GB2208588A

GB2208588A - Scoop for dog faeces

Info

Publication number: GB2208588A
Application number: GB8818520A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Paul Robert Booth; Trevor Wroughton
Original assignee: Boxfoldia Ltd
Current assignee: Boxfoldia Ltd
Priority date: 1987-08-14
Filing date: 1988-08-04
Publication date: 1989-04-12
Anticipated expiration: 2008-08-04
Also published as: GB8818520D0; GB2208588B; GB8719252D0

Abstract

A portable disposable container or scoop 1 comprises top 2 and bottom 3 wall panels and side wall panels 4, 5 thus providing a body which is closed at one end 6 thereof and which, at another end 7 thereof affords an open mouth 8. The body is foldable between flat, collapsed and erected conditions by virtue of a respective fold line 9, 10 provided along a mid region of each of the side wall panels 4, 5. The scoop is also provided with a closure flap which permits of covering the open mouth 8. A bag 23 can also be used. <IMAGE>

Description

Title: "Scoop" Description of Invention This invention relates to a portable, disposable container or scoop particularly but not exclusively for use in collecting and disposing of dog faeces from public places.

Known scoops for this purpose include simple flexible bags which require a separate scoop means such as a small shovel, and rigid scoops which are bulky and cannot conveniently be carried in a small bag or a pocket.

The object of the present invention is to provide an improved scoop which may more conveniently be carried in a small bag or a pocket.

According to the present invention we provide a scoop comprising top and bottom wall panels joined by side wall panels to form a body which is closed at one end and which, at another end, affords an open mouth, the body being foldable between flat collapsed and erected conditions by virtue of a respective fold line formed along the mid-region of each of the side wall panels, the scoop also being provided with closure means to permit of covering the open mouth.

Preferably, both the top and bottom wall panels are joined to adjacent wall panels along substantially the entire length of three edges to form a container which is effectively sealed along each of said three edges of each of said top and bottom wall panels.

The closed end of the body may be defined by the top and bottom wall panels meeting at an edge without a transverse end panel between them.

Preferably, side edges of the top and bottom wall panels and corresponding edges of the side wall panels are curved so that the side wall panels adopt a concave configuration which is self-supporting to hold the container in said erected condition.

The closure means may comprise a closure flap connected at an end edge of the top wall panel, which end edge is adjacent to the mouth, and connected by means of respective lateral gusset panels to anterior parts of each of the side wall panels.

Alternatively, the closure means may comprise a flexible bag, which is firmly attached to an outwardly facing surface of the body, which bag may be folded over the mouth of the scoop.

The bottom wall panel may be wider than the top wall panel, and the side wall panels may diverge towards the mouth.

Specific embodiments of the invention will now be described by way of example and with reference to the accompanying drawings wherein: FIGURE I is a perspective view of a first embodiment of the scoop according to the invention shown in the erected condition and with the closure means partially closed over the mouth, FIGURE 2 shows a further perspective view of the first embodiment of the scoop according to the invention, FIGURE 3 is a plan view of the underside of the scoop in a collapsed condition, FIGURE 4 is a plan view of a blank of the scoop in an unfolded condition which blank may be constructed into the scoop according to the invention and, FIGURE 5 is a perspective view of a second embodiment of the scoop according to the invention in the erected condition.

Referring to the drawings; the scoop of Figures I to 3 comprises a body I having a top wall panel 2, bottom wall panel 3, and side wall panels 4, 5 which body I is closed at one end 6 thereof and affords at an opposite end 7 thereof an open mouth 8.

The end 6 of the body I is defined by an edge which is formed by the meeting of the top and bottom wall panels 2, 3.

The side wall panels 4, 5 each afford in their mid-regions a respective longitudinal fold line 9, 10, about which lines folding of the side wall panels 4, 5 between folded and unfolded conditions, and hence folding of the body I between collapsed and erected conditions, is permitted.

The side edges 11 of the top and bottom wall panels 2, 3 which edges 11 provide the junctions between the top wall panel 2 and the side wall panels 4, 5, and between the bottom wall panel 3 and the side wall panels 4, 5, are curved so that the side wall panels 4, 5, when manipulated so as to be in the unfolded condition along the fold lines 9, 10, adopt a concave configuration which is self-supporting.

The top and bottom wall panels 2, 3 and side wall panels 4, 5 thus form a container or scoop having side edges 11 and end 6.

The top wall panel 2 has attached thereto a closure means 12 comprising a closure flap. The closure means 12 is connected at an end edge 13 of the top wall panel which end edge 13 provides a fold line about which the closure means 12 may be moved relative to the top wall panel 2 to effect covering and uncovering of the mouth 8.

The closure means 12 is further connected, by means of lateral gusset panels 14, iS to the side wall panels 4, 5.

The fold lines 16, 17 at the junctions of the lateral gusset panels 14, 15 and respective anterior parts 19, 20 of the respective side wall panels 4, 5 permit of movement of the closure means 12 relative to the mouth 8 of the container.

The bottom wall panel 3 comprises a substantially rectangular member in which one edge comprises the end 6 and is substantially straight and the other three edges, comprising the side edges II and front lip 18 are each concave so that the panel is broadest at the end regions 6 and 7.

The top wall panel is of similar shape having edges comprising the end 6, side edges II, and end edge 13 but it is narrower than the bottom wall panel 3.

The container is small in dimension and is flat when in the collapsed condition so that it may be fitted in a pocket or in a small bag.

In the collapsed condition the side wall panels 4, 5 are in a folded condition about the longitudinal fold lines 9, 10 such that the side wall panels 4, 5 project away from each other, the apex of the projecting panels 4, 5 being the respective fold lines 9, 10, (Figure 3). The collapsed scoop is thus broader than the scoop in the erected condition, the width at any point throughout the length thereof in the collapsed condition being defined by the longitudinal fold lines 9, 10 whereas in the erected condition the width at any point along the length of the scoop is defined by the side edges 11 of the bottom wall panel 3.

When in use the scoop is manipulated to its erect, box-like condition by squeezing the longitudinal fold lines 9, 10 of the side wall panels 4, 5 so that the side wall panels 4, 5 progressively unfold along the respective longitudinal fold lines 9, 10 until a position is reached in which the side wall panels 4, 5 have each adopted a concave, self-supporting configuration.

The scoop is then used to collect the faeces and the closure means 12 is closed over the open mouth 8 by pressing the closure means over the mouth.

This causes simultaneous folding along the fold lines 16, 17 to bring inwardly facing surfaces of the lateral gusset panels 14, 15 into contact with respective inwardly facing surfaces of the respective anterior parts 19, 20 of the respective side wall panels 4, 5. This is facilitated by the flexibility of the material of which the scoop is constructed, allowing the anterior parts 19, 20 to deflect outwardly as the closure means 12 is closed. The anterior parts 19,20 resume their original positions on completion of the closing operation whilst the lateral gusset panels 14,15 are retained in a position wherein their respective inwardly facing surfaces are in contact with the respective inwardly facing surfaces of the respective anterior parts 19,20.

The closure means 12 is thus retained in the closed position.

Upon depression of the closure means 12 over the mouth 8, the closure means 12, during a first stage of its travel, resists displacement from the position in which it does not cover the mouth 18. However, when the closure means 12 is further depressed it enters a second stage of travel and experiences a force tending to close it over the mouth 8 and resist movement away therefrom. The transition between the first and second stages of travel of the closure flap occurs when the lateral gusset panels 14, 15 and closure means 12 move relative to one another beyond 1800. Retention of the closure means 12 in the closed position is further ensured by the pressure exerted as a result of the curve in fold line 13.

It will be appreciated that the closure means 12 may comprise a closure flap having attachment only to the top wall panel 2 at the end edge 13 provided that the side wall panels 4, 5 lack the anterior parts 19, 20 thereof which are shown in Figures I to 3. In the body I of such an embodiment of the scoop there would be no lateral gusset panels 14, 15.

It will further be appreciated that a further closure means may be provided at the front lip 18 of the bottom wall panel 3, which further closure means, in the closed position, would underlie the closure means 12, said closure means 12 being, in such a case, somewhat reduced in length compared to the closure means 12 which is shown in the drawings.

The embodiment of Figures I to 3 permits of use with one hand only - a matter of some advantage if the other hand is occupied in restraining a dog.

Figure 4 shows a blank of the container or scoop of Figures I to 3 illustrating the construction of the scoop and the fold lines.

Figure 5 illustrates a second embodiment of the invention which is similar in many respects to the first embodiment. However, it lacks the closure means 12, lateral gusset panels 14, 15 and anterior parts 19, 20 of the side wall panels 4, 5; and it comprises a bag 21, the base region of which has attachment to the top wall panel 2 and side wall panels 4, 5.

The scoop of Figure 5 is manipulable so as to be changed between collapsed and erected conditions in the same way as the embodiment of the scoop shown in Figures I to 4.

In use, the users hand is inserted into the bag 23 and the scoop is grasped through the bag 23 and squeezed into the erected condition. Having collected the faeces the bag 23 is, with the other hand, turned inside out, the whole of the body I of the scoop being concomitantly surrounded by the bag 23, until the bag 23 covers the open mouth 8 whereafter a simple knot may be tied in the end of it to securely enclose the body I within the bag 23. Alternatively the bag may be closed by a separate closure means such as the familiar "twist-tie" or plastic clip etc.

It will be appreciated that any part of the bag 23 may be attached to the body I on any part thereof and by any means provided that the bag may be manipulated to securely cover the open mouth of the scoop without risk of exposing the users hand to the contents of the scoop.

It will be understood that a bag such as that described in connection with the second embodiment of the invention may also be used with a scoop having a closure means such as that described for the first embodiment of the scoop.

It will also be appreciated that a scoop constructed as described above may be used for other purposes, including picking up other noxious or dangerous substances or for the containing, measuring or dispensing of a product, for example foodstuffs such as chipped potatoes, pop-corn etc.

The features disclosed in the foregoing description, or the accompanying drawing, expressed in their specific forms or in terms of a means for performing the disclosed function, or a method or process for attaining the disclosed result, or a class or group of substances or compositions, as appropriate, may, separately or any combination of such features, be utilised for realising the invention in diverse forms thereof.

Claims

1. Ascoop comprising top and bottom wall panels joined by side wall panels to form a body which is closed at one end and which, at another end, affords an open mouth, the body being foldable between flat, collapsed and erected conditions by virtue of a respective fold line formed along a mid region of each of the side wall panels, the scoop also being provided with closure means to permit of covering the open mouth.

2. A scoop according to Claim I in which the top and bottom wall panels are each joined to adjacent wall panels along substantially the entire length of three edges thus forming a container which is effectively sealed along each of said three edges of each of said top and bottom wall panels.

3. A scoop according to Claim I or Claim 2 in which the closed end of the body is defined by the top and bottom wall panels meeting at an edge.

4. A scoop according to any one of the preceding claims in which side edges of the top and bottom wall panels and corresponding edges of the side wall panels are curved.

5. A scoop according to any one of the preceding claims in which the side wall panels may be manipulated to adopt a concave configuration which is self supporting to hold the container in the erected condition.

6. A scoop according to any one of the preceding claims in which the closure means comprises a closure flap connected at an end edge of the top wall panel, which end edge is adjacent to the mouth, and connected by means of respective lateral gusset panels to anterior parts of each of said side wall panels.

7. A scoop according to any one of Claims I to 5 in which the closure means comprises a flexible bag, which is firmly attached to an outwardly facing surface of the body, which bag may be folded over the mouth of the scoop.

8. A scoop according to any one of the preceding claims in which the bottom wall panel is wider than the top wall panel and in which the side wall panels diverge towards the mouth.