Ergonomic handle for grooming brush

[0002] This application is a continuation of U.S. application Ser. No. 09/829,261, filed Apr. 9, 2001, which is a continuation of U.S. application Ser. No. 09/218,252 filed Dec. 21, 1998, now U.S. Pat. No. 6,213,055.

[0003] 1. Field of the Invention

[0004] The present invention relates in general to hand held tools and relates in particular to a brush having an ergonomic handle formed with a single saddle-shaped finger grip.

[0005] 2. Description of Prior Developments

[0006] Grooming brushes have been available in various shapes and sizes for carrying out different grooming functions. In some cases, it is desirable to be able to reverse one's grip on a grooming brush to facilitate a backhanded brush stroke. If one's grip is weak, such a backhanded stroke is difficult. Moreover, even a forehanded brush stroke can be difficult or even impossible for someone suffering from arthritis, carpal tunnel syndrome, hand injury or some other gripping infirmity.

[0007] Accordingly, a need exists for a grooming brush which can be held with either a forehand or backhand grip and which requires a minimum of strength and dexterity to grip and stroke.

[0008] A further need exists for such a brush which can be operated primarily with a single gripping finger with either a forehand or backhand grip.

[0009] Yet another need exists for a grooming brush which has a high friction gripping surface which is contoured to enable one to securely grip the handle surface with a minimum of force.

[0010] Still another need exists for a grooming brush which reduces the likelihood of snagging due to sharp corners or other projections unrelated to grooming bristles or teeth.

[0011] The present invention has been developed to fulfill the needs noted above and therefore has as an object the provision of a grooming brush having a high friction gripping surface contoured to require a minimum of strength and dexterity to grip and stroke.

[0012] Another object of the invention is the provision of a grooming brush which can be held and used with one or more fingers with both a forehand and a backhand grip.

[0013] Another object of the invention is the provision of a grooming brush having virtually no sharp corners so as to avoid snagging during brushing.

[0014] Yet another object of the invention is the provision of a grooming brush having an ergonomic handle provided with a saddle portion which centers and anchors one's little or pinky finger in a comfortable orientation to allow brushing with a minimum of effort and gripping strength.

[0015] Still another object of the invention is the provision of a grooming brush having a rigid handle fitted with a high friction gripping sheath.

[0016] These and other objects are met by the present invention which is directed to a grooming brush having an ergonomic handle contoured to allow gripping and use with a minimum of strength and dexterity. A high friction gripping surface in the form of a molded rubber sleeve or sheath is fitted over a complimentary shaped handle. The handle and sheath define a contoured gripping surface for centering and anchoring one's pinky finger in a backhand grip and for centering and anchoring one's index finer in a forehand grip.

[0017] The top of the handle has a mildly arched surface for comfortably matching a user's palm. The bottom of the handle includes a saddle-shaped portion which positively seats a single finger and separates that finger from the rest of a user's gripped or ungripped fingers. A brush head is attached to the handle for supporting any number of various bristles or teeth. The brush head is devoid of sharp corners to avoid snagging or nicking a pet or other subject being groomed. Rounded brush head contours are particularly appreciated when a pet is brushed around its rear legs and around and beneath its tail.

[0018] The aforementioned objects, features and advantages of the invention will, in part, be pointed out with particularity, and will, in part, become obvious from the following more detailed description of the invention, taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, which form an integral part thereof.

[0019] In the drawings:

[0020] FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a pet grooming brush constructed in accordance with a first embodiment of the invention;

[0021] FIG. 2 is a perspective view of a grooming brush constructed in accordance with a second embodiment of the invention;

[0022] FIG. 3 is a top view of a rubber sheath which is fitted over the handles of FIGS. 1 and 2;

[0023] FIG. 4 is a side elevation view of the sheath of FIG. 3;

[0024] FIG. 5 is a front or left end view of the sheath of FIG. 4;

[0025] FIG. 6 is a rear or right end view of the sheath of FIG. 4;

[0026] FIG. 7 is a bottom view of the sheath of FIG. 3;

[0027] FIG. 8 is a view of the brush of FIG. 1 with the rubber sleeve of FIG. 3 removed from the handle;

[0028] FIG. 9 is a perspective view of the brush of FIG. 1 held in a forehand grip; and

[0029] FIG. 10 is a perspective view of the brush of FIG. 2 held in a backhand grip.

[0030] In the various views of the drawings, like reference characters designate like or similar parts.

[0031] The present invention will now be described in conjunction with the drawings, beginning with FIG. 1 which shows a grooming brush 10 constructed in accordance with the invention. Brush 10 is of the type or style known as a Coleman brush and includes an axially or longitudinally extending elongated handle 12 which is connected to a brush head 14 via a transition or neck portion 16. Brush 10 is shown with a single row of rigid teeth 18 extending downwardly from the brush head 14. Of course, any type of teeth or bristles arranged in virtually any pattern can be provided on brush head 14 in a known fashion.

[0032] Handle 12 is formed with an ergonomic grip-conforming contour that allows a user to securely hold handle 12 with a minimum of strength and dexterity. In fact, all that is required to hold handle 12 and to stroke brush 10 is a single finger and one's palm, as discussed below.

[0033] The top portion 20 of handle 12 defines a longitudinally-extending arched surface 22 beginning at neck portion 16, arching mildly upwardly and rearwardly to a central apex 24 and then arching mildly downwardly to a rounded, somewhat hemispherical or cup-shaped end portion 26. The lower portion 28 of handle 12 includes a circumferentially-extending U-shaped grooved band or contour 30 which extends over about the lower half of the handle adjacent the neck portion 16.

[0034] The U-shaped contour 30 is also arched longitudinally from the neck portion 16 rearwardly to a hump-shaped ridge 32 which extends circumferentially along the lower half of the handle 12. This longitudinally arched portion 34 together with the U-shaped contour defines a compound arch on the lower half of the handle thereby forming a three dimensional saddle-shaped contour 36 extending axially and circumferentially along the underside of handle 12.

[0035] It can be appreciated that the saddle contour 36 forms a comfortable gripping recess for guiding and holding one of a user's fingers securely therein. Ridge 32 prevents a user's finger from slipping longitudinally (axially) rearward from the saddle contour 36 when the brush is pulled rearward during grooming. In this manner, saddle contour 36 and ridge 32 provide a trigger-type finger grip.

[0036] The lower portion 28 of the handle 12 defines a second longitudinally arched portion 38 which extends upwardly and rearwardly in a mild curve from ridge 32 to the rounded dome-shaped end portion 26. This second arched portion 38 provides a comfortable gripping surface for a user's middle, ring and pinky fingers when the brush is used in a normal forehanded grip. Arched portion 38 is preferably at least two, three, four or more times the length of the saddle portion 36. In the example of FIG. 1, arched portion 38 is about three times the length of saddle portion 36.

[0037] Additional details of handle 12 are shown in FIGS. 3 through 7 wherein a soft pliable rubber sleeve 40 is seen to be shaped to closely match the surface contours of the plastic molded handle 12 of FIGS. 1, 2 and 8. Sleeve 40 is resiliently stretched over the handle 12 of FIG. 8 to construct the handle 12 of FIG. 1. Adhesives or fasteners may be used to hold and fix the sleeve on the handle.

[0038] As seen in FIG. 8, handle 12 of FIG. 1 may be molded as a solid one-piece molding with or without a series of longitudinally-spaced arch-shaped slots 42 formed along the upper or top portion 20 and the lower or bottom portion 28 of handle 12. If slots 42 are formed in handle 12, a central transverse rib 44 is molded centrally between the upper and lower slots 42. Slots 42 provide a lighter weight and more economical handle by reducing the volume of plastic in the handle.

[0039] Referring again to FIGS. 3 through 7 and 8, sleeve 40 and handle 12 have a relatively large height and width along saddle portion 36. The sleeve extends from an open, substantially circular mouth 46 rearwardly to the hump-shaped ridge 32. As the sleeve and handle extend rearwardly from the ridge 32, the width of the sleeve tapers symmetrically inwardly from side to side as seen in FIGS. 3 and 7 and the height of the sleeve and handle tapers symmetrically inwardly toward end portion 26.

[0040] In this manner, ridge 32 and saddle 36 form a trigger type grip with the tapering second arched portion 38 on the underside of the handle and sleeve allowing one's fingers to wrap substantially completely around the handle, if desired. This type of forehand grip is illustrated in FIG. 9. It is also possible to comfortably and securely hold handle 12 with a backhand grip as shown in FIG. 10.

[0041] With the forehand grip of FIG. 9, an index finger 50 is aligned and held within the saddle portion 36 and with the backhand grip of FIG. 10, a pinky finger 52 is held within the saddle portion 36. In each case, only one finger is actually needed to hold handle 12 securely within and against one's palm, i.e., the finger held within the saddle portion 36. The remaining fingers can provide additional gripping force, but this is generally not required.

[0042] Referring again to FIG. 1, it is seen that the neck portion 16 of brush 10 includes a vertical end wall 54 from which extends a pair of vertical side walls 56. Side walls 56 form a strong reinforcement and interconnection between neck portion 16 and brush head 14. Walls 56 extend completely around the flat planar top portion 58 of brush head 14 and join one another along the leading edge of the brush head. Teeth 18 may be molded within a transverse strengthening and support rib 60 formed on the bottom of brush head 14.

[0043] It should be noted that the peripheral edge 62 of brush head 14 defines smooth rounded side edges 64 which resist snarling, entangling and nicking of a subject being groomed. In fact, the brush 10 is substantially free of sharp comers and edges, other than those formed by the bristles or teeth 18.

[0044] A second embodiment of the invention is shown in FIGS. 2 and 10 in the form of a slicker brush with fine wire teeth 18 arranged in a round or oval pattern. In this construction, handle 12 is substantially identical to handle 12 of FIG. 1. However, the transition or neck portion 16 has an extended or elongated vertical end wall 54 and vertically elongated side walls 56. Brush head 14 is substantially circular or oval rather than somewhat triangular as in FIG. 1. This rounded shape of the head is particularly useful for a slicker brush as it makes it easy to brush around a pet's legs and tail and has no sharp edges which can hurt a pet.

[0045] In each embodiment, the sidewalls 56 together with end wall 54 form a raised closed-loop wall extending upwardly around the top portion 58 of brush head 14. This looped wall adds strength and rigidity to the transition portion 16 and brush head 14. When the brush head 14 is laid flat on a horizontal surface, the transversely-extending vertical wall 54 vertically offsets the handle 12 from the head 14. This allows a groomer to stroke evenly along a flat surface with all bristles being used. The offset provides space for the groomer's fingers between the handle and grooming surface, such as a pet's body, and further provides additional leverage to the handle.

[0046] There has been disclosed heretofore the best embodiment of the invention presently contemplated. However, it is to be understood that various changes and modifications may be made thereto without departing from the spirit of the invention.