Patent Application
20090064433
The present disclosure relates to an animal cleaning device, and more particular to an animal paw cleaning device.
Animals' paws and legs often become dirty when outdoors, collecting mud or dirt. However, these areas can be somewhat difficult to clean, as the mud and/or dirt collects in the fur and between the paw pads. Upon entering a home or any clean environment (home, car, boat, retail establishment, etc.), the animal then tracks the mud, sand and/or dirt throughout the environment. As such, in order to maintain the cleanliness of the environment it is necessary to clean the animal's paws, legs and other areas before allowing them to enter the clean environment.
A number of devices have been developed to clean an animal's paws, including U.S. Pat. Nos. 6,065,431; 6,439,160; and 6,851,391. However, these devices can be cumbersome and difficult to use. The devices may also require a variety of mechanical and electrical components to scrub, wash, and clean animals. These mechanical and electrical components further increase the size and weight of the devices
The present disclosure recites a multi-purpose cleaning device which can be used to clean and/or dry a paw or other part of an animal, or which can be used as a general-purpose brush. The animal cleaning device includes a body portion having inner and outer surfaces, the inner surface being incurved defining a trough. A handle portion is attached to the body portion, where the handle portion can be adjustably and removable attached. A cleaning pad is removable positioned about the body portion, wherein the cleaning pad includes an absorbent outer surface. The cleaning pad is affixable to the inner surface of the body portion defining a cleaning trough.
The cleaning trough can be used to clean and/or dry a paw of the animal, where the paw is positioned within the cleaning trough. The top cleaning surface can be used to clean and/or dry other parts of the animal. The handle portion is removable and includes a brush at one end, which can be used to brush the animal or for general cleaning purposes. Additionally, the cleaning pad can be removed from the body portion and used as a cleaning mitt to wash the animal.
A more complete understanding of the present invention, and the attendant advantages and features thereof, will be more readily understood by reference to the following detailed description when considered in conjunction with the accompanying drawings wherein:
The present disclosure recites a multi-purpose cleaning device which can be used to clean and/or dry a paw or other part of an animal, or which can be used as a brush. The cleaning device includes a body portion surround by a removable cleaning pad, where a handle portion is removably attached to the body portion. The body portion has an arcuate section defining a cleaning trough and a top cleaning surface. The cleaning trough can be used to clean and/or dry a paw or leg of the animal, where the paw and/or leg is positioned within the cleaning trough. The top cleaning surface can be used to clean and/or dry other parts of the animal. The handle portion is removable and includes a brush at one end, which can be used to brush the animal or for more general purposes. Additionally, the cleaning pad can be removed from the body portion and used as a cleaning mitt to wash the animal.
Referring now to the drawing figures in which like reference designators refer to like elements, there is shown in
The body portion 14 is arciformed having outer and inner surfaces 18, 20, where the inner surface 20 is incurved forming a trough 22, sized and configured to receive an animal's paw therein. The outer surface 18 of the body portion 14 includes an open flange portion 24 configured for mating to the removable handle portion 12. (See also
Referring to
The first end 26 of the handle portion 12 can further include a brush 34. The brush 34 can be a wire bristle brush, slicker brush, curry brush, pin brush, plastic bristle brush, and the like. Alternatively, the brush 34 can be a sponge. The brush 36 is sized to be positionable within the open flange portion 24 when the handle portion 12 is mated to the body portion 14.
The handle portion 12 is positionable on the body portion 12 in a first or second position. In the first position, as shown in
Alternatively, the handle portion 12 can be separated from the body portion 14. In this configuration the handle portion 12 is used as a stand alone brush.
The handle portion 12 is secured to the body portion 14 with the latching mechanism 32. In an embodiment, as shown in
Referring to FIGS. 6A-̂B, in an embodiment the open flange portion 24 includes a locking ring 44 engagable by the movable latch 28 of the handle portion 12. The locking ring 42 includes a pair of indented portions 46, 48 configured to receive the movable latch 38 and the locking tab 42 therein. A pair of guides 50, 52 are positioned on opposite sides of the locking ring 46, where the locking tab 42 traverses the guides 50, 52 as the handle portion 12 is moved between the first and second positions. The locking ring 42 further include first and second stop 54, 56, each have a locking indent 58 configured engaged by the movable latch 38 to lock the position of the handle portion 12.
As previously discussed, the cleaning pad 16 in removeably positionable on the body portion 14. Referring to
The second surface 64 of the sheet is folded along the center line “C,” leaving the first surface 62 exposed. As shown in
The second surface 64 includes an absorbent material 78 which is used to clean and dry the paw, leg or other parts of the animal. The absorbent material 78 covers the first and second halves 66, 68 of the second surface 64. Alternatively, the second surface can have a first absorbent material on the first half 66 and a second absorbent material on the second half 68, where the first and second materials are different. The absorbent material 78 can be cotton, wool, polyester, micro-fiber, sponge like, or other known absorbent material.
In an embodiment, as shown in
The cleaning pad 16 is position on the body portion 14 by inserting the body portion 14 through the hole 72 in the cleaning pad 16. The body portion 14 is completely inserted into the cleaning pad 16, such that the adsorbent material 78 of the cleaning pad 16 completely surrounds the inner and outer surfaces 18 and 20 of the body portion, and the hole 72 is positioned about the open flange portion 24 (See
In a first method of use, the cleaning device 10 is used to clean and/or dry a paw of an animal. The handle portion 12 is placed in either the first or second position. The paw of the animal is positioned in the cleaning trough 80, and the cleaning device 10 is moved back and forth to clean and/or dry the paw.
In a second method of use, the cleaning device 10 is used to clean and/or dry the belly of an animal. The handle portion 12 is placed in the first position. The upper surface 18 of the body portion 114 is positioned adjacent to the belly of the animal, where the cleaning pad 16 is in contact with the belly of the animal. The cleaning device 10 is moved back and forth to clean and/or dry the belly of the animal.
In a third method of use, the handle portion 12 is separated from the body portion 14. The handle portion 12 is then used as a brush. For example, the brush 34 can be used as a deshedding tool to brush an animal.
In a forth method of use, the handle portion 12 is separated from the body portion 14. The handle portion 12 is then used as a brush, using the brush 34 to remove animal hair from furniture, drapery, and the like.
In a fifth method of use, the cleaning pad 16 is removed form the cleaning device 10. The cleaning pad 16 is used as a washing mitt to wash an animal, where the user's hand is inserted into the cleaning pad 16 through the hole 72.
All references cited herein are expressly incorporated by reference in their entirety.
It will be appreciated by persons skilled in the art that the present invention is not limited to what has been particularly shown and described herein above. In addition, unless mention was made above to the contrary, it should be noted that all of the accompanying drawings are not to scale. A variety of modifications and variations are possible in light of the above teachings without departing from the scope and spirit of the invention, which is limited only by the following claims.
