BACKGROUND

{0001] Oral hygiene is as important for pets as it is for people. Lack of proper oral hygiene may result in a pet having bad breath and, so some cases, oral (e.g.. periodontal) disease. For example, more than 50% of dogs and cats show some signs of oral disease by the age of three, according to the American Veterinary Dental Society. Bad breath and oral disease may be the result of plaque, tartar, and microorganisms in the mouth of a pet,

{00021 To reduce the presence of piaqtie, tartar, and microorganisms, many pet owners use a toothbrush and toothpaste to clean the mouth of t heir pet. However, t his may prove difficult and unpleasant a most pets tend to resist a mouth cleaning. In. addition, many pet owners fail to brush the teeth of their pet on a regular basis. Another way to clean the mouth of a pet is to provide the pet with a "chew toy." As the pet chews on the toy, the friction between the toy and parts within the mouth of the pet may dislodge plaque, tartar, and microorganisms. While needing less effort on the part of the pet owner than brushing, chew toys prove less effective at cleaning the mouth, of a pet. Therefore, it may be desirable to provide an improved apparatus and method for cleaning the mouth of a pet.

BRIEF SUMMARY

{0003 _. 1 A mouth-cleaning device for a pet is disclosed. The device includes a base and a side wail extending from the base. The base and the side wall at least partially define an internal volume configured to receive a product. A plurality of protrusions extends from the base or the side wail, or both. The protrusions are configured to at least partially dean the mouth of the pet. {0004J in another embodiment, the mouth-cleaning device includes a base having a first means for at least partially cleaning a mouth of a pet. A side wal l may extend up from the base. The side wall has a second means for at least partially cleaning the mouth of the pet. A lid is coupled to the side wall. The base, the side wall, and the lid at least partially define an internal volume. {0005J A method for cleaning a mouth of a pet is also disclosed. The method includes placing a product onto a base having a plurality of protrusions extending upwardly therefrom. The protrusions axe configured to bend when contacted by the mouth of the pet as the pet consumes the product, thereby cleaning the mouth of the pet.

0006J further areas of applicability of the present invention will become apparent from the detailed description provided hereinafter. It should be understood that the detailed descriptio and specific examples, while indicating the preferred embodiment of the invention, are intended for purposes of illustration only and are not intended to limit the scope of the invention.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF TOE DRAWINGS

[9007J The present invention will become more fully understood from the detailed description and the accompanying drawings, wherein:

jO 08j Figure I depicts a perspective view of an illustrative mouth-cleaning dev ice for a pet, according to an embodiment.

[9009J Figure 2 depicts a cross-sectional vie w of the mouth-cleaning device shown in Figure 1 , according to an embodiment.

[9010} Figure 3 depicts a perspective view of the mouth-cleaning device with a curved side wall, according to an embodiment.

jOOi lJ Figure 4 depicts a cross-sectional view of the mouih-cleaning device shown in Figure 3, according to an embodiment.

[9012) Figure 5 depicts a flowchart of a method for cleaning the mouth of a pet, according to an embodiment.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

{O013| The following description of the preferred emlxxiiment(s) is merely exemplary in nature and is in no way intended to limit the invention, its application, or uses,

[0014) As used throughout., ranges are used as shorthand for describing each and even-' value that is within the range. Any value within the range can be selected as the terminus of the range, in addition, all references cited herei are hereby incorporated by referenced in their entireties. In the event of a conflict in a definition in the present disclosure and that of a cited reference, the present disclosure controls. {0015] Figure 1 depicts a perspective view of an illustrative niomh-cleauing device 100 tor a pet, according to an embodiment The device 100 may include a base 1 10. The shape of the base 10 may be a circle, an oval, a square, a rectangle, or any other shape. As shown, tire base 1 10 is flat and circular so that the base 1 0 may be positioned in a bowl, a can, or a container 350, in some embodiments, the base 1 10 may be an integral part of a container 150 (see Figure 2). The base 1 10 may be made from a metal, a polymer (e.g., rubber), an elastomer, or the like.

{0016J The base 1.10 may have one or more protrusions 1 12 extending (e.g., upwardly) therefrom. The protrusions 1 12 may be coupled to, or integral with, the base 1 10. The protrusions 1 12 extending from the base 1 10 may be substantially perpendicular to the base 1 10. For example, a central longitudinal axis through one of the protrusions 1 12 may be oriented at an angle from about 80° to about 100° (e.g., about 90°) with respect to the base 1 10. The protrusions 1 12 may be made of the same material as the base 1 10 or a different material than the base 1 10. For example, the protrusions 1 12 may be made from a metal, a polymer (e.g., rubber or NYLON*'), an elastomer, hair (e.g., real or synthetic), or the like.

{0017] The protrusions 1 12 may each have the same length, or they may have different lengths. The length of the protrusions 1 12 may be from about 1 mm to about 20 mm, about 2 mm to about 3 5 mm, or about 3 mm to about 10 mm. The protrusions 1 12 may each have the same thickness (e.g., diameter), or the protrusions 112 may have different thicknesses. The thickness of the protrusions 1 12 may be from about 0.1 mm to about 5 mm, about 0.1 mm to about 1 mm, or about 1 mm to about 3 mm. As shown, the protrusions i 12. may be oriented in a series of columns and rows, where the rows are perpendicular to the columns. However, as will be appreciated, the protrusions 1 12 may oriented in any manner on the base 1 10. A distance between two adjacent protrusions 1 12 may be from aboitt 1 mm to about 10 mm, about 1 mm to about 5 mm, or about 1 mm to about 3 nun. As will be appreciated, the distance between adjacent protrusions 1 12 may vary in different sections of the device 100 (e.g., on the base 1.10 and side wall 120).

[0018] One or more side walls 120 may extend upward from the base 1 10, As shown, a single, circular side wall 120 extends around the peripher of the base 1.10. in other embodiments, the side wall 120 may include two or more portions {e.g., four portions when the base 1 10 is rectangular), in various embodiments, the side wail 120 may be coupled to, or integral with, the base 1 10. In some embodiments, the side wall 120 may be an integral part of the container 150. {001 | The side wall 120 may have one or more protrusions 122 extending merefroro. More particularly, the protrusions 122 may extend inwardly (e.g., into an internal volume) from the side wall 120. The protrusions 122 may be coupled to, or integral with, the side wall 120. The protrusions 122 extending from the side wail 120 may be substantially perpendicular to the side wall 1.20 (e.g., perpendicular to the points on the side wall 120 from which they extend). For example, a. central longitudinal axis through one of the protrusions 122 may be oriented at an angle from about 80° to about 100° (e.g., about 90°) with respect to the side wall 120. The protrusions 122 may be made from the same material as the base 110, the side wall 120, or the protrusions 1 12.

{00201 The protrusi ns 1 12, 122 may be configured to bend or tlex when contacted by an animal More particularly, the protrusions 1 12, 122 may be configured to bend or flex when contacted by the teeth, gums, lips, or tongue of a pet. As such, the protrusions 1.12. 122 may function similarly to the bristles of a toothbrush and may serve to clean the mouth of the pet. In another embodiment, the protrusions 1 12, 122 may be rigid.

{00211 Figure 2 depicis a cross-sectional view of the mouth-cleaning device 100 shown in Figure 1, according to an embodiment. The cross-sectional shape of the protrusions 112, 122 may be cylindrical, conical, frustoconical, or the like. The materials, lengths, thicknesses, distances, and/or shapes of the protrusions 1 1 , 1.22 may be mixed on the device 100. For example, one or more conical protrusions made of a polymer and one or more cylindrical protrusions made of hair/bristle may be positioned on the same base 110.

{0022J The cross-section of the side wall 120 may be planar and oriented at an angle with respect to the base 1 10. As shown, the angle is about 90°. In other embodiments, the angle may be from about 90° to about. 179°, about 90° to about 120°, or about 120° to about 150°.

{0023] A lid 130 may be coupled to or contacted with the side wall 120 distal to the base 1 10. An internal volume 1.40 may be defined by the base 1 10, the side wall 120, and (when, present) the Sid 130. The lid 130 may be coupled to the side wall 120 via a threaded connection, using heat and pressure, or using ultrasound. As shown, in one embodiment, the device 100 may be positioned at least partiall within a container (e.g., a bowl) .150.

{0024] igure 3 depicts a perspective view of the mouth-cleaning device 100 with a curved side wall 1.20, and Figure 4 depicts a cross-sectional view of the device 100 shown in Figure 3, according to an embodiment. As shown in Figure 3, the cross-section of the side wall 120 may be curved, rather than planar, moving away from the base 1 10 to create a "bowl" shape. For example, at least a portion of the side wall 120 may include a radius of curvature 124 that is from about 1 cm to about 20 cm, about 2 cm to about 15 cm, or about 3 cm to about 10 cm. As a result, a cross-sectional distance 126 between opposing portions of side wail 120 may increase moving away from the base 1 10.

(0025| The angles of the protrusions 122 on the side wall 120 with respec t to the base 1 10 may vary based upon the positions of the protrusions 122 on the side wall 120 (e.g., the distance from the base 1 10). The angles of the protrusions 122 with respect to the base 1 10 may be from about 0° (distal to the base .1 10) to about 90° (proximate to the base 1 10). For example, an angle between a central longitudinal axis through a first protrusion 122-1 and the base 1 10 may be about 5°, and an angle between a central longitudinal axis through a. second protrusion 122-2 and the base .1 S O may be about 80°.

[0026J Figure 5 depicts a flowchart of a method 500 for cleaning the mouth of a pet, according to an embodiment. The method 500 may begin by inserting the device 100 into a container 150, as at 502, In one embodiment, the device 100 may be lowered into the container 150 and lifted out of the container 150 when desired. The device 100 may be constrained from lateral movement due to contact between the outer surface of the side wall 120 of the device 100 with the inner surface of the side wall of the container 150. This may allow the device 100 to be Sifted out of the container 150 and washed after use. In another embodiment, the device 100 may be secured to the container 150 with, for example, an adhesive. In yet another embodiment, the device 100 may be integral with the container 150. in yet another embodiment, the container 150 may be omitted altogether, e.g., the device 100 may be or act as a container.

[0027| A. product, for example a food product for animals, may then be placed onto the base 110, as at 504. More partic ularly, the product may be placed in the internal volume 140 of the dev ice 100. The product may be liquid, a solid, a gel, a paste, or the like. For example, suitable liquids may be water, milk-replacer, a therapeutic solution (e.g., including electrolytes), or a mouth or oral rinse. Suitable solids may be food (e.g., "dry ^' ' pet food or "wet" pet food), stews, chunks, gravy, and the like. Suitable gels may include energy supplements gels. Suitable pastes may be SCIENCE DIET®, toothpaste, and the like.

|0028| In at least one embodiment, the product may be sealed within the internal volume 14 of the device 100 by coupling or contacting the lid 130 to the side wall 120, as at 506. This may be done by the manufacturer of the product or the pet owner. The lid 130 may then be removed, as at 508. This may be done by the pet owner, hi some instances, steps 506 and 508 may be omitted.

|0029| As the pet consumes the product in the device 100, the protrusions 1 12. 122 in the device 100 may contact the .mouth, of the pet. More particularly, the protrusions 1 12, 122 may brush, scrab, or scrape off plaque, tartar, microorganisms, and the like from the teeth, gums, lips, tongue, and other mouth parts of the pet. Once the pet is finished eating the product, the device 100 may be discarded, in another embodiment, the device 100 ma be washed, as at 510, for reuse. For example, the device 100 may be removed from the container 150 and washed.