Pet Self-Grooming Pass-Through Tunnel

Abstract

Disclosed is a pet grooming device that allows a pet to groom itself by passing through an annular tunnel having a plurality of grooming elements disposed therewithin. The tube-shaped device comprises an elongated tunnel having a first and second opening with wire grooming bristles attached within its interior. The pet is able to walk through the opening and as the animal passes through the device wire bristles brush the pet's hair in the natural direction, from head to tail. The distance the animal must pass through while traversing the device ensures that the animal's fur is sufficiently engaged by the bristles to promote a thorough grooming with each pass through the device, while a pathway free of grooming elements is provided for the pet to walk through the tunnel with ease and less trepidation. A barrier crossing and stand alone embodiment are disclosed, along with a method of construction.

I claim: 
     
         1 ) A pass-through animal self-grooming device, comprising:
 a rigid cylindrical tunnel including an interior surface and an interior volume;   the interior surface including a plurality of elongated grooming elements disposed along a length thereof and pointed radially inwardly;   the interior volume sized and configured to receive an animal therethrough;   a pathway positioned along a lower portion of the interior surface of the rigid cylindrical tunnel, the pathway including a pair of walking paths devoid of the plurality of elongated grooming elements;   a strip of plurality of elongated grooming elements separating the pair of walking paths from one another; and   a rigid base platform for supporting the tunnel and providing a standalone assembly, the rigid base platform fixedly attached to the rigid cylindrical tunnel;   wherein the pair of walking paths are configured to allow a pet to walk through the interior volume of the rigid cylindrical tunnel such that the plurality of grooming elements contact a top side, a left side, a right side, and an underside of a pet as it traverses therethrough.   
     
     
         2 ) The pass-through animal self-grooming device of  claim 1 , wherein the interior volume is sized to receive a cat therethrough. 
     
     
         3 ) The pass-through animal self-grooming device of  claim 1 , wherein the strip of plurality of grooming elements comprises a length greater than a length of a remaining plurality of grooming elements, such that the strip of plurality of grooming elements can make contact with the underside of a pet as it traverses through the rigid cylindrical tunnel. 
     
     
         4 ) The pass-through animal self-grooming device of  claim 1 , wherein the rigid base platform comprises a high friction lower surface to prevent sliding movement of the device. 
     
     
         5 ) The pass-through animal self-grooming device of  claim 1 , wherein the pathway includes an abrasive material such that an animal may file down its claws as it passes therethrough.