TREAT DISPENSING DEVICE
Treat dispensing devices are presented including: a base, where the base includes a bowl portion and a compartment portion, where the compartment portion is positioned under the bowl portion; a dome-shaped covering removably coupled along a top edge of the bowl portion, where the dome-shaped covering includes a dome surface having at least one opening along the dome surface; a pair of drive wheels connected by a crankshaft; a dispensing mechanism actuated by rotation of the crankshaft; and a pair of stabilizing wheels. In some embodiments, the bowl portion includes: a central recessed portion; and a bottom surface surrounding the central recessed portion and sloped toward the central recessed portion.
1 . A treat dispensing device comprising:
a base, wherein the base comprises a bowl portion and a compartment portion, wherein the compartment portion is positioned under the bowl portion;
a dome-shaped covering removably coupled along a top edge of the bowl portion, wherein the dome-shaped covering comprises a dome surface having at least one opening along the dome surface;
a pair of drive wheels connected by a crankshaft;
a dispensing mechanism actuated by rotation of the crankshaft; and
a pair of stabilizing wheels.
2 . The treat dispensing device of claim 1 , wherein
the bowl portion comprises:
a central recessed portion; and
a bottom surface surrounding the central recessed portion and sloped toward the central recessed portion; and wherein
the dispensing mechanism comprises:
a plunger comprising: a plunger disk; a plunger rod; and a plunger stop, wherein the plunger disk is slidingly engaged along the central recessed portion;
a compression spring positioned below the plunger disk and contained within the central recessed portion; and
a pivoting escapement actuated by the crankshaft rotating in a forward or a backward rotation of the crankshaft, wherein the pivoting escapement pivots along a pivot point on the plunger rod, and wherein the pivot point and the plunger stop are co-located.
3 . The treat dispensing device of claim 1 , further comprising:
a reducing insert removably inserted into the at least one opening to reduce the at least one opening in size.
4 . The treat dispensing device of claim 1 , further comprising:
a closing insert removably inserted into the at least one opening to close the at least one opening.
5 . The treat dispensing device of claim 1 , wherein each of the pair of stabilizing wheels comprise a wheel rotatably coupled with a fixed axle.
6 . The treat dispensing device of claim 1 , wherein each of the pair of stabilizing wheels comprise a swivel castor.
7 . The treat dispensing device of claim 1 , wherein the treat dispensing device dispenses a plurality of treats in response to moving in either a forward or a backward direction.
8 . A method of dispensing treats comprising:
providing a treat dispensing device, wherein the treat dispensing device comprises:
a base, wherein the base comprises a bowl portion and a compartment portion, wherein the compartment portion is positioned under the bowl portion;
a dome-shaped covering removably coupled along a top edge of the bowl portion, wherein the dome-shaped covering comprises a dome surface having at least one opening along the dome surface;
a pair of drive wheels connected by a crankshaft;
a dispensing mechanism actuated by rotation of the crankshaft; and
a pair of stabilizing wheels;
providing a plurality of treats;
loading the treat dispensing device with the treats;
moving the treat dispensing device in either a forward or a backward direction thereby rotating the crankshaft in either direction; and
dispensing at least some of the plurality of treats through the at least one opening when the dispensing mechanism is actuated.
9 . The method of claim 8 , wherein
the bowl portion comprises:
a central recessed portion; and
a bottom surface surrounding the central recessed portion and sloped toward the central recessed portion; and wherein
the dispensing mechanism comprises:
a plunger comprising: a plunger disk; a plunger rod; and a plunger stop, wherein the plunger disk is slidingly engaged along the central recessed portion;
a compression spring positioned below the plunger disk and contained within the central recessed portion; and
a pivoting escapement actuated by the crankshaft rotating in a forward or a backward rotation of the crankshaft, wherein the pivoting escapement pivots along a pivot point on the plunger rod, and wherein the pivot point and the plunger stop are co-located.
10 . The method of claim 8 , further comprising:
providing a reducing insert; and
inserting the reducing insert into the at least one opening to reduce the at least one opening in size.
11 . The method of claim 8 , further comprising:
providing a closing insert; and
inserting the closing insert into the at least one opening.
12 . The method of claim 8 , wherein the loading the treat dispensing device with the treats comprises:
removing the dome-shaped covering;
placing the plurality of treats in the bowl portion; and
replacing the dome-shaped covering.
13 . The method of claim 8 , wherein the loading the treat dispensing device with the treats comprises:
placing the plurality of treats in the bowl portion through the at least one opening.
14 . The method of claim 9 , wherein when the dispensing mechanism is actuated, the pivoting escapement releases the plunger with an audible “pop.”