dried salmon, shrimp, PDO parmesan butter biscuit, etc.

Another variant can be the insertion between the two shells of a parmesan crouton that overhangs (Saturn effect), this division leads to two cavities that can be used for different purposes:

• dust + surprise (treasure hunt)

• surprise a + surprise b

• vit. Fat-soluble + lard

It is immediately evident that the here described multifunctional edible device for pets in a wholly advantageous way allows to overcome all the aforementioned problems of the known art, and indeed, is bearer of wholly unexpected advantages with respect to the possibilities hitherto known in the art; in fact, the idea of proposing a 100% green game, completely edible, which can also be added with substances dedicated to every particular food need, for the health of pet friends is absolutely innovative, effective and of great interest in the sector.

It appears equally evident as variants in the shape of the external body of the device, number of components, contained within it, number of cavities including one or more premiums, edible materials suitable for pets used, combination of the same, surface finishes (one or more layers or combination thereof) and other details intrinsically included in the scope of protection of the present invention, are all under the scope of protection of the same as better described in the attached claims which are to be considered an integral part of the present invention.