Patent ID: 12239099

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Referring now toFIGS.1-3, the present pet nail grinder is generally designated10and includes a grinder housing12, preferably made from a pair of molded, clamshell-like portions as is well known in the small appliance art. Defined by the grinder housing12is an interior space14, a first, working end16, and an opposite, second end18. Accommodated at the working end16is a grinding bit19as is well known in the art, with a preferably cylindrical or can-shaped abrasive portion, and a mounting shaft. As is known in the art, the grinder10is provided with a user-lockable retaining chuck (not shown) for holding the bit mounting shaft in place.

A grinder drive system20located within the grinder housing12includes a motor22, preferably powered by a battery24and having a drive shaft or drive spindle26that defines a longitudinal axis of the grinder10. The battery24is preferably rechargeable, but disposable batteries are contemplated, as well as a line cord connection, as is well known in the art.

A feature of the present grinder10is an ON/OFF or control button28projecting from the second end18and linearly or axially reciprocating relative to the second end between an On and an Off position under a biasing force. While other orientations are contemplated, the control button28preferably reciprocates in a centered position along the pet nail grinder longitudinal axis. Thus, a user grasping the grinder10turns the grinder off and on by impacting the button28against a surface, such as a grooming table.

Referring now toFIGS.1,7and8, attached to the grinder housing12closer to the working end16than to the second end18, and preferably at the working end16, is a spindle cap30made of light transmissive material, which is contemplated as being transparent or translucent, depending on the material selected. In its preferred form, the spindle cap30defines peripherally spaced mounting points32for at least one light34(FIG.7), the lights preferably being four LEDs, however other bulbs or similar illuminating elements are contemplated. The mounting points32are preferably integrally formed, generally “C”-shaped and retain the light34using friction force. Once the lights34are mounted in the mounting points32and are illuminated, the light transmissive material of the spindle cap30will cause enhanced illumination of the grinding bit19. Also included on the spindle cap30is at least one and preferably a plurality of exhaust vents36, preferably in fluid communication with a central opening38as well as with the interior housing space14as will be described in greater detail below.

A rear end40of the spindle cap30is provided with eyelets42for accommodating fasteners (not shown) for securing the cap to the grinder housing12. Also at the spindle cap rear end40is at least one and preferably a plurality of slot-like air vents44. Turning now to the second housing end18, the grinder housing12includes at least one, slot-like intake vent46. In the preferred embodiment, a plurality of intake vents46are provided, being located preferably closer to the second end than to the working end16and being disposed about a periphery of the grinder housing12. While other orientations are contemplated, the intake vents46are elongate, and extend parallel to the grinder longitudinal axis.

Referring toFIGS.2-5, the above discussion of the vents36,44and46relate to several features of the present pet nail grinder10. First, to promote internal air flow and reduce operational heat, the grinder10includes a cooling fan48mounted to the drive spindle26between motor22and the grinding bit19. As such the cooling fan48rotates while the motor22is in operation, pulling in air from the air intake vents46to pass over and cool the motor within the interior housing space14. The cooling fan48also pulls in air from the spindle cap air vents44, and combines that air with the air drawn from the vents46to create an exhaust air flow that is in fluid communication with, and passes through the exhaust vents36in the spindle cap30. The spindle cap exhaust vents36are narrowly dimensioned to increase the velocity of the exhaust air, which is directed at the grinding bit work area, and thus blows away loose hair and debris from the user's work area.

Referring now toFIGS.2-5, the grinder10further includes a heat sink50disposed in the housing12, specifically in the interior housing space14, for securing the motor22in position within the housing. The heat sink50is constructed and arranged for dissipating heat generated by the motor and for promoting cooling air flow within the interior housing space. A tube52is defined by the heat sink50, having an opening54dimensioned for slidably accommodating the motor22in a friction fit. In addition, the heat sink50includes a plurality of support ribs56radially extending from the tube, the support ribs being dimensioned for contacting inner surfaces58of the grinder housing for securing the motor22within the housing12without requiring other internal support walls or baffles which might impede internal air flow.

For extra support, at least one supplemental ring60is connected to the support ribs56, and has a larger diameter than the tube52. In other words, the ring60circumscribes and is radially spaced from the tube52. The arrangement of the ring60, the tube52and the support ribs56creates a plurality of honey-comb-like air flow channels62for enhancing the cooling of the motor22during operation. In addition to supporting the motor22, the heat sink50is preferably constructed of resilient, rubber-like, shock-absorbing material for absorbing vibrations generated by the motor22and for protecting the motor from impact damage if the grinder10is accidentally dropped. Another advantage of making the heat sink50out of resilient material is that the operational noise of the present grinder10is reduced.

Referring now toFIGS.2,5and9, another feature of the present pet nail grinder10is a spindle lock64with a biased locking pin66reciprocating transversely to an axis defined by the spindle26. Connected to the locking pin66is an actuator button68with an upper surface70positioned to extend no farther than an exterior surface72of the grinder housing12. Also included in the spindle lock64is a toothed spindle lug74secured to, and rotating with the motor spindle26. A tip76of the locking pin66selectively engages recesses74ain the spindle lug74for periodically locking the spindle26from rotation upon user depression of the actuator button68. A return biasing device78, preferably a coiled spring or the like, biases the locking pin66to a disengaged position (FIG.9), allowing the spindle lug74to rotate with the spindle26.

Supporting the spindle lug74is a leg80of a three-legged bracket82secured within the interior housing space14, preferably using fastener-receiving mounting bores84. The leg80, closest to the motor22, includes a lug bore86dimensioned for rotatably accommodating the spindle lug74. In addition, the leg80includes a hollow boss88in communication with the lug bore86for supporting and guiding the tip76of the locking pin66. Two additional, axially spaced legs90and92of the bracket82include bores94receiving bushings96which support and rotatably accommodate the spindle26. In the preferred embodiment, the cooling fan48is located on the spindle26between the legs90and92, which is farther from the motor22than the spindle lock64.

Referring now toFIGS.2,3,6and9, another feature of the present pet nail grinder10is that the grinder housing12is constructed and arranged to inhibit rolling of the grinder on a substrate, such as a grooming table, so that the grinder will remain close to the user as the pet is placed in a grooming position. It will be seen that the housing12has a transverse cross-section (FIGS.6and9) that is non-circular, being preferably ovoid or parabolic. In addition, adjacent the second end18, a radially extending flange98that defines a socket100for the reciprocating control button28creates a rear endcap for the housing12, and preferably is provided with a plurality of peripherally spaced, radially extending projections102that further inhibit rolling of the grinder10on a substrate. It is contemplated that the number, arrangement and configuration of the projections102is variable to suit the application.

Referring now toFIGS.3-5, the drive system20of the present pet nail grinder10is shown in greater detail. The reciprocating control button28is electrically connected to a circuit board104located within the interior housing space14. As is known in the art, the motor22and the battery24are also electrically connected to the circuit board104, so that actuating the control button28causes the motor to operate, rotating the spindle26to which the grinder bit19is attached, which initiates rotation of the cooling fan48as well. A rotatable motor speed control105is seen inFIG.1extending from the grinder housing12and is also electrically connected to the motor22and to the circuit board104. In the preferred embodiment, the circuit board104is constructed so that the lights34, powered by the battery24, will illuminate once the motor22is turned on.

Referring again toFIG.2, the radial flange98is also preferably provided with endcap intake vents106which further enhance the intake air flow. As is the case with the rear intake vents46, the endcap intake vents106are narrow, elongate and slit-like to prevent the intake of foreign material such as dirt, animal hair, nail clippings and the like which might impair grinder operation. Despite their thin profile, a sufficient number of the vents46,106are provided for effective motor cooling, as well as exhaust flow for clearing the work area of grinding debris. InFIG.2, arrows108indicate intake air flow, and arrows110indicate exhaust air flow.

Referring again toFIGS.6and7, a forwardly-projecting tongue112of the three-legged bracket82is received in a space in the spindle cap30defined by angled mounting formations114. Also, the spindle lock actuator button68is preferably provided with a resilient cover116including a border ring118configured for facilitating the user locating the lock by feel during the grinding operation.

While a particular embodiment of the present pet nail grinder has been described herein, it will be appreciated by those skilled in the art that changes and modifications may be made thereto without departing from the invention in its broader aspects and as set forth in the following claims.