Pet grooming tool and method for removing loose hair from a furry pet

• US 7,509,926 B2
• Filed: 01/22/2008
• Issued: 03/31/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 05/30/2000
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Spectrum Brands, Inc. (Spectrum Brands Holdings, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Furminator Inc (Spectrum Brands Holdings, Inc.)
• Inventors: Porter, David R., Porter, Angela L.
• Primary Examiner(s): ABBOTT-LEWIS, YVONNE RENEE
• Application Number:
  US12/017,892
• Publication Number:
  US 20080178822A1
• Time in Patent Office: 434 Days
• Field of Search: 119/625, 119/611, 119/613, 119/608, 119/609, 119/628, 119/618, 119/614, 119/616, 119/617, 119/623, 119/626, 119/630, 119/631, 119/632, 119/633, 30/342, 305/26, 301/95, 303/465, 303/55, 132/213, 132/213.1, 132/214, 132/215
• US Class Current: 119/625
• 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 a 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

1. 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 having an elongate handle portion extending generally along a handle axis, and a pet engageable portion secured to the handle portion, the handle portion having a recess, the pet engageable portion including a blade portion and a plurality of teeth, the blade portion including a blade edge, the teeth extending from the blade edge, the pet engageable portion being partially positioned within the recess of the handle portion;

placing the pet engageable portion in engagement with the pet;

moving the handle portion generally along the handle axis 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.

2. A method as set forth in claim 1 wherein each tooth extends from the blade edge a length between approximately 0.08″

and 0.14″

.

3. A method as set forth in claim 2 wherein the distance from the tip of one of the teeth to the tip of another of the teeth adjacent said one of the teeth is between approximately 0.02″

and approximately 0.03″

.

4. A method as set forth in claim 3 wherein the blade portion comprises a leading surface and a trailing surface, the leading and trailing surfaces define the blade edge, and the trailing surface trails the leading surface during the step of moving the handle portion.

5. A method as set forth in claim 4 wherein the leading surface and the trailing surface form an angle between approximately 30°

and approximately 50°

.

6. A method as set forth in claim 5 wherein the grooming tool is devoid of any components adapted to be driven by an electrical power source.

7. A method as set forth in claim 1 wherein the distance from the tip of one of the teeth to the tip of another of the teeth adjacent said one of the teeth is between approximately 0.02″

and approximately 0.03″

.

8. A method as set forth in claim 1 wherein the blade portion comprises a leading surface and a trailing surface, the leading and trailing surfaces define the blade edge having an angle between approximately 30°

and approximately 50°

, and the trailing surface trails the leading surface during the step of moving the handle portion.

9. 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 having an elongate handle portion and a pet engageable portion, the handle portion having a hand-grip portion and a head portion, the hand-grip portion extending generally along a handle axis, the pet engageable portion including a blade portion and a plurality of teeth, the blade portion including a blade edge, the teeth extending from the blade edge, the head portion surrounding a portion of the pet-engageable portion;

placing the pet engageable portion in engagement with the pet;

moving the handle portion generally along the handle axis 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.

10. A method as set forth in claim 9 wherein each tooth extends from the blade edge a length between approximately 0.08″

and 0.14″

.

11. A method as set forth in claim 10 wherein the distance from the tip of one of the teeth to the tip of another of the teeth adjacent said one of the teeth is between approximately 0.02″

and approximately 0.03″

.

12. A method as set forth in claim 11 wherein the blade portion comprises a leading surface and a trailing surface, the leading and trailing surfaces define the blade edge having an angle between approximately 30°

and approximately 50°

, and the trailing surface trails the leading surface during the step of moving the handle portion.

13. A method as set forth in claim 12 wherein the grooming tool is devoid of any components adapted to be driven by an electrical power source.

14. A method as set forth in claim 9 wherein the distance from the tip of one of the teeth to the tip of another of the teeth adjacent said one of the teeth is between approximately 0.02″

and approximately 0.03″

.

15. A method as set forth in claim 9 wherein the blade portion comprises a leading surface and a trailing surface, the leading and trailing surfaces define the blade edge having an angle between approximately 30°

and approximately 50°

, and the trailing surface trails the leading surface during the step of moving the handle portion.

16. 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:

an elongate handle portion extending generally along a handle axis, 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 including a blade edge, at least some of the teeth extending from the blade edge, the pet engageable portion being partially positioned within the recess of the handle portion;

the pet engageable portion being oriented with respect to the handle portion in a manner so that moving the handle portion generally along the handle axis while the pet engageable portion is in engagement with the pet causes the blade edge 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.

17. A pet grooming tool as set forth in claim 16 wherein each tooth extends from the blade edge a length between approximately 0.08″

and 0.14″

.

18. A pet grooming tool as set forth in claim 17 wherein the distance from the tip of one of the teeth to the tip of another of the teeth adjacent said one of the teeth is between approximately 0.02″

and approximately 0.03″

.

19. A pet grooming tool as set forth in claim 18 wherein the blade portion comprises a leading surface and a trailing surface, the leading and trailing surfaces define the blade edge having an angle between approximately 30°

and approximately 50°

, and the trailing surface trails the leading surface during the step of moving the handle portion.

20. A pet grooming tool as set forth in claim 19 wherein the grooming tool is devoid of any components adapted to be driven by an electrical power source.

21. A pet grooming tool as set forth in claim 16 wherein the distance from the tip of one of the teeth to the tip of another of the teeth adjacent said one of the teeth is between approximately 0.02″

and approximately 0.03″

.

22. A pet grooming tool as set forth in claim 21 wherein the blade portion comprises a leading surface and a trailing surface, the leading and trailing surfaces define the blade edge having an angle between approximately 30°

and approximately 50°

, and the trailing surface trails the leading surface during the step of moving the handle portion.

23. 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 pet engageable portion including a blade portion and a plurality of teeth, the blade portion including a blade edge, at least some of the teeth extending from the blade edge;

an elongate handle portion having a hand-grip portion and a head portion, the hand-grip portion extending generally along a handle axis, the head portion surrounding a portion of the pet-engageable portion;

the pet engageable portion being oriented with respect to the handle portion in a manner so that moving the handle portion generally along the handle axis while the pet engageable portion is in engagement with the pet causes the blade edge 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.

24. A pet grooming tool as set forth in claim 23 wherein each tooth extends from the blade edge a length between approximately 0.08″

and 0.14″

.

25. A pet grooming tool as set forth in claim 24 wherein the distance from the tip of one of the teeth to the tip of another of the teeth adjacent said one of the teeth is between approximately 0.02″

and approximately 0.03″

.

26. A pet grooming tool as set forth in claim 24 wherein the blade portion comprises a leading surface and a trailing surface, the leading and trailing surfaces define the blade edge having an angle between approximately 30°

and approximately 50°

, and the trailing surface trails the leading surface during the step of moving the handle portion.

27. A pet grooming tool as set forth in claim 23 wherein the grooming tool is devoid of any components adapted to be driven by an electrical power source.

28. A pet grooming tool as set forth in claim 23 wherein the distance from the tip of one of the teeth to the tip of another of the teeth adjacent said one of the teeth is between approximately 0.02″

and approximately 0.03″

.

29. A pet grooming tool as set forth in claim 23 wherein the blade portion comprises a leading surface and a trailing surface, the leading and trailing surfaces define the blade edge having an angle between approximately 30°

and approximately 50°

, and the trailing surface trails the leading surface during the step of moving the handle portion.

30. A pet grooming tool as set forth in claim 29 wherein the angle is between approximately 40°

and approximately 50°

.

31. A pet grooming tool as set forth in claim 29 wherein the angle is approximately 40°

.