FR2705864A1 - Biodegradable-type gnawable bone for domestic animals - Google Patents

Abstract

Gnawable item for domestic animals, characterized in that it is composed of a biodegradable material, comprising, on the one hand, substances of plant origin of the type such as maize starch and, on the other hand, synthetic substances.

Description

 The present invention relates to an article intended for domestic animals. It relates more particularly to an article of the gnawing type for domestic animals.

 The increasingly hectic modern life has indirectly favored the love of animals and in particular the love of domestic animals of the dog or cat type. It is enough, to realize this, to note that in the department stores, the shelves intended for our dear friends the animals take more and more importance. You can find everything there, from food and toys, to hygiene items for comfort or beauty. Among the current products, there are various articles such as the gnawing bones which are intended more particularly for dogs, with which they play while making their teeth. This type of article is currently made either of plastic and in this case, it does not require a great interest for the animal and is not biodegradable, either in skin or in leather, and the cost price is particularly Student.

 The present invention therefore seeks to resolve these various drawbacks and proposes a new gnawing bone made of a new material which is both of interest to man and to the animal.

 Thus, the article for gnawing for domestic animals according to the invention is characterized in that it consists of a biodegradable material.

 According to an additional characteristic, the biodegradable material is mainly based on a substance of plant origin, and advantageously corn starch.

 According to another characteristic, the biodegradable material also comprises synthetic substances, and advantageously in proportions of approximately 60% by weight, substances of agricultural origin and approximately 40% by weight, synthetic substances.

 According to another additional characteristic, the material also comprises an additional substance, such as a substance of medical type or of perfumed type.

 The invention also relates to the method of manufacturing the article, and which is characterized in that it is made by injecting the biodegradable material into a mold whose imprint has the shape of the article to be manufactured.

 Other characteristics and advantages of the invention will emerge from the description which follows with reference to the appended drawings which are given only by way of nonlimiting examples.

 Figure 1 is a perspective view of an embodiment of an article according to the invention.

 Figures 2 to 6 are schematic views illustrating the method of making the article according to the invention.

 FIG. 2 illustrates a preliminary step of the process which consists in preparing the material intended to be used during the process.

 Figure 3 is a sectional view of the mold in its open position.

 Figure 4 is a sectional view of the mold in its closed position, before the injection phase.

 FIG. 5 is a schematic view illustrating the phase of the process corresponding to the injection proper.

 FIG. 6 is a view showing the phase which follows the injection and which consists in opening the mold and taking out the injected part.

 FIG. 1 illustrates a first embodiment of an article of the gnawing type bearing the general reference (1) comprising a central part (2) substantially cylindrical terminated at the two ends (3, 4) by projecting parts, respectively ( 3a, 3b - 4a, 4b), to give said article substantially the shape of a bone.

 According to the invention, the bone (1) is made of a biodegradable material. This biodegradable material is a material of the thermoplastic type comprising substances of agricultural origin, combined with synthetic substances. For example, the quantity of substances of agricultural origin is approximately equal by weight to 60% of the weight of the material. The other 40% is formed by other substances. With this percentage, the material is fully biodegradable, transforming entirely under the sole action of microorganisms, producing both water and carbon dioxide, which has an important advantage when we know the interest growing reality that humanity brings to all the problems linked to ecology. The use of agricultural substances is not only of ecological interest, but of economic interest. Indeed, the raw material of agricultural origin is inexhaustible since supplied by a natural process. As a substance of agricultural origin, it is advantageous to use corn starch which is a product which is particularly well suited and available in large quantities.

 Furthermore, it is advantageous to add to the material, another additional substance such as a substance of the medical type, such as fluorine or vitamins, or of the perfumed type, such as mint or products reproducing the smell of meat, making the product even more attractive to the animal. The artificial bone (1) thus produced is both biodegradable and fully digestible, and moreover, it gives the animal a new dental hygiene.

 The bone to be gnawed can for example be produced by injection, as shown diagrammatically in FIGS. 2 to 6.

 FIG. 2 illustrates a preliminary step which consists in preparing the material (M) intended to be injected. This step consists in mixing the three basic initial materials (Ma, Mb, Mc) to make the granules (g) intended to form the material to be injected (M). The first material of organic substance (Ma) is, firstly, combined with the synthetic substance (Mb), the combination being for example in the proportion by weight, of 60% of organic substances for 40% of synthetic substances . Then or simultaneously, the additional substance (Mc), for example mint, is added to it, to form the granules (g) of the material (M) intended to be placed in the hopper (5) of the injection molding machine (6 ).

 FIG. 3 represents an embodiment of a mold (7) allowing the molding of the bones. This mold (7) is, in a manner known per se, consisting of a base (8) and a cover (9) each comprising a hollow shape (10, 11) intended by cooperation, to be formed, during the closing the mold, a cavity or injection cavity. Furthermore, each element of the mold comprises, at the joint plane, an inlet cavity (12, 13) forming, when the mold is closed, the injection conduit (14) allowing the introduction of the material ( M) in the mold cavity (15).

 Figure 4 shows the mold (7) in its closed position while Figure 5 illustrates the actual injection phase of the material (M) which takes place in the cavity (15).

 The part being injected, in a complementary phase illustrated in FIG. 5, the mold is opened and the molded part (1) is removed.

 Of course, the invention is not limited to the embodiments described and shown by way of examples, but it also includes all the technical equivalents and their combinations.

Claims (10)

 1. Gnawing article (1) for domestic animals, characterized in that it consists of a biodegradable material.  2. Gnawing article (1) for domestic animals according to claim 1, characterized in that the biodegradable material (M) is mainly based on a substance of plant origin (Ma).  3. Gnawing article (1) for domestic animals according to claim 2, characterized in that the substance of vegetable origin (Ma) is corn starch.  4. Gnawing article (1) for domestic animals according to any one of claims 2 and 3, characterized in that the biodegradable material comprises synthetic substances (Mb).  5. Gnawing article (1) for domestic animals according to claim 4, characterized in that the biodegradable material comprises approximately 60% by weight of substances of agricultural origin (Ma) and approximately 40% by weight of synthetic substances (Mb ).  6. Gnawing article (1) for domestic animals according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the material (M) also comprises an additional substance (Mc).  7. Gnawing article (1) for domestic animals according to claim 6, characterized in that the additional substance (Mc) is a substance of medical type.  8. Gnawing article (1) for domestic animals according to claim 6, characterized in that the additional substance (Mc) is a substance of perfumed type.  9. Gnawing article (1) for domestic animals according to claim 8, characterized in that the additional scented substance has the smell of mint, or meat.  10. A method of manufacturing the article according to claims 1 to 9, characterized in that it is made by injecting the biodegradable material (M) into a mold (7) whose imprint (15) has the shape of l item to be manufactured.