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An implement for grooming hair of an animal has a comb support and an array of tines mounted in the comb support. The array has a plurality of generally parallel combs, and each comb has a set of regularly spaced generally parallel tines of similar size. In one aspect, the spacing between adjacent t

An implement for grooming hair of an animal has a comb support and an array of tines mounted in the comb support. The array has a plurality of generally parallel combs, and each comb has a set of regularly spaced generally parallel tines of similar size. In one aspect, the spacing between adjacent tines of a selected comb varies depending on the location of the comb along a longitudinal axis. In this aspect, as the comb support is drawn to effectuate the grooming of the hair of the animal, hair at the selected location experiences a progression in at least three stages from coarse to more finely spaced tines.

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1. An implement for grooming hair of an animal, comprising: a handle having a length defining a longitudinal axis of the implement;a comb support having first and second opposed ends, the first end being coupled to the handle;an array of substantially rigid tines mounted to the comb support, each ti

1. An implement for grooming hair of an animal, comprising: a handle having a length defining a longitudinal axis of the implement;a comb support having first and second opposed ends, the first end being coupled to the handle;an array of substantially rigid tines mounted to the comb support, each tine having (i) a base, by which it is mounted to the comb support, (ii) a tip, (iii) a length that protrudes from the base to the tip, and (iv) a width at where the tine protrudes from its base, wherein the array is configured so that a selected tine has a length that is more than three times greater than the width of the selected tine, the array having a plurality of generally parallel combs, wherein any selected comb in the array has a set of regularly spaced generally parallel tines of similar length, and each comb has a length disposed transversely with respect to the longitudinal axis, and the comb support is configured in relation to the combs so that substantially all of the length of each tine is exposed for use in grooming;wherein the spacing between adjacent tines of a selected comb in the array monotonically decreases as a function of distance of the selected comb from the first end, in a manner wherein there are at least three distinct spacings between centers of adjacent tines in the combs of the array;so that, as the comb support is drawn in a direction of motion along the longitudinal axis to effectuate the grooming of the hair of the animal, in a manner wherein the first end reaches a selected location on the animal and thereafter the second end reaches the selected location, hair at the selected location experiences a progression in at least three stages from coarsely to more finely spaced tines;wherein the tines of the array are configured to penetrate and groom the hair of the animal,wherein the length of the tines of the selected comb monotonically decreases as a function of distance of the selected comb from the first end;so that, as the comb support is drawn in the direction of motion along the longitudinal axis to effectuate the grooming of the hair of the animal, hair at the selected location experiences a progression from longer to shorter tines. 2. An implement according to claim 1, wherein spacing between successive pairs of adjacent combs decreases monotonically as a function of distance along the longitudinal axis of each successive pair from the first end, in a manner wherein there are at least three distinct spacings of pairs of adjacent combs;so that, as the comb support is drawn in a direction of motion along the longitudinal axis the hair at the selected location experiences a progression in at least three stages from coarsely to more finely spaced pairs of adjacent combs. 3. An implement according to claim 1, wherein the array of tines is mounted to the comb support in a manner wherein the tips of the set of tines of each comb collectively define a surface that is curved. 4. An implement according to claim 1, wherein each comb is established by mounting a row of tines to the comb support, and the tines have a thickness in cross-section where they are mounted to the comb support, the thickness of tines of the selected comb also monotonically decreases as a function of distance of the selected comb from the first end;so that, as the comb support is drawn in the direction of motion along the longitudinal axis to effectuate the grooming of the hair of the animal, hair at the selected location experiences a progression from thicker to thinner tines. 5. An implement according to claim 4, wherein the tines comprise a wrought aluminum alloy. 6. An implement according to claim 5, wherein the tines comprise a wrought 7075-T6 aluminum alloy. 7. An implement according to claim 1, wherein (i) the array of tines is divided into two parts, about the longitudinal axis, by a central cleft region, devoid of tines, and (ii) any selected comb in the array has a number of tines greater than the number of combs in the array;so that, after the comb support has been drawn in the direction of motion along the longitudinal axis to effectuate the grooming of the hair of the animal, shed pet hair collected in the tines may be pinched within the cleft region to gain purchase, to facilitate manual cleaning of the implement. 8. An implement according to claim 1, wherein the tines of the array have an average thickness along their length of less than 3 mm. 9. An implement for grooming hair of an animal, comprising: a comb support having a longitudinal axis, and first and second opposed ends;an array of substantially rigid tines mounted to the comb support, each tine having (i) a base, by which it is mounted to the comb support, each base being mounted to the comb support in the same manner, (ii) a tip, (iii) a length that protrudes from the base to the tip, and (iv) a width at where the tine protrudes from its base, wherein the array is configured so that a selected tine has a length that is more than three times greater than the width of the selected tine, and so that a selected tine is physically separate from any adjacent tine over substantially all of a distance between the tip of the selected tine and the comb support,wherein spacing between successive pairs of adjacent combs decreases monotonically as a function of distance, along the longitudinal axis, of each successive pair from the first end to the second end, in a manner wherein there are at least three distinct spacings of pairs of adjacent combs;so that, as the comb support is drawn in a direction of motion along the longitudinal axis to effectuate the grooming of the hair of the animal, in a manner wherein the first end reaches a selected location on the animal and thereafter the second end reaches the selected location in one motion, the hair at the selected location experiences a progression in at least three stages from coarsely to more finely spaced pairs of adjacent combs to facilitate deshedding; andwherein the tines are configured to penetrate and groom the hair of the animal. 10. An implement according to claim 9, further comprising a handle, affixed to the comb support. 11. An implement according to claim 10, wherein the handle has a principal axis that is disposed parallel to the longitudinal axis. 12. An implement according to claim 9, wherein the length of tines of a selected comb in the array monotonically decreases as a function of distance of the selected comb from the first end;so that, as the comb support is drawn in the direction of motion along the longitudinal axis to effectuate the grooming of the hair of the animal, hair at the selected location experiences a progression from long to short tines. 13. An implement according to claim 12, wherein the array of tines is mounted to the comb support in a manner wherein the tips of the set of tines of each comb collectively define a surface that is curved. 14. An implement according to claim 9, wherein each comb is established by mounting a row of tines to the comb support, and the tines have a thickness in cross-section where they are mounted to the comb support, and the thickness of the tines in a selected pair of adjacent combs in the array varies depending on the location of the selected pairs of combs along the longitudinal axis, with the thickness of tines of a selected comb monotonically decreasing as a function of distance of the selected comb from the first end;so that, as the comb support is drawn in the direction of motion along the longitudinal axis to effectuate the grooming of the hair of the animal, hair at the selected location experiences a progression from thicker to thinner tines. 15. An implement according to claim 14, wherein the tines comprise a wrought aluminum alloy. 16. An implement according to claim 15, wherein the tines comprise a wrought 7075-T6 aluminum alloy. 17. An implement according to claim 9, wherein the array of tines is divided into two parts by a central cleft region, devoid of tines, the cleft region interrupting regularity of spacing of tines in each comb and being disposed along the longitudinal axis, and any selected comb in the array having a number of tines that is greater than the number of combs in the array;so that, after the comb support has been drawn in the direction of motion along the longitudinal axis to effectuate the grooming of the hair of the animal, shed pet hair collected in the tines may be pinched within the cleft region to gain purchase, to facilitate manual cleaning of the implement. 18. An implement for grooming hair of an animal, comprising: a handle having a length defining a longitudinal axis of the implement;a comb support defining a vertical direction that is normal to a surface of the support;an array of substantially rigid tines mounted to the comb support, each tine having a tip and configured so that a selected tine is physically separate from any adjacent tine over substantially all of a distance between the tip of the selected tine and the comb support, the array having a plurality of generally parallel combs, wherein any selected comb in the array has a set of regularly spaced generally parallel tines of similar length and is disposed transversely with respect to the longitudinal axis, and each pair of adjacent combs defines an interstice that is transverse to the longitudinal axis and having a width defined by a distance between the corresponding pair of adjacent combs;wherein (i) the array of tines is divided into parts by a cleft region, devoid of tines, the cleft region interrupting regularity of spacing of tines in each comb and being disposed along the longitudinal axis, and (ii) any selected comb in the array has a number of tines that is greater than the number of combs in the array;a comb cleaner having a plurality of generally parallel bars, mounted to a central spine, the spine being mounted in the cleft region and configured for movement in the vertical direction, with each bar (a) disposed in a distinct one of the interstices, and (b) configured and constrained by mounting of the spine, so as to travel substantially the same vertical distance as the other bars, when the spine is moved in the vertical direction, so that the motion of the spine and the bars in a direction away from the comb support forces shed pet hair, collected in the tines, away from the comb support to facilitate cleaning of the implement. 19. An implement according to claim 18, wherein the comb cleaner includes a mounting mechanism, coupled to the comb support, and to which the generally parallel bars are mounted, and wherein the mounting mechanism includes: a user-operable handle; anda pantograph operably coupled between the comb cleaner and the user-operable handle, the pantograph configured to amplify the user's input actuating stroke of the user-operable handle to move the comb cleaner in a direction away from the comb support. 20. An implement according to claim 18, wherein the components of the comb cleaner and mounting mechanism comprise a wrought aluminum alloy. 21. An implement according to claim 20, wherein the components of the comb cleaner and mounting mechanism comprise a wrought 7075-T6 aluminum alloy. 22. An implement for grooming hair of an animal, comprising: a handle having a length defining a longitudinal axis of the implement;a comb support;an array of substantially rigid tines mounted to the comb support, each tine having a tip and configured so that a selected tine is physically separate from any adjacent tine over substantially all of a distance between the tip of the selected tine and the comb support, the array having a plurality of generally parallel combs, any selected comb in the array having a set of regularly spaced generally parallel tines and disposed transversely with respect to the longitudinal axis;wherein (i) the array of tines is divided into parts by a cleft region, devoid of tines, the cleft region interrupting regularity of spacing of tines in each comb and being disposed along the longitudinal axis, and having a width wider than a spacing between any pair of adjacent combs in the array, and (ii) any selected comb in the array has a number of tines that is greater than the number of combs in the array;so that, after the comb support has been drawn to effectuate the grooming of the hair of the animal, shed pet hair collected in the tines may be pinched between the thumb and index finger within the cleft region to gain purchase, to facilitate manual cleaning of the implement. 23. An implement according to claim 22, wherein the comb support is made of a polymeric material and at least some of the tines are made of metal.