Toy and App for Remotely Viewing and Playing with a Pet

Abstract

An app and associated toy are disclosed that allow a smartphone user to play remotely with a pet by controlling the movement of a remote spot of light. A remote camera allows the user to see and record video of the pet playing. The light spot is controlled by moving a cursor, or by directly moving the light spot on a touch video screen. The viewer also has the option to have the spot follow a predetermined path. By starting the play at the same time as presenting a noise designed to attract a pet, the pet is conditioned to associate that noise with playing. This allows the pet to be summoned to the game. In a more advanced version, the app also controls a treat dispenser for rewarding the pet for playing. An RFID tag on the pet allows the light source to be shone near to the pet.

1 . An animal monitoring and treat dispensing apparatus comprising:
 a housing with a portion of the housing configured to allow transmission of light therethrough;   an optical device and a light source positioned in a proximity the portion of the housing configured to allow the transmission of the light,
 wherein the light source is configured to move along at least one of an x-axis or a y-axis, and 
 wherein the light source is oriented such that a lens of the optical device is oriented in a direction of the light emitted from the light source; 
   a dispensing mechanism coupled to the housing, the dispensing mechanism comprising a movable tray having a plurality of receptacles,
 wherein the dispensing mechanism is actuated by a wireless signal, and 
 wherein the dispensing mechanism is disposed below the optical device and the light source; and 
   a dispensing outlet coupled to the dispensing mechanism, the dispensing outlet providing a channel for transport of an item from the dispensing mechanism to the dispensing outlet.   
     
     
         2 . The apparatus of  claim 1  wherein the light source is a laser and the optical device is a camera. 
     
     
         3 . The apparatus of  claim 1  wherein a bottom of the housing comprises a non-slip surface. 
     
     
         4 . The apparatus of  claim 3  further comprising a flip down member coupled to the bottom of the housing, the flip down member being configured to secure a position of the apparatus. 
     
     
         5 . The apparatus of  claim 1  wherein the optical device is configured to record video and capture sound. 
     
     
         6 . An animal monitoring and treat dispensing apparatus comprising:
 a housing with a portion of the housing configured to allow transmission of light therethrough;   an optical device and a light source positioned within the housing to allow the transmission of the light from the housing,
 wherein a beam of the light source is configured to move along at least one of an x-axis or a y-axis, and 
 wherein the light source is oriented such that a lens of the optical device is oriented in a direction of the light emitted from the light source; 
   a dispensing mechanism coupled to the housing,
 wherein the dispensing mechanism is actuated by a wireless signal. 
   
     
     
         7 . The apparatus of  claim 6  wherein the dispensing mechanism includes a plurality of receptacles. 
     
     
         8 . The apparatus of  claim 6  wherein light source of configured to move along each of the x-axis and the y-axis. 
     
     
         9 . The apparatus of  claim 7  wherein the dispensing mechanism is actuated by the wireless signal to select one of said receptacles from which to dispense an item, and to cause said dispensing of said item from said selected receptacle. 
     
     
         10 . The apparatus of  claim 6  wherein movement of the light source is actuated by at least one motor. 
     
     
         11 . The apparatus of  claim 6  wherein the dispensing mechanism is disposed below the optical device and the light source. 
     
     
         12 . An animal monitoring and treat dispensing apparatus comprising:
 a housing, the housing having a window configured to allow transmission of light therethrough;   an optical device positioned behind the window,   a light source for emitting a light beam, the light source or the light beam being configured to move along at least an x-axis and a y-axis, and
 wherein the light source is oriented such that a lens of the optical device is oriented in a direction of the light emitted from the light source; 
   a dispensing mechanism coupled to the housing, the dispensing mechanism being actuable from a wireless signal sent to the monitoring and dispensing apparatus; and   a dispensing outlet coupled to the dispensing mechanism, the dispensing outlet being configurable to transport an item from at least one of the plurality of receptacles of the dispensing mechanism to the dispensing outlet.   
     
     
         13 . An animal monitoring and treat dispensing apparatus comprising:
 a housing, the housing having a light source connected to the housing for emitting a beam of light, said light source being configured to move said beam of light along at least one of an x-axis or a y-axis, and a dispensing mechanism actuable from a wireless signal, and configured to move a dispensing mechanism to cause dispensing of an item.   
     
     
         14 . The apparatus of  claim 13  wherein the light source is configured to be manually controlled. 
     
     
         15 . The apparatus of  claim 13  wherein the light source is configured to follow a pre-programmed movement pattern. 
     
     
         16 . An animal monitoring and treat dispensing apparatus comprising:
 a housing, the housing having an integrated window configured to allow transmission of light therethrough;   a camera positioned in a proximity to the integrated window,   a laser source positioned behind the integrated window,
 wherein the laser source is configured to move along at least an x-axis and a y-axis, and 
 wherein the laser source is oriented such that a lens of the camera is always oriented in a direction of light emitted from the laser source; 
   a rotatable dispensing mechanism coupled to the housing, the dispensing mechanism comprising a rotatable tray having a plurality of receptacles,
 wherein the rotatable dispensing mechanism is actuated by a wireless signal sent to the apparatus, and 
 wherein the rotatable dispensing mechanism is disposed below the camera and the laser source; and 
   a dispensing outlet coupled to the rotatable dispensing mechanism, the dispensing outlet configured to transport at least one item from at least one of the plurality of receptacles of the rotatable dispensing mechanism to the dispensing outlet.   
     
     
         17 . The apparatus of  claim 16  wherein actuation of the rotatable dispensing mechanism causes a second of the plurality of receptacles to be aligned with the dispensing outlet. 
     
     
         18 . The apparatus of  claim 16  wherein the camera is positioned behind the integrated window. 
     
     
         19 . The apparatus of  claim 16  wherein only one of the plurality of receptacles is capable of being aligned with the dispensing outlet at a time. 
     
     
         20 . The apparatus of  claim 16  further comprising at least one motor configured to modify the orientation of the laser source.