The present invention relates generally to handheld devices, and, more particularly, to a nail grinder for pet animals.
Pet animals are often frightened or made uncomfortable by tools used for grooming. Thus, grooming pet animals can be a difficult task. Frightened pet animals may move erratically in various directions in an effort to escape the grooming procedure, and this erratic movement may be dangerous to a pet animal or a groomer. For example, the erratic movement by a pet animal may cause a cutting surface of the grooming tool to contact sensitive areas of a pet animal or groomer, which in turn may harm the pet animal or the groomer.
Furthermore, cutting or trimming nails of pet animals can be particularly challenging. Grooming devices are commonly used to trim the nails of pet animals. Generally, a pair of scissors or nail clippers are used to trim the nails or claws of pet animals. Scissors and nail clippers have serious setbacks including the potential of causing serious pain and injury to pet animals as well as the groomer if the nails or claws are clipped too much. If the groomer is not careful and experienced, the groomer can end up cutting sensitive tissue or skin [non-cuttable parts] on pet animals, which can cause extreme pain and bleeding to pet animals.
In light of the foregoing, there exists a need for a technical and reliable solution that solves the above-mentioned problems and presents an improved grooming device for the pet animals that is friendly and harm resistant to the pet animals.
It is an objective of the present invention to provide a nail grinder for pet animals. The nail grinder disclosed in the present invention includes at least one power switch (such as a three position switch) that can be operated by a user to control the rotational speed of a nail grinding stone of the nail grinder. The three position switch can be operated by the user to switch between three positions. In a first position of the three position switch, the nail grinder is in OFF state (i.e., the nail grinding stone does not rotate), and thus, the nail grinding stone cannot be used for grinding nails of a pet animal. In a second position of the three position switch, the nail grinder is in ON state (i.e., the nail grinding stone rotates), and thus, the nail grinding stone may be used for grinding the nails of the pet animal. In this position (i.e., the second position), the nail grinding stone operates at a medium speed. In a third position of the three position switch, the nail grinder is in ON state (i.e., the nail grinding stone rotates), and thus, the nail grinding stone may be used for grinding the nails of the pet animal. In this position (i.e., the third position), the nail grinding stone operates at a high speed.
In an embodiment, the nail grinding stone is a removable grinding stone that can be removed and replaced with different grits of grinding stones. The nail grinding stone may be housed in a grinding stone housing (i.e., a grinding stone cap) of the nail grinder.
In addition, the nail grinder further includes a light source portion having a light source for illuminating a nail grinding surface of a nail or claw of the pet animal. The nail grinder embodiment having the light source for illuminating the nail or claw cutting surface is very advantageous so that the nail or claw surfaces to be trimmed are more clearly visible and distinguishable from the sensitive portions of a pet animal's paws or skin. One preferred nail grinder embodiment further includes a light source switch. The light source switch may be operated by the user to turn ON or turn OFF one or more lights, such as one or more light emitting diodes (“LED's”) located in the light source portion of the nail grinder for illuminating the trimming surface of a pet animal's nails or claws. One such embodiment of the light source switch utilizes four modes of operation. In a first mode, when the light source switch is pressed by the user, a front half of the light source portion emits light such as by means of one or more LED's with halogen light. In a second mode, when the light source switch is pressed by the user, a rear half of the light source portion emits light such as by means of one or more LED's with halogen light. In a third mode, when the light source switch is pressed by the user, the entire light source portion emits light such as by means of one or more LED's with halogen light. In a fourth mode, when the light source switch is pressed by the user, the light source portion is turned OFF and does not emit any light.
These and other features and advantages of the present invention will become apparent from the detailed description below, in light of the accompanying drawings.
The novel features which are believed to be characteristic of the present invention, as to its structure, organization, use and method of operation, together with further objectives and advantages thereof, will be better understood from the following drawings in which a presently preferred embodiment of the invention will now be illustrated by way of various examples. It is expressly understood, however, that the drawings are for the purpose of illustration and description only and are not intended as a definition of the limits of the invention. Embodiments of this invention will now be described by way of example in association with the accompanying drawings in which:
Further areas of applicability of the present invention will become apparent from the detailed description provided hereinafter. It should be understood that the detailed description of exemplary embodiments is intended for illustration purposes only and is, therefore, not intended to necessarily limit the scope of the invention.
As used in the specification and claims, the singular forms “a”, “an” and “the” may also include plural references. For example, the term “an article” may include a plurality of articles. Those with ordinary skill in the art will appreciate that the elements in the Figures are illustrated for simplicity and clarity and are not necessarily drawn to scale. For example, the dimensions of some of the elements in the Figures may be exaggerated, relative to other elements, in order to improve the understanding of the present invention. There may be additional components described in the foregoing application that are not depicted on one of the described drawings. In the event such a component is described, but not depicted in a drawing, the absence of such a drawing should not be considered as an omission of such design from the specification.
Before describing the present invention in detail, it should be observed that the present invention utilizes a combination of components, which constitutes a nail grinder for pet animals. Accordingly, the components have been represented, showing only specific details that are pertinent for an understanding of the present invention so as not to obscure the disclosure with details that will be readily apparent to those with ordinary skill in the art having the benefit of the description herein. As required, detailed embodiments of the present invention are disclosed herein; however, it is to be understood that the disclosed embodiments are merely exemplary of the invention, which can be embodied in various forms. Therefore, specific structural and functional details disclosed herein are not to be interpreted as limiting, but merely as a basis for the claims and as a representative basis for teaching one skilled in the art to variously employ the present invention in virtually any appropriately detailed structure. Further, the terms and phrases used herein are not intended to be limiting but rather to provide an understandable description of the invention.
References to “one embodiment”, “an embodiment”, “another embodiment”, “yet another embodiment”, “one example”, “an example”, “another example”, “yet another example”, and so on, indicate that the embodiment(s) or example(s) so described may include a particular feature, structure, characteristic, property, element, or limitation, but that not every embodiment or example necessarily includes that particular feature, structure, characteristic, property, element or limitation. Furthermore, repeated use of the phrase “in an embodiment” does not necessarily refer to the same embodiment.
The words “comprising”, “having”, “containing”, and “including”, and other forms thereof, are intended to be equivalent in meaning and be open ended in that an item or items following any one of these words is not meant to be an exhaustive listing of such item or items or meant to be limited to only the listed item or items.
Techniques consistent with the present invention provide, among other features, a nail grinder for grinding nails of pet animals. Unless stated otherwise, terms such as “first” and “second” are used to arbitrarily distinguish between the elements or entities. Thus, these terms are not necessarily intended to indicate temporal or other prioritization of such elements or priorities. While various exemplary embodiments of the disclosed systems and methods have been described above, it should be understood that they have been presented for purposes of example only, and not limitations. It is not exhaustive and does not limit the invention to the precise form disclosed. Modifications and variations are possible in light of the above teachings or may be acquired from practicing of the invention, without departing from the breadth or scope.
The pet nail grinder will now be described with reference to the accompanying drawings, which should be regarded as merely illustrative without restricting the scope and ambit of the present invention.
In an embodiment, the body portion 102 (such as an upper body portion of the nail grinder 100) may be made of various materials, such as, but not limited to, plastic, aluminum, copper, steel or iron. The body portion 102 may include a power switch assembly 102a on its top i.e., on a front part of the body portion 102 as shown in
In an embodiment, the body portion 102 may further include a light source switch 102b on its top i.e., on a front part of the body portion 102 as shown in
In an embodiment, the grinding stone portion 106 (such as a lower body of the nail grinder 100) is a grinding stone housing (i.e., a grinding stone cap such as a cone-shaped cap) that houses one or more nail grinding stones such as a grinding stone 106a. The grinding stone 106a may be made of a coarse, abrasive material, such as, but not limited to, sand, aluminum oxide, ceramic, silicon carbide, or zirconium oxide. The grinding stone 106a may have different grades of grit ranging from course to buff on the same stone. Alternatively, the grinding stone portion 106 may include different grinding stones (such as the grinding stone 106a) for different grades of grit ranging from course to buff. The grinding stone 106a may be a concave grinding stone, a convex grinding stone, or a combination thereof, and may be removably fixed or attached to an inner connector (such as a clip or a holding means such as a socket). The grinding stone 106a may be removable as well as replaceable. In an embodiment, the rotational speed of the grinding stone 106a may be controlled by means of one or more motors that are housed or positioned inside a nail grinder body portion (such as the body portion 102) of the nail grinder 100. The one or more motors may be removably positioned inside the nail grinder 100 to drive the grinding stone 106a. For example, when the power switch of the power switch assembly 102a is turned ON (i.e., the power switch is at the second position or the third position), the one or more motors are also turned ON, which in turn rotates the grinding stone 106a. In an embodiment, the one or more motors may be configured to operate at two speeds i.e., at the medium speed and at the high speed. The speed of the one or more motors may be controlled by operating the power switch of the power switch assembly 102a. For example, when the power switch is at the second position or at the third position, the one or more motors are turned ON and accordingly operates at the defined medium speed or the defined high speed, which in turn rotates the grinding stone 106a at the medium speed or at the high speed.
In
In the bottom view of the nail grinder 100 as shown in
In an embodiment, the nail grinder 100 further includes the light source switch 102b that may be operated by the user to turn ON or turn OFF one or more LED's included in the light source portion 104. There are four modes of operating the light source switch 102b. In a first mode, when the light source switch 102b is pressed by the user, the front half of the light source portion 104 emits halogen light such as by means of one or more halogen light emitting LED's. In a second mode, when the light source switch 102b is pressed by the user, the rear half of the light source portion 104 emits halogen light such as by means of one or more halogen light emitting LED's. In a third mode, when the light source switch 102b is pressed by the user, the entire light source portion 104 emits light from all sides or directions such as by means of one or more halogen light emitting LED's. In a fourth mode, when the light source switch 102b is pressed by the user, all of the LED's (such as all of the halogen light emitting LED's) are turned OFF and do not emit any light.
In an embodiment, the LED panel 602 also includes an opening at its center that allows a shaft of a motor (positioned inside the nail grinder 100) to pass through it and makes a contact with a cylindrical metallic material (such as a cylindrical brass pin, a cylindrical stainless steel pin, or any other appropriate material). For example, the shaft of the motor makes a physical contact with a first brass pin included inside the nail grinder 100, for example, in the grinding stone portion 106. The first brass pin further makes another physical contact with a second brass pin included inside the nail grinder 100, for example, in the grinding stone portion 106. The grinding stone 106a is removably attached (or removably makes physical contact) with the second brass pin. Thus, when the motor is turned ON, the shaft of the motor rotates, which in turn rotates the first brass pin and the second brass pin. Due to rotational motion of the second brass pin, the grinding stone 106a attached (or making physical contact) with the second brass pin also rotates. Due to the rotation of the grinding stone 106a and/or the physical contact of the grinding stone 106a with the second brass pin during the rotation, the vibration in the grinding stone 106a may be produced or generated. Thus, the grinding stone 106a may vibrate from one side to another side. Such rotation and/or vibration of the grinding stone 106a may be utilized for grinding the nails of the pet animals. In one example, the grinding stone 106a only rotates along its axis and is used for grinding the nails of the pet animal. In another example, the grinding stone 106a only vibrates from one side to another side and is used for grinding the nails of the pet animal. In yet another example, the grinding stone 106a rotates as well as vibrates and is used for grinding the nails of the pet animal.
In an embodiment, the grinding stone 106a may be removably attached to the clip 606 that holds the grinding stone 106a in its position. However, if required, the grinding stone 106a may be removed from the clip 606 and replaced with different grits of grinding stones.
Although particular embodiments of the invention have been described in detail for purposes of illustration, various modifications and enhancements may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention.
This patent application claims the benefit of priority of U.S. Provisional Application No. 62/660,950, entitled “PET GRINDER HAVING HALO-ILLUMINATION LIGHTING,” filed Apr. 21, 2018, which are hereby incorporated herein by reference in its entirety