Pet Grooming Tool Toggle Linkage for Hair Removal
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing pet grooming tools cause discomfort due to the orientation of the fur ejection mechanism, which requires the user's thumb to act against a bias spring, leading to potential discomfort and loss of elasticity over time, affecting the tool's ability to retract and allow normal combing.
Innovation Solution
A pet grooming tool with a handle, comb, and a hair removal member that uses a toggle button and linkage assembly to move the hair removal member between retracted and extended positions, eliminating the need for a bias spring and providing ergonomic operation.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a bias spring is used to retract the fur ejection portion, then the fur ejection portion can automatically return to position, but the spring loses elasticity over time causing reliability degradation
Solution Approach 1:
The patent removes the bias spring from the system entirely, replacing it with a toggle button mechanism that uses a linkage assembly and cam structure. This extraction of the elastic element eliminates the fundamental cause of reliability degradation while maintaining the automatic retraction function through geometric constraints and mechanical advantage.
Solution Approach 2:
Instead of using an active spring force to push the fur ejection portion back, the invention uses a passive geometric constraint system where the toggle button and linkage assembly create a self-locking mechanism. The direction of force application is inverted: rather than continuous spring pressure, the system uses momentary user input that is then maintained by the mechanical geometry of the linkage and cam structures.
2Ease of operation
If the thumb acts horizontally forward on the actuator button, then the fur can be pushed out, but this causes discomfort to the user's hand
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the dimension of operation from horizontal thumb pressure to vertical toggle button movement. The toggle button moves along the longitudinal axis of the handle, allowing the user's finger to act in a more natural vertical motion rather than stretching the thumb horizontally, thereby eliminating hand discomfort while achieving the same fur ejection function.
Solution Approach 2:
The toggle button serves as an intermediary between the user's finger and the fur ejection mechanism. Instead of the thumb directly pushing the fur ejection portion horizontally, the toggle button converts vertical finger motion into horizontal movement of the fur ejection portion through the linkage assembly, providing a more ergonomic interface.
3Ease of operation
If a horizontal actuator button is used, then fur ejection is achieved, but the mechanism requires complex spring components increasing device complexity
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the spring component from the system, replacing it with a toggle button and linkage assembly that uses geometric constraints and mechanical advantage instead of elastic forces. This reduces device complexity by eliminating the spring while maintaining the fur ejection and retraction functions through a different mechanical approach.
Solution Approach 2:
The linkage assembly and cam structures are designed to be self-sufficient, using the user's input motion and the mechanical geometry of the system itself to achieve both fur ejection and automatic retraction. The system serves itself by using its own structural components (linkages, cams, toggle button) rather than requiring separate spring components to provide the return force.
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 solution provides a comfortable and durable grooming experience by minimizing user effort and preventing loss of elasticity, ensuring effective hair removal and combing without discomfort or mechanical failure.
Implementation Method 1
a linkage member (15) comprising a first arm (152) terminating in a first engagement member (153) and a second arm (154) terminating in a second engagement member (155), the linkage member pivotable about a fixed pivot point (151) with respect to the handle (3)
Data Source
AI summary
A grooming tool for a pet is disclosed. The grooming tool comprises a handle having a grip portion, a comb comprising teeth and including a blade for combing and removing shed hair from a pet where the comb located at a front end of the handle. The grooming tool also includes a hair removal member for removing shed hair from the comb, wherein the hair removal member is moveable in a direction corresponding to an extension direction of the teeth of the comb, a toggle button movable along a surface of the handle between a first position and a second position and a linkage assembly linking the toggle button to the hair removal member to control movement of the hair removal member; wherein when the toggle button is located at the first position, a front end surface of the hair removal member is located in a retracted position and when the toggle button is moved to the second position, the front end surface of the hair removal member is moved forward to an extended position to remove hair from the comb.