Patent Publication Number: US-2011067644-A1

Title: Pet grooming tool

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
     This application claims priority to U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 61/244,517, filed Sep. 22, 2009, entitled “Pet Grooming Tool” the contents of which are hereby incorporated herein by reference. 
    
    
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     Animal grooming has become increasingly important for many pet owners. Many tools exist that perform the function of removing dead or loose hair from the coat of an animal such as a cat or dog. Such tools typically involve a handle portion for the user to hold the tool to which a series of blades, comb tines or fine metal or plastic matrix of wire (collectively referred to herein as tines) are attached. The user, through a repeated action of the tool on or through the animal&#39;s fur or hair mechanically dislodges and removes any loose hair from the animal coat. 
     The above mentioned tools can be quite effective at dislodging the loose hair but have been found to be unsuitable at capturing or collecting the hair once it has become dislodged. Such tools typically allow the hair to fall to the floor, creating a new task for the user to now collect the hair from the floor with an auxiliary device such as a vacuum cleaner. This task complicates the grooming process and makes it both cumbersome for the user and the pet. 
     Accordingly, there is a need for improved hair or fur grooming tool which can be easily and effectively cleaned and manage the refuse that is dislodged as part of the grooming process. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     The invention relates generally to a fur or hair grooming tool, particularly for pets or other animals. In a first preferred embodiment of the invention, the grooming tool includes a handle portion and a grooming portion coupled to an end of the handle portion. The grooming portion includes a plurality of tines arranged in first and second rows such that the first row of tines is vertically separated or offset from the second row of tines by a distance X. 
     The tines in the first row of tines preferably have a first radius of curvature while the tines in the second row of tines preferably have a second radius of curvature, the second radius of curvature being different than the first radius of curvature. Additionally or alternatively, each of the first and second rows of tines preferably include alternating tines of varying lengths. That is, for example, each of the first and second rows of tines can include alternating first and second tines, wherein the first tines have a first length and the second tines have a second length, the second length being different that the first length. Moreover, preferably, the first and second tines in the first row alternate with respect to the first and second tines in the second row. As such, the grooming portion preferably includes first and second rows of tines vertically spaced from one another wherein the first and second row of tines each include alternating first and second tines and wherein the first tines in the first row alternate with the first tines in the second row and the second tines in the first row alternate with the second tines in the second row. The tines may also include a tapered outer diameter and/or a hemispherical tip. 
     In another preferred embodiment of the invention, the grooming tool, includes an upper portion and a lower portion. The upper portion includes a handle portion and a raking portion. The lower portion includes a receiving portion and a grooming portion, which includes a plurality of tines. In use, with the grooming tool assembled, the handle portion and the raking portion preferably mate with the receiving portion to create a single tool that allows a user to brush or comb an animal using the grooming portion. When the user desires to dislodge the hair or fur from the grooming portion, the raking portion is disconnected from the receiving portion and is pushed by the user over the grooming portion to dislodge any hair or fur that has accumulated in the grooming portion. 
     The tines are constructed and arranged to have a selected geometry that has the capacity to efficiently remove as well as hold large quantities of hair by compressing along the length of the tine array. The result is a grooming instrument having the capacity to hold and store a large amount of hair. One can remove and capture hair from an animal&#39;s coat in a wholesale fashion by virtue of the tool&#39;s design. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       The particular features and advantages of the present invention can be better understood by reference to the following drawings, wherein like reference numerals represent like elements. The drawings are merely exemplary to illustrate certain features that may be used singularly or in combination with other features and the present invention should not be limited to the embodiments shown. In the drawings: 
         FIG. 1  is a perspective view of a grooming tool in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the invention; 
         FIG. 2  is a perspective view of the grooming tool illustrated in  FIG. 1 , with a raking portion of the grooming tool depicted in a detached position; 
         FIG. 3  is a side view of the grooming tool illustrated in  FIG. 1 ; 
         FIG. 4  is a top view of the grooming tool illustrated in  FIG. 1 ; 
         FIG. 5  is a rear view of the grooming tool illustrated in  FIG. 1 ; 
         FIG. 6  is a frontal view of the grooming tool illustrated in  FIG. 1 ; 
         FIG. 7  is a detailed view of the tines of the grooming tool illustrated in  FIG. 6 ; 
         FIG. 8  is a perspective view of a grooming tool in accordance with another preferred embodiment of the invention; 
         FIG. 9  is a perspective view of the grooming tool illustrated in  FIG. 8 , with a raking portion of the grooming tool depicted in an unclipped position; 
         FIG. 10  is a side view of the grooming tool illustrated in  FIG. 8 ; 
         FIG. 11  is a top view of the grooming tool illustrated in  FIG. 8 ; 
         FIG. 12  is a rear view of the grooming tool illustrated in  FIG. 8 ; 
         FIG. 13  is a frontal view of the grooming tool illustrated in  FIG. 8 ; 
         FIG. 14  is a detailed view of the tines portion of the grooming tool illustrated in  FIG. 13 ; 
         FIG. 15  is a perspective view of a grooming tool in accordance with another preferred embodiment of the invention; 
         FIG. 16  is a top view of the grooming tool illustrated in  FIG. 15 ; 
         FIG. 17  is a bottom view of the grooming tool illustrated in  FIG. 15 ; 
         FIG. 18  is a side view of the grooming tool illustrated in  FIG. 15 ; 
         FIG. 19  is a rear view of the grooming tool illustrated in  FIG. 15 ; 
         FIG. 20  is a frontal view of the grooming tool illustrated in  FIG. 15 ; 
         FIG. 21  is a detailed view of the tines of the grooming tool illustrated in  FIG. 18 ; 
         FIG. 22  is a detailed view of the tines of the grooming tool illustrated in  FIG. 17 ; and 
         FIG. 23  is a detailed perspective view of the tines of the grooming tool illustrated in  FIG. 22 . 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention relates to a pet grooming tool which can be easily and effectively cleaned and manage the refuse that is dislodged as part of the grooming process. In the following description, for purposes of explanation, certain dimensions, materials and configurations are set forth in order to provide a thorough understanding of the invention. 
     Certain embodiments will now be discussed with reference to the aforementioned figures, wherein like referenced numerals will refer to like components. It should be noted that references in the specification to phrases such as “one embodiment” or “an embodiment” means that a particular feature, structure or characteristic described in connection with the embodiment is included in at least one embodiment. The appearances or phrases such as “in one embodiment” in various places in the specification are not necessarily, but can be, referring to the same embodiment. 
       FIGS. 1  thru  7  show a first preferred embodiment of a grooming tool  100  and the components thereof in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention which is most preferably used for grooming a dog. Referring to  FIGS. 1 and 2 , grooming tool  100  includes an upper portion  102  and a lower portion  104 . Upper portion  102  includes a handle portion  105  and a raking portion  103  that is generally perpendicular to handle portion  105 . Lower portion  104  includes a receiving portion  106  and a grooming portion  107 . When grooming tool  100  is assembled (as illustrated in  FIG. 1 ), handle portion  105  and raking portion  103  mate with receiving portion  106  to create a single tool that allows a user to brush or comb an animal with grooming portion  107 . Preferably, raking portion  103  clips or otherwise attaches to receiving portion  106  when raking portion  103  is not being used to clear hair or fur from grooming portion  107 , as will be discussed in more detail below. In a preferred embodiment of the invention, handle portion  105  and receiving portion  106  are made of a polypropylene material. Other materials, as can be appreciated by one with ordinary skill in the art, can be used as well. 
     In practice when a user wishes to groom an animal using grooming tool  100 , the user grasps grooming tool  100  by handle portion  105  which is mated with receiving portion  106 . The user can then rake the animal&#39;s hair or fur by combing or brushing grooming portion  107  through the hair or fur of the animal to be groomed. Because of the shape and dimensions of the grooming portion  107 , as will be discussed in more detail below, the hair that is combed becomes lodged within tines  108  of grooming portion  107 . Once the user wants to dislodge the hair or fur from the tines  108 , raking portion  103  can be unclipped from receiving portion  106  by lifting handle portion  105  away from receiving portion  106 . Once raking portion  103  has been unclipped from receiving portion  106 , raking portion  103  is pushed by the user over tines  108  (as illustrated in  FIG. 2 ) to dislodge the hair or fur that has accumulated in tines  108  off of the distal end of grooming portion  107 . In an embodiment of the invention, a stop portion (not shown) may be placed along grooming portion  107  to ensure that raking portion  103  does not slide too far and fall off of grooming portion  107 . 
     Referring to  FIGS. 3  thru  7 , preferred shapes and dimensions of grooming portion  107  and tines  108  enable grooming tool  100  to collect the hair or fur that is being brushed and to allow raking portion  103  to clear such hair from tines  108  when necessary. Referring to  FIG. 3 , grooming portion  107  can have a curvature  315  that generates an arc with a radius between about 0.75 inches to 1.2 inches, with a preferred radius between about 0.90 inches to 1.1 inches and an even more preferred radius of about 1 inch. This curvature  315  allows grooming portion  107  to collect the hair or fur and allows raking portion  103  to push the hair off of tines  108  when tool  100  needs to be cleaned. 
     Referring to  FIG. 4 , the distal end of grooming portion  107  has a width A. In an embodiment of the invention, width A can be in the range from about 2.5 inches to 3.5 inches, more preferably width A is in the range of about 2.8 inches to 3.0 inches and in an even more preferred embodiment, the width A is equal to about 2.9 inches. Similarly in one embodiment of the invention, tines  108  have a length B, which can range from about 1.25 inches to 1.75 inches, more preferably length B is in the range of 1.4 inches and 1.6 inches and in an even more preferred embodiment, length B is equal to about 1.5 inches. 
     In addition to the overall width of grooming portion  107  and the length of tines  108 , the size and spacing of tines  108  from one another is also important to enable the grooming tool  100  to efficiently collect the hair or fur that is then to be pushed or raked off of tines  108  by raking portion  103 . Referring to  FIGS. 5 and 6 , in one embodiment of the invention, grooming portion  107  comprises between about 20 to 40 tines, more preferably, about 25 to 35 tines, and even more preferably about 32 tines  108 , which are preferably substantially equally spaced from each other and are each constructed and arranged to be suitable for combing animal hair or fur. Tines  108  are separated from each other by a distance S, which can range between about 0.09 to 0.11 inches, more preferably between about 0.090 to 0.95 inches and most preferably about 0.092 inches when measured between the center point of each tine  108 , although other spacing may be used. 
     Additionally, although described above and shown in  FIG. 7  as being equally spaced from each other, tines  108  may have varying spacing in order to accomplish the function of grooming portion  107 . It is important that tines  108  are spaced far enough apart from each other to ably brush the animal and not cause any injury, while being close enough to each other to allow the hair or fur to be collected in tines  108  so they do not fall out and can be pushed off when desired by the user using raking portion  103 . 
     Referring to  FIG. 3 , each tine  108 , which is preferably made of stainless steel or some other metal material, has an outer diameter OD between about 0.06 to 0.08 of an inch, more preferably the diameter is between 0.6 to 0.7 of an inch and most preferably about 1/16 (0.0625) of an inch. This diameter allows the tines  108  to brush the animal and detach any dead or loose hairs on the animal without hurting the animal. 
     Referring to  FIGS. 8  thru  14 , a second preferred embodiment of a grooming tool  800  is illustrated. Grooming tool  800  is most preferably used to groom a cat. Referring to  FIGS. 8 and 9 , grooming tool  800  includes an upper portion  802  and a lower portion  804 . Upper portion  802  includes a handle portion  805  and a raking portion  803  that is generally perpendicular to handle portion  805 . Lower portion  804  includes a receiving portion  806  and a grooming portion  807 . When grooming tool  800  is assembled, handle portion  805  and raking portion  803  mate with receiving portion  806  to create a single tool that allows a user to comb an animal using grooming portion  807 . Preferably, raking portion  803  attaches to receiving portion  806  when raking portion  803  is not being used to clear hair or fur from grooming portion  807  as will be discussed in more detail below. In a preferred embodiment of the invention, handle portion  805  and receiving portion  806  are made of a polypropylene material, although other materials as can be appreciated by one with ordinary skill in the art, can be used as well. 
     In practice, when a user wishes to groom an animal using grooming tool  800 , the user grasps grooming tool  800  by handle portion  805  which is mated with receiving portion  806 . The user can then groom the animal by combing or brushing grooming portion  807  through the hair or fur of the animal to be groomed. Because of the shape and dimensions of grooming portion  807 , as will be discussed in more detail below, the loose hair that is combed becomes lodged within tines  808  of grooming portion  807 . Once the user wants to dislodge the hair or fur from tines  808 , raking portion  803  is unclipped from receiving portion  806  by lifting handle portion  805  away from receiving portion  806 . Once raking portion  803  has been unclipped from receiving portion  806 , raking portion  803  is pushed by the user over tines  808  to dislodge the hair or fur that has accumulated in tines  808  off of the distal end of grooming portion  807 . In one embodiment of the invention, a stop portion (not shown) may be placed along grooming portion  807  to ensure that raking portion  803  does not fall off of grooming portion  807 . 
     Referring to  FIGS. 10  thru  14 , the shape and dimensions of grooming portion  807  and tines  808  enable grooming tool  800  to collect the hair or fur that is being combed and to allow raking portion  803  to clear such hair from tines  808  when desired. Referring to  FIG. 10 , grooming portion  807  has a curvature  1015  that generates an arc with a radius that can be between about 0.8 inches to 1.2 inches, with a preferred radius between about 0.9 inches to 1.1 inches and an even more preferred radius of about 1.0 inch, although this value can fluctuate based upon the overall size of grooming tool  800  and other factors that may affect the geometry of the grooming tool  800 . This curvature  1015  helps grooming portion  807  collect the hair or fur and allows raking portion  803  to push such hair off of tines  808  when grooming tool  800  needs to be cleaned. 
     Referring to  FIG. 11 , the distal end of grooming portion  807  has a width C. In one embodiment of the invention, width C can range from about 1.5 inches to 3.5 inches, more preferably width C is in the range of about 2 inches to 3 inches and in an even more preferred embodiment, width C is equal to about 2.4 inches. Similarly, in one embodiment of the invention, tines  808  have a length D, which can range from about 1.0 inches to 1.5 inches, more preferably length D is in the range of about 1.2 inch to 1.3 inches and in an even more preferred embodiment, length D is equal to about 1.25 inches. 
     In addition to the overall width of grooming portion  807  and the length of tines  808 , the size and spacing of tines  808  from one another is also important to enable grooming tool  800  to efficiently collect the hair or fur that is then to be pushed or raked off of tines  108  by raking portion  803 . Referring to  FIGS. 12 and 13 , in one embodiment of the invention, grooming portion  807  can comprise between about 55 to 85 tines, more preferably, between about 65 to 75 tines, and even more preferably about 70 tines which are preferably equally spaced from each other and are each suitable for brushing or combing animal hair or fur. Tines  808  are separated from each other by a distance S which can range between about 0.03 to 0.04 inches, more preferably between 0.034 and 0.038 inches and most preferably about 0.036 inches when measured between the center point of each tine  808 , although other spacing may be used. 
     It is important that tines  808  are spaced far enough apart from each other to ably brush the animal and not cause any injury, while being close enough to each other to allow the hair or fur to be collected in tines  808  so they do not fall out and can be pushed off when desired by the user using raking portion  803 . 
     Each tine  808 , which is preferably made of stainless steel or some other metal material, can have an outer diameter OD between about 0.2 to 0.03 inches, more preferably the diameter is between about 0.022 to 0.028 inches and most preferably about 0.025 inches. This diameter allows tines  808  to comb or brush the animal and detach any dead or loose hairs on the animal without hurting the animal. In one embodiment, end tines  809  may have a slightly larger diameter OD than the other, intermediate tines  808 . For example end tines  809  preferably have a diameter between about 0.040 to 0.050 inches, more preferably between about 0.042 to 0.045 inches. In one particularly preferred embodiment, if the diameter of intermediate tines  808  is about 0.025 inches, the diameter of end tines  809  preferably is about 0.043 inches. Among other benefits, this difference in diameter can, in one embodiment, prevent raking portion  803  from sliding off of grooming portion  807 . 
       FIGS. 15  thru  23  show a third preferred embodiment of a grooming tool  1100  and the components thereof in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention which is most preferably used for a dog. Grooming tool  1100  includes a handle portion  1105  and a grooming portion  1107 . In a preferred embodiment of the invention, handle portion  1105  is made of a polypropylene material, although other materials, as can be appreciated by one with ordinary skill in the art, can be used as well. 
     Referring to  FIG. 16 , the distal end of grooming portion  1107  has a width E. In one embodiment, the width E can be in the range from about 2.5 inches to 3.5 inches, more preferably width E is in the range of about 2.6 inches to 2.9 inches and in an even more preferred embodiment, the width E is equal to about 2.740 inches. In addition, grooming tool  1100  preferably has an overall length F which can be approximately 7.25 inches, although as can be appreciated by one with ordinary skill in the art, other lengths can be used as well. 
     In practice when a user wishes to groom an animal using grooming tool  1100 , the user grasps grooming tool  1100  by handle portion  1105 . The user can then groom the animal by combing or brushing grooming portion  1107  through the hair or fur of the animal to be groomed. Because of the shape and dimensions of grooming portion  1107 , as will be discussed in more detail below, the hair that is combed becomes lodged within tines  1108  of grooming portion  1107 . Once the user wants to dislodge the hair or fur from tines  108 , the user may simply remove the collected fur from grooming portion  1107 . 
     The shape and dimensions of grooming portion  1107  and tines  1108  enable grooming tool  1100  to collect the hair or fur that is being combed or brushed. As best shown in  FIGS. 21  thru  23 , grooming portion  1107  preferably includes a first or upper row of tines  1108 A and a second or lower row of tines  1108 B, although it is envisioned that more than two rows of tines  1108  may be incorporated. The two rows of tines  1108 A,  1108 B are vertically separated from each other by a distance X which can range between about 0.06 to 0.09 inches, more preferably about between about 0.07 to 0.08 inches and most preferably about 0.074 inches when measured between the center point of tines  1108 A and  1108 B, although other spacing may be used. In addition, the two rows of tines  1108 A,  1108 B preferably have a different radius of curvature. That is, the first or upper row of tines  1108 A have a curvature  1315 A that generates an arc with a radius that can be between about 0.75 inches to 1.2 inches, with a preferred radius between about 1.0 inches to 1.2 inches, and an even more preferred radius of about 1.087 inch while the second or lower row of tines  1108 B have a curvature  1315 B that generates an arc that can have a radius between about 0.75 inches to 1.2 inches, with a preferred radius between about 0.9 inches to 1.1 inches, and an even more preferred radius of about 1.0 inch. 
     Furthermore, each of the first and second rows of tines  1108 A,  1108 B preferably include alternating tines of varying lengths. That is, referring to  FIGS. 19  thru  23 , each of the first and second row of tines  1108 A,  1108 B preferably includes alternating first and second tines, wherein the first tines have a longer length and the second tines have a shorter length. Thus, each of the first and second row of tines  1108 A,  1108 B preferably includes alternating longer and shorter length tines. More preferably, the longer first tines and the shorter second tines in the first row of tines  1108 A alternate as compared to the longer first tines and the shorter second tines in the second row of tines  1108 B. As such, grooming portion  1107  preferably includes first and second rows of tines  1108 A,  1108 B vertically spaced from one another wherein the first and second row of tines each include alternating first and second tines and wherein the first tines in the first row alternate with the first tines in the second row and the second tines in the first row alternate with the second tines in the second row. 
     Referring to  FIG. 22 , the longer first tines in the first or upper row of tines  1108 A have a length G as measured from the handle portion  1105 , the length G can be between about 1.25 inch to 1.75 inches, with a preferred length between 1.3 inches to 1.5 inches and an even more preferred length of about 1.4 inch. Similarly, the longer first tines in the second or lower row of tines  1108 B have a length H as measured from the handle portion  1105 , the length H can be between about 1.0 inch to 1.5 inches, with a preferred length between about 1.1 inches to 1.4 inches and an even more preferred length of about 1.27 inch. In addition, referring to  FIGS. 21 and 23 , the distal end of the longer first tines in the first or upper row of tines  1108 A preferably extends beyond the distal end of the shorter second tines in the first or upper row of tines  1108 B by a distance Z, which preferably has a length that can be between about 0.25 to 0.60 of an inch, more preferably between about 0.45 to 0.50 of an inch and most preferably about 0.43 of an inch. 
     Furthermore, the size and spacing of tines  1108  from one another is also important to enable grooming tool  1100  to efficiently collect the hair or fur. In one embodiment, each row of tines  1108 A,  1108 B can comprise between about 20 to 40 tines, more preferably, about 25 to 35 tines, and even more preferably about 31 tines  1108 A,  1108 B, which are preferably substantially equally spaced from each other and are each capable of combing animal hair or fur. Preferably, tines  1108  are separated from each other by a distance S which can range between about 0.08 to 0.11 inches, more preferably between about 0.09 to 0.11 inches and most preferably about 0.1 inches when measured between the center point of each tine  1108 , although other spacing may be used. 
     Additionally, although described above and generally shown as being equally spaced from each other, tines  1108  may have varying spacing in order to accomplish the function of grooming portion  1107 . It is important that tines  1108  are spaced far enough apart from each other to ably brush the animal and not cause any injury, while being close enough to each other to allow the hair or fur to be collected in tines  1108  so they do not fall out. 
     Each tine  1108 , which is preferably made of stainless steel or some other metal material, preferably has a tapered outer diameter. That is, referring to  FIG. 21 , each tine  1108  preferably has an outer diameter OD at the proximal end, adjacent to handle portion  1105 , that can be between about 0.055 and 0.07 of an inch, more preferably the diameter is between about 0.055 to 0.65 of an inch and most preferably about 0.060 of an inch. Each tine  1108  preferably has an outer diameter OD at the distal end which can be of between about 0.035 to 0.050 of an inch, more preferably the diameter is between about 0.035 to 0.045 of an inch and most preferably about 0.040 of an inch. Providing such diameters allows tines  1108  to brush the animal and detach any dead or loose hairs on the animal without hurting the animal. In addition, tips  1110  of tines  1108  are preferably hemispherical. However, it should be understood that while tines  1108  have been described as having a tapered diameter and a hemispherical tip, it is important to note that the tines  1108  may have other shapes including being non-tapered and having non-hemispherical tips. 
     By incorporating multiple rows of vertically offset tines  1108  having different radius of curvatures and different lengths of tines  1108 , the grooming tool  1100  produces the optimal deshedding of the undercoat while not disturbing the top coat of the pet. 
     The scope of the present invention covers conventionally known and features of those variations and modifications through the components described herein as would be understood by those skilled in the art. It is the intention, therefore, not to limited by the details of the particular embodiments discussed above, but it is intended to cover modifications within the spirit and scope of the present invention.