Vacuum grooming tool

• US 20060118137A1
• Filed: 01/23/2006
• Published: 06/08/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 05/17/2001
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Pet Groom Tech LLC
• Original Assignee: Hair Patrol LLC
• Inventors: Freidell, James E.
• Granted Patent: US 8,230,819 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 134/6
• CPC Class Codes: A01K 13/00 Devices for grooming or caring of animals, e.g. curry-combs; Fetlock rings; Tail-holders as part of the harness B68B5/04; Devices for preventing crib-biting; Washing devices; Protection against weather conditions or insects
• CPC Class Codes: A01K 13/001 Washing, cleaning, or drying devices for veterinary purposes A61D7/00, A61D11/00
• CPC Class Codes: A01K 13/002 Curry-combs; Brushes shearing sheep B26B19/24
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 9/06 with fixed, e.g. adjustably fixed brushes or the like
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 9/0606 rigidly anchored brushes, combs, lips or pads

Abstract

A vacuum grooming tool is disclosed that includes a vacuum nozzle attachable to a vacuum source and has a hollow body with a mouth opening. A grooming device selected from a variety of standard animal grooming hand tools, such as a shedding blade, rake or de-matting tool, may span the mouth opening. The grooming device is positioned such that the airflow created by the vacuum source flows over at least one side of the grooming device. A vacuum cleaning tool for removing any animal hair from a grooming tool is also disclosed. A vacuum plenum of the cleaning tool is attachable to a vacuum source and has an opening for cleaning the grooming tool in one pass. The cleaning tool can be mounted on a stationary support may also include a pivot-action mechanism that connects the vacuum grooming tool or the cleaning tool to the vacuum source.

Claims

1. A method of removing pet hair, the method comprising:

providing a grooming tool having a handle, one or more grooming blades having a plurality of teeth on the sides of which are formed sharp edges which are configured to remove ready to be shed undercoat hair by snagging the ready to be shed undercoat hair, and one or more fasteners positioned to secure the handle to the one or more grooming blades in a manner allowing an angle formed between the handle and the one or more grooming blades can be set to one of a plurality of orientations;

pushing or pulling the one or more grooming blades across a coat of a pet;

lifting top coat hair of the coat to expose undercoat hair to the sharp edges of the grooming blade; and

removing the ready to be shed undercoat hair by engaging the exposed undercoat hair with the sharp edges of the one or more grooming blades, whereby increased efficiency of deshedding operations is achieved as compared to conventional deshedding operations as a result of eliminating operational strokes and reducing time associated with the deshedding operations.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising adjusting the angle formed between the handle and the one or more grooming blades.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the lifting of the top coat hair is done by hand.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the lifting of the top coat hair is performed by a vacuum source creating a negative airflow over the grooming blade.

5. A method of removing pet hair, the method comprising:

providing a grooming tool having a handle, one or more grooming blades having a plurality of teeth on the sides of which are formed sharp edges which are configured to remove ready to be shed undercoat hair by snagging the ready to be shed undercoat hair, and one or more fasteners positioned to secure the handle to the one or more grooming blades in a manner allowing an angle formed between the handle and the one or more grooming blades can be set to one of a plurality of orientations, and a vacuum plenum configured to be connected to a vacuum source to induce negative airflow through the one or more grooming blades;

pushing or pulling the one or more grooming blades through a coat of a pet;

the negative airflow lifting top coat hair of the coat to expose undercoat hair to the sharp edges of the grooming blade; and

removing the ready to be shed undercoat hair by engaging the exposed undercoat hair with the sharp edges of the one or more grooming blades, whereby increased efficiency of deshedding operations is achieved as compared to conventional deshedding operations as a result of eliminating operational strokes and reducing time associated with the deshedding operations.

6. The method of claim 5, further comprising adjusting the angle formed between the handle and the one or more grooming blades.

7. A method of removing animal hair, the method comprising:

providing an animal hair removal tool having a grooming device configured to be attached to a vacuum source, wherein the grooming device comprises one or more sharp edges configured to snag ready to be shed animal hair and physically positioned between a mouth opening to allow negative airflow created by the vacuum source to flow over the sharp edges of the grooming device;

engaging the one or more sharp edges of the grooming device with an animal'"'"'s hair; and

moving the animal hair removal tool while engaging the animal hair to cause the sharp edges to snag ready to be shed animal hair and pull the ready to be shed animal hair from the animal.

8. The method of claim 7, further comprising adjusting the angle of engagement of the grooming device.

9. A method of removing pet hair, the method comprising:

providing a grooming tool having a vacuum nozzle and a grooming device, the vacuum nozzle comprises a hollow body terminating in a mouth opening at a first end and attachable to a vacuum source at a second end, the grooming device being configured to attach to the vacuum nozzle in such a manner as to span the mouth opening;

allowing a negative airflow created by the vacuum source to flow over the grooming device;

engaging the grooming device with an animal; and

pushing or pulling the grooming tool across a coat of the animal, wherein the negative airflow lifts hair in the coat to allow the grooming device to snag the hair while the grooming tool is being pushed or pulled.

10. The method of claim 9, wherein said providing a grooming tool having a vacuum nozzle and a grooming device further comprises providing a grooming tool having a vacuum nozzle and a grooming device, the grooming device including one or more grooming blades each having a serrated edge.

11. The method of claim 9, wherein said providing a grooming tool having a vacuum nozzle and a grooming device further comprises providing a grooming tool having a vacuum nozzle and a grooming device, the grooming device comprising one or more shedding blades.

12. The method of claim 9, wherein said providing a grooming tool having a vacuum nozzle and a grooming device further comprises providing a grooming tool having a vacuum nozzle and a grooming device, the grooming device comprising a rake.

13. The method of claim 9, wherein said providing a grooming tool having a vacuum nozzle and a grooming device further comprises providing a grooming tool having a vacuum nozzle and a grooming device, the grooming device comprising an undercoat rake.

14. The method of claim 9, wherein said providing a grooming tool having a vacuum nozzle and a grooming device further comprises providing a grooming tool having a vacuum nozzle and a grooming device, the grooming device comprising a de-matting tool.

15. The method of claim 9, wherein said providing a grooming tool having a vacuum nozzle and a grooming device further comprises providing a grooming tool having a vacuum nozzle and a grooming device, the grooming device comprising two or more grooming blades that are spaced apart and substantially parallel to each other.

16. A method for cleaning a grooming device, the method comprising:

providing a grooming tool cleaning head having a nozzle attachable to a vacuum source, the nozzle having an opening configured to engage a surface of a grooming device, wherein the opening is at least as large as one dimension of the surface of the grooming device; and

removing animal hair attached to the surface of the grooming device by making a single pass of the surface of the grooming device across the opening of the nozzle of the grooming tool cleaning head, wherein the single pass comprises scraping the grooming device against the opening and using a negative airflow generated by the vacuum source to evacuate the animal hair from the surface of the grooming device.

17. The method of claim 16, wherein the grooming device is a brush.

18. The method of claim 16, wherein the grooming device is a slicker brush.

19. A method for cleaning a grooming device, the method comprising:

providing a grooming device having a first nozzle attachable to a vacuum source, the grooming device comprises one or more grooming blades spanning an opening in the first nozzle;

providing a grooming tool cleaning head having a second nozzle attachable to the vacuum source, the second nozzle having an opening positionable in proximity to a surface of a grooming device, wherein the opening is at least as large as one dimension of the surface of the grooming device;

causing the vacuum source to switch from the grooming device being in fluid communication with the vacuum source to the grooming tool cleaner being in fluid communication with the vacuum source by activating a switch operatively attached to the first nozzle of the grooming device and the second nozzle of the grooming tool cleaning head; and

removing animal hair attached to the surface of the grooming device by making a single pass of the surface of the grooming device across the opening of the nozzle of the grooming tool cleaning head, wherein the single pass comprises scraping the grooming device against the second nozzle and creating a negative airflow generated by the vacuum source to evacuate the animal hair from the grooming device.

20. A vacuum cleaning tool, comprising a grooming tool cleaning head having a nozzle attachable to a vacuum source, the nozzle having an opening positionable in proximity to a surface of a grooming device such that animal hair attached to the surface of the grooming device can be removed from the surface of the grooming device by negative airflow generated by the vacuum source, the grooming tool cleaning head being mounted on a stationary support, whereby animal hair attached to the surface of the grooming device can be removed from the surface of the grooming device without requiring an operator of the vacuum cleaning tool and the grooming device to hold the vacuum cleaning tool by hand, wherein the opening is at least as large as one dimension of the surface of the grooming device, whereby the surface of the grooming device can be cleaned in a single pass of the surface of the grooming device across the opening of the nozzle of the grooming tool cleaning head.

21. The cleaning tool of claim 20, wherein the cleaning head is pivotally mounted on the stationary support.

22. A grooming tool cleaner, comprising a grooming tool cleaning head having a nozzle attachable to a vacuum source, the nozzle having an opening, which when proximate to a surface of a grooming device, removes animal hair attached to the surface of the grooming device by negative airflow generated by the vacuum source as the tool is wiped across, the grooming tool cleaning head being mounted on a stationary support, whereby an operator of the grooming device has the ability to engage the vacuum cleaning tool to clean the grooming device without releasing an animal being groomed.

23. A grooming tool cleaner, comprising a grooming tool cleaning head having a nozzle attachable to a vacuum source, the nozzle having an opening configured to interface with a slicker brush, the opening when engaged with the slicker brush removes animal hair attached to the slicker brush with negative airflow generated by the vacuum source as the slicker brush is wiped across the opening, the grooming tool cleaning head being mounted on a stationary support, thereby allowing a groomer to engage the slicker brush with the opening to clean the slicker brush without releasing an animal being groomed.

24. A grooming tool cleaner comprising a grooming tool cleaning head having a first nozzle attachable to a vacuum source, the first nozzle having an opening with respect to which a pressure differential is induced between the vacuum source and the opening, the opening being compatible with a shape of an operative portion of a grooming tool so as to increase the pressure differential'"'"'s affect upon the operative portion of the grooming tool and when the operative portion of the grooming tool is engaged with the opening the pressure differential removes animal hair attached to the operative portion of the grooming tool.

25. An apparatus comprising:

(a) a vacuum nozzle having a hollow body terminating in a mouth opening and attachable to a vacuum source; and

(b) a grooming blade spanning the mouth opening, the grooming blade having a plurality of teeth on the sides of which are formed sharp edges, the grooming blade having two sides and positioned with respect to the mouth opening to allow negative airflow created by the vacuum source to flow over the two sides of the grooming blade, during grooming operations as the grooming blade is pushed or pulled across a pet'"'"'s coat, the negative airflow lifts top coat hair of the pet'"'"'s coat to expose undercoat hair to the sharp edges of the grooming blade which are configured to remove ready to be shed undercoat hair by snagging the ready to be shed undercoat hair thereby increasing efficiency of deshedding operations as compared to conventional deshedding operations by eliminating operational strokes and reducing time associated with the deshedding operations.

26. The apparatus of claim 25, wherein the grooming blade is made of stainless steel and the sharp edges are a result of a metal stamping process.

27. The apparatus of claim 25, wherein the grooming blade is molded from plastic.

28. The apparatus of claim 25, wherein the grooming blade is one of a plurality of grooming blades which are aligned in a substantially parallel manner.

29. The apparatus of claim 25, wherein the angle of engagement of the grooming blade can be set to a plurality of different orientations.

30. An apparatus comprising:

(a) a vacuum nozzle having a hollow body terminating in a mouth opening and attachable to a vacuum source; and

(b) a grooming blade spanning the mouth opening, the grooming blade having formed thereon sharp edges, the grooming blade having two sides and positioned with respect to the mouth opening to allow negative airflow created by the vacuum source to flow over the two sides of the grooming blade, during grooming operations as the grooming blade is pushed or pulled across a coat of a pet, the negative airflow lifts top coat hair of the coat to expose undercoat hair to the sharp edges of the grooming blade which are configured to remove ready to be shed undercoat hair by snagging the ready to be shed undercoat hair thereby increasing efficiency of deshedding operations as compared to conventional deshedding operations by eliminating operational strokes and reducing time associated with the deshedding operations.

31. The apparatus of claim 30, wherein the grooming blade is made of stainless steel and the sharp edges are a result of a metal stamping process.

32. The apparatus of claim 30, wherein the grooming blade is molded from plastic.

33. The apparatus of claim 30, wherein the grooming blade is one of a plurality of grooming blades which are aligned in a substantially parallel manner.

34. The apparatus of claim 30, wherein the angle of engagement of the grooming blade can be set to a plurality of different orientations.

35. An apparatus comprising:

(a) a vacuum nozzle having a hollow body terminating in a mouth opening and attachable to a vacuum source; and

(b) a grooming blade spanning the mouth opening, the grooming blade having a plurality of peaks on the sides of which are formed sharp edges, the grooming blade having two sides and positioned with respect to the mouth opening to allow negative airflow created by the vacuum source to flow over the two sides of the grooming blade, during grooming operations as the grooming blade is pushed or pulled across a coat of a pet, the negative airflow lifts top coat hair of the coat to expose undercoat hair to the sharp edges of the grooming blade which are configured to remove ready to be shed undercoat hair by snagging the ready to be shed undercoat hair thereby increasing efficiency of deshedding operations as compared to conventional deshedding operations by eliminating operational strokes and reducing time associated with the deshedding operations.

36. The apparatus of claim 35, wherein the grooming blade is made of stainless steel and the sharp edges are a result of a metal stamping process.

37. The apparatus of claim 35, wherein the grooming blade is one of a plurality of grooming blades which are aligned in a substantially parallel manner.

38. The apparatus of claim 35, wherein the angle of engagement of the grooming blade can be set to a plurality of different orientations.

39. An apparatus comprising:

(a) a vacuum nozzle having a hollow body terminating in a mouth opening and attachable to a vacuum source; and

(b) a grooming blade spanning the mouth opening, the grooming blade having a plurality of teeth on the sides of which are formed sharp edges, such as burrs, the grooming blade having two sides and positioned with respect to the mouth opening to allow negative airflow created by the vacuum source to flow over the two sides of the grooming blade, during grooming operations as the grooming blade is pushed or pulled across a coat of a pet, the negative airflow lifts top coat hair of the coat to expose undercoat hair to the sharp edges of the grooming blade which are configured to remove ready to be shed undercoat hair by snagging the ready to be shed undercoat hair thereby increasing efficiency of deshedding operations as compared to conventional deshedding operations by eliminating operational strokes and reducing time associated with the deshedding operations.

40. The apparatus of claim 39, wherein the sharp edges are formed by a manufacturing process.

41. The apparatus of claim 39, wherein the grooming blade is made of stainless steel and the sharp edges are a result of a metal stamping process.

42. The apparatus of claim 39, wherein the grooming blade is one of a plurality of grooming blades which are aligned in a substantially parallel manner.

43. The apparatus of claim 39, wherein the angle of engagement of the grooming blade can be set to one of a plurality of orientations.

44. An apparatus comprising:

a handle;

one or more grooming blades having a plurality of teeth on the sides of which are formed sharp edges which are configured to remove ready to be shed undercoat hair by snagging the ready to be shed undercoat hair; and

one or more fasteners positioned to secure the handle to the one or more grooming blades in a manner allowing the angle formed between the handle and the one or more grooming blades can be set to one of a plurality of orientations.

45. An apparatus comprising:

(a) a vacuum nozzle having a hollow body terminating in a mouth opening and attachable to a vacuum source; and

(b) an animal grooming device spanning the mouth opening, the animal grooming device having two sides and positioned with respect to the mouth opening to allow airflow created by the vacuum source to flow over at least one of the two sides of the animal grooming device, during grooming operation as the animal grooming device is pushed or pulled across an animal'"'"'s coat, the animal grooming device is configured to remove loose or ready to be shed hair from the animal'"'"'s coat.

46. The apparatus of claim 45, wherein the hollow body includes a wall surrounding the mouth opening, and the animal grooming device is attached to the wall.

47. The apparatus of claim 46, wherein the animal grooming device includes a grooming blade having a serrated edge.

48. The apparatus of claim 47, wherein the grooming blade comprises a shedding blade.

49. The apparatus of claim 45, wherein the animal grooming device includes a comb.

50. The apparatus of claim 45, wherein the animal grooming device comprises an undercoat rake.

51. The apparatus of claim 45, wherein the animal grooming device comprises a de-matting tool.

52. The apparatus of claim 47, further comprising an additional blade, wherein the additional blade and the grooming blade are spaced apart and substantially parallel to each other.

53. The apparatus of claim 45, wherein the vacuum source includes a vacuum port and a blower port, the vacuum port and the blower port being alternately attachable to the vacuum nozzle.

54. The apparatus of claim 45, wherein the vacuum nozzle defines a vent on the hollow body for reducing suction at the mouth opening.

55. The apparatus of claim 54, further comprising a valve positioned to regulate air flow through the vent.