Direct application horse and livestock brush having flow regulator assembly

• US 7,926,492 B2
• Filed: 07/20/2007
• Issued: 04/19/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 07/21/2005
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: I Did It Incorporated
• Original Assignee: I Did It Incorporated
• Inventors: Hurwitz, Marni Markell
• Primary Examiner(s): DOAN, ROBYN KIEU
• Application Number:
  US11/880,249
• Publication Number:
  US 20070261643A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,369 Days
• Field of Search: 132112-116, 401/184, 401/151, 401/185
• US Class Current: 132/112
• CPC Class Codes: A01K 13/002 Curry-combs; Brushes shearing sheep B26B19/24
• CPC Class Codes: A46B 11/0006 specially adapted to feed the bristle upper surface
• CPC Class Codes: A46B 11/0041 Flexible or deformable reservoirs, e.g. resilient bulbs, compressible tubes
• CPC Class Codes: A46B 11/0062 Brushes where the reservoir is specifically intended for being refilled when empty
• CPC Class Codes: A46B 11/0096 Indication of the level of the remaining fluid, e.g. through transparent walls
• CPC Class Codes: A46B 2200/104 Hair brush
• CPC Class Codes: A46B 2200/1093 Brush for use on animal A46B2200/1086 takes precedence

Abstract

A horse and/or livestock brush assembly releases a fluid and/or liquid solution directly onto the coat of an animal during brushing. The brush assembly includes a brush base attached to a hose and flow regulator. The brush base comprises a flexible deformable membrane with a plurality of apertures that are, optionally, aligned with apertures in brush bristles for delivery of the fluid and/or liquid solution, and is fitted within a first opening of an internal cavity in a brush base. Delivery of the fluid or liquid solution is controlled by way of the flow regulator. An optional mixing chamber housing a water soluble compound containing active ingredients may be attached to the flow regulator to form a liquid solution. The liquid solution includes perfumes, fragrances and other active compositions including insect repellant, hair conditioners, dyes, moisturizers, or antibacterial compounds. The fluid and/liquid is delivered directly to the animal'"'"'s fur or hair while brushing the coat.

Claims

1. A direct application brush assembly 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, a top surface having a second opening and an orifice;

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 appointed for combing through hair or fur;

c. said second opening being adapted to receive a cover that fits onto said second opening;

d. a flow regulator;

e. a hose having a first end fitted with said flow regulator and a second end fitted to said orifice of said brush base so that said hose delivers a fluid from said flow regulator into said internal cavity of said brush base;

f. 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;

wherein each of said bristles having a diameter ranging from 0.005 inch to 0.040 inch; and

g. a mixing chamber housing a compound appointed to be mixed with water delivered from said flow regulator to form a liquid solution that is appointed to be fed through said hose into said interior cavity of said brush base for dissemination of said liquid solution onto said fur or hair;

whereby said flow regulator controls delivery of said fluid into said hose and said internal cavity of said brush base when brushing said fur or hair, releasing said fluid through said apertures in said flexible deformable membrane and said bristles onto said fur or hair.

2. A brush assembly 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 assembly 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 assembly 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 assembly 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 assembly 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 assembly 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 assembly 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 assembly 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.

10. A brush assembly as recited by claim 1, wherein said fluid is water.

11. A brush assembly as recited by claim 1, wherein said liquid solution includes active ingredients comprising grooming and cleaning products for a coat of said horse and livestock.

12. A brush assembly as recited by claim 1, wherein said liquid solution includes active ingredients comprising animal health care products.

13. A brush assembly as recited by claim 1, wherein said liquid solution includes perfume, fragrance and/or other active composition comprising insect repellant, flea repellants and treatments, tick repellant, mane and tail hair conditioning compositions, dye compositions, moisturizing ingredients, or antibacterial compounds.

14. A brush assembly as recited by claim 1, wherein said liquid solution consists of active ingredients selected from a group consisting of insect repellants, flea and/or tick compounds, muscle treatments, therapeutic or moisturizing compounds, or antibacterial compounds.

15. A brush assembly as recited by claim 1, wherein said liquid solution 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.

16. A brush assembly as recited by claim 1, wherein said compound housed in said mixing chamber is a semi-solid compound soluble in an aqueous environment to form said liquid solution appointed for delivery through said hose and into said interior cavity of said brush base.

17. A brush assembly as recited by claim 16, wherein said semi-solid compound is a shampoo.

18. A brush assembly as recited by claim 1, wherein said mixing chamber is disposable and replacement mixing chambers are available.

19. A brush assembly as recited by claim 1, wherein a porous sponge or soluble disk is provided to be inserted within said internal cavity, wherein said porous sponge or soluble disk is water soluble and contains active ingredients and dissolves as fluid enters said internal cavity by way of said hose and said flow regulator.

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

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

b. producing a flexible deformable membrane having apertures aligned with apertures in bristles rigidly attached thereto, each of said bristles has a circular cross section, the diameter of which ranges from 0.005 inch to 0.040 inch;

each of said bristles further having a central aperture and a slit along the length of the bristles forming a bristle with a U-shaped cross section;

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

d. inserting a cover on said second opening of said brush base;

e. connecting a second end of a hose to said orifice of said brush base and connecting a first end of said hose to a flow regulator for delivery of said fluid into said internal cavity of said brush base;

g. mixing a compound in a mixing chamber, said compound being appointed to be mixed with water delivered from said flow regular to form a liquid solution that is appointed to be fed through said hose into said interior cavity of said brush base for dissemination of said liquid solution onto said fur or hair;

whereby said flow regulator controls delivery of said fluid into said hose and said internal cavity of said brush base when brushing said fur or hair, releasing said fluid through said apertures in said flexible deformable membrane and said bristles onto said coat of said horse and livestock.

21. A method for making a direct delivery brush assembly as recited by claim 20, wherein said liquid solution comprises fragrance and/or other active composition comprising insect repellant, flea repellants and treatments, tick repellant, mane and tail hair conditioning compositions, dye compositions, moisturizing ingredients, or antibacterial compounds.