초록
A dog toy container can be used to store dog toys or consumable objects, such as chew toys, ropes, balls, stuffed animals, edible chews, bones, and other similar objects used to entertain or reward or please dogs. The dog toy container having a pedal arrangement and a lid in connection with a motorized movement arrangement, such that when a dog depresses the pedal arrangement with its paw, the dog will activate the motor to lift or lower the lid and thereby permit the dog access to the storage area.
A dog toy container can be used to store dog toys or consumable objects, such as chew toys, ropes, balls, stuffed animals, edible chews, bones, and other similar objects used to entertain or reward or please dogs. The dog toy container having a pedal arrangement and a lid in connection with a motorized movement arrangement, such that when a dog depresses the pedal arrangement with its paw, the dog will activate the motor to lift or lower the lid and thereby permit the dog access to the storage area.
대표
청구항
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1. A method of storing and accessing dog toys in a dog toy container, said dog toy container comprising: a frame comprising wall portions configured and disposed to define a dog toy storage area therein;said frame comprising an opening to permit access into said dog toy storage area by a dog;a lid being configured and disposed to cover said opening;said lid comprising a first end portion being affixed to said frame, and a second end portion being disposed opposite said first end portion and not being affixed to said frame;a movement arrangement being con...
1. A method of storing and accessing dog toys in a dog toy container, said dog toy container comprising: a frame comprising wall portions configured and disposed to define a dog toy storage area therein;said frame comprising an opening to permit access into said dog toy storage area by a dog;a lid being configured and disposed to cover said opening;said lid comprising a first end portion being affixed to said frame, and a second end portion being disposed opposite said first end portion and not being affixed to said frame;a movement arrangement being connected to said lid;said movement arrangement comprising a motor being configured to: lift said second end portion of said lid away from said frame to uncover said opening and permit access to said toy storage area by said dog through said opening, andlower said second end portion of said lid toward said frame to cover said opening with said lid;a pedal arrangement being operatively connected to said motor;said pedal arrangement being configured and disposed to be pressed by said dog to activate said motor to lift said lid and thereby permit the dog to access said dog toy storage area to either retrieve a dog toy from said dog toy storage area, or deposit said dog toy into said dog toy storage area; andsaid pedal arrangement being configured and disposed to be pressed by said dog to activate said motor to lower said lid and thereby cover said opening with said lid to close the dog toy container;said method comprising the steps of: a. showing said dog toy to said dog; b. engaging said pedal arrangement and lifting said lid to open said dog toy container; c. placing said dog toy into said dog toy container; d. engaging said pedal arrangement and lowering said lid to close said dog toy container; e. engaging said pedal arrangement with a paw of said dog to train said dog to lift and lower said lid using said pedal arrangement; f. instructing said dog to lift said lid and open said dog toy container to permit removal or return of said dog toy from or to said dog toy container; g. instructing said dog to lower said lid to close said dog toy container after said removal or return of said dog toy; h. permitting said dog to activate said motor by engaging said pedal arrangement with its paw to thereby lift said lid and open said dog toy container to permit said dog to remove said dog toy from said dog toy container; i. permitting said dog to activate said motor by engaging said pedal arrangement with its paw to thereby lower said lid and close said dog toy container; j. permitting said dog to activate said motor by engaging said pedal arrangement with its paw to thereby lift said lid and open said dog toy container to permit said dog to return said dog toy back into said dog toy container; and k. permitting said dog to activate said motor by engaging said pedal arrangement with its paw to thereby lower said lid and close said dog toy container to store said dog toy. 2. The method according to claim 1, wherein: said pedal arrangement comprises an opening pedal and a closing pedal;said opening pedal is configured to be depressed by said dog to activate said motor to lift said lid;said closing pedal is configured to be depressed by said dog to activate said motor to lower said lid;said step of engaging said pedal arrangement and lifting said lid to open said dog toy container comprises depressing said opening pedal; andsaid step of engaging said pedal arrangement and lowering said lid to close said dog toy container comprises depressing said closing pedal. 3. The method according to claim 2, wherein: the dog toy container further comprises: a first limit switch being configured and disposed to stop said motor upon said lid being lifted to a fully open position and engaged with said first limit switch; anda second limit switch being configured and disposed to stop said motor upon said lid being lowered to a fully closed position and engaged with said second limit switch;said method further comprises: stopping lifting of said lid by engaging said first limit switch with said lid and thereby stopping said motor; andstopping lowering of said lid by engaging said second limit switch with said lid and thereby stopping said motor. 4. The method according to claim 3, further comprising one of (A) and (B): (A) said step of engaging said pedal arrangement and lifting said lid comprises automatically lifting said lid to said fully open position by depressing and releasing said opening pedal; andsaid step of engaging said pedal arrangement and lowering said lid comprises automatically lowering said lid to said fully closed position by depressing and releasing said closing pedal; and(B) said step of engaging said pedal arrangement and lifting said lid comprises lifting said lid by depressing and holding said opening pedal in a first depressed position, and stopping lifting of said lid by releasing said opening pedal; andsaid step of engaging said pedal arrangement and lowering said lid comprises lowering said lid by depressing and holding said closing pedal in a second depressed position, and stopping lowering of said lid by releasing said closing pedal. 5. The method according to claim 4, wherein: the dog toy container further comprises a safety arrangement mounted on said frame and operatively connected to said motor;said safety arrangement is configured and disposed to detect the presence of an object, an animal, a person, or parts thereof, located within at least one of said frame and in a path of said lid during the lowering or a closing of said lid;said safety arrangement is configured to stop said motor or activate said motor to lift said lid upon detection of the presence of the object, the animal, the person, or parts thereof by said safety arrangement, to thereby minimize injury or damage to the object, the animal, the person, or the dog toy container; andsaid method further comprises: using said safety arrangement to detect the presence of the object, the animal, the person, or parts thereof, located within at least one of said frame and in the path of said lid during the lowering or closing of said lid; andupon detecting the presence of the object, the animal, the person, or parts thereof, located within at least one of said frame and in the path of said lid during the lowering or closing of said lid,stopping said motor or activating said motor to lift said lid. 6. The method according to claim 5, wherein: said opening pedal comprises an opening pedal structure and an opening pedal arm, and said closing pedal comprises a closing pedal structure and a closing pedal arm;said wall portions of said frame comprise a front wall portion;said front wall portion comprises a first opening and a second opening therein;said front wall portion comprises a first support piece comprising a first recess aligned with said first opening, and a second support piece comprising a second recess aligned with said second opening;said opening pedal arm is disposed to pass through said first opening into said first recess, and said closing pedal arm is disposed to pass through said second opening into said second recess;the dog toy container comprises an opening contact structure disposed in said first recess, and a closing contact structure disposed in said second recess;said contact structures are operatively connected to said motor;each of said opening pedal arm and said closing pedal arm is pivotably mounted on a corresponding pivot pin connected to said front wall portion within said first and second openings;said step of engaging said pedal arrangement and lifting said lid comprises depressing said opening pedal structure and pivoting said opening pedal arm about its pivot pin, and thereby pivoting an end of said opening pedal arm into said opening contact structure to activate said motor to lift said lid; andsaid step of engaging said pedal arrangement and lowering said lid comprises depressing said closing pedal structure and pivoting said closing pedal arm about its pivot pin, to thereby pivot an end of said closing pedal arm into said closing contact structure to activate said motor to lower said lid. 7. The method according to claim 6, wherein: the dog toy container comprises an emergency switch operatively connected to said motor to permit the person to perform at least one of interrupting power to said motor and mechanically disengaging said motor in an emergency situation in which a movement of said lid may cause injury to the animal or the person; andsaid method further comprises activating said emergency switch and thereby performing at least one of interrupting power to said motor and mechanically disengaging said motor in the emergency situation in which the movement of said lid may cause injury to the animal or the person. 8. The method according to claim 1, wherein: said step of engaging said pedal arrangement and lifting said lid comprises automatically lifting said lid to a fully open position by depressing and releasing an opening pedal; andsaid step of engaging said pedal arrangement and lowering said lid comprises automatically lowering said lid to a fully closed position by depressing and releasing a closing pedal. 9. The method according to claim 1, wherein: said step of engaging said pedal arrangement and lifting said lid comprises lifting said lid by depressing and holding an opening pedal in a first depressed position, and stopping the lifting of said lid by releasing said opening pedal; andsaid step of engaging said pedal arrangement and lowering said lid comprises lowering said lid by depressing and holding a closing pedal in a second depressed position, and stopping the lower of said lid by releasing said closing pedal. 10. The method according to claim 1, wherein: the dog toy container further comprises a safety arrangement mounted on said frame and operatively connected to said motor;said safety arrangement is configured and disposed to detect the presence of an object, an animal, a person, or parts thereof, located within at least one of said frame and in a path of said lid during the lowering or a closing of said lid;said safety arrangement is configured to stop said motor or activate said motor to lift said lid upon detection of the presence of the object, the animal, the person, or parts thereof by said safety arrangement, to thereby minimize injury or damage to the object, the animal, the person, or the dog toy container; andsaid method further comprises: using said safety arrangement to detect the presence of the object, the animal, the person, or parts thereof, located within at least one of said frame and in the path of said lid during the lowering or closing of said lid; andupon detecting the presence of the object, the animal, the person, or parts thereof, located within at least one of said frame and in the path of said lid during the lowering or closing of said lid, stopping said motor or activating said motor to lift said lid. 11. The method according to claim 1, wherein: said wall portions of said frame comprise a front wall portion, a back wall portion, a top wall portion, a bottom wall portion, a first side wall portion, and a second side wall portion;said first and second side wall portions connect said front, back, top, and bottom wall portions;each of said front wall portion and said top wall portion comprises a rectangular shape of similar length and width;said back wall portion comprises a rectangular shape of similar width as said top and front wall portions, but of greater length than said top and front wall portions, such that said back wall portion extends vertically higher than said front wall portion;said bottom wall portion comprises a rectangular shape of similar width as said top, front, and back wall portions, but of greater length than said top, front, and back wall portions, such that the dog toy container comprises a greater depth than height for increased stability and storage capacity;each of said first and second side wall portions comprises an irregular pentagonal shape;said top wall portion comprises a front section and a rear section, wherein said rear section is connected to a top section of said back wall portion;said top wall portion extends perpendicularly from said back wall portion;said lid comprises hinges connecting said first end portion of said lid to said front section of said top wall portion;said frame comprises first, second, third, and fourth frame edges disposed about said opening in said frame;said first frame edge is formed by said top wall portion, said second frame edge is formed by said first side wall portion, said third frame edge is formed by said front wall portion, and said fourth frame edge is formed by said second side wall portion;said second and fourth frame edges slope downwardly at an angle from said top wall portion to said front wall portion; andsaid lid, upon being in a fully closed position, is disposed at a downwardly sloping angle such that a perimeter portion of said lid rests on or against at least said second and fourth frame edges. 12. The method according to claim 11, wherein: said motor comprises a gear;one of said hinges comprises a partial gear configured and disposed to mesh with said gear of said motor; andsaid motor is configured and disposed to drive said gear to thereby move said partial gear and one of said hinges to thereby lift and lower said lid. 13. The method according to claim 12, wherein an opening pedal structure and a closing pedal structure is in the shape of a dog paw or paw print. 14. The method according to claim 13, wherein: said frame comprises wood or plastic or a combination thereof; andsaid lid comprises wood or plastic or a combination thereof. 15. The method according to claim 14, wherein said bottom wall portion comprises at least one of (A), (B), and (C): (A) projecting feet configured to keep said bottom wall portion off of a floor surface;(B) anti-skid material or coating to minimize sliding movement of the dog toy container on the floor surface; and(C) weight or weights configured to minimize at least one of shifting, sliding, and tipping over of the dog toy container. 16. The method according to claim 15, further comprising one of (D), (E), and (F): (D) said lid and said frame are made of transparent or translucent material to permit viewing of contents of the dog toy container;(E) said lid is made of transparent or translucent material to permit viewing of the contents of the dog toy container, and said frame is made of opaque material; and(F) said lid and said frame are made of opaque material, and said lid comprises openings therein to permit viewing of the contents of the dog toy container, the openings in the lid are formed in a decorative shape or in the shape of a dog paw print. 17. The method according to claim 16, wherein: said motor comprises a skipping motor configured to allow the motor to skip upon encountering resistance to lifting or lowering movement of said lid; andthe dog toy container comprises an emergency switch operatively connected to said motor to permit a person to perform at least one of interrupting power to said motor and mechanically disengaging said motor said motor in an emergency situation in which the movement of said lid may cause injury to an animal or the person.
