WO2017192957A1

WO2017192957A1 - Mobile modular device for dispensing items to pets

Info

Publication number: WO2017192957A1
Application number: PCT/US2017/031233
Authority: WO
Inventors: Karl Guttag
Original assignee: Karl Guttag
Priority date: 2016-05-06
Filing date: 2017-05-05
Publication date: 2017-11-09

Abstract

A mobile modular device for dispensing items such as treats, food, toys, etc., to pets for use in, for example, pet training, pet play, etc.. The device has an electronic and mechanical core module, an item dispensing module, and optionally a dispensed item receiving module. An outer protective shell may be used to enclose the electronic and mechanical core module, the pet item dispensing module, and the dispensed pet item receiving module, as well as be configured and/or weighted to keep the device moderately upright when the device is at rest, and/or when in use.

Description

A MOBILE MODULAR DEVICE FOR DISPENSING ITEMS TO PETS

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

[0001] This application makes reference to and claims the benefit of the following copending U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 62/333, 149 filed May 6, 2016. The entire disclosure and contents of the foregoing U.S. Provisional Patent Application is hereby incorporated by reference.

Field of the Invention

[0002] The present invention broadly relates to a mobile modular device for dispensing items such as treats, food, toys, etc., to pets for use in, for example, pet training, pet play, etc.

BACKGROUND

[0003] Conventionally, there have been mechanical devices for hiding and dispensing treats, food, etc., to pets, e.g., dogs, cats, etc. These prior devices may have the limitations in giving only very crude control over the rate at which the treats, food, etc., may be accessed by a pet. There have also been computer controlled feeding devices that either based on a computer controlled timer or WiFi control to dispense treats, food, etc., to pets, but these devices may be generally large and bulky, have wires going to power supplies, and may not be suitable for a pet to play with. There may also be devices which may combine a camera with a treat, food, etc., dispensing mechanism so that a user may dispense a treat, food, etc., to their pet remotely, for example, via the Internet, but these devices may not be meant to be played with by the pet, and may be mounted to a wall or other fixed location.

SUMMARY

[0004] According to a first broad aspect of the present invention, there is provided a device for dispensing items which is mobile and which comprises: a hopper for storing a plurality of items; an electronic and mechanical core module having; an electronic wireless communications component; an item dispenser drive component; a computer component for controlling the item dispenser drive component; and a power source for supplying power to the computer component, the electronic wireless communications component, and the item dispenser drive component; an item dispensing module having an item dispenser component which is responsive to the item dispenser drive component to cause items to be dispensed; and a dispensed item receiving module for receiving the items dispensed from the hopper; wherein the electronic and mechanical core module is configured to receive electronic data instructions for controlling the dispensing of the items from the hopper and wherein the electronic and mechanical core module causes items to be dispensed by the item dispenser component.

[0005] According to a second broad aspect of the present invention, there is provided a device for dispensing pet items which is movable by a pet and which comprises: an electronic and mechanical core module having; a computer component; an electronic wireless communications component; a pet item dispenser drive component controlled by the computer component; and a power source for supplying power to the computer component, the electronic wireless communications component, and the item dispenser drive component; a pet item dispensing module having a hopper for storing pet items and a pet item dispenser component which is responsive to the pet item dispenser drive component to cause pet items to be dispensed; and a dispensed pet item receiving module for receiving the items dispensed by the item dispenser component; and an outer shell which encloses the electronic and mechanical core module, and the pet item dispensing module, and which protects the electronic and mechanical core module and the pet item dispensing module from actions of the pet that cause movement of the device. wherein the electronic and mechanical core module is configured to receive electronic data instructions for controlling the dispensing of the pet items by the pet item dispenser component and wherein the electronic and mechanical core module causes pet items to be dispensed by the pet item dispenser component in response to the pet moving the device.

[0006] According to a third broad aspect of the present invention, there is provided a device for dispensing items which is mobile and which comprises: an electronic and mechanical core module having; an agitator drive component for imparting movement to an agitator; a computer component for controlling the agitator drive component; and a power source for supplying power to the computer component, the electronic wireless communications component, and the agitator drive component; and an item dispensing module having: a hopper for storing items to be dispensed and having an opening through which the items are dispensed; and an agitator having one or more item receiving receptacles, the agitator being configured to be moved within the hopper by the agitator drive component so that an item in any one of the one or more item receiving receptacles, when adjacent to the opening, can be dispensed therethrough; wherein the electronic and mechanical core module is configured to receive electronic data instructions for controlling the agitator drive component in rotating the agitator, and wherein the electronic and mechanical core module causes the agitator drive component to impart movement to the agitator in response to interactions by an animal with the device. [0007] According to a fourth broad aspect of the present invention, there is provided a device for dispensing items which is mobile and which comprises: a hopper for storing a plurality of items; an electronic and mechanical core module having; an item dispenser drive component which dispense items when the device is moderately upright; a computer component for controlling the item dispenser drive component; and a power source for supplying power to the computer component, and the item dispenser drive component; an item dispensing module having an item dispenser component which is responsive to the item dispenser drive component to cause the items to be dispensed from the hopper; and an outer shell which encloses the hopper, the electronic and mechanical core module, and the pet item dispensing module, and which keeps the item dispensing module moderately upright when the device is at rest; wherein the electronic and mechanical core module controls the dispensing of the items from the hopper by the item dispenser component, and wherein the electronic and mechanical core module causes items to be dispensed by the item dispenser component.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0008] The invention will be described in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which:

[0009] FIG. 1 is a side perspective view showing an embodiment of the device, including interior components, according to the present invention;

[0010] FIG. 2 is an exploded side view showing the main modules of the device shown in FIG. 1;

[0011] FIG. 3 is a schematic block diagram illustrating the various components of the device shown in FIG. 1 ; [0012] FIG. 4 is a side perspective view of the device of FIG. 1 showing the assembled modules enclosed within a protective outer shell;

[0013] FIG. 5 is side perspective view similar to FIG. 4A, but showing an alternative embodiment of the protective outer shell;

[0014] FIG. 6 is an exploded view of the electrical and mechanical core module of the device of FIG. 1;

[0015] FIG. 7 is an exploded view of an alternative embodiment of the item dispensing module of the device of FIG. 1;

[0016] FIG. 8 is an exploded view of the device having the outer protective shell of FIG.

4;

[0017] FIG. 9 is an embodiment of a charging base for use with the electrical and mechanical core module;

[0018] FIG. 10 shows an embodiment of the device having the outer protective shell of FIG. 4 and being used as a pet play system;

[0019] FIG. 11 shows the electrical and mechanical core module of the device detecting the approach of a pet;

[0020] FIG. 12 shows the device being used in combination with a pet activated remote;

[0021] FIG. 13 illustrates the electrical and mechanical core module being used with and coupled to a separate food feed system having a larger case or shell;

[0022] FIG. 14 illustrates the device being used modularly to operate a separate ball thrower system;

[0023] FIG. 15 shows a top plan view of the device illustrating the use of IR LEDs and sensor;

[0024] FIG. 16 illustrates a side view of the top of electrical and mechanical core module of FIG. 15, along with the inside of the item dispenser module and the item receiving module;

[0025] FIG. 17 is an exploded side perspective view of an alternative embodiment of the device of FIG. 1; [0026] FIG. 18 is a similar side view of the device of FIG. 17, but with the agitator drive component, as well as the agitator rotated approximately 90° about their common rotational axis with respect the view shown in FIG. 17;

[0027] FIG. 19 is a perspective view of the hopper of the device of FIG. 17 showing the inside of the hopper component with a wiper;

[0028] FIG. 20 is a top plan view of an alternative embodiment of the wiper of FIG. 19; [0029] FIG. 21 is a perspective view of the agitator for the embodiment of FIG. 17; [0030] FIG. 22 is a top plan view of the agitator of FIG. 21 ;

[0031] FIG. 23 is a perspective view of the underside of the agitator of FIG. 21 having a female lock connector with a D-shaped recess for receiving a D-shaped male key connector;

[0032] FIG. 24 is a perspective view of an alternative embodiment of the agitator of FIG. 21 having a female lock connector with a generally triangular-shaped recess providing 3 -way symmetry for receiving a generally D-shaped key connector in 3 -different orientations;

[0033] FIG. 25 is a perspective view of the device of FIG. 17 in a tilted configuration to illustrate how treats may be dispensed;

[0034] FIG. 26 is a perspective view of an alternative embodiment of the protective shell of FIG. 8 with internal components visible;

[0035] FIG. 27 is a perspective view of the top portion of the protective shell of FIG. 26;

[0036] FIG. 28 is a perspective view of the electrical and mechanical core module of FIG. 17 being used with and coupled to an alternative embodiment of a separate food feed system having a larger case or shell; and

[0037] FIG. 29 is an exploded perspective view of the some of the internal components of the embodiment shown in FIG. 28.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0038] It is advantageous to define several terms before describing the invention. It should be appreciated that the following definitions are used throughout this application.

Definitions

[0039] Where the definition of terms departs from the commonly used meaning of the term, applicant intends to utilize the definitions provided below, unless specifically indicated. [0040] For the purposes of the present invention, directional terms such as "top," "bottom," "side," "front," "frontal," "forward," "rear," "rearward," "back," "trailing," "above," "below," "left," "right," "horizontal," "vertical," "upward," "downward," etc. are merely used for convenience in describing the various embodiments of the present invention. The embodiments shown in FIGS. 1 through 29 may be flipped over, rotated by 90° in any direction, etc.

[0041] For the purposes of the present invention, the term "mobile" refers to a device which is relatively movable spatially from one position to another by a human and/or animal.

[0042] For the purposes of the present invention, the term "module," as well as the associated term "modular," refer to an isolatable element, component, etc., or combination of such elements, components, etc. that perform a defined function and has a defined interface to other elements, components, etc. Modules may be implemented in hardware, a combination of hardware and software, firmware, or a combination thereof, all of which are considered to be functionally {e.g., behaviorally) equivalent.

[0043] For the purposes of the present invention, the term "item" refers to any materials, foods, treats, toys, etc., which may be dispensed by embodiments of the device of the present invention.

[0044] For the purposes of the present invention, the term "animal" refers to a dog, cat, horse, pig, bird, etc.

[0045] For the purposes of the present invention, the term "pet" refers to domesticated animals, such as dogs, cats, etc.

[0046] For the purpose of the present invention, the term "computer" refers to any type of computer system that may implement software including an individual computer such as a personal computer, mainframe computer, mini-computer, etc. In addition, computer system refers to any type of network of computers, such as a network of computers in a business, the Internet, personal data assistant (PDA), devices such as a cell phone, a television, a videogame console, a compressed audio or video player such as an MP3 player, a DVD player, etc. A personal computer is one type of computer system that may include the following components: a case or chassis in a tower shape (desktop) and the following parts: motherboard, CPU, RAM, firmware, internal buses (PIC, PCI-E, USB, HyperTransport, CSI, AGP, VLB), external bus controllers (parallel port, serial port, USB, Firewire, SCSI. PS/2, ISA, EISA, MCA), power supply, case control with cooling fan, storage controllers (CD- ROM, DVD, DVD-ROM, DVD Writer, DVD RAM Drive, Blu-ray, BD-ROM, BD Writer, floppy disk, USB Flash, tape drives, SATA, SAS), video controller, sound card, network controllers (modem, NIC), and peripherals, including mice, keyboards, pointing devices, gaming devices, scanner, webcam, audio devices, printers, monitors, etc.

[0047] For the purpose of the present invention, the term "in electronic communication" refers to two or more devices which are able to transmit electronic signals, data, etc., by a wired connection, wireless connection, or a combination of wired and wireless connections.

[0048] For the purpose of the present invention, the term "display device" refers to a device {e.g., a monitor) which presents visual images from a computer for viewing. The display device may be incorporated as a component of the computer, or may be a separate device which is in electronic communication with the computer.

[0049] For the purpose of the present invention, the term "data" refers to any information, signal, etc., which quantifies, describes, identifies, etc., an attribute, characteristic, property, etc., of a device, machine, equipment, component, parameter, variable, set of variables, etc.

[0050] For the purposes of the present invention, the term "electronic database" refers to a database on which data, software, etc., is electronically stored on a computer, and which may be electronically accessed, for example, to input data, to retrieve data, etc.

[0051] For the purpose of the present invention, the term "software" refers to a general term used to describe any form of programmed machine-readable language or instructions {e.g., object code) that, when loaded or otherwise installed, provides operating instructions to a machine capable of reading those instructions, such as a computer or other type of computer program reader. The term software may include applications such as word processors which perform productive tasks for users, system software such as operating systems which interface with hardware to provide the necessary services for application software, device controllers {e.g., printer controllers such as printer drivers) which control the operation of devices such as display devices {e.g., monitors), printers, etc., and middleware which controls and co-ordinates distributed systems. Software may include programs, etc., that are coded by programming languages like C, C++, Java, etc. Software is usually regarded as anything but hardware, meaning the "hard" are the parts that are tangible (able to hold) while the "soft" part is the intangible objects inside the computer. Software is so called to distinguish it from computer hardware, which encompasses the physical interconnections and devices required to store and execute (or run) the software. At the lowest level, software may comprise a machine language specific to an individual processor. A machine language comprises groups of binary values signifying processor instructions which change the state of the computer from its preceding state. Software may be stored or reside on, as well as be loaded or installed from, one or more floppy disks, CD ROM disks, hard disks (internal or external), or any other form of suitable non-volatile electronic storage medium. Software may also be installed by downloading or by any other form of remote transmission.

[0052] For the purpose of the present invention, the term "transmission" refers to any type of transmission that may be carried out electronically by wired methods, wireless methods or combinations thereof. Illustrative electronic transmissions may be carried out by a variety of remote electronic transmission methods, such as by using Local or Wide Area Network (LAN or WAN)-based, Internet-based, or web-based transmission methods, cable television or wireless telecommunications networks, other suitable remote transmission method, etc.

[0053] For the purpose of the present invention, the term "computer hardware" (hereafter referred to as "hardware") refers to digital circuitry and physical devices of a computer system, as opposed to software, which may be stored on a hardware device such as a hard disk. Illustrative examples of hardware may include the motherboard, CPU, RAM, firmware, internal buses (PIC, PCI-E, USB, HyperTransport, CSI, AGP, VLB), external bus controllers (parallel port, serial port, USB, Firewire, SCSI. PS/2, ISA, EISA, MCA), the power supply, case control with cooling fan, storage controllers (CD-ROM, DVD, DVD-ROM, DVD Writer, DVD RAM Drive, Blu-ray, BD-ROM, BD Writer, floppy disks, USB Flash, tape drives, SAT A, SAS), video controllers, sound cards, network controllers (modem, NIC), and other peripherals, including mice, keyboards, pointing devices, scanners, audio devices, printers, display devices {e.g., monitors), etc.

[0054] For the purpose of the present invention, the term "user" refers to an individual (or group of individuals) who are using embodiments of the present invention. The term user may also refer to a computer which inputs instructions to a computer system.

[0055] For the purposes of the present invention, the term "machine-readable medium" refers to any tangible or non-transitory medium or media on which may be read, for example, by a computer, or any other device capable of reading programmed machine-readable language or instructions. Examples of machine-readable media may include floppy disks, Zip™ disks, CD-ROM, CD-R, CD-RW, DVD, DVD-R, memory sticks, flash memory, hard disks (internal or external), optical disks, etc. [0056] For purposes of the present invention, the term "non-transient storage medium" refers to a storage medium that is non-transitory, tangible and computer readable. Non- transient storage medium may refer generally to any durable medium known in the art upon which data can be stored and later retrieved by data processing circuitry operably coupled with the medium. A non-limiting non-exclusive list of exemplary non-transitory data storage media may include magnetic data storage media (e.g., hard disc, data tape, etc.), solid state semiconductor data storage media (e.g., SDRAM, flash memory, ROM, etc.), and optical data storage media (e.g., compact optical disc, DVD, etc.).

[0057] For purposes of the present invention, the term "processor" refers to a device that performs the basic operations in a computer. A microprocessor is one example of a processor.

[0058] For the purposes of the present invention, the term "random-access memory (RAM)" refers to a type of computer data storage. RAM may take the form of integrated circuits that allow the stored data to be accessed in any order, i.e., at random. The word random thus refers to the fact that any piece of data can be returned in a constant time, regardless of its physical location and whether or not it is related to the previous piece of data. This contrasts with storage mechanisms such as tapes, magnetic discs and optical discs, which rely on the physical movement of the recording medium or a reading head. In these devices, the movement takes longer than the data transfer, and the retrieval time varies depending on the physical location of the next item. The word RAM is mostly associated with volatile types of memory (such as DRAM memory modules), where the information is lost after the power is switched off. However, many other types of memory are RAM as well, including most types of ROM and a kind of flash memory called NOR-Flash.

[0059] For the purposes of the present invention, the term "read-only memory (ROM)" refers to a class of storage media used in computers and other electronic devices. Because data stored in ROM cannot be modified (at least not very quickly or easily), it is mainly used to distribute firmware (software that is very closely tied to specific hardware, and unlikely to require frequent updates). In its strictest sense, ROM refers only to mask ROM (the oldest type of solid state ROM), which is fabricated with the desired data permanently stored in it, and thus can never be modified. However, more modern types such as EPROM and flash EEPROM can be erased and re-programmed multiple times; they are still described as "readonly memory" because the reprogramming process is generally infrequent, comparatively slow, and often does not permit random access writes to individual memory locations. [0060] For the purposes of the present invention, the term "Internet" refers to a global system of interconnected computer networks that interchange data by packet switching using the standardized Internet Protocol Suite (TCP/IP). The Internet may carry various information resources and services, such as electronic mail, online chat, file transfer and file sharing, online gaming, and the inter-linked hypertext documents and other resources of the World Wide Web (WWW).

[0061] For the purposes of the present invention, the term "solid-state electronics" refers to those circuits or devices built entirely from solid materials and in which the electrons, or other charge carriers, are confined entirely within the solid material. The term is often used to contrast with the earlier technologies of vacuum and gas-discharge tube devices and it is also conventional to exclude electro-mechanical devices (relays, switches, hard drives and other devices with moving parts) from the term solid state. While solid-state can include crystalline, polycrystalline and amorphous solids and refer to electrical conductors, insulators and semiconductors, the building material is most often a crystalline semiconductor. Common solid-state devices include transistors, microprocessor chips, and RAM. A specialized type of RAM called flash RAM is used in flash drives and more recently, solid state drives to replace mechanically rotating magnetic disc hard drives. More recently, the integrated circuit (IC), the light-emitting diode (LED), and the liquid-crystal display (LCD) have evolved as further examples of solid-state devices. In a solid-state component, the current is confined to solid elements and compounds engineered specifically to switch and amplify it.

[0062] For the purposes of the present invention, the term "solid state sensor" refers to sensor built entirely from a solid-phase material such that the electrons or other charge carriers produced in response to the measured quantity stay entirely with the solid volume of the detector, as opposed to gas-discharge or electro-mechanical sensors. Pure solid-state sensors have no mobile parts and are distinct from electro-mechanical transducers or actuators in which mechanical motion is created proportional to the measured quantity.

[0063] For the purposes of the present invention, the term "computer network" refers to a group of interconnected computers. Networks may be classified according to a wide variety of characteristics. The most common types of computer networks in order of scale include: Personal Area Network (PAN), Local Area Network (LAN), Campus Area Network (CAN), Metropolitan Area Network (MAN), Wide Area Network (WAN), Global Area Network (GAN), Internetwork (intranet, extranet, Internet), and various types of wireless networks. All networks are made up of basic hardware building blocks to interconnect network nodes, such as Network Interface Cards (NICs), Bridges, Hubs, Switches, and Routers. In addition, some method of connecting these building blocks is required, usually in the form of galvanic cable (most commonly category 5 cable). Less common are microwave links (as in IEEE 802.11) or optical cable ("optical fiber").

[0064] For the purposes of the present invention, the term "local area network (LAN)" refers to a network covering a small geographic area, such as a home, office, building, office site, etc. The defining characteristics of LANs, in contrast to WANs (wide area networks), include their higher data transfer rates, smaller geographic range, lack of a need for leased telecommunication lines, etc.

[0065] For the purposes of the present invention, the term "data storage medium" or "data storage device" refers to any medium or media on which a electronic data may be stored for use by a computer system. Examples of data storage media include floppy disks, Zip™ disks, CD-ROM, CD-R, CD-RW, DVD, DVD-R, memory sticks, flash memory, hard disks, solid state disks, optical disks, etc. Two or more data storage media acting similarly to a single data storage medium may be referred to as a "data storage medium" for the purposes of the present invention. A data storage medium may be part of a computer.

[0066] For purposes of the present invention, the term "hardware and/or software" refers to functions that may be performed by digital software, digital hardware, or a combination of both digital hardware and digital software. Various features of the present invention may be performed by hardware and/or software.

[0067] For the purposes of the present invention, the term "Bluetooth^®" refers to a wireless technology standard for exchanging data over short distances (using short- wavelength radio transmissions in the ISM band from 2400-2480 MHz) from fixed and mobile devices, creating personal area networks (PANs) with high levels of security. Created by telecom vendor Ericsson in 1994, it was originally conceived as a wireless alternative to RS-232 data cables. It may connect several devices, overcoming problems of synchronization. Bluetooth^® is managed by the Bluetooth^® Special Interest Group, which has more than 18,000 member companies in the areas of telecommunication, computing, networking, and consumer electronics. Bluetooth^® was standardized as IEEE 802.15.1, but the standard is no longer maintained. The SIG oversees the development of the specification, manages the qualification program, and protects the trademarks. To be marketed as a Bluetooth device, it must be qualified to standards defined by the SIG. It will be understood by one skilled in the art that Bluetooth^® is only one of many wireless communication technologies and that other technologies may be substituted therefore and perform the same or similar function.

[0068] For the purposes of the present invention, the term "cloud computing" is synonymous with computing performed by computers that are located remotely and accessed via the Internet (the "Cloud"). In this style of computing, the computing resources may be provided "as a service", allowing users to access technology-enabled services "in the cloud" without knowledge of, expertise with, or control over the technology infrastructure that supports them. According to the IEEE Computer Society it "is a paradigm in which information is permanently stored in servers on the Internet and cached temporarily on clients that include desktops, entertainment centers, table computers, notebooks, wall computers, handhelds, etc.^'" Cloud computing is a general concept that may incorporate virtualized storage, computing and web services and, often, software as a service (SaaS), where the common theme is reliance on the Internet for satisfying the computing needs of the users. For example, Google Apps provides common business applications online that are accessed from a web browser, while the software and data are stored on the servers. Some successful cloud architectures may have little or no established infrastructure or billing systems whatsoever including Peer-to-peer networks like BitTorrent and Skype and volunteer computing like SETI@home. The majority of cloud computing infrastructure currently consists of reliable services delivered through next-generation data centers that are built on computer and storage virtualization technologies. The services may be accessible anywhere in the world, with the Cloud appearing as a single point of access for all the computing needs of data consumers. Commercial offerings may need to meet the quality of service requirements of customers and may offer service level agreements. Open standards and open source software are also critical to the growth of cloud computing. As customers generally do not own the infrastructure, they are merely accessing or renting, they may forego capital expenditure and consume resources as a service, paying instead for what they use. Many cloud computing offerings have adopted the utility computing model which is analogous to how traditional utilities like electricity are consumed, while others are billed on a subscription basis. By sharing "perishable and intangible" computing power between multiple tenants, utilization rates may be improved (as servers are not left idle) which can reduce costs significantly while increasing the speed of application development. A side effect of this approach is that "computer capacity rises dramatically" as customers may not have to engineer for peak loads. Adoption has been enabled by "increased high-speed bandwidth" which makes it possible to receive the same response times from centralized infrastructure at other sites.

[0069] For the purposes of the present invention, the term "smartphone" (also known as a "smart phone") refers to a hand-held mobile device with more advanced computing capability and connectivity than basic feature phones, and which may use mobile operating systems such as iOS, Android, BlackBerry (mobile) operating systems (OS), Windows Phone (mobile) operating systems (OS), etc. Smartphones may provide, in addition to digital cameras, various other features such as keyboards, touchscreens, personal digital assistants (PDAs), media players, web browsing, wireless connectivity (Wi-Fi), GPS navigation units, etc.

[0070] For the purposes of the present invention, the term "electronic tablet" (also known as a "tablet computer" or "tablet") refers to a mobile computer having, for example, a touchscreen display, circuitry, battery, etc. Electronic tablets may also be equipped with sensors, digital cameras, a microphone, an accelerometer, etc., wherein the touchscreen display uses finger gestures, stylus gestures, etc., in place of a physical computer mouse and/or keyboard for moving the cursor, inputting data, etc., on-screen, pop-up virtual keyboards for typing, physical buttons for basic features such as speaker volume, power, etc., ports for network communications, battery charging, etc.

[0071] For the purposes of the present invention, the term "light emitting diode (LED)" refers to an electronic device, complement, element, etc., that generates light from two-lead semiconductor light source.

[0072] For the purposes of the present invention, the term "sensor" refers to an electronic device, complement, element, etc., that detects light, motion, etc.

[0073] For the purposes of the present invention, the term "agitator" refers to a component that causes items such as pet treats, other small objects, etc., to be moved about. The agitator may be smooth, have brushes, grooves, holes, other surface features, etc., that will cause the items, treats, other objects, etc., to move when the agitator moves {e.g., rotates) either by friction with the surface of the agitator, by a projections, dents, holes, etc., in the surface that mechanically engage the items, treats, objects, etc. The agitator's motion may include moving {e.g., rotating) circularly, linearly in any direction, or any combination of movement, motions, etc. The agitator's movement may in large increments, smaller increments, e.g., a series of smaller vibrations, etc.

[0074] For the purposes of the present invention, the term "item receiving receptacle" refers to a cavity, dent, guide, depression, recess, groove, etc., formed in, attached to, etc., the agitator which is designed to receive, hold, etc., roughly a measured number of one or more treats. In the case of a powder, finely ground treat, etc., the receptacle may define a rough volume thereof. The receptacle may be designed to receive a particular shape or size of treat such that other treats would not be readily accepted by the receptacle. The receptacle may have a surface with no openings, or may have a surface with openings, holes, gaps, etc., such as a basket comprising interwoven elements, sections, parts, etc., to allow small particles to fall through. A function of the receptacle may be to guide the, item(s), treat(s), etc., to as the agitator moves so that it may be eventually dispensed.

[0075] For the purposes of the present invention, the term "treat" refers to an item, group of items, etc., that may be dispensed. The treat(s) may be a form of food such as a pet food kibble, medicine, non-food item, etc. The treat(s) may be any shape, any size, etc., including being a powder, finely ground, a food kibble, a medicine in a capsule, etc.

[0076] For the purposes of the present invention, the term "electrical and mechanical core" (referred to also interchangeably as "core"), refers to one or more components that contain the electronic control and the motors or other electro-mechanical movement devices (referred to interchangeably as "motor") that cause the device to work. It will be understood by those skilled in the art that the electronics and/or motor may be in a single housing/casing, be split between various sub-modules/housing, etc.

[0077] For the purposes of the present invention, the term "wiper refers to a component that acts, for example, to restrict the number of treats that may be dispensed in each dispense cycle, and which may be flexible, ridged, brush-like, etc., or any combination thereof.

[0078] For the purposes of the present invention, the term "keyed coupler" refers to a mechanical component for transferring motion rotationally, laterally, as well as other forces from one member {e.g., the male member) to another member {e.g., the female member). The keyed part portion, etc., of the coupler may, for example, allow connection in one orientation relative to the keyed part, portion, etc., in two or more orientations, etc. The various ways the coupler may be engaged, connected to, etc, to other components, devices, etc., may be controlled by the shape of the keyed part, portion, etc., of the coupler and/or the device, component, etc., that coupler engages, is connected to, etc., would be understood and may be determined by those skilled in the art. The keyed part, portion, etc., of the keyed coupler may be recessed, may be protruding, may be a combination of recess(es) and/or protrusion(s), etc.

[0079] For the purposes of the present invention, the term "lock coupler" refers to the part, portion, etc., etc., of a component, element, etc., that mates with, engages with, etc., the key coupler. The lock coupler may support one or more orientations in engaging, connecting, etc., the key coupler to the lock coupler.

[0080] For purposes of the present invention, the term "moderately upright" refers to an object, such as embodiment of a device of the present invention, being oriented within 45 degrees of vertical in more than one direction.

[0081] For purposes of the present invention, the term "resting position" refers to a position wherein an object, such as embodiment of a device of the present invention, is quiescent, substantially quiescent, motionless, substantially motionless, etc.

[0082] For the purposes of the present invention, the term "comprising" means various devices, components, elements, capabilities, steps, etc., may be conjointly employed in embodiments of the present invention. Accordingly, the term "comprising" encompasses the more restrictive terms "consisting essentially of and "consisting of."

[0083] For the purposes of the present invention, the terms "a" and "an" and similar phrases are to be interpreted as "at least one" and "one or more." References to "an" embodiment in this disclosure are not necessarily to the same embodiment.

[0084] For the purposes of the present invention, the term "and/or" means that one or more of the various devices, components, elements, capabilities, steps, etc., may be employed in embodiments of the present invention.

Description

[0085] Conventional pet treat, food, etc., dispensing devices may be meant to have a single or very limited different functions/uses. In particular, if these conventional pet treat, food, etc., dispensing devices include a computer system, that system may not be modular so that it may be easily removed and thus used to drive different mechanical device mechanisms. [0086] Embodiments of the present invention provide a mobile and movable modular device which may be designed to be used with various electrical and/or mechanical component modules to provide a variety of functions that may be useful in the care, training, and play with pets. The mobile and movable modular device comprises: a hopper for storing a plurality of items; an electronic and mechanical core module having a computer component (e.g., CPU, volatile and non- volatile memory, volatile memory (e.g., RAM) and/or nonvolatile memory (e.g., hard disk), etc.) for controlling an item dispenser drive component; an electronic wireless communications component (e.g., Bluetooth and/or WiFi wireless communications components, other RF communications components, etc.); an item dispenser drive component (e.g., motor, gears, etc.); and a portable power source (e.g., a battery, including a rechargeable battery, capacitors, etc.) for supplying power to the computer component, the electronic wireless communications component, and the item dispenser drive component. The mobile and movable modular device also comprises an item dispensing module having an item dispenser component which is responsive to the item dispenser drive component to cause items (e.g., pet items, etc.) to be dispensed from the hopper. The mobile and movable modular device may further and optionally comprise a dispensed item receiving module (e.g., a container, holder, etc.) for receiving the items to be dispensed by the item dispenser component. The electronic and mechanical core module (which may be referred to hereafter interchangeably as "core") is configured to receive electronic data instructions for controlling the dispensing of the items from the hopper when the electronic and mechanical core module causes items to be dispensed by the item dispenser component. For mobile, movable modular devices for dispensing pet items which are movable in response to actions of a pet, the device may further comprise an outer protective shell which encloses the electronic and mechanical core module, the pet item dispensing module, and optionally the dispensed pet item receiving module and which protects the electronic and mechanical core module, the pet item dispensing module, and optionally the dispensed pet item receiving module from the actions of, for example, the pet. In some embodiments, the outer shell In some embodiments, the item dispensing module may be configured to dispense pet items from the hopper into the outer shell with the outer shell including one or more openings through which one or more of the pet items may exit the outer shell. In some embodiments, the item dispenser drive component may be configured to dispense items when the device is moderately upright. In some embodiments, the outer shell may be configured, for example, by shape and/or weighting to keep the item dispensing module moderately upright when the device is at rest. It will be understood by those skilled in the art that the electronic and mechanical core module could be physically housed/contained in a single case, one or more physically and/or electrically connected cases, etc.

[0087] In some embodiments of the present invention, the electronic and mechanical core module may also include light emitting diodes (LEDs) that may emit visible or invisible light such as infrared (IR), optic sensors (IR and/or visible), motion sensors, GPS receiver, etc. In other embodiments of device of the present invention, the device may used with other exterior peripheral components, etc., for holding and dispensing items with the electronic and mechanical core module providing the motive power to drive, run, control, etc., for example, an exterior item dispensing component, etc. These exterior peripherals may be such that the electronic and mechanical core module fits within the exterior peripheral component such that these exterior peripheral components may add, for example, additional protection, shielding, security, resistance, etc., against a pet chewing or otherwise damaging the electronic and mechanical core module. Any sensors within the electronic and mechanical core module may include, for example, optical sensors (including, for example, infrared sensors), motion/acceleration detection, a compass, proximity detection, etc. In some embodiments, the electronic and mechanical core module may be made reasonably waterproof with, for example, seals to prevent water or other fluid leakage around mechanical linkages, etc. In some embodiments, the modular core the electronic and mechanical core module may be made waterproof and may use, for example, an electromagnetic field to couple the motive power outside the electronic and mechanical core module. In some embodiments, the electronic and mechanical core module may cause the item dispensing module to dispense one item in response to, for example, at least one sensor detecting a movement by the pet of the device, the proximity of the pet to the device, etc. In some embodiments, the infrared sensor(s) may be configured to sense the proximity of the pet to the device through an RFID signature, while in other embodiments, the infrared sensor(s) may be configured to sense different RFID signatures {e.g., different RFID signatures for different pets, etc)

[0088] Embodiments of the mobile and movable device of the present invention are further illustrated by FIGS. 1 through 29, one of which is indicated generally as 101 in FIG. 1 FIG. 1 illustrates an embodiment of dispensing device 101, including the various component modules that together may comprise a dispensing system. The electronic and mechanical core module ("core") 102 may include various different electrical and mechanical components 104 contained within a core module case 106. Electrical and mechanical components 104 may include one or more printed circuit boards 110 along with various other electronic components 112, plus various other input and output components that may be electrically connected (all such connections not being shown FIG. 1 for purposes of clarity) including one or more radio antennas 114, one or more electric motor(s) 120 with corresponding gears 122, a keyed coupler 124 with a recessed key 125, a microphone 126, a speaker 128, one or more visible light LED(s) 130, one or more infrared LEDs 132, one or more infrared light sensors 134, and a power source such as battery 140 which may be a rechargeable lithium ion battery. Module core case 106 may include contacts 144 that may permit power and/or data signals to reach the electrical components in device 101. In some embodiments, charging of battery 140 is achieved, via contacts 144, but may also be provided by an inductive coupling with all electronic data communication also being wireless.

[0089] An item dispensing module 150 for device 101 may also include a dispensing module case 151 in addition to a dispensing mechanism, such as a vertically rotating agitator 154 that is connected to coupler 124 so it can be driven by one or more motors 120 via gears 122. Coupler 124 may have gaskets and/or grease associated with it in order to prevent water from getting into core module case 106. The rotational movement of agitator 152 causes one or more of items 156 (e.g., pet treats, pet food, pet toys, etc.) to move (i.e., be dispensed) to and through exit hole 158. The dispensing module case 151 may be coupled to the electrical and mechanical core module case 106 mechanically through, for example, screw-type threads such as 160, some another mechanical locking mechanism and/or by magnets (not shown).

[0090] A dispensed item receiving component in the form of hopper 170 may be enclosed or housed within a hopper module case 171 to hold items 156 that have been dispensed (feed) through exit hole 158 from dispensing module case 151. Hopper module case 171 and dispensing module case 151 may be either separate cases or may be integrated into a single physical case. A lid 172 keeps dispensed items 156 from falling out of hopper module case 171. Lid 172 may also have screw-type thread, such as 174, another mechanical mechanism, or a magnetic mechanism to keep lid 172 from being disconnected from or falling off of hopper module case 171. In some embodiments, lid 172 may not be necessary and therefore optional for hopper module case 171.

[0091] In the embodiment of device 101 shown in FIG. 1, all of the electrical and mechanical components for core module 102 may be contained within core module case 106. In alternative embodiments, one or more of these components for core module 102 may be present in separate cases that are then coupled together to form a composite core module case 106. In addition, other possible electrical and mechanical components not shown in FIG 1 may included in core module case 106, or may be separate from core module case 106, yet coupled to one or more of the components in core module 102.

[0092] FIG. 2 shows an external view of dispensing device 101 with the hopper module case 171, dispensing module case 151 with hole 158 and separated from the core module case 106 to reveal the agitator 154. Core module 102 has keyed coupler 124 with a key connector 125 that is driven by the motor 120 to in turn drive the agitator 154. Shown in core module case 106 are audio speaker holes 229. There may also be a waterproof membrane positioned over speaker holes 229 to allow for sound to be heard from speaker 128 by passing through holes 229 but without allowing water or other liquids to enter the core module case 106. Additional features shown in FIG. 2 may include a light coupler 231 that allows light from LED(s) 130 inside core module case 106 to pass outwardly. Depending upon the optical properties of core module case 106, light coupler 231 may not be necessary, and therefore optional. There may also be provided an optical window 233 to permit infrared light to be transmitted into and out of the core module case 106; this optical window 233 may or may not be required based upon the optical properties of core module case 106.

[0093] FIG. 3 shows schematic block diagram 300 for the various electronic components of core module 102, including components not shown in FIG. 1. Block diagram 300 only shows some approximate grouping of functions and should not be construed or interpreted to necessarily show individual electronic components, elements, etc., as well as any other components, elements, etc., necessary drive these electronics components, elements, etc., such as, for example, voltage converters. Block diagram 300 shows a "system on a chip" 302 that may include a CPU, non- volatile memory {e.g., disk storage), volatile memory {e.g., RAM), as well as other functional features which may be integrated on device. An example of such a chip 302 may be a Nordic Semiconductor nRF52832 chip, as described in its manual at: http://infocenter.nordicsemi.com/pdf/nRF52832_PS_yl .O.pdf , of which the entire disclosure and contents are hereby incorporated by reference.

[0094] As shown in block diagram 300, these components may include motor (or other similar electrical to mechanical movement component) 120 which may include, for example, electromagnetic coils, piezo-electric effects, etc. Antenna(s) 114 may support one way or two way radio frequency (RF) communication between the components in core module 102, as well as an external computer system such as a personal computer (PC), mobile or smartphone phone, computer tablet, etc. These RF communications may include various Bluetooth standards, WiFi such as Ethernet WiFi, simpler RF communication as may be used with remote control devices, or any other RF communication signaling. As further shown in block diagram 300, there may be necessary physical, electrical, and/or codec devices 315 to convert the RF signal into a form that may be used by the CPU of chip 302. There may also be driver devices 321 to support the current and/or voltage requirements of motor 120, microphone 126 for picking up audible sounds, and speaker or other audible output device(s) 128 to output sounds that may be heard by an animal or human and/or may output sounds in frequency ranges that may only be heard by animals, or some subset of animals. Speaker 128 may be driven directly by the CPU subsystem on a chip 302 or may be driven by an audio code 329 that may have additional memory 331 for holding data for various sounds, including human voices. Human and/or animal visible light LEDs 130 may also give visible indication to a human or animal. These LEDs 130 may also exhibit colored light and/or white light. Infrared LEDs 132 may also be used in combination with infrared sensors 134 to sense various actions such as the movement of agitator 154, or whether or not items 156 have been dispensed. The combination of IR LEDs 132 and sensors 134 may also be used to sense the proximity of various devices or animals.

[0095] Chip 302 may need various voltages and may need to manage the recharging of a battery 140, which may be provided by power management device(s) 341. Chip 302 may also support a wired interface such as a Universal Serial Bus (USB) or other wired communication standard, including, for example, to an Ethernet with interface electronics 345. Various sensors and/or compass, gyroscope or other motion sensing/location devices 346 may also be used to detect location or movement. This data/information may be used by software running on the CPU of chip 302 to change the behavior of device 101 and/or communicate such movement to an external computing device. A camera 381 may also provide visual information that can be sent via the CPU of chip 302 and RF circuitry 315 back to an external computing device. Beyond the basic communication functions, it may be useful to have antenna 384 for a Global Positions System (GPS) or other radio receiver 385 for knowing, establishing, etc., the location of device 101.

[0096] FIG. 4 shows an embodiment of a smart pet play system 400 using dispensing device 101 with core module 102, dispensing module 150, and hopper module 170 enclosed within outer shell 410. This outer shell 410 may totally enclose and surround the dispensing system 101, and thus protect it from an animal using device 101. Outer shell 410 may also be split into a lower half 412 and upper half 414 to allow the dispensing module 150 to be inserted and removed from the inside of shell 410. The two halves 412 and 414 may be joined together at or by a seam 420, seam 420 also including, for example, screw-type threads built into halves 412 and/or 414, a bayonet type joining mechanism that may be require less than a full rotation to join/unjoin the two halves/parts 412/414, other conventional mechanical connections for joining two halves/parts 412/414, etc. Separating two halves 412/414 will permit adding items/treats/food 156 to hopper module 170 and/or removal of core module 102, dispensing module 150, and hopper module 170.

[0097] As shown in FIG. 4, there may be one or more holes 426 that may be formed in the bottom half 412 or top half 414 of outer shell 410 that may permit dispensed item 156 to exit shell 410. In use, a dispensed item 156 may pass through hole 158, with that dispensed item 156 falling into a ball. The pet may, in turn, push/knock device 101 around to cause dispensed item 156 to move around within outer shell 410 until that dispensed item 156 falls out of shell hole(s) 426.

[0098] In some embodiments, and/or how the dispensing device 101 is installed in the ball, output hole 158 of the dispensing device 101 may line up and/or connect directly with hole 426 so that the treat immediately exits the ball-shaped outer shell 410. This allows the treat to be dispensed without the pet having to knock the ball-shaped outer shell 410 around. This might be particularly useful when introducing the system to a pet.

[0099] Built into the lower shell 412 is a support 430 that may help hold device 101 in place. As shown in FIG. 4, the support 430 may be in the form of a ring. Similarly, a corresponding support 432 is shown in the top 414 part of outer shell 410. This support 432 is also shown in the form of a ring. When there is no lid 172 as shown in FIG. 1, support 432 may be in the form of a ring going around the top of the hopper module case 171 combined with the top 414 may act as a lid to contain dispensed items 156 within hopper module case 171

[0100] In some embodiments for dispensing module 150 to work, device 101 may need to be reasonably {e.g., moderately) upright. The shape of outer shell 410 and the weight of core module 102 may aid in keeping device 101 moderately upright when in, for example, a resting position. Additional weight indicated as 440 may also be added to bottom half 412 to further aid in keeping device 101 moderately upright when in such a resting position.

[0101] In the embodiment shown in FIG. 4, outer shell 410 has a generally ellipsoid or oval egg-shaped configuration, but may be formed in many other shapes, configurations, etc., including, for example, those that are more spherically-shaped, square-shaped, rectangularly- shaped, etc. For example, FIG 4B shows an alternative configuration 450 providing an outer shell 452 which is generally cylindrical-shaped for enclosing and protecting core module 102, dispensing module 150 and hopper module 170. As shown in FIG. 5, outer shell 452 may be split into a lower part 454 and upper part 456 to enable the core module 102, dispensing module 150, and hopper module 170 to be inserted therein. The joint 458 between lower part 454 and upper part 456 may include a mechanism for securing part 454 to part 456 so that those parts may remain joined together, such as screw threads or a bayonet mount. A hole 460 may also be provided in outer shell 452 to enable dispensed items 156 dispensed (through and from hole 158) to exit from outer shell 452.

[0102] FIG. 6 shows additional details of one embodiment of core module 102. The core module case 106 has been split into a bottom half 507 and top half 509 which may be held together with screws 512. Also shown in FIG. 6 is PCB board 110, motor 120, gears 122, coupler 124, and battery 140 of core module 102.

[0103] FIG. 7 shows an alternative embodiment of dispenser module 150 having dispenser module case 610 to hold dispenser module 150. Dispenser module case 610 may have formed therein a hole (see hole 632) for dispensing an item from dispenser module 150. There may also be slots 616 in dispenser module case 610 to act as a guide the agitator 620. In this embodiment, agitator 620 has a back and forth reciprocating action caused by eccentric wheel 624 pushing/pulling the agitator 620. A top cover 630 with hole 632 permits the item within dispenser module case 610 to fall into the dispenser module exit 614 and be pushed out by agitator 620 while the agitator 620 also blocks further items from falling through hole 632 if agitator 620 stops in the "out" position. Eccentric wheel 624 may be driven by coupler 124. An optional stirring mechanism 632 may also be coupled to the wheel 624 or other parts of mechanism 632 to stir the items and aid in those items falling through hole 633.

[0104] FIG. 8 shows an exploded view of device 101 along with outer protective shell 410. In FIG. 8, core module 102 has halves 507 and 509 with coupler 124 connected to a drive mechanism inside the core module 102. Coupler 124 operates via eccentric wheel 624 (not shown in FIG. 8) to drive agitator 620 push items out through exit hole 614 while alternately opening and closing off hole 633 in top cover 730. Top cover 730 has a sloped set of channels 731 to help guide the treats to the hole 633. Also shown in FIG. 7 is shell bottom 412 with a ring-shaped support 430 and shell top 414, as well as hole 426 for permitting items to exit outer shell 410. Shell bottom 412 may also be provided with one or more optional weights 440. The slots 772 form part of a bayonet type connection for the bottom half 412 and a mating set of slots 774 are in top half 414 to support connecting the bottom 412 to the top half 414.

[0105] FIG. 9 shows one embodiment of a charging base 810. This base 810 may have no active components and may simply wire power and signals from, for example, a standard connector 820 such as a USB A port through to pogo pins 830. Base 810 may also have protection circuits and/or voltage changing circuits in it. Connection or pogo pins 830 may have some springiness to urge contact with simple flat connectors on the bottom of core module 102. In addition to providing power, one or more of pins 830 may have one or two way signals for communicating with the electronics in core 102.

[0106] FIG. 10 shows a potential use for system 400 which may be in a smart pet play system. The play system may have software that runs on it to provide some level of functionality and to communicate with other devices wirelessly. The human user with a computer system 910 such as a smart-phone, tablet, personal computer, etc., may wirelessly communicate through, for example, a Bluetooth and/or WiFi device, instructions which may include anything from a few parameters to entire software routine(s) to system 400. These parameters and/or routines may then be stored in one or more of the memories in system 400, including, for example, CPU of chip 302 with nonvolatile memory 303, and/or audio memory 331. In this way the computer system 910 may act as the display for core module 102. Additionally, core module 102 may communicate back to computer system 910 to send alerts, audio, or other information back to the human user.

[0107] Once programs and/or parameters have been loaded into system 400, human computing device 910 may then wirelessly instruct system 400 to begin operation. For example, a simple operation might be to dispense an item {e.g., pet treat) every "n" seconds where "n" is programmed by the human. The dispense operation may optionally be programmed to also make a noise or talk to the pet via audio codec 329 and speaker 128 to signal that a treat has been dispensed. By, for example, noise generated during the dispensing of the treat, pet 920 may then be attracted to system 400 by the treat being dispensed inside outer shell 410 of system 400 and may then knock system 400 around to get the treat to come out of hole(s) 426 in shell 410. [0108] What causes the treat to be dispensed by system 400 may be programmed to become more difficult and/or in reaction to the pet's behavior. For example, initially it may be desirable to dispense a treat frequently as pet 920 is become accustom to system 400, but as pet 920 learns how system 400 works, it may be desirable to stretch out the time between treats to make them last longer reduce the caloric intake.

[0109] System 400 may also be programmed to react to the pet's behavior. For example, the motion and/or position sensing device(s) 346 could detect that pet 920 is hitting System 400 around and could either slow down or speed up the rate at which the treat may be dispensed. The capability of system 400 may also be expanded by adding a radio frequency tag 930 attached via a collar to pet 920. This tag 930 may be, for example, a passive RF transmitter tag but may also be an active (battery powered tag) which typically may have more or greater range. RF tag 930 may be a standard RF signal such as Bluetooth, some other signal format for RFID, etc. The receiver for system 400 may then detect which pet 920 is near system 400. Additionally, the strength and/or other RF information may act to tell about how far away pet 920 is from system 400, i.e. , to provide proximity detection.

[0110] Tag 930 in combination with software loaded onto system 400 can further vary the behavior of the system 400. Some example may include signaling back to the human user on their device 910 if pet 920 has approached system 400. Tag 930 may uniquely identify one of a multiple of pets 920 such that system 400 may only dispense items {e.g. , treats) to a specific pet 920. In this way a pet owner with more than one pet 920 may have multiple systems 400, each programmed to only work with a specific pet 920 to enable each pet 920 to have their own interaction with their own system 400.

[0111] FIG. 11 shows using the infrared LEDs 132 and sensors 134 it can detect if something has approached it. Alternatively in combination with tag 930, RF circuits 315 in combination with CPU of chip 302 may detect the proximity of pet 920 to identify the specific pet. For example, if the core module 102 is left on a countertop, core module 102 may detect that a pet 920 has jumped up onto the countertop and optionally outputs a flash of light from visible LEDs 130 and/or an audible deterrent via speaker 128, and/or signals a human on their device 910. Similarly, the core module 102 may be used to teach boundaries to a pet 920 in terms of, for example, by placing core module 102 at the entrance to a room.

[0112] The combination of the core module 102, dispensing module 150, and hopper module 170 with lid 172 but without any outer shell 410 for system 400 might be used as part of a training program by acting as a remote treat dispenser. For example, the human with their device 910 could tell the core module 102 via a software "button" on human device 910 to dispense a treat if pet 920 exhibits the proper behavior. Another option would be to have system 400 dispense a series of treats over a period of time to encourage, for example, a "down - stay" behavior. With the ability of system 400 to proximity sense pet 920, the human may automatically decide whether to keep rewarding pet 920 if say the human leaves the room in order to help teach pet 920 to follow commands even if the human is not in sight. Furthermore, the speaker 128 in core module 102 may be used to issue voice or audible signal commands remotely.

[0113] Figure 12 shows another use for the combination of the electrical and mechanical core module 102, dispenser module 150 and hopper module 170 with a pet activated remote 1020 that may electronically communicate wirelessly with RF signals back to the core module 102. When pet 920 touches remote 1020, remote 1020 may send an RF signal to core module 102. Based upon the software the loaded in core module 102, core module 102 may then issue a treat and/or a positive re-enforcing sound. In this way pet 920 can run back and forth between remote 1020 and device 101.

[0114] FIG. 13 shows how core module 102 may be used with and coupled as part of a separate item (food) feeder system 1100 having a larger case or shell 1110. In this embodiment, a larger item dispense mechanism 1150 dispenses measured amounts of food items into a bowl (not shown) from a larger hopper 1170. In this way, the electronics of the core module 102 may be used modularly. Software used in core module 102 in combination with other software on the human computer device 910 may be used to track information such as how many calories a pet has consumed in a given period of time.

[0115] FIG. 14 illustrates how device 101 may be used modularly as part of a separate ball thrower system 1200 having a case or shell 1210. In this embodiment, the core module 102, item dispenser module 150, and hopper module 170 may be used as part of a ball thrower and treat system 1200. In this embodiment, motor 120 of core module 102, when operating in one mode, may be used to wind up a throwing mechanism inside ball hopper 1230 with hole 1232 for dispensing the ball. When operating in a different mode, motor 120 may be used to dispense pet items (e.g., treats). In other words, and as illustrated in FIG. 14, only one set of mechanical hardware (e.g., ball thrower and treat system 1200) needs to be combined with and coupled to device 101 when using the electrical and mechanical components of core module 102. [0116] FIG. 15 shows a top view with details on the application of the IR LEDs 132 and IR sensors 134. The top of the core module case 106 is shown as having various "windows" in it, these windows being either physical or may just be an IR optically transparent material that covers the various LEDs 132 and sensors 134. Windows for LEDs 132 are numbered 1332-1 through 1332-3, while windows for sensors 134 are numbered 1334-1 through 1334- 2. These windows may be arranged to allow IR light to pass around the outside of agitator 154

[0117] FIG 16 illustrates a side view of the top of the core module 102, along with the inside of dispenser module 150 and hopper module 170. FIG. 16 shows IR LEDs 132-1 through 132-3 and IR sensors 134-1 through 134-2. Light from IR LED 132-1 passes through window 1332-1 through the top of the core module case 106. As shown in FIG. 16, hopper module 170/dispenser module 150 have a light pipe 1350 that enables light to pass though and treat items in hopper 170 and then exit due to the angled surface 1352 such that the light passes through the hopper module 170 toward light pipe 1360 which has an angled surface 1362 to route light through light pipe 1360 toward window 1334-1 and then towards light sensor 134-1. If the level of the dispensed items 156 is high enough, light path 1370 crossing though hopper module 170 may thus be blocked to indicate that there is at least a certain level of dispensed items 156 in hopper module 170. The CPU of chip 302 of core module 102 may control the turning on and off of the various IR LEDs 132-1 through 132-3 and when to read IR sensors 134-1 through 134-2. As pet 920 may be knocking device 101 (within system 400) around into various orientations, the motion and compass sensing devices 346 of FIG. 3 may be used by the CPU of chip 302 under control of software to determine a time to measure the contents of hopper module 170 when hopper module 170 is reasonably upright and stationary, and/or to make adjustments for when the device is tilted.

[0118] FIG 16 also shows a mechanism for detecting if a treat has been dispensed. IR LED 132-2 emits light through window 1332-2 that then proceeds to a mirror 1370 which reflects that light back through window 1334-2 to sensor 134-2. In this way if an item 156 is dispensed, that dispensed item 156 will interrupt the path of the light beam and may then be detected by CPU 302 and via software. In this instance, LED 132-3 is not being used, but as would be understood by those skilled in the art, by having multiple LEDs and multiple sensors, various light paths may be sensed by sequencing the LEDs and/or when those light paths are detected. [0119] FIGS. 17 through 25 show an alternative embodiment of the dispensing device, indicated as 1600, which may perform functions similar to that of dispensing device 101. Dispensing device 1600 has a core module 1602 that contains the mechanical and electronic components for controlling the rotation of an agitator drive component in the form of a keyed coupler, such as male key connector 1624. Male key connector 1624 is shown as having a protruding generally-D shaped key, but may have any of a number of other shapes. Any or all of the electronics and sensing features shown in dispensing device 101 (see FIGS. 1 through 16 described above) may be incorporated into core module 1602. Among the capabilities of core module 1602 which may be included is producing sound through optional speaker holes 1629. Device 1600 may also include charging base 1640 having optionally signal pins 1642 to enable charging and/or communicating with core module 1602. This embodiment of charging base 1640 may have a connector input 1644 for a cord such as well- known USB micro-B although it will be understood by those skilled in the art that other connectors and cables may be substituted in place of the USB micro-B. Charging base 1640 may also be considered separate from dispensing device 1600 in that device 1600 may be used independent of base 1640. As shown in FIGS. 17 and 18, device 1600 also has an item dispensing module that includes agitator 1654 which rotates about a rotational axis (agitator 1654 being shown in FIGS. 17 and 18 as rotating about a generally vertical axis when in an upright configuration), and is shown as having a top surface 1655 (which may be, for example, generally conically shaped as shown or may have other shapes), and one or more item receiving receptacles in the form of, for example, as a plurality of cavities 1656, and which are shown as being spaced apart around or along the perimeter of agitator 1654. See also FIGS. 21 and 22 which show other views of agitator 1654. In some embodiments, cavities 1656 may be roughly be the size of a single treat to be dispensed. Cavities 1656 are big enough to at least allow an individual pet treat 156 to be received and dispensed, as described below. To receive and dispense a single treat, cavities 1656 may be large enough to dispense all or most of one treat but smaller than two treats. In some embodiments of agitator 1654, conically- shaped top surface 1655, which helps in guiding treats 156 into the cavit(ies) 1656, may be omitted. In some embodiments of device 1600, agitator 1654 may have different and interchangeable variants having different sizes, shapes, configurations, etc., to, for example, to dispense different size treats, different amounts of treats, etc.

[0120] In device 1600, the item dispensing module also has a hopper 1670 which includes an opening in the form of hole 1672 positioned so as to align which each of cavities 1656 as agitator 1654 is rotated so that the respective cavity 1656 is adjacent thereto and facing hole 1672, as well as sized so that hole 1672 allows treat(s) within a respective cavity 1656, when adjacent to and facing hole 1672 to come out, thus performing generally the same function as hole 158 for device 101, as described above. See FIG. 18 which shows a view of device 1600 with male key connector 1624 and agitator 1654 rotated approximately 90° (relative to the orientation shown in FIG. 17) about their common rotational axis wherein one of cavities 1656 is now positioned adjacent to and facing hole 1672 for dispensing any treat within this cavity 1656 therethrough. In device 1600, hopper 1670 is also configured so as to mate with, connect with, etc., core 1602 to enable rotation of agitator 1654 about its rotational axis. This mating may be achieved, for example, by using any type of fastener, which may include screws, a bayonet-like or dimple type connection, etc., as would be well known those skilled in the art. Hopper 1670 may also include wiper 1676 which has at least a portion thereof which follows and conforms at or near to top surface 1655 of agitator 1654. See also FIG. 19 where wiper 1676 is also shown as being as wide as hole 1672 and having a width the same or similar as cavity 1656 of agitator 1654, as well as partially protruding through hole 1672 and outside of hopper 1670. Wiper 1676 may have ridges, may be held at an angle, may be flexible and bend to brush along the top surface top 1655 of agitator 1654. Wiper 1676 may have a spring mechanism to flexibly hold it in place or there may be enough flexibility in the material comprising wiper 1676 that a separate spring may not be required. An optional lid 1678 may also be included to close off hopper 1670 when device 1600 is used as a standalone dispenser. For example, lid 1678 may not be required with device 1600 when installed in, for example, a ball-shaped or egg-shaped system 400 where the top of outer shell 410 also acts as a lid to keep the treats in hopper 1670.

[0121] FIG. 20 shows an alternate embodiment of wiper 1670, indicated as 1677. Wiper 1677 comprises a plurality of smaller brush-like elements to provide a wiper which may be more flexible, with this added flexibility of wiper 1677 potentially preventing jamming of dispensed items 156 {e.g., especially if items 156 are irregularly sized) against wiper 1676 or 1677 as agitator 1654 rotates. Other variants of wiper 1670 besides wiper 1677 shown in FIG. 20 may also be used. Wipers 1676 or 1677 need not be as wide as is shown in FIGS. 17 through 20. Instead, the minimum width of wiper 1676 or 1677 is a function of the size of treats 156 to be dispensed, the size of hole 1672, the size of each cavity 1656, etc. Wiper 1676 or 1677 should be wide enough to prevent treats 156 from falling through hole 1672 if a cavity 1656 is turned so as to be adjacent to and facing hole 1672. As will be explained in more detail below, without wiper 1676 or 1677, multiple/many treats 156 in hopper 1670 may fall out uncontrollably when cavity 1656 rotates past hole 1672.

[0122] FIG. 23 is a bottom view of agitator 1654 which shows one embodiment of a female locking connector, indicated as 1685. Female locking connector 1685 is generally D- shaped and may fit or mate only in one way, orientation, configuration, etc., with a male generally reciprocal D-shaped key connector 1624 (see FIGS. 17 and 18). Although not shown, male key connector 1624 and female lock connector 1685 may be provided with detents, magnets, other mating connections, etc., to hold them together in a mated configuration. Because female lock connector 1685 may only mate in one way, orientation, configuration, etc., with male key connector 1624, the rotational orientation configuration, etc., of agitator 1654 will be restricted and the same for the drive electronics. With some agitators 1654 and in some applications, it may be desirable to know exactly how agitator 1654 is rotationally oriented configured, etc., about its rotational axis, which is provided by agitator 1654 having female lock connector 1685 oriented configured, etc., exactly due to corresponding shape of male keyed lock connector 1624.

[0123] With other agitators 1654 and in other applications, it may be desirable to provide some flexibility in how agitator 1654 is rotationally oriented, configured, etc., about its vertical rotational axis. FIG. 24 illustrates an alternative embodiment of the agitator, indicated as 2354, having a generally and somewhat triangularly- shaped female lock connector with three rounded corners connected by three relatively straight edges, indicated as 2385, which provides a locking configuration with 3 -way symmetry such that female lock connector 2385 may mate in 3 different orientations, configurations etc., with male keyed connector 1624. In other words, with female lock connector 2385, agitator 1654 may be connected, mated, etc., in any of 3 different orientations, configurations, etc., by male keyed connector 1624.

[0124] FIG. 25 illustrates dispensing device 1600 in operation when in a tilted configuration. Hopper 1670 and core 1602 are shown in FIG. 25 connected together with agitator 1654 being within or inside hopper 1670 and driven by keyed connector 1624 of core 1602. (Wiper 1676 is shown as being somewhat visible behind treats 2456.) As especially shown in FIG. 25, the entire assembly of device 1600 may be in a somewhat tilted configuration, relative to the vertical axis, indicated by dashed line 2410, when device 1600 when in an upright (non-tilted) configuration. The rotational axis of device 1600 in this tilted configuration is indicated by dashed line 2420 (also referred to herein interchangeably as the "tilt axis"). The rotation of device 1600 about tilt axis 2420 (in either the clockwise or counterclockwise direction) is indicated by double headed arrow 2422. The degree of tilt (also referred to herein interchangeably as the "tilt angle") of device 1600 from vertical axis 2410 to tilt axis 2420 is further indicated by curved arrow 2424. FIG. 25 thus shows that device 1600 may operate satisfactorily to dispense treats, even if the entire assembly of device 1600 is tilted (for example, to the extent of tilt angle 2424) such as might occur with, for example, a bottom weighted system 400 sitting on the carpet, leaning against an object (e.g., table, chair, sofa, etc.), etc. For example, FIG. 25 shows a treat 2496 that fits within cavity 1656 and which is adjacent to and facing hole 1672 so that treat 2496 may pass therethrough. Cavities 1656 may be shaped such that when agitator 1654 is rotated about its rotational axis, the treat fits within cavity 1656 and may be lightly pressed against the side of hopper 1670 for a wide range of semi-upright orientations, but when cavity 1656 is adjacent to and facing hole 1672 (as shown in FIG. 25), the treat may still fall out through hole 1672. When cavity 1656 is in the orientation, configuration, etc., shown in FIG. 25, one of the functions of wiper 1676 (or wiper 1677 in other embodiments) may be to keep the rest of treats 2456 from then filling cavity 1656 and subsequently falling out uncontrollably through hole 1672. Instead, only the one treat 2496 in cavity 1656 may fall out as cavity 1656 rotated adjacent to and facing hole 1672. In this orientation, configuration, etc., other cavities 1656 (not shown) may be filling with treats 2456 and cavity 1656 may be filled with a 2456 treat after cavity 1656 rotates past wiper 1676.

[0125] As agitator 1654 rotates, another function of wiper 1676 is to keep a fixed amount of treats (for example, a single treat) from filling a cavity 1656. As cavity 1656 with a treat rotates prior to being the position shown in FIG. 25, gravity may cause multiple treats to stack up on top of each cavity 1656. As each cavity 1656 with its treats rotates near or proximate hole 1672, wiper 1676 may scrape/wipe off the additional treats from the top of cavity 1656 such that these treats may tend to flow on top of wiper 1676 and be blocked. Thus, wiper 1676 may control how much each cavity 1656 fills before it reaches a position adjacent to and facing hole 1672. Accordingly, in some instances, a single treat might be the desired result, but if cavity 1656 is bigger and/or if treats 2456 are smaller, a measured "dose" of treats, food, other items, etc., may be dispensed through hole 1672 from hopper 1670

[0126] A flexible wiper 1676 may also help prevent jamming in the case of irregular shaped treats. In some uses, it may be better that occasionally a little too much treat is dispensed rather than cause device 1600 to jamb up which may cause all dispensing of treats to stop until cleared by the human operator. If agitator 1654 rotates continuously, one treat after another may fall into a cavity 1656 and then be rotated around past wiper 1676 and then adjacent to and facing hole 1672 where it may fall out. Dispensing of treats may also occur whether agitator 1654 rotates clockwise or counterclockwise about its rotational axis. It may also be possible for dispensing device 1600 to work by alternately being rotated in one direction and then being reversed to rotate in the other direction. Even if agitator 1654 rotates primarily in one direction for dispensing treats, it may help to prevent jamming by slightly reversing the direction of rotation occasionally or before or after each treat is dispensed. The dispensing may be somewhat more reliable if the electronics in core 1602 make a cavity 1656 stop adjacent to and facing hole 1672 to let the treats fall out rather than having the treats fall out as cavity 1656 passes by hole 1672. Having agitator 1654 with a bottom keyed (for example, as shown in FIGS. 23 and 24) relative to the cavities 1656 will allow the electronics to know the position of agitator 1654.

[0127] While not required for all embodiments, the conically shaped top surface 1655 of agitator 1654 may help direct treats 2456 into cavities 1656 whether device 1600 is upright or tilted. Top surface 1655 of agitator 1654 may also be relatively smooth, may have bumps and/or grooves, etc., in it to help stir/agitate the treats and to help keep them flowing into cavities 1656 as agitator 1654 spins or otherwise rotates about. Dispensing device 1600 may also work whether or not core 1602 keeps exact control over the orientation of agitator 1654. An uncontrolled ("dumber") core 1602, for example, may just spin or rotate for a fixed amount of time and have one or two treats come out hole 1672. Conversely, a more precise dispensing of treats may occur if the amount and rotation/orientation of agitator 1654 is more precisely controlled.

[0128] FIG. 26 shows an alternative embodiment of the ball-shaped outer protective shell of FIG. 8, indicated as 2500, which encloses the core module 1602 and hopper 1670 of dispensing device 1600, and which has a hemispherical top portion 2502 and a hemispherical bottom portion 2504. Shown inside protective shell 2500 is dispensing device 1600. Top portion 2502 has a coupling element for securing top portion 2502 to bottom portion 2504 in the form of, for example, a bayonet mount slot 2510 with locking dents 2512, as shown in FIGS. 26 and 27. Top portion 2502 also has an upper inner hemispherical hard shell 2522 while bottom portion 2504 has a lower inner hemispherical hard shell 2524. Top portion 2502 also includes a plurality of outer upper soft ribs 2526 attached to the outer surface of inner hard shell 2522, while bottom portion 2504 also has a plurality of outer lower soft ribs 2528 attached to the surface of hard shell 2524. Hard shells 2522 and 2524 maintain the shape of protective shell 2500 and keep the pet from being able to get to the dispensing device 1600. Soft ribs 2526 and 2528 are configured and attached, respectively, to hard shells 2522 and 2524 so as to act as more gentile bumpers when protective shell 2500 is contacting floor, furniture and similar hard objects and to soften the effects on protective shell 2500 and objects protective shell 2500 comes into contact with. Top portion 2502 and bottom portion 2504 of protective shell 2500 may be fabricated, for example, by a molding process known as "double-shot" molding that allows two or more dissimilar materials (for example, a harder material such as that used to form shells 2522 and 2524, and a softer material such as that used to form ribs 2526 and 2528) to be molded together.

[0129] FIG. 27 provides another view of top portion 2502 which shows in greater detail the bayonet mount slot 2510 with locking dents 2512. Support ring 2550 which is similar to the support ring 432 of FIG. 4 described above is also provided. Ring 2550 both holds dispensing device 1600 in place and keeps treats 2456 from falling out. Further shown in FIG. 27 is an optional lid 2554 that also acts to restrict the motion of dispensing device 1600 as protective shell 2500 is moved. Instead of lid 2554, dispensing device 1600 and treats 2456 may be held in place by the inside or inner surface of top portion 2502.

[0130] FIG. 28 illustrates an alternative embodiment of feeder 1100 and which is indicated as 2700. Feeder 2700 has a food hopper 2702 with a hopper bottom 2704, a base support 2706 with spout 2720, and a lid 2710. Feeder 2700 also has a feeding agitator 2750 and a feeding wiper 2754. The same core 1602 as shown in FIG. 17 may also be used to drive and rotate feeding agitator 2750 about its rotational axis, provided that the bottom of feeding agitator 2750 has a female locking connector such as 1685 (shown in FIG. 23) or 2385 (shown in FIG. 24) which may be mated to a male keyed coupler 1624 (not shown in FIG. 28). Many of the components of feeder 2700 may scaled up versions of similar components of dispensing device 1600 to provide more capacity and/or to dispense more food/treats and/or at a faster rate. The food (not shown) that goes into hopper 2702 may be kibbles or other food shapes that are larger or smaller than those used in dispensing device 1600. In operation, feeder 2700 works similarly to dispensing device 1600, as described with respect to FIG. 25.

[0131] FIG. 29 illustrates some of the internal components of feeder 2700 in more detail. In particular, feeder 2700 is shown as having a hopper bottom 2704 with a neck 2760 provided with hole 2764 and a wiper 2754 that fits into neck 2760 above hole 2764. Also shown is core 1602 with male keyed coupler 1624 for connection to a female lock coupler (not shown) in the bottom of feed agitator 2750.

[0132] The feed cavities 2752 in feed agitator 2750 may be bigger to enable larger and/or more treats/food to be dispensed each time a feed cavity 2752 passes by opening 2764. In other embodiments, cavities 2752 in agitator 2750 may be of a different shape that would aid in dispensing different shapes or amounts of food/treats or other items. For example, the treats/food may be of a shape that would fit certain shaped cavities better than others. A benefit of this dispensing system is that it is flexible enough to permit changing out various components such as hoppers and/or agitators, but with the same core being adapted to support dispensing differently.

[0133] One or more embodiments of the device described herein may be implemented as a mobile modular pet system for use with variety of animals, including pets, which may include, for example including dogs, cats, horses, pigs, etc. One or more embodiments described herein may also be contemplated for other uses unrelated to pet animals.

[0134] All documents, patents, journal articles and other materials cited in the present application are hereby incorporated by reference.

[0135] Although the present invention has been fully described in conjunction with several embodiments thereof with reference to the accompanying drawings, it is to be understood that various changes and modifications may be apparent to those skilled in the art. Such changes and modifications are to be understood as included within the scope of the present invention as defined by the appended claims, unless they depart therefrom.

[0136] In addition, the purpose of the Abstract of the Disclosure in this application is to enable the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office, as well as the public generally, including any scientists, engineers and practitioners in the art who may not be familiar with patent or other legal terms or phraseology to determine the what the technical disclosure of the application describes. Accordingly, while the Abstract of the Disclosure may be used to provide enablement for the following claims, it is not intended to be limiting as to the scope of those claims in any way.

[0137] Finally, only claims including the express language "means for" or "step for" should be interpreted according to 35 U.S. C. § 112, paragraph 6.

Claims

WHAT IS CLAIMED IS:

1. A device for dispensing items which is mobile and which comprises: a hopper for storing a plurality of items; an electronic and mechanical core module having; an electronic wireless communications component; an item dispenser drive component; a computer component for controlling the item dispenser drive component; and a power source for supplying power to the computer component, the electronic wireless communications component, and the item dispenser drive component; an item dispensing module having an item dispenser component which is responsive to the item dispenser drive component to cause the items to be dispensed; and a dispensed item receiving module for receiving the items dispensed from the hopper; wherein the electronic and mechanical core module is configured to receive electronic data instructions for controlling the dispensing of the items from the hopper, and wherein the electronic and mechanical core module causes items to be dispensed by the item dispenser component.

2. The device of claim 1, wherein the electronic and mechanical core module further comprises at least one sensor for detecting motion and/or orientation of the device.

3. The device of claim 2, wherein the electronic and mechanical core module dispenses items in response to sensing that the device has been moved.

4. The device of claim 1, wherein the electronic and mechanical core module further comprises at least one sensor for detecting the proximity of an animal to the device and wherein the electronic and mechanical core module dispense items in response to sensing the proximity of the animal.

5. The device of claim 4, wherein the at least one sensor is an infrared sensor for sensing that the animal is in proximity to the device.

6. The device of claim 5, wherein the infrared sensor senses the proximity of the animal through an RFID signature.

7. The device of claim 6, wherein the infrared sensor is configured to sense different RFID signatures.

8. The device of claim 5, which the electronic and mechanical core module further comprises at least one infrared LED to detect, in combination with the infrared sensor, when the item is dispensed by the item dispensing module.

9. The device of claim 1, wherein the electronic and mechanical core module further includes a speaker.

10. The device of claim 1 wherein the electronic and mechanical core module further comprises a microphone.

11. The device of claim 1, wherein the item dispensing module further comprises a hopper for storing the items to be dispensed.

12. The device of claim 1, where in the electronic and mechanical core module causes the item dispensing module to dispense one item in response to an interaction by the animal with the device.

13. The device of claim 1, wherein the device is shaped and weighted so that in a resting position the device is moderately upright.

14. The device of claim 1, wherein item dispenser component comprises an agitator which moves in response to the item dispenser drive component.

15. A device for dispensing pet items which is movable by a pet and which comprises: an electronic and mechanical core module having; a computer component; an electronic wireless communications component; a pet item dispenser drive component controlled by the computer component; and a power source for supplying power to the computer component, the electronic wireless communications component, and the item dispenser drive component; a pet item dispensing module having a hopper for storing pet items and a pet item dispenser component which is responsive to the pet item dispenser drive component to cause pet items to be dispensed from the hopper; and a dispensed pet item receiving module for receiving the items dispensed by the item dispenser component; and an outer shell which encloses the electronic and mechanical core module, and the pet item dispensing module, and which protects the electronic and mechanical core module and the pet item dispensing module from actions of the pet that cause movement of the device. wherein the electronic and mechanical core module is configured to receive electronic data instructions for controlling the dispensing of the pet items by the pet item dispenser component and wherein the electronic and mechanical core module causes pet items to be dispensed by the pet item dispenser component in response to the pet moving the device.

16. The device of claim 15, wherein the electronic and mechanical core module further comprises at least one sensor for detecting the motion and/or orientation of the device.

17. The device of claim 16, where in the electronic and mechanical core module causes the pet item dispensing module to dispense one item in response to the at least one sensor detecting a movement by the pet of the device.

18. The device of claim 15, wherein the power source comprises a rechargeable battery.

19. The device of claim 15, wherein the outer shell has an oval egg-shaped configuration.

20. The device of claim 15, wherein the pet item dispensing module is configured to dispense the pet items from the hopper into the outer shell and wherein the outer shell includes one or more openings through which one or more of the pet items may exit the outer shell.

21. The device of claim 15, wherein the device is shaped and weighted so that in a resting position the device is moderately upright.

22. A device for dispensing items which is mobile and which comprises: an electronic and mechanical core module having; an agitator drive component for imparting movement to an agitator; a computer component for controlling the agitator drive component; and a power source for supplying power to the computer component and the agitator drive component; and an item dispensing module having: a hopper for storing items to be dispensed and having an opening through which the items are dispensed; and an agitator having one or more item receiving receptacles, the agitator being configured to be moved within the hopper by the agitator drive component so that an item in any one of the one or more item receiving receptacles, when adjacent to the opening, is dispensed therethrough; wherein the electronic and mechanical core module is configured to receive electronic data instructions for controlling the agitator drive component in rotating the agitator, and wherein the electronic and mechanical core module causes the agitator drive component to impart movement to the agitator in response to interactions by an animal with the device.

23. The device of claim 22, having a rotational axis and wherein the agitator rotates about the rotational axis.

24. The device of claim 23, wherein the agitator has a top surface and wherein the hopper further comprises a wiper having at least a portion thereof which follows and conforms at or near the top surface.

25. The device of claim 24, wherein the top surface is conically shaped to guide the items from the hopper to the item receiving receptacles.

26. The device of claim 24, wherein item receiving receptacles comprise a plurality of cavities, wherein the agitator has a perimeter, and wherein the cavities are spaced apart around the perimeter.

27. The device of claim 26, wherein the cavities are aligned with the opening such that, when the agitator is rotated so that the cavity is adjacent to and facing the opening, any item received by the cavity may be dispensed through the opening.

28. The device of claim 23, wherein the agitator drive component comprises a male key connecter and wherein the agitator has a bottom side with a female lock connector for mating with the male key connector.

29. The device of claim 28, wherein the female lock connector is generally D-shaped and where the male key connector has a reciprocal generally D-shape.

30. The device of claim 28, wherein the female lock connector is generally triangular in shape and has three rounded corners connected respectively by one of three straight edges.

31. The device of claim 23, which further comprises a charging base to enable charging and/or communicating with the electronic and mechanical core module.

32. The device of claim 23, which further comprises a ball-shaped outer protective shell having a hemispherical top portion, a hemispherical bottom portion and a coupling element for securing the hemispherical top portion to the hemispherical bottom portion, the ball- shaped outer protective shell enclosing the electronic and mechanical core module and the item dispensing module.

33. The device of claim 32, wherein top portion includes an upper inner hemispherical hard shell having an outer surface and a plurality of upper soft ribs attached to the outer surface of the upper inner hemispherical hard shell, wherein the hemispherical bottom portion has a lower inner hemispherical hard shell having an outer surface and a plurality of lower soft ribs attached to the outer surface of the lower inner hemispherical hard shell, the upper soft ribs and lower soft ribs being configured to act as bumpers for the ball-shaped outer protective shell.

34. The device of claim 22, wherein the electronic and mechanical core module comprises an electronic wireless communications component and wherein the power source supplies power to the electronic wireless communications component.

35. The device of claim 22, wherein the device is shaped and weighted so that in a resting position the device is moderately upright.

36. A device for dispensing items which is mobile and which comprises: a hopper for storing a plurality of items; an electronic and mechanical core module having; an item dispenser drive component which dispense items when the device is moderately upright; a computer component for controlling the item dispenser drive component; and a power source for supplying power to the computer component, and the item dispenser drive component; an item dispensing module having an item dispenser component which is responsive to the item dispenser drive component to cause the items to be dispensed from the hopper; and an outer shell which encloses the hopper, the electronic and mechanical core module, and the item dispensing module, and which keeps the item dispensing module moderately upright when the device is at rest; wherein the electronic and mechanical core module controls the dispensing of the items from the hopper by the item dispenser component, and wherein the electronic and mechanical core module causes items to be dispensed by the item dispenser component.

37. The device of claim 36, wherein the outer shell forms a lid for the hopper to keep the items within the hopper.

38. The device of claim 36, wherein the outer shell has an opening formed therein to enable the items dispensed from the hopper to exit therethrough.

39. The device of claim 36, wherein the electronic and mechanical core module causes the item dispenser component to dispense a single item in response to a pet interacting with the device.

40. The device of claim 36, wherein the electronic and mechanical core module controls the rate at which items are dispensed by the item dispenser component.

41. The device of claim 36, wherein the outer shell has a shape and weighting which is configured to keep the device in a moderately upright configuration.