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 method of forming a chew toy for an animal, comprising:
providing a fabric having outer and inner surfaces;
providing at least one of an elastomeric polymer and a polymeric precursor, said at least one elastomeric polymer and polymer precursor in liquid form;
placing said fabric with its outer surface against a supporting surface;
distributing said at least one elastomeric polymer and polymeric precursor on to the inner surface of said fabric and forming a composite;
rolling said composite upon itself to form a plurality of layers of alternating fabric and said at least one elastomeric polymer and polymeric precursor;
solidifying said at least one elastomeric polymer and polymeric precursor layers to form overlapping elastomeric layers wherein said inner surface of said fabric is engaged along 50-100% of said fabric inner surface to said elastomeric layers;
wherein said alternating fabric layers and elastomeric layers are present in a spiral configuration, and
wherein said fabric layers are melt bonded or mechanically engaged or chemically engaged with said elastomeric layers.
2. The method of claim 1 wherein said fabric has a weight per unit area of 0.15-15 ounces per square yard.
3. The method of claim 1 wherein said elastomeric layer is capable of 50% elongation with recovery of 50-100%.
4. The method of claim 1 wherein said elastomeric layers penetrate said fabric and are mechanically engaged thereto.
5. The method of claim 1 wherein one of said fabric layers or said elastomeric layers includes an attractant wherein said attractant is present at a level of about 0.1-5.0% by weight.
6. The method of claim 1 wherein said composite is formed to a shape before said elastomeric polymer solidifies.
7. The method of claim 1 wherein said composite has a thickness and includes ends and said ends may be formed to have a thickness less than the thickness of said rolled composite.