Patent ID: 7087260
Filing Date: 2006-08-08
Classification: A01K,A23K,Y10S

Abstract:
1. A method for producing an edible animal chew comprising a molded body portion having a length and an end portion, wherein said chew includes a plurality of outwardly projecting ribs sized to locate between and contact between an animal's teeth when chewed comprising: (a) supplying an edible resin with a selected water content; (b) supplying a mold for molding said resin wherein said mold includes a mold cavity that forms a molded body portion of said edible animal chew having a length and an end portion, and wherein said mold includes a plurality of cavities for forming said plurality of outwardly projecting ribs; (c) selecting a size for said cavities to provide a projection dimension and/or width dimension for said plurality of ribs which projection and/or width dimension is greater than the projection and/or width dimension of the rib desired for said edible animal chew; (d) molding said resin into said animal chew containing a plurality of outwardly projecting ribs; and (e) removing a quantity of said water in said resin such that the amount of dehydration in said body portion is less than the amount of dehydration in said plurality of ribs and reducing the projection dimension and/or width dimension of said plurality of ribs forming said animal chew, wherein said molded body portion and said projecting ribs each have a thickness and said thickness of said body portion is greater than said thickness of said projecting ribs and said plurality of ribs are relatively more rigid than said body portion.