Direct application brush for horses and livestock that releases active ingredients

• US 7,694,687 B2
• Filed: 02/26/2007
• Issued: 04/13/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 07/21/2005
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Ididit, Inc.
• Original Assignee: I Did It Incorporated
• Inventors: Hurwitz, Marni Markell
• Primary Examiner(s): DOAN, ROBYN KIEU
• Application Number:
  US11/710,848
• Publication Number:
  US 20070144451A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,142 Days
• Field of Search: 132112-116, 401/184
• US Class Current: 132/112
• CPC Class Codes: A01K 13/002 Curry-combs; Brushes shearing sheep B26B19/24
• CPC Class Codes: A01K 13/003 Devices for applying insecticides or medication A01K27/007 takes precedence; for veterinary purposes A61D7/00

Abstract

A horse and/or livestock brush releases a liquid gel solution directly onto the coat of an animal during brushing. Delivery of the liquid gel solution is activated by manually depressing the brushes cover. The liquid gel solution includes perfumes, fragrances and other active compositions including insect repellant, hair conditioners, dyes, moisturizers, or antibacterial compounds. The brush includes a flexible deformable membrane with a plurality of apertures that are, optionally, aligned with apertures in brush bristles for delivery of the liquid gel active composition, and is fitted within a first opening of an internal cavity in a brush base. A porous sponge saturated with the liquid gel active ingredient is inserted over the flexible deformable membrane. A cover is inserted through a second opening and rests upon the porous sponge. Brushing action deforms the flexible deformable membrane and squeezes the sponge, releasing the active ingredient during brushing or when the cover is depressed manually.

Claims

1. A direct application brush for horses and livestock, comprising:

a. a molded brush base with a handle and an internal cavity with a bottom surface having a first opening and top surface having a second opening, respectively;

b. a flexible deformable membrane disposed within said first opening, said flexible deformable membrane having apertures aligned with apertures in bristles of a brush fixedly attached thereto;

c. a porous sponge saturated with liquid gel solution being placed over said flexible deformable membrane within said internal cavity;

d. a cover having a top surface and a bottom surface, said cover being slidably fit within said second opening, wherein said cover presses against said porous sponge;

whereby brushing hair with said brush deforms said flexible deformable membrane and squeezes said sponge, releasing said liquid gel solution saturated within said porous sponge through said apertures in said flexible deformable membrane and said bristles, and pressing the cover squeezes said porous sponge, releasing said liquid gel solution saturated within said porous sponge through said apertures in said flexible deformable membrane and bristles irregardless of whether said bristles of said brush are in contact with hair.

2. A brush as recited by claim 1, wherein each of said first and second openings is elliptical, said flexible deformable membrane is elliptical, and said cover is elliptical.

3. A brush as recited by claim 1, wherein each of said first and second openings is circular, said flexible deformable membrane is circular, and said cover is circular.

4. A brush as recited by claim 1, wherein each of said first and second openings is rectangular, said flexible deformable membrane is rectangular, and said cover is rectangular.

5. A brush as recited by claim 1, wherein each of said first and second openings is square-shaped, said flexible deformable membrane is square-shaped, and said cover is square-shaped.

6. A brush as recited by claim 1, wherein said flexible deformable membrane is composed of rubber having a thickness in the range of 1/32 inch to 3/32 inch.

7. A brush as recited by claim 1, wherein said flexible deformable membrane aperture has a diameter in the range of 0.010 inch to 0.060 inch.

8. A brush as recited by claim 1, wherein each of said bristles has a circular cross section, the diameter of which ranges from 0.010 to 0.060 inch.

9. A brush as recited by claim 1, wherein each of said bristles has a circular cross section, the diameter of which ranges from 0.005 inch to 0.040 inch.

10. A brush as recited by claim 9, wherein each of said bristles has a circular cross section with a central aperture and a slit along the length of the bristle forming a bristle having a U-shaped cross section.

11. A brush as recited by claim 1, wherein said flexible deformable membrane is composed of a flexible polymeric material having a thickness in the range of 1/32 inch to 3/32 inch.

12. A brush as recited by claim 1, wherein said liquid gel solution saturating said porous sponge includes active ingredients comprising grooming and cleaning products for a coat of said horse and livestock.

13. A brush as recited by claim 1, wherein said liquid gel solution saturating said porous sponge includes active ingredients comprising animal health care products.

14. A brush as recited by claim 1, wherein said liquid gel solution of said porous sponge is saturated with liquid gel perfume, fragrance and/or other active composition comprising insect repellant, flea repellants and treatments, tic repellant, mane and tail hair conditioning compositions, dye compositions, moisturizing ingredients, or antibacterial compounds.

15. A brush as recited by claim 1, wherein said liquid gel solution saturating said porous sponge consists of active ingredients selected from a group consisting of insect repellants, flea and/or tic compounds, muscle treatments, therapeutic or moisturizing compounds, or antibacterial compounds.

16. A brush as recited by claim 1, wherein said liquid gel solution saturating said porous sponge consists of active ingredients selected from a group consisting of perfumes, fragrance, hair-conditioning and detangle products, sun protection lotions, mane and tail whiteners and stain removers, dye compositions, fragrances or other hair/fur/coat-care related products.

18. A method for making a direct delivery brush as recited by claim 1, wherein said liquid gel solution saturating said porous sponge comprises fragrance and/or other active composition comprising insect repellant, flea repellants and treatments, tic repellant, mane and tail hair conditioning compositions, dye compositions, moisturizing ingredients, or antibacterial compounds.

17. A method for making a direct delivery brush for horses and livestock coats that releases a solution, comprising the steps of:

a. forming a brush base having an internal cavity with a bottom surface having a first opening and top surface having a second opening;

b. producing a flexible deformable membrane having apertures aligned with apertures in bristles rigidly attached thereto;

c. inserting said flexible deformable membrane into said first opening in said internal cavity;

d. inserting a porous sponge saturated with liquid gel solution through said second opening in said internal cavity, said porous sponge being in contact with said flexible deformable membrane;

e. slidably inserting a cover through said second opening in said internal cavity, said cover being in contact with said porous sponge;

whereby said flexible deformable membrane and slidable cover create a substantially leak-tight seal for said internal cavity in said brush base, and brushing hair or manually depressing said cover releases said liquid gel solution to said coat of said horse and livestock.