U.S. patent application number 11/104296 was filed with the patent office on 2006-10-12 for rubber-fiber hybrid.
Invention is credited to Glen S. Axelrod.
Application Number | 20060225666 11/104296 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 37081954 |
Filed Date | 2006-10-12 |
United States Patent
Application |
20060225666 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Axelrod; Glen S. |
October 12, 2006 |
Rubber-fiber hybrid
Abstract
An animal chew toy and a method for making such that comprises a
fabric having a plurality of fibers and a polymeric material that
contacts the fabric wherein the polymer material engages with the
plurality of fibers.
Inventors: |
Axelrod; Glen S.; (Colts
Neck, NJ) |
Correspondence
Address: |
GROSSMAN, TUCKER, PERREAULT & PFLEGER, PLLC
55 SOUTH COMMERICAL STREET
MANCHESTER
NH
03101
US
|
Family ID: |
37081954 |
Appl. No.: |
11/104296 |
Filed: |
April 12, 2005 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
119/709 |
Current CPC
Class: |
A01K 15/026
20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
119/709 |
International
Class: |
A01K 29/00 20060101
A01K029/00 |
Claims
1. An animal chew toy comprising a fabric having a plurality of
fibers, providing one or a plurality of void spaces between said
fibers, and a polymer material engaged to said fibers wherein said
polymer material is located within one or a plurality of said fiber
void spaces and mechanically engaged to said fibers.
2. The animal chew of claim 1 wherein said polymer material
surrounds one or more of said fibers.
3. The animal chew of claim 1 wherein said fabric has one or a
plurality of end sections, and said polymer material engaged to
said fibers is located at said one or plurality of end
sections.
4. The animal chew toy of claim 1 wherein said fabric is selected
form the group consisting of a woven material, non-woven material,
spun bond material, and mixtures thereof.
5. The animal chew toy of claim 4 wherein said woven material
further comprises a canvas.
6. The animal chew toy of claim 1 wherein said fibers are selected
from the group consisting of polyethylene fiber and
poly-paraphenylene terephthalamide fiber.
7. The animal chew toy of claim 1 wherein said polymer material is
a thermoplastic material.
8. The animal chew toy of claim 1 wherein said polymer material is
an elastomeric material.
9. The animal chew toy of claim 1 wherein said polymer material is
a molded shape selected from the group consisting of a sphere, a
hemisphere, a cylinder, a prism, a cone, knuckles and combinations
there of.
10. A method for making an animal chew toy comprising: providing a
fabric; providing a polymer material; providing a mold having a
cavity; locating said fabric in said mold; and introducing the
polymer material into said mold and into contact with said fabric
wherein the polymer material mechanically engages said fabric.
11. The method of claim 10 wherein the fabric has one or a
plurality of end portions, and said polymer material is
mechanically engaged at said one or plurality of end portions.
12. The method of claim 10 wherein the fabric has a plurality of
end portions, and said polymer material is mechanically engaged
between said end portions.
13. The method of claim 10 wherein said fabric comprises fibers
selected from the group consisting of a woven material, non-woven
material, spun bond material and mixtures thereof.
14. The method of claim 13 wherein said woven material further
comprises canvas.
15. The method of claim 10 wherein said fibrous material further
comprises fibers selected from the group consisting of polyethylene
fiber and poly-paraphenylene terephthalamide fiber.
16. The method of claim 10 wherein said polymer material is a
thermoplastic material.
17. The method of claim 10 wherein said polymer material is an
elastomeric material.
18. The method of claim 10 wherein said polymer material is a
molded shape selected from the group consisting of a sphere, a
hemisphere, a cylinder, a prism, a cone and combinations there
of.
19. An animal chew toy comprising a fabric having a plurality of
fibers, providing one or a plurality of void spaces between said
fibers, and a polymer material engaged to said fibers wherein said
polymer material is located within one or a plurality of said fiber
void spaces and chemically engaged to said fibers.
20. The animal chew of claim 19 wherein said polymer material is a
thermoset material.
Description
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
[0001] The present invention relates to dog chews composed of
fabric and a polymeric material. More particularly, the present
invention relates to dog chews composed of fabric and polymeric
material where the polymeric material may be overmolded onto the
fabric.
BACKGROUND
[0002] There are a variety of chew toys available that serve the
individual, as well as the combined purposes of entertaining a dog
and non-invasively cleaning an animal's teeth. Animals are subject
to a variety of dental problems. Often it is difficult to treat
these dental problems through traditional methods, such as
brushing, and a number of chew toys have been developed to treat
dental problems by providing toys that create sufficient interest
through entertainment, or other means, to get the animal to chew
upon the toy. Providing an animal with chew toys also helps to
develop the teeth and jaw of an animal and satiates the animal's
desire to chew.
[0003] Examples of chew toys include but are not limited to the
following. U.S. Pat. No. 6,360,693 discloses an apparatus for use
as a toy by an animal that resembles a branch in appearance. U.S.
Pat. No. 6,148,771 reports a chew article of elastomeric material
having an outer surface with a number of groves. Furthermore, there
is an interior cavity into which edible material can be held and
released in a controlled manner while using the chew article. U.S.
Pat. No. 5,339,771 discusses a chew toy molded from synthetic
plastic. Animal meal is dispersed through out the synthetic
plastic. U.S. Pat. No. 4,771,733 describes a chewable object or toy
formed of a polyurethane resin with an aqueous based flavor or odor
incorporated therein. These examples may provide, among other
features, hard surfaces which reportedly help to provide dental
prophylaxis.
[0004] Furthermore, numerous devices have been developed that use
fiber or fibrous materials. Reportedly, the fibrous material also
aid in improving the dental hygiene of pets by cleaning between the
animal's teeth when chewed upon. Examples of such devices include,
but are not limited to the following. U.S. Pat. No. 6,672,252
discloses a chew that comprises a ductile material that holds
inclusions. The inclusions may contain fibers, hard components and
mixtures thereof. The inclusions work in conjunction with the
ductile substrate material to perform as a tooth-cleaning component
or components. U.S. Pat. No. 5,174,243 discloses a chew toy that
comprises a shaft portion and a pair of knuckle or end members. The
knuckle or end members define recessed areas adapted to receive the
ends of the shaft portion. U.S. Pat. No. 5,148,770 discloses a chew
toy comprised of a pair of cattle hooves and a length of flexible
cotton rope secured to and extending between the cattle hooves.
[0005] As can be seen from the above, several variations of animal
chews have been developed utilizing fiber combinations with
polymers or animal by-products. However, a need remains to advance
the design of the prior art products to improve the efficiency of a
given chew toy and its method of manufacture to enhance the dental
hygiene and entertainment requirements of the animal.
[0006] There is therefore a need in the pet chew field for a pet
chew toy that provides both entertainment and dental hygiene having
both polymer material and fibrous portions that may be more
efficiently combined in a single chew toy. It is an object of the
present invention to provide an animal chew and a method to form an
animal chew in which a fabric material may be over-molded resulting
in a chew product having both polymer material and fabric
portions.
SUMMARY
[0007] One aspect of the present invention relates to an animal
chew toy comprising a fabric having a plurality of fibers,
providing one or a plurality of void spaces between the fibers, and
a polymer material engaged to the fibers. The polymer material may
be located within one or a plurality of the fiber void spaces and
mechanically engaged to the fibers.
[0008] Another aspect of the present invention relates to a method
for making an animal chew toy comprising providing a fabric;
providing a polymer material; and providing a mold having a cavity.
The fabric may be located in the mold; and polymer material may be
introduced into the mold and into contact with the fabric. The
polymer material may mechanically engage the fabric.
[0009] Another aspect of the present invention relates to an animal
chew toy comprising a fabric having a plurality of fibers,
providing one or a plurality of void spaces between the fibers, and
a polymer material engaged to the fibers. The polymer material may
be located within one or a plurality of the fiber void spaces and
may chemically engage to the fibers.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0010] Features and advantages of the present invention are set
forth herein by description of embodiments consistent with the
present invention, which description should be considered in
conjunction with the accompanying drawings, wherein:
[0011] FIG. 1 is a perspective view of an embodiment of the present
invention.
[0012] FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view of an embodiment in FIG. 1
at A-A.
[0013] FIG. 3 is a perspective view of another embodiment of the
present invention.
[0014] FIG. 4 is a perspective view of another embodiment of the
present invention.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
[0015] The present invention relates to dog chews of a fibrous or
fabric material and a polymer material. More particularly, the
present invention relates to dog chews that may be composed of
fabric and a polymeric material where the polymeric material may be
combined with the fabric or fibrous material.
[0016] In one embodiment of the present invention, a polymeric
material may be over-molded onto a fabric. Preferably, the
polymeric material may be overmolded onto the end portions of the
fabric. FIG. 1 illustrates an example of an embodiment of the
present invention in which an animal chew 10 comprises a fabric
having a length 20 and an end portion 30. A polymer material 40,
which may preferably be an elastomeric or flexible material, is
overmolded onto the end portion 30 of said length. However, the
polymer material may also be overmolded between the end portions 30
of the fabric.
[0017] FIG. 2 shows a cross section of FIG. 1 at section A-A, which
allows a view of the internal portion of the overmolded section. As
can be seen, fibers 35 are preferably surrounded and embedded
within the overmolded polymer resin 40. In addition, while the
fibers are illustrated as generally parallel and discrete, it can
be appreciated that the fibers may be non-discrete and randomly
dispersed within the overmolded region, as may be desired.
[0018] In another embodiment, the polymer material may be
overmolded onto a fabric to join the free ends of the fabric to
form a ring or other desired configuration. Turning to FIG. 3, an
animal chew 10 comprises a fabric having a length 20, with two free
ends (not shown) and a polymeric material 30 is overmolded onto
said free ends to secure the free ends within the polymer material
30.
[0019] In another embodiment, the toy may comprise a number of
fabric shafts such as illustrated in FIG. 4 depicting an animal
chew 10 comprising multiple fabric lengths 20 having end portions
30, of which one of the end portions may be embedded within the
polymeric material 40. As illustrated, the end portions may remain
free at one end, or be embedded in polymer material as is shown at
50. In addition, it can be appreciated that the polymeric resin
need not be limited to overmolded at the end portions 30, and may
be overmolded anywhere along the length of fabric 20 as may be
desired. In this manner, one can assemble unique configurations of
animal chew toys, with one or a plurality of connection points
between fabric and polymer resin, wherein such connection points
amount to an overmolded region of polymer resin and fabric.
[0020] In one embodiment of the present invention, the fabric may
comprise a woven, non-woven, spun bond, or any fibrous polymeric
material. That is, the fabric may be formed of any polymeric
material that may be fiber forming. The fabric may therefore be,
e.g. a canvas material. The fibers may also be composed of aramid
fibers (e.g. KEVLAR.TM.), acrylic fibers, modacrylics, polyamide
fibers, olefin fibers, polyethylene fibers naphthalate fibers,
polyester fibers (PET), or combinations thereof. More preferably,
the fibers may be composed of extended chain and orientated
polyethylene fibers (e.g., Honywell's "SPECTRA.TM." polyethylene
fiber material). Such oriented polyethylene fiber is reportedly
based upon relatively high molecular weight polyethylene sourced
from a gel-spinning process, thereby producing polyethylene fibers
with a melting point of about 150.degree. C. Such fibers are, e.g.,
characterized as having an ultimate tensile strength of about 2.1
GPa and higher, a modulus of about 60 GPa and higher and a density
of about 0.97 g/cc. Accordingly, such fibers are lightweight and
can float, and have good resistance to abrasion. In preferred
embodiment, the SPECTRA.TM. fibers herein may utilize SPETRA 900,
SPECTRA 1000 or SPECTRA 2000.
[0021] The polymer material herein may be any polymer resin that
can be caused to flow and engage with the fiber material.
Accordingly, any thermoplastic resin may be employed, which would
include polyolefins, nylons, polyesters, polyacetals,
polyurethanes, thermoplastic olefin elastomers, ABS, etc. In
addition, certain thermoset formulations may be considered which
can be molded onto said fiber material, followed by a chemical
crosslinking reaction to cause the thermoset to solidify. Such may
include, e.g., polyurethane resins, crosslinked polyesters, and
epoxy based polymers. Accordingly, the thermoset material may be
chemically engaged to the fiber material. In curing of the
thermoset polymer formulations, chemical bonding may occur between
the resin and the fiber material.
[0022] In addition, preferably, the polymer material may be an
elastomeric material, which is understood herein as a material that
is capable of 50% elongation with substantial recovery (50-100%).
Preferably, the elastomeric material may be a polyurethane
elastomer, natural or synthetic rubber, a styrene block copolymer
rubber, such as KRATON.TM., or synthetic diene elastomers.
[0023] It should be appreciated that apart from the shaped noted
above, various shapes can be overmolded onto the fabric. That is,
while the illustrated embodiment depicts a spherical shape molded
over the fabric, other shapes including knuckles, hemispheres,
cones, cylinders, squares, spheres having projections from the
surfaces thereof, cylinders having groves molded into the surface
thereof, etc. may be molded onto the fabric or fibrous material.
Furthermore, the shapes that can be overmolded need not be of a
unitary size, and can be made to vary is size as desired.
[0024] In one embodiment, the fabric may be composed of a plurality
of fibers. Between the plurality of fibers in the fabric a number
of void spaces may be present. Upon the introduction of the
polymeric material to the fabric, which is defined herein as
"overmolding", the polymeric material may locate within the void
spaces. In another embodiment, the polymeric material may
mechanically engage with the fibers. By mechanical engagement, it
is contemplated that there can be surface to surface contact
between the polymer material and one or more of the fibers, such
that the polymer material may simply adhere to one or more of the
fibers. Alternatively, mechanical engagement may be such that the
polymer material may surround one or more of the fibers. It should
be appreciated therefore that various degrees of mechanical
engagement may occur along the cross section of any given
fabric.
[0025] Preferably, the polymer material may be melted and
overmolded using any melt processing technique. One skilled in the
art would recognize that melt processing may include extrusion,
injection molding, compression molding, etc. wherein the polymeric
material is in a melt or substantially liquid state prior to
forming. In one preferred embodiment, the polymeric material may be
injection molded onto the fabric. Preferably, the fabric may be
placed into the mold cavity and located at any desired position in
the mold cavity prior to injecting a portion of material onto the
fabric. More preferably, the polymer material may flow into the
fabric, wherein the polymer material, upon cooling, engages with
the fabric and becomes attached thereto. Preferably, the attachment
may include the polymer material surrounding various fibers and
mechanically interlocking within a given fiber network.
[0026] The foregoing description is provided to illustrate and
explain the present invention. However, the description hereinabove
should not be considered to limit the scope of the invention set
forth in the claims appended here to.
* * * * *