# US 11,304,428 B2 · Interlocking kibble > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 11,304,428 B2 - Document ID: US11304428B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 15/545,984 - Filed: 2016-02-16 - Published: 2018-01-04 - Granted: 2022-04-19 - Earliest claimed: 2015-02-16 - Assignees: Mars, Incorporated - Applicants: Mars, Incorporated - Inventors: Laura Duclos; Kevin Eaton - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US11304428B2 ## CPC - A23K 10/30: from material of plant origin, e.g. roots, seeds or hay; from material of fungal origin, e.g. mushrooms (obtained by microbiological or biochemical processes, e.g. using yeasts or enzymes, A23K10/10) - A23K 40/30: by encapsulating; by coating - A23K 50/42: Dry feed - A23K: FODDER ## Abstract Compositions and methods are disclosed for providing a pet food product comprising kibbles and one or more inclusions, such as dried fruits or vegetables. Specifically, the kibble may have one or more shapes to form an interlock, and/or the inclusions are oil-coated to provide for increased density and reduce the density differences between the inclusions and the kibbles, both features are useful for keeping an even distribution of kibbles and inclusions in a package or container. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A pet food comprising: a plurality of kibbles each configured with a concave curve and a convex curve having an angle of curvature between 90 and 180 degrees; and one or more oil-coated inclusions distributed within the plurality of kibbles; wherein the density disparity between the kibbles and the inclusions is reduced by coating the inclusions with oil. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The pet food of claim 1, wherein the inclusions are selected from dehydrated products, freeze-dried products, and combinations thereof. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The pet food of claim 1, wherein said inclusions are selected from a fruit, a vegetable, a meat chunk, a supplement, and combinations thereof. ### Claim 4 (depends on 3) The pet food of claim 3, wherein said fruit is selected from apples, tomatoes, bananas, pears, strawberries, cranberries, blueberries, raspberries, and combinations thereof. ### Claim 5 (depends on 3) The pet food of claim 3, wherein said vegetable is selected from sweet potatoes, potatoes, legumes/beans, pumpkin, peas, zucchini, celery, broccoli, cabbage, carrots, cucumbers, green beans, and combinations thereof. ### Claim 6 (depends on 3) The pet food of claim 3, wherein said meat chunk is from a source selected from hogs, cattle, sheep, goats, deer, buffalo, kangaroo, alligator, snail, chicken, duck, goose, turkey, guinea hen, and combinations thereof. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) The pet food of claim 1, wherein the kibbles are up to 4 times larger than the inclusions. ### Claim 8 (depends on 1) The pet food of claim 1, wherein each kibble has one or more configurations comprising at least one pocket formed by a curve of a predetermined radius at the edge of the kibble, and wherein the kibbles interlocks with each other when adjacently placed to another kibble to form a lattice-like barrier. ### Claim 9 (depends on 8) The pet food of claim 8, wherein the kibble configuration assists in the distribution of the inclusions within the pet food. ### Claim 10 (depends on 1) The pet food of claim 1, wherein the kibble shapes are selected from a crescent, a peanut, a star, an x, a flower, a gear, a shape that has more than 6 curves, and combinations thereof. ### Claim 11 (depends on 1) The pet food of claim 1, wherein the kibbles are manufactured by a process selected from injection molding, clamshell molding, extrusion, cold forming extrusion, rotary molding, and combinations thereof. ### Claim 12 (depends on 1) The pet food of claim 1, wherein the amount of oil increases the density of the inclusions up to 30% based on a comparison of the density of the inclusions before and after being coated with the oil. ### Claim 13 (depends on 1) The pet food of claim 1, wherein the amount of oil increases the density of the inclusions by at least 1 lb/cubic foot. ### Claim 14 (depends on 1) The pet food of claim 1, wherein the density of the kibbles is about 20-40 lb/cu ft. ### Claim 15 (depends on 1) The pet food of claim 1, wherein the kibbles have a density of 20-40 lb/cu ft, and wherein the inclusions have a density of about 4-8 lb/cu ft prior to being coated with oil and a density of about 6-8 lb/cu ft after being coated with oil. ### Claim 16 (depends on 1) The pet food of claim 1, wherein the pet food product comprises up to 50% by weight of oil-coated inclusions. ### Claim 17 A pet food product, comprising: a plurality of kibbles each having a concave curve and a convex curve having an angle of curvature between 90 and 180 degrees, the concave and the convex curves of adjacent kibbles configured to interlock to form a lattice-like barrier; and one or more oil-coated inclusions, wherein the density disparity between the kibbles and the inclusions is reduced by coating the inclusions with oil and the kibbles and inclusions are distributed within a package and wherein the lattice-like barrier and reduced density disparity and reduces relative movement of the kibbles and the inclusions such that the distribution of the kibbles and the inclusions remains relatively constant when the package is moved. ### Claim 18 (depends on 17) The pet food product of claim 17, wherein the distribution of the kibbles and inclusions does not vary more than 20% from the time the package is filled to the time the package is opened by a consumer. ### Claim 19 (depends on 17) The pet food product of claim 17, wherein the variation between the distribution of the kibbles and inclusions at the time when the package is filled and the time when the package is opened by a consumer is at least 10% less than a package having kibbles and inclusions of similar density and size but not including the pockets on the kibbles.