WO2014209436A1 - Molded or extruded catnip composite and method of manufacturing compressed catnip pet toys and pet toys made from the same - Google Patents

Abstract

A cork-catnip composite material is provided that is capable of being molded, compressed, extruded or similarly processed into small or large bodies or sheets and allow for the economic manufacture of a variety of products for domestic pets, especially felines. Dried and granulated catnip (or similar olfactory attractant) is blended with a fill material such as powdered or granulated agglomerate cork material are then mixed with a bonding agent. Lignosulfates bonding agent can be used, as well polyurethane food grade adhesives such as urethane, melaminic and phenolic resins.

Description

MOLDED OR E RUDE C'rHIS' COMPOSX ¾ ¾ D METHOD OF

s poeoyrP D O F T H P I o v toe X O

1. Fd.eld. of the Invention

£0001] e pr esent invention re i a ss ge er 1.1 to per. products that include, the delivery of arortnrio

at. tractaat for eaooirragiag pet interaction nd, sore ^■p r icula ly, to euro par products ioreeo. of a catnip oeoposlf e ao.d. a. netted for making the aaste.

2. Description f the R l t d .art

[0002] depots cataria, corestniy anem as catnip, or cafawcrt or oa to i rat , ia a herbaceous perennial, reserhrirog a rent in p a an e, that ia vioely na total ?onsd elseniorre aa eel 1 aa ctstriercia 1 y groan far specialty purposes, It ia ccorootiiy ased in herbal tee blends? related to sleep, stress reduction, and relaxation, es cei as used at a culinary herb let cook .boa and many dinner .

[0003] The plant terpenoid nepets lactone a the rob. n oneotica! const 1 f aetb. of the essentia] oil of hepeta catena (and state other specter od.fh.fr; the genet PepettP , Thte ecsent.1 al oil is know for choir eha ior l £0 to on he 00c amily, end especially on dceoestie cots, fttps a loo 00.0 acre as the eehaviorat 0 ttractont , with the ooeed.eai entering too feline's oose sod ation a t loo too olfactory receptors > Other plants toot also have this effect on oats include valerian tVeierfooa officinalis} 00b plants than ooota io act io0di ne .

[00041 Used os o recreational substance for pet cats' eoooysteer,, catnip ana c tnip-lacarl prodacts ore deer oned for ase eith doo;os t ica tea cats and arc aoorPiabre so

oooetosera , Used generally aa an atrraorant to encourage play sod interaction, oetoip oososoofy eaoses doavastieated felines to rub on he plan , roil 00 000 g round, pawing at if,. licfrn.g i , a0.0 ebeoioc it. ooosso:i.od catnip is often foliooed by drooling, sioepioeso, anxiety, leaping about and por riboo

OOS] Toore are many oat toys availa le that

incorporate those offsets to provide entertaitaveos to the pet end the owner. Toe soar direct neotood of foreing snob toys is tot eoobross chopped, catnip ear error directly into too soaps of a pot toy itse f, As fi t d sc i ed in i.ba. Pat nt o, 1 , 022, 113, issued in the race of Smith,- a tali made- entirely of com ressed catnip is described, aa -well aa a ball formed o mood,- rubber,, papier --maone or mood pnip pressed into a shape and formed ml id; rece ses thorn are- rilled with catnip compound:, bore recants! y, numerous- dosion patsnso exist for compressed catnip pet toys formed into va rion s ah:apes ,

[0006] it is siiil another -objooi^". of the present

incention to provide a eompooi t.e material thai^", is natarally hydrophobic.

[0007] it is st.il! yet no.her object of the present invention to provide for use of curable, warm, soft, skid resdstaet. and resilient material for ore in conjunction with omestic pet. products that ia focmed sub tantiall -of catena 1 ing red recta ,

[0008] It is cot still another obi not of the present invention to preside for the use of a catnip composite material that results in a soft, teatared "feci" that can be g as ed, clawed or ch w d in a manner thai: is positively received by 0-omestic pecs,

[0009] Further, tine present, inn.-entier; provides a hydrophobic, r-ato aa 1 ly eo 1 d r¾s is taat _f rarraooric centeri a 1 that car- be robustly incorporated into iet of pot or adoo a and product surfa es

[00X0] Further still, the present invention provide a eate ial that has a icca lasting, pnsittve arcana for dona: a t i c pets that can encourage use and interaction oith those pet related products incorporating such ma eri l «

[C011 ] Such toys are popular tor their efficacy, but the cost of the plant enter ial. results in only ana.ll aired devices bao.ng cormartcra fly amehiable e ui es that each devices durations, lis saop those toys often provide for the repieni ehneoi at catnip, either in the form of solid or liquid ext act_., into or ertao.a the toy ion subsequent dispensing cased on movement or rotation or the fog or its interaction oath the sur ounding arm The present

invention is markedly dif erent by providing a leas

expensive aroma ic ooaaiosite rearer ial that oat; be oclLceO; compressed, extruded, or otherwise shaped into snail or range structures economically for extended delivery ctf an el feci ί ve -:eto of aromatic: com ou ds effieacoo

»¾V: 2/24/14 [0012] This, arorng other dieciooed ad an ag s and features, overcoioe toany of the. her reieucres outlined, and. in nt within v. ire hnoeo prior err,

al^

[0013] Therefore, it is en object of oho es n

i rrvere. roo to provide a catnip cosgarei te rare a method tor staking the oaoe,

[00143 ic re another object: of the present i n vera. ion to provide for snot; s oarnip composi a see to produce domestic pet toys end other per od s.

[0015] It is eat another object of tire paaaoeni rrecentio to provj.de ¾ catnip ccesposite t rial capable of being mold d, oaonar.eased, ear. raided or: otherwise shaped into seed or ^'targe eheots or bodiee if aromatic at. tractara. .arterial. 00163 cr¾ described in ore etaaxbmeat of the present i nv ntion ,· a catnap-cor k composi e material, r.o provided that is capable of being eoioorb compressed, extruded or aiivilariv processed into mell or iarqe bodice or sheets cod allow her h : eooncrerc :e:eaeo:o:d: a re or toye and product for domestic pets, especially felines, dried, aod g a ulat d c n oat simila ol..factory aatractant } is blended with fill material saob as powdered or granulated agglomerate cork, material that la typically a waste product, of cor f stopper manufacturing. t is eavisaoneo that simahar materiaia can be alternately used, such as,- for esaaple, w st cedar wood snavsngs or sawdust or ther types of 1 i gnocel iaiose material. The us of varioss types of Ice cost waste edacta or woody Pi omasa ma e ials have been beano to effectively tend the aoonos;io viability of the com ession molded catnip products available rat baa prior art. Too blended coicped, granulated or powdered, materials are then cited with a bonding; agent. An effective bonding agent baa been found in the use of li.gnoattfat.es. bigaosu btates can else be obtained as a recovered waste product from the wood or paper pulping industries, arid further will .make the completed, product of an. bil natural" cons t ruot ion , Other effective bonding agents are known, and can be usee, each as, tor example, polyarethaoe loco, grade

:.:C!V ' 1VOS -

[00X7] As described above, a low cost, all das

substantially) natural composite material can be brassed economically into various shapes. The blended, bonded material cars be extruded, compressed or m lded into sh es or sheets, and g ver; she sconrasy of using a com osi e

.ma eriel whose cosmonauts have an overall lover blended cos:.;, that a mat aria 1 s-ade subs a iall or 100% molded catnip, is is now possible to make much larger bod.:.as, be it pot toys or larger structures;, such as claw core set;.! ng psscp t at preside she attraotant Oecelst. to the domestic re1 loo of catnip,

[0018] The foregoing and other a-specs s will esome apparent irors too :hal.brwiag detailed descrr.pt .-.on of. bhe inven ion soon considered in conjunction vith the

accosiparry sag craving £ looses .

[0019] The advantages and fes.su res of the present

1 nesat .too. will become- cotter understood, si bh reference to the foi.lowi.sp mora detailed description sod claims taken, .ss conjunction with she accompanying drawings, in colon Use elements are identified with like symbol a, and in wh ich :

[00203 FIG. 1 is a schematic view of a catnip composite material being forsoea according to an exemplary embodiment. ot the present invos1.1 oa ; [0021] FIcP 2 is croee se tion l view of s com osite rsaterioi cope according to the exeeurfary oethod. of Fffh x:

[00221 PIG. 1 rs an ex lod d, ers ecti e vices of a co er for use with e et fe der or este bowl .cede

aocorstiog to the preferred ee :oPis:.eot of the present i yen t ion ;

[0023] FIG. s e top perspec ree view theteeid

[0024] FIG. I is a bottom perspective oieo thereof;

[0025] FIG 6a is a perspective ies of a sriaerlaynent mat rseds ccording fc the preferred essbodiecot of the present invention for use is: conjunction ith, a feline rio er box;

[00263 ffh Ft is a perspective view of a

under layoent rear rtace according so the prefe red ssuvodiretot of the present invention for nee in conjunc ion, eith a pot feeder or ea or beei ;

[0027J Flo. its through FIG , ^"d are dcsseatic cat scret oite r s i nco rpore t .nq tFe c>0;oos11s cs ser i a I sccore.1oy tc the preferred eeboc ironrt of tee present invention; see.

[0028] FfO. so through PTG< Bp are deoeetio net fnrro. store of alternate designs forced of the coruooeite mate ial according to the preferred esenosueect of tne present^', invention

0029] It shoo re. be anderotocd that the m os e

■rate rial of the present invent .tor.:, cor; he fo med through a number of ¾xt r as .ton or compression me ds to e adapted to various designs, including; she s, .btted nates, bulk shapes or net molded shapes, and that tree present al o Insure is intended to describe preferred rmtboditoarut s of the preserv in ve tt.ro ft ,

[0030] The beet, code for eer.ry.tiov our the r soon t.. t.oo io presented in terms of i ts preferred embodiment herein depicted ooftrsto the Figures ,

1. detailed b script ion of toe Figures

[0031 j before espial nine; tore present i ven io is detail, rt is 1 trp ore ant to understand that the inven ion so net limited in its application to the details of the co^'n struct ion i 1 lust rated end the f turret far loos desc ibed herein. The invention is capable of other estbodtsaeot and of being practiced o carried eat in a scooter y of ways. It is to ire understood that the phraseology end terminology m loyed herein as tor the go rposfe of description and not of i .1 soarataon ,

[ 0032 ] In ton following detailed description of a first err d, em odi nt ami a eecorno pre rred, embodiment of a ne present inoeat foa , .r feaeaoa 1 a eaae t o tha

acooinpany i og draeiags which, an cen e.ne ion with, this detai Iod d¾sc ipt!o.u , idleatrate and deaotiba a fi rat preferred embodi ent and a econd preferred, embodimen of a pet toy ball eeder in aaccordanee aita. the present

invention. Referring rate to the drawings, in w ich like- referenced cha tatters represent corresponding elements throughout the several vrewa, attention la first directed, to kith J. and FIG. 2, a composato oaheerlal la shown being formed and formed, respectively, of three main components; a scold at ractare: it; a 1. innoeel 1rnloae fil er staterial 20; and a binding ageat 30.

[ 0033 ] s. solid, att.raat.snt 10 is preferably a dried arid granulated catnip. It should be obvicars to a person having ordinary skill in the releases art, i light of the present teachings, that equivalent e lac m nts for dries; and granalated catnip can be atill seen including, bat not limited to, any plant containing a terpenoid nope ta 1 act;one or simila chemical to he essential oil of Nepsta ectasia and er ecies witnsn e genus bepeta_,, as well aa other [003 1 It is a ticipated that other seda ives st y be incorporated, to accooeoooa o paceicsiar aces cor design coercee_f soon as, too esecpio., tore Incor or ion of coos rn order e pesvide onlets or ethe res so a iter the aost.estic of the final article. Other func io al additives, ouch as odor absorbing sectorials, esc further be incorporated irefo toe sueglooeratee. fsobered composite recto oral , Such odor absorbing materials soy include becten ite , secl^'lte, or ether clays or odor absorbent cater 1 si s Aga.-.n, be eolectsen end toccct son or such additional ddit.1 sec will be more apparent en cornj unction with the additional

doser i t ion bo1oa

[SOBS] b solid stfrsctant 10 is preferably a dried an granulated catnip, It should be obvious to a per sen h ving ordinary skill in toe relevant art, in light of the present tea hing , th t equivalent repl cements for d ied and granulated catnip can be utilised, incise leg. Oat sot liartac: to, soy plant: containing: a terpenoid nope select one or similar chesiicsri to the essential oil of depots ce tools arsd other species within too genus dopeta, as noli as other plants: that ara known to have offence on care, including; voLariaa. (valerians officinalis) sod plants that contain act^', n! di e -

[0036] Tan 1 sgoarsi 1close tail at materia 20 is

preferabl granulated or g lomer ed cork, Cork la

aemmetoral iy heroescad from too bora tIsaac of the Cera Cent {i.e. Quercus sober; hioils a majority of the cork harvest is used each year in the manufacture of ciae bottle

stoppers are) other closures,, for toe ur ose of the present invention it is intended that lass value added waste atrcas-r from ouch production ho re-purposed, /or soon,, at aa intended that flaked, chipped, ground, agoleaserate or manufacturing ^dustb from ether cork ssoaufaoso r 1 no

processes aaa to be scorned and resum d as toe filler aiar.erisl ah of the present ssent .ton , To slate_,, such

"poos!or" created from griodrna or cutting io acre

marnsfacturhag has beer- burned In boilers for ateas^"; arid eoetgy prooaction ,

[0037] It shoul be obvious to a person having ordina y ahi!l in the relevan art, in light at res reaero:

teachings, that equivalent repl. aoamenta for ground or aqg 1 osu;rated cork sari be utilized, including, but not listened to, any plant containing ligr;ooellulase sneh as, by way of -ax am le nd no e-eani a a a 1 ltd tat 1 on ,■ saedast, eood chips, wood cei en. a or wood shavings of any tyco, s h a a cedar, pine, or the ilka,, ay nail a a vat ion a eoody bioeeuss mate 1 a i a The use of cedar or pine a a preferred aa an

tern e me.ie.tlal In teat these a l natural materi ls are already tili ed in domestic pet p oducts, such, as for use in ca t li ter or araa 11 anises i beading , and the a a use i s generally aoeeptcd by both pe s ami pet oeuera.

[0038] la the preferred eoDodieent_f the binding agent 30 can bo a 1 rgreastflf ate binder,, which haa boon ound to bo an of fact .too bo.ud.tng agent, for both dried and ground catnip as noil as for cork. Other effective bonding agents are beoen and can be us s, such as, for example, various

1 asamopfaat in roasae and pctyarethane food grade adboareoa,

1. Operation of the Preferred Puree.? latent

[0039] Ps described i the pore a en t invent.! on, a catnip- eerb ccrtpesire eiat.er.tai is provided, teat is capable- of being molded, coapeaeaseo, extruded or similarly proceoaed into small or .large bodies or sheets and alloc for the e onomic manufacture of oy . products for sourest ic pe s, es ecially felines. ¾s described a o , a low cost, all (or eobsysmsti a 11 y ) natural aaaryarsite in seri l car: be formed scorasmical ly lute va io s abapau. The blsusdesp bonded material car ba -xtraded, eoapreaued or molded in o shapea os sheets, sad given the economy of using a

composite saucereel hose csrspoaente have an. overall lower blended cost that a material oada substantially of lets msdderi oarCsip, it. is ruin possible r.o rssRs ssieh ierger bodies, be is yet ys or larger s ecures, such, as claw scratching poets, that provide tun ettxactant benefit, to the domestic feline of catnip,

[0040] deferring new so PIG, 3 shnsogh nyg _< id an swempiary design fox a cover 10 for use with a pet feeder or water Oow.1 S2 is shown saute according to she preferred ertbedi eat of rise esen invention. In. this sssesyihsry design, a pet food and/so: water bowl it, such as a piactio or stainless steel pot feeder, is shown ha oon.juncti.on. with a cork owmyxreite ueHesial cover 10 th t is preferably duraois and liahtweight, ares provides; an aesthetic lly pleasing appearance, prosecsisn to both the bowl and the surface on which the bowl may be sec upon, and possibly some i s la ing ro e ii- to one contents pieced therein. Tina se or a composite material ncorporat i ig a catnip or funcr. ion i egni mti.ent solid attractant may bo ag lomer t d with a cork filler material and molded ooOb a binding agen to provide a domestic got feede that .it attractive to domestic go org oepooi.ai.lv fed, inss, Pur then, the

consistency and texture of the cover 50 :;.a quiet, unen contacted with hard sarracas, unlike a olded plastic tody. Farther _> it re ffirmeo or a. closed ceilaiar struc ure that re hydrophobic and inhibit cold growth:. The cover 60 eey bo placed about at least a ortion of an exterior or e: bowl, or com.piaa.aiy aucase the hewi siafewaii. Tea cover 50 can rams ini n affixed to the bowl, or r l contact the bowl through so out oriesence or friction contact, tit.

Further, ao adhesive may be placed between the exterior of the howl and the interior of the cover.

[0041] As shown in conjunction with Fled fa arid Flo. 6b, exemplary designs tor underp ym t mats 08 are shown for use in conjunction with a aoh animal litter box 60 ; fi G. 6a ί or. a pat feeder or water bowl Fr it;, 6b >, arui

incorpora ing the composite material according to the pre for red embodiment of the cm.corn ^· invent ion . The cork.- catnip eodeer is Is car: p rtner incorpo e odor absorbing rnaterials, a d cri ed above, to counteract the odors gen ra ed by use of a ssedl aera-el li ter boo For ther ctrli, do natural hycaeepcabateity of the acre materials oil! prevent eater dam ge one to spills or overflow from the pot food and vaster bowl.a if.

[00423 os shown an conjunction with FIG. ^"a through FIG. ?cp exemplary designs for domestic cat pcratc ers are shown iocorposa ting the composi e material according to the preferred embodiment or the present inventi err. The cork- catnip composite eadteriab. can be at taxed, aa a functional ear race elemena 7a, as shown i FIG, 7b through. FIG, ^'bp or as assembled into scratching^' past design 0, as ehowa an ?^'IG. 7a,

00433 fir sheen i.o FIG. as through FIG. fob domestic pet furniture B0 of alternate eaeaaelaay designs ere shown further farmed of the composite material according to the preferred e bodiment at the present invention,

[0044] The foregoing d acr .apt .Leas of specific

eshasehbeanta or the present invention have been presented tor purposes of illustration ana description _v They arc not intended to be exhaustive or to licit the invention to the recis ΤΟΓΪΪΪΚ disclosed, end obviously essny modi. floa i one and oardee lone ere possible in liedet of the abo teacelnq. The mbodim nts ere chosen and described, in. order to beet explain the principles of toe invention end ito practical application, to thereby enable ethers ski led in he art to best etiiire the in ention end various embodiments with veriooa modifications as are cuffed to he particular use contemplated, it i i ended that tee scope of the

i nverb: en bo omrineh by the hiaiese appenooa hereto and their eqorvaieeta Therefore, the scope of the invention is to be limited only by tee following oloiets.

Claims

W^'het. is ci a iseel is

I, it composite material suhetaat ial ly cooprr s log :

a . so lid. af t rac i ari ;

b. a lignooelluiose filler material; and

cm binding agent;

wherein s d composite materiel provides sufficient d li ery aromatic olfactory attraetant to be effective in having an interactive response slid^": a domestic feline. in The composite material of Cia.bc 1, w ere.!:: said solid a to ractarb. is selected from toe group oonsistrng oil: dried and granulated catnip; plant containing a terpenoid nepetalactone or srodler chemical to the essential oil of depeta cat aria; other opcodes within the genus depot a; other plants that art- moor- to have effects on eats;

vaierrae. (Valeriana officinalis); and plants that contain ct 1 nrdi ne .

1. Tire composite material of Claim 1, wherein r id ligno'Oe 1.1 oisse filler material is selected from the group consisting of: granulated or agglorer r a tod cork; sawdust, wood chips, wood pellets, and wood sha^;o;nge of cedar; and, s wdu , wood chips, wood pellets, a.ac. wood shavings piaC

4. The co.oposi.tc cc tar i 1 of Plain 1, wherein sai d solid atlreataat. coneeises between about lit ;c about^". 101 of th overa 11 coagaos 1 r. io.a , by wei ght , a. Th composite material of Claim 1, wherein aarO filler rraterial comprises between about Bid. to about^". 101 of overall ooisposi t loo _s by weight,

6, The composite of oluhit .1, wherein said binding agent ce priees about 101 or !oas of the eve rail concposi r. for: , by-

id The com osi e material of Clara: 1, wherein aaid binding- agent is sci.eotod front the group consis g of; food grade peri yarebhaa.es ; oee.tr in; casein? gelatin; urea- formaldehyde; ancl.ee; urethune reams; celacin.ro rosi ns; phortol.ro res has; ant; 1 laaoea i. fa te binders. 8, The com osi e material of Claim 2, wherein said filler material, is selected iruea the group eoaaiat ing of:

granulated or ago lore- ra sec; cor;:; sawdust, wood eha.ps, wood, l ets, and wood shavings or coda:; s dust, wood ehipe, wood peii ots, and wood shavings pine; ea lei arc carbonate; calotte; bentoni e; zeolite; and or other clays materials_*

9, The com osite material of Cl.aao a, wh ein said solid. aca:aoaoa comprises between about. 101 tea aboai: £01 of the oaera.J.1 oorr_^. oaiti o , by we1gn s ,

10, The composite material of dlaim a, wherein said filler raeceriai co pr 1 see between about eel to about 20a of overa 11 caempoai tion, y wei ght ,

11, The ccueposise o Claim 10, wherein eaia binding^' agent comprises about 20a o less of the overall com osit i on >■ by weight

12, The composite materiel of Claim 2, wherein said binding agent is selected from the group consisting of; food a : : :·.η· pol yo re- sbaa.ee ; dextrin; ea;se.in; gelatin; ore-a-- form ldehyde; amine; srefhane resins; melaminic resins; phenolic resins; and 1 iqnmsul fate binders >

13. The composite material of Cleirn. B ,. wherein said binding agent is selected from the group co sisting of: feed grade poiyurethanos; dextrin; casein; gelatin; urea- orm ldehyde; amine; nrefhane resins; semamfai resins; phenolic resins; and. I.ignosaiia r.e binders,

14. The composite material of Claim I, further comprising the incorporation of dyes in order to provide colors or otherwise a.Iter the aesthetic of the final article.

15. An uoder!aymenf. mat for placement under a pet. flood or water bowl formed suostsntaaliy of a moldabio or

eotrudabie catnip composite roaferisi of Claim 1.

16» The ■ruder laymen B mat for placement under a small animal litter hoe formed subta tially of a moica de or eKtroOan.le catnip composite materia.:, of Claim 1.

17, A cat scratche tossed sunslantiaiiy of a molsiebls or toip composite materiel of Claim 1,