US010104903B2 (12 ) United States Patent ( 10 ) Patent No. : US 10 , 104, 903 B2 Sunvold et al. (45 ) Date of Patent: Oct . 23, 2018 ( 54 ) ANIMAL FOOD AND ITS APPEARANCE ( 56 ) References Cited (75 ) Inventors : Gregory Dean Sunvold , Lewisburg , U . S . PATENT DOCUMENTS OH (US ) ; Rebecca Massie Grey , West 571 ,521 A 11 / 1896 Heberline et al. Alexandria , OH (US ) ; Patrick Joseph 1 ,086 ,936 A 2 / 1914 Pounder et al . Corrigan , Glendale , OH (US ) ; 1 ,503 ,094 A 7 / 1924 Cramer Michelle Marie Houston , West 2 ,473 ,773 A 6 / 1949 West 2 , 504 ,233 A 4 / 1950 Staunt Chester, OH (US ) 2 , 540 , 979 A 2 / 1951 Clymer et al. 2 ,641 ,548 A 6 / 1953 Heinrich ( 73 ) Assignee : Mars, Incorporated , McLean , VA (US ) 2 , 827 , 452 A 3 / 1958 Schlenk et al. 3 , 119 ,691 A 1 / 1964 Ludington et al . 3 , 168 , 796 A 2 / 1965 Scott et al . 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A23B 7 / 148 ( 2006 .01 ) htm How cereal giant Kellogg ' s keeps its product pipeline fresh A23L 1 /00 ( 2006 .01 ) US News and World Report ; posted on May 7 , 2006 ; accessed on A23K 40 /30 ( 2016 . 01 ) May 2 , 2011; printout from the internet. * A23K 10 / 18 ( 2016 .01 ) (Continued ) A23K 20 / 179 ( 2016 .01 ) Primary Examiner — Subbalakshmi Prakash A23K 50 / 42 ( 2016 .01 ) ( 74 ) Attorney , Agent, or Firm — Mars , Incorporated (52 ) U . S . Ci. CPC . .. .. .. .. A23K 40 /30 ( 2016 .05 ) ; A23K 10 / 18 (57 ) ABSTRACT ( 2016 . 05 ); A23K 20/ 179 ( 2016 .05 ) ; A23K Animal feeds comprising at least one kibble comprising a 50 /42 (2016 .05 ) colored appearance . The colored appearance can communi (58 ) Field of Classification Search cate to a purchaser of the animal feed that the kibble CPC .. A23K 1 /004 ; A23K 1 / 1853 ; A23K 1 / 1606 ; provides a health benefit . The kibble can further comprise an A23K 1 /009 active, such as a Probiotic , that provides a health benefit . 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