WO2010068184A1

WO2010068184A1 - An accessory for cleaning dog paws and use of said accessory

Info

Publication number: WO2010068184A1
Application number: PCT/SI2008/000066
Authority: WO
Inventors: Ales Koncan
Original assignee: Ales Koncan
Priority date: 2008-12-12
Filing date: 2008-12-12
Publication date: 2010-06-17

Abstract

A tool of the invention for cleaning animal extremities, especially dog's paws is shaped as a hollow cylinder (10) having a multitude of protrusions (15) in the interior curved surface area (11) of the cylinder. The protrusions are preferably formed as cones radially reaching into the interior of the cylinder. The protrusions are arranged on the circumference of the curved surface area in equidistant groups (1), whereby the length of each group of protrusions amounts to at least one half of the height of the cylinder. The protrusions function as cleaning elements, as bristles in a brush, and each group of protrusions functions as a separate brush. The tool combines the properties of an accessory for care, a toy and a teaching aid.

Description

AN ACCESSORY FOR CLEANING DOG PAWS AND USE OF SAID ACCESSORY

Subject of the Invention

The subject of the invention is a tool or rather an accessory for cleaning animal extremities, preferably dog's paws. The field of art to which this invention refers is a tool - care of domestic animals, like dogs, cats, horses.

Technical Problem

A technical problem solved by the present invention is how to design such tool or rather accessory for the care of domestic animals, especially extremities, the structure of which functions as a multipurpose tool or rather an accessory and comprises in its structure a tool allowing for a simple cleaning of animal extremities, preferably dog's paws, a toy, and an accessory for breeding and socialisation of a dog, whereby it is designed in a way that the accessory is easy to maintain and clean.

Prior Art

The inventor is not acquainted with solutions that would integrally combine cleaning of dog's paws, a toy and a relationship - breeding and socialisation of a pet.

There are several accessories available on the market that successfully deal with each of said tasks individually. When an animal enters the interior of a room, most often various disposable or reusable mops or brushes are used. A large number of most variegated toys and teaching aids are available to help develop different skills of animals that are quite well suited for their purpose. However, all these solutions share one common disadvantage, namely they are used separately from each other and are used strictly for a certain purpose. A pet, especially a dog, learns that a cleaning accessory is used for its care, yet belongs to its master, whereas a toy, with which it develops its skills and plays, is its property. A dog herewith deepens its sense of ownership. It is not desirable for dogs to have a too strong feeling for ownership, since it may lead to unfavourable circumstances, e.g. a dog attacks a man, especially a child if he wants to have a look at the toy. It is therefore of utter importance that a dog gets socialised from its very early age in the sense that it shares objects with a man.

Solution to the Technical Problem

The described technical problem is solved by an accessory for cleaning animal extremities, especially dog's paws of the invention, said accessory being shaped as a hollow open cylinder having a multitude of protrusions in the internal surface of the curved surface area. Preferably, the protrusions are shaped as cones reaching radially into the interior of the cylinder. The protrusions are arranged on the circumference of the curved surface area in equidistant groups, with the length of each group of protrusions totalling at least one half of the cylinder height. The protrusions function as cleaning elements, like bristles in a brush, and each group of protrusions functions as an independent brush. The external surface of the curved surface area is free of protrusions; it is optionally shaped unevenly and has a degree of ruggedness to allow a good grip.

The cleaning accessory is made of plastic having adequate elastic properties allowing at least partial adaptation of the cylinder shape to an individual extremity, whereby the material must meet the requirements of manufacture of toys for domestic animals, especially dogs, and must be chewing proof.

The accessory of the invention is used as an accessory for cleaning animal extremities, when an animal that was outside enters a room. The lower part of an animal extremity is put into the accessory - cylinder and the shape of the cylinder is adapted to the shape of the extremity by force of a hand. Simultaneously, the accessory is moved up and down on the lower part of the extremity and in radial direction as well. The protrusions - bristles thus get between the hair and individual parts of a sole and remove impurities. The latter fall from the cylinder through the gaps between individual groups of bristles. Apart from care, this accessory is also used as an aid to control dog's sole, which is an indicator of a majority of dog's problems linked to health.

Due to its cylindrical shape and the size adapted to the size and age of a dog, this accessory is suitable and also a very interesting toy for an animal. The animal may roll it, grab it with its teeth, carry it around and catch in play as well.

Owing to its adapted size it can be used since the early days of a dog as an accessory for care and a toy. An owner and his animal share the same object from the very beginning, which accustoms the dog to shared ownership. A dog gets socialised and educated from its very first day on, which is a sure success.

The product is simple to use, it is handy and adequate to use both inside and outside, e.g. at home, in a clinic, in a car, when camping.

The described tool may be used for the care of extremities of various animals, like dogs, cats, horses.

The invention will now be described by way of an embodiment and the enclosed drawings, in which:

Fig. 1 shows an accessory for cleaning dog's paws in isometric projection, open from both sides;

Fig. 2 shows an accessory for cleaning dog's paws in isometric projection, with a cover

(bottom);

Fig. 3 shows an accessory for cleaning dog's paws in cross-section;

Fig. 4 shows an accessory for cleaning dog's paws, open (extended) cylinder with internally arranged components; Fig. 5 shows a schematic view of protrusions. A tool 100 for cleaning animal extremities, especially dog's paws is formed as a hollow cylinder 10 having on an internal surface 11 of the curved surface area protrusions 15 that are material locked with the curved surface area 11 of the cylinder 10, whereas the protrusions 15 are arranged on the circumference in equidistant groups 1 and each group 1 of protrusions 15 axially along the cylinder 10 extends over at least one half of the height of the cylinder 10. The protrusions 15 are preferably shaped as cones radially reaching into the interior of the cylinder 10. The exterior surface 13 of the curved surface area 11 of the cylinder 10 is free of protrusions 15, whereas the surface is shaped in a way to offer adequate support for a hand during use of the tool and is simultaneously dog friendly when playing and/or may be shaped in irregular elevations. The protrusions 15 function as cleaning elements, as bristles in a brush and so each group 1 of protrusions 15 functions as a separate brush.

The cylinder 10 may be superficially treated to get the shape of a dog's toy which basically derives from a cylinder. The cylinder 10 is open on both sides in the basic embodiment. It is also possible to have an embodiment (based on the use) in which one of the external open surfaces, basic surfaces of the cylinder is closed by a cover (bottom) 13, which is removable in an optionally known way or is fixed to the cylinder 10.

A further embodiment of the tool of the invention is a cylinder comprising in its interior a combination of brushes 1 having protrusions of different hardness and size and of absorbent elements 2, sponges, whereby the brushes 1 and the sponges 2 are arranged on the circumference alternately and parallel to the cylinder axis and the gap between them is intended to remove dirt particles. A tool of this type is suitable for cleaning wet extremities mostly, whereas the brushes help remove impurities and the absorbent elements absorb wetness.

The brushes 1 and sponges 2 are primarily made of plastic, whereas the brushes 1 and the protrusions 15 are material connected with the curved surface area 11 of the cylinder 10 and the absorbent elements 2 are fixed to the curved surface area 11 in an optionally known way, e.g. by gluing.

Primarily, the material, of which the cleaning tool for dog's paws is made, is plastic with adequate elastic properties that allow the shape of the tool to adapt to the extremity of an animal and its composition is adequate to plastic suitable for the manufacturing of toys for dogs or more generally animals.

The size of the tool for cleaning dog's paws is adapted to the size of dogs, i.e. the breed and age of dogs. Young dogs; small, middle size and large and adult dogs; small, middle size and large. Adequately, the starting size of the tool for a middle-sized adult dog is an 11 cm cylinder with an internal diameter of 6 cm. The dimensions of the cylinder height and internal diameter increase/decrease with the size of the dog and the dimensions of the tool for the cleaning of dog's paws are in proportion therewith. This means that a change in the diameter of the cylinder influences the change of the height of the cylinder and internally arranged components, i.e. brushes and absorbent elements. The size of said internal components is in proportion with the size of the tool, whereby the dimensions of the brushes 1 and the sponges 2 are in proportion. The arrangement of individual components depends on the variant (dry, wet). The patterns of arrangement of parts differ in applicability with respect to weather conditions (dry, wet).

The tool for the cleaning of dog's paws is used as follows: first calm down the dog, lift its paw to be cleaned and put the cleaning tool onto the bottom part of the paw. By gently moving the tool up and down and twisting it in both directions, a dog's paw is cleaned quickly and easily. Before re-used, the tool for cleaning dog's paws needs to be softened, kneated and thus freed from contained particles. The process is then repeated on other paws. Claims

Claims

1. Tool for the cleaning of animal extremities, especially dog's paws, characterized in that it is formed as a hollow cylinder (10), in the interior of which components (1, 2) are arranged parallel to the axis.

2. Tool as claimed in Claim 1, characterized in that it is formed as a hollow cylinder (10) opened on both sides having on an internal surface (11) of the curved surface area protrusions (15) that are material locked with the curved surface area (11) of the cylinder (10), whereas the protrusions (15) are arranged on the circumference in equidistant groups (1) and each group (1) of protrusions (15) axially along the cylinder (10) extends over at least one half of the height of the cylinder (10).

3. Tool as claimed in Claim 2, characterized in that the groups (1) of protrusions (15) are brushes (1).

4. Tool as claimed in Claims 2 and 3, characterized in that the protrusions (15) are preferably shaped as cones radially reaching into the interior of the cylinder (10).

5. Tool as claimed in any of the preceding Claims, characterized in that the cylinder (10) is closed at one side by a cover (13).

6. Tool as claimed in any of the preceding Claim, characterized in that in the interior of the cylinder (10) there are alternatively arranged brushes (1) formed as protrusions and absorbent elements (2).

7. Tool as claimed in any of the preceding Claim, characterized in that the tool is manufactured of plastic of adequate elastic properties.

8. Use of the tool described in any of the preceding Claim as a tool for care and cleaning of animal extremities, preferably of a dog.

9. Use of the tool described in any of the preceding Claim as a toy for an animal, preferably a dog.

10. Use of the tool described in any of the preceding Claim as a teaching aid for an animal, preferably a dog.