CN101111160A - Bilberry Injection Molding - Google Patents

Abstract

The present invention relates to animal chews and the use of cranberries as an additive in animal chews. The animal chew may be made from a resin and cranberry additives, wherein the resin may be starch, thermoplastic, casein, denatured and partially hydrolyzed collagen, and mixtures thereof.

Description

Bilberry Injection Molding

For cross-references to related applications

This application claims priority to US Utility Model Application Serial No. 10/995,028, filed November 22, 2004, the teachings of which are incorporated herein by reference in their entirety.

field of invention

The invention relates to animal chews and animal chew additives. More specifically, the present invention relates to the use of vaccinium powder in edible or inedible animal chews, depending on the edible and/or plastic type carrier composition.

Background technique

Most dogs and other animal pets enjoy chewing on different items, and many animals especially enjoy the attraction of animal bones and animal-derived chew toys. A wide variety of products have been produced for chewing or gnawing by pet animals. These products are intended to meet the demand created when natural pet foods, raw meat, are replaced by improved pet foods, providing pets with exercises to maintain their dental health. For example, strips of rawhide knotted at the ends to mimic bone provide abrasive opportunities to clean teeth by removing tartar and massaging gums in a way that regular dog food cannot.

Many pet chews have been developed to accommodate various dental and nutritional conditions. Examples of such products include, but are not limited to, the US patents described below. These patents generally belong to these assignees: U.S. Patent 5,476,069, entitled "Model Rawhide Chew Toy"; U.S. Patent Application 08/923,070, filed September 3, 1997, entitled "Vegetable-Based Dog Chew," now U.S. Patent 6,093,427; U.S. Patent Application 08/738,423, filed Oct. 25, 1997, entitled "Edible Dog Chew," now U.S. Patent 5,827,565; U.S. Patent Application 08/784,834, filed Jan. 17, 1997, titled for "Carrot-Based Dog Chews," now U.S. Patent 5,941,197; U.S. Patent Application 09/114,872, filed July 14, 1998, entitled "Heat Transformable Edible Dog Chews," now U.S. Patent 6,180,161; 1998 U.S. Patent Application 09/138,804, filed Aug. 21, entitled "Improved Edible Dog Chew," now U.S. Patent 6,126,978; U.S. Patent Application 09/116,070, filed July 15, 1998, entitled " Wheat & Casein Dog Chews with Malleable Textures," now U.S. Patent 6,110,521; U.S. Patent Application 09/116,555, filed July 15, 1998, entitled "Heat Textured Peanut Dog Chews," now U.S. Patent 6,093,441 ; US Patent Application 09/227,767, filed January 8, 1999, entitled "Method of Molding Edible Starch," now US Patent 6,159,516; and US Patent 6,200,616, entitled "Animal Chews."

U.S. Patent No. 5,407,661 entitled "Pet Chew Having Oral Care Properties" discloses an edible pet chew containing an elastic cell matrix containing a fibrous fibrous material such as a corn cob portion, which is described as being chewable by a pet when chewed The corn cob has a mechanical cleaning function.

Other earlier examples of chewable products are disclosed in U.S. Patent 3,871,334 to Axelrod (Nylon matrix containing liquid flavor and fragrance components), U.S. Patent 4,771,733 to Axelrod (Polyurethane toys containing water-based flavor and fragrance components), and Edwards Applied US Patents 4,557,219 and 4,513,014 (Use of Flavoring Agents in Model Polyurethane Dog Chews).

European Patent 0272968B1 discloses a chewable product for dogs and other livestock in which hides, tendons or ligaments are soaked with specific aqueous solutions of oral care agents such as sodium fluoride (an anti-caries agent), Sodium Benzoate (antitartar agent) and Bromochlorobenzene (antibacterial/antiplaque agent). The solution-treated product is then dried so that the oral care agent is absorbed into the surface of the product.

From the above review of the prior art, it can be readily appreciated that various efforts have been made to develop animal pet chews, particularly dog chews. These chews have satisfactory nutrition, digestibility, no toxic additives and/or plastic texture or firmness.

It is an object of the present invention to improve and expand the field of providing nutritional and dental supplemental ingredients for animal pet chews, especially dog chews.

In addition, an object of the present invention is to provide an additive that has not been disclosed in the prior art and can be used as both a flavoring agent and a coloring agent for the above-mentioned starch medium.

In addition, the present invention also provides an additive that can supplement antioxidants to nutritional pet chews.

Summary of the invention

According to one aspect, the present invention provides an animal chew comprising a resin selected from the group consisting of starch, thermoplastics, casein, denatured and partially hydrolyzed collagen, wheat gluten, rawhide, moldable and bilberry additives. Group consisting of proteins and their mixtures.

According to another aspect, the present invention provides a method of preparing a molded animal chew comprising providing a resin and a bilberry additive, wherein the resin is selected from the group consisting of starch, thermoplastics, casein, denatured and partially hydrolyzed collagen, wheat Group consisting of gluten, rawhide, moldable protein and mixtures thereof; mixing resin and bilberry additives to obtain a mixture; introducing the mixture into a melt mixer and mixing to form the mixture into the desired shape.

Detailed description of the invention

The present invention relates to animal chews and animal chew additives. In more detail, the present invention relates to the incorporation of bilberries into edible or non-edible animal chews, depending on the edible and/or plastic type carrier composition.

A specific embodiment of the present invention relates to an animal chew including starch and bilberry additives. Preferably, the bilberry additive is blueberry powder. More preferably, the blueberry fruit additive is prepared by placing the blueberry fruit concentrate on the carrier of the dextrin-maltose complex agent. More preferably, the bilberry will provide an antioxidant effect on the animal chew. In the present invention, the content of bilberry is about 0.1-40% (wt.), and it can be varied within this range.

In addition to the stated nutritional value of bilberry, it is important to note that the powdered bilberry also complements the chew product with a unique appearance and color, which is a marine color. Bilberries are also believed to have a pet-attractive smell, so this treatment is ideal for all kinds of pets.

Preferably, the starch consists of any carbohydrate of natural or vegetable origin, mainly consisting of amylase and/or amylopectin. More preferably, the starch may be isolated from potato, rice, tapioca, corn, rye, oat or wheat. As suggested above, the starch content is between 99% and 60% (wt.), with variations within this range.

In another embodiment of the invention, thermoplastics (polyurethanes, polyamides, ethylene copolymers), or thermoplastics such as polyesteramides can be mixed with bilberries. The amount of bilberry is about 0.1-40% (wt.), and the amount of thermoplastic is about 99%-60% (wt), which can be varied within this range. Most preferably, the thermoplastics are aliphatic polyesteramides, hybrid aliphatic/aromatic polyesteramides, aromatic polyesteramides and mixtures thereof.

In another embodiment of the present invention, a number of additives can be used in edible (starch) or plastic type bilberry animal chews. Preferably, these additives include attractants or humectants. More preferably, an attractant such as chicken powder, liver powder, ham, turkey, beef or fish may be used. Likewise, oat fiber, sorbitol, glycerin or propylene glycol are more preferably used as humectants.

In another embodiment, the present invention provides a method of making a molded animal chew comprising mixing starch (or thermoplastic) and bilberry additives to form a mixture; introducing the mixture into a melt mixer such as an extruder or in injection molding equipment and mixed to form a mixture. Accordingly, the mixture can be formed into a desired shape by extrusion or injection molding techniques. More preferably, the mixture can be formed into desired shapes such as bones, discs, sticks or rings by injection molding.

In the melting process described herein, it is preferred to melt the mixture under conditions such that any thermal degradation of the bilberry is substantially minimized or avoided. In this case, moisture is also included in the mixture at a level of 1-40% (wt), including increments within this range, the level of moisture being optionally reduced during melting to the desired level. In this way, the moisture allows the melting process to take place at a lower temperature, thus minimizing or avoiding thermal degradation of the bilberries.

In a particularly preferred method of making an animal chew toy herein, starch, water and cranberries are first mixed, wherein the water content is 20-40% by weight of the starch. The mixture is then introduced into a vented barrel extruder to form extruded beads wherein the water content on exit is lower than the water content of the mixture entering the extruder.

The extruded beads are then introduced into a heated injection molding machine comprising a mold and injection molded and cooled to form a molded article, wherein the molded article has a water content of at or below about 20% by weight, Wherein the injection molding machine comprises a hopper feed section, a barrel and an outlet nozzle, comprising a plurality of heating zones on the barrel from the hopper section to the nozzle, from the feed section to the outlet Zones comprise a plurality of heating zones, wherein the heating zones are set within the following temperature ranges: Zone 1: at or below about 70°F; Zone 2 at or below about 150°F; Zone 3 at or below about 300°F ; zone 4 is at or below about 375 . During the process of melt mixing, molding and cooling to form the chew toy, the water content in the chew toy is 5%-20% of the resin, so as to ensure that the bilberries mixed therein will not be hot when molded degradation.

The foregoing description serves to illustrate and explain the invention. However, the above description should not be read as limiting the scope of the invention as claimed.

Claims (33)

CLAIMS 1. An animal chew comprising a resin and a bilberry additive. 2. The animal chew of claim 1, wherein the resin is selected from the group consisting of starch, thermoplastics, casein, denatured and partially hydrolyzed collagen, wheat gluten, hides, proteins, and mixtures thereof. 3. The animal chew of claim 1 wherein said resin is about 60-99% by weight and said cranberry additive is about 1-40% by weight. 4. The animal chew of claim 1, wherein the bilberry additive comprises blueberry fruit powder. 5. The animal chew as claimed in claim 4, wherein the bilberry additive is prepared by placing the blueberry fruit concentrate on the carrier of the dextrin-maltose complex agent. 6. The animal chew of claim 1, wherein the resin is starch consisting of any carbohydrate of natural or vegetable origin, consisting of amylase and/or amylopectin. 7. The animal chew of claim 6, wherein the starch is selected from the group consisting of potato, rice, tapioca, corn, rye, oat or wheat. 8. The animal chew of claim 1, wherein said resin is selected from the group consisting of polyurethanes, polyamides, ethylene copolymers, polyesteramides, and mixtures thereof. 9. The animal chew of claim 8, wherein said polyesteramide is selected from the group consisting of aliphatic polyesteramide, mixed aliphatic/aromatic polyesteramide, aromatic polyesteramide, and mixtures thereof. 10. The animal chew of claim 1, further comprising an attractant. 11. The animal chew of claim 10, wherein the attractant is selected from the group consisting of chicken powder, liver powder, ham, turkey, beef or fish. 12. The animal chew of claim 1, further comprising a humectant. 13. The animal chew of claim 12, wherein the humectant is selected from the group consisting of oat fiber, sorbitol, glycerin, propylene glycol, and mixtures thereof. 14. The animal chew of claim 1, wherein the animal chew is shaped like a bone, rod, disc or ring. 15. An animal chew comprising starch, water and a bilberry additive, wherein the water content is about 1-40% (wt.), and the bilberry additive is about 0.1-40% (wt). 16. A method of forming a molded animal chew comprising: providing a resin and a bilberry additive; mixing the resin and bilberry additive to form a mixture; introducing the mixture into a melt mixer and mixing; forming the mixture. 17. The method of claim 16, wherein the resin is selected from the group consisting of starch, thermoplastics, casein, denatured and partially hydrolyzed collagen, wheat gluten, hides, proteins, and mixtures thereof. 18. The method of forming a molded animal chew of claim 16, wherein said resin content is about 60-99% by weight and said cranberry additive is about 0.1-40% by weight. 19. The method of forming a molded animal chew of claim 16, wherein the bilberry additive is blueberry fruit powder. 20. The method of forming a molded animal chew of claim 19, wherein said bilberry additive is prepared by placing a blueberry fruit concentrate on a dextrin-maltose complex carrier. 21. A method of forming a molded animal chew as claimed in claim 17, wherein said starch consists of any carbohydrate of natural or vegetable origin, consisting essentially of amylase and/or amylopectin. 22. The method of forming a molded animal chew of claim 21, wherein the starch is selected from the group consisting of potato, rice, tapioca, corn, rye, oat or wheat. 23. The method of forming a molded animal chew of claim 17, wherein said thermoplastic is selected from the group consisting of polyurethanes, polyamides, ethylene copolymers, polyesteramides, and mixtures thereof. 24. The method of forming a molded animal chew of claim 23, wherein said polyester is selected from the group consisting of aliphatic polyesteramides, mixed aliphatic/aromatic polyesteramides, aromatic polyesteramides, and mixtures thereof group. 25. The method of forming a molded animal chew of claim 16, further comprising an attractant, and mixing said attractant to form said mixture. 26. The method of forming a molded animal chew of claim 25, wherein the attractant is selected from the group consisting of chicken powder, liver powder, ham, turkey, beef or fish. 27. The method of forming a molded animal chew of claim 16, further comprising a humectant, and mixing said humectant to form said mixture. 28. The method of forming a molded animal chew of claim 25, wherein the humectant is selected from the group consisting of oat fiber, sorbitol, glycerin, propylene glycol, and mixtures thereof. 29. The method of forming a molded animal chew as claimed in claim 17, wherein further water is provided, relative to the resin water content of about 1-40% (wt.), the resin component is provided in an amount of about 60- 99% (wt)., wherein the resin is starch, and bilberry additive, the content is 0.1-40% (wt.). 30. The method of forming a molded animal chew of claim 16, further comprising injection molding the mixture. 31. The method of forming a molded animal chew of claim 16, further comprising injecting said mixture into a mold prior to forming said mixture. 32. A method of forming a molded animal chew toy as claimed in claim 16, wherein said heating zones are set within the following temperature ranges: Zone 1: at or below about 70°F; Zone 2: at or below about 70°F; 150°F; zone 3 at or below about 300°F; zone 4 at or below about 375°F. 33. The method of forming a molded animal chew of claim 16, wherein the shape formed from the mixture is a bone, rod, disc or ring.