Pet grooming device and cleaning method

Abstract

The present disclosure provides a pet care device and a cleaning method. The device comprises an outer housing with a fixed through slot, a comb assembly, a driving assembly, and an elastic air bag arranged between the comb assembly and the inner top wall of the housing. The driving assembly is coupled with the comb assembly through a motion conversion mechanism to convert horizontal sliding into vertical displacement of the comb assembly. When the comb assembly is retracted, it squeezes the elastic air bag, causing the gas in the air bag to be sprayed towards the comb through the throttling jet hole and the gas guide channel, achieving active air pressure cleaning. In addition, the device also comprises a labor-saving driving structure such as a swing pressure plate or a gear set, and a variable torque curve slot to provide mechanical gain during the air bag compression stage. The present disclosure realizes the synergy of flexible buffering, efficient self-cleaning and labor-saving operation through structural multiplexing and functional integration, significantly improving the durability and user interaction experience of the device.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This invention relates to the field of pet products technology, specifically to a pet care device and cleaning method. Background Technology

[0002] Pet combs are common tools in daily pet grooming, mainly used to comb pet fur and remove loose and dead hair. Most existing self-cleaning pet combs use a movable push-plate structure: a push-plate that can move up and down is located at the front of the casing, with through holes corresponding to the comb needles, which are fixedly installed inside the casing. When in use, the push-plate retracts, exposing the comb needles for combing; when cleaning, the push-plate is pushed, causing relative displacement between it and the comb needles, scraping the hair off the needles.

[0003] This structure has obvious defects in practical use: High risk of hair getting caught: There is a gap between the movable push plate and the shell. During the grooming process, pet hair can easily get into the gap and be squeezed or caught, causing discomfort to the pet or even damaging its skin. Summary of the Invention

[0004] The purpose of this invention is to provide a pet care device and cleaning method to solve the problems mentioned in the background art.

[0005] To achieve the above objectives, the present invention provides the following technical solution: a pet care device, comprising: An outer shell having a combing part and a hand-held part, wherein a plurality of fixed through grooves are fixedly provided on one end face of the combing part; A comb assembly includes a comb plate and a plurality of comb needles disposed on the comb plate. The comb assembly is vertically displaced relative to the housing between a first position and a second position, so that the comb needles extend or retract through the fixed through slot. A drive assembly, capable of horizontal sliding relative to the housing, is coupled to the comb needle assembly via a motion conversion mechanism. The motion conversion mechanism includes an inclined drive groove on the drive assembly and a protrusion on the comb needle plate. An elastic airbag is disposed between the comb needle assembly and the inner top wall of the outer shell, and the elastic airbag has multiple throttling air holes; When the comb needle assembly moves from the first position to the second position, the comb needle assembly squeezes the elastic airbag, so that the gas in the elastic airbag is sprayed onto the comb needle through the throttling jet hole.

[0006] Preferably, the handheld part includes a fixed part and a swing arm. The swing arm is connected to the fixed part through a fulcrum and is connected to the drive assembly through a linkage rod so as to drive the horizontal sliding of the drive assembly through the rotational movement of the swing arm.

[0007] Preferably, the drive assembly includes a rack, and a gear set is provided on the handheld part. The gear set meshes with the rack to amplify the thrust applied to the drive assembly through the transmission ratio of the gear set.

[0008] Preferably, the tilting drive groove is a variable torque curve groove, the slope of which gradually decreases at the end of the stroke of the comb assembly near the second position to increase mechanical gain.

[0009] Preferably, one end of the tilting drive groove is connected to a horizontally arranged stop groove, and when the protrusion is located in the stop groove, the comb needle assembly is locked in the first position.

[0010] Preferably, the comb plate has multiple air channels, which are respectively arranged around the periphery of each comb and communicate with the throttling jet hole of the elastic airbag.

[0011] Preferably, the comb needle has a tapered structure, and the large diameter end of the comb needle forms a clearance fit with the inner diameter of the fixed through groove to provide automatic centering guidance during displacement.

[0012] Preferably, the elastic airbag provides elastic damping during the displacement of the comb needle assembly to buffer the impact force between the comb needle assembly and the housing.

[0013] The present invention also proposes a cleaning method for a pet grooming device, the device comprising a housing, a comb assembly, and an elastic airbag disposed above the comb assembly, the method comprising: The comb assembly is driven to move vertically upward relative to the housing by the horizontal displacement of a driving component. During the upward movement of the comb assembly, the comb assembly compresses the elastic airbag; and The instantaneous airflow generated by the compression of the elastic airbag is ejected outward through the air guide holes on the comb assembly to peel off the hair attached to the comb assembly.

[0014] Preferably, driving the comb assembly to perform vertical upward displacement includes: amplifying the input torque through a swing arm or a gear reduction mechanism mounted on the handpiece to overcome the compression resistance of the elastic airbag.

[0015] Compared with existing technologies, the advantages of this invention are: This invention eliminates the movable push plate, using a housing to fix the comb groove for brushing, preventing hair from getting caught or stuck, resulting in a stable and durable structure. The built-in airbag is compressed as the comb plate retracts, generating airflow. The gas is ejected through the air holes in the comb plate, blowing away fine hairs embedded in the comb needle gaps. Coarse and fine hairs are cleaned through the scraping of the comb groove and the blowing of the airflow, significantly improving the hair cleaning effect. Attached Figure Description

[0016] Figure 1 This is a schematic diagram of the overall assembly structure of the present invention; Figure 2 This is a schematic diagram of the push button mounting position structure of the present invention; Figure 3 This is a schematic diagram of the transmission structure of the present invention, in which the comb needle extends and the protrusion is inserted into the stop groove; Figure 4 This is a schematic diagram of the transmission structure for the comb needle retraction state of the present invention; Figure 5 This is a schematic diagram of the variable slope inclined drive groove structure with curved segments of the present invention; Figure 6 This is a schematic diagram of the swing arm drive and airbag assembly structure of the present invention; Figure 7 This is a schematic diagram of the air hole arrangement structure of the comb plate of the present invention; Figure 8 This is a schematic diagram of the embedded swing arm and handle fixing part of the present invention; Figure 9 This is a simplified structural diagram of the swing linkage transmission of the present invention; Figure 10 This is a schematic diagram of the gear and rack force-saving drive structure of the present invention; Figure 11 This is a schematic diagram of the airbag structure of the present invention, which is thicker at both ends and thinner in the middle. Detailed Implementation

[0017] The technical solutions of the embodiments of the present invention will be clearly, completely, and accurately described below with reference to the accompanying drawings. Obviously, the described embodiments are merely some embodiments of the present invention, and not all embodiments. All other embodiments obtained by those skilled in the art based on the embodiments of the present invention without creative effort are within the scope of protection of the present invention.

[0018] like Figures 1 to 4 As shown, this invention provides a pet comb that is structurally stable, safe to use, and easy to clean. The comb mainly consists of two core parts: the outer shell and the comb needles. Combined with... Figure 1It can be clearly seen that the comb needles 3 are evenly arranged in an array and fixedly installed on the comb needle plate 31. The comb needle plate 31 is stably housed within the inner cavity enclosed by the outer shell. One end face of the outer shell has a through groove 21. The size and arrangement of the through groove 21 match the array of comb needles 3, providing a stable movement channel for the comb needles 3. This allows the comb needles 3 to smoothly extend outward from the inner cavity or retract back into the inner cavity, realizing the extension and retraction movement of the comb needles. This invention abandons the traditional movable scraping push plate design and solidifies the end face with the through groove 21 as the fixed end face of the shell. Relying on the rigid interception effect of the through groove end face during the overall retraction of the comb needles, it directly scrapes and peels the hair attached to the surface of the comb needle shaft. Relying on the structural advantage of the fixed end face without assembly gaps, it eliminates the hidden danger of hair getting stuck in the gaps from the physical structure. Compared with traditional push plate products, the overall sealing protection and structural durability are qualitatively improved.

[0019] In existing traditional pet comb technology, the end face with the through groove 21 on the outer shell is usually designed as an independently movable push plate structure. During use, the push plate's up-and-down opening and closing movement creates relative displacement between the push plate and the comb needles, thereby scraping away residual pet hair attached to or tangled on the comb needles. However, this movable push plate structure has obvious drawbacks: on the one hand, there is a gap between the push plate and the outer shell, which easily leads to hair getting caught or stuck during pet grooming, affecting the grooming experience and potentially causing pulling and stinging to the pet's skin; on the other hand, after long-term use, the push plate is prone to loosening and shifting, resulting in incomplete hair removal and poor overall structural stability and safety. From the perspective of the entire product lifecycle, it is a common problem in the industry that after thousands of repeated scraping and friction, plastic push plates will experience plastic deformation of the inner wall of the groove and the buckle points. The deformed push plate will have an uneven flatness and uneven gaps. Coarse dog hair will get stuck in the wide gaps and fine downy hair will fill the narrow gaps. It is difficult to clean deeply with conventional brushes, toothpicks and other auxiliary tools. Over time, the hair will clump and rot, produce odors and shorten the life of the pet comb. From the perspective of pet physiological safety, the skin thickness of cats and dogs is only 0.3mm to 1mm, which is much thinner than human skin. When the hair is stuck in the gaps, continuing to comb downwards will create a hard pull that can easily scratch the epidermis. Pets with sensitive skin may also experience redness and swelling and allergies, which will greatly increase the risk of pet washing and grooming.

[0020] To address the aforementioned shortcomings of existing technologies, this invention proposes a novel structural design: the end face with the through groove 21 is fixed as the fixed end face of the outer shell, eliminating the traditional movable push plate structure and thus eliminating the risk of hair trapping and jamming at the source; at the same time, the comb needle 3 is designed as a movable component, and the comb needle plate 31 that drives the comb needle 3 is arranged inside the inner cavity of the outer shell. Through the inner cavity hidden motion structure, the stable extension and retraction of the comb needle is achieved, ensuring the hair cleaning effect while significantly improving the safety and structural reliability of use. The fixed end face is integrally formed into the shell, with no gaps between the parts. The inner edge of the through groove 21 is a continuous and complete shaving blade. During the retraction of the comb needles, all hair is uniformly intercepted and removed by the blade, resulting in stronger shaving consistency and eliminating the problems of local missed shaving or hair jamming. The comb needle plate is fully built-in and hidden in the inner cavity of the shell, protected by the shell in all directions. During the combing process, the comb needle plate will not directly rub against the pet's hair or skin, further avoiding the risk of foreign objects getting stuck. At the same time, the sealed inner cavity environment can reduce the intrusion of moisture and dust into the internal transmission structure, slow down the aging of metal and plastic parts, and extend the service life of the whole machine.

[0021] Combination Figure 1 As shown, the outer shell of the present invention specifically includes a first shell 1 and a second shell 2. The first shell 1 and the second shell 2 are assembled by a snap-fit ​​connection, forming an integrated shell structure after snapping together. The overall structure is divided into two functional areas: a handheld part and a combing part. A through groove 21 is fixedly disposed on one end face of the combing part, corresponding to the comb needle 3. A mounting groove 11 is provided at the junction of the handheld part and the combing part. This mounting groove 11 is specifically used to install a push button 4 that drives the comb needle plate 31 to achieve telescopic movement. The installation position of the push button 4 conforms to the human hand-operated habit, allowing the user to easily push the push button 4 with their fingers while holding the handheld part, truly achieving convenient one-handed operation. The specific assembly state can be referred to... Figure 2The shell adopts a split-type snap-fit ​​structure, which has a higher assembly error tolerance in the industrial mass production stage compared with the one-piece injection-molded shell. During the injection molding process, the first shell 1 and the second shell 2 can be processed by mold opening separately. Parts with different materials and different color schemes can be produced separately to meet diverse appearance customization needs. During the assembly stage, all internal transmission parts and pneumatic components can be pre-installed into the inner cavity of one side of the shell, and then snapped together and sealed, which greatly improves the assembly efficiency of the production line. The partition design of the handle and the combing part conforms to the ergonomic grip logic. When holding it normally, the palm wraps around the handle, and the index finger naturally falls on the area of ​​the push button 4 corresponding to the mounting slot 11. After combing, there is no need to switch hands or put down the comb. The comb needle extension and hair self-cleaning can be completed with one click by sliding the index finger back and forth. For large-area whole-house pet hair combing and multiple pets continuous bathing and grooming scenarios, the operation is convenient and advantageous, effectively saving time in hair cleaning. The mounting groove 11 is formed at the junction of the two areas. This position is located in the stress transition section of the shell structure. The shell wall thickness is uniform, and the local stress caused by the reciprocating sliding of the push button can be dispersed and absorbed by the shell. Long-term repeated pushing will not easily cause the groove to crack or deform.

[0022] Within the closed cavity formed by the first housing 1 and the second housing 2 after being fastened together, a sliding part 5 is provided. The sliding part 5 can slide horizontally and linearly back and forth along the length of the outer housing, providing power input for the comb needle movement. Viewed in vertical cross-section, the sliding part 5 has an overall U-shaped structure. Figure 1 Based on the viewing angle, the bottom of the sliding part 5 is a horizontal straight plate. Vertical plates 51 are symmetrically arranged on both sides of the straight plate structure, forming a stable frame-like sliding body. A groove 55 is formed on the bottom surface of the straight plate structure. Corresponding to the position of the groove 55, a raised slide rail 12 is integrally formed on the inner bottom side of the first housing 1. The shape and size of the groove 55 and the slide rail 12 match each other, forming a sliding mating pair. This provides precise guidance for the sliding part 5 and limits its wobbling and offset, ensuring smooth and stable horizontal sliding. An extension block 52 is fixedly connected to one end of the straight plate structure. The push button 4 has a T-shaped structure, and its vertically extending insertion post passes through the mounting groove 11 and is firmly fixedly connected to the extension block 52. Figure 2As can be seen, the push button 4 is slidably connected to the mounting groove 11, and its sliding direction is parallel to the horizontal sliding direction of the sliding part 5. Therefore, the user can stably control the sliding part 5 to slide in a straight line along the set direction by pushing the push button 4 with their finger. The U-shaped frame structure of the sliding part 5 forms an encircling installation space with the symmetrical limiting of the two side uprights 51. The comb plate 31 is embedded between the two side uprights, and the displacement in the left and right directions is completely constrained. From the structural layout, it avoids the left and right deviation and jamming during the lifting and lowering of the comb plate. The slide rail 12 is integrally injection molded with the first housing, so there is no risk of later bonding or loosening of the assembly. The slide rail and the slide groove are precisely concave and convex, and the gap between the two is controlled within the precision assembly tolerance range of plastic parts. This can not only ensure smooth sliding without jamming, but also prevent the sliding part 5 from moving up and down or left and right. Even if the comb is subjected to lateral squeezing force caused by the irregular twisting of the pet during combing, the sliding part can still maintain the predetermined straight-line motion trajectory, and the transmission stability is significantly improved. The T-shaped push button and the extension block are fixedly assembled to achieve seamless power transmission between the push button and the sliding part. The horizontal pushing force applied by the finger can be directly transmitted to the sliding part in a 1:1 ratio, eliminating the transmission play that is common in split hinge structures. The pushing stroke corresponds to the comb needle extension stroke, and the operation feedback is precise. Users can intuitively perceive the extension and retraction status of the comb needle through the push button displacement.

[0023] To achieve the conversion of horizontal sliding to vertical lifting motion, a motion conversion mechanism is provided between the sliding part 5 and the comb plate 31. This mechanism can accurately convert the horizontal displacement of the sliding part 5 into the vertical displacement of the comb plate 31, thereby driving the comb 3 to complete the extension and retraction actions. The motion conversion mechanism specifically includes an inclined drive groove 53 formed on the upright plate 51 and protrusions 32 fixedly set on both sides of the comb plate 31. In the assembled state, the comb plate 31 is located in the space between the two upright plates 51, and the protrusions 32 on both sides of the comb plate 31 are respectively embedded in the inclined drive groove 53 of the corresponding side upright plate 51 to form a sliding fit. To further improve the driving efficiency and motion stability, in this embodiment, the inclined drive groove 53 and the protrusions 32 are arranged symmetrically with two sets on each side, and the force is evenly distributed through multiple points of contact, effectively avoiding jamming or tilting of the comb plate 31 during lifting. Based on the mechanical principle of inclined plane transmission, the inclined drive groove relies on the inclination angle of the inclined plane to complete the direction conversion of force, which is the core transmission foundation for realizing the transformation of horizontal movement into vertical movement in this invention. Four sets of protruding columns at two points on both sides cooperate with the inclined groove, providing synchronous limiting support at four points. This overcomes the drawbacks of concentrated force and uneven wear in single-point transmission. The force is balanced at each point throughout the entire process of the comb plate lifting and lowering, and the verticality of the lifting and lowering is controllable. The entire row of comb needles arranged in an array can extend and retract synchronously, without any localized premature extension or delayed retraction. All comb needles pass through the through groove 21 uniformly and evenly, further reducing frictional wear between the comb needles and the inner wall of the through groove, and extending the service life of the comb needles and the housing. Long-term reciprocating friction in plastic can easily lead to unilateral wear. The multi-point symmetrical structure can distribute frictional losses, reducing the wear rate of parts and significantly improving product durability compared to a single-column, single-groove transmission structure.

[0024] To ensure stable positioning and prevent accidental retraction of the comb needles after extension, a stopping groove 54 is specially provided at one end of the inclined drive groove 53. The stopping groove 54 has a vertical limiting support function. When the protrusion 32 is housed inside the stopping groove 54, the protrusion 32 can only move horizontally with the sliding part 5 and cannot move vertically, thereby achieving stable locking between the comb needle plate 31 and the comb needle 3. The stopping groove is a limiting groove recessed inward at the end of the groove body, and the bottom of the groove is a horizontal support surface. After the protrusion falls into the groove, its vertical displacement is rigidly locked. Even if the pet's hair pulls the comb needles in the opposite direction during the combing process, or the pet's body bumps against the end face of the comb needles, the comb needles will not be affected by external forces and will always maintain the effective combing length of full extension, avoiding the problem of comb needle retraction causing combing interruption and missed combing of hair. In long-term scenarios such as cleaning loose hair from large carpets and sofas, and giving full-body grooming to long-haired pets, the locking structure can keep the comb needles in working condition. Users do not need to continuously press the push button to maintain the position, which greatly reduces the operation fatigue caused by continuous finger pressure and optimizes the long-term use experience.

[0025] Combination Figure 3As shown in the figure, taking this viewpoint as an example, when the user pushes the push button 4 to the right to its limit position, the sliding part 5 slides horizontally to the right simultaneously. Under the guidance of the inclined surface of the inclined drive groove 53 and the cooperation of the protrusion 32, the comb plate 31 moves smoothly downward, and the comb needles 3 pass through the through groove 21 one by one and gradually extend outward until they are completely exposed to the outer shell. At this time, the protrusion 32 is just inserted into the stop groove 54. Under the vertical support of the stop groove 54, the protrusion 32 cannot move up or down. The comb needles 3 maintain a stable extended state during the combing of the pet's hair and will not retract unexpectedly, ensuring that the combing operation is continuous and reliable. Pushing the button to the right to its maximum travel corresponds to the maximum extension of the comb needles, with all the comb needles fully exposed in the through groove. This maximizes the effective working length of the needles, allowing them to penetrate deep into the pet's undercoat and remove dead and loose hair from the undercoat close to the skin. This is suitable for the deep grooming needs of thick-haired dogs and double-coated cats. The protrusion engages with the stop groove to form a mechanical self-locking mechanism. This self-locking structure has no springs, buckles, or other easily fatigued and worn parts. It relies on the groove structure to achieve physical limitation. Compared with spring-loaded locking structures, it does not have the problems of spring fatigue and elasticity decay or locking failure. The locking effect is stable and reliable over long-term use.

[0026] Similarly, combining Figure 4 As shown, when a user needs to clean the hair residue on the comb needles or store the pet comb, the push button 4 is slid to the left, and the sliding part 5 moves horizontally to the left at the same time. The protrusion 32 then disengages from the dwell groove 54 and moves upward along the inclined surface of the inclined drive groove 53, thereby driving the comb needle plate 31 to move upward. The comb needles 3 gradually retract into the inner cavity of the outer shell along with the comb needle plate 31 until they are completely retracted and hidden. The hair attached to the comb needles 3 is blocked by the edge of the through groove 21 and detaches from the comb needles, achieving quick and clean cleaning. During the retraction of the comb needles, the fixed end face of the through groove acts as a fixed shaving ring. When the entire row of comb needles retracts synchronously, coarse hair and clumps of hair wrapped around the needle body and needle root are scraped off in one go by the edge of the through groove. The shed hair gathers at the front end face of the comb and can be picked up and discarded at will without the need to clean each comb needle individually with a blade or brush. The hair cleaning efficiency is several times higher than traditional manual plucking. After the comb needles are completely stored inside the shell, the sharp needles are fully enclosed and protected by the shell. During daily storage, they will not scratch the storage bag or furniture surface, and will also prevent children and pets from accidentally touching and getting pricked, thus improving the safety of product storage.

[0027] Furthermore, the comb needle 3 in this invention adopts a conical structure design. The diameter of the comb needle 3 is smaller near the end and larger near the comb needle plate 31. This structure can play an automatic guiding and centering role when the comb needle 3 and the through groove 21 undergo relative extension and retraction displacement, effectively avoiding the comb needle 3 from getting stuck or rubbing against the inner wall of the through groove 21, making the process of extending and retracting the comb needle smoother, and at the same time reducing the irritation of the comb needle to the pet's skin and improving the comfort of grooming. The tapered profile of the comb needles, thinner at the top and thicker at the bottom, forms a natural guide cone surface. During the extension and retraction movement, the needle tip aligns first with the through slot hole, and the alignment is automatically corrected by the slope of the cone surface. During the high-speed extension and retraction of the comb needles in batch arrays, each comb needle can smoothly pass into the corresponding through slot, eliminating the plastic fuzzing and needle body wear caused by the needle shaft rubbing against the edge of the slot. After the needle tip diameter is smoothed and blunted, the pressure when the tip contacts the pet's skin is lower, and it is less likely to prick the skin during the brushing process. Even for delicate pets and short-haired naked pets, the discomfort during the brushing process is greatly reduced, effectively alleviating the pet's resistance to brushing and struggle to avoid it. The thickened structure at the base of the needle can improve the riveting firmness between the comb needle and the comb plate. The thickened needle shank increases the bonding and riveting contact area, and the comb needle is less likely to loosen, become crooked or fall off during frequent brushing, improving the overall structural strength and service life of the comb needle.

[0028] Continue to refer to Figure 6 As shown, an airbag structure 6 is embedded within the U-shaped space enclosed by the sliding part 5. The bottom of the airbag structure 6 is connected to the comb plate 31. (See reference...) Figure 7As shown, an air hole is provided at the connection between the comb plate 31 and the comb needle 3, and the air hole communicates with the airbag structure 6. The top of the airbag structure 6 is connected to the top wall of the inner cavity of the sliding part 5. The function of the airbag structure 6 is that when the comb plate 31 retracts with the comb needle 3, the comb plate 31 squeezes the airbag structure 6, causing the internal gas to be ejected from the air hole and discharged along the comb needle 3 through the through groove 21, forming a negative pressure to discharge the fine hairs (especially downy hairs) mixed on the comb needle 3, and preventing hair from entering the interior. Existing conventional self-cleaning combs can only clean the coarse, long hairs attached to the outer diameter of the bristles by rubbing against the end face of the comb groove. Fine, soft hairs, dust, and lint are easily stuck in the gaps between the multiple bristles. Conventional scraping structures cannot remove them. Over time, the hairs seep into the inner cavity of the housing through the gaps between the bristles and the comb groove, and adhere to the surfaces of precision transmission parts such as the internal transmission groove, slide rail, and protrusions. When the hairs mix with the moisture in the environment and clump together, the transmission friction increases, causing the push button to jam and the bristles to malfunction. This is a major reason for the high failure rate of traditional pet combs. This invention incorporates an airbag-jet lint removal mechanism. During the comb needle retraction phase, the comb needle plate rises and compresses the airbag, creating a high-pressure airflow. This airflow is ejected outwards from the needle root position through densely distributed air holes on the comb needle plate surface. The high-pressure airflow sweeps along the outer wall of the comb needle from the inside out, directly blowing away lint and dust trapped deep in the needle seams to the outside of the comb, preventing fine hairs from seeping into the inner cavity and contaminating the transmission components. The instantaneous negative pressure created by the airflow also adsorbs fine loose hairs accumulated on the end face, further optimizing the self-cleaning effect. This achieves a dual lint removal mode, where coarse hair is removed by mechanical abrasion and fine lint is removed by high-pressure airflow, comprehensively improving the cleanliness of hair removal. The airbag is confined and housed within the enclosed space of the U-shaped sliding part, protected by the all-around frame of the sliding part. During the combing process, the airbag will not abnormally abrade against the inner wall of the housing or the transmission parts, reducing the probability of wear and tear on the surface rubber of the airbag and ensuring long-term stable airtightness.

[0029] The function of airbag structure 6 is achieved in conjunction with the air valve. (Refer to...) Figure 6In this configuration, the air holes on the comb plate 31 can serve as both air inlets and outlets. However, considering that the surface where the air holes are located is easily clogged by debris, especially during air intake, in another preferred embodiment, a one-way valve is provided on the top or side of the airbag structure 6. This one-way valve serves as an air inlet, and holes are also provided on the housing for air intake. If the air holes on the comb plate are directly reused for air intake, the front end of the comb will face the area where pet hair is scattered during combing. The floating down is easily absorbed and blocked by the negative pressure of the airbag, resulting in insufficient air intake and reduced air pressure. After long-term blockage, the airbag cannot inflate and deflate normally, and the pneumatic de-fur removal function will directly fail. The air intake channel is independently located on the side wall or top of the airbag and equipped with a one-way air intake valve. Simultaneously, vents are opened at corresponding positions on the shell to connect to the outside atmosphere. The air intake path is shifted to the area on the side / back of the comb, away from the combing working surface, significantly reducing the probability of hair clogging the air intake. The one-way valve restricts gas flow to the airbag only from the outside in one direction. During the airbag compression and ejection phase, the high-pressure gas inside cannot escape from the air intake valve; all airflow is concentrated and directionally ejected from the comb needle plate vents, maximizing the ejection pressure and enhancing the ability to blow away fine hairs. The shell vents also allow for internal air circulation, helping to ventilate and prevent moisture from the internal transmission structure, reducing the probability of mold and corrosion on plastic and metal parts in humid environments.

[0030] Reference Figure 11 As shown, the airbag structure 6 can be configured as a structure that is thick at both ends and thin in the middle. When expelling air, the narrow middle position at the bottom achieves an acceleration effect, bringing greater blowing force in a short compression stroke. Based on the Venturi effect principle of fluid mechanics, when gas passes through the narrow neck section in the middle from the large-volume chambers at both ends of the airbag, the fluid cross-sectional area suddenly shrinks, forcing a sharp increase in airflow velocity. Under the same comb plate compression stroke and the same airbag compression volume, the output airflow velocity and instantaneous air pressure of the necked airbag are much greater than those of the cylindrical airbag of the same diameter. A strong impact airflow can be generated with a short stroke of compression. Even dense clumps of hair embedded deep in the root of the comb can be blown off by the high-speed airflow, further optimizing the fine hair removal effect. The thickened ends of the airbag increase the bonding and fixing area between the airbag and the comb plate and the top wall of the sliding part. The ends are not easy to delaminate and crack when the airbag is repeatedly stretched and compressed. The narrow middle section has a reserved deformation margin. The deformation stress of the airbag under repeated compression and expansion is concentrated in the narrow section area, dispersing the force on the bonding points at the ends, extending the fatigue service life of the rubber airbag, and reducing the airbag cracking, leakage and repair rate.

[0031] Continue to refer to Figure 7As shown, one-way valves can also be installed at the air holes of the comb plate 31 to allow air to exit but not enter, thus preventing blockage. In another preferred embodiment, a transverse cavity can be opened in the middle of the comb plate 31. The gas discharged from the airbag structure 6 enters the cavity through the holes on the back of the comb plate 31 for air distribution, and then exits from the evenly distributed air holes to achieve a uniform airflow effect. After the one-way valve is installed at the air holes of the comb plate, the valve closes and seals the air hole during the airbag's intake and expansion phase. Air can only be supplied from the airbag's independent intake valve, completely preventing the working surface fibers from being absorbed and blocked by the negative pressure of intake. During compressed air release, the internal air pressure opens the valve to release air in a directional manner, perfectly realizing a dual-channel air path design with dedicated exhaust and separate intake. After the comb plate has a built-in transverse air distribution cavity, the high-pressure gas output from the airbag first flows into the sealed cavity for pressure stabilization and buffering. Then, the gas is distributed from the cavity to the various air holes evenly distributed throughout the entire plate surface. This solves the problems of excessively high air pressure at the near-end air hole, insufficient air pressure at the far-end air hole, and uneven air jet strength caused by a single air hole directly connected to the airbag. The air pressure at the corresponding air hole of all combs on the entire plate tends to be consistent, and the air jet is synchronously and evenly distributed throughout the entire row of combs. The effect of blowing away the lint in the needle seams is uniform, and there will be no phenomenon of some areas being cleanly removed while others have lint residue. The sealed cavity can also store instantaneous excess air pressure, slightly increasing the duration of continuous air jet and extending the effective time of lint blowing.

[0032] Because of the addition of the airbag structure 6, the resistance to driving the comb plate 31 by pushing the sliding part 5 through the push button 4 will increase, especially when driving the comb plate 31 to retract. Therefore, this embodiment adopts the following methods or a combination of the following methods to solve the problem: During the airbag compression process, the resistance from rubber deformation and the resistance from compressed air in the confined space are superimposed on the transmission system. Compared to the basic structure without an airbag, the driving load during the comb needle retraction stroke increases significantly. Directly using the traditional straight groove with a constant slope and a direct push button requires the user's fingers to overcome additional resistance from gas and airbag deformation. Frequent and prolonged use can easily lead to finger fatigue and strain. To address this increased load issue, this invention proposes labor-saving optimization solutions from three technical directions: transmission groove optimization, manual drive structure lever improvement, and gear and rack power transmission. These three solutions can be implemented individually or combined in pairs or in combination to adapt to the mass production needs of different product positioning and cost levels, while balancing product usability and industrial production cost control.

[0033] Reference Figure 5As shown, without changing the driving method, the "effort-saving" effect can be achieved by improving the structure of the inclined drive groove 53. Referring to the figure, the basic design uses a straight inclined groove. Since the slope is constant, the mechanical gain is also constant. When the airbag is compressed to the point where the end resistance increases, the user must apply more force to push the button. In the preferred design, a variable torque curve groove is used. The overall shape of the inclined groove is not a straight line, but an S-shape or parabola. At the end of the stroke (where the airbag is fully compressed), the slope of the inclined groove becomes very gentle, forming a curve segment 531. According to the principle of inclined planes, the gentler the slope, the greater the thrust. This means that when the user exerts the most effort, the mechanical structure provides the maximum assistance force, making the entire operation feel very easy and smooth. The effort-saving coefficient of the inclined plane transmission is negatively correlated with the inclined plane angle. The smaller the angle, the smaller the horizontal thrust required for the same vertical load. The straight inclined groove has a fixed angle throughout the entire stroke, and the mechanical effort-saving ratio remains unchanged throughout the entire stroke. The airbag compression has low resistance in the early stage and a sharp increase in resistance when it reaches the limit, resulting in a significant increase in the end thrust requirement. The S-shaped, parabolic variable curvature groove has a larger inclination angle in the low-resistance section where the comb needles extend, ensuring sufficient comb needle lifting stroke for the same horizontal stroke to meet the comb needle extension size requirements. Entering the high-load section at the end of the comb needle retraction and the ultimate compression of the airbag, the groove smoothly transitions into a gentle slope curve section 531, with the inclination angle continuously narrowing. Utilizing the mechanical gain of the inclined plane, the output lifting force is amplified, precisely offsetting the resistance peak caused by airbag compression. This achieves stable and controllable pushing resistance throughout the entire process, resulting in a smooth and uniform push button feel from start to finish, without the drawback of easy initial movement followed by a stuttering and laborious final stage. It is worth mentioning that this method only requires minor adjustments to the shape of the inclined groove on the injection mold, without adding any additional gears or levers. Furthermore, it can be applied to both the original push button drive structure and the implementation structures of the different drive methods mentioned below. The curved groove only requires modification to the cavity contour of the vertical plate injection mold, without adding any new hardware or plastic parts. The parts list and assembly process are completely consistent with the original structure, without increasing material costs or labor assembly costs. The modification cost is extremely low, making it suitable for mass production of low-cost and economical products. At the same time, this groove optimization has strong versatility. Whether it is a direct push button, a swing handle drive, or a gear knob drive structure, it can be used with the curved groove, flexibly adapting to the iteration and upgrade of the entire product series.

[0034] Reference Figure 6 As shown, Figure 6 The improved structure shown mainly modifies the drive mechanism, replacing the push button with a swing handle. It utilizes the ratio of the long and short arms to amplify the thrust, achieving a "labor-saving" effect. (Refer to...) Figure 6As shown, the swing arm 22 is provided on the handle. One end of the swing arm 22 is hinged to the connecting rod 23. At the same time, the swing arm 22 is rotatably connected to the housing through a hinge point. The connecting rod 23 extends into the housing space where the sliding part is located. One end of the connecting rod 23 is hinged to a slide rod 24, which is connected to the sliding part 5. Through the swing of the swing arm 22 and the transmission of the connecting rod 23, the slide rod 24 slides, thereby driving the sliding part 5 connected to it to reciprocate. This structure relies on the lever principle of effort saving, using the hinge point 221 of the shell as the fulcrum. The handle end of the swing arm is the power arm, and the hinge end of the connecting rod is the resistance arm. By optimizing the length ratio of the power arm and the resistance arm, the input force is amplified. Users can output a large thrust with a small swing of the swing arm, easily overcoming the additional resistance of airbag compression. All connections between the connecting rod, swing arm, and slide rod are hinged, forming a multi-node linkage transmission mechanism. This allows for the conversion of the swing circular motion into the linear translation of the slide rod, providing a flexible transmission path. The handle swing stroke can be freely adjusted according to the arm length ratio, adapting to the development of pet comb products of different sizes and specifications. (Reference) Figure 9 As shown, Figure 9 The simplified transmission diagram of this structure illustrates how the entire sliding stroke and structural compactness are controlled by rationally configuring the structure of connecting rod 23 (which uses a bent structure as shown in the figure) and the positions of its two hinge points, the hinge point 221 between the swing arm 22 and the housing, and the hinge point between connecting rod 23 and the swing arm 22. The bent connecting rod avoids spatial interference issues with components such as the airbag and comb plate within the housing cavity, allowing for transmission arrangement within the limited and narrow space of the handheld part. This achieves a labor-saving structural upgrade without increasing the overall size of the comb or changing the grip size, ensuring that product portability remains unaffected.

[0035] Additionally, refer to Figure 8 As shown, in another preferred embodiment, the structure of the swing arm 22 is embedded in the handle portion, rather than the swing arm 22 as a whole serving as the handle portion of the comb. Figure 8The handle includes a fixed part 20 and a swing arm 22. The swing arm 22 is hinged to the fixed part 20 and can swing. When combing normally, the fixed part 20 is held. When the comb needles 3 need to be retracted or extended, the swing arm 22 is operated separately to achieve the function. By designing an inclined drive groove 53 and an adaptive design for the connection structure of the swing arm 22 and the connecting rod 23, the drive configuration is such that when the swing arm 22 is pushed upward from the horizontal position of the handle, it drives the comb needles 3 to retract, and when it swings in the opposite direction, the comb needles 3 extend. With the split handle layout, the force of daily combing is concentrated on the rigid fixed part 20. During the combing process, the reaction force generated by the pet pulling the comb needles is entirely borne by the fixed part. The swing arm is not affected by the combing load, reducing fatigue wear at the hinge point and extending the service life of the swing structure. The zoned operation logic is clear. During normal combing, the swing arm is not touched, avoiding accidental contact that may cause the comb needles to extend or retract and interrupt combing. The swing arm is only actively operated when self-cleaning or hair removal is needed, resulting in a higher operational error tolerance. Furthermore, the swing arm 22 is embedded in the fixed part 20. During use, the hand naturally grips the two structural components, which helps to limit and maintain their position, preventing the connection from loosening over time and causing the comb needles 3 to retract on their own. The palm wraps around the fixed part and the embedded swing arm, and the gripping pressure from the outside restrains the free swing of the swing arm, forming a natural artificial limit. Even if the hinge pin experiences slight wear and gaps, the swing arm will not automatically shift under combing vibrations, triggering the comb needles to retract, further improving the stability of the comb needles during operation.

[0036] Reference Figure 10 As shown, in another preferred embodiment, a gear set and rack mechanism is used to achieve the "efficiency-saving" effect. As illustrated, a large-diameter gear knob 7 drives a small-diameter gear 71, which in turn drives a rack 72 meshing with the small-diameter gear 71 to slide. The rack 72 is fixed to the sliding part. Speed ​​reduction and force amplification are achieved through the gear transmission ratio. Based on the mechanical principle of gear speed change and force amplification, the large gear acts as the input wheel, and the small gear as the output transmission wheel. The number of teeth is proportional to the pitch circle diameter. During transmission, the torque is amplified by the tooth ratio. The user inputs a small torque by rotating the large-diameter knob. After the gears change speed, the small gear outputs a multiplied torque to drive the rack to move, easily overcoming the airbag compression resistance. Compared to pushing or levering, the knob rotation operation is more in line with human hand exertion habits, relying on the twisting motion of the palm for force application, providing ample space for force application and further reducing hand fatigue. The rack and sliding part are rigidly connected, and the gear meshing transmission has no idle stroke. The knob rotation angle and the comb needle extension / retraction stroke are precisely correlated, resulting in high stroke control accuracy.

[0037] This embodiment integrates an elastic airbag above the comb needle plate, achieving a dual function: on the one hand, when the comb needles retract for cleaning, the airbag is pressurized to generate high-pressure airflow, which can blow away the fine hairs embedded in the gaps between the comb needles. Combined with the housing fixing groove to remove coarse hair, it forms a dual self-cleaning system for both coarse and fine hair, thoroughly solving the pain points of traditional push-plate combs that trap hair and do not clean hair thoroughly. On the other hand, the airbag itself has elastic damping characteristics. During the combing process, it can deform under the pressure of the pet's skin, causing the comb needles to float and retract slightly, resulting in a similar effect to flexible silicone. The comb's cushioning and conforming effect reduces the stinging and pulling sensation on the skin caused by hard combs, combining the powerful detangling and combing advantages of metal comb needles with the skin-friendly and comfortable experience of soft combs. At the same time, the airbag can buffer transmission impact and reduce wear and tear on the whole machine. Combined with the variable torque curve groove, swing arm, gear rack and pinion and other labor-saving transmission structures, it greatly reduces the force burden of cleaning operations. One airbag structure realizes multiple technical effects of pneumatic self-cleaning, flexible cushioning and shock absorption, and skin-friendly floating combing. The structure is highly reusable, and the product's durability and user comfort are improved simultaneously.

[0038] Although embodiments of the invention have been shown and described, it will be understood by those skilled in the art that various changes, modifications, substitutions, and variations can be made to these embodiments without departing from the principles and spirit of the invention, the scope of which is defined by the appended claims and their equivalents. This invention systematically overcomes the persistent problems of traditional self-cleaning pet combs, such as hair entrapment, incomplete cleaning, fine down residue, laborious operation, and poor safety, through six core innovations: fixed end face eliminating the movable push plate, internal cavity concealed comb needle extension and retraction, inclined plane direction-changing transmission locking, conical comb needle guidance and protection, airbag high-pressure jet removal, and multi-path labor-saving transmission. It can be used as a basic, direct-drive product for the entry-level, affordable pet supplies market, or upgraded to mid-to-high-end products with labor-saving structures such as the swing handle, gear knob, and curved groove. The airbag jet structure can be selected and equipped according to product positioning. The modular design of the product allows for flexible adaptation to the research and development and production of pet combs at various price points and in various categories, possessing extremely high industrialization value and market promotion prospects. From the perspective of end-use scenarios, the product caters to the grooming needs of all types of pets, including puppies, adult pets, long-haired pets, and short-haired pets. It can also be extended to remove loose fur from fabric sofas, carpets, and pet beds, covering a wide range of application scenarios. In terms of product durability, the fully enclosed transmission system combined with the gapless fixed scraping end face significantly reduces the failure rate of foreign object intrusion, extends the product's service life, and reduces the frequency of repeat purchases by consumers, thus possessing good economic and practical value.

Claims

1. A pet care device, characterized by: include: An outer shell having a combing part and a hand-held part, wherein a plurality of fixed through grooves are fixedly provided on one end face of the combing part; A comb assembly includes a comb plate and a plurality of comb needles disposed on the comb plate. The comb assembly is vertically displaced relative to the housing between a first position and a second position, so that the comb needles extend or retract through the fixed through slot. A drive assembly is horizontally slidable relative to the housing. The drive assembly is coupled to the comb needle assembly via a motion conversion mechanism. The motion conversion mechanism includes an inclined drive groove disposed on the drive assembly and a protrusion disposed on the comb needle plate. as well as An elastic airbag is disposed between the comb needle assembly and the inner top wall of the outer shell, and the elastic airbag has multiple throttling air holes; When the comb needle assembly moves from the first position to the second position, the comb needle assembly squeezes the elastic airbag, so that the gas in the elastic airbag is sprayed onto the comb needle through the throttling jet hole.

2. A pet grooming device according to claim 1, characterised in that, The handheld part includes a fixed part and a swing arm. The swing arm is connected to the fixed part through a fulcrum and is connected to the drive assembly through a linkage rod so as to drive the horizontal sliding of the drive assembly through the rotational movement of the swing arm.

3. The pet grooming device of claim 1, wherein, The drive assembly includes a rack, and a gear set is provided on the handheld part. The gear set meshes with the rack to amplify the thrust applied to the drive assembly through the transmission ratio of the gear set.

4. The pet grooming device of claim 1, wherein, The tilting drive groove is a variable torque curve groove, and the slope of the curve groove gradually decreases at the end of the stroke of the comb assembly near the second position to increase mechanical gain.

5. The pet care device according to claim 1, characterized in that, One end of the tilt drive groove is connected to a horizontally arranged stop groove. When the protrusion is located in the stop groove, the comb needle assembly is locked in the first position.

6. The pet care device according to claim 1, characterized in that, The comb plate has multiple air channels, which are respectively arranged around the periphery of each comb needle and communicate with the throttling jet hole of the elastic airbag.

7. The pet care device according to claim 1, characterized in that, The comb needle has a tapered structure, and the large diameter end of the comb needle forms a clearance fit with the inner diameter of the fixed through groove to provide automatic centering guidance during displacement.

8. The pet care device according to claim 1, characterized in that, The elastic airbag provides elastic damping during the displacement of the comb assembly to buffer the impact force between the comb assembly and the housing.

9. A cleaning method for a pet grooming device, the device comprising a housing, a comb assembly, and an elastic airbag disposed above the comb assembly, characterized in that, The method includes: The comb assembly is driven to move vertically upward relative to the housing by the horizontal displacement of a driving component. During the upward movement of the comb assembly, the comb assembly compresses the elastic airbag; and The instantaneous airflow generated by the compression of the elastic airbag is ejected outward through the air guide holes on the comb assembly to peel off the hair attached to the comb assembly.

10. The method according to claim 9, characterized in that, The method of driving the comb assembly to perform vertical upward displacement includes: amplifying the input torque through a swing arm or a gear reduction mechanism mounted on the handpiece to overcome the compression resistance of the elastic airbag.

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