Aerated polymeric composition

Abstract

The present invention relates to an aerated polymeric composition. The composition includes a protein polymer and an agent or method for causing porosity in the finished aerated polymeric composition, such as a leavening agent. Additionally, the present invention relates to methods for forming the aerated polymeric composition, in particular, methods for forming aerated pet treats or chews.

1 . An aerated pet chew, the pet chew comprising: 
 (a) a body, the body including a substantially sealed, non-porous outer skin; and,    (b) an inner portion integral with the skin, with the inner portion having a porous construction and, at least, substantially surrounded by the skin, the inner portion including a plurality of cavities or air pockets to provide the body with elastic deformability and flexibility;    (c) a plant protein polymer in an amount ranging between about 20% and about 70%; and,    (d) a reducing agent, whereby the disulfide bonds have been cleaved within the pet chew in a range between about 2.0% and about 75%.    
   
   
       2 . The pet chew of  claim 1 , wherein the chew has a pliability equal to being bent in half, without breaking.  
   
   
       3 . The pet chew of  claim 1 , wherein the chew has cavities ranging in size between 0.0005 inches and 0.040 inches.  
   
   
       4 . A method for forming an aerated pet chew, the method comprising: 
 (a) forming a dry blend composition containing a protein polymer that is biodegradable, digestible, flowable, and can be formed into a selected shape;    (b) adding a slurry mixture to the dry blend;    (c) adding an amount of a leavening agent to the dry blend, whereby the dry blend, slurry mixture, and leavening agent combine to form a polymeric composition;    (d) heating the polymeric composition to achieve a homogeneous and flowable composition and activate the leavening agent to form an aerated polymeric composition;    (e) forming the aerated polymeric composition pet chew; and,    (f) curing the pet chew with heat to form a thermal set pet chew.    
   
   
       5 . The method of  claim 4 , wherein the method further includes coating the pet chew after the forming step and prior to the curing step to eliminate sticking.  
   
   
       6 . The method of  claim 4 , wherein the temperatures for heating the polymeric composition range between about 25° C. and about 75° C.  
   
   
       7 . The method of  claim 4 , wherein the leavening agent is a compound that produces a gas in the presence of heat.  
   
   
       8 . The method of  claim 7 , wherein the compound is selected from the group consisting of sodium bicarbonate, baking powder, sodium acid pyrophosphate, monocalcium phosphate, sodium aluminum phosphate, and combinations thereof.  
   
   
       9 . The method of  claim 4 , wherein the leavening agent is a compressed gas.  
   
   
       10 . The method of  claim 9 , wherein the compressed gas is selected from the group consisting of CO 2 , nitrogen, compressed air, helium, and combinations thereof.  
   
   
       11 . The method of  claim 4 , wherein the protein polymer is a plant protein.  
   
   
       12 . The method of  claim 11 , wherein the plant protein is wheat gluten.  
   
   
       13 . The method of  claim 4 , wherein the curing step comprises denaturing the aerated polymeric composition pet chew by heating the pet chew at a temperature ranging between about 80° C. and about 145° C. to form a thermal set pet chew.  
   
   
       14 . The method of  claim 4 , wherein the dry blend comprises plant protein equal to between about 20% and about 70% by weight of the dry blend, starch equal to between about 5% and about 50% by weight of the dry blend, and a reducing agent for cleaving disulfide bonds equal to between about 0.01% and about 0.5% by weight of the dry blend.  
   
   
       15 . The method of  claim 4 , wherein the dry blend further comprises processing aids, cellulose, flavors, starch, and colors.  
   
   
       16 . The method of  claim 4 , wherein the slurry mixture comprises a humectant and water.  
   
   
       17 . The method of  claim 16 , wherein the humectant is selected from the group consisting of propylene glycol, glycerin, sucrose, glucose, fructose, dextrose, maltose, maltitol, sorbitol, salt, monosaccharide, disaccharide, metal salt, sodium chloride, and combinations thereof.  
   
   
       18 . The method of  claim 4 , wherein the leavening agent is added in an amount ranging between about 0.05% and about 5.0% by weight of the polymeric composition.  
   
   
       19 . The method of  claim 4 , wherein the method for shaping is an extrusion process that utilizes an extruder selected from the group consisting of a twin screw extruder and a single screw extruder.  
   
   
       20 . The method of  claim 16 , wherein the slurry mixture comprises an amount of water ranging between about 5% and about 25% by weight of the slurry mixture.  
   
   
       21 . The method of  claim 4 , which comprises a method of shaping selected from the group consisting of extrusion, injection molding, and compression molding.  
   
   
       22 . The method of  claim 16 , wherein the slurry mixture comprises a humectant in an amount equal to between about 5% and about 85% by weight of the slurry mixture.  
   
   
       23 . The method of  claim 5 , wherein the coating step includes adding an agent selected from the group consisting of fine milled grain flour, cornstarch, petrolatum, wheat starch, mineral oil, petroleum jellies, and combinations thereof.  
   
   
       24 . A composition for forming an aerated polymeric composition, the composition comprising: 
 (a) a dry blend;    (b) a slurry mixture;    (c) a leavening agent; and,    (d) a reducing agent.    
   
   
       25 . The composition of  claim 24 , wherein the dry blend comprises a compound selected from the group consisting of a plant protein polymer, processing aids, cellulose, flavors, and colors.  
   
   
       26 . The composition of  claim 24 , wherein the slurry comprises a humectant and water.  
   
   
       27 . The composition of  claim 26 , wherein the humectant is selected from the group consisting of propylene glycol, glycerin, sucrose, glucose, fructose, dextrose, maltose, maltitol, sorbitol, salt, monosaccharide, disaccharide, metal salt, sodium chloride, and combinations thereof.  
   
   
       28 . The composition of  claim 24 , wherein the leavening agent is added in an amount ranging between about 0.05% and about 5.0% by weight of the composition.  
   
   
       29 . The composition of  claim 26 , wherein the amount of water in the composition ranges between about 5.0% and about 25.0% by weight of the composition.  
   
   
       30 . The composition of  claim 24 , wherein the dry blend comprises a plant protein polymer in an amount equal to between about 20% and about 70% by weight, a starch equal to between about 5% and about 50% by weight, and a reducing agent equal to between about 0.01% and about 0.5% by weight of the dry blend.  
   
   
       31 . The composition of  claim 24 , further comprising a coating, wherein the coating is selected from the group consisting of fine milled grain flour, cornstarch, petrolatum, wheat starch, mineral oil, petroleum jellies, and combinations thereof.  
   
   
       32 . The composition of  claim 24 , wherein the leavening agent is a compound that produces a gas in the presence of heat.  
   
   
       33 . The composition of  claim 32 , wherein the compound is selected from the group consisting of sodium bicarbonate, baking powder, sodium acid pyrophosphate, monocalcium phosphate, sodium aluminum phosphate, and combinations thereof.  
   
   
       34 . The composition of  claim 24 , wherein the leavening agent is a compressed gas.  
   
   
       35 . The composition of  claim 34 , wherein the compressed gas is selected from the group consisting of CO 2 , nitrogen, compressed air, helium, and combinations thereof.  
   
   
       36 . The composition of  claim 24 , wherein the dry blend comprises a compound selected from the group consisting of a plant protein polymer, processing aids, a compound that discourages infestation, and a compound that discourages consumption by animals.  
   
   
       37 . A method for forming an aerated pet chew, the method comprising: 
 (a) mixing a dry blend, with a slurry mixture, an amount of a leavening agent and a reducing agent to form a polymeric composition;    (b) heating the polymeric composition to cause aeration in the composition and formation of an aerated polymeric composition; and,    (c) curing the aerated pet chew with heat.    
   
   
       38 . The method of  claim 37 , wherein the method further includes coating the pet chew after the formation of the aerated polymeric composition and prior to the curing step to eliminate sticking.  
   
   
       39 . The method of  claim 37 , wherein the leavening agent is a compound that produces a gas in the presence of heat.  
   
   
       40 . The method of  claim 39 , wherein the compound is selected from the group consisting of sodium bicarbonate, baking powder, sodium acid pyrophosphate, monocalcium phosphate, sodium aluminum phosphate, and combinations thereof.  
   
   
       41 . The method of  claim 37 , wherein the leavening agent is a compressed gas.  
   
   
       42 . The method of  claim 41 , wherein the compressed gas is selected from the group consisting of CO 2 , nitrogen, compressed air, helium, and combinations thereof.  
   
   
       43 . The method of  claim 37 , wherein the dry blend further comprises a plant protein polymer.  
   
   
       44 . The method of  claim 37 , wherein the curing step comprises denaturing the polymeric composition pet chew by heating the chew at a temperature ranging between about 80° C. and about 145° C. to form a thermal set pet chew.  
   
   
       45 . The method of  claim 37 , wherein the dry blend comprises a plant protein polymer in an amount equal to between about 20% and about 70% by weight, a starch in amount equal to between about 5% and about 50% by weight, and a reducing agent equal to between about 0.01% and about 0.5% by weight of the dry blend.  
   
   
       46 . The method of  claim 37 , wherein the leavening agent is added in an amount ranging between about 0.05% and about 5.0% by weight of the polymeric composition.  
   
   
       47 . A method of forming an aerated product, whereby a formulation comprises from about 20% to about 70% by weight of plant protein polymer, from about 5% to about 50% by weight starch, from about 10% to about 50% by weight humectant and at least about 0.01% by weight of a reducing agent operable for cleaving disulfide bonds present in said plant protein polymer; heating the formulation to a maximum temperature of up to about 25° C. in order to render the formulation substantially homogeneous and flowable while avoiding any substantial heat denaturation of said plant protein polymer, the method comprising: 
 adding an amount of a leavening agent to the formulation, wherein the leavening agent is added in an amount equal to between about 0.05% and about 5.0% by weight of the formulation.    
   
   
       48 . A method for forming an aerated pet chew, the method comprising: 
 (a) adding an amount of a leavening agent to a polymeric composition containing a reducing agent and slurry mixture to form a polymeric composition;    (b) forming an aerated polymeric composition; and,    (c) thermally setting the aerated polymeric composition by heating the composition at a temperature ranging between about 80° C. and about 145° C. to form a thermal set pet chew.    
   
   
       49 . The method of  claim 48 , wherein the formed aerated polymeric composition is coated following the shaping step to eliminate sticking.  
   
   
       50 . The method of  claim 48 , wherein the thermal set aerated pet chew is polished to remove or cover up the coating used to eliminate sticking.  
   
   
       51 . A composition for forming a pet chew, the composition comprising: 
 (a) a plant protein polymer composition;    (b) a slurry mixture having an amount of water ranging between about 5% and about 25% by weight of the composition;    (c) a leavening agent added in an amount ranging between about 0.05% and about 5.0% by weight of the composition; and,    (d) a reducing agent, whereby the disulfide bonds have been cleaved within the composition in a range between about 2.0% and about 75%.    
   
   
       52 . A method of using a plant protein polymer to form an aerated polymeric composition, the method comprising: 
 (a) selecting a dry blend that is biodegradable, digestible, and that can be formed into a selected shape;    (b) adding a slurry mixture to the dry blend;    (c) adding an amount of a leavening agent to the dry blend and slurry mixture to form a polymeric composition;    (d) adding an amount of reducing agent;    (e) heating and extruding the polymeric composition to form a shaped aerated polymeric composition; and,    (f) thermally setting the formed polymeric composition.