IP Library Granted Patent US 12,446,550
Granted Patent B2
US 12,446,550 · App. 18/644,288 · Granted Oct 21, 2025

Spherical toy

Inventors: Glen S. Axelrod (Colts Neck, NJ); Ajay Gajria (Monmouth Junction, NJ)
Assignee: T.F.H. PUBLICATIONS, INC.
A01K15/025
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 12,446,550
App. No.
18/644,288
Granted
Oct 21, 2025
Kind
B2
Abstract

A toy comprising a sphere having a spherical first-half and a spherical second-half which are rotatable relative to one another from a first position to a second position. Each half includes a plurality of track segments. In the first position, a first position track includes at least one track segment of each half. In the second position, a second position track includes at least one track segment of each half, wherein at least one of the track segments is different from the first position track, whereby the first position track and the second position track have at least partially different track configurations.

Claims (52)

1. A pet treat dispenser toy, comprising:

a sphere having a spherical first-half and a spherical second-half;

wherein the first-half and the second-half are rotatable relative to one another from a first position of the pet treat dispenser toy to a second position of the pet treat dispenser toy;

wherein the first-half comprises a plurality of first-half track segments, wherein the plurality of first-half track segments are all undercut track segments;

wherein the second-half comprises a plurality of second-half track segments, wherein the plurality of second-half track segments are all undercut track segments;

wherein, when the first-half and the second-half are in the first position of the pet treat dispenser toy, at least one first position track includes at least one first-half track segment of the plurality of first-half track segments and at least one second-half track segment of the plurality of second-half track segments;

wherein, when the first-half and the second-half are in the second position of the pet treat dispenser toy, at least one second position track includes at least one first-half track segment of the plurality of first-half track segments and at least one second-half track segment of the plurality of second-half track segments;

wherein the at least one first position track and the at least one second position track are at least partially different tracks;

at least one roller member rollable within the at least one first position track and the at least one second position track;

one or more combination inlet(s)/outlet(s) to insert the at least one roller member into, and remove the at least one roller member from, respectively, the at least one first position track and the at least one second position track;

wherein, the at least one first position track is configured such that, when the at least one roller member is disposed in the at least one first position track, the at least one first position track physically inhibits the at least one roller member from exiting the at least one first position track except through the one or more combination inlet(s)/outlet(s);

wherein, the at least one second position track is configured such that, when the at least one roller member is disposed in the at least one second position track, the at least one second position track physically inhibits the at least one roller member from exiting the at least one second position track except through the one or more combination inlet(s)/outlet(s); and

wherein the at least one roller member is edible.

2. The pet treat dispenser toy of claim 1 , further comprising:

wherein the at least one roller member is spherical.

3. The pet treat dispenser toy of claim 1 , further comprising:

wherein the at least edible one roller member comprises a plurality of edible roller members rollable simultaneously within the at least one first position track or the at least one second position track.

4. The pet treat dispenser toy of claim 1 , further comprising:

wherein the plurality of first-half track segments and the plurality of second-half track segments all have a same undercut profile;

wherein the undercut profile is a semi-circular undercut profile.

5. The pet treat dispenser toy of claim 1 , further comprising:

wherein the plurality of first-half track segments include a first-half first track segment and a first-half second track segment;

wherein the plurality of second-half track segments include a second-half first track segment and a second-half second track segment.

6. The pet treat dispenser toy of claim 5 , further comprising:

wherein, when the first-half and the second-half are in the first position of the pet treat dispenser toy, the at least one first position track comprises a first position first track which includes the first-half first track segment and the second-half first track segment;

wherein, when the first-half and the second-half are in the second position of the pet treat dispenser toy, the at least one second position track includes the first-half second track segment and the second-half second track segment.

7. The pet treat dispenser toy of claim 6 , further comprising:

wherein, when the first-half and the second-half are in the first position of the pet treat dispenser toy, the at least one first position track further comprises a first position second track which includes the first-half second track segment and the second-half second track segment.

8. The pet treat dispenser toy of claim 6 , further comprising:

wherein, when the first-half and the second-half are in the second position of the pet treat dispenser toy, the at least one second position track further includes the first-half first track segment and the second-half first track segment.

9. The pet treat dispenser toy of claim 5 , further comprising:

wherein the plurality of first-half track segments further include a first-half third track segment;

wherein the plurality of second-half track segments further include a second-half third track segment.

10. The pet treat dispenser toy of claim 9 , further comprising:

wherein, when the first-half and the second-half are in the first position of the pet treat dispenser toy, the at least one first position track further comprises a first position first track which includes the first-half first track segment and the second-half first track segment;

wherein, when the first-half and the second-half are in the first position of the pet treat dispenser toy, the at least one first position track further comprises a first position second track which includes the first-half second track segment and the second-half second track segment;

wherein, when the first-half and the second-half are in the first position of the pet treat dispenser toy, the at least one first position track further comprises a first position third track which includes the first-half third track segment and the second-half third track segment.

11. The pet treat dispenser toy of claim 10 , further comprising:

wherein, when the first-half and the second-half are in the first position of the pet treat dispenser toy, the first position first track, the first position second track and the first position third track are isolated from one another.

12. The pet treat dispenser toy of claim 10 , further comprising:

wherein the first position first track further comprises a first position first continuous loop track;

wherein the first position second track further comprises a first position second continuous loop track;

wherein the first position third track further comprises a first position third continuous loop track.

13. The pet treat dispenser toy of claim 9 , further comprising:

wherein, when the first-half and the second-half are in the second position of the pet treat dispenser toy, the at least one second position track includes the first-half first track segment, the second-half first track segment, the first-half second track segment, the second-half second track segment, the first-half third track segment and the second-half third track segment.

14. The pet treat dispenser toy of claim 10 , further comprising:

wherein the at least one second position track further comprises a second position continuous loop track.

15. The pet treat dispenser toy of claim 1 , further comprising:

wherein the first-half and the second-half are rotatable relative to one another from the first position of the pet treat dispenser toy to the second position of the pet treat dispenser toy about a rotation axis;

wherein the first-half and the second-half are releasably fixable relative to one another around the rotation axis at the first position of the pet treat dispenser toy and the second position of the pet treat dispenser toy.

16. The pet treat dispenser toy of claim 15 , further comprising:

wherein the first-half and the second-half are releasably fixable relative to one another around the rotation axis at the first position of the pet treat dispenser toy and the second position of the pet treat dispenser toy by a detent mechanism.

Assignments (1)
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded May 20, 2024
From: AXELROD, GLEN S.; GAJRIA, AJAY
To: T.F.H. PUBLICATIONS, INC.
Reel/Frame 067464/0015 →