Pet toy product with integral treats receiving receptacles

Abstract

A pet toy product for holding one or more animal treats has a body member having an outer surface with one or more recesses for removably holding one or more animal treats. The recesses may be of varying depth so that the treats in the deeper recesses are more difficult for the animal to extract then are the treats in the shallower recesses. The recesses may be circular, triangular, irregular, in the form of a groove or any other suitable configuration. The outer surface of the toy may be raised to accommodate the recesses or the recesses may extend into the surface. The pet toy may have recesses forming openings which extend through the pet toy product for receiving treats. With the structure recited, the pet owner can replenish the treats as often as necessary to maintain the pet's interest in the toy. Different treats can be provided with different nutritional values and tastes. Because some treats will be more difficult for the animal to remove than others, the animal can be kept occupied for several hours before the treats need to be replaced again. The treats may be held in the recesses by friction, adhesive or adhesion.

1. A pet toy product which includes one or more edible treats to induce an animal to play with said pet toy product, said pet toy product comprising:
 a molded  body member having a resilient an outer surface;  
 a plurality of recesses of varying depths geometrically  arranged on at least a portion of said outer surface; and  
 edible treats positioned in at least some of said plurality of recesses so that said edible treats in said recesses having deeper depths are more difficult for the animal to extract than are said edible treats in said recesses having shallower depths.  
 
     
     
       2. A pet toy product, as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein:
 at least one of said plurality of recesses is generally circular shaped.  
 
     
     
       3. A pet toy product, as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein:
 at least one of said plurality of recesses is non-circular in shape.  
 
     
     
       4. A pet toy product, as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein:
 said plurality of recesses each have resilient side surfaces; and  
 said edible treats are sized to be wedged into at least some of said plurality of recesses and resiliently held therein.  
 
     
     
       5. A method of entertaining an animal, said method comprising the steps of:
 providing a pet toy having an outer surface with a plurality of recesses of different individual depths formed therein;  
 inserting a first edible pet treat in at least one of the plurality of recesses so as to be retained within the at least one recess until dislodged by the animal;  
 inserting a second edible pet treat in at least one other of the plurality of recesses so as to be retained within the at least one other recess until dislodged by the animal; and  
 giving the pet toy to the animal.  
 
     
     
       6. A method, as claimed in  claim 5 , wherein said inserting step includes the step of:
 frictionally attaching the first and second edible pet treats within the recesses.  
 
     
     
       7. A method, as claimed in  claim 5 , wherein said inserting step includes the step of:
 attaching the first and second edible pet treats within the recesses by adhesion.  
 
     
     
       8. A method, as claimed in  claim 5 , including the further steps of:
 reloading at least some of said plurality of recesses with a third edible pet treat after said first and second edible pet treats have been removed from the plurality of recesses by the animal; and  
 returning the pet toy to the animal.  
 
     
     
       9. A method, as claimed in  claim 5 , including the further step of:
 inserting a plurality of said first or second edible pet treats in at least one of the plurality of recesses.  
 
     
     
       10. A method, as claimed in  claim 5 , wherein said plurality of recesses each have resilient side surfaces and said frictionally attaching step includes:
 causing the resilient side surfaces to grip the first and second edible pet treats within the recesses.  
 
     
     
       11. A pet toy product which includes one or more types of edible treats to induce an animal to play with said pet toy product comprising:
 a body member having an outer surface;  
 a plurality of recesses formed on said outer surface, at least some of said plurality of recesses having varying depths; and  
 at least one type of edible treat positioned simultaneously in at least two of said plurality of recesses.  
 
     
     
       12. A pet toy product, as claimed in  claim 11 , wherein:
 said plurality of recesses secures said at least one type of edible treat by friction.  
 
     
     
       13. A pet toy product, as claimed in  claim 12  wherein:
 said plurality of recesses each have resilient side surfaces; and  
 said at least one type of edible treat is sized to be wedged into at least some of said plurality of recesses and resiliently held therein.  
 
     
     
       14. A pet toy product, as claimed in  claim 11 , wherein:
 said plurality of recesses retain said at least one type of edible treat as by adhesion.  
 
     
     
       15. A pet toy product, as claimed in  claim 11 , wherein:
 said at least one type of edible treat is two types of edible treats, one each of two types of edible treats being placed within a corresponding plurality of recesses.  
 
     
     
       16. A pet toy product, as claimed in  claim 11 , wherein:
 said plurality of recesses includes at least one recess formed on said outer surface, and at least one recess extending completely through said body member to form an opening.  
 
     
     
       17. A pet toy product resiliently holding one or more edible treats to induce an animal to play with said pet toy product, said pet toy product comprising:
 a molded  body member made of a resilient material  having an outer surface defining the shape of the pet toy product, said body member further having a side wall of a substantially uniform thickness, and a plurality of recesses formed in said side wall of varying depths and having resilient side surfaces, wherein the edible treats are wedged into said recesses, said resilient side surfaces of said recesses resiliently holding the edible treats therein.  
 
     
     
       18. A pet toy product resiliently holding one or more edible treats to induce an animal to play with said pet toy product, said pet toy product comprising:
 a molded  body member made of a resilient material  having an outer surface defining the shape of the pet toy product, said body member further having a side wall of a substantially uniform thickness, and a plurality of recesses formed in said side wall and having resilient side surfaces, wherein the edible treats are wedged into said recesses, said resilient side surfaces of said recesses resiliently holding the edible treats therein.  
 
     
     
       19. A pet toy product comprising:
   a molded and resilient body member having a side wall of substantially uniform thickness and enclosing a substantially spherical shaped and hollow closed interior, a plurality of recesses formed in said side wall, some of said plurality of recesses extending deeper into said side wall than other of said plurality of recesses, said side wall having an outer surface without raised areas formed thereon.     
     
     
       20. A pet toy product, as claimed in  claim 19 , wherein:
   said plurality of recesses include resilient walls adapted to frictionally and releasably secure a pet treat therein.     
     
     
       21. A pet toy product, as claimed in  claim 19 , wherein:
   at least some of said recesses extend all the way through said side wall, and remaining recesses of said plurality of recesses extend partially through said side wall.     
     
     
       22. A pet toy product comprising:
   a body member having a side wall of substantially uniform thickness and enclosing a substantially hollow closed interior, a plurality of recesses formed in said side wall, said recesses including a plurality of grooves wherein at least two of said plurality of grooves share a common groove wall located therebetween, said side wall having an outer surface without raised areas formed thereon; and        at least some of said recesses extend all the way through said side wall, and remaining recesses of said plurality of recesses extend partially through said side wall.     
     
     
       23. A pet toy product, as claimed in  claim 22 , wherein:
   said plurality of recesses include resilient walls adapted to frictionally and releasably secure a pet treat therein.     
     
     
       24. A pet toy product comprising:
   a body member having a sidewall of substantially uniform thickness and enclosing a substantially hollow closed interior, said body member having an outer surface with a plurality of raised areas formed thereon, at least one of said raised areas having a recess formed thereon; and        said plurality of raised areas include corresponding recesses, at least some of said recesses extending all the way through said side wall, and remaining recesses extending partially through said side wall.     
     
     
       25. A pet toy product, as claimed in  claim 24 , wherein:
   said recess includes resilient walls adapted to frictionally and releasably secure a pet treat therein.