Abstract:
An improved pet grooming tool is provided for grooming pets and removing loose or detached hair from their fur coats, while removing substantially no or acceptably little live hair and without the need to include any blade portion for engaging the loose or dead hairs. The tool can also collect the removed hair as opposed to permitting most of it to fall to the floor. In a preferred embodiment of the invention, the grooming tool includes an elongated handle portion having proximal and distal ends, a head portion at the distal end of the handle, and a carding portion on the head. A tool axis extends in a proximal direction from the head to the proximal end and in preferred embodiments of the invention, corresponds to the direction in which the tool is drawn across the animal&#39;s coat (the grooming direction). The grooming tool also has a plurality of tines, with a generally triangular shape when viewed from their sides or top, such that they narrow when extending from base to tip.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0001]    The invention relates generally to pet grooming tools and more particularly to a tool for removing loose hairs from a pet&#39;s coat. 
         [0002]    Grooming is an important part of caring for furry pets. Removing detached hair, such as the loose hair from an animal&#39;s undercoat, is generally desirable. Particularly with dogs and cats, whose coats tend to molt or shed hair, a tool that can remove detached or almost detached hairs, while leaving live, secure ones in place, has become increasingly important to owners of such pets. It limits the amount of hair the animal might otherwise shed indoors and/or in undesirable locations. Removing detached hair also serves to improve the appearance of pets, by making their fur coats look more kempt and clear. 
         [0003]    Many pet owners and pet groomers employ combs, brushes and devices similar to tools for removing lint from clothing. Others employ a toothed blade that has been designed for use with electric animal grooming sheers. They pass the blade through a pet&#39;s fur coat to remove the detached hairs. Still others have taken to using such a toothed blade mounted to a handle, as, for example, the “Furminator De-Shedding tool” (disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 7,509,926 and incorporated herein by reference), for perceived better gripping and handling of the toothed blade. 
         [0004]    Some users of existing grooming tools feel they remove too much live hair from the animal&#39;s coat. This can occur if toothed blades including relatively sharp blade portions unintentionally cut and sever live hair or engage live hair strongly enough to undesirably remove it from the pet. Additionally, machining toothed clipper blades is an expensive process. Assembly of such de-shedding tools can be labor intensive, time consuming and/or expensive, such as when the handle is fitted with a slot for inserting the toothed blade and the toothed blade is aligned and then fastened in the slot. 
         [0005]    Accordingly it is desirable to provide a grooming tool for a pet, such as a dog or cat, which overcomes shortcomings of existing pet grooming tools. 
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0006]    Generally speaking, in accordance with the invention, an improved pet grooming tool is provided for grooming pets and removing loose or detached hair from their fur coats, while removing substantially no or acceptably little live hair, and without the need to include any blade portion for engaging the loose or dead hairs. The tool can also collect the removed hair as opposed to permitting most of it to fall to the floor. In a preferred embodiment of the invention, the grooming tool includes an elongated handle portion having proximal and distal ends, a head portion at the distal end of the handle, and a carding portion on the head. A tool axis extends in a proximal direction from the head to the proximal end and, in preferred embodiments of the invention, corresponds to the direction in which the tool is drawn across the animal&#39;s coat (the grooming direction). The grooming tool also has a front, corresponding to the side that contacts the pet, and a back, opposite the front. From the perspective of looking at the front, it will also have a left side and a right side. 
         [0007]    The carding portion can include a plurality of tines arranged in one or more rows. These rows can be V-shaped and/or have gaps therebetween, to help collect the groomed hairs into the vertex of the V and/or between the rows. In a preferred embodiment of the invention, over 50% of the removed hairs can be collected by the tool during grooming. 
         [0008]    The functional portion of each tine, which engages the pet&#39;s coat, can be generally triangular (shark fin like) in side view, when observed from the left or right side, with a base that should be substantially aligned with the grooming direction towards the back, and a narrowed point-like tip portion towards the front. When observed from the proximal direction, with the tines pointing down, the tines can also be generally triangular, in that they should be wider at their base where they connect with the head and narrowed at the tip. In one embodiment of the invention, the tines are aligned with the tool axis and extend in the proximal direction, with gaps therebetween. The tip of each tine is the leading portion in contact with the animal and the wider base is at the connection of the tine to the head. 
         [0009]    In one embodiment of the invention, the tines are spaced between about 0.75 and 1.25 mm apart (measured tine tip center to tine tip center), more preferably about 0.9 to 1.2 mm apart, most preferably about 1.109 mm apart. 
         [0010]    To provide stronger tines, in side view, the ratio of the length of the base (L) of the tines and the height of the tines (H) (measured from base to tip) should be about L:H=1:2 to 2:1, more preferably about 1.5:1 to 1:1.5, most preferably about 1:1. When viewed from the grooming direction, the tines should be wider at their base than at the tip, preferably with a tip width (W T ) less than about 0.5 as wide as at the tine base (W B ), more preferably, less than about 0.25 as wide. 
         [0011]    In one embodiment of the invention, the length of the base L is between about 5 and 7 mm, more preferably, between about 5.80 and 6.3 mm, most preferably, about 6.1 mm. The height of the tines H should be between about 5.0 and 5.2 mm, more preferably, between about 5.05 and 5.1 mm, most preferably, about 5.085 mm. The width of the base W B  should be between about 0.5 and 0.7 mm, more preferably, between about 0.60 mm and 0.66 mm, most preferably, about 0.63 mm. The width of the tine tip W T  should narrow to a point. While the tip narrows to a point, it should be understood that the tip is not unduly sharp so as to injure the pet being groomed. Additionally, the width of the gap W G  between the tines should be between about 0.30 and 0.60 mm, more preferably about 0.40 and 0.50 mm, most preferably about 0.473 mm wide. 
         [0012]    In one embodiment of the invention, the proximal leading edge of the tines, in the grooming direction, from the side perspective, can make a generally right angle with the base and/or tool axis and the distal edge can slope towards the base at a decline. It has been determined that by providing tines constructed in this manner, the tines can be thin and closely spaced in the grooming direction, in a manner surprisingly well designed to form an easy path through a pet&#39;s coat and maximize removal of shed hair, yet also strong and durable to resist wear and breakage. 
         [0013]    The first and optional second V-shaped comb sections can span most or all, preferably in parallel, the width of the head portion. The vertex of each V-shaped comb section can be oriented along the center axis of the handle portion and should point away from the grooming direction. The angle of the arms of the rows of tines of the V-shaped comb section can be about 90 to 130 degrees, more preferably about 100 to 120 degrees, most preferably about 114 degrees. The actual vertex need not be a perfect V, but can be rounded or flattened as desired. The opening of each V-shaped comb section can be oriented axially in the direction of the proximal end of the handle portion. The tines can be oriented to angle away from the head portion in a direction towards the proximal end of the handle portion. The head portion can also include a gap between first and second V-shaped comb sections to help collect the pet&#39;s fur. In one embodiment of the invention, the rows are spaced between about 14.00 mm and 16.00 mm apart, more preferably about 15.00 mm to 15.50 mm apart, most preferably, about 15.126 mm. 
         [0014]    The carding portion can be constructed to slope inward radially above the V-shaped comb section(s), so as to create a distally pointing wedge shape in combination with the angled tines. This can simultaneously create a radial groove below a lip of the head section. Additionally or alternatively, the lengths and/or widths of the tines of the one V-shaped row are optionally different lengths and/or widths than the tines of another V-shaped row. Furthermore, the head portion may optionally include additional comb sections. 
         [0015]    The angled tines and the V-shaped comb sections are preferably oriented in a manner so that pulling the carding tool by the handle portion in the proximal grooming direction, while the carding portion is engaged with an animal&#39;s fur, results in the fur being funneled into the vertex of the V-shaped comb portions where the angled tines catch detached hairs, while substantially allowing live hair to pass therethrough. 
         [0016]    In preferred embodiments of the invention, the entire tool can be molded, in one or more molds, from various plastics and resins providing selected flex modulus, strength and durability. Optional molding materials include nylon, ABS plastic, acetal and polycarbonate, with the preferred material being nylon. Optionally, different parts of the tool can be molded from different materials. For example, the handle can be made softer and the tines stronger and harder, or the reverse. The tines are preferably made from a nonmetallic material, such as a plastic or resin. The tines can be molded from different material than the remainder of the head. In another embodiment of the invention, the combs can be oriented in different directions or of different shapes. 
         [0017]    An improved method for grooming pets and removing significant amounts of detached hair from their fur coats when they shed, while substantially not removing live secure hair is also provided. The method comprises providing a carding tool as discussed above and grooming the pet with the tool by pulling the tool in the proximal direction of the handle axis, with the handle generally parallel to the pet&#39;s body, so the carding portion of the head rides with the correct orientation. In one preferred embodiment of the invention, the two rows of tines help the user orient the head properly with both rows in contact with the pet. 
         [0018]    Accordingly, it is an object of the invention to provide an improved grooming tool for pets, such as dogs and cats, which overcomes drawbacks of the prior art. 
         [0019]    Another object of the invention is to provide an improved grooming tool for pets, having relatively high efficiency while avoiding damage. 
         [0020]    Yet another object of the invention is to provide an improved grooming tool for pets, which is easier and less expensive to manufacture than other grooming tools. 
         [0021]    Still other objects and advantages of the invention will in part be obvious and will in part be apparent from the specification and drawings. 
         [0022]    The invention accordingly comprises the several steps and the relation of one or more of such steps with respect to each of the others, and the article possessing the features, properties, and the relation of elements, which are exemplified in the following detailed disclosure, and the scope of the invention will be indicated in the claims. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0023]    For a fuller understanding of the invention, reference is made to the following description, taken in connection with the accompanying drawings, in which: 
           [0024]      FIG. 1  is a top plan view of an improved grooming tool constructed in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the invention; 
           [0025]      FIG. 2  is a perspective view of the improved grooming tool of  FIG. 1 ; 
           [0026]      FIG. 3  is a side view of the improved grooming tool of  FIG. 1 ; 
           [0027]      FIG. 4  is a bottom view of the improved grooming tool of  FIG. 1 ; 
           [0028]      FIG. 5  is a front view of the improved grooming tool of  FIG. 1 ; 
           [0029]      FIG. 6  is an end view of the improved grooming tool of  FIG. 1 ; 
           [0030]      FIG. 7  is a partial enlarged view of the improved grooming tool of  FIG. 1 ; 
           [0031]      FIG. 8  is an partial enlarged side view of a tine of the improved grooming tool of  FIG. 1  constructed in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the invention; and 
           [0032]      FIG. 9  is an partial enlarged end view of the tine of  FIG. 8   
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
       [0033]    An improved carding tool constructed in accordance with preferred embodiments of the invention is shown generally as a carding tool  100  in  FIGS. 1-7 . Carding tool  100  includes an elongated handle portion  101  having a proximal end  102  and a distal end  103 . A head portion  104  is present at distal handle end  103 . Head  104  includes a top side  150 , a bottom side  151  and a distal end  152 . A tool axis  110  extends proximally from distal end  152  of head  104  to proximal end  103  of handle  101  and corresponds to a preferred grooming direction for using tool  100  on a pet. 
         [0034]    Head  104  includes a carding portion  105 . Carding portion  105  preferably extends from head  104  in a generally perpendicularly downward direction from tool axis  110 . However, in alternative embodiments of the invention, it can also extend out at other angles that maximizes use and effectiveness of carding tool  100  for selected applications. In other embodiments of the invention, head  104  can include a rotating feature, such that the orientation of carding portion  105  can be rotated with respect to tool axis  110  into a selected orientation. In certain preferred embodiments of the invention, carding tool  100  is designed to be placed on a pet in the general direction of an arrow B, generally perpendicular to tool axis  110  and then moved along the pet&#39;s coat in the grooming direction of an arrow A, which is generally parallel to tool axis  110 . 
         [0035]    Carding portion  105  includes a pair of generally parallel walls  141  and  142  extending from head  104  in the general direction of arrow B. A plurality of tines  106  are located on and extend from walls  141  and  142  in a pair of tine rows  107 . Rows  107  are preferably V-shaped, with the V pointing in a direction opposite that of arrow A. As shown in tool  100 , tines  106  and walls  141  and  142  define a first and an optional second pair of V-shaped comb sections  109   a  and  109   b.    
         [0036]    Referring to  FIG. 8 , tines  106  have a wide tine base  161  with a base length L extending in the direction of arrow A at the position where tine  106  extends from wall  141  or  142 . Tines  106  then taper to a tip portion  160  as it extends from walls  141  or  142 , forming, from a side perspective, a triangularly shaped, shark fin-like shape. In a preferred embodiment of the invention, tines  106  form a generally right triangle, wherein a leading (when moved in the grooming direction of arrow A) tine edge  165  extends in the direction of arrow B from base  161 . Tines  106  can also include a sloping trailing edge  167  which extends at a decline from base  161  to tine tip  160 . Alternatively, other triangular shaped tines or other shapes with wider bases than tips may be used in preferred embodiments of the invention. 
         [0037]    In the side perspective, the ratio of the length of base  161  (L) of tines  106 , where they connect to walls  141  or  142  and the height of the tines (H) (measured from base  161  to tip  160 ) should be about L:H=1:2 to 2:1, more preferably about 1.5:1 to 1:1.5, most preferably about 1:1. 
         [0038]    In one embodiment of the invention, the length of the base  161  (L) is between about 5 and 7 mm, more preferably, between about 5.80 and 6.3 mm, most preferably, about 6.1 mm. The height of the tines H should be between about 5.0 and 5.2 mm, more preferably, between about 5.05 and 5.1 mm, most preferably, about 5.085 mm. The width of the base W B  should be between about 0.5 and 0.7 mm, more preferably, between about 0.60 mm and 0.66 mm, most preferably, about 0.63 mm. The width of the tine tip W T  should narrow to a point. While the tip narrows to a point, it should be understood that the tip is not unduly sharp so as to injure the pet being groomed. 
         [0039]    Referring to  FIG. 9 , when viewed from the end, in the direction of arrow A, tines  106  should be wider at their base  161  than at tip  160 , preferably with a tip width (W T ) less than about 0.5 as wide as at the tine base (W B ), more preferably, less than about 0.25 as wide. In one embodiment of the invention, the proximal edge of the tines, from the side perspective, can make a generally right angle with the base and/or tool axis and the distal edge can slope towards the base at a decline. It has been determined that by providing tines constructed in this manner, the tines can be thin and closely spaced in the grooming direction, in a manner surprisingly well designed to form an easy path through a pet&#39;s coat and maximize removal of shed hair, yet also strong and durable to resist wear and breakage. Additionally, tines  161  are preferably spaced with a gap  162  between their bases. Gap  162  has a preferred gap width (Wg) of about 0.30 and 0.60 mm, more preferably about 0.40 and 0.50 mm, most preferably about 0.473 mm wide. 
         [0040]    First and optional second V-shaped comb sections  109   a  and  109   b  can span in parallel, the width of head portion  104  of carding tool  100 . A vertex  130  of each V-shaped comb section  109   a  and  109   b  can be oriented along center axis  110  of handle portion  101 . The angle (V) of vertex  130  can be about 90 to 130 degrees, more preferably about 100 to 115 degrees, most preferably about 114.16 degrees. Vertex  130  of each V-shaped comb section can be oriented along the center axis of the handle portion and should point away from the direction the tool is dragged across the animal&#39;s coat. The opening of each V-shaped comb section  109   a  and  109   b  can be oriented axially in the direction of proximal end  102  of the handle portion  101 . Tines  106  can be oriented to angle away from head portion  104  in a direction towards proximal end  102  of handle portion  104 . Head portion  104  can also include a gap  111  between first and second V-shaped comb sections  109   a  and  109   b  to optimize access to a pet&#39;s fur. First and second V-shaped comb sections  109   a  and  109   b  can be spaced between about 14.00 mm and 16.00 mm apart, more preferably about 15.00 mm to 15.50 mm apart, most preferably, about 15.126 mm apart to form gap  111 . 
         [0041]    Carding portion  105  can be constructed to slope inward radially above the V-shaped comb section(s), so as to create a distally pointing wedge shape  112  in combination with the angled tines. This can simultaneously create a radial groove  113  below a lip  114  of head  104 . In alternative embodiments, wedge  112  and groove  113  are not required. Additionally or alternatively, the lengths and/or widths of the tines  106  of the one V-shaped comb section  109   a  are optionally different lengths and/or widths than the tines  106  of another V-shaped comb section  109   b . Furthermore, the lengths and/or widths of the one V-shaped comb section  109   a  are optionally different lengths and/or widths than the other V-shaped comb section  109   b . Additionally, the head portion  104  may optionally include more or less V-shaped comb sections than the first and second comb sections  109   a  and  109   b  of the preferred embodiment. In alternative embodiments, comb portions  109   a  and  109   b  may have a curved shape, rather than a V shape. 
         [0042]    In a preferred embodiment, first and second V-shaped comb sections  109   a  and  109   b  are disengageable from carding portion  105 , to allow for easy cleaning and/or replacement. Alternatively, first and second V-shaped comb sections  109   a  and  109   b  may be permanently part of carding portion  105 . In other embodiments, carding portion  105  may itself be disengageable from head portion  104  and/or rotatable into different orientations. Whether or not disengageable, the tines and head can be formed from different material, such as making the tines harder than the remainder of the head. 
         [0043]    Angled tines  106  and V-shaped comb sections  109   a  and  109   b  are preferably oriented in a manner so that pulling carding tool  100  by handle portion  101  in the direction of arrow A, while carding portion  105  is engaged with an animal&#39;s fur, results in the loose fur being funneled into V-shaped comb portions  109   a  and  109   b  where angled tines  106  catch detached hairs, while allowing live hair to pass therethrough. Wedge  112  is preferably constructed and formed so as to aid the user in passing carding tool  100  quickly back through the fur of the animal in preparation for more detached-hair removal, while not requiring the user to disengage carding tool  100  from the animal&#39;s fur coat. 
         [0044]    Preferably, handle portion  101  and head portion  104  are made of a durable copolymer, more preferably a thermoplastic elastomer, such as, for example, a mix of plastic and rubber, which can be easily formed through injection molding. Carding portion  105  is preferably made of a high strength nylon. In other embodiments, alternative materials may be used for handle portion  101 , head portion  104  and carding portion  105 , such as ABS plastic, acetal and polycarbonate. However, the preferred material is nylon. Tines  106  are preferably made from a nonmetallic material, such as a plastic or resin. 
         [0045]    A method of grooming a pet and efficiently removing detached and/or loose hair from a pet&#39;s fur coat, while only removing an acceptably small amount of live attached hair, is provided by employing carding tool  100 . The method comprises providing carding tool  100  as discussed above and grooming the pet with the tool by pulling the tool generally along line  110  in the direction of arrow A with handle portion  101  and head  104  generally parallel to the pet&#39;s body, so carding portion  105  rides with the correct orientation. Alternatively and/or additionally, carding tool  100  may be pulled by handle portion  101  as described above in the general direction of growth of the animal&#39;s hair, if other than in the direction from head to tail. In one preferred embodiment of the invention, first and second V-shaped comb sections  109   a  and  109   b  help the user orient head portion  104  properly with both rows  107  in contact with the pet. 
         [0046]    It will thus be seen that the objects set forth above, among those made apparent from the preceding description, are efficiently attained and, since certain changes may be made in carrying out the above method and in the article set forth without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention, it is intended that all matter contained in the above description and shown in the accompanying drawings shall be interpreted as illustrative and not in a limiting sense. 
         [0047]    It is also to be understood that the following claims are intended to cover all of the generic and specific features of the invention herein described and all statements of the scope of the invention which, as a matter of language, might be said to fall therebetween.