Chewing soft candy for pets and method for manufacturing the same

Abstract

The present invention relates to a pet chewing soft candy, preferably consisting essentially of a bioplastic material or composition, more preferably a biodegradable and / or edible bioplastic material or composition, even more preferably a bioplastic material or composition based on starch or so-called thermoplastic starch (TPS) or polymeric starch. The pet chew can be extruded and comprises at least a first pet chew body and a second pet chew body. The first and second pet chew bodies are formed as elongated bodies, preferably substantially rod-shaped bodies. The first and second elongated pet chew bodies extend substantially parallel to each other and are connected to each other at their sides. The pet chew is arranged such that the first pet chew body and the second pet chew body can be torn from each other.

Description

[Technical field]

[0001] The present invention relates to a pet chew soft candy, more particularly to a biodegradable and / or edible pet chew soft candy that can be digested by dogs or other pets. [Background technology]

[0002] Pet chews are known and are intended for chewing or gnawing by animals, particularly dogs, but are also used for other animals or pets, such as rodents, rabbits or birds.

[0003] Pet gum is used for a variety of purposes. For example, pet gum may be chewed by pets for health and oral hygiene purposes, such as massaging the gums, cleaning the teeth, or helping to strengthen the teeth and jaw. Chewing or nibbling on pet gum may cause the pet's brain to release feel-good chemicals, so chewing may be soothing, for example, to ease the soreness of the gums when they experience inflammation during teething, or to ease the pain of the teeth root setting.

[0004] Thus, pet gum may have advantages, but may also have disadvantages. For example, if the pet gum is edible and provides nutrition to the pet, the pet may consume too much nutrition if the size of the pet gum is too large for each pet. This may happen, for example, if a puppy is given a nutritious pet gum for adult dogs, and / or if a relatively small breed dog is given a nutritious pet gum for adult dogs. On the other hand, it may be disadvantageous for a relatively large dog to consume a pet gum that is too small. Although pet gums of different sizes are known, pet owners often cannot purchase a relatively large pet gum that has the same smell, taste, and / or consistency as the relatively small pet gum that the pet is already accustomed to, for example, from when the pet was still a very small puppy or other animal baby. As a result, pets are often given the wrong size of pet gum.

[0005] It should be noted further that pet chews may additionally or alternatively be used and / or targeted to relieve boredom, satisfy chewing instincts, and / or promote exercise. Pet chews may be used as toys or playthings, for example, thrown to dogs or other pets for picking up. It should be noted that dogs may enjoy playing with and / or gnawing on sticks, bones, or other elongated objects such as bones, sticks, or pet chews that are substantially elongated in design. Disadvantages of sticks, bones, and such known pet chews include the possibility that teeth may break or shatter, causing, for example, punctures or other injuries. Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0006] For example, due to the reasons corresponding to the above, it is believed that there is still a need for alternative pet gums. Therefore, for example, it may be an object of the present invention to provide an alternative pet gum. In particular, it is an object of the present invention to provide a pet gum in which at least one of the shortcomings of the pet gums of the prior art is eliminated. More specifically, it may be an object of the present invention to provide a pet gum that can counteract at least one of the above shortcomings. In an embodiment, it is an object of the present invention to provide a pet gum that can be used relatively safely on the one hand, and can be easily used on dogs or other pets of different sizes on the other hand. [Means for solving the problem]

[0007] In an embodiment, the present invention is directed to a pet chew soft candy, said pet chew soft candy comprising at least a first pet chew soft candy body and a second pet chew soft candy body, the first and second pet chew soft candy bodies being formed as elongated bodies, preferably substantially rod-shaped bodies, the first and second elongated pet chew soft candy bodies extending substantially parallel to each other and connected to each other at their sides, preferably the pet chew soft candy is made substantially from a bioplastic material or composition, more preferably a biodegradable and / or edible bioplastic material or composition, and the pet chew soft candy is arranged such that the first pet chew soft candy body and the second pet chew soft candy body can be torn from each other, in particular in such a way that the pet chew soft candy body is plastically deformed before it breaks.

[0008] By providing a pet chewing soft candy, particularly an edible pet chewing soft candy, with a plurality of parallel extending elongated pet chewing soft candy bodies that can be torn into a plurality of elongated pet chewing soft candy portions, the initially purchased pet chewing soft candy, which is accurately sized for a relatively large pet, can also be torn by a person into two or more relatively small pet chewing soft candies that can be separated from each other and fed to a dog or other pet. As a result, a pet owner can easily adapt the size of the pet chewing soft candy to the pet, for example, taking into account the pet's age, size, activity level, etc. For example, it can be prevented that a pet consumes a pet chewing soft candy that is too large (e.g., too nutritious), or that an adult pet that still desires the same pet chewing soft candy that it consumed when it was small is only fed a small size of pet chewing soft candy.

[0009] By arranging the soft candy for pets to be tearable, in particular by making the soft candy for pets relatively tough or leathery instead of brittle, it can be made easier to tear one soft candy for pets body from an adjacent soft candy for pets body in a certain way. This allows some degree of plastic deformation to occur before the connection between the two adjacent soft candy for pets body breaks. As a result, it is possible to prevent the formation of relatively sharp edges when the soft candy for pets body is separated from each other. Thus, it is possible to prevent the dog or other pet from being injured by the part that is cut off from the first pet's bite.

[0010] In a preferred embodiment, at a temperature of 20°C, the pet chewing soft candy is not brittle, but can be relatively hard or leathery, so that the first pet chewing soft candy body and the second pet chewing soft candy body can be torn from each other in a manner that allows plastic deformation before the connection between the first pet chewing soft candy body and the second pet chewing soft candy body breaks, thereby preventing the formation of relatively sharp edges. In case the pet chewing soft candy is brittle and can be broken into smaller pieces and is arranged to break apart, as is the case with some known pet chewing soft candies, the following should be noted. Since no plastic deformation occurs, rather than tearing as in the case of the present pet chewing soft candy, the pieces separated by the breakage will appear to fit together precisely afterwards. However, if the pet chewing soft candy is relatively hard, as in the case of this preferred embodiment, the pet chewing soft candy will be plastically deformed at the position where the pieces separate from each other, which is visible because the pieces do not fit together neatly after separation. Thus, the plastic deformation can prevent the formation of relatively sharp edges when a pet owner adjusts the size of the pet chewing soft candy to fit his or her pet, thereby preventing the dog or other pet from being injured by a portion that is cut off from the original pet chewing soft candy.

[0011] In an embodiment, the chewing soft candy for pets may be composed mainly of so-called destructured starch or bioplastic materials or compositions based on destructured starch, which can be useful for example to support the digestive system of pets.

[0012] The elongated soft candy can be torn off by positioning the soft candy such that the initially laterally attached soft candy body can be torn along the longitudinal direction of the soft candy body. Such soft candy can be, for example, substantially rod-shaped, and may be relatively well suited for a dog or pet to gnaw on, for example, such soft candy can be somewhat similar to the elongated shape of a bone and / or a tree branch.

[0013] In an embodiment, the pet chewing soft candy may include a constriction, i.e. a so-called constriction, between the first pet chewing soft candy body and the second pet chewing soft candy body, said constriction or constriction forming a weakened portion, said weakened portion being arranged to allow the first pet chewing soft candy body to be torn from the second pet chewing soft candy body.

[0014] In a preferred embodiment, the chewing soft candy for pets can be formed by extrusion.Thus, the chewing soft candy for pets can be formed using an extruder, but alternative processes can also be used to form the chewing soft candy for pets.For example, the chewing soft candy for pets can be produced using molding or so-called shaping processes, such as injection molding or compression molding.

[0015] The present invention also relates to a method for producing a soft chewing candy for pets, comprising extruding a profile product. The profile product can form, for example, a soft chewing candy for pets. Alternatively, the profile product can form, for example, a semi-finished product for forming a soft chewing candy for pets. For example, if a so-called continuous profile is extruded, the extruded product profile can be cut or otherwise separated into a certain length of soft chewing candy for pets. Additionally or alternatively, the semi-finished product can be divided into parts in the other direction, for example by separating the parts along the longitudinal direction of the extruded profile. In such an embodiment, it can be understood that a plurality of soft chewing candies for pets can be extruded in one piece.

[0016] In an embodiment, the pet chewing soft candy, especially those formed by extrusion, may be composed mainly of a material or composition, preferably a bioplastic material or composition, more preferably a destructured potato starch or a bioplastic material or composition based on destructured potato starch, which has a freezing and / or melting point at 1 atmosphere pressure of above 30°C, preferably above 40°C, more preferably above 50°C, even more preferably above 60°C.

[0017] Further advantageous embodiments according to the invention are set forth in the appended claims. [Brief description of the drawings]

[0018] The foregoing and other objects and features of the present invention will become more fully apparent from the following description and appended claims, particularly when read in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which:

[0023] Embodiments of the present invention will now be described with reference to the accompanying drawings, with the understanding that these drawings depict only non-limiting exemplary embodiments of the present invention and are not to be considered as limiting the scope of the present invention.

[0019] [Figure 1] FIG. 1 shows a schematic perspective view of a first embodiment of a chewing soft candy for pets according to one aspect of the present invention. [Diagram 2] 2 shows a schematic cross-sectional view of the embodiment of the pet chewing soft candy of FIG. 1. [Diagram 3] FIG. 3 is a schematic cross-sectional view showing the two pet chewing soft candies of FIG. 1 and FIG. 2 in a torn state. [Figure 4] 1 shows a schematic cross-sectional view of a second embodiment of a chewing soft candy for pets according to one aspect of the present invention. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0020] It should be noted that the drawings only illustrate preferred embodiments according to the present invention. In the drawings, the same or similar reference symbols or numbers refer to the same or corresponding parts.

[0021] FIG. 1 shows a schematic perspective view of one embodiment of a chewing soft candy 100 for pets according to one aspect of the present invention.

[0022] The pet chewing soft candy 100 is preferably substantially made of a bioplastic material or composition, more preferably biodegradable and / or edible, in particular digestible by the respective pet, such as a dog. In an embodiment, the pet chewing soft candy may be configured to be nutritious for the pet. Advantageously, the bioplastic material or composition may be based on starch or so-called thermoplastic starch (TPS) or polymeric starch, in particular so-called destructured starch or destructured starch, more particularly destructured potato starch or destructured potato starch.

[0023] In a preferred embodiment, the pet chew soft candy 100 is formed by an extrusion process. However, in alternative embodiments, the pet chew soft candy 100 can be formed by other suitable processes, in particular molding or so-called forming processes, such as injection molding or compression molding.

[0024] It should be noted that the pet chewing soft candy 100 comprises at least two pet chewing soft candy bodies 10, 20 extending parallel to each other.

[0025] Advantageously, for example, as in the case of the extruded exemplary embodiment of the pet chew soft candy 100 shown herein, the elongated first pet chew soft candy body 10 can define a first longitudinal direction D10, and said first elongated pet chew soft candy body 10 can have a substantially constant cross-sectional shape and a substantially constant cross-sectional size along said first longitudinal direction D10.

[0026] Furthermore, in an embodiment, not only the first pet chewing soft candy body 10 but the entire pet chewing soft candy 100 may have a substantially constant cross-sectional shape and a substantially constant cross-sectional size along the first longitudinal direction D10.

[0027] The pet chewing soft candy 100 in the exemplary embodiment shown here comprises four elongated pet chewing soft candy bodies 10, 20, 30, 40, but in other embodiments, the pet chewing soft candy 100 may comprise another plurality of elongated pet chewing soft candy bodies, such as, for example, two elongated pet chewing soft candy bodies 10, 20, or, for example, three, four, five or six elongated pet chewing soft candy bodies.

[0028] Advantageously, the pet chewing soft candy bodies 10, 20, 30, 40 may be of a substantially rod-like design, as can be seen in FIG.

[0029] Additionally or alternatively, the exterior of the chewy soft candy for pets may be provided with at least one groove, preferably a plurality of grooves 80, which may in particular extend substantially parallel to the longitudinal direction D1 along which the chewy soft candy for pets body or bodies extend. It should be noted that such grooves 80 may promote a relatively good chewing experience for the pet. Additionally or alternatively, the grooves 80 may provide a relatively good grip. In particular, in an embodiment in which the chewy soft candy for pets is formed by an extrusion process, a relatively smooth exterior surface may typically be obtained, and the increased grip provided by the grooves 80 may be advantageous, for example, for both the pet and its owner, or another human user of the chewy soft candy for pets 100.

[0030] For example, as seen in Fig. 2 showing a cross-sectional view of the pet chewing soft candy 100 of Fig. 1, the pet chewing soft candy body 10, 20, 30, 40 may have a cross-section in which the exterior 8 defines a number of protrusions 81 and a number of recesses 82, and these recesses may constitute a groove 80. Advantageously, at least a part of the exterior angles α1, α2 may be less than 90°, preferably less than 80°, more preferably less than 70°. As a result, the groove 80 is relatively steep, which can provide a better grip, especially for the teeth of a dog or other pet.

[0031] In an embodiment, as best seen in FIG. 2, the cross-section of the pet chewing soft candy body 10, 20, 30, 40 may be substantially star-shaped and / or flower-shaped in cross-section.

[0032] It should be noted that each one of the plurality of pet chew soft candy bodies 10, 20, 30, 40 can preferably have substantially the same cross-sectional size, more preferably substantially the same cross-sectional shape, as in the exemplary embodiment shown in the figures. However, in alternative embodiments, different ones of the plurality of pet chew soft candy bodies of a single pet chew soft candy 100 may have substantially different sizes and / or substantially different shapes.

[0033] As can be seen, for example, in Fig. 2, at least the first and second of the parallel extending elongated soft pet chewing candy bodies 10, 20 are connected to each other on their sides by flanges and / or bridging portions 7 extending from the first soft pet chewing candy body 10 to the second soft pet chewing candy body 20. If there is a further elongated soft pet chewing candy body 30, for example, the first soft pet chewing candy body 10 may be connected to the second soft pet chewing candy body 20 on a second side opposite to the first side where the first soft pet chewing candy body 10 is connected to the second soft pet chewing candy body 20.

[0034] Preferably, one or more flanges and / or bridges 7 interconnecting adjacent pet chewing soft candy bodies may preferably extend substantially radially relative to the centers C1, C2, C3, C4 of the respective pet chewing soft candy bodies 10, 20, 30, 40.

[0035] The bridges 7 may be advantageously provided between adjacent pet chewing soft candy bodies, but in alternative embodiments, such as the embodiment shown in FIG. 4, adjacent pet chewing soft candy bodies 10, 20, 30, 40 may directly abut against each other.

[0036] Advantageously, two adjacent ones of the plurality of pet chew soft candy bodies can be connected to each other, preferably at their respective sides. As with the connection between the first and second pet chew soft candy bodies 10, 20, such other connection can also be in such a way that one of the two adjacent pet chew soft candy bodies can be peeled away from the other.

[0037] In the exemplary embodiment shown here, the soft pet chewing candy 100 is of a substantially mat-shaped design, in particular of a relatively flat design, i.e. the multiple soft pet chewing candy bodies extend substantially parallel to each other, each further soft pet chewing candy body being offset in substantially the same direction relative to the previous soft pet chewing candy body, with the second soft pet chewing candy body 20 being offset relative to the first soft pet chewing candy body 10. The soft pet chewing candy 100 can form a sheet-like or mat-like object that can be embossed, as seen in FIG. 1. The embossing can be, for example, by grooves 80 in the soft pet chewing candy body and / or by constrictions 50, or so-called constrictions 50, between adjacent soft pet chewing candy bodies. This constriction or constriction 50 can result in a local weakening that allows the soft pet chewing candy body to be torn.

[0038] In an embodiment, the pet chewing soft candy 100 may be of elongated design. This means that when viewed from above or below, in particular in a direction substantially transverse to the longitudinal direction D1, D2 of the pet chewing soft candy body and in a direction substantially transverse to the offset direction of the first pet chewing soft candy body from the second pet chewing soft candy body, the length L100 of the pet chewing soft candy 100 measured in the longitudinal direction D1, D2 of the pet chewing soft candy body may be substantially greater than the width W100 of the pet chewing soft candy 100. Preferably, the length L100 of the pet chewing soft candy 100 may be at least 125%, preferably at least 150%, of the width W100 of the pet chewing soft candy 100.

[0039] Additionally or alternatively, the width W100 of the chewy soft candy for pets 100 may be substantially greater than the height H100 of the chewy soft candy for pets 100. For example, the width W100 may be at least 150% of the height H100, and preferably more than 200% of the height H100.

[0040] Advantageously, in this manner, the pet chewing soft candy 100 can be arranged to have a substantially elongated design without having to tear off any portion of it.

[0041] Additionally or alternatively, the elongated soft pet chewing candy body may be relatively long, for example having a length L10, L20 at least three times, preferably at least four times, or even at least five times, greater than the maximum cross-sectional dimension of the soft pet chewing candy body, which may be formed, for example, by the height H10, H20 of the soft pet chewing candy body 10, 20, 30, 40, or by the width of the soft pet chewing candy body 10, 20, 30, 40. The elongated soft pet chewing candy portions 101, 102 may be torn apart by positioning the soft pet chewing candy such that the initially laterally attached soft pet chewing candy body 10, 20, 30, 40 can be torn apart along the longitudinal direction D10, D20 of the soft pet chewing candy body. Such elongated pet chewing soft candy 101, 102 may be, for example, substantially rod-shaped, especially when they constitute a single pet chewing soft candy body 10, or may form, for example, a substantially sheet-like or mat-like body, which may be embossed, especially when such a part still comprises a plurality of pet chewing soft candy bodies.

[0042] According to one aspect of the present invention, the pet chewing soft candy 100 is arranged so that one or more pet chewing soft candy bodies can be peeled off from one or more other pet chewing soft candy bodies. Furthermore, the pet chewing soft candy 100 can include a respective constriction 50 or so-called constriction 50 between two adjacent pet chewing soft candy bodies, which constriction or constriction forms a weakened portion, which weakened portion can allow the respective pet chewing soft candy bodies to be peeled off from each other. Advantageously, the constriction 50 or so-called constriction 50 can have a maximum height H50 of less than 20%, preferably at most 15%, more preferably at most 10%, even more preferably at most 5% of the maximum height H10. H20 of two adjacent pet chewing soft candy bodies, or the maximum height H100 of the entire pet chewing soft candy 100.

[0043] Thus, in an embodiment, the pet chewing soft candy 100 may include a bridging portion 7, said bridging portion 7 connecting each pet chewing soft candy body 10 with the adjacent pet chewing soft candy body 20. For example, in such an embodiment, the first pet chewing soft candy body 20 may be provided with a first protrusion 71'. Said first protrusion 71' extends in a direction toward the second pet chewing soft candy body 30, and the first protrusion 71' is connected to the second pet chewing soft candy body 30. Preferably, the second pet chewing soft candy body 30 may be provided with a second protrusion 72' extending in a direction toward the first pet chewing soft candy body 20, and then the first protrusion 71' may be connected to the second protrusion 72', as can be seen, for example, in FIG. 2.

[0044] Additionally or alternatively, in a cross section substantially transverse to the longitudinal direction D10, D20 along which the first and second elongated soft pet chewing candy bodies 10, 20 extend, the bridging portion 60 can be tapered from the first soft pet chewing candy body 10 to a narrowing portion 50 or constriction 50 that may be included in the bridging portion 60 between two adjacent soft pet chewing candy bodies. Preferably, in said cross section substantially transverse to the longitudinal direction D10, D20 along which the first and second elongated soft pet chewing candy bodies 10, 20 extend, then the bridging portion 60 can also be tapered from the second soft pet chewing candy body 20 to said narrowing portion 50 or constriction 50.

[0045] For example, the two tapered portions 71', 72' may directly contact each other, or an intermediate portion 70' may be provided between the two tapered portions 71', 72'. Preferably, the intermediate portion 70' has a minimum height H70', H71' at any position between the two centers C2, C3 of the two adjacent pet chewing soft candy bodies 20, 30. min can be defined.

[0046] Advantageously, the cross section of the pet chewing soft candy 100 has a minimum height H min and the minimum height H min is defined as the lowest height of all positions between the centers of two adjacent chewing soft candy bodies for pets, and the intersection portion is at least 65%, preferably at least 75%, more preferably at least 85% of the width W700 extending between two adjacent centerlines C10, C20 along the width direction D100 of the chewing soft candy for pets 100. The height of the cross section of the chewing soft candy for pets 100 is the minimum height H min Greater than.

[0047] In an embodiment, the ratio of the width W70, W70'' of the intermediate portion 70, 70', 70'' to the width W700 extending between two adjacent centerlines C10, C20 may be at most 1 / 4, preferably at most 1 / 5, more preferably at most 1 / 6, and even more preferably at most 1 / 7, such as, for example, about 1 / 8 or about 1 / 10.

[0048] By providing a relatively thin connection between two adjacent elongated pet chew soft candy bodies, particularly in combination with a relatively tough or leathery material, it can be made easier to tear the pet chew soft candy in a manner that is substantially free of burrs, wire edges, etc. In particular, the pet chew soft candy is arranged such that each pet chew soft candy body can be torn away from each other, particularly in such a manner that the pet chew soft candy undergoes plastic deformation before breaking. This can result in ductile tearing or ductile fissure, as shown in FIG. 3, which shows one portion 101 of substantially one pet chew soft candy body 10 being torn away from the remaining portion 102 of the first pet chew soft candy 100.

[0049] As mentioned above, the pet chewing soft candy 100 is preferably manufactured using an extruder. The manufacturing method of the pet chewing soft candy 100 may include a step of extruding a profile product. In particular, a molten bioplastic material or composition can be forced into a mold to form a profile product, which can then be hardened by allowing it to cool.

[0050] The material or composition used in the extrusion process may be a bioplastic material or composition having a melting and / or freezing point at 1 atmosphere pressure preferably above 30° C., preferably above 40° C., more preferably above 50° C., even more preferably above 60° C., so that the pet chewing soft candy 100 or torn off portions 101, 102 may be at least somewhat solid at the normal operating temperature of the pet chewing soft candy 100 or its portions 101, 102.

[0051] The extrusion directly forms the chewy soft candy for pets 100. However, in a preferred embodiment, the extrusion may be a substantially continuous process, after which the extrusion may form a semi-finished product for forming the actual chewy soft candy for pets 100. The semi-finished product may be separated, e.g., cut, into a certain length of the chewy soft candy for pets 100.

[0052] The mold used in the extrusion molding may have a cross section corresponding to one of the chewy soft candies 100 for pets to be formed. However, in an alternative embodiment, the mold may have a cross section corresponding to the cross section of a plurality of chewy soft candies for pets to be formed. For example, a plurality of chewy soft candies for pets that are interconnected in the lateral direction from the beginning may be formed.

[0053] It should be noted that for purposes of clarity and conciseness of description, features may be described herein as part of the same or separate embodiments, but it can be understood that the scope of the invention may include embodiments having combinations of all or any of the described features.

[0054] Furthermore, it should be noted that the invention is not limited to the embodiments described herein, as it can be understood that many variations are possible.

[0055] For example, although the pet chewing soft candies according to the exemplary embodiments shown in the figures all have a solid shape, in alternative embodiments, the pet chewing soft candies may have one or more hollow cavities, which may form, for example, a hollow core of the pet chewing soft candy body. Such hollow cavities may be formed in the extruded material, for example, by one or more suspended center pieces provided in the die.

[0056] These and other variations will be apparent to those skilled in the art and are deemed to be within the scope of the invention as defined in the claims.

[0057] (Additional Note) (Appendix 1) A pet chew soft candy (100) comprising at least a first pet chew soft candy body (10) and a second pet chew soft candy body (20), The first pet chewing soft candy body (10) and the second pet chewing soft candy body (20) are formed as elongated bodies, preferably substantially rod-shaped bodies (10), (20); The first elongated soft candy body for pets (10) and the second elongated soft candy body for pets (20) extend substantially parallel to each other and are connected to each other at their sides; Preferably, said pet chewing soft candy (100) is substantially made of a bioplastic material or composition, more preferably a biodegradable and / or edible bioplastic material or composition, even more preferably a bioplastic material or composition based on starch, or on so-called thermoplastic starch (TPS), or on polymeric starch, The pet chewing soft candy (100) is arranged so that the first pet chewing soft candy body (10) and the second pet chewing soft candy body (20) can be torn from each other. Chewing soft candy for pets(100).

[0058] (Appendix 2) said soft chewing candy for pets (100) is substantially made from a bioplastic material or composition based on so-called destructured starch or destructured starch, in particular destructured potato starch or destructured potato starch, and / or The pet chewing soft candy (100) is formed by a molding or so-called shaping process, such as extrusion, injection molding, or compression molding. A chewable soft candy for pets (100) according to appended claim 1.

[0059] (Appendix 3) The pet chewing soft candy (100) is formed by extrusion and / or The pet chewing soft candy (100) is substantially made of a material or composition, preferably a bioplastic material or composition, having a freezing point at 1 atmosphere pressure of above 30°C, preferably above 40°C, more preferably above 50°C, even more preferably above 60°C. A chewable soft candy for pets (100) according to appendix 1 or 2.

[0060] (Appendix 4) The pet chewing soft candy (100) is substantially made of a material or composition, preferably a bioplastic material or composition, having a melting point at 1 atmosphere pressure of above 30°C, preferably above 40°C, more preferably above 50°C, even more preferably above 60°C. A chewing soft candy for pets (100) according to any one of appendices 1 to 3.

[0061] (Appendix 5) The first elongated pet chewing soft candy body (10) defines a first longitudinal direction (D10), and the first elongated pet chewing soft candy body (10) has a substantially constant cross-sectional shape and a substantially constant cross-sectional size along the first longitudinal direction (D10); Preferably, the pet chewing soft candy (100) has a substantially constant cross-sectional shape and a substantially constant cross-sectional size along the first longitudinal direction (D10), A chewing soft candy for pets (100) according to any one of appendices 1 to 4.

[0062] (Appendix 6) the second elongated pet chewing soft candy body (20) defines a second longitudinal direction (D20), the second elongated pet chewing soft candy body (20) has a substantially constant cross-sectional shape and a substantially constant cross-sectional size along the second longitudinal direction (D20); and / or The pet chewing soft candy (100) includes a narrowed portion (50), i.e., a so-called constriction (50), between the first pet chewing soft candy body (10) and the second pet chewing soft candy body (20), the narrowed portion (50) or constriction (50) forms a weakened portion, and the weakened portion is arranged so that the first pet chewing soft candy body (10) can be torn from the second pet chewing soft candy body (20). A chewing soft candy for pets (100) according to any one of appendices 1 to 5.

[0063] (Appendix 7) The pet chewing soft candy (100) includes a bridging portion (60) connecting the first pet chewing soft candy body (10) to the second pet chewing soft candy body (20), Preferably, said bridging portion (60) forms or includes a narrowed portion (50) or a so-called constriction (50) between said first pet chewing soft candy body (10) and said second pet chewing soft candy body (20), said narrowed portion (50) or constriction (50) forming a weakened portion arranged to allow said first pet chewing soft candy body (10) to be torn from said second pet chewing soft candy body (20); More preferably, in a cross section substantially perpendicular to the longitudinal directions (D10), (D20) along which the first elongated soft candy body for pets (10) and the second elongated soft candy body for pets (20) extend, the bridged portion (60) tapers at least from the first soft candy body for pets (10) toward the narrowed portion (50), i.e., the constriction (50), and preferably also from the second soft candy body for pets (20) toward the narrowed portion (50), i.e., the constriction (50). A chewing soft candy for pets according to any one of appendices 1 to 6.

[0064] (Appendix 8) The chewing soft candy for pets (100) defines a width direction (D100) extending in a direction in which a center line (C10) of the first elongated soft candy for pets body (109) is offset from a center line (C20) of the second elongated soft candy for pets body (20); The first pet chewing soft candy body (10) has a first height (H10) measured in a direction substantially perpendicular to the width direction (D100) of the pet chewing soft candy (100) and in a direction substantially perpendicular to the first longitudinal direction (D10) in which the center line (C10) of the first pet chewing soft candy body (10) extends, The second pet chewing soft candy body (20) has a second height (H20) measured in a direction substantially perpendicular to the width direction (D100) of the pet chewing soft candy (100) and in a direction substantially perpendicular to the second longitudinal direction (D20) in which the center line (C20) of the second pet chewing soft candy body (20) extends, Preferably, the second height (H20) of the second pet chewing soft candy body (20) is substantially equal to the first height (H10) of the first pet chewing soft candy body (10); Along the width of the pet chewing soft candy (100), at a position between the center (C1) of the first pet chewing soft candy body (10) and the center (C2) of the second pet chewing soft candy body (20), the pet chewing soft candy (100) defines an intermediate height; The intermediate height is smaller than the first height (H10) and smaller than the second height (H20); Preferably, at the position defining the intermediate height, the pet chewing soft candy (100) has the lowest height among all positions between the center (C1) of the first pet chewing soft candy body (10) and the center (C2) of the second pet chewing soft candy body (20); A chewing soft candy for pets (100) according to any one of appendices 1 to 7, preferably any one of appendices 5 to 7.

[0065] (Appendix 9) The cross section of the pet chewing soft candy (100) has a minimum height (H min ), and the minimum height (H min ) is defined as the lowest height among all positions between the center (C1) of the first pet chewing soft candy body (10) and the center (C2) of the second pet chewing soft candy body (20); The chewing soft candy for pets (100) defines a width direction (D100) extending in a direction in which the center line (C10) of the first elongated chewing soft candy body for pets (10) is offset from the center line (C20) of the second elongated chewing soft candy body for pets (20); The cross section of the chewing soft candy for pets (100) has a minimum height (H100) along the width direction (D100) of the chewing soft candy for pets (100) over at least 65% of the width (W700) extending between the center line (C10) of the first elongated chewing soft candy body for pets (10) and the center line (C20) of the second elongated chewing soft candy body for pets (20). min ) having a height greater than Preferably, along a width (W700) extending between the centerline (C10) of the first elongated pet chewing soft candy body (10) and the centerline (C20) of the second elongated pet chewing soft candy body (20), only one relatively small portion (70, 70', 70") of the cross section of the pet chewing soft candy (100) has a minimum height (H min ) More preferably, the ratio of the width (W70', W70") of said relatively small portion (70, 70', 70") to the width (W700) extending between said center line (C10) of said first elongated pet chew soft candy body (10) and said center line (C20) of said second elongated pet chew soft candy body (20) is at most 1 / 4, preferably at most 1 / 5, more preferably at most 1 / 6, even more preferably at most 1 / 7, for example about 1 / 8 or about 1 / 10; A chewing soft candy for pets (100) according to any one of appendices 1 to 8, preferably any one of appendices 5 to 8.

[0066] (Appendix 10) said pet chewing soft candy (100) is non-brittle and relatively hard or leathery at a temperature of 20°C, such that said first pet chewing soft candy body (10) and said second pet chewing soft candy body (20) can be torn from each other to allow plastic deformation before the connection between said first pet chewing soft candy body (10) and said second pet chewing soft candy body (20) breaks, thereby preventing the formation of relatively sharp edges; A chewing soft candy for pets (100) according to any one of appendices 1 to 9.

[0067] (Appendix 11) The pet chewing soft candy (100) comprises three or more elongated pet chewing soft candy bodies (10, 20, 30, 40), for example, three, four, five or six pet chewing soft candy bodies (10, 20, 30, 40); Preferably, the pet chewing soft candy bodies (10, 20, 30, 40) extend substantially parallel to each other, More preferably, two adjacent pet chewing soft candy bodies (10, 20; 20, 30; 30, 40) of the plurality of pet chewing soft candy bodies (10, 20, 30, 40) are connected to each other at their respective sides so as to allow the two adjacent pet chewing soft candy bodies (10, 20; 20, 30; 30, 40) to be torn from each other; A chewing soft candy for pets (100) according to any one of appendices 1 to 10.

[0068] (Appendix 12) At least the first pet chewing soft candy body (10), preferably each of the pet chewing soft candy bodies (10, 20, 30, 40) of the pet chewing soft candy (100) has a substantially star-shaped or flower-shaped cross section; A chewing soft candy for pets (100) according to any one of appendices 1 to 11.

[0069] (Appendix 13) extruding a profile product forming said chewy soft candy for pets (100) or a semi-finished product for forming said chewy soft candy for pets (100), Preferably, a mold with a cross section corresponding to one or more pet chewing soft candies (100) to be formed is used, said pet chewing soft candies (100) to be formed comprising at least a first elongated pet chewing soft candy body (10) and a second elongated pet chewing soft candy body (20), said first pet chewing soft candy body (10) and said second pet chewing soft candy body (20) extending substantially parallel to each other and connected to each other at their sides. A method for producing a chewing soft candy for pets (100), preferably a chewing soft candy for pets (100) according to any one of appendices 1 to 12.

[0070] (Appendix 14) The extruded profile product is separated, e.g. cut, and / or cut into a length of chewy soft pet candy (100). A molten bioplastic material or composition is forced into a mould to form said profile product, after which the profile product is hardened by cooling, Preferably, said bioplastic material or composition is a biodegradable and / or edible bioplastic material or composition, more preferably a bioplastic material or composition based on starch, or on so-called thermoplastic starch (TPS), or on polymeric starch, in particular a bioplastic material or composition based on so-called destructured starch or on unstructured starch, The manufacturing method described in Appendix 13.

[0071] (Appendix 15) A chewy soft candy for pets (100) obtained by the method described in appendix 13 or 14.

Claims

1. A pet chewing soft candy (100) comprising at least a first pet chewing soft candy body (10) and a second pet chewing soft candy body (20), The first pet chewing soft candy body (10) and the second pet chewing soft candy body (20) are formed as elongated bodies, preferably substantially rod-shaped bodies (10), (20); The first elongated pet chewing soft candy body (10) and the second elongated pet chewing soft candy body (20) extend substantially parallel to each other and are connected to each other at their sides; Preferably, the pet chewing soft candy (100) is made substantially from a bioplastic material or composition, more preferably a biodegradable and / or edible bioplastic material or composition, even more preferably a bioplastic material or composition based on starch, or so-called thermoplastic starch (TPS), or polymeric starch; The pet chewing soft candy (100) is arranged so that the first pet chewing soft candy body (10) and the second pet chewing soft candy body (20) can be torn from each other. Chewing soft candy for pets (100).

2. said pet chewing soft candy (100) is substantially made from a bioplastic material or composition based on so-called destructured starch or destructured starch, in particular destructured potato starch or destructured potato starch, and / or The pet chewing soft candy (100) is formed by a molding or so-called shaping process, such as extrusion, injection molding, or compression molding.

10. The chewable soft candy (100) for pets according to claim 1.

3. The pet chewing soft candy (100) is formed by extrusion, and / or The pet chewing soft candy (100) is made substantially from a material or composition, preferably a bioplastic material or composition, having a freezing point at 1 atmosphere pressure of above 30°C, preferably above 40°C, more preferably above 50°C, even more preferably above 60°C.

10. The chewable soft candy (100) for pets according to claim 1.

4. The pet chewing soft candy (100) is made substantially from a material or composition, preferably a bioplastic material or composition, having a melting point at 1 atmosphere pressure of above 30°C, preferably above 40°C, more preferably above 50°C, even more preferably above 60°C.

10. The chewable soft candy (100) for pets according to claim 1.

5. The first elongated pet chewing soft candy body (10) defines a first longitudinal direction (D10), and the first elongated pet chewing soft candy body (10) has a substantially constant cross-sectional shape and a substantially constant cross-sectional size along the first longitudinal direction (D10); Preferably, the pet chewing soft candy (100) has a substantially constant cross-sectional shape and a substantially constant cross-sectional size along the first longitudinal direction (D10).

10. The chewable soft candy (100) for pets according to claim 1.

6. the second elongated pet chewing soft candy body (20) defines a second longitudinal direction (D20), and the second elongated pet chewing soft candy body (20) has a substantially constant cross-sectional shape and a substantially constant cross-sectional size along the second longitudinal direction (D20); and / or The pet chewing soft candy (100) includes a narrowed portion (50), i.e., a so-called constriction (50), between the first pet chewing soft candy body (10) and the second pet chewing soft candy body (20), the narrowed portion (50) or constriction (50) forming a weakened portion, the weakened portion being arranged so that the first pet chewing soft candy body (10) can be torn from the second pet chewing soft candy body (20).

10. The chewable soft candy (100) for pets according to claim 1.

7. The pet chewing soft candy (100) includes a bridging portion (60) connecting the first pet chewing soft candy body (10) to the second pet chewing soft candy body (20), Preferably, the bridging portion (60) forms or includes a constriction (50) or a so-called waist (50) between the first pet chewing soft candy body (10) and the second pet chewing soft candy body (20), the constriction (50) or waist (50) forming a weakened portion arranged to allow the first pet chewing soft candy body (10) to be torn from the second pet chewing soft candy body (20); More preferably, in a cross section substantially perpendicular to the longitudinal directions (D10), (D20) in which the first elongated pet chewing soft candy body (10) and the second elongated pet chewing soft candy body (20) extend, the bridging portion (60) tapers from at least the first pet chewing soft candy body (10) toward the narrowed portion (50), i.e., the constriction (50), and preferably also from the second pet chewing soft candy body (20) toward the narrowed portion (50), i.e., the constriction (50).

2. The chewable soft candy for pets according to claim 1.

8. The pet chewing soft candy (100) defines a width direction (D100) extending in a direction in which a center line (C10) of the first elongated pet chewing soft candy body (109) is offset from a center line (C20) of the second elongated pet chewing soft candy body (20); The first pet chewing soft candy body (10) has a first height (H10) measured in a direction substantially perpendicular to the width direction (D100) of the pet chewing soft candy (100) and in a direction substantially perpendicular to the first longitudinal direction (D10) in which the center line (C10) of the first pet chewing soft candy body (10) extends, The second pet chewing soft candy body (20) has a second height (H20) measured in a direction substantially perpendicular to the width direction (D100) of the pet chewing soft candy (100) and in a direction substantially perpendicular to the second longitudinal direction (D20) in which the center line (C20) of the second pet chewing soft candy body (20) extends, Preferably, the second height (H20) of the second pet chewing soft candy body (20) is substantially equal to the first height (H10) of the first pet chewing soft candy body (10); Along the width of the pet chewing soft candy (100), at a position between the center (C1) of the first pet chewing soft candy body (10) and the center (C2) of the second pet chewing soft candy body (20), the pet chewing soft candy (100) defines an intermediate height; The intermediate height is smaller than the first height (H10) and smaller than the second height (H20), Preferably, at the position defining the intermediate height, the pet chewing soft candy (100) has the lowest height of all positions between the center (C1) of the first pet chewing soft candy body (10) and the center (C2) of the second pet chewing soft candy body (20).

10. The chewable soft candy (100) for pets according to claim 1.

9. The cross section of the pet chewing soft candy (100) has a minimum height (H ｍｉｎ ) and the minimum height (H ｍｉｎ ) is defined as the lowest height among all positions between the center (C1) of the first pet chewing soft candy body (10) and the center (C2) of the second pet chewing soft candy body (20); The pet chewing soft candy (100) defines a width direction (D100) extending in a direction in which a center line (C10) of the first elongated pet chewing soft candy body (10) is offset from a center line (C20) of the second elongated pet chewing soft candy body (20); The cross section of the pet chewing soft candy (100) is at least 65% of the width (W700) extending between the center line (C10) of the first elongated pet chewing soft candy body (10) and the center line (C20) of the second elongated pet chewing soft candy body (20) along the width direction (D100) of the pet chewing soft candy (100). ｍｉｎ ) has a height greater than Preferably, along a width (W700) extending between the center line (C10) of the first elongated pet chewing soft candy body (10) and the center line (C20) of the second elongated pet chewing soft candy body (20), only one relatively small portion (70, 70', 70") of the cross section of the pet chewing soft candy (100) has a lowest height (H ｍｉｎ ) and More preferably, the ratio of the width (W70', W70") of said relatively small portion (70, 70', 70") to the width (W700) extending between said center line (C10) of said first elongated pet chewing soft candy body (10) and said center line (C20) of said second elongated pet chewing soft candy body (20) is at most 1 / 4, preferably at most 1 / 5, more preferably at most 1 / 6, even more preferably at most 1 / 7, for example about 1 / 8 or about 1 / 10; 10. The chewable soft candy (100) for pets according to claim 1.

10. The pet chewing soft candy (100) is not brittle and is relatively hard or leathery at a temperature of 20°C, so that the first pet chewing soft candy body (10) and the second pet chewing soft candy body (20) can be torn from each other to allow plastic deformation before the connection between the first pet chewing soft candy body (10) and the second pet chewing soft candy body (20) breaks, thereby preventing the formation of relatively sharp edges; 10. The chewable soft candy (100) for pets according to claim 1.

11. The pet chewing soft candy (100) comprises three or more elongated pet chewing soft candy bodies (10, 20, 30, 40), for example, three, four, five or six pet chewing soft candy bodies (10, 20, 30, 40); Preferably, the pet chewing soft candy bodies (10, 20, 30, 40) extend substantially parallel to each other; More preferably, two adjacent pet chewing soft candy bodies (10, 20; 20, 30; 30, 40) of the plurality of pet chewing soft candy bodies (10, 20, 30, 40) are connected to each other at their respective sides so as to allow the two adjacent pet chewing soft candy bodies (10, 20; 20, 30; 30, 40) to be torn from each other.

10. The chewable soft candy (100) for pets according to claim 1.

12. At least the first pet chewing soft candy body (10), preferably each of the pet chewing soft candy bodies (10, 20, 30, 40) of the pet chewing soft candy (100) has a substantially star-shaped or flower-shaped cross section; 10. The chewable soft candy (100) for pets according to claim 1.

13. The method includes a step of extruding a profile product that forms the chewy soft candy for pets (100) or a semi-finished product for forming the chewy soft candy for pets (100), Preferably, a mold having a cross section corresponding to one or more pet chewing soft candies (100) to be formed is used, and said pet chewing soft candy (100) to be formed comprises at least a first elongated pet chewing soft candy body (10) and a second elongated pet chewing soft candy body (20), said first pet chewing soft candy body (10) and said second pet chewing soft candy body (20) extending substantially parallel to each other and connected to each other at their sides. A method for producing the chewy soft candy for pets (100) according to claim 1.

14. The extruded profile product is separated, e.g. cut, into predetermined lengths of pet chewing soft candy (100) and / or a molten bioplastic material or composition is forced into a mold to form the profile product, after which the profile product is cooled and thereby hardened; Preferably, said bioplastic material or composition is a biodegradable and / or edible bioplastic material or composition, more preferably a bioplastic material or composition based on starch or so-called thermoplastic starch (TPS) or polymeric starch, in particular a bioplastic material or composition based on so-called destructured starch or destructured starch, The method of claim 13.

15. A chewy soft candy (100) for pets obtained by the method according to claim 13.

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