Abstract:
This invention is designed primarily for domesticated pets, like dogs and cats to scratch themselves on without the help of their owners. Pets can scratch their backs, faces or backsides. There is no need for permanent mounting. The invention can be placed on the floor, wall, picked up and moved, turned over for a different scratching experience, washed, rolled up and put away. This removes the need to deface home furniture or interior walls with screws, glues or other fasteners. Pets are also kept safe.

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
       [0001]    Not Applicable 
       STATEMENT REGARDING FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH OR DEVELOPMENT 
       [0002]    Not Applicable 
       REFERENCE TO SEQUENCE LISTING, A TABLE, OR A COMPUTER PROGRAM LISTING COMPACT DISK APPENDIX 
       [0003]    Not Applicable 
       BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0004]    This invention is in the technical field of animal scratcher. Dogs and cats enjoy scratching themselves but are limited in option. They typically use household furniture and walls wearing them down and making them dirty. Also, use of household objects presents a possibility of injury. Presently available products focus on and are designed primarily for outdoor livestock such as horses, donkeys, cows, and goats and must be fastened by screw to a fixed object, such as a wall, fence, door or tree. (See patents US D584,863 S and US2011/0217508A) Existing products were not primarily designed for domestic pets like dogs and cats. Additionally, existing products are not appropriate for in home use as they must be attached by screw or other fasteners. Home furniture, walls and doors are not the best place to screw things into. Past patents for in home use are not flexible and could be harmful to pet&#39;s eyes, ears, face or other body parts. They cannot be easily washed or stored and don&#39;t have alternate scratching surfaces for different pets sizes and preferences. (See Patent # des 387,512) 
       BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0005]    This invention is designed primarily for domesticated pets, like dogs and cats to scratch themselves on without the help of their owners. Pets can scratch their backs, faces or backsides. There is no need for screws or permanent mounting. The invention can be placed on the floor, placed against a wall, picked up and moved, turned over for a different scratching experience, washed, rolled up and put away. This removes the need to deface home furniture or interior walls with screws, glues or other fasteners. As the invention is contemplated in flexible rubber silicon, pets are secure from injuring themselves. Household furniture and walls are preserved as pets choose the present invention. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0006]      FIG. 1  is a top view of one side of the present invention; 
           [0007]      FIG. 2  is a section view of a portion of the present invention; 
           [0008]      FIG. 2A  is a perspective view of a portion of the present invention; 
           [0009]      FIG. 3  is a top view of the alternate side of the present invention; 
           [0010]      FIG. 4  is a section view of a portion of the alternate side of the present invention; 
           [0011]      FIG. 4A  is a perspective view of a portion of the alternate side of the present invention; 
           [0012]      FIG. 5  is a perspective view of the present invention; 
           [0013]      FIG. 6  is a perspective view of the present invention; 
           [0014]      FIG. 7  is a perspective view of the present invention. 
           [0015]      FIG. 8  is a perspective view of the present invention. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
       [0016]    The invention is contemplated as a single and continuous piece made of several components. The invention can be made by injection mold silicon rubber. Several color choices and combinations of colors are contemplated for both the substrate and raised features. Other plastics, rubbers, materials and techniques are also contemplated. The raised features will likely be fabricated of the same material of the substrate, but may differ in both material and color. Different patterns and arrangements of the raised features are contemplated. Raised features could be arranged into an image, such as a dog or cat. Additionally, images and or text on the substrate and raised features are contemplated. Upon pressure the silicon rubber or material of choice is to be flexible, yet durable. 
         [0017]      FIG. 1  provides a top view of one side of device  100 . Device  100  is referred to as a pet scratcher. Device  100  is a planar substrate, generally rectangular in shape and has a first surface and second surface on each side. Distributed about the side of the first surface is a plurality of raised features. In the  FIG. 1 , each raised feature  200  is conical, nub, finger or pyramid in shape. Other raised feature shapes are contemplated. In  FIG. 1 , the raised features are arranged in a periodic pattern. In  FIG. 1  the raised features  200  are to be in a uniform pattern of staggered rows. Other patterns are contemplated. The raised features  200  are substantially normal to the substrate surface of device  100 . Raised features not substantially normal to the substrate surface are contemplated. 
         [0018]    In one example, device  100  has an overall dimension of approximately 42 inches by 30 inches and the substrate of device  100  has a thickness of 0.33 inches. Other substrate thicknesses are contemplated. As illustrated, each raised feature is configured as a cone with a height of 0.75 inches and base diameter of 0.5 inches. Other cone dimensions are contemplated. In one example, the overall length of a cone is 1.08 inches relative to the substrate and the substrate thickness is 0.33 inches. Other dimensions are also contemplated. 
         [0019]    In  FIG. 1  device  100  has a handle  400  on either side, as illustrated. Handle shapes other than illustrated are also considered. These two handles give the pet owner the option of assisting their pet by rubbing the device  100  over the pets back in a similar fashion to drying ones back after a shower. The handles  400  may also be used to hang the device  100  from when stored. The perimeter of device  100  is to have a border  300  of 0.5 inches. Other border widths are contemplated. The border may have company contact information and product name. 
         [0020]      FIG. 2  and  FIG. 2A  are a section and perspective view of a portion of device  100  respectively. The figures illustrate a general arrangement of raised features  200 . Both figures show the thickness  600  of device  100  substrate of 0.33 inches. 
         [0021]      FIG. 3  provides a top view of the alternate side of device  100 . Device  100  is referred to as a pet scratcher. Device  100  is a planar substrate, generally rectangular in shape and has a first surface and second surface on each side. Distributed about the side of the alternate surface is a plurality of raised features. In the  FIG. 3 , each raised feature  700  is conical, nub, finger or pyramid in shape. Other raised feature shapes are contemplated. In  FIG. 3 , the raised features are arranged in a periodic pattern. In  FIG. 3  the raised features  700  are to be in a uniform pattern of staggered rows. Other patterns are contemplated. The raised features  700  are substantially normal to the surface of device  100 . Raised features not substantially normal to the substrate surface are contemplated. 
         [0022]    In one example, device  100  has an overall dimension of approximately 42 inches by 30 inches and the substrate of device  100  has a thickness  600  of 0.33 inches. Other substrate thicknesses are contemplated. As illustrated, each raised feature is configured as a cone with a height of 0.5 inches and base diameter of 0.25 inches. Other cone dimensions are contemplated. In one example, the overall length of a cone is 0.83 inches relative to the substrate and the substrate thickness is 0.33 inches. Other dimensions and are also contemplated. 
         [0023]    In  FIG. 3  device  100  has a handle  400  on either side, as illustrated. Handle shapes and design other than illustrated are also contemplated. These two handles give the pet owner the option of assisting their pet by rubbing the device  100  over the pets back in manner similar to drying ones back after a shower. The handles  400  may also be used to hang the device  100  from when stored. The perimeter of device  100  is to have a border  300  of 0.5 inches, other border widths are contemplated. The border may have company contact information and product name. 
         [0024]      FIG. 4  and  FIG. 4A  are a section and perspective view of a portion of device  100  respectively. The figures illustrate a general arrangement of raised features  200 . Both figures show the thickness  600  of device  100  substrate of 0.33 inches. 
         [0025]      FIG. 5  shows a perspective view of device  100  as placed on the floor. 
         [0026]      FIG. 6 ,  FIG. 7  &amp;  FIG. 8  Show perspective views of device  100  and the flexibility and functionality of the production materials contemplated. That is, its ability to be rolled, twisted and placed against a wall to accommodate a pet and easily stored and washed and used by owner to assist the pet. 
         [0027]    The advantages of the present invention include, without limitation, portability—the ability to move it from one place to another, availability—can be used by pets of different stature as it is placed on the floor or leant against a wall, flexibility—both the substrate and cones will be flexible under pressure to make sure the pet does no harm to themselves, convenient—no screws, glues or fasteners are needed and can be easily washed, rolled and stored, optionality—the owner can chose to assist by use of the handles, choice—different size cones on either side and therefore texture to allow for a softer or harder scratching surface. 
         [0028]    While the foregoing written description of the invention enables one of ordinary skill to make and use what is considered presently to be the best mode thereof, those of ordinary skill will understand and appreciate the existence of variations, combinations, and equivalents of the specific embodiment, method, and examples herein. The invention should therefore not be limited by the above described embodiment, method, and examples, but by all embodiments and methods within the scope and spirit of the invention.