Chewable animal toy

Abstract

A chewable animal toy having an edible core and a tearable outer shell molded around the edible core such that a portion of the edible core protrudes from the outer shell is provided. Further provided is a mold unit for making the chewable animal toy having a first mold half including a first mold cavity and a second mold half having a second mold cavity. The second mold half is engageable with the first mold half such that the first and second mold cavities cooperatively define an outer shell mold cavity. A first pocket is defined between the first and second mold halves that is adapted to receive a first protruding portion of the edible core. A first shut off defined within the first pocket is adapted to surround the first protruding portion of the edible core such that it is substantially isolated from the outer shell mold cavity.

1 . A chewable animal toy, comprising:
 (a) an edible core; and   (b) a tearable outer shell molded around the edible core such that a portion of the edible core protrudes from the outer shell.   
   
   
       2 . The chewable animal toy of  claim 1 , wherein the outer shell comprises an elongate center section with relatively large first and second ends. 
   
   
       3 . The chewable animal toy of  claim 2 , wherein the edible core protrudes from the first and second ends of the outer shell. 
   
   
       4 . The chewable animal toy of  claim 1 , wherein the outer shell includes a plurality of through-holes that expose a portion of the edible core. 
   
   
       5 . The chewable animal toy of  claim 1 , wherein an exterior portion of the outer shell includes a plurality of protrusions formed thereon. 
   
   
       6 . The chewable animal toy of  claim 1 , wherein the outer shell is made from a non-toxic thermoplastic material. 
   
   
       7 . The chewable animal toy of  claim 6 , wherein the non-toxic material is blended with a health additive that is released from the outer shell when the outer shell is chewed on. 
   
   
       8 . The chewable animal toy of  claim 1 , wherein the edible core is raw hide. 
   
   
       9 . A chewable dog toy, comprising:
 (a) an edible core; and   (b) a plastic outer shell molded around a portion of the edible core, wherein at least a portion of the outer shell is removable from the edible core when a dog chews on the outer shell.   
   
   
       10 . The chewable dog toy of  claim 9 , wherein the outer shell comprises an elongate center section with relatively large first and second ends. 
   
   
       11 . The chewable dog toy of  claim 10 , wherein the edible core protrudes from the first and second ends of the outer shell. 
   
   
       12 . The chewable dog toy of  claim 9 , wherein the outer shell includes a plurality of through-holes that expose a portion of the edible core. 
   
   
       13 . The chewable dog toy of  claim 9 , wherein an exterior portion of the outer shell includes a plurality of protrusions formed thereon. 
   
   
       14 . The chewable dog toy of  claim 9 , wherein the outer shell is made from a non-toxic thermoplastic material. 
   
   
       15 . The chewable animal toy of  claim 14 , wherein the non-toxic material is blended with a health additive that is released from the outer shell when a dog chews on the outer shell. 
   
   
       16 . The chewable dog toy of  claim 9 , wherein the edible core is raw hide. 
   
   
       17 . A mold unit for making a chewable animal toy, the chewable animal toy having an edible core and a plastic tearable outer shell molded around the edible core such that a portion of the edible core protrudes from the outer shell, the mold unit comprising:
 (a) a first mold half having a first mold cavity;   (b) a second mold half having a second mold cavity, wherein the second mold half is engageable with the first mold half such that the first and second mold cavities cooperatively define an outer shell mold cavity; and   (c) a first pocket defined between the first and second mold halves that is adapted to receive a first protruding portion of the edible core; and   (d) a first shut off defined within the first pocket, the first shut off adapted to surround the first protruding portion of the edible core such that the first protruding portion is substantially isolated from the outer shell mold cavity.   
   
   
       18 . The mold assembly of  claim 17 , further comprising a second pocket defined between the first and second mold halves that is adapted to receive a second protruding portion of the edible core. 
   
   
       19 . The mold assembly of  claim 18 , further comprising a second shut off defined within the second pocket and adapted to surround the second protruding portion of the edible core such that the second protruding portion is substantially isolated from the outer shell mold. 
   
   
       20 . The mold assembly of  claim 17 , wherein the first shut off is defined by first and second semi-circular closure elements that surround and compress the edible core when the first mold half engages the second mold half. 
   
   
       21 . The mold assembly of  claim 17 , wherein the first shut off is defined by a first crescent-shaped closure element that engages a first substantially semi-circular closure element. 
   
   
       22 . The mold assembly of  claim 21 , wherein the first crescent-shaped closure element compresses the first protruding portion of the edible core within the first substantially semi-circular closure element when the first mold half engages the second mold half. 
   
   
       23 . A method for making a chewable animal toy, the chewable animal toy having an edible core and a plastic tearable outer shell molded around the edible core such that a portion of the edible core protrudes from the outer shell, the method comprising:
 (a) providing a mold unit having a first mold half with a first mold cavity and a second mold half with a second mold cavity;   (b) positioning the edible core within the first mold cavity;   (c) isolating a first protruding portion of the edible core from the first mold cavity;   (c) engaging the first mold half with the second mold half such that the first and second mold cavities cooperatively define an outer shell mold cavity around a majority of the edible core;   (d) injecting material into the outer shell mold cavity to form the outer shell around the edible core such that the protruding portion of the edible core remains exposed.   
   
   
       24 . The method of  claim 23 , wherein the mold unit includes a first pocket defined between the first and second mold halves that is adapted to receive the first protruding portion of the edible core. 
   
   
       25 . The method of  claim 24 , further comprising a first shut off defined within the first pocket, the first shut off adapted to surround and compress the first protruding portion of the edible core such that the first protruding portion is substantially isolated from the outer shell mold cavity.