IP Library › Granted Patent US 7,334,540

Granted Patent B2

US 7,334,540 · App. 11/676,368 · Granted Feb 26, 2008

Pet grooming tool and method for removing loose hair from a furry pet

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Quick Facts

Patent No.: US 7,334,540
App. No.: 11/676,368
Granted: Feb 26, 2008
Kind: B2

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Abstract

A pet grooming tool, for use with a furry pet such as a dog or cat having loose hair and non-loose hair, is adapted for removing the loose hair from the pet. The grooming tool comprises an handle portion and a pet engageable portion secured to the handle portion. The pet engageable portion includes a blade portion and a plurality of teeth. The blade portion includes a blade edge. The teeth extend from the blade edge. The blade edge is adapted to engage the loose hair of the pet and pull it from the pet without cutting or pulling the non-loose hair from the pet.

Claims (120)

1. For use with a furry pet such as a dog or cat having loose hair and non-loose hair, a pet grooming tool for removing the loose hair from the pet, the grooming tool comprising:

a handle portion, the handle portion having a recess;

the blade edge being adapted to engage the loose hair of the pet and pull it from the pet without cutting or pulling the non-loose hair from the pet as the pet engageable portion is moved in a first direction while the pet engageable portion is in engagement with the pet, the first direction being a direction in which the trailing surface trails the leading surface.

2. A grooming tool in accordance with claim 1 wherein the handle is elongate about a handle axis and the handle axis is generally perpendicular to the leading surface.

3. A grooming tool in accordance with claim 2 wherein the leading surface of the pet engageable portion is planar and is coincident with a plane, and the plane intersects the handle portion.

4. A grooming tool in accordance with claim 2 wherein the handle portion surrounds a portion of the pet engageable portion.

5. A grooming tool in accordance with claim 2 wherein the leading and trailing surfaces intersect at an angle between approximately 30° and 40° at the blade edge.

6. A grooming tool in accordance with claim 2 wherein the grooming tool is devoid of any components adapted to be driven by an electrical power source.

7. A grooming tool in accordance with claim 2 wherein each tooth extends from the blade edge a length between approximately 0.08″ and 0.14″.

8. A grooming tool in accordance with claim 2 wherein the tip to tip spacing between one of the teeth and another of the teeth adjacent said one of the teeth is between approximately 0.02″ to approximately 0.03″.

9. A grooming tool in accordance with claim 8 wherein each tooth extends from the blade edge a length between approximately 0.08″ and 0.14″.

10. A grooming tool in accordance with claim 9 wherein the grooming tool is devoid of any components adapted to be driven by an electrical power source.

11. A grooming tool in accordance with claim 10 wherein the leading and trailing surfaces intersect at an angle between approximately 30° and 40° at the blade edge.

12. A method of removing loose hair from a furry pet such as a dog or cat having loose hair and non-loose hair, the method comprising:

providing a grooming tool in accordance with claim 2 ;

placing the pet engageable portion in engagement with the pet;

pulling the handle portion in the first direction while maintaining engagement of the pet engageable portion with the pet to cause the blade portion to engage the loose hair of the pet and pull it from the pet without cutting or pulling the non-loose hair from the pet.

13. A method in accordance with claim 12 wherein the leading surface is maintained generally perpendicular to the pet during the step of pulling the handle portion in the first direction.

14. For use with a furry pet such as a dog or cat having loose hair and non-loose hair, a pet grooming tool for removing the loose hair from the pet, the grooming tool comprising:

a handle portion, the handle portion having a socket;

15. A grooming tool in accordance with claim 14 wherein the handle is elongate about a handle axis and the handle axis is generally perpendicular to the leading surface.

16. A grooming tool in accordance with claim 14 wherein the leading surface of the pet engageable portion is planar and is coincident with a plane, and the plane intersects the handle portion.

17. A grooming tool in accordance with claim 14 wherein the handle portion surrounds a portion of the pet engageable portion.

18. A grooming tool in accordance with claim 14 wherein the leading and trailing surfaces intersect at an angle between approximately 30° and 40° at the blade edge.

19. A grooming tool in accordance with claim 14 wherein the grooming tool is devoid of any components adapted to be driven by an electrical power source.

20. A grooming tool in accordance with claim 14 wherein each tooth extends from the blade edge a length between approximately 0.08″ and 0.14″.

21. A grooming tool in accordance with claim 14 wherein the tip to tip spacing between one of the teeth and another of the teeth adjacent said one of the teeth is between approximately 0.02″ to approximately 0.03″.

22. A grooming tool in accordance with claim 21 wherein each tooth extends from the blade edge a length between approximately 0.08″ and 0.14″.

23. A grooming tool in accordance with claim 22 wherein the grooming tool is devoid of any components adapted to be driven by an electrical power source.

24. A grooming tool in accordance with claim 23 wherein the leading and trailing surfaces intersect at an angle between approximately 30° and 40° at the blade edge.

25. A method of removing loose hair from a furry pet such as a dog or cat having loose hair and non-loose hair, the method comprising:

providing a grooming tool in accordance with claim 14 ;

placing the pet engageable portion in engagement with the pet;

26. A method in accordance with claim 25 wherein the leading surface is maintained generally perpendicular to the pet during the step of pulling the handle portion in the first direction.

27. For use with a furry pet such as a dog or cat having loose hair and non-loose hair, a pet grooming tool for removing the loose hair from the pet, the grooming tool comprising:

a handle portion;

28. A grooming tool in accordance with claim 27 wherein the handle is elongate about a handle axis and the handle axis is generally perpendicular to the leading surface.

29. A grooming tool in accordance with claim 27 wherein the handle portion surrounds a portion of the pet engageable portion.

30. A grooming tool in accordance with claim 27 wherein the leading and trailing surfaces intersect at an angle between approximately 30° and 40° at the blade edge.

31. A grooming tool in accordance with claim 27 wherein the grooming tool is devoid of any components adapted to be driven by an electrical power source.

32. A grooming tool in accordance with claim 27 wherein each tooth extends from the blade edge a length between approximately 0.08″ and 0.14″.

33. A grooming tool in accordance with claim 27 wherein the tip to tip spacing between one of the teeth and another of the teeth adjacent said one of the teeth is between approximately 0.02″ to approximately 0.03″.

34. A grooming tool in accordance with claim 33 wherein each tooth extends from the blade edge a length between approximately 0.08″ and 0.14″.

35. A grooming tool in accordance with claim 34 wherein the grooming tool is devoid of any components adapted to be driven by an electrical power source.

36. A grooming tool in accordance with claim 35 wherein the leading and trailing surfaces intersect at an angle between approximately 30° and 40° at the blade edge.

37. A method of removing loose hair from a furry pet such as a dog or cat having loose hair and non-loose hair, the method comprising:

providing a grooming tool in accordance with claim 27 ;

placing the pet engageable portion in engagement with the pet;

38. A method in accordance with claim 37 wherein the leading surface is maintained generally perpendicular to the pet during the step of pulling the handle portion in the first direction.

39. For use with a furry pet such as a dog or cat having loose hair and non-loose hair, a pet grooming tool for removing the loose hair from the pet, the grooming tool comprising:

a handle portion;

40. A grooming tool in accordance with claim 39 wherein the handle is elongate about a handle axis and the handle axis is generally perpendicular to the leading surface.

41. A grooming tool in accordance with claim 39 wherein the handle portion surrounds a portion of the pet engageable portion.

42. A grooming tool in accordance with claim 39 wherein the leading and trailing surfaces intersect at an angle between approximately 30° and 40° at the blade edge.

43. A grooming tool in accordance with claim 39 wherein the grooming tool is devoid of any components adapted to be driven by an electrical power source.

44. A grooming tool in accordance with claim 39 wherein each tooth extends from the blade edge a length between approximately 0.08″ and 0.14″.

45. A grooming tool in accordance with claim 39 wherein the tip to tip spacing between one of the teeth and another of the teeth adjacent said one of the teeth is between approximately 0.02″ to approximately 0.03″.

46. A grooming tool in accordance with claim 45 wherein each tooth extends from the blade edge a length between approximately 0.08″ and 0.14″.

47. A grooming tool in accordance with claim 46 wherein the grooming tool is devoid of any components adapted to be driven by an electrical power source.

48. A grooming tool in accordance with claim 47 wherein the leading and trailing surfaces intersect at an angle between approximately 30° and 40° at the blade edge.

49. A method of removing loose hair from a furry pet such as a dog or cat having loose hair and non-loose hair, the method comprising:

providing a grooming tool in accordance with claim 39 ;

placing the pet engageable portion in engagement with the pet;

50. A method in accordance with claim 49 wherein the leading surface is maintained generally perpendicular to the pet during the step of pulling the handle portion in the first direction.

51. For use with a furry pet such as a dog or cat having loose hair and non-loose hair, a pet grooming tool for removing the loose hair from the pet, the grooming tool comprising:

a handle portion;

52. A grooming tool in accordance with claim 51 wherein the handle is elongate about a handle axis and the handle axis is generally perpendicular to the leading surface.

53. A grooming tool in accordance with claim 51 wherein the handle portion surrounds a portion of the pet engageable portion.

54. A grooming tool in accordance with claim 51 wherein the leading and trailing surfaces intersect at an angle between approximately 30° and 40° at the blade edge.

55. A grooming tool in accordance with claim 51 wherein the grooming tool is devoid of any components adapted to be driven by an electrical power source.

56. A grooming tool in accordance with claim 51 wherein each tooth extends from the blade edge a length between approximately 0.08″ and 0.14″.

57. A grooming tool in accordance with claim 51 wherein the tip to tip spacing between one of the teeth and another of the teeth adjacent said one of the teeth is between approximately 0.02″ to approximately 0.03″.

58. A grooming tool in accordance with claim 57 wherein each tooth extends from the blade edge a length between approximately 0.08″ and 0.14″.

59. A grooming tool in accordance with claim 58 wherein the grooming tool is devoid of any components adapted to be driven by an electrical power source.

60. A grooming tool in accordance with claim 59 wherein the leading and trailing surfaces intersect at an angle between approximately 30° and 40° at the blade edge.

61. A method of removing loose hair from a furry pet such as a dog or cat having loose hair and non-loose hair, the method comprising:

providing a grooming tool in accordance with claim 51 ;

placing the pet engageable portion in engagement with the pet;

62. A method in accordance with claim 61 wherein the leading surface is maintained generally perpendicular to the pet during the step of pulling the handle portion in the first direction.

63. For use with a furry pet such as a dog or cat having loose hair and non-loose hair, a pet grooming tool for removing the loose hair from the pet, the grooming tool comprising:

a handle portion;

64. A grooming tool in accordance with claim 63 wherein the handle is elongate about a handle axis and the handle axis is generally perpendicular to the leading surface.

65. A grooming tool in accordance with claim 63 wherein the leading and trailing surfaces intersect at an angle between approximately 30° and 40° at the blade edge.

66. A grooming tool in accordance with claim 63 wherein the grooming tool is devoid of any components adapted to be driven by an electrical power source.

67. A grooming tool in accordance with claim 63 wherein each tooth extends from the blade edge a length between approximately 0.08″ and 0.14″.

68. A grooming tool in accordance with claim 63 wherein the tip to tip spacing between one of the teeth and another of the teeth adjacent said one of the teeth is between approximately 0.02″ to approximately 0.03″.

69. A grooming tool in accordance with claim 68 wherein each tooth extends from the blade edge a length between approximately 0.08″ and 0.14″.

70. A grooming tool in accordance with claim 69 wherein the grooming tool is devoid of any components adapted to be driven by an electrical power source.

71. A grooming tool in accordance with claim 70 wherein the leading and trailing surfaces intersect at an angle between approximately 30° and 40° at the blade edge.

72. A method of removing loose hair from a furry pet such as a dog or cat having loose hair and non-loose hair, the method comprising:

providing a grooming tool in accordance with claim 63 ;

placing the pet engageable portion in engagement with the pet;

73. A method in accordance with claim 72 wherein the leading surface is maintained generally perpendicular to the pet during the step of pulling the handle portion in the first direction.

74. For use with a furry pet such as a dog or cat having loose hair and non-loose hair, a pet grooming tool for removing the loose hair from the pet, the grooming tool comprising:

a handle portion;

a pet engageable portion secured to the handle portion, the pet engageable portion including a blade portion and a plurality of teeth, the blade portion comprising a leading surface and a trailing surface defining a blade edge, at least one of the teeth extending from the blade edge, the leading surface being planar and coincident with a first plane, the trailing surface terminating at a third surface, the third surface being planar and coincident with a second plane, the third surface terminating at a fourth surface, the fourth surface being planar and coincident with a third plane, the third plane being parallel to the first plane, the second plane intersecting each of the first and third planes;

75. A grooming tool in accordance with claim 74 wherein the handle portion comprises a socket and the pet engageable portion is partially positioned within the socket of the handle portion.

76. A grooming tool in accordance with claim 75 wherein the teeth are partially bound by the third surface.

77. A method of removing loose hair from a furry pet such as a dog or cat having loose hair and non-loose hair, the method comprising:

providing a grooming tool in accordance with claim 76 ;

placing the pet engageable portion in engagement with the pet;

78. A method in accordance with claim 77 wherein the leading surface is maintained generally perpendicular to the pet during the step of pulling the handle portion in the first direction.

Assignments (15)

NOTICE OF SUCCESSOR AGENT AND ASSIGNMENT OF SECURITY INTEREST (INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY) REEL/FRAME 036131/0272 Recorded Jun 5, 2018

From: DEUTSCHE BANK AG NEW YORK BRANCH

To: ROYAL BANK OF CANADA

Reel/Frame 046301/0425 →

MERGER AND CHANGE OF NAME Recorded Aug 19, 2015

From: UNITED PET GROUP, INC.; SPECTRUM BRANDS, INC.

To: SPECTRUM BRANDS, INC.

Reel/Frame 036361/0159 →

SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Jul 20, 2015

From: SPECTRUM BRANDS, INC.

To: DEUTSCHE BANK AG NEW YORK BRANCH, AS COLLATERAL AGENT

Reel/Frame 036131/0272 →

RELEASE OF SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Jul 14, 2015

From: WELLS FARGO BANK, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION, AS COLLATERAL TRUSTEE

To: APPLICA CONSUMER PRODUCTS, INC.; APPLICA CONSUMER PRODUCTS, INC., A CORP. OF FLORIDA; KWIKSET CORPORATION; LIQUID HOLDING COMPANY, INC.; NATIONAL MANUFACTURING CO.; PRICE PFISTER, INC.; ROV HOLDING, INC., A CORP. OF DELAWARE; ROVCAL, INC.; ROVCAL, INC., A CORP. OF CALIFORNIA; RUSSELL HOBBS, INC., A CORP. OF DELAWARE; SALIX ANIMAL HEALTH, LLC; SEED RESOURCES, L.L.C.; SPECTRUM BRANDS, INC.; SPECTRUM BRANDS, INC. AS SUCCESSOR IN INTEREST TO ROVCAL, INC.; SPECTRUM BRANDS, INC., A CORP. OF DELAWARE; TELL MANUFACTURING, INC.; TETRA HOLDING (US), INC., A CORP. OF DELAWARE; TETRA HOLDINGS (US), INC.; UNITED INDUSTRIES CORPORATION; UNITED INDUSTRIES CORPORATION AS SUCCESSOR IN INTEREST TO LIQUID HOLDING COMPANY, INC.; UNITED PET GROUP, INC.; UNITED PET GROUP, INC., A CORP. OF DELAWARE

Reel/Frame 036102/0001 →

RELEASE OF SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Jul 2, 2015

From: BANK OF AMERICA, N.A., AS AGENT

To: RUSSELL HOBBS, INC.; APPLICA CONSUMER PRODUCTS, INC.; TOASTMASTER INC.; SPECTRUM BRANDS, INC.; ROVCAL, INC.; TETRA HOLDING (US), INC.; UNITED PET GROUP, INC.; SEED RESOURCES, L.L.C.; PRICE PFISTER, INC.; KWIKSET CORPORATION; NATIONAL MANUFACTURING CO.; LIQUID HOLDING COMPANY, INC.; TELL MANUFACTURING, INC.; SALIX ANIMAL HEALTH, LLC

Reel/Frame 036052/0845 →

PATENT SECURITY AGREEMENT Recorded Feb 28, 2012

From: UNITED PET GROUP, INC.

To: WELLS FARGO BANK, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION

Reel/Frame 027775/0165 →

SECURITY AGREEMENT Recorded Feb 24, 2012

From: UNITED PET GROUP, INC.

To: BANK OF AMERICA, N.A., AS ADMINISTRATIVE AGENT

Reel/Frame 027756/0688 →

MERGER Recorded Feb 22, 2012

From: FURMINATOR, INC.

To: UNITED PET GROUP, INC.