GB2510146A

GB2510146A - Combined grooming and massage device

Info

Publication number: GB2510146A
Application number: GB1301343.8A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Patricia Stephens
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2013-01-25
Filing date: 2013-01-25
Publication date: 2014-07-30
Anticipated expiration: 2033-01-25
Also published as: GB201301343D0; GB2510146A8; GB2510146B

Abstract

A combined grooming and massage device for animals, providing added convenience over carrying multiple items. The device 1 has a main body 3, which is preferably a handle 5. The main body has a plurality of teeth 7 extending from it which are of differing lengths as to effectively groom both the animals top coat and undercoat simultaneously. Massage cap 9 is placed over the teeth to form a massage surface for the device.

Description

Combined Grooming and Massage Device FleW of the Invention The present invention relates to a grooming device and in particular but not exclusively to a combined grooming and massage device that allows for the grooming of animals having an undercoat of hairs of a different density than outer hairs of the animal coat.

Background of the invention

Many animals, particularly small animals such as cats, dogs and rabbits kept as pets, require regular grooming by their owners to maintain, the animal's fur and skin, in good condition.

Typically such grooming is accomplished by brushing or combing the animal's fur or coat to resolve tangles and to remove dirt and other foreign bodies. A number of ammais have fur that includes hair of differing length. For example many dogs have an outer coat of longer hair and an inner coat of shorter hair. Separate brushes with bristles of different length peribrm best in grooming the different coats of hair, requiring the grooming process to be repeated at least twice for the same animal. This isite consuming and may lead to non-optimal grooming of the animal if the animal will not allow the entire grooming process to be completed. Many animals also benefit physically and emotionally from being massaged using another separate massage device. i'his also increases the number of separate grooming devices the animal's owner or carer requires for the complete care of the animal.

Summary of the invention

According to a first aspect of the present invention there is provided a combined grooming and massage device including a main body from which a plurality of elongate teeth extend, a first portion of the teeth being of a first length and a second portion of the teeth being a second, shorter length, and a massage cap arranged to be placed over the teeth.

Preferably a both from the first portion of teeth may be located adjacent a tooth from the second portion. This allows for an array of teeth of different lengths which are suited for the type of coat of the animal, whether it is long or short or dense or quite sparse. The array may be alternate long and short teeth.

The idea of the combined tool is also for convenience, It is a micro groomer/massager that can be put in the pocket and carried, ibr example, on journeys. It is compact and usefuL The massage cap may have a hemispherical outer surface. Additionally or alternatively the massage cap may have a textured outer surface.

Preferably the main body forms a handle. Additionally or alternatively, the main body is elongate and the teeth extend from one end of the main body

Brief Description of the Drawings

Embodiments of the present invention are described in more detail below, by way of illustrative example only; in conlunction with the accompanying figures, of which: Figure 1 illustrates a combined grooming and massage device in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention; and Figure 2 illustrates an end on view of the teeth of the device of Figure 1,

Detailed Description of the invention

A combined grooming and massage device for animals in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention is shown in Figure 1. The device 1 has a main body 3, which in the particular example shown has a generally circular ring shape 5. The main body has a plurality of teeth 7 extending from it. In the example shown the teeth are generally arranged in circle and extend from a disc shaped portion of the main body 3, the disc shaped portion merging smoothly with the circular ring shape 5. A massage cap 9, which is generally hemispherical in shape, is arranged to fasten over the teeth 7. in the example shown, the massage cap fits over a recessed portion of the disc shaped portion of the body from the teeth 7 extend, the body 3 and the cap 9 being dimensioned such that there is sufficient friction between the body 3 and the cap 9 to maintain the cap over the teeth.

A first portion 11 of the teeth 7 has a first length, whilst a second portion II of the teeth has a second, shorttz length. in other embodiments there may be further portions of teeth with lengths different from the first and second portions. Figure 2 shows an end on view of the teeth 7 of the massage and grooming device 1 shown in Figure 1 and illustrates that the longer teeth ii are placed so as to be adjacent at least one of the shorter teeth 13. The teeth 7 are genemily placed evenly over the disc shaped portion of the main body 3. The alternating arrangement of the teeth of differing lengths allows the shorter teeth to still brush through the shorter under coat of the animal, whilst simultaneously allowing ihe outer coat to be effectively brushed by the longer teeth, However, in other embodiments the placement of the teeth may vary and teeth of the first length may be placed in groups together, as may the teeth of the second length. The placement and length of the teeth may vary in dependence on the nature of the animal's coat for which the device is intended to he used on. The disc that holds the teeth may be releasable secured to the device so that brushing heads can he removed and replaced. The head may be attached to the handle by a push fit means of securing the brush section to the head or it may be screwed into the handle. By having a removable head, this allows fbi washing of the tines on the brush or replacement of the head, for exampk if an animaL develops sensitive skin aid needs a softer brush or if different heads are needed to brush different parts of the body However as an alternative the head and handle are fonned as one piece so that the device is watertight if washed, By providing teeth of two or more different lengths, both the top and under coat of an animal can be effectively groomed using the same device, thus avoiding the need both for multiple grooming devices and for extended grooming periods.

Additionally the provision of the cap 9 allows the device I to also be used as a massage device.

The outer surface of the cap 9 may be either smooth or textured, such as dimpled, depending on the preferred massage tcclmique for a particular animal. Thus only a singfe device is required to perfomi both the grooming and massage functions.

The main body 3 may be any convenient shape that still allows the teeth to be used to brush an animal. For example, the body may be substantially disc shaped with the teeth extending from one of the planar surfaces. Alternatively, the body 3 may he of an elongate shape, such as a cylinder, with the teeth extending from one end of the elongate body. In the particular example shawn, the circular shape 5 havin.g an aperture 6. The fact that there is an aperture in the handle allows the device to be placed over a finger of a user so that an animal may be groomed using a stroking action of the user's hand. 1-lowever it is envisaged that there need not be an aperture and the handle may be a solid body with an end that a user may put pressure on when the head of the device is placed on an animal's body so that brushing can occur with a certain degree of pressure and this may be effective on larger animals such as horses. it also allows for pressure to be applied when the cap is on the brush head when massaging an animal. If a solid handle is used, it may have grip regions formed of finger grip recesses that allow the handle to he gripped easily and this may be beneficial to users that cannot easily insert a finger into an aperture in a hole in the handle, -for example if a person has an injury to the hand or if they have enlarged joints. In particular an advantage of the device is that it has been designed for eomfortabk wearing on the index or next finger with the adjacent finger and thumb to stahilise the tool when grooming or massaging. This has the added benefit of comprising a minimal intervention between the groomer/massaging owner with the body of the animal and is beneficial when pets are adverse to grooming. The device can be held in such a way as it almost becomes part of the user's hand when touching the animal.

The device maybe decorated to make it attractive to users and also this can assist in identifying a brash for a particular animal due to colour coding. Further the device may be decorated, for example with crystals making it not only a-functional device but also a fashion accessory, Further although the device has been described with reference to animals, it may also be used by humans, as it provides a conipact brush and massage device that can he carried in the pocket or bag as it takes up minimal space.

It is to be understood that the above embodiments have been provided only by way of exemplification of this invention and that further modifications and improvements thereto, as would he apparent to persons skilled in the relevant art, are deemed to fall within the broad scope and ambit of the present invention described. Furthernrnre where individual embodiments are discussed, the invention is intended to cover combinations of those embodiments as well.

Claims

Claims 1. A combined grooming and massage device including a main body from which a plurality of elongate teeth extend, a first portion of the teeth being of a first kngth and a second portion of the teeth being a second, shorter, length. and a massage cap aminged to be placed over th.e teeth.
2. A combined grooming and massage device according to claim I, wherein a tooth from the first portion of teeth is located adjacent a tooth from the second portion.
3. A combined grooming and massage device according to claim i or 2, wherein the massage cap has a hemispherical outer surface.
4, A combined grooming and massage device according to any preceding claim, wherein the massage cap has a textured outer surface.
5. A combined grooming and massage device according to any preceding claim, wherein the main body forms a handle.
6, A combined grooming and massage device according to any preceding claim, wherein the main body is elongate and the teeth extend from one end of the main body.
7. A combined grooming arid massage device as substantially described herein with reference to and as illustrated in the accompanying figures.