Animal husbandry – Exercise or amusement device – Climbing or claw scratching device
Reexamination Certificate
2000-10-27
2002-12-10
Jordan, Charles T. (Department: 3643)
Animal husbandry
Exercise or amusement device
Climbing or claw scratching device
Reexamination Certificate
active
06490996
ABSTRACT:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
This invention relates to pet animal maintenance and care equipment and apparatus, and more particularly to combined activated exercise and hygienic or physical care equipment for pets, particularly feline pets. Still more particularly, the invention relates to a combined cat activity or exercise device (e.g., scratching post) and claw-trimmer.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
Numerous devices have been proposed and offered in the past for providing entertainment or activities for pets and for exercising them, providing various appearance care, etc., and some such devices have attempted various combinations of these characteristics. For example, in previous U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,666,907 and 5,730,084, a device for cats was proposed which provided an abrasive at the bottom of a cat litter pan, on the assumption that the animal's natural scratching tendencies in using a litter pan would thus automatically work to smooth and shorten or at least dull its claws. A small number of other similar such efforts have also been proposed in the past, as shown, for example in U.S. Pat. No. 2,997,019, wherein an abrasive sheet is attached to a scratching post; however, it seems clear that such devices would have a minimal effect at best and would not actually shorten the claws very much, or take the place of trimming, if indeed actually operative for either intended purpose at all.
Nonetheless, the need for an effective such device continues unabated, and to an ever-increasing degree as the pet population steadily increases.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
The present invention provides a unique and effective solution for the above problem in the area of pet felines, particularly house cats, by providing a novel and unobvious claw-trimming device and in addition providing a unique way of utilizing such a device by mounting it upon an exercise apparatus, e.g., a cat scratching post, which cats naturally tend to use.
As a result, the invention provides a highly novel and unique combination apparatus which the animals naturally tend to use, enjoy, and which automatically trims their claws to a desired length. Further, in the broader aspects of the invention the novel trimming device can be used in other ways for achieving the same basic result, and its cutting member may be made variable or adjustable in nature so that the length of the resulting trimmed claw conforms to a predetermined size.
The foregoing major attributes and advantages of the invention will be better understood and appreciated after considering the following specification and drawings disclosing a preferred embodiment thereof.
REFERENCES:
patent: 205088 (1878-06-01), Hollman
patent: 490377 (1893-01-01), Trebbin
patent: 1163455 (1915-12-01), Randolph
patent: 1526986 (1925-02-01), Janz
patent: 2005817 (1935-06-01), Yoder
patent: 2467589 (1949-04-01), Johansson
patent: 2997019 (1961-08-01), Bryson
patent: 3845553 (1974-11-01), Fields
patent: 4253423 (1981-03-01), Kaplan
patent: 4802444 (1989-02-01), Markham et al.
patent: RE34352 (1993-08-01), Markham et al.
patent: 5564365 (1996-10-01), Kacic
patent: 5666907 (1997-09-01), Kacic
patent: D386839 (1997-11-01), Jennus
patent: 5730084 (1998-03-01), Kacic
Griles Bethany L
Jordan Charles T.
Price Heneveld Cooper DeWitt & Litton
LandOfFree
Cat scratch post with claw trimming device does not yet have a rating. At this time, there are no reviews or comments for this patent.
If you have personal experience with Cat scratch post with claw trimming device, we encourage you to share that experience with our LandOfFree.com community. Your opinion is very important and Cat scratch post with claw trimming device will most certainly appreciate the feedback.
Profile ID: LFUS-PAI-O-2969222