Interwoven Rawhide Pet Chew for Dental Hygiene
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Current pet chew products either fail to hold pets' interest due to lack of flavor or texture, or pose safety risks such as tooth damage, choking hazards, or digestive issues, and do not effectively address dental hygiene needs.
Innovation Solution
A palatable, long-lasting pet chew product made from interwoven strips of rawhide and/or animal penis, forming a substantially spherical shape with a hollow center, which is dried and sterilized to create a durable, engaging, and dental hygiene-promoting chew toy.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Duration of action of stationary object
If hard materials such as bones and wood are used for pet chews, then durability is improved, but safety deteriorates due to tooth damage and splinters
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the physical and chemical parameters of the chew material by using processed rawhide instead of natural hard materials. The rawhide is treated to achieve optimal moisture content, creating a material that is durable yet safe for pets to chew without causing tooth damage or splinters
Solution Approach 2:
The patent creates a composite structure by combining rawhide strips with edible binding agents to form a woven chew toy. This composite material achieves both durability through the woven structure and safety through the use of pet-safe, edible components
2Object-affected harmful factors
If softer toys made from plastic, rubber or elastomers are used, then safety is improved, but palatability and interest deteriorate due to lack of flavor and texture
Solution Approach 1:
The patent transforms the material properties of rawhide through controlled drying and moisture content adjustment, creating a texture that is soft and palatable for pets while maintaining structural integrity. The processing parameters are optimized to achieve the desired balance between softness and chewability
Solution Approach 2:
The patent applies different treatments to different parts of the rawhide material, creating variations in texture and softness throughout the chew toy to enhance palatability and maintain pet interest
3Object-generated harmful factors
If consumable material such as chicken, meat, fish, or grains is used for chew toys, then palatability is improved, but duration of action deteriorates as the toy is consumed quickly
Solution Approach 1:
The patent divides the chew toy into multiple interwoven rawhide strips that are laced together in a complex pattern. This segmentation allows the toy to withstand prolonged chewing as pets must work through the woven structure, significantly extending chew time while maintaining palatability
Solution Approach 2:
The patent combines rawhide strips with edible binding materials to create a composite structure that is both highly palatable and durable. The composite design ensures that while individual components may be consumed, the overall structure maintains integrity and extends the chewing experience
4Adaptability or versatility
If small chew toys are provided to maintain pet interest, then engagement is improved, but safety deteriorates due to choking hazards and bowel obstruction
Solution Approach 1:
The patent transitions from small, compact chew toys to a large, expanded woven structure made from long rawhide strips. This dimensional change allows the toy to maintain pet engagement through its size and complexity while eliminating choking hazards by ensuring the structure is too large to be swallowed whole
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
The product provides extended chew time, improved palatability, and enhanced dental hygiene by reducing plaque and tartar buildup, while being safe and long-lasting, thus addressing the limitations of existing pet chew products.
Implementation Method 1
dehydrating the pet chew product in a dryer about 15 h at about 45° C.
Implementation Method 2
sterilizing the pet chew product in a sterilizing oven for about 10 h at about 100° C.
Data Source
AI summary
Disclosed herein are pet chew products and methods for making them. The methods include sewing together strips of material obtained from a bovine or from other animals to form an outline of a desired shape; interweaving additional strips of rawhide, animal penis or both under and on top of the strips forming an outline to form a pet chew product of desired shape and size; and drying the pet chew product to the desired moisture content.