Grooming device

Abstract

The invention is an apparatus for grooming an animal having a brush head, the brush head having a plurality of bristles, each bristle having a midpoint and an endpoint, where the bristles are in general perpendicular orientation to the brush head, a cleaning plate, in general parallel orientation to the brush head, the cleaning plate able to move from a contracted to an extended position, the cleaning plate further having material removed to allow the bristles to protrude through the cleaning plate when it is in the retracted position; and a mechanism for extending and contracting the cleaning plate, wherein the cleaning plate has a bottom surface and the bottom surface does not extend past the bristle endpoint when the cleaning plate is in the extended position. In one embodiment, at least some bristles are wire, and in further embodiments the wire bristles have round coated tips.

1 . An apparatus for grooming an animal, comprising:
 a brush head, having a plurality of bristles, each bristle having an endpoint, where the bristles are in general perpendicular orientation to the brush head;   a cleaning plate, in general parallel orientation to the brush head, the cleaning plate able to move from a contracted to an extended position, the cleaning plate further having material removed to allow the bristles to protrude through the cleaning plate when it is in the retracted position; and   a mechanism for extending and contracting the cleaning plate,   wherein the cleaning plate has a bottom surface and the bottom surface does not extend past the bristle endpoint when the cleaning plate is in the extended position.   
     
     
         2 . The apparatus of  claim 1  wherein the bristles have a midpoint, and the bottom surface cleaning plate can be adjustably fixed at the midpoint. 
     
     
         3 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein at least some bristles are wire. 
     
     
         4 . The apparatus of  claim 3 , wherein the wire bristles have coated tips. 
     
     
         5 . An apparatus for grooming an animal, comprising:
 a brush head, having a plurality of bristles, each bristle having an endpoint, where the bristles are in general perpendicular orientation to the brush head;   a cleaning plate, in general parallel orientation to the brush head, the cleaning plate able to move from a contracted to an extended position, the cleaning plate further having material removed to allow the bristles to protrude through the cleaning plate when it is in the retracted position; and   a mechanism for extending and contracting the cleaning plate,   wherein the mechanism for extending and contracting the clean plate uses a lever mechanism.   
     
     
         6 . The apparatus of  claim 5  wherein the bristles have a midpoint, and the bottom surface cleaning plate can be adjustably fixed at the midpoint. 
     
     
         7 . The apparatus of  claim 5 , wherein at least some bristles are wire. 
     
     
         8 . The apparatus of  claim 7 , wherein the wire bristles have coated tips. 
     
     
         9 . The apparatus of  claim 5 , wherein the lever is disposed on the bottom of the handle. 
     
     
         10 . An apparatus for grooming an animal, comprising:
 a brush head, having a plurality of bristles, each bristle having an endpoint, where the bristles are in general perpendicular orientation to the brush head;   a cleaning plate, in general parallel orientation to the brush head, the cleaning plate able to move from a contracted to an extended position, the cleaning plate further having material removed to allow the bristles to protrude through the cleaning plate when it is in the retracted position; and   a mechanism for extending and contracting the cleaning plate,   wherein the brush head has a trimmer.   
     
     
         11 . The apparatus of  claim 10 , wherein the trimmer is removable. 
     
     
         12 . The apparatus of  claim 10  wherein the bristles have a midpoint, and the bottom surface cleaning plate can be adjustably fixed at the midpoint.