Pet chews containing loofah

Abstract

A method for forming a pet chew article and a pet chew article containing loofah fiber are provided. A pet chew article comprising loofah fiber and a polymeric composition. The pet chew article may be formed by providing loofah fiber, providing a polymeric composition, combining the loofah fiber with the polymeric composition, and forming the pet chew article from the loofah fiber and the polymeric composition.

Description

[Technical field]

[0001] (CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS) This non-provisional patent application claims the benefit of the filing date of U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 63 / 201,310, filed April 23, 2021, the entire disclosure of which is incorporated herein by reference.

[0002] FIELD OF THEINVENTION FIELD OF THE DISCLOSURE The present disclosure relates to methods of forming pet chew articles, and more particularly, to pet chew articles containing loofah fiber. [Background technology]

[0003] Luffa (also spelled loofah or loofa) is a genus of tropical / subtropical annual climbing vines in the Cucurbitaceae (cucumber) family (which may also be referred to as cucurbits) of the plant kingdom. The Cucurbitaceae plant family includes gourds, pumpkins, and cucumbers. More specifically, luffa is of the subfamily Cucurbitaceae, and even more specifically, of the tribe Cucurbitaceae.

[0004] The major species of genus (I) include Egyptian loofah (also referred to by the synonym Luffa cylindrica), also referred to by the common name "loofah", referring to the fruit which is generally cylindrical and linear. Another major species is Luffa japonica, also referred to by the common name "okra", referring to the fruit which is generally cylindrical and curved.

[0005] The fruits of the Egyptian Loofah and Luffa species are edible for human consumption as vegetables, but to be consumed as such, the fruits must be harvested before they have aged. As the fruit aged and dried, it obtains a fibrous, three-dimensional interconnected web structure. This fibrous structure can be used as a sponge / scrubber, especially for bathing, washing dishes, or other cleaning applications. Summary of the Invention

[0006] A method of forming a pet chew article, the method comprising: providing loofah fibers; providing a polymer composition; combining the loofah fibers with the polymer composition; and forming the pet chew article from the loofah fibers and the polymer composition.

[0007] In at least one embodiment, the loofah fibers are in the form of a fibrous web structure, and the method further comprises combining the fibrous web structure with the polymer composition.

[0008] In at least one embodiment, the polymer composition is a latex polymer composition, and the method further comprises combining the fibrous web structure with the latex polymer composition and drying the latex polymer composition.

[0009] In at least one embodiment, after the latex polymer composition is dried, the loofah fibers are present in the pet chew in a range from 5% by weight of the pet chew to 80% by weight of the pet chew.

[0010] In at least one embodiment, the latex polymer composition includes natural rubber latex.

[0011] In at least one embodiment, the latex polymer composition comprises between 40% and 60% polyisoprene by weight prior to drying the latex polymer composition.

[0012] In at least one embodiment, the polymer composition is a thermoplastic polymer composition, and the method further comprises melting the thermoplastic polymer composition and mixing the loofah fibers with the molten thermoplastic polymer composition.

[0013] In at least one embodiment, the loofah fibers are random loofah fibers, and the method further comprises mixing the random loofah fibers with the molten thermoplastic polymer composition.

[0014] In at least one embodiment, the polymer composition is a thermosetting polymer composition, and the method further comprises combining the loofah fiber with the thermosetting polymer composition.

[0015] In at least one embodiment, the method further includes providing a polymer composition by providing precursors of a polymer composition, reacting the precursors of the polymer composition to form a polymer composition, and mixing the loofah fiber with at least one of the precursors of the polymer composition prior to or during reacting the precursors of the polymer composition.

[0016] In at least one embodiment, the method further includes forming the pet chew article as a molded pet chew article.

[0017] In at least one embodiment, loofah fibers are present in the molded pet chew article in a range from 0.1% by weight of the molded pet chew article to 50% by weight of the molded pet chew article.

[0018] In at least one embodiment, the method further includes forming the pet chew article as an injection molded pet chew article, an extruded pet chew article, or a compression molded pet chew article.

[0019] In at least one embodiment, the loofah is at least one of an Egyptian loofah and a Tokado loofah.

[0020] A method of forming a pet chew comprising providing loofah fibers, providing a liquid polymer latex, introducing the liquid polymer latex onto and / or between the loofah fibers, and drying to form a pet chew. It should be understood that the present invention is also directed to a pet chew comprising loofah fibers and one or more polymer resins, wherein the one or more polymer resins are sourced from a liquid polymer latex.

[0021] A method of forming a pet chew article comprising: providing loofah fiber; providing a thermoplastic; melting and mixing the thermoplastic with the fiber; and forming the pet chew article, wherein the loofah fiber is present at a level / range of 0.1% to 50.0% by weight and the thermoplastic is present at a level / range of 99.9% to 50.0% by weight.

[0022] A method of forming a pet chew comprising: providing loofah fiber; providing a thermoset resin precursor; mixing the thermoset resin precursor with the fiber; and curing the thermoset resin precursor to form a crosslinked polymer and the pet chew, wherein the loofah fiber is present at a level / range of 0.1% to 50.0% by weight and the crosslinked thermoset resin is present at a level / range of 99.9% to 50.0% by weight.

[0023] A pet chew article comprising loofah fibers and a polymer composition, the polymer composition being sourced from a latex polymer composition.

[0024] In at least one embodiment, the loofah fibers are in the form of a fibrous web structure.

[0025] In at least one embodiment, loofah fiber is present in the pet chew article in a range from 5% by weight of the pet chew article to 80% by weight of the pet chew article.

[0026] In at least one embodiment, the polymeric composition includes natural rubber latex.

[0027] In at least one embodiment, the loofah fibers are random loofah fibers, and the random loofah fibers are present in the pet chew article in a range from 0.1% by weight of the pet chew article to 50% by weight of the pet chew article. [Brief description of the drawings]

[0028] The above and other features of the present disclosure, and the manner in which they are accomplished, will become more apparent and better understood by reference to the following description of the embodiments described herein in conjunction with the accompanying drawings. [Figure 1] FIG. 2 is a front view of a pet chew containing loofah fibers. [Diagram 2] FIG. 2 is a rear view of the pet chew article of FIG. 1. [Diagram 3] FIG. 2 is a front view of another pet chew article containing loofah fibers. [Figure 4] 4 is an enlarged view of the pet chew article of FIG. 3 enclosed within dashed rectangle 4. FIG. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0029] It can be understood that the disclosure is not limited in its application to the details of construction and arrangement of components set forth in the following description or illustrated in the drawings. The invention herein is capable of other embodiments and of being practiced or carried out in various ways. Also, it is to be understood that the phraseology and terminology used herein is for the purpose of description and should not be regarded as limiting.

[0030] The present disclosure relates to a pet chew article containing a loofah, a method of providing a pet chew article comprising a loofah, and a method of entertaining a pet with a pet chew article comprising a loofah. The loofah is preferably from the fruit of the Egyptian loofah (also referred to by the synonym Luffa cylindrica) and Luffa japonica species. The loofah may be in the form of a fibrous three-dimensional interconnected web structure that is disposed in or otherwise combined with the base (polymer) composition. In other embodiments of the article, the loofah may be in the form of random (loosely connected) fibers disposed with the base (polymer) composition. In other embodiments of the article, the loofah may be in the form of both a fibrous three-dimensional interconnected web structure and random (loosely connected) fibers disposed with the base composition.

[0031] Examples of non-limiting embodiments of pet chew articles contemplated herein are illustrated in Figures 1 and 2. Pet chew article 10 can take many forms, and in the illustrative illustration, pet chew article 10 is a planar article in the general form of a heart shape. Other forms, such as bone shapes, geometric shapes, or shapes that mimic various food items, can also be provided.

[0032] As shown, the loofah-containing pet chew article 10 may be in the form of a fibrous three-dimensional interconnected web structure 20, shown as a mesh of interconnected fibers, that is at least partially encapsulated or otherwise disposed in combination with a base (polymer) composition 30 to form a composite. The fibrous web structure 20 is relatively more prominently identified on one side 12 (e.g., the front side) of the article 10 in Figure 1, while the base (polymer) composition 30 is relatively more prominently identified on the periphery of Figure 1 and the opposite side 14 (e.g., the rear side) of Figure 2. Stated another way, with respect to the opposite sides 12 and 14 of the pet chew article 10, the fibrous three-dimensional interconnected web structure 20 may be more encapsulated on one side 14 of the pet chew article 10 than on the other side 12 of the pet chew article 10. In the article 10 shown in Figures 1 and 2, although shown on the surface of the article 10, it should be recognized that the web structure 20 and base (polymer) composition 30 are also present within the pet chew article 10 (i.e., throughout its thickness).

[0033] The fibrous web structure 20 may be obtained by drying loofah fruits, removing the outer skin from the inner fibrous web structure, and then washing the fibrous web structure in a known manner. The fibrous web structure 20 may be cut into pieces depending on the size of the fruit.

[0034] The components / ingredients of the base (polymer) composition 30 may include one or more polymer resins, including synthetic or natural or naturally derived polymer resins, which may be combined with the fibrous web structure 20 using a number of application techniques, including molding processes.

[0035] As alluded to above, the pet chew article 10 may include as a base (polymer) composition having one or more polymer resins, which may include synthetic or natural or naturally derived polymer resins. The polymer resins may include resins that do not exhibit toxic and / or harmful effects on the pet's biological system, such as the pet's digestive tract. Such resins, understood as biocompatible resins, may be edible, but may or may not be digestible. Non-limiting examples of edible natural or naturally derived resins may include starch, gluten, casein, and gelatin.

[0036] Non-limiting examples of synthetic polymer resins can include polyurethanes, polyamides (nylons), polyesters, polysiloxanes (silicones), and thermoplastic (repeatedly moldable) or thermoset (crosslinked) resins or elastomers.

[0037] An elastomer herein may be understood as any material that has a glass transition temperature Tg below room temperature and is at most 50% crystalline (i.e., the material contains 50% or more amorphous phase, up to 100% amorphous phase). As used herein, an elastomer may be characterized as a material that has at least 100% elongation at 23°C, and that can be stretched to twice its original length and held in such a state for 1 minute, and then recover in the range of 50% to 100% within 1 minute after release from stress. More specifically, an elastomer can recover in the range of 75% to 100% within 1 minute after release from stress, and even more specifically, can recover in the range of 90% to 100% within 1 minute after release from stress.

[0038] Elastomers may be composed of any polymer, including natural or synthetic polymers, and thermoplastic or thermosetting polymers. Thus, elastomers may be either natural or synthetic elastomers. Elastomers may include, consist essentially of, or consist of natural or synthetic rubbers, which may include acrylic rubbers, butadiene rubbers, butyl rubbers, ethylene propylene rubbers, ethylene propylene rubber diene monomer rubbers, fluorocarbon rubbers, isoprene rubbers, nitrile rubbers, including hydrogenated nitrile rubbers, polyurethane rubbers, silicone rubbers, and styrene block copolymers (e.g., styrene butadiene rubber, styrene ethylene / butylene styrene rubber). Certain elastomers may include polysiloxane elastomers, which may also be either thermoplastic or thermosetting.

[0039] In one particular embodiment, the base (polymer) composition 30 as shown in Figures 1 and 2 in the form of a polymer resin is derived from a latex (polymer) composition. A latex (polymer) composition refers to a dispersion (emulsion) of particles, such as fine particles, of one or more polymers in water. The latex utilized herein may be a natural latex, an example of which is a latex of natural rubber (polyisoprene). In addition, the latex utilized herein may include a latex of a synthetic polymer, where the polymer is synthesized and then dispersed in water. Synthetic polymers that may be utilized also contemplate the use of polystyrene and polybutadiene, which may otherwise be identified as SBR or styrene-butadiene rubber. Generally, the latex utilized herein may contain, among others, 40% to 60% by weight of polymer (e.g., polyisoprene), with the remainder being water in the range of 60 to 40% by weight. Other components may also be present, particularly in natural rubber latex, which may contain up to 5.0% by weight of proteins, fatty acids, and inorganic materials (eg, inorganic salts).

[0040] Thus, as can be appreciated, the loofah fibrous structure can be at least partially or completely immersed, such as by dip coating, in a selected natural or synthetic liquid latex and then heated and dried (to remove moisture from the latex), leaving the polymeric resin of the latex and other dry solid components from the latex as a coating on and / or between the loofah fibers. See again FIG. 1 and FIG. 2. In one embodiment, upon drying, the loofah fibers are present at a level / range of 5.0% (by weight) to 80.0% (by weight) of the particular pet chew, and the polymeric resin (synthetic and / or natural) is present at a level / range of 95.0% (by weight) to 20.0% (by weight) of the pet chew along with other dry solid components from the latex (polymer is 90.0% (by weight) to 15.0% (by weight) of the pet chew).

[0041] Alternatively, when dry, the loofah fibers may be present at a level / range of 10.0% to 80.0% by weight of the pet chew and the polymer resins (synthetic and / or natural) are present at a level / range of 90.0% to 20.0% by weight of the pet chew along with other dry solid ingredients from the latex (polymers are 85.0% to 15.0% by weight of the pet chew).

[0042] Alternatively, when dry, the loofah fibers may be present at a level / range of 20.0% to 80.0% by weight of the pet chew and the polymer resins (synthetic and / or natural) are present at a level / range of 80.0% to 20.0% by weight of the pet chew along with other dry solid ingredients from the latex (polymers are 75.0% to 15.0% by weight of the pet chew).

[0043] Alternatively, when dry, the loofah fibers may be present at a level / range of 30.0% to 80.0% by weight of the pet chew and the polymer resins (synthetic and / or natural) are present at a level / range of 70.0% to 20.0% by weight of the pet chew along with other dry solid ingredients from the latex (polymers are 65.0% to 15.0% by weight of the pet chew).

[0044] Alternatively, when dry, the loofah fibers may be present at a level / range of 40.0% (by weight) to 80.0% (by weight) of the pet chew and the polymer resins (synthetic and / or natural) are present at a level / range of 60.0% (by weight) to 20.0% (by weight) of the pet chew along with other dry solid ingredients from the latex (polymers are 55.0% (by weight) to 15.0% (by weight) of the pet chew).

[0045] Alternatively, when dry, the loofah fibers may be present at a level / range of 50.0% (by weight) to 80.0% (by weight) of the pet chew and the polymer resins (synthetic and / or natural) are present at a level / range of 50.0% (by weight) to 20.0% (by weight) of the pet chew along with other dry solid ingredients from the latex (polymers are 45.0% (by weight) to 15.0% (by weight) of the pet chew).

[0046] Alternatively, when dry, the loofah fibers may be present at a level / range of 60.0% to 80.0% by weight of the pet chew and the polymer resins (synthetic and / or natural) are present at a level / range of 40.0% to 20.0% by weight of the pet chew along with other dry solid ingredients from the latex (polymers are 34.0% to 15.0% by weight of the pet chew).

[0047] In certain embodiments, the loofah fiber may comprise fibers formed from grinding or otherwise milling the fibrous structure of the loofah fruit to form what may be referred to as loose fibers. The loose (random) loofah fiber may then be mixed into any one of the polymer compositions described above. Such loofah fiber may have a mesh size of 20 to 40, among others. The loofah fiber may be present in the polymer resin at a level / range of 0.1% to 50.0% by weight, among others, and the polymer resin may be present at a level / range of 99.9% to 50.0% by weight. The loofah fiber may more preferably be present at a level / range of 0.1% to 10.0% by weight, in which case the polymer resin is present at a level / range of 99.9% to 90.0% by weight. Even more preferably, the loofah fiber is present at a level / range of 0.1% to 5.0% by weight, and the polymer resin is present at a level / range of 99.9% to 95.0% by weight.

[0048] When the base (polymer) composition 30 is a thermoplastic polymer composition, such mixing can be achieved by melt mixing, especially in processes such as extrusion, compression and / or injection (reciprocating screw or plunger) molding. For example, the thermoplastic polymer composition can be heated and melted in the barrel of an extruder or injection molding machine, and then the loose (random) loofah fibers can be added and mixed into the molten thermoplastic polymer composition in the barrel via a hopper, especially with the aid of a screw in the barrel. See Figures 3 and 4. Alternatively, the loofah fibers can be in the form of a fibrous web structure 20, which can be placed into the mold cavity of an injection mold prior to introducing the heated / molten thermoplastic polymer composition into the mold cavity.

[0049] If the base (polymer) composition 30 is a thermosetting polymer composition, the fibrous web structure 20 may be similarly placed in the mold cavity of a mold (e.g., a reaction injection mold) prior to introducing the thermosetting polymer composition into the mold cavity. It may be understood that the loofah fiber may also be mixed with a precursor (e.g., a multifunctional monomer) for the formation of a thermosetting cross-linked polymer, followed by curing and cross-linking thermosetting polymer formation. For example, in the case of loose (random) loofah fiber, it may be added to one of the precursors of the thermosetting polymer composition. For example, for polyurethanes formed by reaction injection molding, the loose (random) loofah fiber may be added and mixed with the polyol precursor stream before the polyol is mixed with the isocyanate precursor stream. The polyol and isocyanate precursor streams may then be mixed in a mixhead to initiate the reaction and injected into the mold cavity. Thus, the loose (random) loofah fibers may be mixed with the precursors of the thermosetting polymer composition prior to and / or during the reaction of the precursors of the thermosetting polymer composition. In addition, in the case of thermosetting resins, the precursors may be mixed with the loose (random) loofah fibers, and mixed and then proceeded with, for example, compression molding, by partially curing (B-stage) the precursors prior to being introduced into the mold cavity for full curing.

[0050] In any of the above embodiments, other additives may optionally be included in the formulation, including, but not limited to, cosmetic additives such as flavor additives, attractants, nutritional additives (vitamins or minerals), and / or colorants that are appealing to animals.

[0051] The pet chew article 10 herein is intended to exhibit sufficient hardness and ductility to be repeatedly mechanically worn by a pet's teeth before the structural integrity of the pet chew article is reduced, e.g., breaking into one or more pieces.

[0052] The hardness of the pet chew article 10 herein containing loofah fiber, as measured by ASTM D2240-05(2010), is contemplated to range from Shore 70A to Shore 80D, including all values ​​and integer ranges therein, including, for example, 98A, 50D, etc. The hardness of the formed pet chew article 10 may range from 25 to 40 Shore D, including 30 to 33 Shore D.

[0053] Pet chew articles 10 herein containing loofah fibers are contemplated to exhibit an elongation at break in the range of 0.5% to 600% and all values ​​therein in 1% increments, such as 1% to 7%, as measured by ASTM D638-10.

[0054] The tensile modulus of the pet chew article 10 containing loofah fiber, particularly the latex polymer composition, as measured by ASTM D638-10 is 5×10 2 psi~50×10 3 psi (500 psi to 50,000 psi, or 3.45 MPa to 344.74 MPa), and 2 psi~25×10 3 psi (500 psi to 25,000 psi, or 3.45 MPa to 172.37 MPa), including all values ​​and ranges therein in increments of 1 psi (0.0069 MPa). Additionally, the flexural modulus of the pet chew article 10 herein containing loofah fiber is greater than or equal to 1×10 psi as measured by ASTM D790-10. 2 psi~25×10 3 psi (100 psi to 25,000 psi, or 0.69 MPa to 172.37 MPa), and is intended to be in the range of 1×10 2 psi~10×10 3 Includes all values ​​and ranges therein in increments of 1 psi (0.0069 MPa), such as 100 psi to 10,000 psi, or 0.69 MPa to 68.95 MPa.

[0055] In addition, the tensile modulus of the pet chew article 10 containing loofah fiber, particularly injection molded, extrusion molded or compression molded pet chew articles, as measured by ASTM D638-10, is greater than or equal to 50×10 3 psi~500×10 3 psi (50,000 psi to 500,000 psi, or 344.74 MPa to 3,447.38 MPa), and is intended to be in the range of 50 x 10 3 psi~300×10 3 psi (50,000 psi to 300,000 psi, or 344.74 MPa to 2,068.43 MPa), including all values ​​and ranges therein in increments of 1 psi (0.0069 MPa). Additionally, the flexural modulus of the pet chew article 10 herein containing loofah fiber is greater than or equal to 50×10 as measured by ASTM D790-10. 3 psi~500×10 3 psi (50,000 psi to 500,000 psi, or 344.74 MPa to 3,447.38 MPa, is intended to be in the range of 50 x 10 3 psi~300×10 3 psi (50,000 psi to 300,000 psi, or 344.74 MPa to 2,068.43 MPa), including all values ​​and ranges therein in increments of 1 psi (0.0069 MPa). Individual pet chew articles 10 may exhibit one or more of the above properties, namely hardness, elongation at break, and tensile modulus.

[0056] Although preferred embodiments of the present invention have been described, it should be understood that various changes, adaptations, and modifications can be made therein without departing from the spirit of the invention and the scope of the appended claims. Therefore, the scope of the present invention should not be determined with reference to the above description, but instead should be determined with reference to the appended claims along with their full scope of equivalents. It should be further understood that the appended claims do not necessarily include the broadest scope of the invention that the applicant is entitled to claim, or the only way in which the invention may be claimed, or that all recited features are required.

Claims

1. 1. A method of forming a pet chew article, comprising: providing loofah fibers in the form of a fibrous web structure; providing a latex polymer composition comprising polymer particles dispersed in water; combining said loofah fibers in the form of a fibrous web structure with said latex polymer composition; drying the latex polymer composition by removing water; forming the pet chew article from the loofah fibers and the dried latex polymer composition; A method comprising:

2. after the latex polymer composition has dried, the loofah fibers are present in the pet chew in a range from 5% by weight of the pet chew to 80% by weight of the pet chew; The method of claim 1.

3. the latex polymer composition comprises natural rubber latex; The method of claim 1.

4. the latex polymer composition comprises 40% to 60% by weight polyisoprene prior to drying the latex polymer composition; The method of claim 1.

5. A method of forming a pet chew, comprising the steps of: providing loose loofah fibers obtained by crushing or milling the fibrous structure of loofah fruits; Providing a thermoplastic polymer composition; melting the thermoplastic polymer composition; mixing said loose loofah fibers with said molten thermoplastic polymer composition such that said loose loofah fibers are randomly disposed in said thermoplastic polymer composition; mixing said loose loofah fibers with said molten thermoplastic polymer composition prior to forming said pet chew article; A method comprising:

6. the loofah fibers are present in the formed pet chew article in a range of from 0.1% by weight of the formed pet chew article to 50% by weight of the formed pet chew article; The method according to claim 5.

7. further comprising forming the pet chew as an injection molded pet chew, an extruded pet chew, or a compression molded pet chew. The method according to claim 5.

8. The loofah is at least one of Egyptian loofah and tokado loofah. The method according to claim 1 or 5.

9. A pet chew article comprising: comprising loofah fibers and a polymer composition, The loofah fibers are at least partially encapsulated in the polymer composition. Pet chew items.

10. The loofah fiber is in the form of a fibrous web structure.

10. The pet chew of claim 9.

11. the loofah fiber is present in the pet chew in a range of from 5% by weight of the pet chew to 80% by weight of the pet chew; 11. The pet chew of claim 10.

12. The polymer composition comprises natural rubber latex.

10. The pet chew of claim 9.

13. the loofah fibers are random loofah fibers, the random loofah fibers are present in the pet chew in a range from 0.1% by weight of the pet chew to 50% by weight of the pet chew; 10. The pet chew of claim 9.

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