OBJECT OF THE INVENTION

The present invention can be included in the field of breeding and keeping animals, in particular, in the field of cleaning animals with brushes.

Specifically, the object of the invention is a combing brush that enables ectoparasites, such as fleas, lice and ticks affecting animals and humans, to be trapped. BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Most brushes used to separate fleas and other ectoparasites tend to facilitate their escape during the use process of the device, due to the noise, abrupt mechanical movement produced or the direction of the air applied with these devices. These operating modes could warn the ectoparasites of the danger and encourage them to abandon the host and remain on other surfaces that lead to the contamination of other environments, organisms and even the same environment. In the case of humans, there is a tendency to use only a comb in most cases, and the captured ectoparasites and nits are placed on an open surface. Moreover, chemical substances that may be harmful to health are commonly used.

The current solutions add more features to these brushes, such as distributing liquids for pharmaceutical and hair cleansing and care purposes. All these applications are beneficial to an animal; however, the use thereof to kill the ectoparasites due to the effects of chemical compounds, in addition to endangering the health of the animal, would endanger the health of children or other people. The invention herein proposed is a simple brush that does not involve the use of sophisticated systems and enables the living ectoparasites to be captured without endangering the health of any individual. Furthermore, the trapped ectoparasites could be used for cultivation and/or research.

DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to an ectoparasite collecting brush which enables the ectoparasites to be separated from the fur of an animal and leads to moving or pushing them towards a collection system that has an inner compartment with adhesive tape to which said ectoparasites stick when they jump, move or are dragged by the bristles of the brush oriented in a direction that favors the entry of the ectoparasites into the collection chamber. The use of the adhesive tape is optional.

At the time when a large number of specimens is accumulated, or when the user so desires, the tape can be removed and the ectoparasites can be used for the purposes of research, cultivation, food for other organisms or another application. Moreover, the user can decide to apply an insecticide to kill these ectoparasites in a place that does not affect the health of anyone.

Therefore, the first object of the invention is an ectoparasite collecting brush characterized in that it comprises:

- a handle,

- a brush head connected to the handle comprising:

o rows of bristles located on the front head surface of the brush, the bristles being tilted with respect to the front head surface toward the handle,

o openings located under the rows of bristles, wherein said openings are aligned with the direction of the rows of bristles; o a collection chamber in the rear part of the head comprising: ■ a transparent protective lid articulated by a hinge;

■ tilted planes aligned with the direction of the brush bristles and located after the openings of the brush head and turned towards the inside of the collection chamber.

In a preferred embodiment, the collection chamber further comprises an adhesive tape located on the inner side of the transparent lid and facing the inside of the collection chamber.

In another preferred embodiment, the bristles are tilted no more than 45° with respect to the front surface of the head.

The brush of the present invention, as described above, enables ectoparasites to be trapped in cases where there is no desire to use liquids, medications or pesticides, with the aim of removing them from animals and/or using the captured organisms for the purposes of research, cultivation or a source of food for other organisms. Moreover, the brush can be used to remove lice and nits from humans and collect said ectoparasites in a container. It has the advantage that it also does not put the health of the animal or human at risk of poisoning due to the improper use of insecticides or similar. DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

As a complement to the description being made, and for the purpose of helping to make the characteristics of the invention more readily understandable, in accordance with a preferred example of a practical embodiment thereof, said description is accompanied by a set of drawings constituting an integral part thereof which, by way of illustration and not limitation, represent the following:

FIG. 1 shows a complete view of the brush of the invention with the lid of the collection chamber open.

FIG. 2 shows a complete view of the brush of the invention with the lid of the collection chamber closed.

FIG. 3 shows a front view of the comb of the invention in which the rows of bristles are shown.

FIG. 4 shows a detailed side view of the brushes and tilted planes of the invention.

PREFERRED EMBODIMENT OF THE INVENTION

A preferred embodiment of the invention based on the figures provided is described below.

The figures are not shown to scale. The true dimensions for each of the components may vary according to the needs of the user. The most significant details of the collecting brush are shown so that a person with no expertise in the matter can clearly see the object.

FIG. 1 shows a view of the brush of the invention wherein the following elements can be seen: a grip handle (4), the adhesive tape (1 ) located on the transparent lid of the collection chamber, an upper rectangular opening (2) and a lower rectangular opening (3). There is a tilted plane on the side of these openings which extends the direction of installation of the bristles. The openings enable the front head surface of the brush to be connected to the collection chamber. A hinge (5) for controlling the closing or opening of the transparent lid of the collection chamber where the adhesive tape is found is also shown.

The reference (6) shows the inside of the transparent lid of the collection chamber. The reference (7) shows the inside of the ectoparasite collection chamber.

FIG. 2 shows the outer part of the transparent lid of the ectoparasite collection chamber. FIG. 3 shows a front view of the comb of the invention wherein the rows of lower bristles (9) and upper bristles (10) that are arranged on the front surface of the brush can be seen.

FIG. 4 shows a side view of the tilted plane (1 1 ) from the inside of the collection chamber. Moreover, it shows the opening (12) located under the row of bristles (13) with an inclination towards the handle and with respect to the front surface of the brush that does not exceed 45°.

The bristles of the brush come in contact with the fur of the animal and the brush is moved in the direction of the handle until the comb passes through all the hair and, when finished, the fleas are expected to jump from the base of the comb to the inside of the collection chamber and be trapped by the adhesive tape (up to around 60% or more fleas are trapped).