CA2717598A1 - Scoop for collecting and disposing of refuse - Google Patents

Scoop for collecting and disposing of refuse Download PDF

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Publication number
CA2717598A1
CA2717598A1 CA 2717598 CA2717598A CA2717598A1 CA 2717598 A1 CA2717598 A1 CA 2717598A1 CA 2717598 CA2717598 CA 2717598 CA 2717598 A CA2717598 A CA 2717598A CA 2717598 A1 CA2717598 A1 CA 2717598A1
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CA
Canada
Prior art keywords
handle
scoop
bottom wall
refuse
axis
Prior art date
Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
Abandoned
Application number
CA 2717598
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French (fr)
Inventor
Richard Heikkinen
Current Assignee (The listed assignees may be inaccurate. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation or warranty as to the accuracy of the list.)
Individual
Original Assignee
Individual
Priority date (The priority date is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the date listed.)
Filing date
Publication date
Application filed by Individual filed Critical Individual
Publication of CA2717598A1 publication Critical patent/CA2717598A1/en
Abandoned legal-status Critical Current

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Abstract

A scoop useful in picking up animal refuse, such as fecal material is disclosed. The scoop includes a unitary blade having a bottom wall and a sidewall extending from the bottom wall, the bottom wall and the sidewall defining a receptacle for receiving refuse.
The unitary blade further has a handle coupling and an axis. An elongated handle is attached the handle coupling and extends along the axis. The axis has angle between 45-degrees and 60-degrees in relation to the bottom wall. In other embodiments, the blade is made of a metal material, such as aluminum alloy. In other embodiments, the handle is flexible. In other embodiments, the handle is comprised of connected handle segments.
Other embodiments are also disclosed.

Description

SCOOP FOR COLLECTING AND DISPOSING OF REFUSE
FIELD OF THE INVENTION

[001] The present invention relates generally to tools or implements for picking up litter or refuse from a surface, and more particularly, relating to a hand held and operated scoop for picking up animal refuse from a lawn or other surface.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[002] The collection and disposal of animal refuse, particularly that refuse generated by pets is a concern to a hygienic environment. For example, dogs routinely deposit fecal material in the owner's yard or dog run and in public areas when the animal is walked or permitted to roam free.
[003] Many communities and public parks have established regulations that require a pet owner to collect and remove fecal material deposited by their animal to prevent unsanitary conditions. Many people find the collection of animal fecal material to be unpleasant, but it may present health concerns when it is not collected regularly or collected properly. Many people find it desirable to collect animal fecal material while standing up and keeping at an arms length or more to prevent one's face from becoming close to the material.
[004] Numerous devices have been devised for picking up animal refuse, such as animal fecal material. Heretofore, many of these devices have not been widely accepted and used for reasons including ease of use, durability, cost, complexity, and manufacturability. Accordingly, there is a need for a device of simple design and construction for the picking up animal refuse that overcomes the drawbacks of prior devices. Disposal is easily accomplished to a separate container and need not be incorporated into the device.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[005] The preferred embodiments of the present invention addresses this need by providing a scoop that is easy to use, is durable, low cost and simple to manufacture.
[006] To achieve these and other advantages, in general, in one aspect, a scoop for the collection and disposal of refuse is provided. The scoop includes a unitary blade having a bottom wall and a sidewall extending in a continuous curvature from the bottom wall, the bottom wall and the sidewall defining a receptacle for receiving refuse. The unitary blade further has a handle coupling and an axis. An elongated handle is attached the handle coupling and extends along the axis. The axis has angle between 45-degrees and 60-degrees in relation to the bottom wall.

[0071 In general, in another aspect, a scoop for the collection and disposal of refuse is provided. The scoop includes a unitary blade of a metal material. The unitary blade has an arcuate shaped bottom wall and a sidewall extending from the bottom wall. The bottom wall and the sidewall together define a receptacle for receiving refuse. The unitary blade further has a handle coupling at a back portion of the sidewall and an axis. The handle coupling has a threaded bore to which a threaded end an elongated handle of two or more interconnected handle segments is threadable received. The elongated handle extends along the axis, and the axis has angle between 45-degrees and 60-degrees in relation to the bottom wall.

[0081 There has thus been outlined, rather broadly, the more important features of the invention in order that the detailed description thereof that follows may be better understood and in order that the present contribution to the art may be better appreciated.

[0091 Numerous objects, features and advantages of the present invention will be readily apparent to those of ordinary skill in the art upon a reading of the following detailed description of presently preferred, but nonetheless illustrative, embodiments of the present invention when taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings. The invention is capable of other embodiments and of being practiced and carried out in various ways. Also, it is to be understood that the phraseology and terminology employed herein are for the purpose of descriptions and should not be regarded as limiting.

[0010] As such, those skilled in the art will appreciate that the conception, upon which this disclosure is based, may readily be utilized as a basis for the designing of other structures, methods and systems for carrying out the several purposes of the present invention. It is important, therefore, that the claims be regarded as including such equivalent constructions insofar as they do not depart from the spirit and scope of the present invention.

[0011] For a better understanding of the invention, its operating advantages and the specific objects attained by its uses, reference should be had to the accompanying drawings and descriptive matter in which there is illustrated preferred embodiments of the invention.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0012] The following drawings illustrate by way of example and are included to provide further understanding of the invention for the purpose of illustrative discussion of the embodiments of the invention. No attempt is made to show structural details of the embodiments in more detail than is necessary for a fundamental understanding of the invention, the description taken with the drawings making apparent to those skilled in the art how the several forms of the invention may be embodied in practice. Identical reference numerals do not necessarily indicate an identical structure. Rather, the same reference numeral may be used to indicate a similar feature of a feature with similar functionality. In the drawings:

[0013] Figure 1 is a perspective view of a scoop constructed in accordance with the principles of the present invention;

[0014] Figure 2 is a partial side view of the scoop of FIG. 1;

[0015] Figure 3 is a perspective exploded view of a scoop constructed in accordance with the principles of the present invention;

[0016] Figure 4 is a partial front view of the scoop; and [0017] Figure 5 is a perspective view of alternative embodiment of the scoop.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0018] With reference now to the drawings, and in particular to FIGS. 1 through 5 thereof, a new scoop for the collection and disposal of refuse embodying the principles and concepts of the present invention and generally designated by the reference numeral 10 will be described. The scoop 10 is particularly useful in the collection and disposal of animal litter or refuse deposited on the ground.

[0019] As best illustrated in FIGS. 1 through 5, the scoop 10 generally comprises a unitary blade 12. The blade 12 includes an arcuate shaped bottom wall 14 and a sidewall 16 extending in a continuous curvature upwardly from the bottom wall.
The bottom wall 14 and the sidewall 16 together form a receptacle 18 for receiving refuse. The sidewall 16 tapers into a forward edge 20 of the bottom wall 14. Forward edge 20 permits the blade 12 to be slid below refuse for placement into receptacle 18. Refuse may be stored in the back area of the receptacle 18 allowing additional refuse to be picked up with forward edge 20.
Sidewall 16 of the blade 12 includes a back portion 22. A handle coupling 26 is disposed on the back portion 22 and generally extends upwardly and outwardly therefrom. The handle coupling 26 includes a threaded bore 28 for the attachment of a handle 30. Preferably, the blade 12 is constructed from a metal, such as, but not limited to aluminum alloy that can be highly polished to provide all interior and exterior surfaces with non-stick properties to prevent refuse from adhering, particularly to the bottom wall and sidewall. The blade 12 further includes an axis 32 that may be coaxial with threaded bore 28.

[0020] Handle 30 comprises two or more handle segments 34 and 36 joined together forming an elongated handle suitable for grasping by a human in a standing position. Handle segment 34 comprises a coupling 38 fixedly attached to end thereof. Handle segment 36 comprises a coupling 40 fixedly attached to a end thereof and configured to threadably receive coupling 38 to join the handle segments together. Handle segment 36 further comprises a coupling 42 at an end opposite of coupling 40. Coupling 42 is configured to be threadably received by threaded bore 28 to attach handle 30 to the blade 12. For packaging, shipping or storage, handle segments 34 and 36 may be disconnected from one another, and/or with blade 12.

[0021] In an embodiment, handle segments 34 and 36 are comprised of tubular polyvinyl chloride pipe (PVC). The use of PVC piping provides the handle 30 with a certain degree of flexibility which aids in the operation of the scoop 10 when
7 collecting refuse with blade 12. In embodiments, the handle 30 may have a length of between 36-inches and 48-inches depending on the volume of the blade 12. In embodiments, the blade 12 may have a 12-ounce, 24-ounce, 38-ounce, 58-ounce or 85-ounce volume as provided by the receptacle 18. In embodiments, the handle 30 may have a diameter of between 0.5-inches and 1.0-inches.

[0022] Handle 30 is connected to blade 12 via handle coupling 26 such that the handle extends substantially along axis 32. I have discovered axis 32 having an angle of between 45-degrees and 60-degrees in relation to the bottom wall 14 provides the best combination of leverage with the flexibility of handle 30 to an operator for digging below refuse and depositing the refuse in the receptacle 18.

[0023] The combination of the handle coupling 26 being disposed on the back portion 22 of the sidewall 16, the handle 30 extend along axis 32, and the curvature of the bottom wall 12 and sidewall 16 provides a unique leverage and ability to push and maneuver the forward edge 20 under refuse and into receptacle 18 with a simple wrist flip motion by a user.

[0024] In a non-limiting example, scoop 10 may be manufactured by modifying a conventional scoop blade by cutting off a portion of the scoop handle to leave a stub. A 45-degree PVC coupling is attached to the stub with an appropriate
8 adhesive, such as, but not limited to an epoxy adhesive. A handle stub is glued to the opposite end of the 45-degree PVC coupling. A male-slip to a threaded-female coupling is glued to the free end of the handle stub, thereby providing the handle coupling 26.

[0025] In another non-limiting example, the scoop 10 may be manufactured by casting the blade 12 of a metal material, such as, but not limited to aluminum alloy to have the desired handle coupling 26 comprising the threaded bore 28.
Alternatively, handle coupling 26 may comprise a male threaded stub 48 as shown in FIG. 4.

[0026] In another non-limiting example, the scoop 10 may be manufactured by casting the blade 12 of a metal material, such as, but not limited to aluminum alloy to have desired stub of a dimension suitable for the attachment of a PVC
coupling.

[0027] In embodiments, it is contemplated the blade 12 could be manufactured from other materials, such as, but not limited to plastics by injection molding.
The blade 12 could be treated to have non-stick surfaces.

[0028] While the above description has been made in relation to the collection of animal refuse, the scoop 10 of the invention can be utilized in the collection of other
9 forms of waste, litter, refuse or the like. In one example, the scoop 10 is particularly useful for collecting tar balls that may accumulate on beaches.
The tars balls may come from ship ballast, oil spills at offshore installations or from natural seeps on the ocean flow. Tar balls create an environmental hazard for all life in the intertidal zone including humans using the beach. The scoop 10 of the present invention provides an effective means for collecting and removing the tar balls from beaches.

[0029] A number of embodiments of the present invention have been described.
Nevertheless, it will be understood that various modifications may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention. Accordingly, other embodiments are within the scope of the following claims.

Claims (9)

What is claimed is:
1. A scoop for the collection and disposal of refuse, comprising:

a unitary blade having a bottom wall and a sidewall extending in a continuous curvature from said bottom wall, said bottom wall and said sidewall defining a receptacle for receiving refuse, said unitary blade further having a handle coupling and an axis;

an elongated handle attached said handle coupling and extending along said axis;
and wherein said axis has angle between 45-degrees and 60-degrees in relation to said bottom wall.
2. The scoop of claim 1, wherein said handle comprises two or more interconnected handle segments.
3. The scoop of claim 1, wherein said bottom wall is arcuate shaped.
4. The scoop of claim 1, wherein said handle coupling includes a threaded bore; and wherein said handle includes a threaded end portion that is threadable received by said threaded bore.
5. The scoop of claim 1, wherein said interior and exterior surfaces of said blade have non-stick properties.
6. The scoop of claim 1, wherein said unitary blade is cast from aluminum alloy.
7. The scoop of claim 1, wherein said handle coupling includes a threaded stub; and wherein said handle includes a threaded end portion that is threadable received by said threaded stub.
8. The scoop of claim 1, wherein said handle coupling is disposed at a back portion of said sidewall.
9. A scoop for the collection and disposal of refuse, comprising:

a unitary blade of a metal material, said unitary blade having a bottom wall and a sidewall extending in a continuous curvature from said bottom wall, said bottom wall and said sidewall together defining a receptacle for receiving refuse, said bottom wall is arcuate shaped, said unitary blade further having a handle coupling at a back portion of said sidewall and an axis, said handle coupling having a threaded bore;

an elongated handle of two or more interconnected handle segments, said elongated handle having a threaded end threadable received by said threaded bore; said elongated handle extending along said axis; and wherein said axis has angle between 45-degrees and 60-degrees in relation to said bottom wall.
CA 2717598 2010-09-12 2010-10-13 Scoop for collecting and disposing of refuse Abandoned CA2717598A1 (en)

Applications Claiming Priority (2)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
US88010610A 2010-09-12 2010-09-12
US12/880,106 2010-09-12

Publications (1)

Publication Number Publication Date
CA2717598A1 true CA2717598A1 (en) 2012-03-12

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Family Applications (1)

Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
CA 2717598 Abandoned CA2717598A1 (en) 2010-09-12 2010-10-13 Scoop for collecting and disposing of refuse

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CA (1) CA2717598A1 (en)

Cited By (2)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
CN106900568A (en) * 2017-02-28 2017-06-30 佛山市恒南微科技有限公司 A kind of novel livestock breeding room removes excrement device
CN112586162A (en) * 2020-12-31 2021-04-02 王彦利 Device for intelligently planting flowers by using expired milk

Cited By (2)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
CN106900568A (en) * 2017-02-28 2017-06-30 佛山市恒南微科技有限公司 A kind of novel livestock breeding room removes excrement device
CN112586162A (en) * 2020-12-31 2021-04-02 王彦利 Device for intelligently planting flowers by using expired milk

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EEER Examination request
FZDE Dead

Effective date: 20131015