Pet food kiosk

ES 2 334 017 T3

DESCRIPTION

Feeding kiosk for pets.

The present invention relates generally to a method and equipment designed to produce a food adapted to the health and nutrition requirements of a particular domestic animal.

Pet food manufacturers supplying the retail trade often produce their products in large quantities and only in a limited number of formulations. Most manufacturers offer, for example, dog food in various flavors, depending on a formula for puppies, one for adult dogs, and another for mature or inactive dogs. Some manufacturers offer formulas for specific breeds or for certain sizes. In addition, some manufacturers - as discussed in documents XP-002963588 or XP-002963592 - offer more specific formulas for dogs with specific food allergies or nutrient-sensitive diseases. Similarly, retail cat food is offered in a limited variety of formulas, with different flavors or for different stages of development. However, all the kinds of food described above are for fully pre-manufactured products and therefore the range of animal foods is not necessarily compatible with the wide variety of preferences and dietary requirements of each pet. Therefore it is sometimes difficult to make a selection adapted to the particular diet of a pet and the result is usually not optimal. For example, a particular pet may have specific dietary needs due to an existing disease or disorder, or a genetic predisposition to a particular disease. Furthermore, the current variety of foods typically available in the retail trade makes it difficult for pet owners to choose the food that best meets the nutritional needs of their own companion animal. Likewise, once a food has been chosen it can be difficult to know how to feed it correctly.

Brief summary of the present invention

A kiosk designed to sell and produce a meal adapted to a pet is offered. The kiosk includes a customer contact area, a biological sample analysis and treatment area, an exhibition area for basic products, an additive storage area and an area for mixing ingredients and observing the customer.

Brief description of the figures

Figure 1 is a simplified kiosk for selling a food adapted to a pet.

Figure 2 is a diagram of a work station used to adapt pet food.

Figure 3 is a flow chart illustrating a process for selling pet food.

Detailed description of the present invention

Examples of embodiments of the equipment and a method for making products adapted to domestic animals are described below. Equipment and methods facilitate the development of a product tailored directly to the specific needs of a particular pet. As used herein, "pet product" comprises foods and components thereof. Although pet products include mass-manufactured, ie, pre-manufactured ingredients, they are combined with tailored products to produce a final product suited to the particular needs of a particular pet. Therefore the phrase adapted product includes both those that do not contain any pre-manufactured ingredients and those that carry pre-manufactured components and products adapted to the customer. Furthermore, although the method is often described as a complete process, it should be understood that any part of the process can be used separately or in combination with any other part of the process described below.

Figure 1 is a simplified diagram of a kiosk 10 in accordance with the present invention. In the embodiment shown in Figure 1, the kiosk 10 comprises a customer contact area 12, a biological sample analysis and treatment area 14, an exhibition area for basic products 16, at least one storage area of additives 18 and an area for mixing ingredients and customer observation 20. In one embodiment, the additive storage area 18 includes the stocks of dry and liquid products. In the exemplified embodiment, the zones 12, 14, 16, 18 and 20 described above are integrated into three sites, a customer interaction station 22, an analysis station 24 and a work station 26. In another illustrative embodiment, the customer interaction stations 22, analysis 24 and work stations 26 are constructed by using at least one wire mesh shelf 28, stainless steel supports 30, plastic buckets (not shown) , drawers (not shown) and shelves in laminated wood or steel 32. The height of the shelves 32 and of the shelf 28 is adjustable, so that the operator of the kiosk 10 (not shown) can organize it in the most convenient way. In one embodiment, the customer interaction station 22 includes descriptive brochures of the food product adapted for pets. In another alternative embodiment the

ES 2 334 017 T3 area for biological analysis of samples and treatment 14 is designed with an area for the discharge of biological samples (not shown). In yet another embodiment, the biological sample analysis and treatment area 14 is provided with a computer (not shown), which is used to analyze the biological samples, along with other instruments, including, without limitation, a microscope and utensils. .

The kiosk 10 carries a series of wheels 40 and is designed to be transportable. Although not shown in Figure 1, in other embodiments the kiosk 10 is designed to be covered and locked, for security reasons, when, for example, it is located in a shopping center. One way of covering the kiosk 10 is to use a wrap, made for example of canvas, which falls over the kiosk 10 and closes it near the wheels 40. In addition, the kiosk 10 is designed to unfold or collapse depending on the available space. In an alternative embodiment the work station 26 includes the functionality or analysis station 24, thus providing a kiosk with two stations and combined storage of basic products and dry additives. As it is foldable and collapsible, it can be placed in various ways, for example at the end of a corridor, in a store, or outdoors in a shopping center. Although not depicted in Figure 1, depending on its location (eg in a veterinary center, a shopping mall, or a pet food store), each kiosk 10 may carry graphic side panels or other advertising materials. , to attract consumers' attention to the kiosk

10.

In one embodiment, the consumer interaction station 22 includes a computer 42 for storing groups of ordered products for one or more analyzed pets, so that the consumer can return to the kiosk 10 to quickly purchase more supplies of the product. of animal feed, in complete form, or its additives, dry or liquid, to add them to the basic product that can be purchased anywhere else.

Figure 2 is a diagram of an embodiment of the work station 26. The parts of the work station 26, identical to those shown in Figure 1, are identified in Figure 2 with the same reference numerals used in Figure 1. With specific reference to Figure 2, workstation 26 includes wire mesh shelves 28 for storage, a steel shelf 32 used as a work surface, and drawers 52 for storing materials used by the kiosk operator (not shown). Bags of base formula (granules) 54 and other dry ingredients 56 are stored on the wire mesh shelves 28. In one embodiment there are multiple varieties of base formula food 54 and the variety used in preparing a commissioned food for a particular pet depends on its needs, as described in detail in an example below. The shelves 28 also store empty bottles 58 that are used to supply additives to customers, spoons 60 and measuring cups 62 that are offered to customers as part of the purchase of animal food or sold separately.

When making custom pet food - which is packaged in bottle 58 for presentation to the customer - the kiosk operator prepares an appropriate additive for the pet, using at least one of the 64 dry additive packages or one of several additives liquids stored in dispensers 66. Other dry ingredients 56 comprise at least one of the basic formula foods 54, extra bottles 58, packets 64, spoons 60 and cups 62 stored in bulk. As described in more detail below, the kiosk operator prepares a tailored additive, employing at least one of the packages 64 and liquids in dispensers 66 and packaging it in a bottle 58 for delivery to the customer. According to one embodiment, the dry ingredients in packages 64 and the liquids in dispensers 66 include multiple different varieties to prepare unique and tailored additives that are added to a basic formula food 54.

Figure 3 illustrates a method 100 for obtaining a food product adapted to domestic animals by means of the kiosk 10 (shown in Figure 1). In an exemplary embodiment, a pet keeper (consumer) who purchases an adapted food product for the first time approaches 102 the pet food kiosk, or booth, 10 located at a retail location, including, without limitation, a shopping center, a store, a veterinary practice or clinic, an airport and an event abroad. In other forms of execution, the interest of the client is promoted by direct mail, by e-mail, with brochures or by telephone. The consumer provides 104 a biological sample (eg, a stool sample) and completes a questionnaire, usually at a customer interaction booth 22 (depicted in Figure 1) of the kiosk 10. The questionnaire is provided prior to delivery. visit online, by mail or collected and answered in person at kiosk 10. The questionnaire provides the profile of the pet. In another embodiment, the customer's interest is aroused through a direct mail campaign that offers a bag to carry a biological sample to be analyzed to the kiosk 10.

In one embodiment an on-site veterinarian / technician obtains analytical data from the biological sample, for example at the sampling, biological analysis and treatment station 14 (depicted in FIG. 1). The analysis performed on the biological sample examines various health and digestive indicators. The data from the analysis of the biological sample is combined 106 with the pet profile information and entered into a system, for example computer 42 (shown in Figure 1), including a food product model adapted to a pet. .

The system 108 processes the data using at least one algorithm and generates a pet profile. Each profile has a unique identification code and carries the food product specifically adapted to the pet and the recommended feeding instructions for the specific animal. The foodstuff reco

The mentioned ES 2 334 017 T3 includes a pre-made granulate, which is normally stored in a commodity display area 16 (depicted in Figure 1) and is sometimes referred to as basic formula food 54, and an adapted additive, designated herein as times as a condiment. In one embodiment, the pre-made granulate is chosen from a variety of foods of basic formula 54 (represented in figure 2) and the additive is a liquid prepared on site, usually in the presence of the consumer and at the mixing and observation station 20 (represented in figure 1). The system indicates 110 to the kiosk operator which is the pre-made granulate that best suits the domestic animal and provides 112 an ideal additive formula, which has been created based on the individual profile of the animal. Alternatively, the system recommends taking the animal to the veterinarian's visit, before buying an adapted food, if the profile shows certain “warning” signs. This notice provides the consumer with additional information on the health of the animal between regular visits to the veterinarian.

The kiosk operator then takes 114 a bag of the recommended granules and at work station 26 prepares 116 a food additive in bottle 58 (shown in Figure 2) based on an additive formula, including, without limitation, a seasoning, a juice, a cream, a thickener, a powder and a bath, according to the adapted additive formula. In the exemplified embodiment, a seasoning is prepared. In addition, the adapted feeding instructions and the labels of the package 118 are printed. Consumer 120 is delivered a package containing a bag of dry food of basic formula 54, such as a granulate, a bottle 58 of adapted seasoning, printed information, a suitable measuring cup 62 (shown in figure 2) for the dry granulate. , a spoon 60 (shown in Figure 2) appropriately chosen for dispensing the seasoning into the food bowl and other accessories related to purchasing the adapted food. The consumer receives additional information on the frequency and recommended conditions for future analysis of biological samples and / or updates of the profile of their companion animal.

In another embodiment, the system uses the pet's profile to indicate to the kiosk operator the pre-made granules (the basic formula food 54) and the pre-made seasoning that best suit said animal. The kiosk operator delivers the pre-made granules and seasoning to the consumer and the consumer mixes them in the appropriate quantities for each pet.

To shop repeatedly, consumers return to kiosk 10 and provide the unique code of their pets, generated during a previous visit, to access the profile of their pets. They can update / change the profile information and / or provide a new biological sample. The two actions would cause differences in the recommended food, either in the basic formula food 54 or in the additive of the product, or in both. Alternatively, the consumer leaves the profile as is and restocks his current pet food.

The above-described process is illustrated in detail by an example.

Example

In a secluded manufacturing location, for example in a retail store, a questionnaire of a pet named "Bruno" is administered. The questionnaire is filled out by Bruno's master and, among other things, the following information about Bruno is obtained and provided to the operator of kiosk 10.

Pet Name: Bruno

Pet Breed: Golden Retriever

Weight: 65 lbs

Age: 4 years

Gender: male

Gelding / capping: yes

Activity level: moderate

Summer season

Feeding method: dosed

Takes: once a day

Flavor preferences: chicken for the base and beef stew for the seasoning

Body condition: ideal / good

ES 2 334 017 T3

In addition or at a later visit, Bruno's master takes a normal sample of Bruno's stool to the operator of the kiosk where the feeding and the care program is administered. The following analysis is performed on Bruno's stool sample.

Humidity: normal

Consistency: higher than normal

Hassles: yes

Particles: none

Color: normal

Mucin: not even normal

Parasites: none

Based on the above information, a pre-made granulate (base B2) is chosen, suitable for medium-sized adult dogs with a moderate activity level and good body condition, of the desired preferred flavor, without any other special health requirements. On the basis of the chosen granules, a pre-prepared seasoning (S4) suitable for dogs with hard feces and / or forced fecal discharge is chosen. The seasoning is formulated to be dispensed in a 10-ounce bottle to complement a 5-pound bag of dry granulate. The composition of the seasoning is:

Seasoning percentage 12

50%

Base code

B2 (adult)

Seasoning code

S4 overweight, with fiber

Formula n °

Beef stew

Ingredient

Contents

Formula%

Grams

<td>Animal digest</td><td> 15,2%</td><td> 1,</td><td> 90%</td><td> 48, 6</td>

<td>Sodium bisulfate</td><td> 3, 8%</td><td> 0,</td><td> 48%</td><td> 12,2</td>

<td>Deionized water</td><td> 56,2%</td><td> 7,</td><td> 03%</td><td> 180,0</td>

<td>Sorbic acid</td><td> 0,2%</td><td> 0,</td><td> 02%</td><td> 0, 6</td>

<td>Psyllium</td><td> 0, 6%</td><td> 0,</td><td> 07%</td><td> 1,8</td>

<td>Corn oil</td><td> 16,00%</td><td> 2,</td><td> 00%</td><td> 51,2</td>

<td>Lactulose</td><td> 8,00%</td><td> 1,</td><td> 00%</td><td> 25, 6</td>

<td>Flavor of beef stew</td><td> 0,20%</td><td> 0,</td><td> 03%</td><td> 0, 6</td>

<td>Total percentage</td><td> 100,0%</td><td> 12</td><td> , 50%</td><td> 320, 6</td>

An appropriate amount for daily feeding is then calculated based on the nutrient profile and chosen "seasoning", the dog's weight, body condition, season of the year, and eating habits. The pet owner is given the pre-made granulate and seasoning along with feeding instructions and a copy of the previous report. A copy of the individual animal profile and analysis of the stool sample is sent to Bruno's veterinarian.

Methods for tailoring pet foods and products provide pet food manufacturers with an avenue of individualized treatment of the health and nutritional needs and preferences of animals and their owners. For example, foods and products adapted for animals

ES 2 334 017 T3 pets can be adapted in order to achieve, at a certain time of year, the desired nutritional balance for a domestic animal of a specific age, sex and weight, which has a specific health problem, such as example, a food allergy. The kiosk 10 provides a means and a method for engaging consumers in the market, in order to introduce them to food products adapted to pets, and furthermore leaves a high quality impression of such products on consumers.