IP Library › Granted Patent US 7,509,926

Granted Patent B2

US 7,509,926 · App. 12/017,892 · Granted Mar 31, 2009

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

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Quick Facts

Patent No.: US 7,509,926
App. No.: 12/017,892
Granted: Mar 31, 2009
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 a 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 (43)

1. 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 having an elongate handle portion extending generally along a handle axis, and a pet engageable portion secured to the handle portion, the handle portion having a recess, the pet engageable portion including a blade portion and a plurality of teeth, the blade portion including a blade edge, the teeth extending from the blade edge, the pet engageable portion being partially positioned within the recess of the handle portion;

placing the pet engageable portion in engagement with the pet;

moving the handle portion generally along the handle axis 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.

2. A method as set forth in claim 1 wherein each tooth extends from the blade edge a length between approximately 0.08″ and 0.14″.

3. A method as set forth in claim 2 wherein the distance from the tip of one of the teeth to the tip of another of the teeth adjacent said one of the teeth is between approximately 0.02″ and approximately 0.03″.

4. A method as set forth in claim 3 wherein the blade portion comprises a leading surface and a trailing surface, the leading and trailing surfaces define the blade edge, and the trailing surface trails the leading surface during the step of moving the handle portion.

5. A method as set forth in claim 4 wherein the leading surface and the trailing surface form an angle between approximately 30° and approximately 50°.

6. A method as set forth in claim 5 wherein the grooming tool is devoid of any components adapted to be driven by an electrical power source.

7. A method as set forth in claim 1 wherein the distance from the tip of one of the teeth to the tip of another of the teeth adjacent said one of the teeth is between approximately 0.02″ and approximately 0.03″.

8. A method as set forth in claim 1 wherein the blade portion comprises a leading surface and a trailing surface, the leading and trailing surfaces define the blade edge having an angle between approximately 30° and approximately 50°, and the trailing surface trails the leading surface during the step of moving the handle portion.

9. 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 having an elongate handle portion and a pet engageable portion, the handle portion having a hand-grip portion and a head portion, the hand-grip portion extending generally along a handle axis, the pet engageable portion including a blade portion and a plurality of teeth, the blade portion including a blade edge, the teeth extending from the blade edge, the head portion surrounding a portion of the pet-engageable portion;

placing the pet engageable portion in engagement with the pet;

10. A method as set forth in claim 9 wherein each tooth extends from the blade edge a length between approximately 0.08″ and 0.14″.

11. A method as set forth in claim 10 wherein the distance from the tip of one of the teeth to the tip of another of the teeth adjacent said one of the teeth is between approximately 0.02″ and approximately 0.03″.

12. A method as set forth in claim 11 wherein the blade portion comprises a leading surface and a trailing surface, the leading and trailing surfaces define the blade edge having an angle between approximately 30° and approximately 50°, and the trailing surface trails the leading surface during the step of moving the handle portion.

13. A method as set forth in claim 12 wherein the grooming tool is devoid of any components adapted to be driven by an electrical power source.

14. A method as set forth in claim 9 wherein the distance from the tip of one of the teeth to the tip of another of the teeth adjacent said one of the teeth is between approximately 0.02″ and approximately 0.03″.

15. A method as set forth in claim 9 wherein the blade portion comprises a leading surface and a trailing surface, the leading and trailing surfaces define the blade edge having an angle between approximately 30° and approximately 50°, and the trailing surface trails the leading surface during the step of moving the handle portion.

16. 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:

an elongate handle portion extending generally along a handle axis, the handle portion having a recess;

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 including a blade edge, at least some of the teeth extending from the blade edge, the pet engageable portion being partially positioned within the recess of the handle portion;

the pet engageable portion being oriented with respect to the handle portion in a manner so that moving the handle portion generally along the handle axis while the pet engageable portion is in engagement with the pet causes the blade edge 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.

17. A pet grooming tool as set forth in claim 16 wherein each tooth extends from the blade edge a length between approximately 0.08″ and 0.14″.

18. A pet grooming tool as set forth in claim 17 wherein the distance from the tip of one of the teeth to the tip of another of the teeth adjacent said one of the teeth is between approximately 0.02″ and approximately 0.03″.

19. A pet grooming tool as set forth in claim 18 wherein the blade portion comprises a leading surface and a trailing surface, the leading and trailing surfaces define the blade edge having an angle between approximately 30° and approximately 50°, and the trailing surface trails the leading surface during the step of moving the handle portion.

20. A pet grooming tool as set forth in claim 19 wherein the grooming tool is devoid of any components adapted to be driven by an electrical power source.

21. A pet grooming tool as set forth in claim 16 wherein the distance from the tip of one of the teeth to the tip of another of the teeth adjacent said one of the teeth is between approximately 0.02″ and approximately 0.03″.

22. A pet grooming tool as set forth in claim 21 wherein the blade portion comprises a leading surface and a trailing surface, the leading and trailing surfaces define the blade edge having an angle between approximately 30° and approximately 50°, and the trailing surface trails the leading surface during the step of moving the handle portion.

23. 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 pet engageable portion including a blade portion and a plurality of teeth, the blade portion including a blade edge, at least some of the teeth extending from the blade edge;

an elongate handle portion having a hand-grip portion and a head portion, the hand-grip portion extending generally along a handle axis, the head portion surrounding a portion of the pet-engageable portion;

24. A pet grooming tool as set forth in claim 23 wherein each tooth extends from the blade edge a length between approximately 0.08″ and 0.14″.

25. A pet grooming tool as set forth in claim 24 wherein the distance from the tip of one of the teeth to the tip of another of the teeth adjacent said one of the teeth is between approximately 0.02″ and approximately 0.03″.

26. A pet grooming tool as set forth in claim 24 wherein the blade portion comprises a leading surface and a trailing surface, the leading and trailing surfaces define the blade edge having an angle between approximately 30° and approximately 50°, and the trailing surface trails the leading surface during the step of moving the handle portion.

27. A pet grooming tool as set forth in claim 23 wherein the grooming tool is devoid of any components adapted to be driven by an electrical power source.

28. A pet grooming tool as set forth in claim 23 wherein the distance from the tip of one of the teeth to the tip of another of the teeth adjacent said one of the teeth is between approximately 0.02″ and approximately 0.03″.

29. A pet grooming tool as set forth in claim 23 wherein the blade portion comprises a leading surface and a trailing surface, the leading and trailing surfaces define the blade edge having an angle between approximately 30° and approximately 50°, and the trailing surface trails the leading surface during the step of moving the handle portion.

30. A pet grooming tool as set forth in claim 29 wherein the angle is between approximately 40° and approximately 50°.

31. A pet grooming tool as set forth in claim 29 wherein the angle is approximately 40°.

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.