초록 ▼

A vacuum grooming tool is disclosed that includes a vacuum nozzle attachable to a vacuum source and has a hollow body with a mouth opening. A grooming device selected from a variety of standard animal grooming hand tools, such as a shedding blade, rake, or de-matting tool, may span the mouth opening

A vacuum grooming tool is disclosed that includes a vacuum nozzle attachable to a vacuum source and has a hollow body with a mouth opening. A grooming device selected from a variety of standard animal grooming hand tools, such as a shedding blade, rake, or de-matting tool, may span the mouth opening. The grooming device is positioned such that the airflow created by the vacuum source flows over at least one side of the grooming device. A vacuum cleaning tool for removing any animal hair from a grooming tool is also disclosed. A vacuum plenum of the cleaning tool is attachable to a vacuum source and has an opening for cleaning the grooming tool in one pass. The cleaning tool can be mounted on a stationary support and may also include a pivot-action mechanism that connects the vacuum grooming tool or the cleaning tool to the vacuum source.

대표청구항 ▼

The invention claimed is: 1. A system comprising: (a) an animal grooming tool including 1. a vacuum nozzle having a hollow body terminating in a mouth opening and attachable to a vacuum source, and 2. a grooming device spanning the mouth opening, the grooming device having two sides and positioned

The invention claimed is: 1. A system comprising: (a) an animal grooming tool including 1. a vacuum nozzle having a hollow body terminating in a mouth opening and attachable to a vacuum source, and 2. a grooming device spanning the mouth opening, the grooming device having two sides and positioned with respect to the mouth opening to allow airflow created by the vacuum source to flow over at least one of the two sides of the grooming device; and (b) a grooming tool cleaning bead having a nozzle attachable to the vacuum source, the nozzle having an opening with respect to which the grooming device can be positioned in proximity to induce removal of animal hair attached to the grooming device by airflow generated by the vacuum source. 2. The system of claim 1, further comprising a switch operatively attached to the vacuum nozzle of the animal grooming tool and the nozzle of the grooming tool cleaning head, the switch configured to alternatively place the vacuum nozzle of the animal grooming tool or the nozzle of the grooming tool in fluid communication with the vacuum source. 3. The system of claim 2, wherein the switch comprises: (a) a first support; (b) a first port mounted on the support; (c) a second and third ports in respective fluid communication with the vacuum nozzle of the animal grooming tool and the nozzle of the grooming tool cleaning head, and alternately positionable to be in fluid communication with the first port. 4. The system of claim 3, wherein the second and third ports are mounted on a second support that is pivotable between at least two positions with respect to the first support, wherein the first port is in fluid communication width the second port when the second support is in the first of the two positions, and with the third port when the second support is in the second of the two positions. 5. A vacuum cleaning tool cleaner, comprising: a grooming tool cleaning head having a first nozzle attachable to a vacuum source, the first nozzle having an opening positionable in proximity to a grooming device such that animal hair attached to the grooming device can be removed from the grooming device by airflow generated by the vacuum source; and a switch operatively attached to a second nozzle associated with a grooming tool and the first nozzle and configured to place the first nozzle and the second nozzle in alternate fluid communication with the vacuum source. 6. A system comprising: an animal grooming tool including (1) a vacuum nozzle having a hollow body terminating in a mouth opening and attachable to a vacuum source, and (2) a grooming device disposed within and spanning the mouth opening, the grooming device having two sides and positioned with respect to the month opening to allow negative airflow created by the vacuum source to flow over at least one of the two sides of the grooming device; and a grooming tool cleaning head having a nozzle attachable to the vacuum source, the nozzle having an opening which when proximate to a grooming hand tool containing accumulated animal hair removes the accumulated animal hair with suction generated by the vacuum source through the grooming tool cleaning head. 7. The system of claim 6, wherein the grooming hand tool comprises the animal grooming tool. 8. The system of claim 6, wherein the grooming hand tool comprises one or more of a comb, a bristle brush, a pin brush, a shedding tool, a de-matting tool, and a rake. 9. A grooming tool cleaner comprising: a grooming tool cleaning head having a first nozzle attachable to a vacuum source, the first nozzle having an opening into which negative airflow is induced by the vacuum source and when the opening is proximate to a grooming tool, the airflow removes animal hair attached to the grooming tool; and a switch operatively attached to a second nozzle associated with a vacuum-assisted grooming tool and the first nozzle, the switch configured to place either, but not both, the first nozzle or the second nozzle in fluid communication with the vacuum source. 10. A grooming tool cleaner comprising: a grooming tool cleaning means for removing animal hair attached to a grooming tool, the grooming tool cleaning means having a first nozzle operatively attachable to a source of negative pressure, the first nozzle having an opening into which negative airflow is induced by the source of negative pressure and when the opening is proximate to a grooming tool, the airflow removes animal hair attached to the grooming tool; and a switch means, operatively attached to a second nozzle associated with a vacuum-assisted grooming tool and the first nozzle, for placing either, but not both, the first nozzle or the second nozzle in fluid communication with the source of negative pressure. 11. A grooming tool cleaner comprising: a grooming tool cleaning head having a first nozzle attachable to a vacuum source, the first nozzle having an opening with respect to which a pressure differential is induced between the vacuum source and the opening, the opening being compatible with a shape of an operative portion of a grooming tool so as to increase the pressure differential's affect upon the operative portion of the grooming tool and when the operative portion of the grooming tool is engaged with the opening the pressure differential removes animal hair attached to the operative portion of the grooming tool; and a switch operatively attached to a second nozzle associated with a vacuum-assisted grooming tool and the first nozzle, the switch having two states, a first state in which the first nozzle is placed in fluid communication with the vacuum source and a second state in which the second nozzle is placed in fluid communication with the vacuum source, the switch being biased to remain in the second state during grooming operations and transitioning from the second state to the first state and thereby effectively disconnecting the vacuum source from the vacuum-assisted grooming tool and inducing negative airflow into the grooming tool cleaning head responsive to engagement of the vacuum-assisted grooming tool with the grooming tool cleaning head wherein the negative airflow removes animal hair attached to the vacuum-assisted grooming tool.