Ergonomic handle for grooming brush

• US 6,213,055 B1
• Filed: 12/21/1998
• Issued: 04/10/2001
• Est. Priority Date: 12/21/1998
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Doskocil Manufacturing Company Incorporated (Petmate Holdings Co.)
• Original Assignee: J W Pet Company
• Inventors: Willinger, Jonathan, Choi, Yoon Ho
• Primary Examiner(s): Jordan, Charles T.
• Assistant Examiner(s): SHAW, ELIZABETH ANNE
• Application Number:
  US09/218,252
• Time in Patent Office: 841 Days
• Field of Search: 119/613, 119/614, 119/631, 119/632, 119/633, 15/30, 15/501, 15/77, 151/431, 151/45, 132/120, 132/121, 132/150
• US Class Current: 119/633
• 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: A46B 5/02 specially shaped for holding by the hand

Abstract

A brush handle is formed with a continuously arched upper surface portion and a lower surface portion separated into two arched portions by a humped semi-circular ridge. One of the lower arched portions forms a trigger grip for a single finger held in either a forehand or backhand grip. The handle is preferably covered with a high friction material in the form of a contoured rubber or elastomeric sleeve which is stretched over a complimentarily contoured molded plastic handle.

Claims

1. A brush, comprising:

a longitudinally-extending elongated handle;

a head; and

a transition portion interconnecting said handle and said head;

said handle having a single continuously-curved longitudinally-extending upper portion and a lower portion comprising a first longitudinally-arched portion, a second longitudinally-arched portion and a ridge separating said first and second arched portions;

said upper portion comprising a convex side profile, and each of said first and second longitudinally-arched portions of said lower portion comprising a concave side profile when viewed along the longitudinal axis of the brush.

2. The brush of claim 1, further comprising a high friction sheath provided substantially on said upper and lower portions of said handle.

3. The brush of claim 1, wherein said handle has a plurality of slots formed therein.

4. The brush of claim 1, wherein said handle has a first series of slots formed along said upper portion and a second series of slots formed along said lower portion.

5. The brush of claim 1, further comprising a circumferentially-extending U-shaped band located on said first arched portion, said U-shaped band and said first arched portion defining a saddle-shaped finger grip.

6. The brush of claim 1, wherein said second arched portion is at least twice as long as said first arched portion.

7. The brush of claim 1, wherein said handle has a rounded end portion.

8. The brush of claim 7, wherein said handle tapers laterally inwardly from said ridge to said end portion.

9. The brush of claim 1, wherein said head defines a peripheral edge formed solely with rounded contours.

10. The brush of claim 1, wherein said upper portion of said handle arches upwardly from said transition portion to an apex and arches downwardly from said apex to an end portion of said handle.

11. A pet grooming brush, comprising:

a head;

an ergonomic handle connected to said head, said handle comprising an arched upper portion for engaging a user'"'"'s palm and a lower portion comprising a single saddle-shaped trigger grip; and

a sleeve fitted over said handle.

12. The brush of claim 11, wherein said sleeve comprises a rubber sheath having an open mouth located proximate said head and a rounded closed end portion.

13. The brush of claim 11, wherein said handle is formed from a plastic material and said sleeve is formed from a material that is softer than said handle.

14. The brush of claim 13, wherein said sleeve is rubber.

15. A pet grooming brush, comprising:

a head;

an ergonomic handle connected to said head, said handle comprising an arched upper portion for engaging a user'"'"'s palm and a lower portion comprising a single saddle-shaped trigger grip;

a transition portion interconnecting said head and said handle;

wherein said transition portion extends between said handle and said head such that said handle commences from a location transversely spaced from the plane of said head;

wherein said lower portion of said handle comprises an arched portion extending from said trigger grip rearwardly to an end portion of said handle.