Abstract: A dispenser includes an outer shell and diaphragm pumps that can be operated by an animal to dispense materials, such as a gel, with a flow viscosity between 1-100,000 cps. The outer shell houses a pressure-actuated sound generator and has outer surfaces with tongue cleaners. The outer shell includes receivers wherein diaphragm pumps can be installed. The diaphragm pumps are of a prescribed volume between 0.1 ml and 50 ml so that the amount of oral gel ejected into a dog's mouth can be determined. The outer shell is sufficiently flexible to be compressed by an animal's jaws such that the oral gel is pumped via actuation of the diaphragm pump. Gel is ejected or pumped to the teeth of the animal and in combination of sounds being generated, more or less simultaneously with the distribution of oral gel in a prescribed and measured volume.

Abstract: A pet dental device includes a main body and an outer shell. The main body houses a pressure-actuated sound generator and that has outer surfaces from which a plurality of brushes extend. The outer shell covers at least a portion of the main body such that a gap exists between the shell and the outer surfaces of the main body, and includes a plurality of brush ports aligned with the brushes. The outer shell is sufficiently flexible to be compressed inward by a selected animal's jaws such that toothpaste is distributed via the brushes to teeth of the selected animal and such that sounds are generated, via the pressure-actuated sound generator housed in the main body, more or less simultaneously with the distribution of toothpaste.

Abstract: A dispenser includes an outer shell and diaphragm pumps that can be operated by an animal to dispense materials, such as a gel, with a flow viscosity between 1-100,000 cps. The outer shell houses a pressure-actuated sound generator and has outer surfaces with tongue cleaners. The outer shell includes receivers wherein diaphragm pumps can be installed. The diaphragm pumps are of a prescribed volume between 0.1 ml and 50 ml so that the amount of oral gel ejected into a dog's mouth can be determined. The outer shell is sufficiently flexible to be compressed by an animal's jaws such that the oral gel is pumped via actuation of the diaphragm pump. Gel is ejected or pumped to the teeth of the animal and in combination of sounds being generated, more or less simultaneously with the distribution of oral gel in a prescribed and measured volume.

Abstract: An edible animal medicine container for delivering medicine or other ingestible material, contained therein, to an animal, includes first and second edible housing shells. The first shell include a first opening defined by a first peripheral ledge having a periphery that is surrounded by a second peripheral ledge that is stepped down from, and connected via a first wall to, the first peripheral ledge. A peripheral lip is disposed around the first wall. The second shell includes a second opening defined by a third peripheral ledge surrounding, and connected via a second wall to, a fourth peripheral ledge which is recessed into the second opening. The first and second shells are positionable into a closed state wherein the first peripheral ledge, the first wall, and the peripheral lip are inserted into the second opening so as to retain the ingestible material within the interior until ingested by an animal.

Abstract: An animal-operated puzzle and treat toy, includes a body that includes a storage portion defining a treat cavity and a manipulator element connected to the body. The manipulator element is adjustable relative to the body to produce an access opening, to the treat cavity, that is large enough such that a food treat or other reward item may be released through the access opening to the environment. In an initial state, the manipulator element blocks the food treat or other reward item from being released from the treat cavity, and in an adjusted state, the manipulator element has been adjusted, relative to the body, such that the access opening is produced. A plurality of different possible initial states are provided to correspond to different levels of difficulty required to produce the access opening.

Abstract: Various devices utilize rotational movement of a piece of chalk to apply a graphic to a surface. Such a device includes a chassis, a motor connected to the chassis, a solid piece of chalk supported by a mounting structure carried by the chassis, and a rotatable axle or spindle that transmits rotational movement from the motor to the solid piece of chalk via the mounting structure such that the solid piece of chalk may be sanded by a surface to render a graphic to the surface. Some such devices are vehicles. Various systems include such devices as well as remote communication devices for operational control.

Abstract: A pet toy for dispensing medicine, including an outer shell, an actuator assembly coupled to the outer shell, and an ingestible material initially disposed within the outer shell. Manipulation, by a pet, of the actuator assembly relative to the outer shell causes the ingestible material to exit the outer shell for ingestion by the pet.

Abstract: A hollow bone-type pet toy having defensive curves includes a body having a narrow mid-section and at least two hollow lobes extending therefrom. Each lobe tapers outward from the narrow mid-section to a wide end and has walls defining an inner cavity. In cross-section, each lobe wall is thinnest adjacent the narrow mid-section and tapers outward in thickness such that the wall is thickest at a distal end; at a distal end of an outer surface, the outer surface terminates in a defensive deflection curve that extends around a distal end of the wall; and at a distal end of an inner surface of each lobe wall, the inner surface terminates in the defensive curve. The defensive deflection curve is defined in two-dimensional space using a set of cubic Bézier curves. A pet's teeth are thus deflected by the distal ends of the walls when the pet bites the pet-toy.

Abstract: A semi-hollow ball for pet play, including an outer shell having a plurality of perforations therethrough, a central inner core disposed in the perforated outer shell, and a plurality of elongate airflow structures extending disposed between, and extending from at least one of, the central inner core and the perforated outer shell. The elongate airflow structures are spaced apart from one another so as to form airflow passages therebetween. The airflow passages are in fluid communication with the perforations in the outer shell such when carried in the mouth of a pet, air passes into the ball through one or more of the perforations, through one or more of the airflow passages, and out of the ball through one or more of the perforations.

Abstract: A high-volume method of manufacturing a vegetable-based cluster-type snack-food product with a low-sugar binder, carried out in a manufacturing line, includes inputting a supply of a vegetable cluster component to a manufacturing line, inputting a supply of a binder component to the manufacturing line, mixing a quantity of the supply of the binder component together with a quantity of the supply of the vegetable cluster component to produce a mixture, and manipulating the mixture of binder component and vegetable cluster component to produce a plurality of vegetable snack-food product clusters. The vegetable cluster component predominantly includes whole or pieces of savory and/or salty culinary vegetables. The binder component is produced predominantly from soluble fiber. The vegetable snack-food product clusters are bound together by the binder component.

Abstract: An edible animal medicine container for delivering medicine or other ingestible material, contained therein, to an animal, includes first and second edible housing shells. The first shell includes a first peripheral ledge, surrounding a first central hollow, and a first interlocking feature extending therefrom. The second shell includes a second peripheral ledge, surrounding a second central hollow, and a second interlocking feature extending into, and at least partially defined by, the second peripheral ledge. The second shell is positionable relative to, and connectable to, the first shell to define an interior in which the ingestible material may be disposed. In such connected state the first interlocking feature is seated and frictionally held within the second interlocking feature of the second edible housing shell so as to retain the first and second shells together and thereby retain the ingestible material within the interior until ingested by an animal.

Abstract: A system employing a plurality of brain/body-generated inputs to control multi-action operation includes a controllable device, that performs at least two actions via remote control, and a head-mounted user interface device. The UI device includes a user cranium-mounted frame, first and second sensors supported by the frame, a processor, and a transmitter. The first sensor includes an electrode for contacting the cranium when the frame is worn and adapted to receive a bioelectric signal from the cranium. The second sensor receives hands-free brain/body input from the user. The processor uses application software process input provided by the first and second sensors and generates different outputs, corresponding to different commands. The transmitter transmits signals, based on the different commands, to the controllable device to initiate the different actions performed by the device.

Abstract: A pet toy launching system for use with mobile devices includes a ball launcher, a dog-wearable sensing apparatus, a ball or other projectile, a mobile device, and one or more sensors. Each of the ball launcher, the dog-wearable sensing apparatus, and the ball or other projectile includes a transmitter. Each sensor is disposed in, and is electrically connected to the transmitter in, one of the ball launcher, the dog-wearable sensing apparatus, and/or the ball. The mobile device communicates with at least one of the ball launcher, the dog-wearable sensing apparatus, and/or the ball. The application software program presents a user interface, to a user, such that a game may be carried out, via the application software program, when the dog-wearable sensing apparatus is worn by a dog and the ball launcher is utilized to launch the ball or other projectile for the dog to retrieve.

Abstract: An edible animal medicine container for delivering medicine or other ingestible material, contained therein, to an animal, includes first and second edible housing shells. The first shell includes a first peripheral ledge, surrounding a first central hollow, and a first interlocking feature extending therefrom. The second shell includes a second peripheral ledge, surrounding a second central hollow, and a second interlocking feature extending into, and at least partially defined by, the second peripheral ledge. The second shell is positionable relative to, and connectable to, the first shell to define an interior in which the ingestible material may be disposed. In such connected state the first interlocking feature is seated and frictionally held within the second interlocking feature of the second edible housing shell so as to retain the first and second shells together and thereby retain the ingestible material within the interior until ingested by an animal.

Abstract: A system employing a plurality of brain/body-generated inputs to control multi-action operation includes a controllable device, that performs at least two actions via remote control, and a head-mounted user interface device. The UI device includes a user cranium-mounted frame, first and second sensors supported by the frame, a processor, and a transmitter. The first sensor includes an electrode for contacting the cranium when the frame is worn and adapted to receive a bioelectric signal from the cranium. The second sensor receives hands-free brain/body input from the user. The processor uses application software process input provided by the first and second sensors and generates different outputs, corresponding to different commands. The transmitter transmits signals, based on the different commands, to the controllable device to initiate the different actions performed by the device.

Abstract: A throw and fetch system includes a universal handle, at least two projectiles, and at least two interchangeable projectile holder elements. A first projectile has a first size and/or shape, and a second projectile has a second size and/or shape. A first interchangeable projectile holder element has an interior that is sized and shaped to correspond to the size and shape of the first projectile, and a second interchangeable projectile holder element has an interior that is sized and shaped to correspond to the size and shape of the second projectile. In a first state the first projectile holder element is attached to a distal end of the universal handle such that the first projectile may be held then thrown therefrom by a user, and in a second state the second projectile holder element is attached such that the second projectile may be held then thrown therefrom by the user.

Abstract: A method of providing a cognitive performance snack food to a user includes producing a multitude of snack food pieces, placing the multitude of snack food pieces in a snack packaging adapted to be opened and closed with one hand, and providing a saleable performance snack food item to consumers for use during computer or video game activity. Each snack food piece including a snack food base and a mixture of cognitive performance additives. The snack pieces and snack packaging together define the saleable performance snack food item, which can be consumed with one hand and while operating computer or video gaming equipment.

Abstract: A multi-purpose implement is provided, including a racquet, having a handle portion and a flexible planar area held under tension by a frame, and a ball basket attached to the racquet and adapted to lift a ball directly from a generally horizontal surface. A method of using the implement, without contacting the ball with one's hands, includes holding the handle portion in one or both hands, maneuvering the ball basket into contact with a ball lying on a generally horizontal surface, lifting the ball directly from the generally horizontal surface with the ball basket, tossing the ball from the ball basket into the air, and while the ball is in the air, striking the ball with the racquet.

Abstract: A ball lifting, tossing and striking system by which a user can pick up, toss and strike a ball in such a way that the ball does not come in contact with the user's hand is provided. The system includes a ball and a multi-purpose implement that may be carried by a user in one or both hands. The multi-purpose implement includes a bat, having a handle portion and a striking portion, and a ball basket having a shovel-like scoop that is adapted to be inserted underneath the ball to lift the ball from a generally horizontal surface. Furthermore, a user may grasp the handle portion of the bat, lift the ball from a generally horizontal surface, and without touching the ball, toss the ball from the ball basket into the air such that it may be struck by the striking portion of the bat.

Abstract: A submerging air pressure projectile launching toy, suitable for use by children, includes a main device body, a launch structure connected to an upper end thereof to define an interior air chamber, and a projectile, all for use in water. The main device body has a hollow elongate member, defining a longitudinal axis, and a water intake, in fluid communication with the interior air chamber, at a lower end thereof, and the water intake opening is perpendicular to the longitudinal axis. The projectile is temporarily mountable via to the launch structure to semi-seal the interior air chamber. When the lower end of the main device body is pushed into a body of water, air within the interior air chamber is compressed until a frictional or other coupling force between the projectile and the launch structure is overcome, causing the projectile to launch into the air.