Patents Assigned to The Kong Company, LLC
  • Publication number: 20120090554
    Abstract: A pet toy has a core assembly incorporating a noise making feature. The pet toy has a flexible, elastomeric body that flexes in response to external pressure placed on the toy by an animal. The core assembly extends through the interior of the pet toy and is secured at opposite ends of the pet toy. In one preferred embodiment, the pet toy is a round shaped ball in which the core assembly extends across a diameter of the ball. The core assembly has a bore and a noise making device is secured to a housing that extends from a central shaft of the bore. Airflow is facilitated through the pet toy for activation of the noise making device by deformation of the body of the pet toy. As the pet toy is deformed by the biting action of an animal, air is forced through the noise making device, thereby creating sound. In another embodiment, the core assembly has a compound shape including a bulbous portion securing the noise making housing.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 14, 2010
    Publication date: April 19, 2012
    Applicant: THE KONG COMPANY, LLC
    Inventors: Sam NUNN, Zhan Feng CHEN
  • Publication number: 20120031348
    Abstract: A pet toy includes a noise making instrument. In a preferred embodiment, the noise making instrument is a squeaker incorporated within the pet toy by an internal holding pocket that is integrally molded when the pet toy is manufactured. The internal holding pocket frictionally engages the squeaker. The squeaker is located within the protected internal holding pocket such that it is very difficult for the animal to remove the squeaker. Optionally, a control element may be used to activate or deactivate the squeaker.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 15, 2011
    Publication date: February 9, 2012
    Applicant: The Kong Company, LLC
    Inventor: Joseph P. Markham
  • Publication number: 20120012068
    Abstract: A pet toy with an adjustable treat dispensing lid is disclosed. The lid is connected to a body of the pet toy, and a treat holding enclosure receives treats. The enclosure has an open area which communicates with a treat dispensing opening of the lid enabling treats to be selectively dispensed. The lid may be placed at selected positions with respect to the body thereby changing the size of the exposed treat dispensing opening to thereby selectively change the rate at which treats are dispensed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 28, 2011
    Publication date: January 19, 2012
    Applicant: The Kong Company, LLC
    Inventor: Chuck Costello
  • Publication number: 20110214617
    Abstract: A pet toy includes a noise making feature that can be selectively activated and deactivated by the pet owner. The noise making feature is in the form of a squeaker incorporated within the pet toy by an internal holding pocket that is integrally molded when the pet toy is manufactured. A control element is used to activate or deactivate the squeaker. The squeaker is positioned for easy access by the pet owner, but the construction of a squeaker assembly holding the squeaker is such that it prevents the animal from contacting the squeaker.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 16, 2011
    Publication date: September 8, 2011
    Applicant: THE KONG COMPANY, LLC
    Inventor: Joseph P. Markham
  • Publication number: 20110083608
    Abstract: A dispenser device is provided for use by an animal to selectively dispense treats from the device. The device includes a body having an interior opening to receive treats, and an opening is formed in the body to allow dispensing of the treats. A base of the device includes a weighted material therein causing the device to reside in a normally upright position. Contact by the animal causes the device to tip, thereby allowing treats to fall through the opening in the body. Changing the amount and type of material used for the weighted material changes the characteristics of how the device moves when contacted by the animal that in turn, changes the rate and amount of treats that are dispensed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 14, 2009
    Publication date: April 14, 2011
    Applicant: THE KONG COMPANY, LLC
    Inventors: Joseph P. Markham, Chuck Costello, Laura Bender
  • Patent number: 7895975
    Abstract: A pet food bowl is provided with an integral protrusion that helps to prevent inadvertent aspiration of food by the animal. Particularly for dogs, some feeding behaviors are characterized by swallowing large amounts of food. The protrusion in the bowl separates the food into a peripheral channel within the bowl, and the dog therefore cannot simultaneously secure large amounts of food into its mouth. The protrusion is centrally oriented and extends from the base of the bowl, thereby causing the food to be uniformly distributed within the channel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 19, 2006
    Date of Patent: March 1, 2011
    Assignee: The Kong Company, LLC
    Inventor: Joseph P. Markham
  • Publication number: 20080141945
    Abstract: A pet food bowl is provided with an integral protrusion that helps to prevent inadvertent aspiration of food by the animal. Particularly for dogs, some feeding behaviors are characterized by swallowing large amounts of food. The protrusion in the bowl separates the food into a peripheral channel within the bowl, and the dog therefore cannot simultaneously secure large amounts of food into its mouth. The protrusion is centrally oriented and extends from the base of the bowl, thereby causing the food to be uniformly distributed within the channel.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 19, 2006
    Publication date: June 19, 2008
    Applicant: THE KONG COMPANY, LLC
    Inventor: Joseph P. Markham
  • Publication number: 20080035518
    Abstract: A packaging device includes a pair of major side panels joined at one end, with opposite ends of the side panels diverging away from one another forming a storage container. A base interconnects the diverging ends of the side panels. The side panels include openings that conform to the shape of a product placed therein. A plurality of retention means are provided to frictionally engage the product. The storage container includes a pair of side panel flaps which enable access to the storage container to insert or remove objects placed therein.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 9, 2006
    Publication date: February 14, 2008
    Applicant: The Kong Company, LLC
    Inventor: Joseph P. Markham
  • Patent number: RE40872
    Abstract: A floatable pet toy including a hollow deformable body with a buoyant material, such as a closed cell foam, inside of the body. The buoyant material increases the pet toy's buoyancy and resistance to deformation for durability. A rope may be attached to the body. In a second embodiment, the body may be elongated, made from elastomeric material, and substantially filled with a closed cell foam insert. This insert has a rope running longitudinally through its center and through an opening in a second end of the body. In a further embodiment, the body may be made from a flexible material, such as canvas or plastic. In a still further embodiment, the buoyant material may be injected into a sealed hollow deformable body for increased buoyancy and durability.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 11, 2002
    Date of Patent: August 18, 2009
    Assignee: The Kong Company, LLC
    Inventor: Joseph P. Markham
  • Patent number: D658817
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 28, 2011
    Date of Patent: May 1, 2012
    Assignee: The Kong Company, LLC
    Inventors: Chuck Costello, Robert Cohrs