Patent Publication Number: US-2005139165-A1

Title: Shedding control device for animals

Description:
BACKGROUND  
      This invention pertains to a device for controlling shedding in pets and other animals, and for grooming such pets and other animals.  
      Owners of pets and other animals usually face the prospect of repeatedly and often cleaning fur, hair, and dander from various surfaces including carpets and furniture. It is typically advantageous to attract such fur, hair, and dander at their source, the animal itself, before they have a chance to be deposited. Various devices exist for collecting fur, hair, and dander shed by animals, including devices that employ adhesive strips to which the fur, hair, and dander may stick, and durable devices such as brushes.  
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
      There are disadvantages to using such devices. Adhesive-based devices tend to quickly become matted with fur and hair, greatly decreasing their effectiveness. Durable devices need to be cleaned frequently. In addition, some pets prefer to not be groomed by such devices. As a result, shedding is less controlled and hair and fur become deposited throughout the range of the animal.  
      To solve these problems, a new micro-hook shedding control device is required.  
      The elements of the shedding control device are generally a first layer that includes hook material, and a shape that allows for ease of use. Such a device allows a consumer to collect pet dander and the like before it is shed by the animal.  
      The present invention overcomes these problems by providing an animal shedding control device including a first layer including a first material, wherein the first layer has a first layer perimetric edge, and wherein the first material is hook material having hooks adapted to capture detritus, and a second layer including a second material, wherein the second layer has a second layer perimetric edge, and wherein at least a portion of the second layer perimetric edge is coupled to the first layer perimetric edge such that the first and second layers define a bag-like space that is at least partially enclosed.  
      The first material may be micro-hook material, and the second layer may be a nonwoven, elastomeric, or micro-hook material. The device may be a mitt, a pet bed enclosure, or a grooming tool cover.  
      The present invention also provides a shedding control device including a bag-like body including an outer surface including micro-hook material; and an interior space, wherein the body is adapted to be turned inside-out to create a second interior space.  
      The present invention also provides a method for controlling animal shedding, the method including donning a mitt having a first layer including a first material, wherein the first layer has a first layer perimetric edge, and wherein the first material is hook material having hooks adapted to capture detritus; and a second layer including a second material, wherein the second layer has a second layer perimetric edge, and wherein at least a portion of the second layer perimetric edge is coupled to the first layer perimetric edge such that the first and second layers define a bag-like space that is at least partially enclosed; petting an animal having detritus such that detritus is captured in the hooks; and disposing of the mitt.  
      The present invention also provides a method for controlling animal shedding, the method including placing a device over an animal bed, the device having a first layer including a first material, wherein the first layer has a first layer perimetric edge, and wherein the first material is hook material having hooks adapted to capture detritus; and a second layer including a second material, wherein the second layer has a second layer perimetric edge, and wherein at least a portion of the second layer perimetric edge is coupled to the first layer perimetric edge such that the first and second layers define a bag-like space that is at least partially enclosed; allowing an animal to use the bed such that detritus is captured in the hooks; removing the device from the bed; and disposing of the device.  
      Other objects and advantages of the present invention will become more apparent to those skilled in the art in view of the following description and the accompanying drawings. 
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       FIG. 1  is a perspective view of a shedding control device of the present invention.  
       FIG. 2  is a schematic view of the device of  FIG. 1 , including a thumb space.  
       FIG. 3  is a schematic view of the device of  FIG. 1 , including a finger loop.  
       FIG. 4  is a schematic view of the device of  FIG. 1 , including a finger slit.  
       FIG. 5  is a schematic view of the device of  FIG. 1 , including a finger space.  
       FIG. 6  is a perspective view of the device of  FIG. 1 , in use as a pet bed enclosure.  
       FIG. 7  is a perspective view of the device of  FIG. 1 , in use as a grooming tool cover. 
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS  
      The invention described herein is a micro-hook shedding control device  10 . Such a device  10  allows a consumer to groom and control shedding in a pet or other animal, including a human. For grooming and shedding control, the user needs to capture primarily fur, hair, dander, debris, and loose organic material, collectively referred to herein as detritus.  
       FIG. 1  illustrates an example of a shedding control device  10  of the present invention. The device  10  includes a first layer  15  and a second layer  20 . For purposes of illustration, and not for purposes of limitation, the shedding control device  10  is described as a milt. The same device  10 , however, may be described as any other suitable form of a shedding control device  10 , including an enclosure for a pet bed or a cover for an animal grooming tool. The shedding control device  10  may also be used for the purposes of grooming.  
      The device  10  includes a first layer  15 . The first layer  15  may be of any suitable shape, but is preferably generally planar and is further preferably generally rectangular or oblong. The first layer  15  has a perimetric edge  25  extending around the first layer  15 . In one embodiment, the first layer  15  is generally the size of a human hand held flat on a surface. In an alternative embodiment, the first layer  15  is generally the size of a pet or other animal bed. In another alternative embodiment, the first layer  15  is generally the size of a grooming tool. In general, the first layer  15  may be of any suitable size, with the size preferably selected to be suitable for the intended use of the device  10 .  
      The first layer  15  is an active layer. The active layer performs the grooming and shedding-control function, which it accomplishes by including hook material. Hook material includes relatively small and flexible hooks. Hook material is commonly available in hook and loop material such as that manufactured as VELCRO-brand hook and loop fasteners by the American Velcro Company. The hook material is typically formed in a continuous sheet using continuous injection molding, and the hook material typically includes hooks, knobs, or both. Micro-hook material may be used and is considered skin-friendly because the hooks are designed to be relatively small and feel soft to the touch for the average user. The ends of the hooks are typically not exposed at the surface, so the hook material does feel abrasive or sharp. As is known in the art, the manufacturer may tailor the modulus of the hooks by the polymer that is chosen to manufacture them.  
      Conventional hook and loop fastening systems are, for example, available as VELCRO-brand hook and loop fastening systems. In a particular embodiment, the hook material may be a micro-hook material such as that distributed under the designation CS200 by 3M Company, a business having offices in St. Paul, Minn. Another suitable micro-hook material is distributed under the designation VELCRO CFM-29 1058, and is available from VELCRO U.S.A., Inc., a business having offices in Manchester, N.H.  
      The hook material may cover all or a portion of the first layer  15 . The most inexpensive embodiment may be a first layer  15  consisting essentially of hook material.  
      In an alternative embodiment, the active layer may also include adhesive to aid in capturing detritus. The adhesive may be applied to the hook material and deposited between and/or at the base of the hooks. The adhesive may be applied by spraying, rolling, or by any other suitable method. The adhesive may be any suitable adhesive; one example is an adhesive that remains tacky after application such as a hot melt resin with a high tackifier level. The hook material itself may be produced with void spaces—areas of hook material that are absent of hooks. Adhesive may then be applied to the void spaces.  
      In an alternative embodiment, the adhesive may be applied in strips, alternating with strips of hook material. In yet another embodiment, areas of adhesive may be interspersed with areas of hook material in any suitable pattern or dispersion.  
      The device  10  also includes a second layer  20 . The second layer  20  is preferably of the same general size and shape of the first layer  15 , although the size and/or shape of the second layer  20  may be selected to be different from the size and/or shape of the first layer  15  based on the intended use of the device  10 . The second layer  20  has a perimetric edge  30  extending around the perimeter of the second layer  20 .  
      The second layer  20  may be a backing layer. The second layer  20  may be manufactured from any suitable nonwoven or woven material, including, for example, paper tissue. The second layer  20  may also be manufactured from an elastomeric material to allow for a more snug fit on the user&#39;s hand.  
      In an alternative embodiment, the second layer  20  is also an active layer and manufactured under any of the embodiments described above for the first layer  15 . In the case of the second layer  20  as an active layer, the second layer  20  may be manufactured from a different hook material than is used for the first layer  15 . For example, the hook material of the second layer  20  my include hooks that are larger than the hooks of the hook material of the first layer  15  to accommodate different grooming needs. In an alternative embodiment, one of the first and second layers  15 ,  20  may include adhesive where the other does not, or one of the first and second layers  15 ,  20  may include adhesive where the other includes a different adhesive.  
      In an alternative embodiment, one or both of the first and second layers  15 ,  20  may be breathable to allow air to circulate through the device  10 .  
      The first layer  15  is coupled to the second layer  20 . One of the first and second layers  15 ,  20  is positioned to overlie the other of the first and second layers  15 ,  20 , such that the perimetric edges  25 ,  30  of the first and second layers  15 ,  20  generally align. A portion of the perimetric edge  25  of the first layer  15  is attached to the perimetric edge  30  of the second layer  20  to form a seam  35 . The seam  35  formed may be at the perimetric edges  25 ,  30 , or the seam  35  may be adjacent or inward from the perimetric edges  25 ,  30 . The perimetric edges  25 ,  30  may be attached by adhesive, ultrasonic bonding, heating, sewing, or by any other suitable method.  
      Coupling the first layer  15  to the second layer  20  forms the device  10  with a bag-like structure having an outer surface  40  and an interior space  45  with an opening  50 . The device  10  may be formed such that the interior space  45  is sized to accommodate a human hand, a pet bed, a portion of a grooming tool, or any other suitable item. Because of this bag-like design, the device  10  may be turned inside-out by a user such that the previous interior space  45  becomes the new outer surface, and the previous outer surface  40  becomes and defines the new interior space. In turning the device  10  inside-out, any detritus captured in the hooks or adhesive on the previous outer surface  40  of the device  10  becomes captured within the new interior space of the device  10 .  
      In an alternative embodiment, the interior space  45  may also include hook material and/or adhesive to allow the device  10  to be used for grooming after being turned inside-out.  
      The device  10  may be manufactured in any dimensions. For example, the device  10  as a mitt may be sized to fit best on a child&#39;s hand, an adult hand, or may be of a length to cover much of an adult&#39;s hand and arm.  
      The device  10  may be manufactured without a thumb space  50  or a finger loop  65 . In such an embodiment, pressure from a user&#39;s fingers on the seam  35  helps to stabilize the device  10  by helping to prevent rotation of the device  10  around the user&#39;s hand.  
      In an alternative embodiment, as illustrated in  FIG. 2 , the device  10  may include a thumb space  55  sized to accommodate a human thumb. A thumb space  55  helps to stabilize the device  10  in use by helping to prevent rotation of the device  10  around a user&#39;s hand. In another alternative embodiment, particularly one on which the second layer  20  is an active layer, the device  10  may also be manufactured with a second thumb space (not shown) on the opposing perimetric edge  25  of the device  10 , such that one thumb space  55  may be used when the first layer  15  is used to collect detritus, and the other thumb space (not shown) may be used when the second layer  20  is used to collect detritus.  
      In still another alternative embodiment, as illustrated in  FIG. 3 , the device  10  may include a finger loop  65  within the space. With a finger inserted in the finger loop  65  during use, the finger loop  65  helps to stabilize the device  10  by helping to prevent rotation of the device  10  around a user&#39;s hand. The finger loop  65  may be formed from any suitable material including the nonwoven described above, and may be formed with either the first or second layers  15 ,  20 , or formed independently of the first and second layers  15 ,  20 . The finger loop  65  may be attached to either of the first or second layers  15 ,  20 , or the finger loop  65  may be attached to the device  10  in conjunction with coupling the first layer  15  to the second layer  20 . The finger loop  65  may assist a user in turning the device  10  inside-out by grasping the finger loop  65  and pulling.  
      In yet another alternative embodiment, as illustrated in  FIG. 4 , the device  10  may include a finger slit  70  appropriately positioned in the first layer  15 , second layer  20 , or both first and second layers  15 ,  20 . With a finger inserted through the finger slit  70  during use, the finger slit  70  helps to stabilize the device  10  by helping to prevent rotation of the device  10  around a user&#39;s hand.  
      In yet another alternative embodiment, as illustrated in  FIG. 5 , the device  10  may include a line of stitching, glue, or other suitable means  75  to define a finger space  80  within the interior space  45  to help prevent rotation of the device  10  around a user&#39;s hand.  
      The opening  50  of the device  10  may include a sealing mechanism  85  (see  FIG. 6 ) to allow the opening  50  to be closed. The sealing mechanism  85  may be hook material, adhesive, a zipper-like mechanism, or any other suitable sealing mechanism. In turning the device  10  inside-out and capturing any detritus within the interior space  45  of the device  10 , the sealing mechanism  85  can then be used to ensure that the detritus remains within the interior space  45  for disposal without mess.  
      By virtues of the design and materials chosen for the device  10 , the device  10  is preferably designed to be disposable. In this case, disposable means that the device  10  is disposed of, rather than cleaned, after use.  
      In an alternative embodiment of the device  10 , the first layer  15  and the second layer  20  are two portions of the same piece of material. One of the first and second layers  15 ,  20  is folded over the other of the first and second layers  15 ,  20  and a portion of their perimetric edges  25 ,  30  are coupled by any means described herein to form the device  10 .  
      In use of the device  10  as a milt, as illustrated in  FIGS. 1-5 , when a user recognizes a need for collecting detritus from an animal before the animal sheds the detritus, the user selects and dons the device  10 . The user then pets or rubs the animal with the user&#39;s hand in the device  10 , allowing the hooks and/or adhesive of the first layer  15  to capture detritus. The user then removes the device  10 , turning the device  10  inside-out, and capturing the detritus within the inside-out device  10 . The user may then seal the device  10  if the device  10  is equipped with a sealing mechanism  85 . With or without sealing the device  10 , the user then disposes of the device  10  and along with it the detritus removed from the animal.  
      In use of the device  10  as a pet bed enclosure, as illustrated in  FIG. 6 , the user may remove detritus from an animal on a consistent basis before the animal can shed the detritus. The user selects an appropriate device  10  and places within it a pet bed, pillow, cushion, or other suitable item  90 . The user then allows the animal to rest on the item  90  as the animal normally would. Natural movements of the animal against the device  10  allow the hooks and/or adhesive of the first layer  15  and/or second layer  20  to capture detritus. The user then removes the device  10 , turning the device  10  inside-out, and capturing the detritus within the inside-out device  10 . The user may then seal the device  10  if the device  10  is equipped with a sealing mechanism  85 . With or without sealing the device  10 , the user then disposes of the device  10  and along with it the detritus removed from the animal. In this case, the device  10  may also be equipped with a second sealing mechanism (not shown) to allow the device  10  to be sealed during use to enclose the pet bed, pillow, cushion, or other suitable item  90 . The user may also use the device  10  as a shedding-control matt by placing the device  10  on a carpet, a piece of furniture, or any other resting place for the animal to perform the same function.  
      In use of the device  10  as a cover for a grooming tool  95 , as illustrated in  FIG. 7 , when a user recognizes a need for collecting detritus from an animal before the animal sheds the detritus, the user selects an appropriate device  10  and places the device  10  over the grooming tool  95 . The user then pets or rubs the animal with the grooming tool  95  in the device  10 , allowing the hooks and/or adhesive of the first layer  15  to capture detritus. The user then removes the device  10 , turning the device  10  inside-out, and capturing the detritus within the inside-out device  10 . The user may then seal the device  10  if the device  10  is equipped with a sealing mechanism. In this case, the device  10  may also be equipped with a second sealing mechanism (not shown) to allow the device  10  to be sealed during use to enclose the grooming tool  95 . With or without sealing the device  10 , the user then disposes of the device  10  and along with it the detritus removed from the animal.  
      Other objects and advantages of the present invention will become more apparent to those skilled in the art in view of the following description and the accompanying drawings.  
      The invention has been described with reference to various specific and illustrative embodiments and techniques. However, it should be understood that many variations and modifications may be made while remaining within the spirit and scope of the invention. Many alternatives, modifications and variations will be apparent to those skilled in the art in light of the foregoing description. Accordingly, this invention is intended to embrace all such alternatives, modifications, and variations that fall within the spirit and scope of the appended claims.