GB2243535A

GB2243535A - Litter scoop

Info

Publication number: GB2243535A
Application number: GB9108158A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Stanley Lowrie
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1990-04-17
Filing date: 1991-04-17
Publication date: 1991-11-06
Also published as: GB9108158D0; GB9008532D0

Abstract

A litter scoop for picking up detritus from animals comprises a housing which houses a rotatable barrel lined with a plastic bag. The bag overlaps the rim of the housing and the barrel is rotated to close the bag by gripping the base of the barrel and turning it. <IMAGE>

Description

"Litter SCOOP This invention relates to a litter scoop, in particular to a scoop for removing deposits of animal excrement.

Every pedestrian is familiar with dog mess left on pavements or in parks. Such deposits are unsightly and unhygienic and may be dangerous to small children.

Owners of such animals rarely clear up after the animal because of the inconvenience of carrying a pan and brush with them. Conventional litter scoops are provided on the market but require the excrement to be carried to a bin which may not be conveniently nearby and is a further disincentive to their use.

The better types available include a scoop which has a mechanical "grab" action, and a shovel with a lid attached. However, both of these may drop some of the litter whilst in the process of picking it up and so a second attempt becomes necessary. This is not a pleasant task and as a result many pet owners do not bother.

According to the present invention there is provided a litter scoop for picking up detritus comprising a housing which houses a bag, said housing being shaped to allow its use as a scoop, an externally operable rotating member connectable to the bag so that the bag rotates with the rotating member, and an inter-fitting formation to releasably retain the rotating member at least partially within the housing.

Preferably, the rotating member is a barrel comprising a body which fits inside the housing and a base which is operable from outwith the housing. The inter-fitting formation may be disposed on an outer side of the barrel and an inner side of the housing, for example, a groove and ridge may be provided such that relative movement of the barrel in a first direction engages the ridge in the groove, and movement of the barrel in a second direction unseats the ridge so that the barrel may be removed from the housing.

Securing means are preferably provided to allow extension of the barrel outwith the housing whilst remaining secured thereto.

Said securing means may be provided as a projection near the top of the barrel which contacts a lip near the bottom of the housing so that the barrel is prevented from falling out of the housing.

Preferably, an aperture is provided on said lip to allow removal of the barrel and bag for disposal.

The bag may line the barrel and extend around the outside of the housing so that as it is filled and the barrel is extended, the proportion of the bag outside the housing diminishes. Preferably, means are provided for engaging the bag against the barrel thus ensuring that the bag twists shut as the barrel is rotated.

Preferably, the housing has a lid attached to the top of the housing by a spring-loaded mechanism, so that the contents of the litter scoop remain closed off from the environment.

The lid of the housing is preferably shaped to overlap the top of the housing so that as the litter scoop is employed, the top of the housing acts as a shovel and the lid of the housing acts as a rake, together producing a pincer-like action to help pick up the litter.

Preferably, lid-raising means are attached to the rotating member.

Preferably, said lid-raising means are provided in the form of an extension dimensioned to bear against the lid in a first position and not to bear against the lid in a second position.

An embodiment of the invention will now be described by way. of example, with reference to the drawings in which: Fig. 1 shows a litter scoop of the present invention in a first position; and Fig. 2 is a cross-section of the litter scoop in a second position taken on a diameter A-A of Fig. 1.

A litter scoop 1 for picking up detritus comprises a housing 2 and a plastic bag 3. A rotating member is provided in the form of a barrel 4 with a base 5 and body 6 in which the bag 3 is placed. The litter scoop 1 has a lid 7 which is spring-loaded to close and is attached to a handle 8. The lid 7 of the litter scoop 1 is shaped so that it overlaps the top of the housing 2 and can aid in raking litter off the ground.

The barrel 4 has a groove 9 running around its base 5 which inter-fits with a ridge 10 in the housing. The barrel 4 can be twisted in an anti-clockwise direction and still remain seated in the ridge 10, whereas if the movement is reversed, the base 5 becomes detached from the housing 2. A shoulder 6a on the inner surface of the body 6 ensures that the bag 3 is engaged against the body 6 as it is rotated. The barrel 4 is prevented from falling out of the housing 2 by the provision of a projection 11 on the body 6 which contacts an inside lip 12 at the bottom of the housing 2. An aperture 13 correspondingly-shaped to the projection 11 is provided on the lip 12 to allow the complete removal of the barrel 4 and bag 3 for disposal. The litter scoop thus has a telescopic feature.

Lid-raising means are provided in the form of an extension 14 on the rim of the barrel 4. The extension 14 is dimensioned to bear against the lid 7 in a first position (near the handle 8) but does not bear against the lid 7 when the barrel 4 is rotated 1800 into a second position. The lid 7 is thus raised slightly to release the bag 3 and allow it to be dragged into the housing 2.

In use, the lid 7 is raised as the litter is approached, and lowered to rake the litter into the bag 3. The lid 7 then returns to its resting position which closes the housing 2. The base 5 is then rotated so twisting the bag 3 within shut.

If necessary the inside of the barrel 4 can be pre-filled with sand or sawdust which can be used to sprinkle on the litter which is to be picked up.

The litter scoop thus "parcels up" the litter, and its telescopic feature allows it to expand to cope with varying amounts of litter. The litter scoop 1 is kept clean by the manner in which the bag 3 is used to line the housing 2 and the spring-loaded lid 7 seals it off from the environment. Furthermore, the shaped top of the housing 2 together with the raking motion of the lid 7 ensures that only one attempt at removing the litter is necessary.

This embodiment of the present invention therefore provides a portable, hygienic and convenient method of removing animal litter for responsible pet owners.

Modifications and improvements may be incorporated without departing from the scope of the invention.

Claims

CLAIMS:

1. A litter scoop for picking up detritus comprising a housing which houses a bag, said housing being shaped to allow its use as a scoop, an externally operable rotating member connectable to the bag so that the bag rotates with the rotating member, and an inter-fitting formation to releasably retain the rotating member at least partially within the housing.

2. A litter scoop according to Claim 1, wherein said rotating member is a barrel comprising a body which fits inside the housing and a base which is operable from outwith the housing.

3. A litter scoop according to Claim 2, wherein said inter-fitting formation is disposed on an outer side of the barrel and an inner side of the housing.

4. A litter scoop according to Claim 2 or 3, wherein said inter-fitting formation is provided by a groove and a ridge such that relative movement of the barrel in a first direction engages the ridge in the groove, and movement of the barrel in a second direction unseats the ridge so that the barrel may be removed from the housing.

5. A litter scoop according to any one of Claims 2 to 4, wherein securing means are provided to allow extension of the barrel outwith the housing whilst remaining secured thereto.

6. A litter scoop according to Claim 5, wherein said securing means are provided as a projection near the top of the barrel which contacts a lip near the bottom of the housing so that the barrel is prevented from falling out of the housing.

7. A litter scoop according to Claim 6, wherein an aperture is provided on said lip to allow removal of the barrel and bag for disposal.

8. A litter scoop according to any one of Claims 2 to 7, in which the bag lines the barrel and extends around the outside of the housing.

9. A litter scoop according to any one of Claims 2 to 8, wherein means are provided for engaging the bag against the body thus ensuring that the bag twists shut as the barrel is rotated.

10. A litter scoop according to any one of the preceding Claims, wherein the housing has a lid attached to the top of the housing by a spring-loaded mechanism.

11. A litter scoop according to Claim 10, wherein said lid of the housing is shaped to overlap the top of the housing so that as the litter scoop is employed the top of the housing acts as a shovel and the lid of the housing acts as a rake, together producing a pincerlike action to help pick up the litter.

12. A litter scoop according to Claim 10 or 11, wherein lid-raising means are attached to the rotating member.

13. A litter scoop according to Claim 12, wherein said lid-raising means are provided in the form of an extension dimensioned to bear against the lid in a first position and not to bear against the lid in a second position.

14. A litter scoop substantially as hereinbefore defined with reference to the accompanying drawings.