CA1297333C - Chewable object having flavor or odor extract incorporated therein - Google Patents

Abstract

ABSTRACT
This invention relates to an improved chewable object or toy formed from a polyurethane resin having an aqueous based flavor or odor incorporated therein after the object or toy has been formed. The object or toy is particlularly suitable for domestic animals such as dogs and cats.

Description

33;3 ~HEWABI,E S:)BJEC~ HA~JING ~LAV~
~RQI~R ~ ~C~ ICoRPOR~TEl~.. T}iEREIN

Thi~ invQntlon gen~rally relate3 to a chewable ob~ct whic:h ha~ an ~n~oyable rlavor or exhibits an attraatlve odor.
Ch~wable o~ t~ pQr~O~ a number of useful ~unctlon~ ~or pets, ~uc:h a~ dog~ ~nd aat~, namely, they pxc~vl~e ~xnrc~ ~ for the p~ts ~ ~ aw ~uscl~s, they ~a~sage th~ p~t~ 3 s~a~ and thus claan the pets ' teeth.
Young children ~180 ~ d such ob~ a~t~ useful, part:icul~rly durlng p~riods o~ Sooth en~ption, in order to obkain relie~P by chQwing on a ~eirm but pliable ob~ sct .
A vari~ty o~ ~aterlals hav~ been u3~d ~or su~h chew~ble ob~ act~ ~n th~ p~t . For Qxalaple, rawhide, woven fabrics, or rope hav~ b~an u~ed but they are eub~ ~¢t to br~akdown ~ro~n contlnued ohewirlg and a~ ~
res~llt th~y h~v~ not beetl found to be very 2 0 s&~ actory . Mor~ stable ~aterlal~, ~uch as rubber or pla~tic have al~o be~n util~zed, to 3lake ch~wable toy~
but ~r~guently th~e matQrl~l~ havQ unde~irable ta~;t~
Odor or ~lavor comporl~n~ have been applied to the ~ur:~2c~ oP c~ewabl ~ ob~ ~cl:~ to increaoa ~h~
~5 attra;:tivenese thereo~, but the~ ~uper~lcial flavors or odor~ qu~ ~lcly di~s$pat~ due to the expo~ure to the atmospherQ or to c:hew~ng.
~ethod~ have b~3en d2veloped ( 6e~ tJ . S . J?atent 3, 871, 834 t~ lrod) to ~mpregnate a ch~wabl~ ob~ct ~orm~d ~rom nylon with an aqu~ou~-ba~ed ~lavor or odor ~xtract and th~ chewa~le ob~ects ~o treated have a~h~ ~y~d ~ub~t . ntial com~nerci~l 3UC:O~ . Howsver, ~, ~

~ z~733~ --nylon tand~ to be hard and relatiYsly sti~, partic-ul~rly durlng aold w~athar and 2urther~ore it h~ a tendency to ~plinter and ~r~y when ~ ec:t~d to vi~orou~ ~na~tication, Young ani~al~ ~ind ~lavor-. i~pregnatQd nylon ob~ectl3 very attrac~ivæ but a~ the nni3aal~ ~ature, th~y tg~nd to dl continu~ c:hewlng or othe~rwl~e playing with ~3uoh nylon ob~ ect~, Th3 lo~ 9~
intera~t ha~ been attrl~uted to the h~rdl~e~s oî suc:h nylon ob~ec'c~.
.. 10 Edward~ ln U, ~. P~tent 4, 513, 014 ~ought to provido ~ mor~ chewabla product compr~ ~lng a polyurethane ~la~to~er having lalcorporatQd therein ~l~vor or odor extracts di~olved ln an oil or wax carr~er. Th~e polyur~than~ produata wer~ de~igned 80 that the oll vr wax-basad Ilavor or odor extract~
I ncorporated ~ nto the el~tomer body bleed to the ~urface o~ th~ product ~o ths ~lavor or odor lZI!5t5 over an ext~nded period. Elowever, th~ oil or wax-based ~lavor or od.or ~xtract~ which ble~d to the ~urface r@adity rub o~i~ onto ~urniture, rug~, and thQ like, and, a~ ~ r~sult, ~uch ob~s~:t~ wers not very deslrabl~
~or ln-houRe u~e. The~ ~lavor or odor ex~racl~ 80 ~oDle o~ whar~ ob~ect~ are Dlanually handl~d ~ucl~ a~
wh~n the pQ~: owner play~ wlth t~e ob~ t wlth h$~ or hQr p~t. It ~hould be particularly no~d that pr~or ~h~wabls ob~ ~CtEI h v~ a very ~trong dl~agreeabl~
ordor. ~uah odor 1~ disliked by both p~t ~tore dealer and p~t own~r~, In the proee~ d~cribed by Edw~rd~ the ~lavor 3 o or odor extract~ are in~orporated w~ thin thQ body of 1hQ polyurethane dur~ng tha polymerization thereoP or when the produ~t wa~ in~ctlon molded or otherwise ~o~ed. ~h~ proc~ ay involve t~mperaturQs well a~ov~ 300-~, which c~n ~hang~ the ~lavor~ or odors con~id~rably nd ~hil~ ~h~ flavor~ or odors therQ~ro~
~y b~ attra~tiv~ to the p~t~g ~hey would no~ alway6 .. ,.~.. ,, . , . - .

~9~;~33 be accep-table to the pe-t owner. It has also been found that by incorpora-ting the oil or wax based flavors or odors into the polyurethane the physical and mechanical proper-ti.es of the cured procluc-ts were significantly reduced.

Nylon can absorb up to 8% by weigh-t or more of water but polyurethanes and othe~ plastic rnaterials have a very low propensity to absorb water less than about 2%. As a result polyurethane has not been considered to be appropriate substrate for impregnation with water based odor or flavor extracts.

As a result, there has been a long-felt need for an improved, more chewable object having both an attractive flavor or odor and sufficien-t physical properties to avoid destruction when chewed. The present invention fulfills this need and provides further advantages.

This invention is directed to a durable, chewable object having a water based flavor or odor incorpora-ted therein which is a-ttrac-tive to dogs.

Accordingly, the present invention provides a durable, chewable object consisting essentially o:E a polyurethane elastomeric body formed by the reaction of aliphatic dicarboxylic acid and aromatic diisocyanate and having from about 0.2 to about 2.5% by weight of an aqueous-based flavor or odor extract incorporated into the body after -the forming thereof.

The chewable object of -the invention is considerably more flexible and thus more chewable -than nylon-based products an~ moreover the incorporation of the water based flavor or odor extrac-t has relatively little detrimental effect on the mechanical and physical properties of the shaped product because it is in-troduced by absorbtion after the bone is molded.

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These and other advantages of the invention will become more apparen-t fro~ the following cletailed description thereof when taken in conjunc-tion with the exemplary drawings~

The drawin~ is a plan view par-tially in section of an imi-tation dog bone embodying features of -the invention.

The present inven-tion is directed to an durable, chewable object formed from a thermoplastic polyurethane resin which has incorporated therein an aqueous-based flavor or odor extract after it is formed (molded~.

The preferred polyurethane is a polyester polyurethane and particularly -the reaction proc~uct of a polycarboxylic acid such as adipic acid and a polyfunctional isocyanate such as methylene diphenyl diisocyanate. A very desirable material is a polyurethane elastomer sold by the Dow Chemical Company under -the trademark Pellethane R and particularly the ~0 polyurethane having the product identification of pellethane 2355-75~. This latter product is the reaction product of adipic acid and methylene diphenyl diisocyana-teO It has excellent flexibility for chewing and yet has sufficient strength and toughness so that the material can withstand highly active mastica-tion thereof by large animals.

The polyurethane body formed of the preferred composition absorbs sufficient amounts of an aqueous-based flavor or odor extract (about 0.5 to about 2% by weight, preferably about 0.75 to about 1.5% by weight) so tha-t the object i.s attractive to dogs but such absorption does not significantly degrade the physical or mechanical properties of the polyurethane material. Moreover, the extract does no-t bleed to the surface of the product, does not rub off and .
cannot be tasted or smelled by humans.

It should be recognized that modifica-tions can be made to the polyureth~ne composition such as by adjusting the ratio of reaction components or modifying the individual componen-ts in order -to develop specific properties for particular end uses.

Preferably, flavor or odor extracts for dogs are from mea-t or ani.mal by-produc-ts. It is to be recognized, however, -that flavors or odors such as candy may be incorporated into -the body for other end users, such as children.

The preferred process for incorporating water-based flavor or odor extracts generally follows the procedures described in U. S. Patent 3,871,734. However, i-t has been found -that with the present invention it is not necessary to treat polyurethane bodies with the aqueous based flavor or . ..

. . .
odor a~xtr~ct ~or the length o~ tJ Qle de~crib6~d in the ai~ore~a1d ref2r~n ::e to tr~t nylc~n prs)duct~ , 1 . ~ ., ~hree to twenty hour~. Gen~rally, it i8 ~ound that treat~nt tlm~than about 2 hours ar~ eCtiVQ
~or polyureth~ne produ~t~ f part~ s~larly poly~tQr pQlyur~thane product~. A typls~l amou~t o~ ou~
~a~ ~xtract found to be ~3Pi~e~t~e i~ about 1~.
The polyur~thanq product o~ th~ lnventlon is :. pr~ferably ~orm~d by in~ction ~ lding o~ prepoly-10 ~riz~ p~ t~ or granulQs of polylar~thane at t~mperatures P;rom ~bout 3 00 to ~50 , pre~erably about 350- to 425~ E~. Other ~ethods ~uch as extr~adlng at ~uc~ levated tQmpQrature~ ean also be us~d. G~re ~hould be exercl~2d to d~hydrate the polym~r~zed pellets or granul~ bei~orQ th~ high telDperatur~ for~ing. At t~e h~ gh ~ox~ing te~nperatur~
the polyurethan~ bond can be opened, expo3ing i~ocyanate ~nd group~ whi::h readily r~act with ~oisture to ~orm aarbon dioxl~e q219~ can rQE~ult in und~irabl~ poro~lty, arratlc proc~slng, and poor physlcal andl ~chanical prop~rti~.
I~E de~ired, controlled addition o~ ~o~mlng ~g~nt~ aan b~ ~ncorpor~t~d into the rlaaction component, tv produc~ a produot hav~ ng a ~igh~r ~pecif ic gravity 2 5 than ~2 and thu~ ~lo~t .
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_, Typical propQrti~s o~ the pr~erred polyadlpat~ ~t~r polyurothan~ ~ ar~ provl~d ln the w.

TYPICAL
~ ~C~ VALUE
Nalt Index g~ OmlR (224 - C, 1200 g) ASTM D-1238 20-25 Hardne~ uro~et~r, ~ 8~ale ASTM ~-2240 75-~0 Sp~ci~ Gr~vlty AS~ D-792 1.17-1. 21 T~nsile 8tr~s, p91 ~50% ~long~tlon AST~5 D-412 400-450 @100% ~longatlon 600-62~
@300% ~longation ~500-1575 Ultl~aate T~n~ile Str~ngth, pEIl AS~M D-4124500-4700 Ultl~at~ ~longation, % AS~ D-4125~0-675 ~longation ~t A~tar ~r~ak, % AS~ D 41220-40 Tear StrQng~, Dl~ ~C't pll ~ D-624 400-500 Cs~pr~sion Sst, % 22 hr~. ~25- C ~STM D-39520-30 22 hr~. @70 C ~I~thOd B25-35 T~3~r Abra~iOr~ O~B ASTII D-1D44 25-30 C1~h-B-rg ~OdU1U8~ C AST~ D-~043 -~8 Note that ~olded t~st plece~ u~d to detenQine th~ above typl~al prop~rtles were po~t cured for lS
hours at 11~ ~. and ~or 7 day~ under a~ n~
ondltlons prtor to t~ting.
A~ an exainpl~ of th~ pr~3ent inv~ntlon 2S in~ctlon ~old~d, bone ~ha~ed polyurethane produc~
.. (such a~ ~hown in the drawing~ o~ th~ pre~erred co~po~ltion (Pellethank 2355-7SA~ wer~ erged ln a . ~ ,",~
,, ; ~
':' , ~ - ~ '. ' ham ~lavored broth Dlaintained at a tamperAturQ of abou'c 150 ~or perlods o~ 1" 2, and 12 hours. The E~pecimenEI had ~ weigh~ gain me~urQd at a~b 1 ent condition~ o~, 1.1%, and 1. 4%, r~p~ctively . Alï
of th~ product~had a~tracti~e 1avor character~3tics an~ wer~2 readily chewable by bnth larg~ and mall anlm~
Th~ polyureth~ne body o~ thQ present invention ne~d not be thoroughly i~npregna'ced w~ th the - 10 agueou~-bas~d ~lavor or odor extrac:t but the body should b~ iTnpregllated to ~ ~gnl~icant d~pth not ~u~t on the ~ur~ac~ o~ t~e o~ QC:t . Th~ itation dog bone hown in draw~ng has ~a shaded ar~ ad~c~nt the ~3UrPa~:Q ~aXelllp~ 8E~ t~ll3 dQpth oi~ pen~tratlon by the a,ql.leOUB ba~ed ~xtract.
For pet~, th~ pre~4rr~d ex~ract~ are extract~
o~ ~QokQ~ ha~, chlcken, bee~, ~nd other meat by-produat3 su~:h a~ ham hock~, ~han3c ends, turkQy, or chicken necks, back3, and oxtails. For cat~, ~atnip product~ c~n be lncorporat~d. Thesa ~lavor~ are readily ~erlsed by thvsQ who chew thQ ob~ ects and ther~ i~ no tenden~y gor ~uch ~lavor or odor extract~ to rub of Y
. on ~urnlturel, r~gs and the lik~, ~o these ob~cts c:an b~ u~ed ln~de. The odor~ and flavor~ ar~ u~ually not ~tQt:tabl~ by hu~nans.
:.;:: Whil~ th0 present invention ha~ b~n de~c:ribed priDIarily in ter~ Or a chewabl~3 ob~ sct ~or pets, i~ ~ s obvlou~ that ~u ::h product~ IDay b~ ~ade ~uitabl~ ~or chlldr~n and other~ by incorporating a ~or~ appropriate ~lavor or ~sdor extract~ Mor~over, other ~nodi~ication3 and improvement can b~ mada to the pre~ent lnventlon wlthout d~par~:ing ~ro~ th~ ~3COp8 ther~o~.
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Claims (9)

1. A durable, chewable object consisting essentially of a polyurethane elastomeric body formed by the reaction of aliphatic dicarboxylic acid and aromatic diisocyanate and having from about 0.2 to about 2.5% by weight of an aqueous-based flavor or odor extract incorporated into the body after the forming thereof.

2. The durable, chewable object of claim 1 wherein the aliphatic dicarboxylic acid has from 4 to 10 carbon atoms in the carbon chain.

3. The durable, chewable object of claim 2 wherein the dicarboxylic acid is adipic acid and the diisocyanate is methylene diphenyl diisocyanate.

4. The durable, chewable object of claim 1 having a dog bone shape.

5. The durable, chewable object of claim 1 having a torus shape.

6. The durable, chewable object of claim 1 wherein the flavor or odor extract comprises an aqueous extract predominantly of meat or meat by-products.

7. The durable, chewable object of claim 1 wherein the flavor or odor extract comprises an aqueous extract of candy.

8. The durable, chewable object of claim 1 wherein the flavor or odor extract comprises an aqueous extract of catnip.

9. The durable, chewable object of claim 1 wherein the elastomeric body contains from about 0.5 to about 2% by weight of an aqueous based flavor or odor extract incorporated therein.