Patents by Inventor David F. Simon

David F. Simon 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).

  • Patent number: 10932443
    Abstract: A treat dispensing pet toy is shaped and weighted to remain in a normally upright position to dispense treats when contacted by an animal during interaction with the toy. The pet toy has a dome shaped base and a ring or donut-shaped cover connected to the base. A treat dispensing port is arranged on an inside circumferential edge of the cover. A central opening of the cover exposes a feeding tray. The feeding tray and inside circumferential edge define a partially enclosed area to function as a feeding bowl. Edible treats are loaded inside the cover. As the animal contacts the toy, treats are moved within the cover and pass through the dispensing port onto the feeding tray. A diverter disposed within the cover facilitates movement of the treats for easier dispensing of the treats onto the feeding tray. A method includes use of the pet toy to dispense treats.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 3, 2017
    Date of Patent: March 2, 2021
    Assignee: THE KONG COMPANY, LLC
    Inventor: David F. Simon
  • Publication number: 20190098864
    Abstract: A treat dispensing pet toy is shaped and weighted to remain in a normally upright position to dispense treats when contacted by an animal during interaction with the toy. The pet toy has a dome shaped base and a ring or donut-shaped cover connected to the base. A treat dispensing port is arranged on an inside circumferential edge of the cover. A central opening of the cover exposes a feeding tray. The feeding tray and inside circumferential edge define a partially enclosed area to function as a feeding bowl. Edible treats are loaded inside the cover. As the animal contacts the toy, treats are moved within the cover and pass through the dispensing port onto the feeding tray. A diverter disposed within the cover facilitates movement of the treats for easier dispensing of the treats onto the feeding tray. A method includes use of the pet toy to dispense treats.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 3, 2017
    Publication date: April 4, 2019
    Applicant: THE KONG COMPANY, LLC
    Inventor: David F. Simon
  • Patent number: 9961880
    Abstract: 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: Grant
    Filed: October 14, 2013
    Date of Patent: May 8, 2018
    Assignee: The KONG Company, LLC.
    Inventors: David F. Simon, Chuck Costello, John James Stone, Dominic Mak
  • Publication number: 20170290296
    Abstract: The pet toy includes two semi-spherical ends or caps interconnected by a curved neck. The curved neck defines a central peripheral channel that enables the curved neck to hold one or more round objects. A noise making device such as a squeaker may be sealed within the pet toy. The exterior surfaces of the semi spherical ends may have a plurality of surface irregularities to include groups of irregular protrusions and grooves disposed between the protrusions. Treats may be selectively secured to the pet toy.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 12, 2016
    Publication date: October 12, 2017
    Applicant: The KONG Company, LLC
    Inventor: David F. Simon
  • Patent number: 9635837
    Abstract: A pet toy comprises a flexible body having an exterior surface and a hollow interior chamber. A partial spherical shaped recess is formed on the exterior surface. A ball is received in the partial spherical shaped recess such that a first portion of an outer surface of the ball is covered by the recess, and a second portion of the outer surface is exposed and protrudes beyond the flexible body. A noise making module is disposed in the hollow interior chamber. The module has a noise making element mounted therein to produce sound when a force is applied to the flexible body to deflect the exterior surface of the flexible body.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 1, 2014
    Date of Patent: May 2, 2017
    Assignee: The KONG Company, LLC
    Inventor: David F. Simon
  • Publication number: 20170086314
    Abstract: An adjustable support for holding an electronic device having a display at a desired elevated position for viewing of the display without tilting of the user's head. The support includes an upright elongated member pivotally connected to a generally planar base piece held beneath the user's thigh so as to hold the pivotally connected elongated member in an upright position. A telescoping and gooseneck segment enhance the adjustability of the position of the upright member at level and orientation enabling easy viewing of the display without tipping the head of a seated or reclining user. A magnetic or clamping cradle adjacent an upper end of the upright member by a ball joint engages the electronic device, with the ball joint providing adjustment of the orientation of the electronic device.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 21, 2016
    Publication date: March 23, 2017
    Inventor: David F. Simon
  • Patent number: 9474346
    Abstract: A tray assembly able to be quickly installed and removed from the handle struts of a wheeled luggage bag by a mounting engaging the struts and a tray included in the tray assembly flipped down from the mounting to provide a horizontal support for various articles such as small electronic devices such as laptops, tablets, at a selected level above the top of the luggage bag. The tray is flipped back up to minimize the size of the tray assembly for convenient storage in the luggage back itself.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 24, 2015
    Date of Patent: October 25, 2016
    Inventor: David F. Simon
  • Publication number: 20160081303
    Abstract: A hollow pet toy has a squeaker installed in a hole in a squeaker housing molded into the inside of one of two cupped ball toy parts formed with a hole therein receiving a squeaker, with an air vent hole extending in from the one ball exterior connecting to the squeaker housing hole to allow air flow in and out of the squeaker as the ball toy is compressed and released by the pet.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 25, 2014
    Publication date: March 24, 2016
    Inventor: David F. Simon
  • Publication number: 20160029598
    Abstract: A pet toy comprises a flexible body having an exterior surface and a hollow interior chamber. A partial spherical shaped recess is formed on the exterior surface. A ball is received in the partial spherical shaped recess such that a first portion of an outer surface of the ball is covered by the recess, and a second portion of the outer surface is exposed and protrudes beyond the flexible body. A noise making module is disposed in the hollow interior chamber. The module has a noise making element mounted therein to produce sound when a force is applied to the flexible body to deflect the exterior surface of the flexible body.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 1, 2014
    Publication date: February 4, 2016
    Inventor: David F. Simon
  • Publication number: 20160022032
    Abstract: A tray assembly able to be quickly installed and removed from the handle struts of a wheeled luggage bag by a mounting engaging the struts and a tray included in the tray assembly flipped down from the mounting to provide a horizontal support for various articles such as small electronic devices such as laptops, tablets, at a selected level above the top of the luggage bag.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 24, 2015
    Publication date: January 28, 2016
    Inventor: David F. Simon
  • Patent number: 9140406
    Abstract: A support for a variably positioning a platform which is adapted to hold a book or electronic display for convenient viewing, the support having a pair of swing arms pivotally connected together end to end and to an upright standard, with the platform connected to an outer end of one swing arm with a two orthogonal pivot connections to a platform mount and a pivot connection between the mount and platform. This creates five axes of independent pivoting movement of various components available to position the platform. A friction element for some of the pivot connections allows tightening of an adjustment screw to increase or decrease the friction to stabilize the platform in a selected position without tending to loosen the screw and the associated pivot connection.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 3, 2013
    Date of Patent: September 22, 2015
    Inventor: David F. Simon
  • Publication number: 20150101546
    Abstract: 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: Application
    Filed: October 14, 2013
    Publication date: April 16, 2015
    Applicant: THE KONG COMPANY LLC
    Inventors: David F. Simon, Chuck Costello, John James Stone, Dominic Mak
  • Publication number: 20140209038
    Abstract: A pet chew toy has a body which is formed from an elastic plastic/elastomer and has an opening extending into an associated internal cavity in the body into which treats larger than the opening can be inserted due to the elasticity of the material and returned therein due to the relaxed size of the opening. Chewing by the pet fragments the treats and allows the smaller fragments to fall out through the opening. The opening can be slots, rounded holes, or other openings to vary the technique needed to extract the treats from the toy.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 8, 2014
    Publication date: July 31, 2014
    Inventor: David F. Simon
  • Publication number: 20140191103
    Abstract: A support for a variably positioning a platform which is adapted to hold a book or electronic display for convenient viewing, the support having a pair of swing arms pivotally connected together end to end and to an upright standard, with the platform connected to an outer end of one swing arm with a two orthogonal pivot connections to a platform mount and a pivot connection between the mount and platform. This creates five axes of independent pivoting movement of various components available to position the platform. A friction element for some of the pivot connections allows tightening of an adjustment screw to increase or decrease the friction to stabilize the platform in a selected position without tending to loosen the screw and the associated pivot connection.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 3, 2013
    Publication date: July 10, 2014
    Inventor: David F. Simon
  • Patent number: 7900583
    Abstract: A bird toy for stimulating a foraging instinct by surrounding a treat on a platform on a main body with one or more substantially transparent rings rotatable and vertically slidable on the main body. In one or more rotative positions of the ring or rings turned by a pet bird, the ring or rings are allowed to shift vertically to make the treat accessible. A bottom platform allows a more difficult test, requiring the bird to lift the ring or rings to expose a treat on the bottom platform after rotating the rings to the correct position allowing the rings to be lifted.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 25, 2008
    Date of Patent: March 8, 2011
    Assignee: Caitec Corporation
    Inventor: David F. Simon
  • Patent number: 7895995
    Abstract: The combination of a toy and launcher member for use in providing chase activities for pets, the toy being toroidally shaped and propelled by a whipping stroke of an elongated launch member having a gripper at one end which is engaged with a segment of the perimeter of the toy. A whipping stroke of the launcher causes release of the toy from the gripper which propels the toy away at high speed, with a top spin imparted thereto which causes the toy to roll and bounce for a great distances along the ground.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 12, 2008
    Date of Patent: March 1, 2011
    Inventor: David F. Simon
  • Publication number: 20090120419
    Abstract: The combination of a toy and launcher member for use in providing chase activities for pets, the toy being toroidally shaped and propelled by a whipping stroke of an elongated launch member having a gripper at one end which is engaged with a segment of the perimeter of the toy. A whipping stroke of the launcher causes release of the toy from the gripper which propels the toy away at high speed, with a top spin imparted thereto which causes the toy to roll and bounce for a great distances along the ground.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 12, 2008
    Publication date: May 14, 2009
    Inventor: David F. Simon
  • Publication number: 20090050073
    Abstract: A bird toy for stimulating a foraging instinct by surrounding a treat on a platform on a main body with one or more substantially transparent rings rotatable and vertically slidable on the main body. In one or more rotative positions of the ring or rings turned by a pet bird, the ring or rings are allowed to shift vertically to make the treat accessible. A bottom platform allows a more difficult test, requiring the bird to lift the ring or rings to expose a treat on the bottom platform after rotating the rings to the correct position allowing the rings to be lifted.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 25, 2008
    Publication date: February 26, 2009
    Inventor: David F. Simon
  • Patent number: 7426903
    Abstract: A bird toy providing activity for a pet bird such as a parrot including an enclosure receiving a slide in which treats can be placed. The slide is retracted into the enclosure to prevent access to the treats and cannot be pulled out until the pet bird rotates one or more predetermined orientations whereat the slide can be pulled out to access the treats. Appendages are provided to enable gripping of the slide and enclosure to allow rotation and pull out of the slide.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 17, 2006
    Date of Patent: September 23, 2008
    Inventor: David F. Simon
  • Patent number: D722730
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 30, 2013
    Date of Patent: February 17, 2015
    Assignee: The Kong Company, LLC
    Inventors: David F. Simon, Chuck Costello, John James Stone, Dominic Mak