Patents by Inventor Chuck Costello
Chuck Costello has filed for patents to protect the following inventions. This listing includes patent applications that are pending as well as patents that have already been granted by the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO).
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Patent number: 9961880Abstract: A pet toy with one or more treat holding receptacles is provided. A receptacle generally conforms to the outer surface or shape of the pet toy, and extends into the interior of the pet toy for holding a primary treat. The receptacle has a plurality of interior engaging surfaces that frictionally hold the primary treat in a desired orientation. An opening is formed through the receptacle for loading secondary treats into an interior of the pet toy. The primary treat has an exposed portion shaped and sized to provide a desired degree of difficulty for an animal to remove the primary treat from the corresponding receptacle. The portion of the primary treat in contact with the engaging surfaces of the receptacle forms a cap or closure, and when all or part of the primary treat is removed, the secondary treats may be dispensed through the opening of the receptacle.Type: GrantFiled: October 14, 2013Date of Patent: May 8, 2018Assignee: The KONG Company, LLC.Inventors: David F. Simon, Chuck Costello, John James Stone, Dominic Mak
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Publication number: 20170303510Abstract: A treat dispensing device has a body and a hollow interior. A plurality of dispensing openings function to dispense treats. A non-adjustable opening is formed on an exterior surface of the body. A sleeve is slideably engaged within a part of the hollow interior of the body. At least one adjustable opening is formed on the sleeve. A user selectively places the pet toy in a first position to cover the adjustable opening with a portion of the body and a second position to expose the adjustable opening. The sleeve may include two sections in which an adjustable opening is formed on each section. A third position of the pet toy is defined by placement of the body relative to the sleeve so an adjustable opening is exposed on each sleeve section. An incremental position is defined by placement of the body relative to the sleeve so at least one adjustable opening is partially or fully exposed. A method includes placement of the device in a selected position to dispense treats at a selected rate for selected treats.Type: ApplicationFiled: April 21, 2016Publication date: October 26, 2017Applicant: The KONG Company, LLCInventors: John James Stone, Chuck Costello
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Publication number: 20170172109Abstract: A pet treat is provided in the form of a chewable product made of animal hide and combined with one or more filler layers. The animal hide is optionally perforated. The filler layers may include one or more extruded pieces of consumable material, and/or one or more layers of a paste or viscous material capable of flowing into, or being pressurized or squeezed into the perforations.Type: ApplicationFiled: December 16, 2015Publication date: June 22, 2017Inventor: Chuck Costello
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Patent number: 9301496Abstract: A treat dispenser is provided for an animal to dispense treats by moving the dispenser. The dispenser includes a central spherical body, and a plurality of peripherally spaced spheres or balls connected to the body by respective branches. Each of the balls has a treat dispensing opening. The body has an opening for charging or loading treats. The device is substantially hollow. As an animal plays with the device, treats are dispensed through the openings. The openings are located at different positions on each of the balls so that treats are likely to be dispensed when the device is placed at various orientations.Type: GrantFiled: July 14, 2014Date of Patent: April 5, 2016Assignee: The KONG Company, LLCInventors: Steve R. Reiss, Chuck Costello
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Publication number: 20150101546Abstract: A pet toy with one or more treat holding receptacles is provided. A receptacle generally conforms to the outer surface or shape of the pet toy, and extends into the interior of the pet toy for holding a primary treat. The receptacle has a plurality of interior engaging surfaces that frictionally hold the primary treat in a desired orientation. An opening is formed through the receptacle for loading secondary treats into an interior of the pet toy. The primary treat has an exposed portion shaped and sized to provide a desired degree of difficulty for an animal to remove the primary treat from the corresponding receptacle. The portion of the primary treat in contact with the engaging surfaces of the receptacle forms a cap or closure, and when all or part of the primary treat is removed, the secondary treats may be dispensed through the opening of the receptacle.Type: ApplicationFiled: October 14, 2013Publication date: April 16, 2015Applicant: THE KONG COMPANY LLCInventors: David F. Simon, Chuck Costello, John James Stone, Dominic Mak
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Patent number: 8904967Abstract: A treat dispenser is provided for an animal to dispense treats by moving the dispenser. The dispenser includes a central spherical body, and a plurality of peripherally spaced spheres or balls connected to the body by respective branches. Each of the balls has a treat dispensing opening. The body has an opening for charging or loading treats. The device is substantially hollow. As an animal plays with the device, treats are dispensed through the openings. The openings are located at different positions on each of the balls so that treats are likely to be dispensed when the device is placed at various orientations.Type: GrantFiled: March 13, 2013Date of Patent: December 9, 2014Assignee: The KONG Company LLCInventors: Steve R. Reiss, Chuck Costello
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Publication number: 20140318462Abstract: A treat dispenser is provided for an animal to dispense treats by moving the dispenser. The dispenser includes a central spherical body, and a plurality of peripherally spaced spheres or balls connected to the body by respective branches. Each of the balls has a treat dispensing opening. The body has an opening for charging or loading treats. The device is substantially hollow. As an animal plays with the device, treats are dispensed through the openings. The openings are located at different positions on each of the balls so that treats are likely to be dispensed when the device is placed at various orientations.Type: ApplicationFiled: July 14, 2014Publication date: October 30, 2014Applicant: THE KONG COMPANY LLCInventors: Steve R. Reiss, Chuck Costello
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Publication number: 20140261195Abstract: A treat dispenser is provided for an animal to dispense treats by moving the dispenser. The dispenser includes a central spherical body, and a plurality of peripherally spaced spheres or balls connected to the body by respective branches. Each of the balls has a treat dispensing opening. The body has an opening for charging or loading treats. The device is substantially hollow. As an animal plays with the device, treats are dispensed through the openings. The openings are located at different positions on each of the balls so that treats are likely to be dispensed when the device is placed at various orientations.Type: ApplicationFiled: March 13, 2013Publication date: September 18, 2014Applicant: The KONG Company LLCInventors: Steve R. Reiss, Chuck Costello
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Patent number: 8474404Abstract: A pet toy with an adjustable treat dispensing lid has a lid or top that 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: GrantFiled: September 28, 2011Date of Patent: July 2, 2013Assignee: The Kong Company, LLCInventor: Chuck Costello
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Patent number: 8393300Abstract: A pet toy includes a flexible body with rope support configurations. In one embodiment, the rope configurations include one or more loops that are exposed and one or more knots that are covered by an exterior plush component of the pet toy. In another embodiment, two or more strands of rope material are tied in a series of knots, and an additional strand of rope material may be tied to the other strands in a transverse fashion. Preferably, the exterior plush component includes fabric. One or more of the free ends of the strands of rope material may also protrude beyond the plush component. The fabric material is sewn over the exposed portions of the rope material. Enough fabric material is used such that twisting, extending and retracting the rope material does not transfer force directly to the exterior fabric, thereby preserving the exterior plush component. The knots provide internal bulk to the body of the toy eliminating the need for stuffing.Type: GrantFiled: December 9, 2010Date of Patent: March 12, 2013Assignee: The Kong Company, LLCInventors: Joseph P. Markham, Chuck Costello, Sabine Crane
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Patent number: 8225747Abstract: 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: GrantFiled: October 14, 2009Date of Patent: July 24, 2012Assignee: The KONG Company, LLCInventors: Joseph P. Markham, Chuck Costello, Laura Bender
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Publication number: 20120145089Abstract: A pet toy includes a flexible body with rope support configurations. In one embodiment, the rope configurations include one or more loops that are exposed and one or more knots that are covered by an exterior plush component of the pet toy. In another embodiment, two or more strands of rope material are tied in a series of knots, and an additional strand of rope material may be tied to the other strands in a transverse fashion. Preferably, the exterior plush component includes fabric. One or more of the free ends of the strands of rope material may also protrude beyond the plush component. The fabric material is sewn over the exposed portions of the rope material. Enough fabric material is used such that twisting, extending and retracting the rope material does not transfer force directly to the exterior fabric, thereby preserving the exterior plush component. The knots provide internal bulk to the body of the toy eliminating the need for stuffing.Type: ApplicationFiled: December 9, 2010Publication date: June 14, 2012Applicant: THE KONG COMPANY, LLCInventors: Joseph P. MARKHAM, Chuck COSTELLO, Sabina CRANE
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Publication number: 20120012068Abstract: 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: ApplicationFiled: September 28, 2011Publication date: January 19, 2012Applicant: The Kong Company, LLCInventor: Chuck Costello
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Publication number: 20110083608Abstract: 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: ApplicationFiled: October 14, 2009Publication date: April 14, 2011Applicant: THE KONG COMPANY, LLCInventors: Joseph P. Markham, Chuck Costello, Laura Bender
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Patent number: D658817Type: GrantFiled: July 28, 2011Date of Patent: May 1, 2012Assignee: The Kong Company, LLCInventors: Chuck Costello, Robert Cohrs
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Patent number: D688836Type: GrantFiled: June 7, 2012Date of Patent: August 27, 2013Assignee: The KONG Company, LLCInventor: Chuck Costello
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Patent number: D700755Type: GrantFiled: March 13, 2013Date of Patent: March 4, 2014Assignee: The Kong Company, LLCInventors: Steve R. Reiss, Chuck Costello
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Patent number: D722730Type: GrantFiled: October 30, 2013Date of Patent: February 17, 2015Assignee: The Kong Company, LLCInventors: David F. Simon, Chuck Costello, John James Stone, Dominic Mak