GB2198347A

GB2198347A - Scoop device

Info

Publication number: GB2198347A
Application number: GB08725982A
Authority: GB
Inventors: John Derek Stafford Townshend
Original assignee: EARTH ANCHORS Ltd
Current assignee: EARTH ANCHORS Ltd
Priority date: 1986-11-07
Filing date: 1987-11-05
Publication date: 1988-06-15
Also published as: GB8725982D0

Abstract

A scoop device, for removing material from the ground, comprises a tubular shaft handle (1) and a length (12) of stiff or springy material, anchored in the tubular shaft and arranged to retract into the shaft and to protrude from the shaft and be formed into a loop frame to receive and support the open mouth of a disposable bag (16). The shaft extension (3) has slot (19) adapted to receive a disposable card (18) for scooping the material from the ground. <IMAGE>

Description

SCOOP DEVICE This invention provides a scoop device for removing material from the ground, primarily but not exclusively for use in collecting dog faeces from public ground where people exercise dogs.

According to the present invention the scoop device comprises a tubular shaft handle and a length of stiff or springy material, anchored in the tubular shaft and movable: i) to retract into the shaft, or ii) to protrude from the shaft and be formed into a loop frame to receive and support the open mouth of a disposable bag.

In a preferred embodiment, the scoop device is provided with a shaft extension which interengages with the tubular shaft handle, when the loop frame is retracted, to form a walking stick convenient for use by someone exercising a dog. The shaft extension preferably provides the upper part and handle end of the walking stick and the tubular shaft scoop handle provides the lower part of the stick.

The shaft extension has means, such as a slot, which when separated from the tubular shaft will hold a disposable card, or the like, to serve as a pusher in cue nation with a scoop bag held by the loop frame.

Other features of the invention are included in the following description with reference, by way of example, to the accompanying drawings, in which: Fig. 1 is an elevation of a walking stick scoop device; on a larger scale: Fig. 2 is a fragmentary axial section of the interengagable ends, side by side, of a tubular shaft scoop device and shaft extension, a wire scoop loop being shown retracted, Fig. 3 is a fragmentary axial section of the tubular shaft scoop device with the scoop loop protruded, Fig. 4 is a fragmentary perspective view of the lower end of the shaft extension with a slot holding a pusher card, Fig. 5 is a perspective view of a disposable plastics or paper bag, Fig. 6 is a perspective view of the bag on the scoop loop, and Fig. 7 isan illustration of the scoop device in use.

Fig. 8 is a fragmentary axial section of a part of a second form of tubular shaft scoop device showing a band scoop loop of springy material in retracted position.

Fig. 9 is a fragmentary axial section of the tubular scoop device of Fig. 8 with a band of springy material protruded and formed into a loop.

As shown by the drawings, the walking stick of Figs. 1-7 comprises a tubular shaft 1, which forms the handle of the scoop device, having a ferrule 2 and engaged by its upper end with a shaft extension 3 which forms the upper part of the walking stick and has a handle 4.

The upper end of the tubular shaft 1 is swaged down in diameter to form a spigot 5 which fits into a lower end socket 6 of the shaft extension, which is also tubular or socketed for the purpose, and a retaining stud 7 on a hairpin spring 8 in the spigot 5 snaps into a hole 9 in the socket 6 when the shaft parts 1 and 3 are interengaged.

Long ends 10 and 11 of a spring wire loop 12 are slidably inserted into the tubular shaft handle 1 and each is formed into a transverse coil 13, 14 which, by abutment below the hairpin spring 8, limits the extent to which the loop 12 can be withdrawn from the shaft 1.

The flattened and retracted position of the loop is shown in Fig. 2 and the protruding and expanded position of the loop is shown in Fig. 3.

The wire loop ends 10 and 11 anchored in the shaft 1 are long enough to extend well into the shaft when the loop 10 is protruded (Fig.3) so as to provide the loop with resilient resistance against lateral deflection when in use as a scoop. The loop ends 10 and 11 may be splayed to bear against the inside of the wall of the a shaft 1 or a stabilising disc 10a may be provided.

Part way along one side, the wire of the loop 12 is wound into a coil 15, of one or more convolutions, in the plane of the loop. The coil 15 remains outside the shaft 10 when the loop is retracted, avoiding the local stress which would be produced by a U-bend, and also serves as a finger-piece for withdrawing the loop.

Fig. 5 shows a disposable plastics or paper bag 16 with an outwardly and downwardly turned cuff 17, which may be stiffened, to be passed through and outwardly over the loop 10 to form a scoop as shown by Fig. 6.

When the bag-covered bow of the loop 10 is pressed against the ground it conforms to the ground surface and enables dog faeces, or other materials, to be scooped into the bag 16 using as a pusher a disposable card 18 fitted into slots 19 in the wall of the lower end socket 6 of the shaft extension 3. The slots 19 need not be diametrally opposite but may be offset so that the card 18 must be curved, and thus stiffened, to fit in the slots 19.

After use, the card 18 may be entered into the bag 16, still held by the loop 12, and then pulled from the shaft 3 by the bag 16 being grasped externally and pulled from the loop. This inverts and straightens the bag cuff 17 so that its contaminated outer surface then presents the inside of the mouth of the bag which can be closed and secured, such as by a soft wire tie, for disposal.

The shaft 1 and 3 may be of metal tube or of wood, bamboo or malacca cane, suitably bored-out.

The scoop device of Figs 8 & 9 comprises the same elements as that of Figs. 1-7 save that the wire loop 12 is replaced by a springy metal band 20 having at its ends compressible plugs 21, 22.

Plug 21, by abutment against hairpin spring 8 limits the extent to which the band 20 can be withdrawn from the shaft 1. Plug 22 serves two purposes; when the band 20 is withdrawn into the shaft 1 the plug engages and closes the mouth of the spigot 5; when the band 20 is protruded it may be formed into a loop and the plug 22 again engages the spigot 5, (though in a reversed orientation) to hold the band 20 against retraction.

The above examples refer only to scoop loops formed by a band of springy material or of a wire. In fact any length of stiff or springy material that can be reversibly withdrawn into the handle, and on protrusion be formed into a frame, may be used without departing from the invention.

Claims

CLAIMS:

1. A scoop device, for removing material from the ground, comprising a tubular shaft handle and a length of stiff or springy material, anchored in the tubular shaft and movable: i) to retract into the shaft, or ii) to protrude from the shaft and be formed into a loop frame to receive and support the open mouth of a disposable bag.

2. A scoop device according to claim 1 in combination with a shaft extension which interengages with the tubular shaft handle when the length of stiff or springy material is retracted.

3. A scoop device combination according to claim 2, in which the tubular shaft handle and the shaft extension when interengaged form a walking stick.

4. A scoop device combination according to claim 3, in which the shaft extension-provides the upper part and handle end of the walking stick and the tubular shaft handle of the scoop provides the lower part of the walking stick.

5. A scoop device combination according to claim 2, 3 or 4, in which the shaft extension has means, such as a slot, which when separated from the tubular shaft will hold a disposable card, or the like, to serve as a pusher in conjunction with a scoop bag held by the loop frame.

6. A scoop device according to any foregoing claim, in which the length of stiff or springy material is in the form of a wire, has part way along one side a closed small coil, of one or more convolutions, which remains protruding from the tubular shaft when the wire is retracted, reduces local bending stress of the wire, and serves as a finger piece for withdrawing the wire from the tubular shaft.

7. A scoop device as claimed in any of claims 1-5 in which the length of stiff or springy material is in the form of a band; the band having a pair of plugs at either end; one plug serving to limit the extent to which the band can be withdrawn from the tubular shaft; the other plug serving: i) to close the end of the tubular shaft when the band is withdrawn into the tubular shaft; and ii) to close the end of the tubular shaft and restrain the band against retraction when protruded to form a loop frame.

8. For use in combination with a scoop according to any foregoing claim, a disposable bag of which the border of the mouth is outwardly and downwardly turned to form a cuff to engage outwardly over and cover the opened loop frame of the scoop.

9. A scoop device, shaft extension, walking stick or disposable bag as shown by the accompanying drawings and described with reference thereto.