FURminator sued Mr. Laube's company in 2006 over the pet-grooming patents.

WSJ: A 'Comb on a Stick' Creates

Many of those tools are now part of his pet-grooming arsenal.

CNN: Pet grooming tools for a less hairy summer

An invention need not rely on advanced engineering to be innovative, says Michael Page, a San Francisco patent lawyer who isn't involved in the pet-grooming litigation.

WSJ: A 'Comb on a Stick' Creates

Furminator or fine-toothed comb: If your pet sheds heavily, consider regular grooming with a fine-toothed comb, particularly before bath time.

CNN: Pet grooming tools for a less hairy summer