Chew toy with fabric or fabric layering
View Patent ↗The present disclosure relates to chew toys comprising a fabric and a polymeric material. The fabric and polymeric material may be present as one or more layers. The chew toys may specifically include a fabric having an outer or exposed surface which may include written/printed indicia. The fabric may be capable of stretching with the polymeric layer and the fabric layer may have an inner surface substantially engaged to the polymeric material. Such engagement may therefore avoid delamination and present a relatively smooth surface without disruptions. Such composite may therefore provide durability and resistance to an animal chewing action.
1. A chew toy comprising:
alternating layers of elastomer and fabric providing a plurality of layers of elastomer and fabric that overlap in a spiral configuration, said fabric layer including outer and inner surfaces, said fabric comprising a first and second plurality of fibers;
said fabric capable of stretching at about 0.1-10% in at least two planes with an angle α between said planes at about 1-179 degrees,
said elastomeric layer having an outer surface, wherein said fabric layer is melt bonded or mechanically engaged or chemically engaged with said elastomeric layer and wherein said fabric covers at least a portion of said elastomeric layer and wherein said inner surface of said fabric is engaged along 50-100% of said fabric inner surface to said outer surface of said elastomeric layer and wherein upon flexing of said toy, said outer fabric layer stretches and remains engaged to said elastomeric layer.
2. The chew toy of claim 1 wherein said fabric has a weight per unit area of 0.15-15 ounces per square yard.
3. The chew toy of claim 1 wherein said fabric comprises a woven, a non-woven or a knit.
4. The chew toy of claim 1 wherein said elastomeric layer is capable of 50% elongation with recovery of 50-100%.
5. The chew toy of claim 1 wherein said elastomeric layer is a foam and has a density of 5-100 pounds per cubic foot.
6. The chew toy of claim 5 wherein said elastomeric foam has 25-250 pores per linear inch.
7. The chew toy of claim 5 comprising 1-40 layers of fabric and 1-40 layers of foam.
8. The chew toy of claim 1 wherein said elastomeric material penetrates said fabric.
9. The chew toy of claim 1 wherein at least one of said fabric layer or said elastomeric layer includes an attractant wherein said attractant is present at a level of about 0.1-5.0% by weight.
10. The chew toy of claim 1 wherein said elastomeric layer comprises cis- and/or trans-1,4-polyisoprene.
11. The chew toy of claim 1 wherein said inner surface of said fabric is engaged along 90-100% of said fabric inner surface to said outer surface of said elastomeric layer.
12. A chew toy comprising:
a fabric layer, including outer and inner surfaces, said fabric comprising a first and second plurality of fibers;
said fabric capable of stretching at about 0.1-10% in at least two planes with an angle α between said planes at about 1-179 degrees,
an elastomeric layer comprising a diene polymer having an outer surface, wherein said fabric layer is melt bonded or mechanically engaged or chemically engaged with said elastomeric layer and wherein said fabric covers at least a portion of said elastomeric layer and wherein said inner surface of said fabric is engaged along 50-100% of said fabric inner surface to said outer surface of said elastomeric layer and wherein upon flexing of said toy, said outer fabric layer stretches and remains engaged to said elastomeric layer, wherein said fabric layer and elastomeric layer are present as a plurality of layer in said chew toy and overlap one another in a spiral configuration.