GB2250677A

GB2250677A - Disposable container with protective sleeve

Info

Publication number: GB2250677A
Application number: GB9125192A
Authority: GB
Inventors: John Wagstaffe
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1990-12-08
Filing date: 1991-11-27
Publication date: 1992-06-17
Also published as: GB9125192D0

Abstract

A disposable container eg. for the removal of canine excrement comprising a receptacle 1 and a flexible sleeve 2 having an open end 8, the other end 9 being attached to the receptacle 1 and the receptacle 1 being of rigid or semi-rigid plastics material or cardboard and formed of hingedly connected parts 3 and 4, the attachment of the sleeve to the receptacle being in the region of the hinge 5 and/or upper and lower surfaces of the receptacle 1. <IMAGE>

Description

TITLE A disposable container with protective sleeve.

DESCRIPTION This invention relates to a disposable container particularly, though not exclusively, for the removal of canine excrement from public places such as pavements and parks.

There has long been a problem in keeping pavements and the like free from fouling by canine excrement. Such excrement, if allowed to remain, is unsightly, antisocial and is, more importantly, a potential health hazard. Local councils and other public bodies are becoming more and more aware of this problem and, in an attempt to deal with the problem, are imposing fines on the owners of dogs which fou7 public places.

Measures such as the imposition of fines may have some beneficial effect but the answer to the problem lies with the dog owners themselves. The majority of dog owners do not wish their pets to be a nuisance and cause distress to other people and such public spirited people will themselves clear up the mess left by their pets. At present they do this by picking up the excrement with the use of a tissue or other piece of paper which is undignified and unsatisfactory or by using a scoop to transfer the excrement to a more suitable place such as in the gutter of the road. Present methods of disposal are not wholly adequate for various obvious reasons.

It is the main object of this invention to provide a c disposable container primarily, though not exclusively, for the removal of canine excrement.

According to the present invention there is provided a disposable container comprising a receptacle and a flexible sleeve having an open end, the other end of the sleeve being attached to the receptacle.

The receptacle may be of rigid or semi-rigid plastics material or cardboard and be formed of hingedly connected parts, the attachment of the sleeve to the receptacle being in the region of the hinge and/or upper and lower surfaces of the receptacle.

The container may be flat-packed for self-assembly using corner clips or stuck together or moulded complete and ready for use.

Opposed parts of the receptacle may be provided with straps on their outer faces so that the receptacle may be gripped and opened and closed one-handed by the person using the container. Alternatively, a pocket or pockets may be provided on the outer or rear faces of the receptacle to facilitate manoeuvrability or quick-release adhesive pads may be attached to the outer faces of the receptacle.

The flexible sleeve may be of a thin plastics material or grease-proof or water-proof paper and may be provided with a draw-string to enable the closing of the open end thereof.

Alternatively, the sleeve may have extended loops for both carrying the container and for closing the open end of the sleeve after enveloping the receptacle.

As will readily be appreciated, to use the container for the removal of canine excrement,'or any other material which has to be disposed of, a person's hand is inserted through the open end of the sleeve and, by distorting the other end of the sleeve, the receptacle is gripped. If straps are provided on the receptacle, the fingers are inserted beneath one strap and the thumb beneath the other strap thereby enabling the person to open and close the two parts of the receptacle at will.

The excrement or whatever has to be disposed of is then enclosed in the receptacle. With the receptacle held closed by the hand in the sleeve, the person's other hand grasps the open end of the sleeve, brings it over the receptacle to envelope the receptacle. The open end of the sleeve is then closed either by tying that end portion of the sleeve into a knot or by the use of a draw-string if one is provided. The excrement is then safely enclosed in the receptacle which is totally covered by the sleeve and the entire container may be disposed of in, for example, a public refuse bin.

In order to illustrate the invention, one embodiment thereof will now be described with reference to the accompanying drawing in which: Figure 1 is a perspective view of a container according to the invention prior to its use; Figure 2 is a perspective view of the container of Figure 1 after use; Figure 3 is a perspective view of a modified container according to the invention before use; Figure 4 is a plan view of a cardboard blank for forming into a receptable according to the invention; Figure 5 is a perspective view of the blank of Figure 4 in its assembled condition; Figure 6 is a plan view of a plastics blank for forming a receptacle according to the invention; Figure 7 is a perspective view of the blank of Figure 6 in its assembled condition; and Figure 8 is a perspective view of the receptacle of Figure 7 with a flexible sleeve attached thereto.

Referring to Figures 1 and 2 of the drawing, a container comprises a receptacle I and a flexible sleeve 2. The receptacle 1 includes two jaws 3 and 4 integrally connected by a hinge 5 so that the jaws 3 and 4 may lie in the open position, as illustrated in Figure 1, or in a closed position. The jaws 3 and 4 are of light-weight plastics material either rigid or simirigid and are each provided with straps 6 and 7 respectively.

The sleeve 2 is of flexible light-weight plastics material or grease-proof 'or water-proof paper and has an open end 8 and, at its other end 9 is attached to the receptacle 1 at its hinge portion. The diameter of the sleeve will be sufficient for a person's hand to enter the open end, pass down the sleeve and, by distorting that end of the sleeve, grip and manipulate the receptacle 1 to grasp the excrement and retain it within the receptacle. The person's other hand then grasps the open end of the sleeve, passes it over the receptacle 1 so that the sleeve envelopes the receptacle. The open end portion of the sleeve is then tied into a knot 10 (or, if provided, the draw-string pulled tight and knotted) as illustrated in Figure 2 and the closed receptacle and enveloping sleeve disposed of in any suitable manner.

Referring now to Figure 3 which shows a modified form of container, a receptacle 11 is formed of two flat cardboard parts 12 and 13 with score lines 14 so that the container may be flat-packed for easy storage and to enable the receptacle readily to be fashioned into shape immediately prior to use. Alternatively, the flat receptacle parts may be slit so that each may be formed into a jaw by interlocking the sections.

A sleeve 15 is attached to the receptacle as in the previous embodiment and is provided with extended loops 16 to enable the container to be carried and also to serve to tie the open end of sleeve closed after use.

To facilitate opening and closing of the jaws during use, contact adhesive surfaces 17 are provided.

Referring now to Figures 4 and 5 of the drawings, Figure 4 illustrates a cardboard blank 18 having various score lines, slots and slits to enable the blank to be assembled and retained as a receptacle. Being a flat blank enables many of them to be stored and transported readily and if folded in half about score line 19 enables the blank to be carried easily in a coat pocket or a ladies' handbag together with several flexible sleeves. In this embodiment the flexible sleeve is not permanently attached to the receptacle but is attached and detached when desired as will be explained later.

Immediately prior to use, the receptacle will be assembled as follows: Assuming the blank 18 to be horizontal, the wings 20 are moved about score lines 21 through a right'angle to be vertical. The panels 22 are then moved through a right angle about score lines 23 to be vertical. Sections 24 are then moved through a right angle about score lines 25 to lie vertically and flaps 26 are folded about score lines 27 to lie against sections 24 so that tags 28 enter slots 29 and retain the receptacle in its assembled condition.

The assembled receptacle, which is illustrated in Figure 5, is now ready to receive a flexible sleeve. The closed end of a sleeve is fed through starburst 30 either from the inside of the receptacle (see Figure 8) or from the outside (see Figure 1). The sleeve is fed through the starburst just sufficiently so as to retain the sleeve attached to the receptacle.

If the sleeve is fed through the starburst from the outside of the receptacle, the container will be used as previously described and the receptacle and sleeve disposed of.

If, however, the sleeve if fed through the starburst from the inside of the receptacle, the sleeve will first be doubled back over the receptacle so that the receptacle lies within the sleeve. To achieve this, one hand of the user will hold the receptacle by one finger being inserted through a hinged flap 31 and the thumb being inserted through a hinged flap 32. The other hand can then manipulate the sleeve and double it back over the receptacle so that the receptacle and the hand of the user holding it lie within the sleeve. Whatever has to be disposed of can then be picked up by manipulating the jaws of the receptacle.

The open end of the sleeve is then returned to its original position so that the receptacle is again in view, the open end of the sleeve is tied in a knot and the closed end of the sleeve detached from the starburst thereby enabling disposal of the sleeve plus contents.

In this latter embodiment, the receptacle has not come into contact with that which has to be disposed of and may, therefore, be reused with a fresh sleeve on a future occasion thereby saving the cost of a receptacle.

A further embodiment of receptacle which does not have to come into contact with the excrement is shown in Figures 6, 7 and 8. In this embodiment a blank 33 is made of plastics and, as will be apparent, is formed into a receptacle 34 of Figure 7 by folding the flaps 36 and 35 about fold lines 38 and 37 respectively. To hold the flaps in the assembled condition of the receptacle, headed lugs 39 enter undercut recesses 40 thus enabling the receptacle readily to be assembled and disassembled. A starburst 41 is provided for reception of a flexible sleeve 44 as in the previous embodiment and as shown in Figure 8 and hinged flaps 42 and 43 are provided to enable the user readily to grip the receptacle.

It will be appreciated that one or more containers constructed in accordance with the present invention may be carried by the owner of a dog when going for a walk to be used and disposed of when appropriate. However, if one of the last two embodiments described above is employed, only spare flexible sleeves have to be carried since the receptacles, in not coming into contact with the excrement, are reusable.

The exact construction of the receptacle may be modified from that described above within the scope of the present invention, for example, the means whereby the person's hand may readily grip the parts of the receptacle may be other than as described above and the jaws may be moulded or otherwise formed to a particular shape to achieve this. The jaw ends may be of a comb-like construction and these may be provided separately to be clipped on to the receptacle if, for example, the container is to be used on grass. Also, the sleeve may be attached to the receptacle at a position other than at the hinge so long as the receptacle is entirely enveloped by the sleeve after use or prior to use in the case of a reusable receptacle.

The container according to the invention may find use other than for the removal of canine excrement and, indeed, is a device suitable for the enclosing and disposal of any foul mate rival.

Claims

1. A disposable container comprising a receptacle and a flexible sleeve having an open end, the other end of the sleeve being attached to the receptacle.

2. A disposable container as claimed in Claim 1, in which the receptacle is of rigid or semi-rigid plastics material or cardboard and formed of hingedly connected parts, the attachment of the sleeve to the receptacle being in the region of the hinge and/or the upper and lower surfaces of the receptacle.

3. A disposable container as claimed in either Claim 1 or Claim 2, in which the receptacle is provided with a starburst of slits in the region of the hinge for the reception of the sleeve.

4. A disposable container as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, in which the receptacle is flat-packed for sel f-assembly.

5. A disposable container as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, in which the opposed parts of the receptacle are provided with straps on their outer faces or slits so that the receptacle may be gripped and opened and closed one-handed by the person using the container.

6. A disposable container as claimed in any one Claims 1 to 4, in which a pocket or pockets is or are provided on the outer or rear faces of the receptacle to facilitate manoeuvrability.

7. A disposable container as claimed in any one of Claims 1 to 4, in which quick-release adhesive pads are attached to the outer faces of the receptacle.

8. A disposable container as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, in which the flexible sleeve is of a thin plastics material or grease-proof or water-proof paper and is provided with a draw-string to enable the closing of the open end thereof.

9. A disposable container as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, in which the sleeve has extended loops for both carrying the container and for closing the open end of the sleeve after enveloping the receptacle.

10. A re-usable flat-pack rigid container, used in conjunction with a flexible, disposable, protective sleeve or bag enabling the safe manipulation and collection, particularly of canine excrement from the ground, to be subsequently disposed of.

11. A disposable container substantially as herein described with reference to Figures 1 and 2 or Figure 3 or Figures 4 and 5 or Figures 6, 7 and 8 of the accompanying drawings.