GB2316331A - Dog chew - Google Patents

Abstract

A chewable pet product is provided which is a bone shaped product die cut from the side wall of a car tyre. The air tyre is cleansed in a silica bath prior to cutting.

Description

PET PRODUCT This invention relates to a pet product and methods of making such product.

Domestic pets particularly dogs are very fond of chewable articles. These exercise the gum and teeth of the pet. Usually the articles are formed into a shape which facilities chewing and in the case of dogs the product will often take the shape of a bone although there are many other shapes that are equally popular providing they are of a size and shape which allows for chewability by an animal.

Such products have been made of rubber but moulded rubber articles using conventional rubber formulae tend to be too soft and will not stand up to vigorous chewing and other wear by the pet particularly the dog.

It has now been found that an acceptable, chewable pet product can be produced from the side walls of car tyres.

This is surprising since it would have been believed that tyre products would contain chemical components which would either be harmful to a dog or render the product unappetising.

Such products also have the advantage of providing a use for recycled used car tyres.

The product is readily made by treating the used tyre for example in a cleansing silica bath, cutting the tyre circumferentially and then cutting out the used tyre using a die-cutter press (sometimes called a "clicker" press) with dies of the desired shape.

Preferably the portion of the tyre employed is the side wall so avoiding materials in the tread such as wire which could damage a dog's mouth.

The articles can be in any chewable form although one having a profile of a bone shape is preferred. The resulting products have been found sufficiently soft to give a chewability action which helps clean the teeth of the pet and the gums.

Therefore according to the invention there is provided a chewable pet product comprising a shaped article cut from the walls of a tyre. The invention also provides a method of forming a chewable, shaped pet product by cutting shaped articles from portions of a tyre wall. The cutting is most suitably effected by a shaped die cutting device.

Preferably the articles are cut from the side walls of the tyre and particularly the articles can be in the shape which has the profile of a bone. Prior to cutting out, the tyre can be cleansed to remove dirt, undesirable surface materials and any other products in a normal tyre which might not be desirable in the pet product.

Claims (6)

CLAIMS:

1. A chewable pet product comprising a shaped article cut from the walls of a car tyre.

2. A product according to claim 1, in which the product is cut from the side wall of the tyre.

3. A product according to either of claims 1 and 2, which is in a shape having the profile of a bone.

4. A method of forming a product according to any one of claims 1 to 3, in which a car tyre is cleansed, cut circumferentially and then shaped portions are cut from the side wall with a die-cutter press with the dies of the desired shape.

5. A method according to claim 4, wherein the tyre is first treated with a cleansing silica bath to remove dirt and undesirable surface materials.

6. A chewable pet product substantially as hereinbefore described.