Pet Grooming Tool Teeth with Acute Edges

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing pet grooming tools often cut or pull non-loose hair from pets while attempting to remove loose hair, which is undesirable and can cause damage.

Innovation Solution

A pet grooming tool with a pet engageable portion made of a high-tensile polymeric material featuring a row of teeth with alternating acute edges and intersecting surfaces, combined with a handle portion made of a less expensive polymeric material, designed to securely attach to the engageable portion through injection molding, ensuring effective hair removal without cutting or pulling non-loose hair.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Productivity

If conventional pet grooming tools are used to remove loose hair, then hair removal function is achieved, but non-loose hair is cut or pulled causing damage

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvehair removal efficiencyVSAvoidfur damage

Core Design Contradiction:

ProductivityVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies local quality by creating specific geometric features (acute edges and intersecting surfaces) at precise locations on the tooth surfaces. These localized geometric modifications enable the teeth to gently channel and guide loose hair through the comb without applying excessive force that would damage non-loose hair, while maintaining effective hair removal capability.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #3Local quality

Solution Approach 2:

The patent changes the geometric parameters of the tooth surfaces by forming acute edges and intersecting surfaces at specific angles. This parameter modification transforms the interaction between the comb teeth and hair, allowing loose hair to be smoothly channeled through while preventing damage to thicker non-loose hair, thus resolving the contradiction between hair removal efficiency and fur protection.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

2Reliability

If the pet engageable portion is made of high-tensile polymeric material, then durability and hair removal effectiveness are improved, but manufacturing cost increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvetool durabilityVSAvoidmanufacturing cost

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSEase of manufacture

Solution Approach 1:

The patent segments the grooming tool into two distinct portions: the pet engageable portion made of high-tensile polymeric material for durability and effective hair removal, and the handle portion made of less expensive polymeric material. This segmentation allows each portion to be manufactured from the most cost-effective material suitable for its specific function, resolving the contradiction between durability and manufacturing cost.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The patent employs composite materials by combining two different polymeric materials in a single tool structure. The high-tensile polymeric material is used specifically for the pet engageable portion where durability is critical, while a less expensive polymeric material is used for the handle portion, achieving an optimal balance between overall tool reliability and manufacturing cost.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #40Composite materials

3Ease of manufacture

If the handle portion is made of less expensive polymeric material, then manufacturing cost is reduced, but structural strength may be compromised

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvemanufacturing costVSAvoidhandle strength

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of manufactureVSStrength

Solution Approach 1:

The patent segments the tool such that the handle portion can be manufactured from less expensive polymeric material without compromising overall structural integrity, as the critical load-bearing and functional stresses are concentrated in the pet engageable portion made of high-tensile material. The handle's primary function is ergonomic and structural support rather than direct hair manipulation, allowing cost reduction.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

4Productivity

If acute edges and intersecting surfaces are formed on tooth surfaces, then hair channeling effectiveness is improved, but manufacturing complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvehair removal effectivenessVSAvoidtooth geometry complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

ProductivityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent modifies the geometric parameters of the tooth surfaces by forming acute edges and intersecting surfaces at specific angles during the injection molding process. These parameter changes create the necessary hair channeling effect while remaining compatible with standard manufacturing techniques, thus improving hair removal effectiveness without excessively increasing manufacturing complexity.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

Solution Approach 2:

The patent replaces complex mechanical post-processing operations with an injection molding process that directly forms the acute edges and intersecting surfaces as integral features of the tooth structure. This substitution eliminates the need for separate machining or shaping steps, thereby improving hair channeling effectiveness while avoiding the additional complexity and cost of post-manufacturing operations.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

Data Source

PatentUS7717067B2Pet grooming tool and method of manufacturing pet grooming tools

Publication Date: 2010.05.18 SPECTRUM BRANDS INC

AI summary

A pet grooming tool comprises a pet engageable portion formed of polymeric material and having a plurality of teeth. A method of forming a pet grooming tool comprises molding a pet engageable portion out of a first polymeric material and thereafter over-molding a handle portion to the pet engageable portion.