Patent Application
20050139165
This invention pertains to a device for controlling shedding in pets and other animals, and for grooming such pets and other animals.
Owners of pets and other animals usually face the prospect of repeatedly and often cleaning fur, hair, and dander from various surfaces including carpets and furniture. It is typically advantageous to attract such fur, hair, and dander at their source, the animal itself, before they have a chance to be deposited. Various devices exist for collecting fur, hair, and dander shed by animals, including devices that employ adhesive strips to which the fur, hair, and dander may stick, and durable devices such as brushes.
There are disadvantages to using such devices. Adhesive-based devices tend to quickly become matted with fur and hair, greatly decreasing their effectiveness. Durable devices need to be cleaned frequently. In addition, some pets prefer to not be groomed by such devices. As a result, shedding is less controlled and hair and fur become deposited throughout the range of the animal.
To solve these problems, a new micro-hook shedding control device is required.
The elements of the shedding control device are generally a first layer that includes hook material, and a shape that allows for ease of use. Such a device allows a consumer to collect pet dander and the like before it is shed by the animal.
The present invention overcomes these problems by providing an animal shedding control device including a first layer including a first material, wherein the first layer has a first layer perimetric edge, and wherein the first material is hook material having hooks adapted to capture detritus, and a second layer including a second material, wherein the second layer has a second layer perimetric edge, and wherein at least a portion of the second layer perimetric edge is coupled to the first layer perimetric edge such that the first and second layers define a bag-like space that is at least partially enclosed.
The first material may be micro-hook material, and the second layer may be a nonwoven, elastomeric, or micro-hook material. The device may be a mitt, a pet bed enclosure, or a grooming tool cover.
The present invention also provides a shedding control device including a bag-like body including an outer surface including micro-hook material; and an interior space, wherein the body is adapted to be turned inside-out to create a second interior space.
The present invention also provides a method for controlling animal shedding, the method including donning a mitt having a first layer including a first material, wherein the first layer has a first layer perimetric edge, and wherein the first material is hook material having hooks adapted to capture detritus; and a second layer including a second material, wherein the second layer has a second layer perimetric edge, and wherein at least a portion of the second layer perimetric edge is coupled to the first layer perimetric edge such that the first and second layers define a bag-like space that is at least partially enclosed; petting an animal having detritus such that detritus is captured in the hooks; and disposing of the mitt.
The present invention also provides a method for controlling animal shedding, the method including placing a device over an animal bed, the device having a first layer including a first material, wherein the first layer has a first layer perimetric edge, and wherein the first material is hook material having hooks adapted to capture detritus; and a second layer including a second material, wherein the second layer has a second layer perimetric edge, and wherein at least a portion of the second layer perimetric edge is coupled to the first layer perimetric edge such that the first and second layers define a bag-like space that is at least partially enclosed; allowing an animal to use the bed such that detritus is captured in the hooks; removing the device from the bed; and disposing of the device.
Other objects and advantages of the present invention will become more apparent to those skilled in the art in view of the following description and the accompanying drawings.
The invention described herein is a micro-hook shedding control device 10. Such a device 10 allows a consumer to groom and control shedding in a pet or other animal, including a human. For grooming and shedding control, the user needs to capture primarily fur, hair, dander, debris, and loose organic material, collectively referred to herein as detritus.
The device 10 includes a first layer 15. The first layer 15 may be of any suitable shape, but is preferably generally planar and is further preferably generally rectangular or oblong. The first layer 15 has a perimetric edge 25 extending around the first layer 15. In one embodiment, the first layer 15 is generally the size of a human hand held flat on a surface. In an alternative embodiment, the first layer 15 is generally the size of a pet or other animal bed. In another alternative embodiment, the first layer 15 is generally the size of a grooming tool. In general, the first layer 15 may be of any suitable size, with the size preferably selected to be suitable for the intended use of the device 10.
The first layer 15 is an active layer. The active layer performs the grooming and shedding-control function, which it accomplishes by including hook material. Hook material includes relatively small and flexible hooks. Hook material is commonly available in hook and loop material such as that manufactured as VELCRO-brand hook and loop fasteners by the American Velcro Company. The hook material is typically formed in a continuous sheet using continuous injection molding, and the hook material typically includes hooks, knobs, or both. Micro-hook material may be used and is considered skin-friendly because the hooks are designed to be relatively small and feel soft to the touch for the average user. The ends of the hooks are typically not exposed at the surface, so the hook material does feel abrasive or sharp. As is known in the art, the manufacturer may tailor the modulus of the hooks by the polymer that is chosen to manufacture them.
Conventional hook and loop fastening systems are, for example, available as VELCRO-brand hook and loop fastening systems. In a particular embodiment, the hook material may be a micro-hook material such as that distributed under the designation CS200 by 3M Company, a business having offices in St. Paul, Minn. Another suitable micro-hook material is distributed under the designation VELCRO CFM-29 1058, and is available from VELCRO U.S.A., Inc., a business having offices in Manchester, N.H.
The hook material may cover all or a portion of the first layer 15. The most inexpensive embodiment may be a first layer 15 consisting essentially of hook material.
In an alternative embodiment, the active layer may also include adhesive to aid in capturing detritus. The adhesive may be applied to the hook material and deposited between and/or at the base of the hooks. The adhesive may be applied by spraying, rolling, or by any other suitable method. The adhesive may be any suitable adhesive; one example is an adhesive that remains tacky after application such as a hot melt resin with a high tackifier level. The hook material itself may be produced with void spaces—areas of hook material that are absent of hooks. Adhesive may then be applied to the void spaces.
In an alternative embodiment, the adhesive may be applied in strips, alternating with strips of hook material. In yet another embodiment, areas of adhesive may be interspersed with areas of hook material in any suitable pattern or dispersion.
The device 10 also includes a second layer 20. The second layer 20 is preferably of the same general size and shape of the first layer 15, although the size and/or shape of the second layer 20 may be selected to be different from the size and/or shape of the first layer 15 based on the intended use of the device 10. The second layer 20 has a perimetric edge 30 extending around the perimeter of the second layer 20.
The second layer 20 may be a backing layer. The second layer 20 may be manufactured from any suitable nonwoven or woven material, including, for example, paper tissue. The second layer 20 may also be manufactured from an elastomeric material to allow for a more snug fit on the user's hand.
In an alternative embodiment, the second layer 20 is also an active layer and manufactured under any of the embodiments described above for the first layer 15. In the case of the second layer 20 as an active layer, the second layer 20 may be manufactured from a different hook material than is used for the first layer 15. For example, the hook material of the second layer 20 my include hooks that are larger than the hooks of the hook material of the first layer 15 to accommodate different grooming needs. In an alternative embodiment, one of the first and second layers 15, 20 may include adhesive where the other does not, or one of the first and second layers 15, 20 may include adhesive where the other includes a different adhesive.
In an alternative embodiment, one or both of the first and second layers 15, 20 may be breathable to allow air to circulate through the device 10.
The first layer 15 is coupled to the second layer 20. One of the first and second layers 15, 20 is positioned to overlie the other of the first and second layers 15, 20, such that the perimetric edges 25, 30 of the first and second layers 15, 20 generally align. A portion of the perimetric edge 25 of the first layer 15 is attached to the perimetric edge 30 of the second layer 20 to form a seam 35. The seam 35 formed may be at the perimetric edges 25, 30, or the seam 35 may be adjacent or inward from the perimetric edges 25, 30. The perimetric edges 25, 30 may be attached by adhesive, ultrasonic bonding, heating, sewing, or by any other suitable method.
Coupling the first layer 15 to the second layer 20 forms the device 10 with a bag-like structure having an outer surface 40 and an interior space 45 with an opening 50. The device 10 may be formed such that the interior space 45 is sized to accommodate a human hand, a pet bed, a portion of a grooming tool, or any other suitable item. Because of this bag-like design, the device 10 may be turned inside-out by a user such that the previous interior space 45 becomes the new outer surface, and the previous outer surface 40 becomes and defines the new interior space. In turning the device 10 inside-out, any detritus captured in the hooks or adhesive on the previous outer surface 40 of the device 10 becomes captured within the new interior space of the device 10.
In an alternative embodiment, the interior space 45 may also include hook material and/or adhesive to allow the device 10 to be used for grooming after being turned inside-out.
The device 10 may be manufactured in any dimensions. For example, the device 10 as a mitt may be sized to fit best on a child's hand, an adult hand, or may be of a length to cover much of an adult's hand and arm.
The device 10 may be manufactured without a thumb space 50 or a finger loop 65. In such an embodiment, pressure from a user's fingers on the seam 35 helps to stabilize the device 10 by helping to prevent rotation of the device 10 around the user's hand.
In an alternative embodiment, as illustrated in
In still another alternative embodiment, as illustrated in
In yet another alternative embodiment, as illustrated in
In yet another alternative embodiment, as illustrated in
The opening 50 of the device 10 may include a sealing mechanism 85 (see
By virtues of the design and materials chosen for the device 10, the device 10 is preferably designed to be disposable. In this case, disposable means that the device 10 is disposed of, rather than cleaned, after use.
In an alternative embodiment of the device 10, the first layer 15 and the second layer 20 are two portions of the same piece of material. One of the first and second layers 15, 20 is folded over the other of the first and second layers 15, 20 and a portion of their perimetric edges 25, 30 are coupled by any means described herein to form the device 10.
In use of the device 10 as a milt, as illustrated in
In use of the device 10 as a pet bed enclosure, as illustrated in
In use of the device 10 as a cover for a grooming tool 95, as illustrated in
Other objects and advantages of the present invention will become more apparent to those skilled in the art in view of the following description and the accompanying drawings.
The invention has been described with reference to various specific and illustrative embodiments and techniques. However, it should be understood that many variations and modifications may be made while remaining within the spirit and scope of the invention. Many alternatives, modifications and variations will be apparent to those skilled in the art in light of the foregoing description. Accordingly, this invention is intended to embrace all such alternatives, modifications, and variations that fall within the spirit and scope of the appended claims.
