Animal grooming aid
OwnerDaniel Hutchinson, Michael Hutchinsoninventors
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A pet grooming aid comprises a flexible, elongate handle coupled to a head bearing rigid tines adapted to reach through a pet's fur to its skin. The handle includes a reservoir for treatment fluids, the reservoir being coupled through a gate valve to a manifold within the head that distributes the fluid to a tube within each tine. Squeezing the handle forces treatment fluid through the manifold and tines onto the pet's skin, while the gate valve prevents fluid flow when the handle is not squeezed. A recharge nozzle and cap at on the handle opposite the head allows filling the reservoir without spilling fluid out the tines, and seals the reservoir for use.
Claims20
A grooming aid for dispensing animal treatment fluid, the grooming aid comprising
- a head having
- an interior manifold;
- and
- a neck forming an opening which communicates with the manifold;
- a plurality of tines coupled to the head opposite the neck and extending perpendicular thereto, each tine having
- a longitudinal tine axis;
- a proximate end adjacent the manifold;
- a tip end opposite the manifold
- a coaxial tube communicating with the manifold and extending to an outlet within the tip;
- storage means coupled to the neck and communicating with the manifold for storing and holding the treatment fluid;
- and
- fill means for filling the storage means with treatment fluid.
A grooming aid for dispensing treatment fluid onto an animal beneath its fur, the grooming aid comprising
- a head having
- an interior manifold;
- a neck surrounding an opening which communicates with the manifold;
- and
- splash guards disposed opposite the neck;
- a plurality of tines disposed beneath the splash guards, each tine having
- a proximate end adjacent the manifold and a distal end forming a tip;
- an interior tube extending the length of the tine, the tube communicating with the manifold at the proximate end and extending to a fluid dispensing opening in the tip;
- and
- a resilient handle coupled to the neck and having
- an interior reservoir communicating with the manifold through the neck;
- a nozzle coupled to the reservoir;
- and
- a removable cap adapted to mate with the nozzle to close the reservoir.
An improved method of dispensing treatment fluid onto a furry animal, the method comprising
- providing a grooming aid having
- a head;
- a manifold within the head;
- a neck formed on the head and having an opening which communicates with the manifold;
- a plurality of tines coupled to the head opposite the neck, each tine having
- a proximate end adjacent the manifold;
- a tip end opposite the manifold;
- and
- a coaxial tube communicating with the manifold and extending to an 12 outlet within the tip;
- a handle extending from the neck opposite the tines;
- a treatment fluid reservoir within the handle and communicating with the manifold;
- and
- a fill nozzle in the handle opposite the neck;
- then
- filling the reservoir with treatment fluid;
- then
- (1) positioning the head over a portion of the animal's fur and penetrating the fur with the tines to touch the tips to the animal's skin;
- then
- (2) applying gentle squeezing pressure to the handle to expel treatment fluid into the manifold and out the tines while simultaneously moving the tines through the animal's fur with the tips gently contacting the animals skin;
- then
- (3) releasing the squeezing pressure;
- then
- (4) repeating steps (1) through (3) inclusive for successive alternate portions of the animal's fur until the entirety of the animal's skin has received treatment fluid.
An improved method of grooming a furry animal, the method comprising
- providing a grooming aid having
- a head;
- a manifold within the head;
- a neck formed on the head and having an opening which communicates with the manifold;
- a plurality of tines coupled to the head opposite the neck, each tine having
- a proximate end adjacent the manifold;
- a tip end opposite the manifold;
- and
- a coaxial tube communicating with the manifold and extending to an outlet within the tip;
- a handle extending from the neck opposite the tines;
- a treatment fluid reservoir within the handle and communicating with the manifold;
- and
- a fill nozzle in the handle opposite the neck;
- then
- filling the reservoir with treatment fluid;
- then
- (1) positioning the head over a portion of the animal's fur and penetrating the fur with the tines to touch the tips to the animal's skin;
- then
- (2) combing the animal's fur with the tines by manipulating the handle to move the tines through the animal's fur with the tips gently contacting the animals skin;
- (3) at regular intervals during step (2)
- (3a) applying gentle squeezing pressure to the handle to expel treatment fluid into the manifold and out the tines;
- and
- (3b) releasing the squeezing pressure;
- then
- (4) repeating steps (1) through (3b) inclusive for successive alternate portions of the animal's fur until the animal's fur has been groomed and its skin has received treatment fluid.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.