GB2370754A

GB2370754A - Self cleaning grooming device

Info

Publication number: GB2370754A
Application number: GB0100390A
Authority: GB
Inventors: William Brian Turner
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2001-01-05
Filing date: 2001-01-05
Publication date: 2002-07-10
Anticipated expiration: 2021-01-05
Also published as: GB2370754B; GB0100390D0

Abstract

A grooming device particularly for animals but also for any tangled fur/hair/artificial fibre item, comprises a brush rotatably mounted in a housing which is connectable to a source of suction such as the hose of a vacuum cleaner. In normal use the brush is braked by the mechanism shown on the left of the left hand drawing. The housing also contains a fingered gate like arrangement, shown in shadow, though which the bristles of the can brush pass, the debris thereon thus being removed by a combing action and sucked into the vacuum source. This gate device is out into action by releasing the brake and allowing the brush to rotate with the brushing action in use. The brush can also be in the form of a belt [fig.6 not shown].

Description

DESCRIPTION Grooming device-self cleaning This invention relates to a grooming device, which is self-cleaning and attached to a suction device, usually a vacuum cleaner with a flexible hose. It is used single-handed or two handed. It can be used for grooming animals or for brushing any tangled fur/hair/artificial fibre item manufactured or naturally processed.

There is usually a mess to clean up after grooming an animal. This device enables all debris from grooming to be safely disposed of When grooming animals such as domestic pets with a standard brush or comb, it is usual to restrain the animal with one hand and groom with the other. But when the grooming tool (brush or comb) fills up with hair, fur, etc. one has to clean it, typically using the hand that is restraining the animal. Thus the animal is then free to roam, unless restrained separately, which some owners/pets do not like.

The use of a standard vacuum cleaner attachment to groom animals is not unknown, but this device has a built in spiked drum/belt/wheel assembly, which by itself would be inefficient in use, except for the self-cleaning mechanism.

Whilst grooming animals in the home environment, it is impossible to keep the area free of hair, fur, dirt, etc. The invention enables grooming to take place indoors with little or no clean up and minimise possible allergic reactions to members of the household.

Releasing the brake/friction device on the spiked drum/belt/wheel activates the selfcleaning action by continuing the grooming action, which then rotates the spiked drum/wheel or forwards the spiked belt. The spikes pass through a fixed gate finger mechanism, which releases the debris into the vacuum. The fibrous debris prior to approaching the gate is facing the opposite direction to which it engages on the spikes during grooming and this enables the gate device to easily lift the debris into the suction.

This device has the advantage of the vacuum action, sucking all loose hairs/fur/debris/dirt disturbed by the grooming, as well as those trapped in the spikes of the device.

It also will assist in sucking insects and their eggs from the animal's coat into the vacuum cleaner.

The spikes may be straight or hooked. Hooked spikes for certain types of coat may be preferable.

Changing the spiked drum/belt/wheel assembly for more or less flexible spikes, longer/shorter or hooked spikes or spike quantity can accommodate different types of hair/fur. The grooming device is made from metal, plastics and rubber or a combination of these.

The invention will now be described with reference to the accompanying drawings in which: FIGURE 1 shows the grooming device made of a spindle 1, on which is mounted a spiked drum 2, which has the spikes arranged in discs. The spindle is fixed in bearings 3, at each end, fitted to the combo handle/suction head 17. (Shown in Figure 4.) FIGURE 2 shows the gate system 4. The gate fingers run between the spikes and as the spiked drum/belt/wheel revolves, the fingers lift the debris into the suction.

(Shown in Figure 5.) FIGURE 3 shows a castellated locking wheel 5, which is locked by a rocking arm 6, mounted on a pivot 8, operated manually by depressing 9. The spring 7 keeps the rocking arm 6, in the locked position FIGURE 4 shows the combo handle/suction head 17, composed of enclosure 10 and opening 11, cylindrical handle 12, all in combination with 1,2, 3,4, 5,6, 7,8 & 9.

Suction connection 13 is made to cylindrical handle 12.

FIGURE 5 shows the lifting of the fibrous debris 14 & 15, from the spiked drum 2, by the gate system 4, into the suction 13.

FIGURE 6 shows a section of a spiked belt device 16, as an alternate construction method.

Claims

CLAIMS 1. A self-cleaning grooming device with handle, attached to a suction mechanism.
2. A grooming device as claimed in Claim 1, which is self cleaning, by the action of the grooming drum/belt/spiked wheel assembly, being propelled through a fixed gate and feeding the debris into the suction stream.
3. A grooming device as claimed in Claim 1 or Claim 2, which uses a suction action to assist in grooming and removes all loose hairs/fur/debris/dirt, insects and their eggs disturbed by the grooming action.
4. A grooming device as claimed in Claim 1 or Claim 2 or Claim 3, which is operated single handed.
5. A grooming device as claimed in Claim 1 or Claim 2 or Claim 3 or Claim 4, which enables animal being groomed to be restrained by one hand and leaving the other hand free to operate grooming device continuously and activate self-cleaning mechanism with that same hand.
6. A grooming device as claimed in any preceding claim, which is made from metal, plastics material, rubber or composites or from a combination of these materials.
7. A grooming device substantially as herein described and illustrated in the accompanying drawings.