GB2242822A - Removal appliance - Google Patents

Abstract

A removal appliance (10) particularly for use in removing canine faeces comprises a handle (12) to which is attached a casing (14), the casing (14) has an opening (20) which is closable by a rotatable cover (16). A sleeve (22) encloses the casing (20) and sealingly engages with the casing (14) by means of a seal (24). <IMAGE>

Description

REMOVAL APPLIANCE The present invention relates to a removal appliance, particularly for use in removing canine faeces.

Many proposals have been made to provide an appliance which can be used conveniently to pick up and remove canine faeces from, for example, public areas such as pavements and grassed surfaces.

In general the prior appliances comprise a relatively long handle having a scoop at one end which has a closable cover, the closable cover being operated from the end of the handle remote from the scoop. Examples of such arrangements are shown in US patent numbers 4316627, 3841686 and 3738697, and UK patent specification numbers 1583252 and 2095156.

These prior proposals are not entirely satisfactory in that the appliance is bulky, and can be heavy and inconvenient to carry.

Also such appliances do not contain the smell of the faecal matter until it can be disposed of, and the appliances can be difficult to clean after use.

The present invention seeks to provide an appliance for the removal, in particular, of canine faecal matter in which the appliance is light to carry, attractive in appearance, that can be airtight and odour free and is easy to use and keep clean.

Accordingly the present invention provides a removal appliance comprising a casing having an opening, the opening having a cover moveable between an open position to receive waste matter into the casing and a closed position to confine waste matter within the casing, operating means for the cover1 and a sleeve to contain the casing.

Preferably, a space is provided between the casing and the sleeve and the sleeve can be secured to the casing by a bayonet or screw attachment.

A seal can be provided between the sleeve and the casing in order to prevent odours from waste material in the casing from escaping.

The casing can be provided with a removeable liner and the casing can contain a deodorant and a disinfectant.

The cover can be attached to a rotatable rod, the rod being rotated by the operating mechanism.

The operating mechanism can comprise a lever attached to the rod, a first link pivoted at one end to the lever and a second link slideably engageable with the first link, pivoted at one end to an anchorage, and a spring surrounding the two links and contacting one end of the lever and the anchorage.

The appliance is preferably provided with a handle to which the casing is attached.

The casing and the sleeve are preferably cylindrical and the opening in the casing extends longitudinally of the casing, and the cover is approximately hemispherical in section.

The present invention will now be more particularly described with reference to the accompanying drawings in which: Fig. 1 shows a perspective view of one form of removal appliance according to the present invention, Fig. 2 shows a perspective view of the appliance shown in Fig.

1, with the sleeve removed, Fig. 3 shows a perspective view of the appliance shown in Figs.

1 and 2, with the cover on the inner casing shown in the open position, Fig. 4 is a section on line IV-IV in Fig. 3 illustrating the operating mechanism for the cover, Fig. 5 shows a view on arrow A in Fig. 4 with the operating mechanism in a neutral position and Fig. 6 is a view similar to that shown in Fig. 5 with the operating mechanism in the cover open position.

Referring to the drawings, a removal appliance 10 comprises a handle 12 to which is attached a casing 14, the casing having a closed end 14A, and rotatable cover 16 which can be opened and closed by an operating mechanism 18 to reveal or conceal an opening 20. The casing is closed off at both ends and thus constitutes a closed chamber to which access can be made by operation of the cover 16.

A sleeve 22 encloses the casing 14 so that a space is provided between the casing 14 and the inner surface of the sleeve 22.

The sleeve 22 contacts a seal 24 which is provided on a shoulder of the casing 14 in order to prevent odours within the casing 14 from escaping and to prevent the ingress or egress of water.

The casing 14 is provided at the end adjacent the handle 12 with two protrusions 26 and the sleeve 22 is provided with depressions (not shown). In order to assemble the sleeve 22 onto the casing 14 the depressions on the sleeve 22 have to be located between the protrusions 26 so that the end of the sleeve 22 can engage the seal 24.

The cover 16 is attached to a rod 28 which is mounted for rotation at one end on the casing 14 and at the other end passes through a seal 30 and is attached to a lever 32. The seal 30 is positioned in a housing 31 which is fixed inside one end of the casing 14, and closes off that end of the casing.

The lever 32 extends through a slot 34 provided in the wall of the casing 14 and has an enlarged end 32A. The other end of the lever 32 is pivotally attached to a first link 36 which is slideably engageable with a second link 38 which is pivoted at 40 to the housing 31. The links 36 and 38 are located inside a compression spring 42 which abuts the inside of the housing 31 at one end and the end of the lever 32 at the other end.

In order to use the mechanism 18, for example to move the cover 16 from the position shown in Fig. 2 to the position shown in Fig. 3, the portion 32A is engaged by the user's thumb, the users fingers being used to grip the handle 12, and the lever 32 is moved through the slot 34 to rotate the rod 28 so that the operating mechanism takes'up the position as shown in Fig. 6.

It will be appreciated that the spring 42 tends to force the two links 36 and 38 apart and therefore to rotate the lever 32 in the clockwise direction (B) as shown in Fig. 6.

In order to close the cover 16, the portion 32A is engaged by the user's thumb and the lever 32 moved in the opposite direction through the slot 34 so that the lever is moved in the anticlockwise (C) direction as shown in Fig. 6. The mechanism will pass through the position shown in Fig. 5 when the spring 42 is compressed to its greatest extent. Once the lever 32 has passed the central position as illustrated in Fig. 5, the spring 42 will again urge the links apart thereby closing the cover 16 and keeping it closed under the pressure of the spring.

Thus the spring 42 not only assists in the opening and closing of the cover 16 but keeps the cover either open or in the closed position.

The links 36 and 38 are preferably cylindrical in section and link 36 has a cylindrical bore to receive the second link 38.

In order to use the appliance described above the casing 14 can be provided with a removable liner such as a piece of absorbent paper, and the casing 14 can be provided with a deodorant and/or a disenfectant material which can be either sprayed or retained within the casing. Initially the cover 16 is in the closed position as shown in Fig. 2 and the sleeve 22 is in the position as shown in-Fig. 1.

In order to pick up and dispose of canine faecal matter, or any other solid animal waste matter, the sleeve 22 is removed and the cover 16 is opened by operation of the lever 32 so that the operating mechanism 18 adopts the position shown in Fig. 6 and the cover 16 is in the position shown in Fig. 3. With the user gripping the handle 12 the waste matter can be scooped up through the opening 20 into the casing 14. The cover 16 is then closed by the user operating the lever 32 to rotate the rod 28 and thereby close the cover 16. The waste matter is then contained within the casing 14 in a secure manner. The sleeve 22 is then engaged over the casing 14 in sealing engagement with the seal 24.

It will be appreciated that the waste matter contained within the casing 14 is secure and odours are prevented from escaping from the casing by means of the seal 24 which also prevents the ingress and egress of water.

The provision of a space between the casing 14 and the sleeve 22 assists in ensuring that any waste matter on the outer surface of the casing 14 does not contact the inner surface of the sleeve 22.

The provision of the seal 30 on the rod 28 prevents water from entering the enclosure containing the operating mechanism.

In order to dispose of the waste matter within the casing 14 the sleeve 22 is removed and the cover 16 is opened by use of the operating mechanism 18. The waste material within the casing can then be disposed of in a domestic water closet and the operation of the closet can also be used to cleanse the interior of the casing 14. The seal 24, in this instance, preventing water from entering the housing containing the operating mechanism 18.

It will be appreciated that the removal appliance according to the present invention as illustrated and described above provides a convenient means of removing waste matter which is easy to use and carry, is inoffensive and enables the waste matter to be disposed of in a convenient and sanitary manner.

If required the handle can be provided with a carrying strap 44 and the appliance can be sized to be approximately the size of a collapsible umbrella.

Whilst the appliance has been described as being generally circular in section the invention is not limited to this particular shape. For example the section of the casing 14 and sleeve 22 can be rectangular, polygonal or elliptical and the handle instead of being cylindrical as illustrated can be of any convenient shape for carrying.

Also the operating mechanism 18 can be of any convenient form in order to open the cover 16. The operating mechanism can either be manual or powered, for example by a clockwork mechanism or by a battery operated motor.

The casing 14 can be provided with a receptacle or receptacles in which disenfectant and/or deodorant materials can be located.

Claims (12)

1. A removal appliance comprising a casing having an opening, the opening having a cover moveable between open and closed positions, a sleeve to contain the casing, and operating means for the cover.

2. An appliance as claimed in claim 1 in which the cover is rotatably attached on the casing.

3. An appliance as claimed in claim 1 or claim 2 in which the operating means comprises a spring loaded lever attached to the cover.

4. An appliance as claimed in claim 3 in which the operating mechanism comprises a lever attached to a rod on which the cover is secured, the lever extending through a slot in the casing, a first link pivotally attached to one end of the lever and a second link slideably engageable with the first link pivotally attached to an anchorage and spring means urged at one end against an anchorage and at the other end against the lever.

5. An appliance as claimed in any one of the preceeding claims including a seal on the casing engageable by the sleeve.

6. An appliance as claimed in claim 4 in which the rod extends through a seal.

7. An appliance as claimed in any one of the preceding claims in which the opening in the casing extends longitudinally of the casing.

8. An appliance as claimed in any one of the preceding claims in which the inner casing and sleeve are provided with engagement means to retain the sleeve on the casing.

9. An appliance as claimed in claim 8 in which the engagement means comprises protrusions upon the surface of the casing and depressions on the sleeve.

10. An appliance as claimed in any one of the preceding claims including a handle.

11. An appliance as claimed in any one of the preceding claims including a carrying strap.

12. A removal appliance constructed and arranged for use and operation substantially as herein described and with reference to the accompanying drawings.