Chew toys for domestic carnivorous animals and method for making same

• US 5,673,653 A
• Filed: 09/26/1996
• Issued: 10/07/1997
• Est. Priority Date: 09/26/1996
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Spectrum Brands, Inc. (Spectrum Brands Holdings, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Les R. Sherrill
• Inventors: Sherrill, Les R.
• Primary Examiner(s): Price, Thomas
• Application Number:
  US08/721,348
• Time in Patent Office: 376 Days
• Field of Search: 119/707, 119/709, 119/710, 119/711, 446/386
• US Class Current: 119/709
• CPC Class Codes: A01K 15/026 Chewable toys, e.g. for dental care of pets

Abstract

Chew toys for domestic carnivorous animals having rawhide and jerky sheets or members. The jerky sheets are wrapped in a rawhide sheet by either rolling or folding. This provides an outer layer of rawhide containing jerky therein. A seam is created in rawhide outer layer by the rolling or folding of the rawhide sheet. The jerky preferably extends through this seam to provide an initial attractive odor and taste for the dog and provide an immediate starting point for chewing. The benefits of the jerky and the rawhide are maximized throughout the entire chewing process of the chew toy. Dogs are highly attracted to the scent and taste of jerky, which causes the dog to chew on the rawhide for extended periods of time. This better satisfies the dog'"'"'s instinctive urge to chew, channeling it in a healthy direction, while simultaneously reducing the tartar on their teeth. The jerky is positioned with respect to the rawhide to enable the odor and taste sensations of the jerky to always be present and fresh to the dog.

Claims

1. A chew toy for domestic carnivorous animals comprising:

a sheet member comprised of rawhide;

a member comprised of jerky;

said jerky member being wrapped in said rawhide sheet member.

2. The chew toy of claim 1, wherein said jerky member comprises at least one sheet member.

3. The chew toy of claim 2, further comprising a plurality of jerky sheet members.

4. The chew toy of claim 2, wherein said rawhide sheet member and said jerky sheet member are disposed in a rolled relationship creating a rolled chew toy.

5. The chew toy of claim 4, wherein said rolled chew toy is elongated having first and second ends, said first and second ends including knots therein.

6. The chew toy of claim 5, wherein said jerky member is comprised of traditional jerky.

7. The chew toy of claim 2, wherein said rawhide sheet member and said jerky sheet member are disposed in a folded relationship.

8. The chew toy of claim 1, wherein the proportion of rawhide material to jerky material by weight is in the range between 5:

1 and 15;

1.

9. The chew toy of claim 1, wherein said jerky material is traditional jerky.

10. The chew toy of claim 1, wherein said chew toy is void of synthetic material.

11. A method of forming a chew toy for domestic carnivorous animals, said method comprising the steps of:

providing a sheet member of rawhide;

providing a sheet member consisting of jerky;

placing the sheets of rawhide and jerky in superimposed relationship; and

moving the two sheet members together to wrap the jerky sheet member with the rawhide sheet member.

12. The method of claim 11, wherein said moving step comprises rolling the rawhide and jerky sheet members.

13. The method of claim 12, further comprising the step of tying knots in the ends of the rolled rawhide and jerky sheet members.

14. The method of claim 11, wherein said moving step comprises folding the rawhide and jerky sheet members.

15. The method of claim 11, wherein said placing step comprises positioning the jerky sheet member to overhang the rawhide sheet member such that a portion of the jerky sheet member is visible after the sheet members are moved and the jerky sheet member is wrapped in the rawhide sheet member.

16. The method of claim 11, further comprising providing a plurality of sheet members consisting of jerky material;

placing the jerky sheet members in superimposed relationship with the rawhide sheet members; and

moving the rawhide sheet members and the jerky sheet members together to wrap the jerky sheet members with the rawhide sheet member.

17. The method of claim 11, further comprising the steps (i) soaking the rawhide sheet member prior to said moving step to enhance its malleability, and (ii) drying the rawhide sheet member after said moving step.

18. The method of claim 17, further comprising the step of spraying a mold inhibiting additive on the jerky sheet member prior to said drying and moving steps.

19. A chew toy for domestic carnivorous animals, said chew toy comprising:

an outer layer comprised of rawhide, said outer layer including a longitudinal seam therein;

an inner member comprised of a meat product, said inner member retained substantially within said outer layer;

a portion of said inner member extending through said seam in said outer layer and exposed outside said outer layer.

20. The chew toy of claim 19, said outer layer including a sheet of rawhide, said inner member comprised of jerky, said inner member wrapped in said sheet of rawhide.