Pet grooming blade storage tray

A storage tray for clipper and trimmer cutting blades for use in pet grooming. The storage tray is securable to a vertical arm of a conventional pet grooming table allowing the table top to remain obstacle free. The storage tray includes a fan for faster heat dissipation from heated cutting blades. In addition, or as an alternative, marble surfaces are used for the storage tray slanted surfaces to enhance heat dissipation. An extension tray can be coupled to the storage tray with receptacles for scissors, clippers and a cell phone.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The invention is directed to the field of pet grooming and, in particular, to a storage tray for pet grooming clipper and trimmer blades.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Pet grooming appliances, commonly referred to as clippers and/or trimmers, include interchangeable cutting blades for clipping and trimming pet hair. The interchangeable cutting blades permit the use of different types of cutting blades to treat the hair types found with various breeds of animals.

Skip tooth blades are a standard option to start a grooming procedure while fine-teeth blades have closely spaced teeth ideal for thin and soft haired pets. Blades can be further sized for coat length. The type of blade and blade size allow the pet groomer to carefully groom the pet to beyond the pet owner's expectations.

Blade construction may be chrome plated stainless steel, carbon, silver or titanium. Cutter blade sizes can be expressed in numbers from 3 to 50. For instance: number 3 blades may provide a 13 mm coat length; number blades 5 may provide a 6 mm coat length; number 7 blade may provide a 3.2 mm coat length; number 9 blade may provide a 2 mm coat length; number 30 blade may provide a 0.5 mm coat length to name a few. Commonly it takes 2-4 blades to groom one dog. For instance, Poodle groomers would likely use a number 7 blade for the body, number 10 or 15 for the head, number 3 or 5 for the legs, and number 10 or 15 for the tail. During the grooming process, the cutting blade will heat up and, if left unchecked, can burn the skin of the animal being groomed. For this reason blade changes are frequently made allowing a cutting blade to cool off during use. Preferably the various interchangeable blades are kept near the grooming table so that the pet being groomed is not left unattended.

Thus, a need exists for a storage tray securable to a grooming table for use in dissipating the heat from cutting blades using a platform elevated above the grooming table.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Disclosed is a storage tray having a plurality of slanted surfaces, each configured to support a trimmer blade. Upon resting a hot blade against the surface, a cooling fan passes air through the storage tray to dissipate heat quickly and permit the interchangeable use of blades during grooming sessions. Securing the storage tray to a grooming table pole vertical pole allows the lower surface of the tray to be exposed to air circulation allowing faster heat dissipation and keeps the grooming table free of obstructions. The cooling fan is powered through a USB cable coupling to an external power source.

In the instant invention, the storage tray has a generally rectangular main body constructed of plastic, the bottom of the storage tray having a plurality of through holes. The tray has a plurality of separate sections, each section having a slanted surface upon constructed and arranged to hold an individual cutting blade. In another embodiment, marble or ceramic material can placed over the slanted surface to provide enhanced heat dissipation. The storage tray is attached to the vertical arm of a grooming table by fasteners. When in use, the storage tray is easily accessible by the groomer for insertion and retrieval of specific cutting blades during a pet grooming session, which the cooling fans quickly dissipates heat from cutting blades placed on the storage tray. An extension tray can be attached to the storage tray to hold clippers, scissors and the like items commonly used during the grooming process. A cell phone holder is electrical coupled to the USB fan cord to keep the cordage off the grooming table.

An objective of the invention is to provide a support tray for clipper and trimmer blades that is securable to the vertical arm of a conventional grooming table.

Another objective of the invention is to provide a support tray containing cooling fans or a marble material for use in cooling clipper and trimmer blades.

Still another objective of the invention is take advantage of mounting the support tray on a vertical arm to allowing air circulation beneath the support tray, as well as keep the grooming table open for the grooming process.

Yet still another objective of the invention is to provide an economical support tray that can be sized to fit four or more cutting blades allowing ease of access to the pet groomer and assuring cutting blades are cooled quickly allowing reuse.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

Now referring toFIG.1-5, illustrated is one embodiment of the present invention and the manner in which it is used, with like components numbered consistently throughout. Disclosed is a grooming blade storage tray10formed from a rectangular frame member preferably rigid plastic. Aluminum or other lightweight rigid material may also be used. The storage tray10having a front wall12, a rear wall14, a first side wall16, and a second side wall18. The second side wall18second forming an access door15. Between the first side wall16and second sidewall18are slanted assembly support members20constructed and arranged to support a thin sheet of marble material22on a leading surface24of the support member20, the trailing surface26may be used to place trimmers have cooled so that a blade that is cooling down on the marble material22is not accidently placed back into the surface. Preferably the walls and slanted blade storage sections12are comprised of plastic. It is noted that the illustrated tray10in the figures has four sections. To ease in drawing clarity only a single section12is enumerated, the remaining sections forming a mirror image thereof. A tray with 2-8 sections12is contemplated to be within the scope of this invention. The tray10is mounted to the vertical arm50of the grooming table, seeFIG.10. The placement of the marble material22on the slanted surface in each section12may be opposite on each side of the vertical arm for ease of accessing the cutter blades.

FIG.2illustrates sidewall18with access door15secured to the sidewall18by fasteners30,32. The access door15is temporarily removed from the sidewall18allowing access to cavity34within the tray10. The cavity can accommodate up to a one inch square vertical arm50by use of the appropriate foam rubber spacer36providing a friction fit wherein the access door is fastened to the sidewall to engage all sides of the vertical arm50.

FIG.3is an upper view of the storage tray10depicting the cavity for receipt of the vertical arm, not shown. The foam rubber spacer36depicted can be easily compressed with the attachment of the access door15, sufficient to support the weight of the tray10and any blades place thereon. In the preferred embodiment the rubber space36is placed on two inner walls40and42, to assure alignment with the vertical arm50along inner side walls44and46.FIG.4depicts the storage tray10with the access door15removed from the sidewall18allowing attachment to, or removal from, the vertical arm50.

FIG.5depicts a conventional grooming table52with a vertical arm50extending upwardly from the table52to a position above the animal's frame60. The vertical arm is commonly used to harness the pet in a stance on the table. In this illustration a second vertical arm54is used in combination with the first vertical arm50to hold up a horizontal bar56used to position the animal's frame60in a properly controlled position for grooming using alignment straps57and58.

Referring now toFIGS.6-9disclosed is an embodiment that allows cooling by use of a marble or the like heat sink85, and/or by use of a cooling fan100. In this embodiment the storage tray70is a frame member72having a support plate74with an upper surface76and a lower surface78forming a thickness therebetween, the thickness depending upon the material employed with sufficient thickness to provide for the rigidity. The frame member72has a length generally about 270 mm and a width of generally about 124 mm. The support plate74has a plurality of vent holes80extending between the upper76and lower78surface. The frame member72further having a front side wall82spaced apart from a rear side wall84, and a left side wall86spaced apart from a right side wall88. The side walls extending upwardly from the upper surface76of the support plate74. In the preferred embodiment the frame member72is constructed from plastic or aluminum. The frame member72having a shape that allows manufacturing by use of a 3D printer when constructed of plastic.

The support plate74includes a plurality of slanted tray surfaces90positioned between the left side wall86and the right side wall88. The slanted surface90constructed and arranged to receive a cutting blade, not shown. In one embodiment the slanted tray surface90may include a marble or ceramic heat sink85placed over a slanted tray surface90which operates to dissipate the cutting blade heat. In operation the groomer may have multiple cutting blades placed on the slanted tray surfaces90wherein the cutting blades can be changed out so that the pet is not subjected to a hot blade. Conventional cutting blades use a mechanical shearing action resulting in friction that produces appreciable heat and can burn the pet. Frequent changing of the cutting blades is seen as a benefit to the welfare of the pet. A cooling fan100is secured to the lower surface78of the floor section. The cooling fan100electrically coupled to a power source and used to force air through the vent holes80to assist in dissipating heat from cutting blades placed on each slanted surface90. The cooling fan100includes a USB plug102for electrically coupling to a power source having a USB port. The power source can be an electrical outlet or a portable rechargeable battery.

A slide member110for securing the frame member72to the vertical grooming arm180of a pet grooming table. Attachment can be with fasteners or tabs for interlocking. The slide member110having at least one aperture112constructed and arranged to be slidably positioned over the vertically disposed grooming arm150. A bracket member120comprising a first element122releaseably coupled to a second element124using fasteners126is positioned around the grooming arm wherein the bracket member120frictionally engages the grooming arm and operates as a platform to maintain the storage tray70at a height above the grooming table.

In a previous embodiment the clamp mechanism is defined as a slide member attached to the rear wall of the frame member as illustrated in the previously described embodimentFIGS.1-5. In this embodiment the clamp mechanism is defined as cavity bounded between the rear wall and a slanted surface, and the left side wall and the right side wall. A portion of the right side wall, access door, is releaseably attached forming an access door, the cavity including at least one compressible foam rubber spacer to frictionally engage the vertical grooming arm for securing the frame member thereto. The foam rubber spacer compressed against the vertical arm and secured in position by attachment of the access door. In another embodiment, a leg, not shown, may extend downward from a lower surface of the support plate, floor for securement by use of a hand screw, wherein the hand screw may be used to frictionally engage the vertical arm for securement of the frame member to the vertical arm.

An extension tray130is securable to the slide member110to provide a further storage area to support the grooming procedure. Similar to the storage tray70, the extension tray130may be secured to the slide member110by fasteners or tabs for interlocking. The extension tray130has a length of generally about 290 mm and a width of generally about 124 mm. The extension tray130has a plurality of openings132sized for receipt of scissors, not shown and openings134for trimmers, not shown. Two openings132have a dimension of generally about 38 mm by 50.8 mm for use in holding scissors. Three openings134have a dimension of generally about 25.4 mm square for use in holding clippers. A circular opening136has a diameter generally about 100 mm and is used as a holder for a cup, mug or miscellaneous tray, not shown. A cell phone receptacle140is provided to hold a conventional sized cell phone, the receptacle140having a width of generally about 25.4 mm and a length of generally about 120 mm.

In one embodiment the cooling fan100includes a USB receptacle152that is electrically coupled to the fan's USB inlet plug102wherein a cell phone, not shown, placed in the receptacle140can be attached to the cooling fan USB receptacle152for recharging of a cell phone from the cooling fan's USB inlet port102. The storage tray70may be directly placed on a table with non slip bases154to maintain a distance between the fans and a table. Similarly the storage tray70may be secured to a wall using fasteners placed through wall hanging slots156. In the preferred embodiment, two cooling fans100are employed having a substantially square shape wherein placement in a side by side position allows for a rectangular shape of the tray70.