Pet bathing tool and system
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Solution Overview
Problem
Traditional pet bathing methods require significant amounts of water and time, leaving the pet's coat excessively wet and inefficient in terms of water usage.
Innovation Solution
A pet bathing system that adapts a surface cleaning apparatus to distribute cleaning fluid, agitate, and extract debris using a wand override tool with a fluid delivery and recovery pathway, utilizing a portable and efficient system with a wand override unit and hand tool for faster and more water-efficient pet bathing.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Quantity of substance
If traditional pet bathing methods are used, then the pet's coat is thoroughly cleaned, but significant amounts of water are consumed and the bathing process takes a long time
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the bathing process into distinct functional zones within the hand tool: a fluid delivery pathway for applying cleaning solution, a treatment zone with agitating elements, and a recovery pathway for extraction. This segmentation allows each zone to perform its specific function efficiently, reducing overall water consumption while maintaining cleaning effectiveness.
Solution Approach 2:
The system recovers cleaning fluid and debris through the recovery pathway integrated into the hand tool, extracting used solution from the pet's coat. This recovery mechanism reduces water waste by removing and collecting the fluid after use, rather than allowing it to drain away as in traditional bathing methods.
2Quantity of substance
If traditional pet bathing methods are used, then the pet's coat is cleaned effectively, but the coat becomes excessively wet
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements continuous simultaneous action of fluid delivery, agitation, and extraction through the integrated hand tool. The cleaning solution is applied, agitated into the coat, and extracted in a continuous sequence without interruption, ensuring that water is removed as quickly as it is applied, preventing excessive wetness.
Solution Approach 2:
The recovery pathway continuously extracts and removes cleaning fluid from the pet's coat during the bathing process, preventing accumulation of excess moisture. This continuous recovery action ensures the coat remains relatively dry after treatment, eliminating or reducing the need for additional drying.
3Productivity
If a portable pet bathing system is designed, then water efficiency and speed are improved, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges multiple functions (fluid storage, fluid delivery, agitation, and fluid extraction) into a single integrated hand tool that attaches to an existing vacuum cleaner. This consolidation reduces the need for separate portable components while achieving rapid bathing, as the existing vacuum cleaner provides the necessary suction power.
Solution Approach 2:
The hand tool is designed as a multi-functional device that can be attached to standard vacuum cleaners to perform pet bathing. It incorporates a reservoir for cleaning solution, a delivery pathway, agitating elements, and a recovery pathway, making it universally applicable to various vacuum cleaner models without requiring proprietary components.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
The system effectively cleans pets using less water than traditional methods, leaving the pet's coat less wet and providing a faster bathing process while maintaining effective cleaning performance.
Implementation Method 1
a suction source and a source of cleaning fluid. A wand override tool is provided which adapts the wand of the surface cleaning apparatus
Implementation Method 2
A first fluid delivery pathway extends from the cleaning solution reservoir to the second coupler
Data Source
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AI summary
A hand tool (12) for grooming a pet, adapted to be fluidly coupled with a surface cleaning apparatus (14) having a suction source and a fluid delivery system, comprising:a body (24) that is hand-holdable by a user and defines an interior and a lower surface; a suction nozzle (57) provided with the body; at least one spray nozzle (76) provided at least partially within the interior; and at least one grooming guard (68,70) removably provided at the lower surface of the body, wherein the at least one grooming guard (68,70) includes at least one aperture (74), and wherein the at least one spray nozzle (76) projects through the at least one aperture (74).