AU2003100783A4 - A device for animal faeces - Google Patents

Description

AUSTRALIA

Patents Act 1990 COMPLETE SPECIFICATION INNOVATION PATENT Applicant: TERRY HORE Invention Title: A DEVICE FOR ANIMAL FAECES The following statement is a full description of this invention, including the best method of performing it known to us: 2 A DEVICE FOR ANIMAL FAECES FIELD OF THE INVENTION The present invention relates to a device suitable for picking up and carrying animal faeces such as dog faeces.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION Expectations of the general community require responsible pet owners to clean up and removing animal faeces deposited by a pet in public places. This responsibility typically involves a pet owner carrying a plastic bag while walking their pet and using it to pick up, carry and wrap faeces before depositing it in a public disposal bin. In particular, a pet owner normally picks up their pet's faeces by placing a hand on an outside wall of the bag and turning the bag inside-out such that the faeces can be picked up by their fingers through the walls of the bag and then wrapped in the plastic bag.

However, a problem with this approach is that picking up faeces using ones finger through a plastic bag can be unhygienic. In addition, a public disposal bin may not be conveniently located and even if a bin is located nearby, it may not be emptied and cleaned on a regular basis to enable it to be used for the disposal of animal faeces.

It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide an improved device suitable for picking up and carrying animal faeces.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION According to the present invention there is provided a device for picking up and carrying animal faeces, the device including: an outer rigid housing able to be carried by a person, the housing defining a chamber and having a lid that can be moved to open and close the chamber; and 3 a hand held digging implement for picking up animal faeces; wherein the digging implement and faeces can be contained within the chamber.

In use, a pet owner can conveniently carry the device while walking their pet and when required, the lid can be opened and the digging implement, stored in the housing, can be used to pick up and place the faeces directly into the chamber or into a container such a plastic bad which can then be placed in the chamber. The device containing the faeces can then be carried without risk of spillage until an appropriate disposal bin is located.

It is preferred that the lid be detachable from the housing and that the digging implement be provided by a blade that is integrally connected to the inside of the lid. Several advantages are provided by this preferred aspect of the present invention including: firstly, the digging implement is less likely to be lost; and secondly, the outside of the lid forms a handle of the digging implement and is conveniently positioned for maintaining in a clean condition.

If needed, a further handle may be fitted to the outside of the lid for use while picking up faeces and opening or closing the lid.

It is preferred that the lid seal the chamber when closed. It is even more preferred that the lid be screw threadably fitted to the housing.

It is preferred that the housing have a D-shaped handle fitted thereto and/or a strap attached to opposite ends of the housing that can be placed over a person should for carrying the device. It is also preferred that the strap be adjustable in length.

It is preferred that the housing be construction of materials that are impervious to odours. It is even more preferred that the housing be constructed from PVC piping and fittings.

4 DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENT A preferred embodiment of the present invention will now be described with reference to Figure i.

As can be seen, the device includes an elongated cylindrical housing 10 and a detachable lid 11. Both the housing 10 and lid 11 are made from rigid polyvinylchoride (PVC) piping and fittings that are impervious to odours.

PVC material is also well suited because it is readily cleaned with soap and water.

The housing 10 defines a chamber which can be opened and closed by detaching the lid 11. The lid 11 is connected by means of screw threaded engagement to the housing 10 and includes a sealing washer, on shown in Figure 1, on the inside of the lid 11 for forming a seal between the lid 11 and the housing 10 when the lid 11 is screwed onto the housing 10 in a closed position.

Integrally connected and/or mounted to the inside face of the lid 11 is a blade 12 for picking up faeces such that the lid 11 and blade 12 form a hand held digging implement. When the lid 11 is closed, the blade 12 is received by, and stored in, the chamber of the housing Although not seen in the Figure 1, a round handle or knob may also be fitted to the outside of the lid 11 to assist in picking up faeces and opening and closing the lid 11.

To enable the device to be easily carried an adjustable nylon shoulder strap 13 is fitted to opposite ends of the housing via stainless steel ring fittings 14.

In addition, a D-shaped handle 15 made from stainless steel or PVC is also fitted to the side of the housing In use, the lid 11 can be unscrewed from the housing 10 by hand and the blade 12 used to scoop or pickup faecal deposits. Faeces pick up .on the blade may be placed directly onto the chamber of the housing 10 or placed in a container, not shown in Figure 1, such as a disposable plastic bag. The plastic bag can then be placed in the chamber and sealed by closed the lid 11.

5 It will be understood by a person skilled in the art of the present invention that modifications may be made to the invention without departing from the spirit and scope of the present invention.

For example, it is possible that the hand held digging implement may be a separate component rather than integrally connected to the lid as shown in Figure i.

Another example is that the device may be constructed from any suitable material and the housing of the device may for instance be an integrally molded plastic structure.

Claims (5)

1. A device for picking up and carrying animal faeces, the device including: an outer rigid housing able to be carried by a person, the housing defining a chamber and having a lid that can be moved to open and close the chamber; and a hand held digging implement for picking up animal faeces; wherein the digging implement and faeces can be contained within the chamber.

2. The device according to claim 1, wherein the lid is detachable from the housing and the digging implement is a blade or alike item for digging that is mounted to the inside of the lid.

3. The device according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the lid is screw threadably attached to the housing.

4. The device according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the housing has a D-shaped handle fitted thereto and/or a strap attached thereto for carrying the device.

5. A device for picking up and carrying animal faeces substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying figure. I