Rubber-fiber hybrid

Abstract

An animal chew toy and a method for making such that comprises a fabric having a plurality of fibers and a polymeric material that contacts the fabric wherein the polymer material engages with the plurality of fibers.

1 . An animal chew toy comprising a fabric having a plurality of fibers, providing one or a plurality of void spaces between said fibers, and a polymer material engaged to said fibers wherein said polymer material is located within one or a plurality of said fiber void spaces and mechanically engaged to said fibers.  
   
   
       2 . The animal chew of  claim 1  wherein said polymer material surrounds one or more of said fibers.  
   
   
       3 . The animal chew of  claim 1  wherein said fabric has one or a plurality of end sections, and said polymer material engaged to said fibers is located at said one or plurality of end sections.  
   
   
       4 . The animal chew toy of  claim 1  wherein said fabric is selected form the group consisting of a woven material, non-woven material, spun bond material, and mixtures thereof.  
   
   
       5 . The animal chew toy of  claim 4  wherein said woven material further comprises a canvas.  
   
   
       6 . The animal chew toy of  claim 1  wherein said fibers are selected from the group consisting of polyethylene fiber and poly-paraphenylene terephthalamide fiber.  
   
   
       7 . The animal chew toy of  claim 1  wherein said polymer material is a thermoplastic material.  
   
   
       8 . The animal chew toy of  claim 1  wherein said polymer material is an elastomeric material.  
   
   
       9 . The animal chew toy of  claim 1  wherein said polymer material is a molded shape selected from the group consisting of a sphere, a hemisphere, a cylinder, a prism, a cone, knuckles and combinations there of.  
   
   
       10 . A method for making an animal chew toy comprising: 
 providing a fabric;    providing a polymer material;    providing a mold having a cavity;    locating said fabric in said mold; and    introducing the polymer material into said mold and into contact with said fabric wherein the polymer material mechanically engages said fabric.    
   
   
       11 . The method of  claim 10  wherein the fabric has one or a plurality of end portions, and said polymer material is mechanically engaged at said one or plurality of end portions.  
   
   
       12 . The method of  claim 10  wherein the fabric has a plurality of end portions, and said polymer material is mechanically engaged between said end portions.  
   
   
       13 . The method of  claim 10  wherein said fabric comprises fibers selected from the group consisting of a woven material, non-woven material, spun bond material and mixtures thereof.  
   
   
       14 . The method of  claim 13  wherein said woven material further comprises canvas.  
   
   
       15 . The method of  claim 10  wherein said fibrous material further comprises fibers selected from the group consisting of polyethylene fiber and poly-paraphenylene terephthalamide fiber.  
   
   
       16 . The method of  claim 10  wherein said polymer material is a thermoplastic material.  
   
   
       17 . The method of  claim 10  wherein said polymer material is an elastomeric material.  
   
   
       18 . The method of  claim 10  wherein said polymer material is a molded shape selected from the group consisting of a sphere, a hemisphere, a cylinder, a prism, a cone and combinations there of.  
   
   
       19 . An animal chew toy comprising a fabric having a plurality of fibers, providing one or a plurality of void spaces between said fibers, and a polymer material engaged to said fibers wherein said polymer material is located within one or a plurality of said fiber void spaces and chemically engaged to said fibers.  
   
   
       20 . The animal chew of  claim 19  wherein said polymer material is a thermoset material.