Pet Grooming Tool and Method for Removing Loose Hair from a Furry Pet

• US 20070119383A1
• Filed: 02/19/2007
• Published: 05/31/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 05/30/2000
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Spectrum Brands, Inc. (Spectrum Brands Holdings, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Furminator (Spectrum Brands Holdings, Inc.)
• Inventors: Porter, David, Porter, Angela
• Granted Patent: US 7,334,540 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 119/632
• CPC Class Codes: A01K 13/002 Curry-combs; Brushes shearing sheep B26B19/24
• CPC Class Codes: A46B 2200/1093 Brush for use on animal A46B2200/1086 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: B26B 21/16 involving blades with only one cutting edge B26B21/22 - B26B21/38 take precedence

Abstract

A pet grooming tool, for use with a furry pet such as a dog or cat having loose hair and non-loose hair, is adapted for removing the loose hair from the pet. The grooming tool comprises an handle portion and a pet engageable portion secured to the handle portion. The pet engageable portion includes a blade portion and a plurality of teeth. The blade portion includes a blade edge. The teeth extend from the blade edge. The blade edge is adapted to engage the loose hair of the pet and pull it from the pet without cutting or pulling the non-loose hair from the pet.

Claims

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19. For use with a furry pet such as a dog or cat having loose hair and non-loose hair, a pet grooming tool for removing the loose hair from the pet, the grooming tool comprising:

a handle portion, the handle portion having a recess;

a pet engageable portion secured to the handle portion, the pet engageable portion including a blade portion and a plurality of teeth, the blade portion comprising a leading surface and a trailing surface defining a blade edge, at least one of the teeth extending from the blade edge, the pet engageable portion being partially positioned within the recess of the handle portion;

the blade edge being adapted to engage the loose hair of the pet and pull it from the pet without cutting or pulling the non-loose hair from the pet as the pet engageable portion is moved in a first direction while the pet engageable portion is in engagement with the pet, the first direction being a direction in which the trailing surface trails the leading surface.

20. A grooming tool in accordance with claim 19 wherein the handle is elongate about a handle axis and the handle axis is generally perpendicular to the leading surface.

21. A grooming tool in accordance with claim 19 wherein the leading surface of the pet engageable portion is planar and is coincident with a plane, and the plane intersects the handle portion.

22. A grooming tool in accordance with claim 19 wherein the handle portion surrounds a portion of the pet engageable portion.

23. A grooming tool in accordance with claim 19 wherein the leading and trailing surfaces intersect at an angle between approximately 30°

and 40°

at the blade edge.

24. A grooming tool in accordance with claim 19 wherein the grooming tool is devoid of any components adapted to be driven by an electrical power source.

25. A grooming tool in accordance with claim 19 wherein each tooth extends from the blade edge a length between approximately 0.08″

and 0.14″

.

26. A grooming tool in accordance with claim 19 wherein the tip to tip spacing between one of the teeth and another of the teeth adjacent said one of the teeth is between approximately 0.02″

to approximately 0.03″

.

27. A grooming tool in accordance with claim 26 wherein each tooth extends from the blade edge a length between approximately 0.08″

and 0.14″

.

28. A grooming tool in accordance with claim 27 wherein the grooming tool is devoid of any components adapted to be driven by an electrical power source.

29. A grooming tool in accordance with claim 28 wherein the leading and trailing surfaces intersect at an angle between approximately 30°

and 40°

at the blade edge.

30. A method of removing loose hair from a furry pet such as a dog or cat having loose hair and non-loose hair, the method comprising:

providing a grooming tool in accordance with claim 19;

placing the pet engageable portion in engagement with the pet;

pulling the handle portion in the first direction while maintaining engagement of the pet engageable portion with the pet to cause the blade portion to engage the loose hair of the pet and pull it from the pet without cutting or pulling the non-loose hair from the pet.

31. A method in accordance with claim 30 wherein the leading surface is maintained generally perpendicular to the pet during the step of pulling the handle portion in the first direction.

32. For use with a furry pet such as a dog or cat having loose hair and non-loose hair, a pet grooming tool for removing the loose hair from the pet, the grooming tool comprising:

a handle portion, the handle portion having a socket;

a pet engageable portion secured to the handle portion, the pet engageable portion including a blade portion and a plurality of teeth, the blade portion comprising a leading surface and a trailing surface defining a blade edge, at least one of the teeth extending from the blade edge, the pet engageable portion being partially positioned within the socket of the handle portion;

the blade edge being adapted to engage the loose hair of the pet and pull it from the pet without cutting or pulling the non-loose hair from the pet as the pet engageable portion is moved in a first direction while the pet engageable portion is in engagement with the pet, the first direction being a direction in which the trailing surface trails the leading surface.

33. A grooming tool in accordance with claim 32 wherein the handle is elongate about a handle axis and the handle axis is generally perpendicular to the leading surface.

34. A grooming tool in accordance with claim 32 wherein the leading surface of the pet engageable portion is planar and is coincident with a plane, and the plane intersects the handle portion.

35. A grooming tool in accordance with claim 32 wherein the handle portion surrounds a portion of the pet engageable portion.

36. A grooming tool in accordance with claim 32 wherein the leading and trailing surfaces intersect at an angle between approximately 30°

and 40°

at the blade edge.

37. A grooming tool in accordance with claim 32 wherein the grooming tool is devoid of any components adapted to be driven by an electrical power source.

38. A grooming tool in accordance with claim 32 wherein each tooth extends from the blade edge a length between approximately 0.08″

and 0.14″

.

39. A grooming tool in accordance with claim 32 wherein the tip to tip spacing between one of the teeth and another of the teeth adjacent said one of the teeth is between approximately 0.02″

to approximately 0.03″

.

40. A grooming tool in accordance with claim 39 wherein each tooth extends from the blade edge a length between approximately 0.08″

and 0.14″

.

41. A grooming tool in accordance with claim 40 wherein the grooming tool is devoid of any components adapted to be driven by an electrical power source.

42. A grooming tool in accordance with claim 41 wherein the leading and trailing surfaces intersect at an angle between approximately 30°

and 40°

at the blade edge.

43. A method of removing loose hair from a furry pet such as a dog or cat having loose hair and non-loose hair, the method comprising:

providing a grooming tool in accordance with claim 32;

placing the pet engageable portion in engagement with the pet;

pulling the handle portion in the first direction while maintaining engagement of the pet engageable portion with the pet to cause the blade portion to engage the loose hair of the pet and pull it from the pet without cutting or pulling the non-loose hair from the pet.

44. A method in accordance with claim 43 wherein the leading surface is maintained generally perpendicular to the pet during the step of pulling the handle portion in the first direction.

45. For use with a furry pet such as a dog or cat having loose hair and non-loose hair, a pet grooming tool for removing the loose hair from the pet, the grooming tool comprising:

a handle portion;

a pet engageable portion secured to the handle portion, the pet engageable portion including a blade portion and a plurality of teeth, the blade portion comprising a leading surface and a trailing surface defining a blade edge, at least one of the teeth extending from the blade edge, the leading surface being planar and coincident with a plane, the plane intersecting the handle portion;

the blade edge being adapted to engage the loose hair of the pet and pull it from the pet without cutting or pulling the non-loose hair from the pet as the pet engageable portion is moved in a first direction while the pet engageable portion is in engagement with the pet, the first direction being a direction in which the trailing surface trails the leading surface.

46. A grooming tool in accordance with claim 45 wherein the handle is elongate about a handle axis and the handle axis is generally perpendicular to the leading surface.

47. A grooming tool in accordance with claim 45 wherein the handle portion surrounds a portion of the pet engageable portion.

48. A grooming tool in accordance with claim 45 wherein the leading and trailing surfaces intersect at an angle between approximately 30°

and 40°

at the blade edge.

49. A grooming tool in accordance with claim 45 wherein the grooming tool is devoid of any components adapted to be driven by an electrical power source.

50. A grooming tool in accordance with claim 45 wherein each tooth extends from the blade edge a length between approximately 0.08″

and 0.14″

.

51. A grooming tool in accordance with claim 45 wherein the tip to tip spacing between one of the teeth and another of the teeth adjacent said one of the teeth is between approximately 0.02″

to approximately 0.03″

.

52. A grooming tool in accordance with claim 51 wherein each tooth extends from the blade edge a length between approximately 0.08″

and 0.14″

.

53. A grooming tool in accordance with claim 52 wherein the grooming tool is devoid of any components adapted to be driven by an electrical power source.

54. A grooming tool in accordance with claim 53 wherein the leading and trailing surfaces intersect at an angle between approximately 30°

and 40°

at the blade edge.

55. A method of removing loose hair from a furry pet such as a dog or cat having loose hair and non-loose hair, the method comprising:

providing a grooming tool in accordance with claim 45;

placing the pet engageable portion in engagement with the pet;

pulling the handle portion in the first direction while maintaining engagement of the pet engageable portion with the pet to cause the blade portion to engage the loose hair of the pet and pull it from the pet without cutting or pulling the non-loose hair from the pet.

56. A method in accordance with claim 55 wherein the leading surface is maintained generally perpendicular to the pet during the step of pulling the handle portion in the first direction.

57. For use with a furry pet such as a dog or cat having loose hair and non-loose hair, a pet grooming tool for removing the loose hair from the pet, the grooming tool comprising:

a handle portion;

a pet engageable portion secured to the handle portion, the pet engageable portion including a blade portion and a plurality of teeth, the blade portion comprising a leading surface and a trailing surface defining a blade edge, at least one of the teeth extending from the blade edge, the handle portion extending to and beyond the leading surface;

the blade edge being adapted to engage the loose hair of the pet and pull it from the pet without cutting or pulling the non-loose hair from the pet as the pet engageable portion is moved in a first direction while the pet engageable portion is in engagement with the pet, the first direction being a direction in which the trailing surface trails the leading surface.

58. A grooming tool in accordance with claim 57 wherein the handle is elongate about a handle axis and the handle axis is generally perpendicular to the leading surface.

59. A grooming tool in accordance with claim 57 wherein the handle portion surrounds a portion of the pet engageable portion.

60. A grooming tool in accordance with claim 57 wherein the leading and trailing surfaces intersect at an angle between approximately 30°

and 40°

at the blade edge.

61. A grooming tool in accordance with claim 57 wherein the grooming tool is devoid of any components adapted to be driven by an electrical power source.

62. A grooming tool in accordance with claim 57 wherein each tooth extends from the blade edge a length between approximately 0.08″

and 0.14″

.

63. A grooming tool in accordance with claim 57 wherein the tip to tip spacing between one of the teeth and another of the teeth adjacent said one of the teeth is between approximately 0.02″

to approximately 0.03″

.

64. A grooming tool in accordance with claim 63 wherein each tooth extends from the blade edge a length between approximately 0.08″

and 0.14″

.

65. A grooming tool in accordance with claim 64 wherein the grooming tool is devoid of any components adapted to be driven by an electrical power source.

66. A grooming tool in accordance with claim 65 wherein the leading and trailing surfaces intersect at an angle between approximately 30°

and 40°

at the blade edge.

67. A method of removing loose hair from a furry pet such as a dog or cat having loose hair and non-loose hair, the method comprising:

providing a grooming tool in accordance with claim 57;

placing the pet engageable portion in engagement with the pet;

pulling the handle portion in the first direction while maintaining engagement of the pet engageable portion with the pet to cause the blade portion to engage the loose hair of the pet and pull it from the pet without cutting or pulling the non-loose hair from the pet.

68. A method in accordance with claim 67 wherein the leading surface is maintained generally perpendicular to the pet during the step of pulling the handle portion in the first direction.

69. For use with a furry pet such as a dog or cat having loose hair and non-loose hair, a pet grooming tool for removing the loose hair from the pet, the grooming tool comprising:

a handle portion;

a pet engageable portion secured to the handle portion, the pet engageable portion including a blade portion and a plurality of teeth, the blade portion comprising a leading surface and a trailing surface defining a blade edge, at least one of the teeth extending from the blade edge, the leading surface being planar and coincident with a first plane, the trailing surface terminating at a second plane, the handle portion having a portion that lies between the first and second planes;

the blade edge being adapted to engage the loose hair of the pet and pull it from the pet without cutting or pulling the non-loose hair from the pet as the pet engageable portion is moved in a first direction while the pet engageable portion is in engagement with the pet, the first direction being a direction in which the trailing surface trails the leading surface.

70. A grooming tool in accordance with claim 69 wherein the handle is elongate about a handle axis and the handle axis is generally perpendicular to the leading surface.

71. A grooming tool in accordance with claim 69 wherein the handle portion surrounds a portion of the pet engageable portion.

72. A grooming tool in accordance with claim 69 wherein the leading and trailing surfaces intersect at an angle between approximately 30°

and 40°

at the blade edge.

73. A grooming tool in accordance with claim 69 wherein the grooming tool is devoid of any components adapted to be driven by an electrical power source.

74. A grooming tool in accordance with claim 69 wherein each tooth extends from the blade edge a length between approximately 0.08″

and 0.14″

.

75. A grooming tool in accordance with claim 69 wherein the tip to tip spacing between one of the teeth and another of the teeth adjacent said one of the teeth is between approximately 0.02″

to approximately 0.03″

.

76. A grooming tool in accordance with claim 75 wherein each tooth extends from the blade edge a length between approximately 0.08″

and 0.14″

.

77. A grooming tool in accordance with claim 76 wherein the grooming tool is devoid of any components adapted to be driven by an electrical power source.

78. A grooming tool in accordance with claim 77 wherein the leading and trailing surfaces intersect at an angle between approximately 30°

and 40°

at the blade edge.

79. A method of removing loose hair from a furry pet such as a dog or cat having loose hair and non-loose hair, the method comprising:

providing a grooming tool in accordance with claim 69;

placing the pet engageable portion in engagement with the pet;

pulling the handle portion in the first direction while maintaining engagement of the pet engageable portion with the pet to cause the blade portion to engage the loose hair of the pet and pull it from the pet without cutting or pulling the non-loose hair from the pet.

80. A method in accordance with claim 79 wherein the leading surface is maintained generally perpendicular to the pet during the step of pulling the handle portion in the first direction.

81. For use with a furry pet such as a dog or cat having loose hair and non-loose hair, a pet grooming tool for removing the loose hair from the pet, the grooming tool comprising:

a handle portion;

a pet engageable portion secured to the handle portion, the pet engageable portion including a blade portion and a plurality of teeth, the blade portion comprising a leading surface and a trailing surface defining a blade edge, at least one of the teeth extending from the blade edge, the handle portion surrounding a portion of the pet engageable portion;

the blade edge being adapted to engage the loose hair of the pet and pull it from the pet without cutting or pulling the non-loose hair from the pet as the pet engageable portion is moved in a first direction while the pet engageable portion is in engagement with the pet, the first direction being a direction in which the trailing surface trails the leading surface.

82. A grooming tool in accordance with claim 81 wherein the handle is elongate about a handle axis and the handle axis is generally perpendicular to the leading surface.

83. A grooming tool in accordance with claim 81 wherein the leading and trailing surfaces intersect at an angle between approximately 30°

and 40°

at the blade edge.

84. A grooming tool in accordance with claim 81 wherein the grooming tool is devoid of any components adapted to be driven by an electrical power source.

85. A grooming tool in accordance with claim 81 wherein each tooth extends from the blade edge a length between approximately 0.08″

and 0.14″

.

86. A grooming tool in accordance with claim 81 wherein the tip to tip spacing between one of the teeth and another of the teeth adjacent said one of the teeth is between approximately 0.02″

to approximately 0.03″

.

87. A grooming tool in accordance with claim 86 wherein each tooth extends from the blade edge a length between approximately 0.08″

and 0.14″

.

88. A grooming tool in accordance with claim 87 wherein the grooming tool is devoid of any components adapted to be driven by an electrical power source.

89. A grooming tool in accordance with claim 88 wherein the leading and trailing surfaces intersect at an angle between approximately 30°

and 40°

at the blade edge.

90. A method of removing loose hair from a furry pet such as a dog or cat having loose hair and non-loose hair, the method comprising:

providing a grooming tool in accordance with claim 81;

placing the pet engageable portion in engagement with the pet;

pulling the handle portion in the first direction while maintaining engagement of the pet engageable portion with the pet to cause the blade portion to engage the loose hair of the pet and pull it from the pet without cutting or pulling the non-loose hair from the pet.

91. A method in accordance with claim 90 wherein the leading surface is maintained generally perpendicular to the pet during the step of pulling the handle portion in the first direction.

92. For use with a furry pet such as a dog or cat having loose hair and non-loose hair, a pet grooming tool for removing the loose hair from the pet, the grooming tool comprising:

a handle portion;

a pet engageable portion secured to the handle portion, the pet engageable portion including a blade portion and a plurality of teeth, the blade portion comprising a leading surface and a trailing surface defining a blade edge, at least one of the teeth extending from the blade edge, the leading surface being planar and coincident with a first plane, the trailing surface terminating at a third surface, the third surface being planar and coincident with a second plane, the third surface terminating at a fourth surface, the fourth surface being planar and coincident with a third plane, the third plane being parallel to the first plane, the second plane intersection each of the first and third planes;

the blade edge being adapted to engage the loose hair of the pet and pull it from the pet without cutting or pulling the non-loose hair from the pet as the pet engageable portion is moved in a first direction while the pet engageable portion is in engagement with the pet, the first direction being a direction in which the trailing surface trails the leading surface.

93. A grooming tool in accordance with claim 92 wherein the handle portion comprises a socket and the pet engageable portion is partially positioned within the socket of the handle portion.

94. A grooming tool in accordance with claim 93 wherein the teeth are partially bound by the third surface.

95. A method of removing loose hair from a furry pet such as a dog or cat having loose hair and non-loose hair, the method comprising:

providing a grooming tool in accordance with claim 94;

placing the pet engageable portion in engagement with the pet;

pulling the handle portion in the first direction while maintaining engagement of the pet engageable portion with the pet to cause the blade portion to engage the loose hair of the pet and pull it from the pet without cutting or pulling the non-loose hair from the pet.

96. A method in accordance with claim 95 wherein the leading surface is maintained generally perpendicular to the pet during the step of pulling the handle portion in the first direction.