| Nutritional small animal treat -> Monitor Keywords |
|
|
 
Nutritional small animal treatRelated Patent Categories: Food Or Edible Material: Processes, Compositions, And Products, Product With Added Inedible Feature Other Than That Which Constitutes A PackageNutritional small animal treat description/claimsThe Patent Description & Claims data below is from USPTO Patent Application 20060204623, Nutritional small animal treat. Brief Patent Description - Full Patent Description - Patent Application Claims
CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS [0001] This application claims priority from Provisional Application Ser. No. 60/660,821 filed on Mar. 11, 2005, which is hereby incorporated by reference in its entirety. FIELD OF THE INVENTION [0002] The present invention relates to a pet treat for a small animal having inclusions, whereby the inclusions preferably enhance both the nutritional value and palatability of the treat. In particular, the pet treat is formed from a substrate material and any of a variety of inclusions including oil seed, forage crop, cereal grains, or any combination thereof. BACKGROUND OF INVENTION [0003] Generally, pet owners purchase small animal pet treats to occupy an animal. Most small animal pet treats include seeds that are agglomerated into granola bars. In particular, these pet treats are food-like products, which may have some nutritional value. [0004] Of the known compositions for use in small animal treats and chews, most are made from seed blends "glued" together with sugar, starch, or fat, and formed into shapes. Typically, these small animal treats and chews dissolve in moist environments. Furthermore, the known compositions are consumed relatively quickly and do not help satisfy the gnawing desires of small animals. Many known small animal treat compositions made from sugar or starch crumble when consumed by an animal. Other known small animal treat compositions made using fats to agglomerate seed blends cannot be used in warm environments as the treats readily melt. As such, a need exists for a long lasting small animal treat that does not readily degrade in water, melts under heat, or crumble and satisfies the gnawing desires of small animals. SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION [0005] The present invention relates to a nutritional small animal treat formed from a polymeric material and inclusions. One particular interaction of the invention includes protein polymer and seed inclusions. Advantageously, the small animal treat exhibits ductility, does not melt, and does not dissolve in humid or wet environments. In addition, the small animal treat is long lasting while providing some nutritional value to the consuming animal. For example, the polymeric material may include protein polymers derived from wheat protein. Available inclusions enhance both the nutritional value and palatability of the treat. Examples of suitable inclusions are oil seeds, grain, forage crop, or combinations thereof. As such, a treat is developed that is specifically formulated for small companion animals. [0006] The pet treat is formed from an amount of a polymeric material that when cured is ductile. The treat further has inclusions. Preferably, the inclusions are an oil seed blend and/or grain blend which includes brassica, castor, groundnut, canola, flaxseed, niger, safflower, sesame, soybean, rapeseed, cotton, peanuts, sunflower, rice, corn, wheat, milo, millet, and mixtures thereof. In other embodiments, the inclusions are a forage crop blend that includes alfalfa, alsike clover, birdsfoot trefoil, crownvetch, hairy vetch, ladino clover, Korean lespedeza, red clover, sweet clover, white dutch clover, orchardgrass, tall fescue, perennial ryegrass, Kentucky bluegrass, timothy, reed canarygrass, smooth bromegrass, big bluestem, switchgrass, indiangrass, sorghum X sudan, and sudangrass. Alternatively, a birdseed can be used. Suitable birdseeds include millet, canary grass, flax seed, oat groats, corn gluten mean, stone ground corn, ground soybean, brewers rice, and blends thereof. [0007] The pet treat may be formulated for ferrets, chinchillas, squirrels, hedgehogs, guinea pigs, prairie dogs, rabbits, gerbils, hamsters, mice, and rats. In addition, the pet treat of the present invention may be formed by any method generally known in the art, such as injection molding or extrusion. [0008] Other aspects and features of the invention are described in more detail below. DETAILED DESCRIPTION [0009] A nutritional pet treat product formed from a polymeric material and an inclusion component has been discovered. The inclusion preferably imparts both nutritional value and is palatable. Also, the inclusion should be such that a companion animal can consume it. The small animal treat is such that it does not readily crumble, tear, melt under hot environments, or fall apart in humid conditions. Advantageously, depending upon the formulation of the inclusion, the pet treat is suitable for a variety of companion animals and, in particular, for small companion animals, such as birds, chinchillas, squirrels, hedgehogs, guinea pigs, prairie dogs, rabbits, gerbils, hamsters, mice, rats, and ferrets. [0010] The polymeric material should be edible and digestible, and does not readily degrade in water, nor melt in hot environments. The polymeric material should also be capable of being formed into a desired finished shape. This can be accomplished through injection molding, an extrusion process, or a co-extrusion process. Additionally, the polymeric material is such that it readily retains and holds various inclusions. [0011] Suitable polymeric materials for use in forming the pet treat can be selected from protein, starch, synthetic materials, and combinations thereof. Such polymers are, typically, readily digestible by an animal. Polymers high in protein are preferred for use because protein does not readily breakdown, soften, or dissolve in water. The protein polymers may be derived from protein fractions found in wheat, soy, corn, barley, and other types of seeds, vegetables, or plants. Preferably the protein polymer is derived from wheat protein. Although there are a variety of starch types and sources for starch, a preferred starch is one that is not chemically modified and contains significant levels of amylopectin. A preferred source of starch may be selected from the group consisting of wheat, tapioca, corn, rice, maize, potato, other plant starches, or blends thereof. Also, carbohydrates, other than starches, may be used. It should be noted that chemical and physical modifications of the polymer or polymer base could improve ductile characteristics. In addition, a single or multiple polymer may be used. [0012] The resultant pet treat is formed of between about 40% and about 95% by weight polymeric material, more preferably between about 55% and about 90% by weight. Polymeric material means the polymer or polymers that form the treat, as well as the additives, except the inclusion components. Preferably, the pet treat will have a water activity level equal to or less than 0.9, and a moisture content equal to or less than 25% by weight. Generally speaking, the pet treat has a nutritional composition comprising a protein content from about 25% to about 40% by weight, a fat content from about 1% to about 8% by weight, a fiber content from about 5% to about 10% by weight, and a moisture content of from about 8% to about 15% by weight. [0013] In order to ensure that the polymeric material has sufficient ductility, it is often required to add a softener/plasticizer/constituent. A preferred plasticizer is a humectant that binds water, such as propylene glycol, glycerin, sorbitol, mannitol, and mixtures thereof. Any of a variety of other plasticizers, however, may be used, as long as the resultant polymeric material has the above-mentioned characteristics. Typically, the plasticizer constituent will be added to the polymeric material in an amount equal to between about 10% and 65% by weight of the polymeric material. This amount may vary, however, dependent upon the particular polymeric material, the particular plasticizer, and the desired finished characteristics of the treat. As before, it is preferred if the plasticizer is readily digestible by the animal, or passes through the animal with no ill side effects. [0014] A variety of different materials may be used as inclusion components found in the pet treat. The inclusions preferably impart both nutritional value and palatability to the pet treat. Typically, the inclusion components will be ground or processed into fine particles. The components include oil seed and forage crop blends or mixtures of both. [0015] The oil seed and grains include brassica, castor, groundnut, canola, flaxseed, niger, safflower, sesame, soybean, rapeseed, cotton, peanuts, sunflower, wheat, rice, corn, millet, milo, sorghum, rye, barley, and mixtures thereof. [0016] Forage crop inclusions may also be used, such as a legume. Examples of legume forage crops suitable for use in the invention include alfalfa, alsike clover, birdsfoot trefoil, crownvetch, hairy vetch, ladino clover, Korean lespedeza, red clover, sweet clover, and white dutch clover. In a further embodiment, the forage crop is a grass. Suitable examples of forage crop grasses include orchardgrass, tall fescue, perennial ryegrass, Kentucky bluegrass, timothy, reed canarygrass, smooth bromegrass, big bluestem, switchgrass, indiangrass, sorghum X sudan, and sudangrass. Other available inclusions are whole and ground cereal crop seeds. Suitable cereal crop seeds include oat groats, corn gluten meal, stone ground corn, ground soybeans, brewers rice, ground wheat, ground oats, dried cane molasses, rye, barley, sorghum and millet. Further, the inclusion may include a forage crop and ground cereal crop. In the alternative, the inclusion may include an oil seed blend and a ground cereal crop. In an additional embodiment, the inclusion may comprise an oil seed blend, a forage crop blend and a ground cereal crop. [0017] Preferably, the inclusion will be a mixture of oil seeds, forage crop and ground cereal crop to form a birdseed formulation. Typically, the birdseed formulation will comprise millet, canary grass, flax seed, oat groats, corn gluten meal, stone ground corn, ground soybean and brewers rice. Another group of inclusions include a mixture of a forage crop and a ground cereal crop blend, the specific group of crops include alfalfa, oat groats, ground wheat, ground soybean, ground corn, and dried cane molasses. [0018] The inclusion components may be added in an amount equal to between about 5% and about 60% by weight of the polymeric substrate material. The inclusion components are more preferably added in an amount equal to between about 10% and about 45% by weight of the polymeric substrate material. Even more preferably, the inclusion components are added in an amount equal to between about 15% and about 35% by weight of the polymeric substrate material. [0019] Optionally, various mineral powders may be used with the present invention. The mineral powders also include dicalcium phosphate, calcium carbonate, slat, yucca shidigera extract, vitamin A supplement, choline chloride, DL-methionine, ferrous carbonate, manganous oxide, zinc oxide, riboflavin supplement, vitamin B.sub.12 Supplement, Vitamin E Supplement, ethoxyquin, copper sulfate, niacin, menadione sodium bisulfite complex, cholecalciferol, calcium pantothenate, pyridoxine hydrochloride, thiamine mononitrate, calcium iodate, biotin, cobalt carbonate, sodium selenite, and/or folic acid. The pet treat may further include a fermentation additive, natural flavor, or an artificial color. Continue reading about Nutritional small animal treat... Full patent description for Nutritional small animal treat Brief Patent Description - Full Patent Description - Patent Application Claims Click on the above for other options relating to this Nutritional small animal treat patent application. ###  How KEYWORD MONITOR works... a FREE service from FreshPatents1. Sign up (takes 30 seconds). 2. Fill in the keywords to be monitored. 3. Each week you receive an email with patent applications related to your keywords. Start now! - Receive info on patent apps like Nutritional small animal treat or other areas of interest. ### Previous Patent Application: Sweet microwave popcorn product and method for production thereof Next Patent Application: Process and apparatus for enhancing peel oil extraction Industry Class: Food or edible material: processes, compositions, and products ### FreshPatents.com Support Thank you for viewing the Nutritional small animal treat patent info. IP-related news and info Results in 0.12619 seconds Other interesting Feshpatents.com categories: Qualcomm , Schering-Plough , Schlumberger , Seagate , Siemens , Texas Instruments , 174 |
 * Protect your Inventions * US Patent Office filing 
PATENT INFO |
|
