Abstract:
A device for facilitating a cat&#39;s self grooming. The device includes a pad for residing upon a planar surface and first and second grooming elements. The first and second grooming elements have nodules extending therefrom and each is releasably appended to the pad and to one another such that the grooming elements are selectively detachable from the pad and from each other.

Description:
TECHNICAL FIELD 
       [0001]    The present invention involves a cat grooming device for enabling a cat to self groom. The device is composed of individual parts which can selectively detach from one another to provide a minimum volume when shipped from its manufacturer and when displayed at retail. 
       BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0002]    It is well recognized that domestic cats are fastidious in grooming themselves. They often lick and scratch their own coats and rub up against furniture and other objects as a means of loosening fur, dander and the like as part of their need to self groom. 
         [0003]    There are a number of grooming devices which have been commercialized and disclosed in the patented literature all aimed to assist cats in grooming. For example, U.S. Pat. No. 4,938,169 to Barmakiam discloses a cat grooming device which includes rows of flexible nodules intended to remove fur and dander as the pet proceeds by and rubs against them. Similarly, U.S. Pat. No. 5, 460,121 to Udelle et al. discloses a mailbox-like structure having a row of flexible nodules at its entrance intended groom a cat when entering and leaving the device. As external grooming attributes to a healthy coat and stimulates circulation, it is not surprising that devices of this nature have been of interest to pet owners over time. 
         [0004]    Devices such as those described above generally occupy three dimensional space and tend to be somewhat bulky. However, due to their size and shape, it is difficult to economically ship such products from their place of manufacture, usually in Asia, to a retailer and their bulk also makes such items less attractive for sale as they occupy significant stocking and display shelf space. Further, as manufacturing has shifted to remote locations where labor costs are less than those in this country, the delivery of relatively low cost items, usually by containers shipped from Asia, has become a larger component of product pricing. This is particularly true as it pertains to the manufacture of non-technical, relatively low end products which rely upon unskilled labor-intensive operations. In addition, retailers have become increasingly cost conscious necessitating the need to maximize shelf space. Products which assume a significant footprint at retail are at a competitive disadvantage. 
         [0005]    It is thus an object of the present invention to provide a self grooming device for cats which can be efficiently shipped, stored and displayed and which, prior to use, can be assembled by a consumer providing a self grooming product superior to those currently available. 
         [0006]    These and further objects will be more readily apparent when considering the following disclosure and appended claims. 
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0007]    A device for facilitating a cat&#39;s self grooming. The device includes a pad for residing upon a planar surface and first and second grooming elements. The first and second grooming elements have nodules extending therefrom and each is releasably appended to the pad and to one another such that the grooming elements are selectively detachable from the pad and from each other. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES 
         [0008]      FIG. 1  is a perspective view of the self grooming device of the present invention. 
           [0009]      FIG. 2  is the device of  FIG. 1  broken down into its individual components intended for shipping, storage and display. 
           [0010]      FIG. 3A  discloses the interface between individual grooming elements depicting their selected joinder for use in carrying out the present invention. 
           [0011]      FIG. 3B  discloses the details of the selected joinder of the grooming elements to their support pad in producing the device of the present invention. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
       [0012]    Novel features which are characteristic of the invention, as to organization and method of operation, together with further objects and advantages thereof will be better understood from the following description considered in connection with the accompanying drawings, in which preferred embodiments of the invention are illustrated by way of example. It is to be expressly understood, however, that the drawings are for illustration description only and are not intended as definitions of the limits of the invention. The various features of novelty which characterize the invention are recited with particularity in the claims. 
         [0013]    There has been broadly outlined more important features of the invention in the summary above and in order that the detailed description which follows may be better understood, and in order that the present contribution to the art may be appreciated. There are, of course, additional features of the invention that will be described hereinafter and which will form additional subject matter of the claims appended hereto. Those skilled in the art will appreciate that the conception upon which this disclosure is based readily may be utilized as a basis for the designing of other structures, methods and systems for carrying out the several purposes of the present invention. It is important therefore, that claims be regarded as including such equivalent constructions insofar as they do not depart from the spirit and scope of the present invention. 
         [0014]    Certain terminology and the derivations thereof may be used in the following description for convenience and reference only, and will not be limiting. For example, words such as “upward,” “downward,” “left,” and “right” refer to directions in the drawings to which reference is made unless otherwise stated. Similar words such as “inward” and “outward” refer to directions toward and away from, respectively, the geometric center of a device or area and designated parts thereof. Reference in the singular tense include the plural and vice versa, unless otherwise noted. 
         [0015]    Turning to  FIG. 1 , self grooming device  10  is shown including pad  11  intended to reside upon a planar, preferably horizontal, surface. Pad  11  can generally be provided with carpet or other cushioning material to encourage a cat to employ self grooming device  10  as intended. 
         [0016]    Self grooming device  10  includes first and second grooming elements  11  and  12  each populated by a number of nodules  23 . Ideally, such nodules are flexible and pliable ideally composed of rubber or rubber-like cylindrically shaped elements which, again, are of a sufficient length to penetrate a cat&#39;s fur and yet be soft and pliable enough so as not to abrade the cat&#39;s skin which would discourage a cat&#39;s use of the present self grooming device. Thermoplastic resin is an ideal material with nodules in the form of nubs consistent in size, shape and diameter. 
         [0017]    An important feature of the present invention is to provide a consumer with a self grooming device such as depicted in  FIG. 1  which is easily assembled at home but which can be shipped and displayed at retail in a much more compact package. To facilitate this goal, reference is made to  FIGS. 2 ,  3 A and  3 B. 
         [0018]    First grooming element  12  and second grooming element  13  having first and second edges  28 / 29  and  31 / 32 , respectively, are releasably appended to pad  11  and to one another. When doing so, a kit of parts as shown in  FIG. 2  is created thus greatly reducing its occupied volume in comparison to assembled device of  FIG. 1 . 
         [0019]    First and second grooming elements  12  and  13  can be appended to and disassembled from one another through the use of tongue  19  and groove  18  without the need for any tools or assembling expertise. Thus, as illustrated, tongue  19  is aligned with groove  18  and pushed in the direction of arrow  21  to complete the joinder of these parts. Each grooming element is also provided with an L-shaped member shown as elements  16  and  17  in  FIG. 2 . These parts can be aligned with slots  14  and  15  of pad  11  and as illustrated in  FIG. 3B , slid into retaining position in the direction of arrow  22  to complete the assembly. 
         [0020]    As a preferred embodiment, it is noted that first grooming element  12  is substantially linear and second grooming element  13  is substantially curved. This provides a pet with a substantially vertically oriented set of nodules (first grooming element  12 ) and a sloping set of nodules (second grooming element  13 ) to assist the animal in satisfying its grooming needs. 
         [0021]    The above disclosure is sufficient to enable one of ordinary skill in the art to practice the invention, and provides the best mode of practicing the invention presently contemplated by the inventor. While there is provided herein a full and complete disclosure of the preferred embodiments of the invention, it is not desired to limit the invention to the exact construction, dimensions, relationships, or operations as described. Various modifications, alternative constructions, changes and equivalents will readily occur to those skilled in the art and may be employed as suitable without departing from the true spirit and scope of the invention. Such changes might involve alternative materials, components, structural arrangements, sizes, shapes, forms, functions, operational features or the like. Therefore, the above description and illustration should not be considered as limiting the scope of the invention, which is defined by the appended claims.